Author: Casey Gallenberger

LEDGES' returns in full-force with a new lineup on "Convenience".

Josh Garrels has been making a name for himself for quite some time now, even as far back as 2011’s Love & War & the Sea in Between. Despite your opinion on his music, it’s certainly evident he consistently aims big and doesn’t take shortcuts. His catalog consists largely of long-form albums with layers and layers of instrumentation, harmony, and production nuance. Nonetheless, it’s also not unreasonable to find his music perhaps a bit too sleepy. When an album is over an hour long, it can get tiresome – and the risk only increases when it’s acoustic instrumentation paired off with falsetto.… Continued →

No one really knows what happened to We Are Voices apart from their 2017 take on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. Prior to that, the band was set to release a series of smaller releases over the course of the year. Sadly, this plan didn’t make it past the first iteration, titled Year I. The band’s site is still active which seems promising, but maybe if we make enough noise they’ll put out some new songs? … Continued →

Salt Creek's sophomore EP leans heavily on alt-rock for a catchy blend of radio-friendly songs.

Today’s featured song comes from Nashville’s own Lacquer, a gritty band that could best be described as what Johnny Cash may have sounded like if he had grown up listening to punk. “Abaddon’s Mouth” is fresh off their 2018 debut LP Good Gracious Alive. Check it out if you’re a fan of gritty southern rock with a modern twist. … Continued →

Adjy return from three years of silence to debut a stunning set of tracks.

My Epic returns with their long-awaited follow up to Ultraviolet, and it's aimed to be one of their most provocative releases to date.

Spoken word maven Chris Bernstorf is set to release his latest project, It’s All Joy, next Friday (4/17). You can check out his latest single here. We had the pleasure talking through the new album, the importance of community, and much more. IVM: Thanks for taking some time to talk. We’re about a month out from your new album, It’s All Joy. Would you mind going into some of the reason behind the title – and what joy means to you? Chris: Yeah! I’ve had a lot of heavy stuff happen over the last two or three years.… Continued →

The Chairman Dances isn’t exactly known for convention when it comes to videography (case and point: this grocery store panic attack). This time around, their video takes the form of an oversaturated, film-style adventure akin to old home movies. Its plot is simplistic yet whimsical; it was also filmed on one of the coldest days of the year so the depicted antics certainly are not beyond the realm of reason. “No Compass, No Map” is off 2018’s Child of My Sorrows. … Continued →

It'd be remiss to think Fair was simply Aaron Sprinkle's backing band. Subways on the Sun is fronted by Fair alumni and offer listeners an eclectic blend of grungey alt-indie that demonstrates their songwriting prowess.

Second to Safety has released a new song, "Signs of Life", which you can check out here.

Kings Kaleidoscope has shifted gears a bit on ZEAL, incorporating a heavy focus on production and hip-hop elements.

American Arson's Facedown Records debut is a great entry point for new fans.

The much-beloved Kings Kaleidoscope is back with a new album and, well, actual kaleidoscopes. The band has displayed one of the most interesting sets of merch that goes well beyond music and shirts – cop yourself a yo-yo, wristband, or dad hat. Buy a kite. Yes, a KITE. Even the shirt designs themselves are incredibly enticing (who could say no to Holy Righteous Ratchet Squad?). Check it out here on their merch store. Album drops 4/5!… Continued →

Check out one of Chroma Artist Collective's first releases of the year!

Hallowell is quick to capture listeners' attention but ultimately demands careful rumination to fully enjoy.

You might not be familiar with Old Solar, but you're likely aware of My Epic and Attalus. Check out what this instrumental group has to offer with a first taste of their new EP.

Here's a quick list of the top 10 posts from 2018. Did your favorite band make the list?

Here are my top albums for the year. Let me know your thoughts and check out a preview of some of the artists as well!

The Chairman Dances' latest release wrestles with the pain of life and death over brooding orchestral arrangements.

Valleyheart's moving debut is repentant, vulnerable alt-rock laced with explosive crescendos.

Eager Seas' latest release is composed of songs released consecutively throughout 2018. Does it suffer from being single-driven or does it maintain enough cohesion to be considered a proper album? Does this question even matter?

If you missed our recent review on Gr8frt’s upcoming album, definitely give it a read! Beyond music, John and Abbey have many other things in the works – vlogs, art, merch, videos, and other forms of content. Their heart behind all of this is to spread the Gospel and Patreon is being used more and more by artists as a way to sustain their efforts. Check out their Patreon page here. … Continued →

We're excited to give some pre-release press on this new band - check out our review and be sure to keep an eye on Gr8frt for an official release on 12/15!

Earlier this week, we had a chance to talk with Nashville’s VEAUX about their new single and the stories behind it. Now you can listen to it yourself. There’s much to love on this track – there’s a certain degree of nostalgia at play musically, and the synth lines are refreshing warm for the cold fall many of us are experiencing. Thematically, the song serves as a reversal of “Wander”, where the protagonist who has ventured too far from home longs for what he once had.… Continued →

Dallas indie worship group South of Royal have released yet another single. "The Future is Yours" is the third single from the band this year and follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, mixing dense production, tight drums, punchy synths, and filtered vocals for a unique take on the genre.

We had the pleasure to talk with Nashville indie-pop trio VEAUX about their upcoming single (due 11/16), what it takes to survive as a band in this day and age, and how the band continues to refine their sound. 

Detroit post-hardcore duo American Arson have returned from a brief hiatus with the explosive-yet-catchy single, “Rise”, which you should definitely check out below. “Rise” opens with the pair’s trademark grit, before seamlessly going into a sing-along bit. The track shimmers with some of the most melodic elements we’ve seen from American Arson to date – the chorus is catchy and there’s a shimmering, synth-like ambiance at play that gives it a fair share of pop sensibility. However, if you’re familiar with the group, you’ll know their song structures stray from predictable and that’s certainly the case and the track oscillates from certainly-going-to-be-stuck-in-your-head to mosh-pit-inducing.… Continued →

Chamber pop may not be the most well-known, or well-respected genre. Nonetheless, it holds some of the most intricate compositions and rides the line between progressive and radio-friendly. Here are our top 10 chamber pop groups you need to check out. Anything we missed? Add it in the comments. In no particular order… 1. The Oh Hellos This brother/sister duo (plus a couple friends) has truly manager to refine their sound, with their last two EPs showing incredible growth in songwriting and some fairly poetic lyrics to boot.… Continued →

Heartbreak is certainly abundant in many modern songs, but rarely do songs tackle the subject with pure vulnerability. “Bang”, the first single from Moda Spira‘s (Latifah Alattas) upcoming album, Divorce, is a weighty, soulful track. The announcement that the relationship is coming to an end is described as a piercing gunshot, both sudden and devastating. Divorce is due 10/26 and you can preorder it here. Listen to “Bang” below: … Continued →