twentytwo. – Oneder
Similar artists: AFI, Alkaline Trio, Pennywise, Bad Religion
Genre: Skate Punk, Punk, Pop Punk
The music of twentytwo. has the qualities that a long-distance runner requires to finish a marathon, namely stamina and enthusiasm.
Sure, I bet that you could hum the most famous punk-rock songs ever recorded. After all, they’re designed to be easy to sing along with. After all, they’re written with a healthy dose of inspiration from classic rock n’ roll music.
However, for most bands in punk-rock, there are other qualities that can help set them apart far better. Being in a successful punk-rock band requires dogged persistence and an immense amount of energy. Furthermore, while some scoff at the musicianship involved in playing this type of music, veterans of punk-rock groups are expected to be able to play to a very high standard.
Punk-rock is a combat sport. That suits twentytwo. Just fine. “Oneder” is a demonstration of skill and power. While not as instantly catchy as some of the groups from which twentytwo. take inspiration, the group has a considerable amount of zest and ability working for them, as well as the capacity to blend a number of different modern rock sources together. That’s just the stuff required to run the race.
Milkshed. – Apex Predator
Similar artists: Nirvana, Pixies, Queens of the Stone Age
Genre: Garage Rock, Alternative Rock
If it is, in fact, true that trends in the music business are all cyclical, the time for bands like Milkshed. It may well be around the corner once again.
Recent years have seen the re-emergence of pop-punk and emo-rock. Who could’ve predicted that? Artists and bands are citing blink-182 and Good Charlotte as influences left and right. And so many of the groups that have made a dent in the charts are looking to capture that sound and to slightly modernise it.
Why has this happened? It could all be a matter of nostalgia, sure. But, it’s also very true that the majority of listeners are young and feel represented by this kind of music.
Then, it might just be that powerful sounds always find a way of getting back into the focus of the general public. If pop-punk succeeded in reemerging, why not grunge?
Milkshed. have written “Apex Predator” with an ear to the kind of grunge-rock that dominated early 90s music. Despite the title, this is a friendly-sounding band and a confident one. They have many of the elements required for mass commercial success. And while the songwriting may need to be further fleshed out in the future, with a bit of luck, all things could align for Milkshed.
