Last years 40 bands to keep and ear on went down a bit of a storm so after much toiling, I've come up with this years 40 bands to keep and eye on (i hope the pun is lost on no-one) There's shit loads more but you have to stop somewhere.
Eagulls
Filthy dirty northern monkeys they may be, but Eagulls have been slogging away for a good few years now and their jagged post-punk has come on leaps and bounds since the Wipers infused debut Council Flat Blues 7", debut album is due any day now and after hearing new single 'Nerve Endings' it can't come soon enough.
For fans of: Wipers, Joy Division, Killing Joke
http://www.eagullsband.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/eagulls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhralB8bCL8
Youth Man
Punkrock brummies Youth Man have been going for around 2 years now and already have a couple of EP's to their name, raucous, full of angst and energy, and one of the most intense female vocalists i've heard since Katie Jane Garside.
For fans of: Queen Adreena, early-Yeah Yeah Yeahs, general punk rock
http://youthman.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/youthmanband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbGyEl9vkss
Radkey
Another great punk band, Radkey's Cat & Mouse was one of the best EP's i heard in 2013, new tune 'Feed My Brain' takes a step towards the darker post-punk style, while still keeping the huge chorus' they've been known for.
For fans of: Ramones, Misfits
http://radkey.shopsilentempire.com/
https://www.facebook.com/radkeyband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5K0ZOH-koY
Knuckle
Okay so they haven't even released anything yet, however they have just hit the studio and 'Apocalyptic Kiss' is already all over youtube, and the band features Jonny Firth so it's guaranteed to be good.
For fans of: The Raconteurs, Jonnythefirth
https://www.facebook.com/#!/weareknuckle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2tJ51ECJNw
The Witch Hunt
I saw The Witch Hunt Valentines Day, i believe 2 years ago, or maybe one year at the Oporto and loved the few songs they played, a year or so later and I'm still loving the chill Louisa's voice sends down my spine, New EP 'Little Book Of Hate' sees their gothic dream pop reaching new levels.
For fans of: PJ Harvey, Portishead, great music
https://witchhunt.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wearewitchhunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kUGBuaDZXo
We Are Knuckle Dragger
Vicious as fuck metal/punk, We Are Kunckle Dragger used to be good, on new album 'The Drone' they've taken it up a notch or dozen to create something evil and filthy that gets under your skin.
For fans of: Hardcore Punk/Sludge/Rock
http://weareknuckledragger.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/WEAREKNUCKLEDRAGGER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PReDq-aiBLY
Wolves Like Us
Norway band plying their trade in emotional post-hardcore, their last album was pretty good, something tells me their next 'Black Soul Choir' will see them breakthrough to bigger and better things.
For fans of: The Afghan Whigs, Hot Water Music
https://www.facebook.com/#!/wolveslikeusss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71nPzm87oBg
Giants
I caught Giants supporting H2O last year and was suitably impressed with their 90's style posi-punk with a harder edge, New EP 'Misguided' took their song-writing up a notch, hopefully 2014 will see a full-length.
For fans of: Pennywise, H2O, Descendents
http://giants.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/giantsuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iAEBzUHGwE
The Orwells
Another band i stumbled upon, their Head LP is full of garage rock as is their last album 'Remember When' i can't recommend them enough, new EP 'Who Needs You' has already seen their profile raised to the point of sell-out tours and with a new album due in the summer things are looking bright.
For Fans of: The Strokes, The Star Spangles, Living Things
https://www.facebook.com/theorwellsband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwAdhvvGFlo
Black Moth
Huge Riffs, Massive female vocals, best stonerish band I've heard in ages and the second album is on it's way, it seriously can't be anything but amazing, this is Black Sabbath fronted by a much better singer.
For fans of: Black Sabbath, Jefferson Airplane, Queens Of The Stone Age
http://blackmothband.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/themothpit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrxFUWM6BrY
ZOAX
One track has already got me hooked and giddy as fuck for the XIII EP, Huge melodies mixed with vicious occasional vocals and a truly inventive unique style, GOING TO BE HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For fans of: Letlive, Glassjaw, Deftones
http://zoaxofficial.bigcartel.com/
http://zoaxofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/zoaxbandofficial?directed_target_id=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7u0_cPs7IQ
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Best band/vocalist I've heard EVER, Sharon sounds like Tina Turner doing Gloria Jones doing the best soul in the world, this is already a contender for 2014 album of the year, INSANELY GOOD!!!
For fans of: Tina Turner, Northern Soul, Otis Redding
https://www.facebook.com/sharonjonesandthedapkings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrOYkHjdpdM
The Amazing Snakeheads
The Snakeheads come at you with a vicious punk fuelled howl kind of evil sounding like an evangelist preacher in full swing put to rock n roll. With only two singles to their name the hype machine is maybe running a little on the heavy side but it's looking like they deserve it.
For fans of: The Birthday Party
https://www.facebook.com/theamazingsnakeheads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqlKoEHm8-A
NARCS
Leeds lads who i decided to give a chance based on the album cover and the description Jumbo records gave them so thank Jumbo for being on this list lads, mixing Monkeysesque lyrics with a grating punkesque racket, they've pooled it all into a sound of their own, and what a sound it is.
For fans of: Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, My Red Cell
http://cluerecords.bandcamp.com/album/two-birds-one-stone-later
https://www.facebook.com/NARCSband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmfTxkx6YoM
Single Mothers
Single Mothers have been quiet for too long now, 2011's EP which was crammed with caustic vocals over a backbeat of punkrock melody, seems like an age ago now. Hopefully new material will surface this year, however with their attitude they're just as likely to not release anything just because people want to hear it.
For fans of: At The Drive.In
http://singlemothersband.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/singlemothersparty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAuA9O8g-ig
The Greenery
There's only one band close to these guys when it comes to viciousness and that was 'Breathe In' they disappeared some time ago and The Greenery are carrying the angriest band in the world flame with pride. New album 'It's Looking Grim' was an audio treat laced with strychnine.
For fans of: Breathe In
http://thegreenerylbc.com/the-greenery-merch
https://www.facebook.com/TheGreeneryCA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-toWfty6U
Diamond Youth
What do you get when members of hardcore bands like Trapped Under Ice and Down To Nothing team up for a side-project, you get something fuck all like their hardcore day jobs and instead two mini-albums chock full of catchy rock.
For fans of: Weezer, Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age
http://dmnd.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dmndyouth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot99sFasW20
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Looking like a cross between the Ramones and BRMC, Catfish actually trade in a much more melodic side with massive chorus' full of soaring melodies and explosive bursts of energy, their few singles so far are extremely promising.
For fans of: The Strokes, early-Razorlight, The Strypes
http://www.catfishandthebottlemen.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/catfishandthebottlemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6LTDsPMDLY
Drowners
Arrrhhh, remember when the The Strokes used to play good old fashioned rock 'n roll without all the arty shit, that's what Drowners sound like, no frills catchy as fuck rock 'n roll, check out the debut album out now.
For fans of: early-Strokes, The Killers melodies
https://www.facebook.com/drownersofficial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuFYXj5k8ug
Gun Club Cemetery
A lot of people may remember Hurricane #1, from the 90's one of the most underrated britpop era bands there was, most people remember them for featuring Andy Bell of Ride etc... not me, the best bit about them was vocalist Alex Lowe who has been releasing awesome solo albums since and a one-off single as The Garage Flowers, finally he's back in a band again and Gun Club Cemetery fulfil all the promise he's shown over the years with big gravel-throated old-school rock songs.
For fans of: Alex Lowe, Rolling Stones, Faces
https://www.facebook.com/GunClubCemetery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmgMqU7VLEE
Royal Blood
Often i try listening to new bands and you get a mixture generally of the fucking awful and the half decent, Royal Blood managed to stand out from the pack quite easily with debut single 'Out Of The Black' simply because it rocks like a motherfucker and it's catchy toboot, more of the same please.
For fans of: Helmet, heavier-White Stripes stuff
https://www.facebook.com/RoyalBloodUK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_3mNCaJgNM
Low Fat Getting High
They have an EP out called 'Bad Yoga' It Rules, couldn't have put it better myself, their slacker rock brings to mind early fuzzed-up Nirvana, rough as chuff and full of melody, i can see these guys getting even better.
For fans of: early-Nirvana, Mudhoney
http://lowfatgettinghigh.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/lowfatgettinghigh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDZqwryLOyA
No Sinner
A Surprise hit from last year, No Sinner belt out track after track of old school rock 'n roll with elements of blues and soul and bring to mind all the old classics, vocalist Colleen Rennision brings it all together with her powerhouse of a voice, hammering every track home.
For fans of: Detroit Cobras, Rolling Stones, Northern Soul
http://nosinner.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NoSinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIhDILaxLxw
Polar
Over the last 4 years Polar have been honing their hardcore/metal hybrid sound releasing records on the always impressive Wolf At Your Door records, and now stepping up to the always amazing In At The Deep End records, and in turn with the jump in labels the quality of songwriting has picked up a notch, new album 'Shadowed By Vultures' is their best yet, and for a this hard-working band should bring everything they deserve.
For fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Feed The Rhino
https://www.facebook.com/thispolarnoise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7WzwU6Ifeo
Post War Glamour Girls
Swirling walls of noise with male/female duo vocals and elements forged together from pretty much every amazing indie band for the last 30 years all melding together to create one of the most unique debut albums this side of Psychocandy.
For fans of: Jesus & Mary Chain, Ride, iLiKETRAiNS
http://postwarglamourgirls.com/merch
https://www.facebook.com/postwarglamourgirls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBCRjQTYDc
Tiger Bell
Sweden churns out more great bands than almost any other country and Tiger Bell are one of the latest garage punkrock bands to be making impressive sounds from that way, taking up from where The Donnas left off when they dropped the ball after 02's 'Spend The Night' Tiger Bell have unleashed an album chock full of bouncy anthems.
For fans of: The Donnas, The Runaways, Danko Jones, Hellcaopters
https://www.facebook.com/tigerbellband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SgmFm5bTa4
Dolomite Minor
More fuzz drenched blues and once again from a two piece, there's hope for fans of the now defunct Wet Nuns with these guys around, with only two admittedly awesome released songs to their name they should be honing their craft by playing pretty much every UK festival there is this year.
For fans of: Wet Nuns, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Black Sabbath
https://www.facebook.com/dolomiteminor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccoU-Pvdvrc
Glass Caves
Shimmering dream-pop is probably the best description of the music Glass Caves create with soaring melodies over the top of jangly almost shoegaze guitars, whatever you want to label them, they have the songs to back up the hype they've been getting.
For fans of: Embrace, Sunshine Underground
http://glasscaves.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/glasscavesmusic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yQdt9xGEKE
Black Dogs
Depending on the mood, i can sometimes fancy a bit of soul, a bit of blues, even occasionally some decent country music, but sometimes i just fancy having my face melted off by aggressive as fuck metal, Black Dogs provide just the soundtrack for those times with their groove infused metal and their northern as fuck stance, i mean they sold t-shirts that had 'Slags, Chips, Gravy' printed on them for christsakes.
For fans of: While She Sleeps, Eyehategod
http://weareblackdogs.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/weareblackdogs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MadmOrLeDCw
Giuda
While glam-rock in general is well known for the occasional homoerotic artwork, Italy's Giuda take it to the point of top notch campness, however this isn't your sleazy glam ala New York Dolls, this is more rooted in the Slade, Wizzard etc... style with a nice hint of punk, 2nd album 'Let's Do it Again' reeks of 70's excellence.
For fans of: Slade Wizzard et al, i already said
http://giuda.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Giuda/162619653788119
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Ib0KLtRP8
Neck Deep
For fans of: Pennywise, NOFX
http://www.neckdeepuk.com/store/
https://www.facebook.com/neckdeepuk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbOEGnDksKQ
Sex Cross
New Jersey has a long history of producing great music and Sex Cross are no different with their darkwave post-punk their first two singles have already surpassed contemporaries albums, and with news of an LP being in the works there's much more to come.
For fans of: Joy Division, Echo & The Bunnymen
http://sexcross.bigcartel.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SexCross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trlCYr361HA
Southern
Brother/sister duo's are quite rare and often like in the case of Same Difference abysmally shite, luckily Southern are bucking that trend, their debut EP is a blues drenched backbeat rock 'n roll treat which is bound to pick them up tons of new followers, good genes.
For fans of: The Strypes,
https://www.facebook.com/thisissouthern
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V958QAAT2K8
68
When Josh Scogin announced the end of The Chariot a lot of people were bummed out, luckily he wasted no time starting a new project '68, and it's everything you would expect it be, which is noisy as fuck with angular twists and shout along anthems. the debut 7" Midnight packs quite the punch.
For fans of: The Chariot
https://store.nosleeprecords.com/product/6972/midnight
https://www.facebook.com/theyare68
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksl5nX3PWDg
Viva Viva
Showing more promise than any other band I've heard in a long time, Viva Viva have been steadily getting better over the last 7 or 8 years, 2010's self-titled album was a pop-rock juggernaut jammed full of singalong nuggets, 2012's 'What's The Kim Deal?' mini-album showed a maturity to their song-writing which was fully realised with last years 'Dead In Yr Tracks' EP a masterpiece with some of the most original sounds I've heard in forever.
For fans of: Original Rock
http://vivaviva.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thisisvivaviva
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3yyP_yC81g
Weathered Hands
When a band release an EP called 'Of All the People That I've Left, Each One Has Died of Loneliness' you already have my attention, when that release is put out by In At The Deep End records I'm actively interested in hearing it, and when the EP is full of emotional hardcore anthems I'm loving it.
For fans of: Defeater
http://weatheredhands.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/weatheredhands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6KW1ZO-jWs
Rexine
Reminiscent of Sheffield's Long Blondes, Rexine deal in a bit heavier and darker territory while maintaining the melody and rhythm of the previous outfit, two singles in and they already show huge promise, 2014 should be their year,
For fans of: Long Blondes, post-punk
http://rexine.bandcamp.com/album/new-sparkle-red-fox
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rexine/165381883507472
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZuEhgwka4o
Sulk
While bands like Peace are spearheading a 90's baggy revival, Sulk are releasing a much better version, hell their picture even looks like an early Charlatans shot, and the music follows suit, the difference between these and the pretenders is this sounds like it was actually released in the early 90's
For fans of: The Charlatans, The Stone Roses
http://www.sulktheband.com/shop/
https://www.facebook.com/sulktheband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YU0LjRbAz0
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Aka The Seven Swines, i literally can't tell you anything about this band, other than the fact that they've only released one 22 minute opus called 'The Wizard and The Seven Swines' which is a psychedelic rockbeast of a track and they play the occasional gig, looking forward to more in the future.
For fans of: The Heads
http://pigspigspigspigspigspigspigs.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PigsPigsPigsPigsPigsPigsPigs
Loom
Being the brother of the The Horrors singer you'd think Tarik Badwan would be standing in quite the large shadow, however his own 90's re-incarnated band looms it's own shadow (see what i did there), so far they've been dealing exclusively in limited vinyl and cassettes and enlightened covers tunes while occasionally throwing their own even better songs in.
For fans of: Nirvana, 90's Alt Rock
https://www.facebook.com/Loomband
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXmKkMyGiSA
As before if you can't find something here you like, you should stop reading this blog and probably stop listening to music in general, if you like any of the bands make sure you try and buy stuff where you can and remember there's other ways to support new music. Go to more gigs, bands on this list are likely to charge less than a takeaway or a packet of cigs for a ticket and it's much healthier.
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