Rumors that the Swedish garage-punk mines are nearing exhaustion appear to be unfounded, as evidence by this Stockholm quartet. Releasing their first record since 2010, these guys give little away, content to let the music do the talking, which it does in spades. Produced by garage maven Dave Klein, “Calcutta Sunrise” is very much chiseled from the same stones as The Hellacopters, slavering deliriously at the altar of Detroit rock ‘n’ roll. The name of the game is distortion pedals set to 10, heads down, see you at the end, save for the ‘acoustic interlude’ of ‘City of the Dead’, taking the Stooges’ ‘Gimme Danger’ as it’s lead. Appropriately enough, this is followed by ‘Let’s Settle the Score’, based on a sinewy ‘Shake Appeal’ riff. Naturally, originality is not the main priority on this slab of head-shakin’ rock action.

Denver rock duo In The Whale have spent 2014 becoming one of the most closely watched buzz bands in the world of rock. Now, following the release of two killer EPs and numerous nationwide tours, the band have shared a new track that rips like no other single in recent memory. Produced and recorded by Dave Klein of Agent Orange “Ride” is the kind of song you put on to drown out the world and get shit accomplished. You can run from the cops to this song just as easily as you jam it while burning calories at the gym or working away at the dead-end cubicle job you keep telling yourself will improve in time (it won’t). 

The Hellflowers from LA (USA) is a rock band reminiscent of 90's alternative rock, the music of which they have dragged by the short and curlies into the 21st century. Their debut EP "Come One Let's Dance!" produced by Dave Klein was released March 16th and offers up 4 tracks of catchy rock, very reminiscent of bands similar to Blondie and the like. This release is very enjoyable, very inoffensive, and absolutely ideal for radio airplay.