5 rock bands you should be listening to right now

If there is one thing I’ve learned while blogging about rock and roll, it’s that there are a lot of fantastic bands out there that are releasing awesome music, gigging their butts off, and generally just working hard to be the best that they can be in the world.

The best part about this website is that I, and my partners in crime Maria Savva and Darcia Helle, can (in some small part) help spread the word about some of these bands and musicians. So today I’m kicking off a new regular feature (probably monthly, I’m thinking) where I’ll list five bands that I think you should give a serious listen.

Black Star Riders

Black Star Riders started out as an off-shoot from Thin Lizzy a few years ago, but it was evident from the band’s rock-solid debut album “All Hell Breaks Loose“, that this band had a lot more going on than being some second-string venture. The band’s second release, “The Killer Instinct“, absolutely blew me away: the tracks ‘Blindsided’ and ‘Charlie I Gotta Go’ from that album are some of my favourite rock tunes from the last few years. A third album is in the works right now and judging by the updates from the studio, we’re in for another treat. Check them out on PledgeMusic to get in on the action!

This is a band made up of guys who obviously love what they do, and have the chops and talent to rock out hard with a whole lot of swagger and confidence. With Ricky Warwick on vocals, Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson on guitars, Robert Crane on bass, and Jimmy DeGrasso on drums, this band is grade-A rock and roll goodness.

Black Star Riders is also heading out on tour in 2017. A whole bunch of European dates have already been announced, and I’m still dreaming of the day when they’ll make it over to Vancouver…

Black Star Riders’ official website / Facebook / Twitter

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Massive

I’ve followed Australian band Massive for a few years now and I am consistently bowled over by the music they put out. They are powerful, raunchy, and equipped with all the skills to knock you out. The band’s debut album “Full Throttle” kicked ass, and the follow-up “Destination Somewhere” just built on that strength. If you haven’t listened to tracks like the brilliant ‘Ghost’, and the hard-rocking glory of ‘Destination Somewhere’ and ‘Blood Money Blues’, you are definitely missing out.

The band just made the move from Australia to the UK, and are heading out on tour pretty much as we speak. If you’re in Europe: catch ’em live if you can. If you’re a rock fan: check out the band’s music ASAP.

Massive’s official website / Facebook / Twitter

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Eldorado

Eldorado is a Spanish rock band that plays an addictive and powerful mix of hard rock, classic rock, and, well, just plain awesome soulfully, bluesy rock’n’roll. The band has a new album coming out in November titled ‘Riding The Sun’, and the first video and single from that release is ‘Mother Water’. I listened to it a while back and it knocked my socks off: I could not stop listening to it.

The guitars! The vocals! That hooky melody! So, so very tasty. This crew is just jaw-droppingly good. Check out their previous release Babylonia Haze for more proof of their awesomeness.

Eldorado’s official website / Facebook / Twitter

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Trucker Diablo

Well, hell, if you’re not listening to Trucker Diablo on a regular basis already, then you must remedy the situation immediately. The band’s album ‘Songs of Iron’ is a rock and roll classic as far as I’m concerned (with tracks like ‘Drive’ and ‘Maybe You’re The One’), and the followup ‘Rise Above The Noise‘ is a smash, bang, drink-your-beer-up and crank it to eleven kind of marvel.

Trucker Diablo has awesome party tunes like ‘Drink Beer, Destroy’ in their arsenal, and they could also be teaching master-classes in how to write killer power-ballads: just listen to ‘Maybe You’re The One’ and ‘Where Angels Fly’ for proof of that. A new album is in the works, and I can’t wait to hear what these guys are bringing to my speakers next.

Trucker Diablo’s official website / Facebook / Twitter

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Tequila Mockingbyrd

Tequila Mockingbyrd is another Australian band that has just made the move to the UK, like the previously mentioned Massive, and they are heading out on the Aussie Wrecking Crew tour with Massive and Black Aces this fall. Do they kick ass, though? Well, hell yes. And how! The EP ‘T-Byrds Are Go‘ is exhibit A, and the band’s latest release ‘Fight And Flight‘ is a knockout exhibit B. Listening to ‘I Smell Rock N Roll’ from ‘Fight And Flight’ might just knock you flat on your backside: this crew pulls no punches. I love this quote from their bio, because it just describes them to a T:

No lemon. No salt. No chaser. Melbourne’s Tequila Mockingbyrd are a shot of straight up rock n roll packing a high energy punch that will hit you from the first explosion of sound until long into the after-party.

Exactly.

Tequila Mockingbyrd’s official website / Facebook / Twitter