Best New Rock Bands Nobody is Talking About (2021)
You’ll be amazed how much great music goes unseen behind the curtain of mainstream
Today’s new bands have it harder than ever before. It’s hard to think of something that we haven’t already heard. Practically everything is invented, and yet, they need for something original and authentic is greater than ever before. And if that weren’t enough, besides, today’s bands have to fight against an industry that favors fast and hollow music. Not an easy task.
So what. Is it all lost? Not at all.
There’s much more behind the curtain of mainstream. Great music waiting to be discovered. Young bands creating amazing stuff that, sadly, doesn’t reach the masses. And that is why I bring you this post.
This is not another post that promises you “new-alternative-bands” to end up listening to the same singles of generic bands like Tame Impala or Cage the Elephant for the millionth time. No sir. This is a selection of what, in my humble opinion, are some of the best songs from new bands that you have never heard before. There is something for everyone: alternative rock, hardcore punk, psych rock, indie, progressive, stoner, hard rock…
And if you want to discover even more bands and some of their best songs, feel free to listen to my playlist ‘Discover New Bands’ on Spotify.
This is a selection of the best songs from new bands that you have never heard before
I would like to add that this is just my personal opinion and you can discern which songs go first and which ones after. Mainly I have focused on four different aspects: Originality, Lyrics, Composition and Impression. In any case, if you have a different opinion or you know any other unknown bands, please feel free to leave it in the comment section. I would really like to know what you think and what your opinions are.
All right. Now introductions have been made…Let’s get started!
- RED CAN — Sunday Night Duel (2019)
- Lucid Planet — Anamnesis (2020)
- SLIFT — Altitude Lake (2020)
- Result of Choice — Deceived (2019)
- Greenleaf — Trails & Passes (2014)
- Method of Doubt — World of you (2019)
- Honeybadger — That Feel (2019)
- King Buffalo — Centurion (2018)
- Levitation Room — Warmth of the Sun (2018)
- Meatbodies — Disorder (2014)
- Acid Dad — Don’t Get Taken (2016)
1. RED CAN — Sunday Night Duel (2019)
RED CAN is a rock band from Spain. “50:00:00” is the name of their first and self-produced EP, named after the hours needed to make it. Yes, that’s right. The album was recorded completely DIY in two nights and two mornings in a music school studio by four sound engineer students as part of a final exam, and produced by a friend of the band in his home studio.
“Considering that the engineers lost great part of the tracks we recorded and that we had to work with what was left without any resources, nor money or the possibility to record it again… I think we did a pretty good job.”
— Nacho from Red Can
It took me a bit to decide whether to put Red Can or Lucid Planet in first place, but based on all the aspects mentioned above (originality, lyrics, composition, and impression), I definitely stick with this song. Why? One word: Groundbreaking. The whole song is amazing, but what makes it so special is the lyrics.
When you thought you had already heard everything, suddenly you hear this
When you thought you had already heard everything, suddenly you hear this. A fast-paced toms and bass drum beat that makes you want to get into battle, followed by a bass line as addictive as powerful, and, at the end of the road, a guitar blast that gives rise to the most original, fun and witty song you’ve ever heard in your whole life.
An authentic roller coaster of emotions and changes of rhythm whose background is a duel between a hippie girl and a clerk fighting to escape reality in the purest ‘Fight Club’ style in a show to which we are all invited.
2. Lucid Planet — Anamnesis (2020)
Lucid Planet is a progressive, psychedelic band from Melbourne, Australia. Their music combines influences of psychedelic bass music with djent, tribal, and progressive rock for a divergent sound that interfuses genres. Intense, heavy rock melds with clean, delay-driven psychedelic soundscapes that aims to produce a meticulously-crafted, kaleidoscopic experience.
After the release of their debut album in 2015, they have been working really hard to bring us their long-awaited second full-length album “Lucid Planet II”, which is expected to be released in 2020.
I can’t think of a single song that is weaker or is there to fill space
What can I say about Lucid Planet. Everything falls short to praise the mastery and subtlety of such a young band. It is a true privilege to be in the front row to see a band of this caliber grow and develop. As happens with Tool (great influence of the band) I can’t think of a single song that is weaker or is there to fill space.
This next song is one of their new singles (along with “Zenith”) from the upcoming album. But just before I let you enter the passages and rooms of Lucid Planet, one little piece of advice: put on your headphones.
3. Slift — Altitude Lake (2020)
SLIFT is a garage rock-psych band coming from Toulouse (France). A musical trio composed by two brothers (guitarist and bass player) and a friend from high school (drummer).
Three years after the release of their first album (“Space Is The Key”), they bring us “UMMON”, a new LP that will literally transport you to landscapes of distant worlds in galaxies of your fantasy that will make you wonder what the hell you’ve been listening until now.
They will literally transport you to landscapes of distant worlds in galaxies of your fantasy that will make you wonder what the hell you’ve been listening until now
As with Red Can and Lucid Planet, it’s difficult to choose just one song among all the precious stones that make up this latest album. However, the one that has fascinated me the most is the one that I bring you here.
And so as not to spoil the surprise, I will say no more than this: enjoy it.
4. Result of Choice — Deceived (2019)
Result of Choice is a hardcore-punk band from South Florida (USA).
I was really impressed the first time I listened to the band. Unlike most punk bands that tragically fall into the monotony of fast-paced tempos and hoarse voices, so characteristic of this style, Result of Choice have managed to achieve a fresh and unique sound while maintaining the roots and attitude of the genre.
A fresh but unique sound that maintains the roots and attitude of punk
“Deceived” is the first song from their latest album “Place of my Dreams”, released in 2019.
5. Greenleaf — Trail & Passes (2014)
Greenleaf are a stoner-hard rock band from Borlänge, Sweden. They formed in 1999 and are still active.
Through their career Greenleaf have managed to release seven studio albums and tour around Europe since 2010, over a decade after the band started. And listening to songs like “Trails & Passes” one understands the success of the band.
A hard-hitting and authentic sound in each song that makes one want to rock a little longer
A heavy sound that becomes light with the singer’s voice. A voice that reminds us a little bit of Joshua Homme’s from Queens of the Stone Age. While many rock bands prefer to move in loops, always repeating the same structures they know work but which end up boring, Greenleaf gives us a hard-hitting and authentic sound in each song that makes one want to rock a little longer, a combination that very few bands succeed to achieve.
6. Method of Doubt — World of you (2019)
Another hardcore-punk band also from South Florida (USA). Although somewhat less subtle than his fellow Result of Choice, the band is equally loyal to his style.
A defiant lyrics round out a song that will linger in your head for a long time
“World of you” is the first song of her most recent work “Accepting what we know”. It starts with a guitar riff in crescendo, anyone would say this is a punk song; however, everything changes in the 48th second when the drums enter the scene setting a new beat along with the bass. And it is precisely these changes of rhythm that the band introduces with such professionalism, which gives strength and dynamism to the song.
A defiant lyrics round out a song that will linger in your head for a long time.
8. Honeybadger — That Feel (2019)
Honeybadger is a heavy, desert rock band with four members from Athens (Greece). Influenced by bands like Monster Magnet, Queens of the Stone Age, Clutch, Truckfighters, amongst others, they formed in 2014 and achieved local success in their home city, Athens.
They released their first EP “The Rain” back in 2017, and now they bring us their very first LP: “Pleasure Delayer”.
A catchy song easy to listen to but not so easy to stop repeating
Their single “The Feel” is part of this work. A catchy song easy to listen to but not so easy to stop repeating.
8. King Buffalo — Centurion (2018)
Coming from Rochester (New York) the band was formed in 2013 by the trio of vocalist/guitarist Sean McVay, bassist Dan Reynolds, and drummer Scott Donaldson. The self-proclaimed “heavy psych” band has made its name via 3 EPs, 2 Full-lengths albums, and tours with the likes of The Sword, All Them Witches, and Elder.
A consistent and enveloping sound from start to finish, a feat that we rarely see in the mainstream world
The single I bring you here is a great example of why the band’s success, a consistent and enveloping sound from start to finish, a feat that we rarely see in the mainstream world.
9. Levitation Room — Warmth of the Sun (2018)
Levitation Room was formed in Los Angeles (California) in 2012 around the bandmembers’ mutual love of 60s garage rock played with a psychedelic twist. And their single “Warmth of the Sun” is the perfect cockpit to that time travel.
A time travel that will take you to the psychedelic 60s in an intoxicating experience
The song starts with a sitar curtain and a melodic guitar riff that opens the stage to the rest of the instruments to give you a unique and intoxicating experience that you won’t easily forget.
10. Meatbodies — Disorder (2014)
Meatbodies is an American band formed in 2013 in Monrovia (California). We can easily appreciate the great influence of garage-punk and psychedelic rock on the band’s sound, but also brimming with bent but pop-friendly melodies and hooks.
If you like the Ramones, you will probably like this song
Their first album “Meatbodies” came in 2014, in which they work more the garage-punk style. Followed by another LP: “Alice”, where the band experiment more with the psychedelic rock.
11. Acid Dad — Don’t Get Taken (2016)
The group was formed in 2014 in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg area. Acid Dad give a psychedelic makeover to the sound and attitude of contemporary garage rock, playing up the music’s trippier aspects.
In February of 2016 they dropped their first EP “Let’s Plan a Robbery”, which includes the song I bring you here: “Don’t Get Taken”. The project was recorded in a makeshift studio in upstate New York, assembled by the band in a cabin owned by the drummer’s grandfather.
A playful song with nuances of 80s rock that makes you want to loop indefinitely
When I hear this song, I can’t help but think of the archetypal group of friends from high school making mischief around town with their worn out skates as their only means of escape. A playful song with nuances of 80s rock that makes you want to loop indefinitely.
A Note from the Author: If you have enjoyed these songs, share this post so that more people know about these amazing young bands. This is the best way to help these artists grow and keep making new music for all of us.
You can also support them through their Social Media, Bandcamp, or Official Websites by purchasing their albums, merchandise, or simply by reaching them to tell them about their work. They will really appreciate it.
Thanks for reading!
