Welcome to volume 1 of “On the Radar” at Sonic Pulse Reviews. A couple of times a year we’re going to take time to showcase some upcoming rock bands that may not be on your radar yet but deserve to be.
The Marches
The Marches is one of those instances where the algorithm gods were at the top of their game.
I’m not sure how they happened into my Instagram feed, but my playlist is the better for it. They’re a talented rock band in the truest sense, with no qualifiers. The world should know about them, so I set out to find out more.
Formed in December 2023, this four-piece from Ayrshire and Paisley in the west of Scotland skipped the easing-in phase entirely: their first gig was a sold-out headline slot at Glasgow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in July 2024.
Katie Palmer (vocals, guitar), Jane Jenkins (lead guitar), Nicola Singleton (bass) and Kate Morrow (drums) write songs that swing between fragile and ferocious, with big melodies, sharp storytelling and a Celtic edge that BBC Radio 6 Music noticed when it put “The Habit” on its Introducing Mixtape.
Their new four-track EP, Faultline, is out now.
The sound of ‘Faultline’
I wanted to say, “the first thing that stood out to me was…” but then I realized the answer is everything.
They’re all excellent musicians.
Jane’s guitar solos are there in each song: just long enough to leave you wanting more but not overtaking the song. Her guitar tone is warm and her skill evident. There are delicate strums and powerful riffs that all come at the right moment within a song.
Katie’s vocals are distinctive. Powerful enough to drive a rock song, in a timbre that delights the ear. She flips effortlessly between chest and head voice. Her prowess strikes you from the opening lines of “Struck to The Heart” and remains throughout the EP.
I would be remiss to leave out the rhythm section. Nicola’s bass is prominent and the crucial foundation of every song. I really appreciate Kate’s attention to the toms. They add depth to the tracks and give “Concrete into Dust” a special atmosphere coming off “Be Cool.”
Faultline is available on streaming services now, and if you like rock, you need to hear these songs. My wish is for a full-length album sometime soon.
Website: revoprolive.com/pages/the-marches-band
IG: @themarchesmusic
Sludge Mother
Sludge Mother lives up to their name. If you miss the days when the radio sounded like a wet Seattle basement, they’ve got you covered.
The Los Angeles project is led by singer Cami Petyn, and it pulls hard from the ’90s: Soundgarden’s heavy riffs, Alice in Chains’ gloom, and a bit of pre-Nevermind Nirvana snarl. Petyn has the range to growl one minute and soar the next.
The band debuted in September 2024 with “When the Earth Swallows Us.” Since then, they’ve played Furnace Fest and ShipRocked, shared stages with letlive., and are on the road this month opening for Austin trio Sap.
‘How Can Anything Bloom?’ and 'Feed Me'
Their first EP, How Can Anything Bloom? came out in January this year. The EP’s single “I Don’t Want a Job” hit over a million streams. The opening note is a Cami scream: if you weren’t already awake, you will be. This high-energy song is the perfect prescription for starting your day along with your coffee as you head to work.
Anyone who’s ever stared down a Monday morning will get it immediately.
The chugging guitars and thunderous drums on “Bloom” drive this song hard, but Cami’s voice never feels lost. Her vocals are as powerful as the guitar solos. This is pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll and I’m here for it.
“To Die Is To Live” is the last track on the EP, and Sludge Mother held the best for last. All five songs are a blast, but there’s something special about this one.
The lyrics are deep, pondering what the gods are wondering as they look down on us from the edge of heaven, the melody is fabulous, and this may be the best vocal track on the EP.
On November 13, Sludge Mother dropped a new single, “Feed Me.” There’s a nice, chunky bass intro that makes you want to lean in and turn it way up. Be warned, the guitar and drums don’t eventually fade in. They slam in. The BPM stays high for the rest of the song and when it’s over you’ll most likely be catching your breath.
Sludge Mother never disappoints.
Website: sludgemother.com
IG: @ursludgemommy
Burn The Breeze
Burn The Breeze are a duo of Justin and Victoria Khoury from Raleigh, North Carolina. Their Instagram bio sums up the sound: “70’s & 90’s rock had a baby.”
The duo has said they want to embrace the sound of classic rock music, leaning on bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Heart and Cream for inspiration. They also run a Patreon that lets fans pick what they react to next and get a look at the writing and recording process.
In an interview with VoyageRaleigh, they said they aim to provide an outlet for an audience who is yearning for rock.
The singles
Burn The Breeze hasn’t released an EP yet, but they do have plenty of original singles available to stream. One of my favorites is “Great Escape” released in February. The fast-paced guitar riff and punchy snare will have you reaching for more volume before the vocals even start. This is a driving song meant for summer with the windows down.
“Real Thing” came out in August, and perhaps one of the best examples of their classic rock influences, with a touch of southern rock tossed in for flavor.
“Fame” leans more modern rock. The guitar riff is catchy and may very well give you an ear worm. Victoria’s vocals shine in “Fame” as well. This one earns its place in any rock playlist.
Released November 12, “Caroline” shows a softer side of Burn The Breeze while keeping their rock edge. Justin’s songwriting stands out as well.
“Songbird the water on your wings will dry” are gently sung by Victoria as she builds to almost wailing on “you won’t slip into nothing.”
When listening to “Caroline” I wasn’t trying to place what classic band it sounded like. I was thinking, “This sounds like Burn The Breeze.”
IG: @burn.the.breeze.band
Speed of Light
Speed of Light crossed my radar when they opened for The Warning.
Their sound is alt garage rock with one foot in punk and some metal screams for good measure. Their influences range from Melvins and The Stooges to ’90s Throwing Muses and Breeders.
Lead vocalist & bassist Riley Christensen is backed by her brothers Tyler on drums and Cameron on guitar. They’re a sibling trio from Santa Monica, California, and like The Warning, they started the band as kids.
I watched a live-stream the night Riley stepped in to sing lead on “Evolve” during The Warning’s show at the Fonda in LA, when Dany was too sick to sing. She excelled in the spotlight!
The singles
Like Burn The Breeze, Speed of Light hasn’t released an EP yet, but they have stated in interviews they are working on putting together the songs for an EP/LP.
My favorite single is “Inch by Inch” which dropped earlier this year. The opening riff is delicious, and when Riley’s vocals kick in it knocks you back in your seat. If something can be both well-polished and raw at the same time, “Inch by Inch” is it. This is another song I highly recommend for your rock playlist.
2025’s “Pain on a Chain” is another rocker which has Riley delivering more screams versus the cleaner vocals in “Inch by Inch” and between the two we see the diversity and strength in her vocals.
“Séance” from 2024 is another popular song from Speed of Light where we get to hear screams and is well worth checking out.
Website: speedoflightband.com
IG: @speedoflightband
Keep Them on Your Radar
Four bands, four very different routes back to the same place: rock music played loud, by people who mean it and appreciate your support.
The best thing you can do is the simplest.
Stream the songs, follow them on Instagram, buy a T-shirt, and if any of them roll through your town, go see them live. That’s how bands like these get to album number one.
Know a band that belongs On the Radar? Drop us a DM on Instagram. Vol. 2 is already taking shape.
