In this edition of LeftLion's Latest Listens, our music team reviews new releases from Confyde, Idolvein, Cara Flynn, Marseille and ALT BLK ERA...
Single: Marseille – History
Fresh off the back of their brilliant debut EP GODIVA released at the end of 2024, Derby indie outfit Marseille have returned with a brand new single – History. Swirling with rich, acoustic-driven instrumentation, some typically scintillating guitar work and young frontman Will Brown channelling Liam Gallagher’s drawl on the song’s anthemic chorus, it is without a doubt the band’s most accomplished single to date. Lyrically, it sees Brown lay down the band’s collective desire to achieve greatness and leave their mark on the music world before their career is done. So, while folks up-and-down the country get ready for Oasis’ highly in demand reunion later this summer, we may just have the next Oasis ready to breakthrough in 2025 – and from only 30-minutes up the road no less. @marseilleband (Karl Blakesley)
Single: Cara Flynn - Spark
Cara Flynn continues a series of new releases with this closely sung, intimate and soul-baring tune. It starts with deceptive softness, a long singer with her acoustic guitar, but expands into a many-faceted song, with layers upon layers of instrumentation and harmony conjuring the emotion Cara sings about so deftly. Spark is an upbeat, poetic offering, telling of love as a dream and urgent desire, and it firmly cements this local teenage singer-songwriter's credibility. @caraaamusic (Phil Taylor)
Album: ALT BLK ERA – Rave Immortal
One of the most highly anticipated releases from a Nottingham act this year, alternative sister duo Nyrobi and Chaya have finally launched their energetic debut album Rave Immortal out into the world. Sounding like a big step-up from even their excellent 2023 Freak Show EP, the sisters showcase their songwriting progression through 10 adrenaline-fuelled, wall-to-wall bangers, filled with big beats, earworm choruses and polished production.
Sure to impress fans of crossover bands like The Prodigy, Pendulum and Enter Shikari, the highlights of the non-singles come in the form of the rambunctious Upstairs Neighbours, the bass-heavy Crashing Parties and the orchestral stylings of Catch Me If You Can. Add in popular singles My Drummer’s Girlfriend, Come On Outside and Run Rabbit, and you have a fantastic debut that successfully spotlights their massive superstar potential - the perfect launchpad for Nottingham’s next big breakout stars. @altblkera (Karl Blakesley)
Read our interview with ALT BLK ERA from our January issue here.
Single: Idolvein - Logic Bomb
Like a hammer to a landmine, Idolvein have barrelled to the forefront of the Nottingham music scene with their latest single, Logic Bomb. Through chugging riffs, powerful vocals, and an intense drumming groove, Idolvein have created a pulse in the metal community that is sure to turn heads. While influences from bands like Bring Me The Horizon shine through, the band adds their own unique twists; a surprisingly effective sax solo springs to mind for almost causing whiplash on the first listen!
There were many exciting new concepts in this latest single that, if explored in more depth, could bring a raw new angle to the metal genre. Idolvein have the potential to create something truly masterful, with Logic Bomb being a testament to this skill and ability. Certainly a band worth watching closely. @idolveinband (Philippa Walsh)
EP: Confyde - A Coward's Stitches
Confyde are a band that holds individuality and rawness at the very forefront of everything they do. Defiant to expectations, the band brings a punk rock sense of freshness to their musical presentation while delivering a thoughtfully curated arrangement of songs.
The new EP, A Coward’s Stitches, gives an unfiltered and visceral portal into the emotional experiences of lead vocalist Martin Jackson. Through the words of Jackson we explore the strain of a challenging relationship and the contrasting emotional perspectives of self-preservation, guilt and personal growth. The compilation showcases the stylistic versatility of the band, their sonic diversity makes for a record that you just can’t turn off with a sound that aptly reflects the lyrical content of each song, creating an atmosphere fitting for the sentiments explored.
A Coward’s Stitches is a beautiful example of what an EP can be. It perfectly encapsulates a single, complete experience through just three unique songs. The succinct nature of the story paired with it’s relatable rawness really makes it feel like something which should be experienced in full and leaves a lasting impression as one ponders their own comparable emotions and experiences. @confydemusic (Matt Pratt)
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