BIFFY CLYRO
Balance Not Symmetry
A surprise release from a soundtrack of the
same name, the Scottish arena-rockers are
reinvigorated here. Angular riffs and esoteric
percussion abound on the title track.
THE BLACK KEYS
Go
A back-to-basics rocker from Auerbach and
Carney sees them fit comfortably between
the Attack & Release and El Camino eras,
with catchy riffs and a singalong chorus.SLIPKNOT
Unsainted
Taken from new LP We Are Not Your Kind,
Corey Taylor’s signature vocals are backed
by brutal drumming, before Jim Root and
Mick Thomson bring the merciless riffery.THE NATIONAL
Rylan
Played live sporadically in recent years, Rylan
has now been given a full studio rendering
on I Am Easy To Find, with thunderous,
gated drums and vocal harmonies.
THE HIVES
I’m Alive
The Hives are back with their first original
material in over four years. Strung-out
chords open the track before falling into
huge guitar stabs and weighty drums.JAMES BAY
Rescue
From his surprise EP Oh My Messy Mind,
Bay turns away from pop and towards
chugging guitars, blues-and-country-inspired
lead lines and gospel backing vocals.THE RACONTEURS
Help Me Stranger
Opening with Jack White’s trademark
psychedelic blues, this evolves into
a sinewy groove with hairy lead
inflections and acoustic guitars.
SWIMMING TAPES
Keep Her Closer
These five friends from Northern Ireland
offer a respite from the recent punk
resurgence, turning their hand to expertly
crafted American-style indie.BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
There Goes My Miracle
The second single from new album Western
Stars, this pays homage to 60s stalwarts
Glen Campbell and Burt Bacharach with a
string section and The Boss’s soaring vocals.MAC DEMARCO
All Of Our Yesterdays
Indie’s prodigal son has released his fourth
long player and this track provides the
perfect, lilting vibrato guitar to soundtrack
your barbecues in the park this summer.
YONAKA
Don’t Wait ’Til Tomorrow
Yonaka are another band reinventing British
guitar music. The title track from their
self-produced debut features filtered lead
lines between Theresa Jarvis’s sultry vocals.THE AMAZONS
25
Guitar solos abound on the Reading natives’
sophomore record, taking influence from
rock ’n’ roll’s finest in the form of Led
Zeppelin, Howlin’ Wolf and others.This month’s essential tracks for guitar lovers...
GUITAR MAGAZINE 17