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Artist Spotlight: Intense Metalcore, Empowering Alt-Rock, and Catchy Pop-Punk

By David Weddle
Exploring the raw talent and resonant stories of the independent music scene.
It is an exciting time for new music currently. With our regular spotlight articles, we love to highlight a massive variety of independent acts from across the musical spectrum. Today we are diving into three incredible projects that swap rigid, over-polished production for pure, raw human energy: Creating Firebrand, Credible Witness, and Approaching Autumn.
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Flint, Michigan's own Approaching Autumn is back on our radar with another hard hitting dose of heavy music. Known for tearing up stages alongside musical heavyweights like Bloodywood and Red, this dynamic seven piece band knows exactly how to create tracks that a crammed full of deep emotions and blistering sonic energy.

Their new single, 'Sleeper' is a prime example of that intense energy. Zeroing in on the raw pain of the ultimate betrayal by the one person you thought you could trust. Lyrically it tackles the agony and anxiety of that loss of trust and the crushing heartbreak of finding out the one you relied on turned out to be the one to stab you in the back. With stunning vocals, crushing, chaotic riffs and explosive energy, 'Sleeper' is out now.

Listen here


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Solo project Creating Firebrand that was born out of emotional turmoil, a fight for survival and personal therapy. Having previously been a member of the band Dying Desolation for six years, this solo endeavour has helped to move things in a new direction, using very personal experiences as a reference point for his songwriting. 

His latest single 'Untether' tackles the heavy and very complicated realities of breaking away from
co-dependence, a raw and honest look at how that harrowing experience affects you. Sonically, the track really delves into that internal, emotional tug-of-war shifting from soft, clean guitars and intimate vocals to punishing breakdowns and raw, harsh screams. It is an incredibly powerful introduction to an artist that has poured everything he has into his music.

Listen here

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American indie rock outfit Credible Witness have been building up momentum in the underground music scene over the last few years with a wave of successful releases helping to grow their fanbase. Their latest track, 'Paycheck To Paycheck' is another powerhouse of a song.

It has that classic high octane, pop-punk energy that you would expect from them having listened to their previous singles like 'Broken Radio' or 'Fish Out Of Water'. With a relentless, hard hitting rhythm section keeping the energy moving, the guitars build towards an incredibly infectious chorus that you are definitely going to find stuck in your head for a good while after listening. Cracking stuff.


Listen here

​Keep an eye out for more artist spotlights, and if you have any new music that you think deserves a shout-out, feel free to send it our way.

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