THE UK WATCHLIST 2022

Want to know which homegrown bands/artists are set for big things this year? We have put together a short list of our favourite new(ish) acts to get you excited about the future of alternative music!

NOVA TWINS

Nova Twins, AKA Amy Love & Georgia South, being in this list is probably no surprise to a lot of you. Even if you haven’t checked out their music yet, you have probably heard the name. From touring with the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and Enter Shikari to winning Best UK Breakthrough at last years Heavy Music Awards, Nova Twins have certainly made a splash in the scene over the past few years, not bad for a band yet to release an album eh? And that is why we have put them in this list, things are inevitably going to get bigger and better for this twosome especially once their debut album ‘Supernova’ comes out on June 17th. Speaking on the album, Amy and Georgia said, “’Supernova’ is the beginning of a new era. As we delved into the unknown, making this album became our medicine through a turbulent time. It’s a reflection of where we were and how far we have come, encased in a fantasy world that we imagined. ‘Supernova’ is made out of dreams, triumphs and colourful nightmares. When you get to the other side, you will always come out a winner.”

You can watch the video to the first single K.M.B off the new album here:

WARGASM (UK)

Similarly to Nova Twins, you’ve probably heard of our next up and comers Wargasm (UK) already. Sam & Milkie have smashed their way into the alternative consciousness by colliding their love for nu-metal, electronic, punk & pop into something that shouldn’t really work but really does. Since releasing their breakout single Spit during lockdown in 2020, ‘Gasm have gone from strength to strength, performing at Download Pilot, Slam Dunk, Bloodstock, Reading & Leeds as well completely selling out their first UK headline tour and winning best UK Breakthrough at last years Heavy Music Awards. Things are only set to get bigger and crazier this year too as they have just been announced as supports for Nu Metal kings and our fave Dads Limp Bizkit on their upcoming US Arena Tour as well as a bunch of US and European festival dates. Check out their breakout single SPIT below!

Death Blooms

Speaking of Wargasm’, if you did manage to catch them on their first UK headline tour, you may have come across main support band Death Blooms, AKA Paul Barrow, AKA Liverpool’s one man Nu Metal tour de force (with full touring band). That’s right, all that noise from the brain of one angry scouser, and we can’t get enough of it. Paul manages put a modern metal twist on that classic nu metal sound of the late 90s early 00s, we’re talking Coal Chamber, Mushroomhead, Korn and of course Mudvayne vibes (the band in which they got their name from). Their debut album Life Is Pain, is just riff after riff, wall to wall aggressive yet still melodic bangers. If that sounds like your thing, check out the single for ‘In Your Head’ below!

Static Dress

Next up, is another band that you’ve probably come across the name of over the past couple of years. Static Dress have been popping up on festivals and tours left right and centre and it’s no surprise why. The band has a sound that pushes all the right buttons, with elements of 90s grunge, 00s emo/screamo and modern production, they are quickly becoming a force to reckon with in the scene and not just musically too. The bands vocalist and creative visionary Oli Appleyard puts as much thought into the concepts and visuals of their releases as he does the music, everything they do is a well crafted piece of art from start to finish. Scratch the surface with this band and see how far you go down their rabbit hole. Intrigued? I know you are. Check out their single “such.a.shame” here:

Modern Error

How do you like your rock? If the answer is anthemic, moody, electronically driven, nostalgic yet experimental rock, then Modern Error is THE new band for you. If that description felt confusing, then give their latest album “Victim Of A Modern Age” a listen and see if you can think of a better description! They pack so many influences in their music, from 00s screamo to industrial rock it feels almost familiar yet fresh at the same time. Do yourself a favour and check out the album!

NOISY

…And now for something completely different, if you’ve not heard them yet, welcome to the world of Noisy! Having toured with the likes of Don Broco & Yungblud you’d think the Brighton trio would be one of the next up and coming rock acts right? Well that couldn’t be further from the truth. Noisy sit as comfortable on EDM line ups as they do conducting moshs pit. Their music sonically sits somewhere along the lines of The Prodigy & Ho9909 but with a plethora of catchy hooks, headbanging beats and full on rave material. Check out their smash ‘I Wish I Was A…’ below for a taste!

Cassyette

Electro-rock-pop queen Cassyette is up next. Using her incredible voice to first start getting noticed on TikTok, Cassy has gone on to release a bunch of rock fueled bangers quickly gaining a substantial fan base in the process. She recently sold out London’s Underworld – Not bad for someone that released their first song in 2019. This year see’s her become the envy of every band that grew up with 00s emo as she has been announced as one of the supports to My Chemical Romance’s Stadium Tour! now you can’t get much bigger than that!

Check out her massive anthem “Petrichor” here!

Lake Malice

Finally on this list we have Lake Malice, now I know we said UK bands but 50% of this band is British so let us off, okay? Lake Malice are also the newest and band we know the least about on the list but are definitely ones to keep you eyes/ears on. Made up by native Italian Alice & Brit Blake… Blake+Alice = Lake Malice (get it?) Their two official releases to date (Blossom & Creepers) combine enormous riffs with Alice’s soaring melodic singing contrasted with her guttural screams with some serious catchy parts. They recently played their first ever shows supporting Death Blooms on their UK tour, from which we can confirm there is a lot more to come from these two! Check out their singles below!