Unsigned Bands Of The Month: January 2008

The primary objective of this column is for us to take a quick look at various bands on social networking sites with the final aim of finding some rough gems, that, with some practice, and a little bit of luck could unleash their true potential. This month, we’ll be looking at three unsigned bands, all of which have had some exceptionally vibrant live experiences in spite of their unsigned status.

The One Day Speakers are a four-piece band, hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland located at http://www.myspace.com/theonedayspeakers. You might have heard of them as a result of their successful supporting role on the Proclaimers’ recent British tour. With fans like the Proclaimers’, their vigorous musicianship and vocalist Ashton Easter’s overwhelmingly Scottish vocals, one would think The One Day Speakers have a leg up in the competitive music industry. They recently released an EP, including firm live favourites such as "Roll Out The Flags." Indie has been accused of growing stale, but The One Day Speakers are looking to dispel that rumour by providing a raw edge to a genre often lacking in what The One Day Speakers clearly hold in abundance: passion. Their small, but instantly lovable repertoire of originals has inspired numerous critics, including the "Edinburgh Evening News" to offer their encouragement and endorsement. Whether they’re supporting the Proclaimers at sold out gigs, or just playing the clubs of Edinburgh and Glasgow, keep a close eye on The One Day Speakers’ sophisticated take on the Mod-influenced indie in 2008.

UG Underground Rating: 7.5

Gandhi’s Cookbook, a band featuring a couple of Ugers, as a matter of fact, is ready to take Dubai on with their efforts to support Carlos Santana himself later this year. Embracing a DIY punk ethic when it comes to recording their own brand of ska-punk and playing shows has often resulted in some below par production, so what does Gandhi’s Cookbook have to offer? After listening to three of eight songs from the band’s forthcoming EP, "In The Cesspool Of Culture," it would transpire that they have not suffered any of those production problems suffered by countless DIY bands over the years. In fact, the production is of such a standard one’s first instinct is to scroll down on http://www.myspace.com/gandhiscookbook in order to discover the name of the excellent recording studio at which their EP was recorded. You can look for all your heart’s desire: You will not find any names because this was all done at home, entirely DIY, with the band’s earnings being used to buy their own recording equipment! With influences ranging from Dead Kennedys, to Streetlight Manifesto and Kimya Dawson, there’s no limit to the intensity felt when listening to this band’s work. They’re becoming more and more vital to Dubai’s live circuit, and further information can be found on the myspace link above, so get a move on for a skanking good time with poignant social commentaries such as "Do Buy" and "Why Is Everyone So F--king Dumb."

UG Underground Rating: 8

Scarlet Snow Prelude take their name from the opening level of Vampire Night, a seminal Playstation 2 game, and hail from the island of Cyprus. With a list of influences including Every Time I Die and Joy Division, Scarlet Snow Prelude offer a brand of emo, that, judging by the recordings will grow more refined as they progress. How long they last is always going to come into question; such is the nature of many bands in Cyprus, due to the island’s status as a transitional phase of many people’s lives. The band can be found on myspace and, with the release of their latest EP, "The Great Fire Of Rome," which includes some great synth-touched emo, Scarlet Snow Prelude could become that obscure emo/hardcore band that you heard about here first. With a mixture of throaty vocal screams and surreal guitar rhythms on violently in your face tracks such as "Too Close For Comfort," Scarlet Snow Prelude threaten to impress, but lack a little extra on the more melodic sections of their songs. If you like music with a front man who can growl or bark, this is a band for you to look into. T*shirts and an EP are up for sale via Pay Pal on their myspace page, which can be found here. They’ve enjoyed successful gigs in Greece, and now it’s time to try their luck on UG.

UG Underground Rating: 6.5

Enjoy your time as you run through this short list, and subject to some moderate reception, this summary shall return in February sometime. Comment with your suggestions as to how to improve this column, or even with bands that you would like to see mentioned.

POSTED: 01/25/2008 - 02:15 am

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Comments

[zerodeck]

1st post

can people get their own bands in this list?

and why more indie and emobands? don't we have enough of them already!?!

Greetz,
zerodeck

[Leonheart]

It's cool of UG to have this featured.

[patrick_010709]

yeah! we need new musicians playing the old school tunes and makin' it better. it'll release more of their potentials. creating a new song from the influences of old school music is great for my opinion.

[jamstation]

I didn't like any of the bands, but it's a good thing, starting this feature. I hope it's going to be a regular monthly affair.

[l2wis]

penfold gate are mint! get them on this list!!! If any1 is in leicester this weekend check them out at thw charlotte!

[kryptonite22]

nice idea.

[ss311]

Right guys, I'm writing this column, and I do apologise for not including a more diverse field of genres, but pm me with any bands you feel are worth checking out. Also give me other suggestions.

[LeX_207]

I like the article and although the bands in question may not necessarily appeal to me, the idea of this article is a solid one in my opinion

[Xeus]

keep it up

[HurricaneSG]

scarlet snow is quite cool..

[Remsen]

You guys should get the Downtown Action and Killing Valentina on this list. They are 2 awesome unsigned bands from NYC.

[sleepwalker16]

zerodeck wrote:
and why more indie and emobands? don't we have enough of them already!?!

Greetz,
zerodeck

good point my friend.

[ss311]

One's a punk band.

Don't worry, next month I'll probably include 4 bands rather than just 3, and include another genre. Keep suggestions coming.

[roarinflames]

check out stonecreep from portland, OR, USA

awesome band
even more awesome live shows

[justs389]

i know a ridic amount of bands that are better than allof those guys, they all acutally suck i dont know why they are even being featured.
THESE are the real best unsigned bands
Destiny or Design - http://www.myspace.com/destinyordesignmusic

Show Me Action-
http://www.myspace.com/showmeaction

Stereo Dream-
http://www.myspace.com/stereodream

Life Between Sleep-
http://www.myspace.com/lifebetweensleep

Check em all out!!!

[Bootsauce]

last i heard, Hopesfall were given the cement boots and thrown into the ocean by their record label Trustkill(a fitting name, it seems)..lots of controversy surrounding all of it, but judging from their most recent works (BSide, Saskatchewan Unmastered) they really deserve better, and I for one hope they find a way to keep creating.

[Dallen_007]

patrick_010709 wrote:

yeah! we need new musicians playing the old school tunes and makin' it better. it'll release more of their potentials. creating a new song from the influences of old school music is great for my opinion.

I really don't agree with you on this. The time for "old school" stuff is past. There are songs today and styles that are just as complex and difficult as back then. It's just people refuse to see that. If bands today just rehashed old music we would be in a rut and people would just complain about that. Grow up and realize your not in the past anymore.

[leo17]

these bands definitely deserve to be on here

http://www.myspace.com/sorenrock

http://www.myspace.com/emeraldhonor

http://www.myspace.com/eyessettokill

[dancesisidance]

www.myspace.com/theeyesofatraior

amazing guitarists, stupidly young.
definate band for this article

[SuperBlob]

Yay, Gandhis Cookbook :p

Dallen_007 wrote:
If bands today just rehashed old music we would be in a rut and people would just complain about that. Grow up and realize your not in the past anymore.

Let's see now...rock n roll = rehashed blues. Punk = rehashed rock n roll (more so than classic rock). Some grunge = rehashed punk, some grunge = rehashed metal, some grunge = both.
And so on and so forth. Do you see the pattern? (Those were just the examples that popped into my head, but the point stands that no music is truely original)

[josh_lomas]

I would strongly recommend this band right here:

www.myspace.com/rockincoyote

They do a bit of blues, a bit of southern rock, a bit of punk and some glam which all combines to create what i can only describe as... good music.

[Gisc]

everyone should check out these guys

http://www.myspace.com/penanceva

[poc2112]

whao..... the future does not look good at all.
what the f@ck is that supposed to be... Both bands aren't bad, but aren't good either.

[The Silence]

I strongly suggest this band:

www.myspace.com/themiragetheory

They are a metalcore/progressive band,they only have one song(Our Secular Devotion), but it's 8 minutes long, but of what i heard they are putting up an other song later this next month,and guess what it's 8 minutes long too!!!!!

[shadowsfallmang]

The Silence wrote:

I strongly suggest this band:

www.myspace.com/themiragetheory

They are a metalcore/progressive band,they only have one song(Our Secular Devotion), but it's 8 minutes long, but of what i heard they are putting up an other song later this next month,and guess what it's 8 minutes long too!!!!!

8 minutes doesn't make it good...

[lobelloG90]

I do really think no one of these bands deserves all this attention myspace gives them..

[maggot4life]

hoolleee shittt
ghandis cookbooks there??!?!?
AMAZING

[shadowofbodom]

may i suggest Arborous from Sarasota, FL?

they are metalcore/progressive and are really amazing.

myspace.com/arborous

[Scourge441]

Both of these bands need to be mentioned:

www.myspace.com/mercykillonline

www.myspace .com/mmz

[wemetaliens]

check these guys out seriously...www.myspace.com/wemetaliens and listen to the song "morgan freeman loves jazz"

Thanks

[mikegaines1115]

There's this band named Enter out of Rockford Illinois. Great, great progressive rock band. Any fans of Mars Volta, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Muse, or Queens of the Stone Age should be impressed. Myspace/enter.

[T.Rextacy]

i can see why they are unsigned. just look at that display pic.

[di4gram]

zerodeck wrote:

1st post

can people get their own bands in this list?

and why more indie and emobands? don't we have enough of them already!?!

Greetz,
zerodeck

good music is good music, my friend- regardless of genre. I don't know if these guys are good but you can't fault them because people stereotype their music.

[smcvaney71]

I didnt read this but how can u rate unsigned bands because i bet there are prolly a couple hundred who would be in the top around the country. The person who did this for ug prolly stayed in one general area, therefore this is bias.

[not_emo]

EVERYONE!!!!! GO TO

www.myspace.com/secretandwhisper

They are the aftermath of Stutterfly consisting of all the original SF members except their new singer Charles Furnie, formerly of The Bleeding Alarm. They are signed to Tooth and Nail and even though they ARE signed...there an amazing band not alot of people know about. Their new CD "Great White Whale" comes out Feb 12th and you should all go buy it online of you cant find it in stores. these guys have true talent and deserve the 5 minutes it takes to go to their page and be blown away by their amazing songs!

[ss311]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll try to get to it eventually, but there's just so much material for me to listen to.

I notice that there are a few complaints that the genre choice(s) are not diverse enough, and this will be rectified in the next articles- you shall get metal, and maybe even some jazz/blues eventually. This was more or less an experiment for feedback.

As for secret and whisper-they're signed, so I shall not talk about them!

[bTOMd]

Nailpoint Payment
they're a christian band that's pretty heavy and have a sweet sound

[Andyrexic]

consider the band below for best unsigned punk band.

http://www.myspace.com/cantkeepdownthesuspects

[blues-scale#1]

www.myspace.com/themistressandyou

we rule and are playin babalon ,f spellin, in ottawa with manpower on the 15 of march

[AALST626]

Really Good Unsigned Rock/Prog Artist

http://www.myspace.com/jaquez

[blues-scale#1]

www.myspace.com/themistressandyou
we play bablyon in ottawa on march 15 check it out

[GuitarHero1081]

www.myspace.com/jetcityrotation

[AnEvilWalrus]

Severed Serenity NEEDS to be on here.
They're awesome
Just search them up on google

[laurius3]

Scott Mckeon and Crack'n Up's

[dale-banez]

haha, ghandi's cookbook. why didn't I come up with that

[tomikx2x]

i agree with alot of you guys.. all three of those bands were terrible.. scarlet snow prelude had a good sound but the vocals were garbage.. either way i think this is an awesome addition to the website and should get better as time goes on

[ticklemeemo]

Here are some more goodies.

www.myspace.com/hematidrosis

www.myspace.com/ eyessettokill

Checked.

And nicely done.

[ElectricOrgasm]

www.myspace.com/thesequencerock

They might be signed by now but man that's some well made pop.

[ChemyVamp]

Waltz Reprise should be there next month

[Salvation138]

More importantly, though, the Proclaimers are still together and touring? Really?

[zeroyon]

Youtube video worth checking out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egmj3YXD7io

[cocky_rooster]

Dood what we r3ally need is sum skynard n some zepp3lin n some beer, n some ozzy, and all them great bands that no one can ever compare too.. because I'm not stuck in the past at all and feel superior by saying the majority of new bands suck and are all garbage, and am too lazy to look for interesting music

[inside_ape]

we need more blues and melody/rhythm!!!

[Dinkydaisy]

Not so keen on The One Day Speakers myself - it seems to be a trend to have most pronounced accent from Britain possible at the moment. Liking Ghandi's Cookbook though, still not my thing but nice to listen to.

[zerodeck]

In a matter of weeks, I'll try to get in that list myself, it's time the world got to know my style (think oldskoolrock/blues/funk/trashmetal/classic (in order of importance)). Cause I may not be the best guitarist/keyboard(ist?)/bassist/drummer or singer walking on this earth, but I shall be a prophet of the revival of good music!!!*thunder booming and lightning striking* I'm 17, and I think most music of this time is *put in a very rude word that scares UG's BadWordDetectors off*.
Sometimes less is more they say, but I think popular modern musicians took that a bit serious (not to say that every living musician is a bad musician, far off). For it is now my goal in life to get good musicians in the spotlight where they belong and save the musical world! (yes I like archaic sentences).

Greetz,
zerodeck

[The Silence]

shadowsfallmang wrote:

The Silence wrote:

I strongly suggest this band:

www.myspace.com/themiragetheory

They are a metalcore/progressive band,they only have one song(Our Secular Devotion), but it's 8 minutes long, but of what i heard they are putting up an other song later this next month,and guess what it's 8 minutes long too!!!!!

8 minutes doesn't make it good...

I know but not everyone this days does that

[aliceinnirvana]

Why don't you guys write your own article and stop bitching because your favourite local band isn't in this one.

[3miceandacat]

Come check out my band...And how do we sign up for these?

www.myspace.com/crossboundband

Please Check it out Thanks

Ian

[giannizombie]

New bands that are NOT EMO!... and NOT the same as everyother band. Flexible Yesterdays Hi my name is Gianni (Johnny) that's my band, we play older style music, but with a little kick to it... i guess that's why we are "Flexible Yesterdays" (little flexible with Yesterdays music?...lol) anyways we would love for anybody to check out our site http://youtube.com/user/TheFlexibleYesterday

and a-Checked.

[Intercoming]

www.myspace.com/intercoming

[Zapht]

i think its great that ug is featuring these 3 bands! hopefully this will get them some regonition and help them to become a more successful band! maybe we'll hear about them on tv in a couple of years!

[playmetal5150]

since everybody is pluggin there favorite up and coming bands here for this next article i'd like to throw in my friends band www.myspace.com/atdawnidiemetal they are pretty technical metalcore and are a local band in a rough scene where we live nobody is really into the whole metalcore they all want whining vocals and childish riffs. listen to the song at the end of thieves

[The Spoon]

The people posting www.myspace.com/eyessettokill...they're a signed band. Notice this says "Unsigned bands of the month"

good article...i like the idea of this

[Doragg]

zerodeck wrote:

and why more indie and emobands? don't we have enough of them already!?!

Greetz,
zerodeck

Amen, I'd like to find bands that work hard on their music, not just throw a few power chords and cry about parents and people not understanding. The thing with a lot of Metal is, it's harder to play, which means if you can play it, you actually worked hard enough to get there. But you can't force everyone to like metal, so it's only fair to include those, IMO, terrible emo bands.

[jaccodenhertog]

if you're into; cowbells, having sex with dead people, blowjobs, tooting your own horn, partying, drinking beer and having a good time,
please check us out at
www.myspace.com/purplehelmetrock

We just released our first ep independently (home recorded but by no means shitty) and through our own (unregistered) "label".

let me know what you think

[paintball4life]

jaccodenhertog wrote:

if you're into; cowbells, having sex with dead people, blowjobs, tooting your own horn, partying, drinking beer and having a good time,
please check us out at
www.myspace.com/purplehelmetrock

We just released our first ep independently (home recorded but by no means shitty) and through our own (unregistered) "label".

let me know what you think

I listened to most of these bands and this is the only one that sounds like they practice together and play in unison

[febass]

Faded Element from Kansas
myspace.com/fadedelementoswego

[jaccodenhertog]

paintball4life wrote:
I listened to most of these bands and this is the only one that sounds like they practice together and play in unison

thanks a lot man! really apreciate it!

[Doragg]

jaccodenhertog wrote:

if you're into; cowbells, having sex with dead people, blowjobs, tooting your own horn, partying, drinking beer and having a good time,
please check us out at
www.myspace.com/purplehelmetrock

We just released our first ep independently (home recorded but by no means shitty) and through our own (unregistered) "label".

let me know what you think

First song sounded like I just put in a Clutch CD. You guys sound good though.

[shadowsfallmang]

The Silence wrote:

shadowsfallmang wrote:

The Silence wrote:

I strongly suggest this band:

www.myspace.com/themiragetheory

They are a metalcore/progressive band,they only have one song(Our Secular Devotion), but it's 8 minutes long, but of what i heard they are putting up an other song later this next month,and guess what it's 8 minutes long too!!!!!

8 minutes doesn't make it good...

I know but not everyone this days does that

yeah.. but that's no reason to just claim that it's amazing if it's 8 minutes long.. and not everyone these days even does that.

[Freedom Soul]

You want an unsigned band....Transcend.. they're soo f****ing heavy live... check em out.. www.myspace.com/transcendmetal.. it's rough demos they have but well worth it.. and so amazing..e-mail me with questions just make sure u label the e-mail as transcend if u do.. gotta love metal.. any metal fan out there.. make sure u check this

[Freedom Soul]

[e-mail] .. if for some reason it doesn't show my e-mail or u can't find it.. Transcend!!... www.myspace.com/transcendmetal

[GSD N3]

chekk these guys out:
Professor Hefner:
http://www.myspace.com/professorhefner
they are kind of screamo/metal, but theyre live shows rokk!
oh and btw i agree with freedom soul...
http://www.myspace.com/transcendmetal

[inside_ape]

we need more blues man!!too much metal and emo and screamo and all the mo's that exist. less "mos" more blues!!please

[Doragg]

IMO, 8 minute long songs show you these guys enjoy making music, and they're work hard on their shit. Some Emo band throws together a 3 minute song and they make money because teens these days like trash. But I'd like to see them put more thought behind it, 8 minutes obviously means they wanted the song to be complete, a lot of crap bands make a song and strive to make it 3 minutes long so they can call it quits and make money asap.

[leadskanker1]

I'm a ska fan, and I'm gonna throw some local ska bands around my area that deserve, I think, some recognition. A.K.S. (www.myspace.com/aksska) ...And Many More (www.myspace.com/andmanymoreska) and Do It With Malice (www.myspace.com/doitwithmalice). These bands do well in their genre and really need to be checked out. They are undiscovered ska gold. Check 'em out if you like ska, and you will be impressed!

[Glespaul]

Check out Cryptic
www.myspace.com/crypticiscoming.com
or
www.crypti ciscoming.com

[NewsoftheWorld]

CHECK OUT MIKA MIKO!!!!

www.myspace.com/mikamiko

[The Silence]

Doragg wrote:

IMO, 8 minute long songs show you these guys enjoy making music, and they're work hard on their shit. Some Emo band throws together a 3 minute song and they make money because teens these days like trash. But I'd like to see them put more thought behind it, 8 minutes obviously means they wanted the song to be complete, a lot of crap bands make a song and strive to make it 3 minutes long so they can call it quits and make money asap.

Thank you!! you took the words out of my mouth!!!!

[The Silence]

inside_ape wrote:

we need more blues man!!too much metal and emo and screamo and all the mo's that exist. less "mos" more blues!!please

Hell yeah!!!

[The Silence]

shadowsfallmang wrote:

The Silence wrote:

shadowsfallmang wrote:

The Silence wrote:

I strongly suggest this band:

www.myspace.com/themiragetheory

They are a metalcore/progressive band,they only have one song(Our Secular Devotion), but it's 8 minutes long, but of what i heard they are putting up an other song later this next month,and guess what it's 8 minutes long too!!!!!

8 minutes doesn't make it good...

I know but not everyone this days does that

yeah.. but that's no reason to just claim that it's amazing if it's 8 minutes long.. and not everyone these days even does that.

in where does it say that makes it amazing????
I rest my case.

[The Silence]

OMG i didn't even noticed what i wrote at the end.That does not make any sense at all!!!!! LOL

[-sam-]

Some suggestions,
www.myspace.com/fallingforbeloved
www.myspace .com/sleightmusic
www.myspace.com/jasonlowesolo

[a7xsoad]

AN ENDLESS SPORADIC are unsigned and an amazing unsigned progressive 2-piece well worth considering. If you're seriously considering to include something a bit different. Their song 'Impulse' was on GHIII.

Checked again, for the fun!

[ibanezguitarkid]

ss311 wrote:

One's a punk band.

Don't worry, next month I'll probably include 4 bands rather than just 3, and include another genre. Keep suggestions coming.

www.myspace.com/pliw.

local band from my aera.

[Tyler[SIS]]

listen to this band and please review them! it would make my life

www.myspace.com/thegooddiey0ung

[Tyler[SIS]]

this band too

http://www.myspace.com/thesearchlightissafety

[scottyboyyy]

iv just heard gandhi's cookbook and theyr pretty cool,this is mainly cause my preferred genre is political punk, not the steriotypical spiked hair and destroying things because that is lame. the other bands i say are quite good for there chosen genres

[Tfritz754]

Another good band to check out is a 4 piece punk band called First Gear

www.myspace.com/firstgearmusic

[johnnybgoode1]

www.myspace.com/theoutputmusic

Check it out, let us know what you think.

Cheers

[SkaterD2002]

myspace.com/aftermathafm

Mid-West
Alternative Progressive Rock Mixture
punk,metal,rock,hardrock

[laurius3]

Against the grain

[laurius3]

Against the grain

[lef_11]

www.myspace.com/thehouseharkonnen

and btw his choices are alot better than most of the ones you guys have been posting

[JD Blue Venom]

zerodeck wrote:

1st post

can people get their own bands in this list?

and why more indie and emobands? don't we have enough of them already!?!

Greetz,
zerodeck

too ****ing right, what ever happened to the ''i dont give a ****!'' atitude of the 90's? grrr

[johnnybgoode1]

lef_11 wrote:

www.myspace.com/thehouseharkonnen

and btw his choices are alot better than most of the ones you guys have been posting

i saw that comment and thought...who's this wise guy? and then try and make a witty remark about this bands music....sadly i can't as it's quite good. well played

[XxXLuisanXxX]

the reason emo and punk bands are becoming more frecuent is because ppl don't want to do the hard work any more. Ppl think that if they can do powerchords and back up sing or scream, they are enough to be a band. That's where we get Fall Out Boy and Green Day.

[killabob]

holy cow, theres soon going to be a link on this page to every unsigned act in the world... might want to narrow it down a bit somehow? categories?

[Tenacious Z]

How's this for an unsigned band: The Giraffes.
www.myspace.com/thegiraffes
This band is all about unapologetic rock and roll. A vocalist who can belt it out with the best of them, a guitarist who relies on melodic lines more often then power chords, a bassist who deftly holds down the rhythm while quietly innovating harmonies, and a tight drummer with plenty of aplomb. Last year they recorded their latest album, produced by Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal) at the Rancho De La Luna studio, and are putting it out themselves.

[Les_Paul_12]

For those of you who love Suthern Rock or someting different you need to check out Legend of a Gun. They are amazing. legendofagun.com or myspace.com/legendofagun

[redsrock2424]

Everyone should check out Get Carried Away. They're an amazing christian heavy metal band from Indianapolis, IN.

http://www.myspace.com/getcarriedawayindy

[Pepperommi]

http://www.myspace.com/southernflame
http://www.myspace.com /doomsdayjunky

[metalmaniac8989]

http://www.myspace.com/dbaswe

Dead By April
Metal/pop/rock
Sweden

Directly from their myspace:

Their fusion of soaring, catching pop melodies that reaches deep within you, almost forcing you to sing combined with their healthy dose of relentless metal riffing resulting in the unique feel of both pop and metal scene in the bands mix.

'Pop' might steer a lot of you away, but seriously, check them out. You might be as surprised as i was.

[Birdy266]

I'd like to see it as different genres in different months like Jan=Indie/Pop then like Feb=Metal or something

[Pepperommi]

Birdy266 wrote:

I'd like to see it as different genres in different months like Jan=Indie/Pop then like Feb=Metal or something

Or just metal 11 months of the year and old school rock 1 month
Or just metal 11 months of the year and old school rock 1 month