If you’re looking for some fresh, new, and unapologetically bold rock n’ roll to power up your week, look no further than the newest singles by rising rockers, True Villains and Cold Shoulder.
The best way I can think of describing these new releases is fearless. Both songs pack a major punch, unafraid to speak freely with dauntless lyrics and heavy, power-packed instrumentals. From the first notes, you’ll be hooked. So, buckle up, get ready, and prepare for one hell of a ride.
Hailing from Nashville, True Villains put the “hard” in “hard rock”. As a modern rock powerhouse quintet, the band draws influence from iconic groups of the past, but they insist they’re no “retro revival.” Instead, True Villains takes the raw energy of rock n’ roll and puts an unforgettably kickass spin on it, describing their sound as “big, burly, and just the right amount of pissed-off.” In their music, I hear influences of Foo Fighters, Black Veil Brides, Velvet Revolver, Royal Blood, and more. Without a doubt, they are a force to be reckoned with.
Their new single, “Dig Your Grave”, is a cautionary tale of accountability. The companion music video is haunting, gripping, and intense in all the right ways. With gritty vocals, hard-hitting riffs, and a breakdown that won’t leave your head, True Villains have crafted a truly badass work of art. Speaking about the song, the band shares: “Our latest single is a heavy reminder that sometimes there are situations in life when you need to face up to the consequences of our own actions. Alternatively, you are not responsible for cleaning up someone else’s mess that they’ve created for themselves. Sometimes the best lessons are the ones learned the hardest.”
Formed in San Francisco, multi-talented rockers Cold Shoulder are embracing the modern era of hard rock, using their presence and platform to create music that is “thoughtful, conscious, and driven by a desire to motivate, inspire, and spread love and joy to all those who hear it.” The band is heavily influenced by their love of grunge, early 2000’s, and hard rock music, citing Alice In Chains, Badflower, and Dirty Honey as their pivotal influences and inspirations. Cold Shoulder’s main goal as a collective is to “produce a musical experience that is exciting and thought-provoking, bringing rock that invokes the nostalgia of the music you love while bringing you a new fresh sound that is just as captivating.”
In their newest release, “Be Patient”, the band seems to speak as an omniscient narrator or guide to the listener, using motivating lyrics like “Stuck in your head again, don’t listen to the voices, take my advice friend, don’t hesitate, been working too hard for this” as a call to action, for whoever is listening to take charge, take action, and go after their wildest dreams and ambitions. Listening to this song, I can certainly hear the aforementioned influences, with a little bit of bands like Periphery and All Time Low. The opening riff is killer and will most definitely get stuck in your head (not that I’m complaining!) and the quieter verse/louder chorus dynamic is yet another awesome aspect that sets this song apart. With a slower, trippy breakdown that launches into a powerful finale, this tune is, without a doubt, one you can’t miss.
Both True Villains and Cold Shoulder have certainly made their mark on the rock genre, and I’m stoked to hear even more amazing tunes from both of them in the near future. You can follow them on Instagram, @truevillainsnashville and @coldshoulderband for more.