When Gene Simmons made a statement a few years back that “rock is finally dead”, it likely had something to do with a seriously declining state of album sales, as well as rock artists and songs being dominated by seemingly throwaway pop and hip-hop tracks. While that may be true, rock and metal are at a creative high point yet again.
For anyone who has known about any of these bands for a while now, their success is unsurprising. I am specifically speaking about progressive rock band The Contortionist, My Ticket Home, and genre-bending alternative rock band Nothing More. All 3 of these bands are doing massive things in their respective genres right now.
The Contortionist
Through 4 full-length albums, Indiana progressive rock band The Contortionist have continued to progress from the progressive, borderline deathcore stylings of 2010 debut album Exoplanet, to a dynamic, songwriting-focused outfit on Clairvoyant. Vocalist Michael Lessard has truly come into his own with a dynamic vocal range that will shock you, while the band’s live command is stunning. Even those who miss the soul-crushing heaviness of their first two albums will find something to love here.
My Ticket Home
Due out October 7th, My Ticket Home’s upcoming album UnReal is set to be an alternative metal classic that will see the band hanging around peers like Deftones, Chevelle, and even genre torchbearers like Silverchair. This isn’t hyperbole. My Ticket Home is a band that has successfully made big stylistic changes since their 2010 EP The Opportunity To Be, and it sure looks like the hype is real on energetic tracks like the moody, anthemic “Hyperreal”. Puke Rock Or Die.
Nothing More
On their 2nd full-length album (after plying their trade as a strong local draw for years), Nothing More embodies modern rock like few other bands. A band that truly understands the thought provoking medium of music as art, Nothing More’s strongest attribute is thought-provoking lyrics that challenge the listener to think outside the box they’ve created for themselves. The Stories We Tell Ourselves is a fantastic rock record that may leave you with more questions than answers – and that’s just how Nothing More likes it. Even Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx had this to say about the band’s 2014 self-titled album: “When I first debuted Nothing More on my radio show Sixx Sense in 2014, I knew they were a band who would lead the charge for a new generation of rock acts”
