Tracks Of The Week: new music and videos from Skindred, DeWolff and more

It's that time of the week when we fill our heads with as much new rock'n'roll as they can hold (plus a bit more), and then cherry-pick the best bits. We hope you enjoy checking out this little lot...

Skindred – That’s My Jam

Ever wondered what your cat gets up to when you go to bed? According to ragga-metal Welshies Skindred, quite a bit. That’s My Jam’s not as heavy as they’ve gone in the past, but it’s still ultra-cool and catchy as hell, with enough hooky streetwise swagger to make this a quality Friday night anthem.

Rainbreakers – Heavy Soul

A smooth blend of 70s-meets-garage licks and old and new soul from Shrewsbury. Lyrically it may sound like a ‘my woman’s getting me down’ kinda jam, in between those 70s licks, but actually it’s about depression. Say the band: “Even if I feel like I have a heavy soul, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I still have a heart of gold that is wanting to shine.”

Circu5 – The Amazing Monstrous Grady

The brainchild of session guy/multi-instrumentalist Steve Tilling, Circu5 has been five years in the making. If this sharp, irreverent but hooky number is anything to go by – complete with XTC-esque sensibilities (and a guest appearance from actual XTC man Dave Gregory) it was well worth the time.

Modern Earl – Red, White And Blues

Taken from the album Ameriphonica, this packs in snappy socio-political sentiments beneath its loose, funky blues exterior and tasty Southern licks. “Looks like that star-spangled fever gonna carry me to my grave”, Christopher ‘Earl’ Hudson sings, adding a little bite to this chilled summery cocktail.

High Priestess – Take The Blame

Now for something so deliciously doomy it’ll literally make your ears bleed. In a good way. This psych/doom/stoner cohort from the darkest reaches of Los Angeles mix the spirit of early Black Sabbath with their own melodious yet skull-pummelling hoodoo. We like it.

DeWolff – Big Talk

Little tip: don’t watch this when you’re about to eat, or just after you’ve eaten. Listen without the visuals until there’s a healthy gap between you and food, otherwise you might see your lunch/breakfast/dinner again sooner than you’d like. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a proper cinematic experience – an artfully horrifying accompaniment to the Dutch classic rock trio’s commanding latest tune.

Tony Wright & Ryan Hamilton – Oh Lonesome Me

A sweetly mournful new collaboration between the Terrorvision frontman and Traitors leader/Texan singer-songwriter dude. Part of their upcoming collection of country standards, this (originally a Don Gibson tune, also covered by Johnny Cash) sounds like the beginning of a beautiful relationship; all sublime harmonies, acoustic strumming and beguiling melody shifts.

SMASH Fashion – Runs In The Family

Last up we’ve got a zingy shot class of glam-infused rock’n’roll (tasty twin-lead guitar included) from LA-based “dandy rock” gents SMASH Fashion. Accompanied by graveyard, gambling and guns in the video, it’s an appetising way to set yourself up for the weekend. Happy Friday y’all!

Polly Glass
Deputy Editor, Classic Rock

Polly is deputy editor at Classic Rock magazine, where she writes and commissions regular pieces and longer reads (including new band coverage), and has interviewed rock's biggest and newest names. She also contributes to Louder, Prog and Metal Hammer and talks about songs on the 20 Minute Club podcast. Elsewhere she's had work published in The Musician, delicious. magazine and others, and written biographies for various album campaigns. In a previous life as a women's magazine junior she interviewed Tracey Emin and Lily James – and wangled Rival Sons into the arts pages. In her spare time she writes fiction and cooks.