discovering and sharing the music that moves us

Month: October 2023

‘What Kind of Fool’ Are You? The Lovelines Help Us Find Out (Exclusive Interview)
Features, Interviews

‘What Kind of Fool’ Are You? The Lovelines Help Us Find Out (Exclusive Interview)

"I love recording with my sister. It’s like dumping a box of Legos on the floor and building something together."- Todd goings, The Lovelines Many musicians consider their bandmates to be like family, but in the case of The Lovelines, the music truly is a family affair. A sibling duo, connecting across the Atlantic, is responsible for making the special sort of sickly-sweet pop music found on The Lovelines' streaming platforms, including a new single, "What Kind of Fool Would Want to Fall in Love?" If you're a fan of dreamy romantics, clever songwriting, and soulful femme vocals--this one is for you. We also come bearing exciting news: Todd Goings, one half of The Lovelines, connected with us here at MendoWerks Magazine and gave us a look into the band's origins, this new single...
Jeris Johnson Shares Hot Takes & New Music Video: “When The Darkness Comes”
Music

Jeris Johnson Shares Hot Takes & New Music Video: “When The Darkness Comes”

"I can’t wait for the entire metal community to tell me it’s not a metal song."- jERIS jOHNSON, ON 'wHEN tHE dARKNESS cOMES' Jeris Johnson just released a new music video: "When The Darkness Comes". This drop follows the artist's 2022 debut album, I WANT BLOOD/i want love, and more recently, a summer single, "Take Me Away". Recently, Johnson had gone quiet on social media for a while in order to focus on creating his upcoming album with long-time producer and collaborator, SACCO. However, as this single's release date approached, the artist certainly has found his voice on social media once more...as you'll see below. Before then, be sure to check out Jeris Johnson's latest 'not metal enough' creation, "When The Darkness Comes", on YouTube, below: https://www.yout...
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ May Make You a Skeptic (Review)
Features, Film, Reviews

‘The Exorcist: Believer’ May Make You a Skeptic (Review)

With 'The Exorcist: Believer,' director David Gordon Green has taken another legacy horror series and updated it for modern times. Whether or not he has succeeded in that is debatable. I was a fan of his 2018 reboot of the 'Halloween' series, but stretching that into a new trilogy felt unnecessary. Now, the plan is for another new trilogy using the backbone of 'The Exorcist.' I gotta say, it feels like Green should stop while he's ahead. This is not to say that 'The Exorcist: Believer' is unwatchable. Far from it. The first half of the film is rather compelling. Unfortunately, things change once efforts are made to tie the new storyline into the original tale of possession from the 1973 classic. Leslie Odam Jr. is Victor, an overprotective single father raising his teenage daug...
House of Harm Announces Playground: A Sonic Journey of Shadow-Pop
Features, Music, Uncategorized

House of Harm Announces Playground: A Sonic Journey of Shadow-Pop

Photo Credit: Gerson Vargas In a revelation for fans of the buzzworthy three-piece group House of Harm, album news has dropped. Their latest album Playground is set for release on December 1st. This new record sees them expanding on their signature shadow-pop sound. You'll hear blending of midnight atmospherics, '90s jangle pop vibes, and catchy synth hooks. Alongside vocalist Michael Rocheford, House of Harm features Cooper Leardi (guitar/synths) and Tyler Kershaw (guitar/synth). Together, they've cultivated a dedicated and growing fanbase, selling out shows on both coasts purely through the power of word-of-mouth. New Single In conjunction with the album announcement, House of Harm has released a new single and music video for "Roseglass." An interesting departure from their...
All is ‘Fair Play’ in Love and Climbing the Corporate Ladder (Review)
Features, Film, Reviews

All is ‘Fair Play’ in Love and Climbing the Corporate Ladder (Review)

At Sundance 2023, 'Fair Play' set off the kind of bidding wars that we don't often see anymore for indie dramas. Most of the mini-majors like Searchlight and Neon were battling it out against streaming services to release the feature debut from Chloe Domont, who cut her teeth directing television series like 'Ballers' and 'Suits.' In the end, Netflix emerged victorious and took global rights on the film which had everybody talking in Park City. Alden Ehrenreich as Luke and Phoebe Dynevor as Emily in 'Fair Play.' Cr. Sergej Radovic / Courtesy of Netflix Emily (Phoebe Dynevor, 'Bridgerton') and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich, 'Solo: A Star Wars Story') are two young professionals working in the cutthroat world of hedge fund management. Their scorching hot relationship is against company po...
Mike Shinoda’s “ALREADY OVER” Builds A Musical Bridge From The Past To The Future
Features, Music

Mike Shinoda’s “ALREADY OVER” Builds A Musical Bridge From The Past To The Future

Photo Credit: Mike Miller Multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning artist, Mike Shinoda, best known as co-frontman of Linkin Park, has just dropped his latest single, "Already Over." What sets this release apart is that Shinoda not only wrote and recorded the track but also lent his vocals and played every instrument. The song harks back to the signature sound he pioneered with Linkin Park, featuring kinetic live drums, gritty distorted guitar, and his unique vocal delivery. Accompanying the single is a frenetic hand-painted visual video, crafted by Dusty Deen. The footage includes images contributed by legendary photographer Mike Miller. You can check out the video below and listen to "Already Over" everywhere you stream music. Shinoda Shares His Thoughts Shinoda shared his thought...
Kings County’s “So Cold” Is A Hard Rock Masterpiece
Features, Music

Kings County’s “So Cold” Is A Hard Rock Masterpiece

Hard rock titans Kings County are back with a blistering new single and music video, "So Cold," which builds on the success of their previous releases; it is a relentless, high-octane rock experience. Kings County consists of Rob Dexter (Vocals, Bass), Steve Bell (Guitars, Vocals), Joe Lopez (Drums), and Bill Kania (Guitars, Vocals). They have a knack for delivering hard-hitting guitar riffs, scorching vocals, and an intense, melodic sound that grabs you by the collar. Frontman Rob Dexter delves into the essence of "So Cold," explaining that the track encapsulates the multi-tiered complexities of life, relationships, and internal struggles. It's a song that resonates with anyone who's experienced the ups and downs of existence. Kings County In The Studio "So Cold" took sha...
Taking Back Sunday Share ‘152’ Lead Track: “Amphetamine Smiles” + New Tour Dates
Events, Music

Taking Back Sunday Share ‘152’ Lead Track: “Amphetamine Smiles” + New Tour Dates

With a title like "Amphetamine Smiles", I couldn't help but check out the new Taking Back Sunday single. This heart-wrenching single serves as the third teaser track and opening song for the band's upcoming LP, 152, which is the band's first album in seven years. Listen to "Amphetamine Smiles" by Taking Back Sunday, below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7gJWZcxNPY Speaking on the song, the band shares, "You could document the writing, arranging, and recording of 'Amphetamine Smiles,' but there's no way to explain how it came together... It's the product of some kind of magic." I can definitely feel the magic... can you? Taking Back Sunday celebrates '152' 152 is due out October 27 via Fantasy Records. To commemorate the occasion, the band announced a few intimate r...
SINthetik Messiah Synthesizes Industrial D’n’B Track, “I Wanna Be Alive With You”
Features, Music

SINthetik Messiah Synthesizes Industrial D’n’B Track, “I Wanna Be Alive With You”

If you haven't caught on yet, I'm a big fan of guitar music. The heavier, the better! However, sometimes, a song outside my usual tastes gets sent my way... and I'm taken aback by how much I like it. In this case, the song is "I Wanna Be Alive With You" by Louisiana-based industrial bass pioneer, SINthetik Messiah, sent to me by one of my editors here at MendoWerks. Learn from my mistakes: even if electronic music isn't your usual jam, let this song be your first taste of the genre. Because... in a word? It's 'epic'. Find "I Wanna Be Alive With You" by SINthetik Messiah on YouTube, below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1reL_SSkYAg "I Wanna Be Alive With You" video, via Drop Nation. According to SINthetik Messiah lore, this song is about a ghost watching his lover and y...