“Blank” captures the band’s signature sound: 90s-inspired grit meets modern Finnish sludge. Think early Nirvana colliding with heavy, honest emotion, the kind of song that hits you straight in the chest and refuses to let go. It’s the perfect introduction to Aspesti’s uncompromising attitude and youthful rebellion.

At just 17 years old, band members Nooa, Kalle, and Rasmus are proving that the spirit of grunge is alive, louder, and angrier than ever. Formed in Espoo, Aspesti channels the rebellious energy of the 90s while sounding unmistakably like today’s restless youth. With distorted guitars, driving rhythms, and raw, honest lyrics, the trio doesn’t just play grunge; they live it.

In spring 2025, Aspesti was signed to the fast-rising Love Is Punk Records and has since been tearing up the live circuit with Stupido Booking. “Blank” marks a bold new step for the young band as they push their music to wider audiences.

Quote from Aspesti: “We are three 17-year-olds who play 90s-inspired grit and love it. ‘Blank’ is a track with crunchy riffs and honest energy; we can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Perfect for grunge, alternative rock, and indie playlists, “Blank” is now available on all major streaming platforms.

About Aspesti

Aspesti is a raw, unfiltered alternative/grunge band from Espoo, Finland. Formed by three seventeen-year-olds, Nooa, Rasmus, and Kalle, the band blends the rebellious spirit of 90s grunge with the fresh intensity of today’s youth. Signed to Love Is Punk Records and represented live by Stupido Booking, Aspesti is young, hungry, and ready to shake the scene.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this: this is one of the best albums I have had the pleasure of listening to this year. Mainly because of how timely and topical, and genuinely nuanced the lyrics are. However, that doesn’t mean that other elements of the album aren’t equally as great, but the lyrics are the main reason why I personally really love it. I would argue the album wouldn’t even work if the music wasn’t genuinely so much fun to listen to. I’m gonna dive into the 3 songs I had the most fun listening to.

“Problematic” is the defining piece of the album, the title track that lays down the record’s central groove and establishes its guiding philosophy, urging listeners to keep asking questions and, as the band puts it, be problematic, a direct nod to the Orwellian thoughtcrime idea the whole project is built around. Musically, the song evokes the psychedelic rock sound of the 60s and 70s, which the band doesn’t really deviate from that much because it fits perfectly the anti-establishment sentiment that permeates throughout the entire album. It doesn’t feel like someone trying to play like those 70s bands; it feels like they were actually a part of it, that’s how authentic the sound is and how much of these guys’ personality comes through, and that’s precisely the reason why it sounds fresh and contemporary instead of an attempt to emulate a style.

“Chatbot Don’t Like It” is dystopian and hilarious at the same time. It discusses the world we might live in very soon, where the chatbot interfaces dictate what we get to know and what we can discuss and think about. The band does this in an incredibly funky song with some well-timed text-to-speech vocals coming in to highlight the absurdity of this situation.

“Save Ourselves” is about how selfish and self-obsessed we’ve become in the modern age and shares the same level of nuance in the lyrics as all the other songs on the album. This song stands out because of how important the fact that no one is gonna magically save us and that we’ll have to save ourselves is to hear in these trying times. The song also features one of the best keyboard solos on the album around the halfway point.

The album’s most ambitious stretch comes later with “The Hubris March,” a two-part suite pairing “Heedless Of The Storm” with “Ten Years Time,” meant to be heard as one continuous piece rather than two separate songs. Together, they trace the same grim cycle over and over, the rush toward war followed by the wreckage it leaves behind, with a detuned, feedback-howling guitar transition standing in for the sound of the battlefield itself before the record pivots straight into a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” in case the point about runaway militarism wasn’t already clear.

It’s so great for a rock album that is so connected to the zeitgeist to release instead of just another throwback nostalgia-bait rock album; this is one for the ages that places itself firmly and confidently in this very uncertain time with some very strong anti-war and pro-humanity messages. A message for the unity of humanity and against the class divide that is growing every day like a giant chasm.

Where the first two singles leaned psychedelic, this one pulls back toward straight-ahead 70s and 80s hard rock, with a guitar tone thick and meaty in the ZZ Top and Deep Purple mold. It was tracked at Chem 19 with engineer Derek O’Neil on vintage gear, tube amps, old Slingerland drums, tape, and mixed by Pete Maher, giving the recording a warmth digital plug-ins tend to flatten out. Knox’s drumming carries most of the personality here, pushing and dragging behind the beat rather than locking to a click, while Spencer’s bass holds the groove steady underneath. None of it sounds overworked. It plays like a band that road-tested this song live for a year before ever stepping into the studio, jamming through something they already know inside out rather than performing a finished product.

The lyrics aren’t really about a relationship. They circle around, chasing freedom and sticking with something that matters even when others write it off as a hobby, with a clear undercurrent that the song doubles as the band’s own origin story. It could tip into corny territory, but the loose bar-band energy keeps it grounded. Delta Fire play the release show at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow on the 25th, then the Loose Wire festival on August 29th. “Love Stops First” doesn’t reinvent what the band does, but three singles in, it doesn’t need to.

JP2 establishes a different atmosphere. We get a softer introduction that replaces the original’s immediate intensity, gradually building toward the song’s heavier sections with a brighter, more melodic edge. When the familiar lyric, “Exit light, enter night,” arrives, it retains its ominous character while sitting comfortably within an indie-leaning rock soundscape.

The reinterpretation succeeds because it never relies on imitation. The guitars remain deep and driving, but cleaner production and layered arrangements shift the emotional focus away from metal and toward alternative rock and grunge. JP2’s vocal approach follows the same philosophy, adding harmonies and subtle melodic variations that give the performance its own identity instead of echoing James Hetfield’s iconic delivery. Backing vocals further enrich the chorus, while the guitar work introduces progressive touches that complement the arrangement without overshadowing the song’s familiar structure.

The track is made even more impressive by the fact that JP2 performs every instrument, sings every vocal line, and programs all the drums and percussion from his home studio. That creative independence is reflected throughout the recording, giving the cover a cohesive vision that aligns with his belief that familiar songs should be transformed rather than simply reproduced.

Reimagining a song as iconic as “Enter Sandman” inevitably invites comparison, but JP2’s “Enter Sandman” doesn’t compete with the original; it offers a fresh perspective, and by preserving the song’s unmistakable spirit while confidently embracing a modern alternative-rock identity, JP2 delivers a cover that feels both respectful of its roots and unmistakably his own!

Built around distortion-soaked riffs, pounding drums, and an unfiltered vocal performance, Blank captures the urgency that has always defined the genre. The instrumentation embraces a raw, stripped-back approach where every element serves the song rather than competing for attention. The guitars alternate between heavy, abrasive textures and melodic passages, while the rhythm section drives the track forward with unwavering intensity, allowing its dynamic shifts to land with impact.

Blank explores emotional frustration and vulnerability without resorting to melodrama. The song leaves room for interpretation, inviting listeners to connect with its themes through their own experiences. That openness is reinforced by a vocal delivery that moves effortlessly between quiet introspection and explosive release, giving the song a sense of emotional authenticity that never feels forced.

Although traces of classic grunge are unmistakable, Aspesti avoids becoming an exercise in nostalgia. Their influences remain present, yet the trio filters them through a perspective shaped by today’s generation; providing a continuation of a musical language built on sincerity, imperfection, and emotional conviction.

Through “Blank,” Aspesti demonstrates that grunge’s relevance has never depended on a particular era, but on its ability to translate raw emotion into compelling music. Combining gritty musicianship, thoughtful songwriting, and a confident artistic identity, the band delivers a track that honors the genre’s foundations while proving its spirit remains just as powerful today!

The song plays it safe with its riff and groove and attempts and succeeds at capturing that 80s sound, but doesn’t have a signature twist on it or new characteristics, really. It’s a faithful, well-executed recreation of a familiar hard rock formula – the kind of track that knows exactly what era and tone it’s going for and hits the mark cleanly, without pushing the riff, the groove, or the production into anywhere genuinely unexpected. That’s not necessarily a problem for a song built around mood and narrative rather than innovation; the cop ‘s-perspective storytelling and the cinematic pacing are doing the heavy lifting here, while the instrumentation stays comfortably within the lines of the genre it’s paying tribute to.

The music video is fully AI-generated, as far as I can tell, and it is well-made, with no obvious visual glitches or issues. It just lays out the backdrops for the song and delivers exactly what the title promises – a fast, loud, late-night ride through South Florida’s stranger corners. “South Florida Police” delivers competently and confidently. It’s less interested in reinventing the genre than in proving it still works when executed with this much conviction.

Built on a steady pulse of alt-rock grit and melodic restraint, the track unfolds with quiet confidence. The guitars carry a textured, almost 90s-tinged weight; raw yet controlled, while the rhythm anchors the emotional tension beneath it all. AJ Gilmore’s voice feels lived-in, never reaching for effect, just delivering the narrative with a kind of honesty that lingers.

The verses stay contained, reflective, almost hesitant, before the chorus opens into something more urgent. Not an explosion, but a shift. A realization. Steve Simms shapes the sound around that turning point, allowing the music to follow the truth of the lyric rather than overpower it.

The release cuts through illusion. It’s about that difficult recognition: that what felt like love, or even healing, was something else entirely. There’s no attempt to resolve it, no neat ending, just acceptance.

“Part of the Problem” by Rumour Den does something very subtle: it shifts something in the listener. Not loudly, not immediately, but in the way certain thoughts feel a little less avoidable afterward..

The song starts with a particularly nasty breakdown, which is a bold creative choice – starting with a dynamically high point – but it did work in capturing my attention and pulling me into this emotional journey. The band does a great job of creating that emotional and quite angsty wall of sound that’s a signature of the genre, with the intricate guitar work and crushing rhythm section locking in tightly behind it. I think the unique tonal characteristics of Alyn’s voice set the band apart in quite an oversaturated market of metalcore – there’s a specific grain to the delivery that keeps it from blending into the genre’s wallpaper, even when the surrounding instrumentation is doing exactly what’s expected of it.

With “Fragments,” Antarctica are making a clear case for themselves in a crowded scene, and the fact that they recorded it entirely on their own terms shows in the confidence with which the whole thing sounds. The band is currently booking further UK dates for late summer and autumn, and on the strength of this single, those rooms should be worth catching.

Originally written twenty years ago on Réunion Island, “Anna” has evolved into a deeply personal and emotionally resonant piece of alternative rock. Rather than relying on nostalgia, ROAN GREVEL transforms the song into something timeless, blending atmospheric melodies with bursts of grunge-fuelled intensity. The influences of Radiohead, Placebo, and Nirvana are evident throughout, yet the track retains a distinct identity of its own.

Delicate instrumental passages gradually build into heavier moments, while vulnerability and determination remain woven into the heart of the narrative. Inspired by the emotional struggles of a close friend, the song explores the difficult space between exhaustion and the will to keep moving forward.

Layered vocals, dynamic songwriting, and the powerful interplay between guitars and drums create an immersive atmosphere that builds toward a memorable finale, strengthening both the story and the song’s emotional impact.

With “Anna,” ROAN GREVEL delivers a debut that feels assured rather than tentative. It stands as the work of a seasoned musician confidently stepping into a new chapter, offering a release that is as heartfelt as it is compelling!

Built around punchy guitar work and an infectious rock ‘n’ roll groove, “Bad Bad You” transforms heartbreak and betrayal into a bold, high-energy anthem. The song tackles the fallout of a toxic relationship head-on, with lyrics that don’t hide behind metaphors but instead confront the pain and frustration with refreshing honesty. It’s the kind of track that turns emotional scars into fuel for a powerful release.

Renita Zintel commands attention from the opening moments, delivering a smoky, passionate vocal performance that perfectly balances vulnerability and defiance. Her voice carries the weight of the song’s emotional core, while Randy Lodder’s riff-driven guitar work injects the track with plenty of grit and momentum. Together, the duo showcase a chemistry that feels both natural and authentic.

The result is a hard-hitting rocker that embraces the spirit of classic rock without sounding dated. With “Bad Bad You,” RENZITA prove that great rock music still thrives on powerful performances, memorable hooks, and a healthy dose of attitude!