Ten 21st Century Rock Bands You Can’t Ignore (U.K. Version)

The same old cliche “there are no good bands anymore,” has resonated throughout the history of rock and roll.In the 1960’s many fans of artists like Buddy Holly and Duane Eddy hated the new psychedelic and heavy sounds of artists like the Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix and even The Beatles. Fans that came of age in the 1960’s often referred to 1970’s bands like Queen, Foghat and numerous others as incomparable to the great 1960’s artists. Every decade since the birth of rock and roll, the same argument has been made from fans who do want to let go of the music of their childhood. Now of course, bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John Pink Floyd, are all legendary artists that are on a level above everyone else. However  there has always been hundred of great bands from each decade that have amazing catalogs of work,and their own legions of dedicated fans. That trend will always continue despite the “no good bands anymore,” argument. Furthering our argument is the notion that many rock fans tend to not look across the oceans in search of new music. In this article , our new writer Ollie who hails from the U.K takes a look at some of the most exciting  bands that fans from the European continent are celebrating in today’s modern rock world.

Ten 21st Century Rock Bands You Can’t Ignore (U.K. Version)

Despite the current popularity of genres like R&B and EDM in 2016, there of course remains a considerable scene of rock bands, all of which are a credit to genre. The contemporary bands in this list are delivering some of modern rock’s most exciting and memorable material, and demand – and deserve – your immediate attention. You simply can’t miss out on these excellent acts.

10. Babymetal

An excellent example of the type of band which could only “happen” in the age of social media, Babymetal are three Japanese teenagers who manage to combine the unlikely combination of heavy metal and idol-style J-pop to create extraordinary music. They’ve even caught the attention of the American general public, with the superlative Metal Resistance being the highest charting album by a Japanese artist since 1963.

Years active: 2010 – present
Origin: Japan
Albums: Babymetal (2014), Metal Resistance (2016)
Stand out songs: KARATE, Megitsune, Gimme Chocolate!

BabyMetal Official Website

 

9. Twin Atlantic

Their distinctive Glaswegian accents give an exciting edge to the music of Twin Atlantic. As does the frank thoughts on the state of rock displayed on stand out single Free (“I fell in love with rock n roll / Until I found out it was false…  …Where’s your passion / Where’s your fire tonight?”) which certainly display an impressive confidence in their enviable FooFighters-inspired output.

2007 – present
Origin: Glasgow, Scotland
Albums: Vivarium (2009), Free (2011), Great Divide (2014), GLA (2016)
Stand out songs: No Sleep, Heart and Soul,

Twin Atlantic Official Website

 

8. Slaves

The current poster boys of the British punk scene, Slaves are injecting radio with a healthy of dose of politics, in an attempt to snap millennials out their understandable apathy. The cutesy artwork of their Are You Satisfied album hides an irresistibly twisted take on modern Britain.

Years active: 2012 – present
Origin: Kent, England
Albums: Are You Satisfied? (2015), Take Control (2016)
Stand out songs: The Hunter, Cheer Up London, Sockets

Slaves Official Website

 

7. Royal Blood

The brooding rock of Royal Blood is reminiscent of bands like Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age, and it’s sometimes hard to comprehend how such great music is produced by a two-piece band. Their self-titled debut album was met with critical acclaim and was the fastest selling rock album in the UK  since Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds three years before.

Years active:2013 – Present /Origin:Brighton, England Albums: Royal Blood (2014)
Stand out songs: Figure It Out, Little Monster, Out of the Black

 

6. Enter Shikari

Though their recent albums have failed to reach the heights of 2009’s seminal Common Dreads, Enter Shikari are one of those bands who simply have to be seen to be believed. Their live performances are nigh-on legendary; a hedonist mosh pit of memorable guitar riffs and insane electronic loops.

Years active: 2003 – present
Origin: Hertfordshire, England
Albums: Take to the Skies (2007), Common Dreads (2009), A Flash Flood of Colour (2011), The Mindsweep (2014)
Stand out songs: Sorry You’re Not a Winner, Juggernauts, Solidarity

Enter Shikari Official Website

 

5. Pvris

Rock has always been a male-dominated genre, but luckily there are people like Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, lead singer of Pvris, representing kick ass women, at the forefront of rock music. The infectious songs of Gunnulfsen and her band mix post-hardcore with electropop and some devastating synth, making their album White Noise a must-listen.

Years active: 2012 – present
Origin: Massechusetts, United States
Albums: White Noise (2014)
Stand out songs: You & I, My House, White Noise pvris.com @ThisIsPVRIS

Pvris Official Band Website

 

4. Biffy Clyro

In terms of stadium-sized sing-alongs, you could compare these Scottish rockers to Queen – it’s almost impossible not to get caught up in huge songs like Bubbles, Mountains and Many of Horror. To give you an idea of their skills as showmen,Biffy have headlined the world-famous Reading Festival on two separate occasions.

Years active: 1995 – present
Origin: Kilmarnock, Scotland
Albums: Blackened Sky (2001), The Vertigo of Bliss (2003), Infinity Land (2004), Puzzle (2007), Only Revolutions (2009), Opposites (2013), Ellipsis (2016)
Stand out songs: Many of Horror, The Captain, Bubbles biffyclyro.com @BiffyClyro

Official band site

3. The 1975

Matt Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, is without a doubt the current pin-up of rock music, and it’s not hard to see why. As well as being very good-looking, the mellow and stripped back, almost ethereal, sound of tracks such as Girls and Somebody Else suggest not just immense talent, but also a sensitive maturity beyond his years.

Years active: 2002 – present
Origin: Cheshire, England
Albums: The 1975 (2013), I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It (2016)
Stand out songs: The Sound, Chocolate, Girls the1975.com @thw1975

The 1975 Official Website

2. The Arctic Monkeys

When he’s hit his stride, it’s remarkably easy to mistake Alex Turner for a young Elvis, and it’s not just because of his quiff. Turner effortlessly demands attention from the crowd, whether he’s stalking the stage to slinky tracks like Do I Wanna Know or gyrating to the still extraordinary I Bet You Look Good On the Dance floor, you can’t ignore The Arctic’s.

Years active: 2002 – present
Origin: Sheffield, England
Albums: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006), Favorite Worst Nightmare (2007), Humbug (2009), Suck It and See (2011), AM (2013)
Stand out songs: I Bet You Look Good On the Dance floor, Mardy Bum, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High arcticmonkeys.com @ArcticMonkeys

The Arctic Monkeys Official Band Website

 

1. Bring Me the Horizon

Originally launched as a deathcore band over a decade ago, as the fan base of BMTH has grown, so too have the eclectic elements which make up their sound. The album Sempiternal has obvious electronic influences, whilst it’s 2015 follow-up That’s the Spirit is notably less aggressive than their earlier work. With the ability to effortlessly move with the times, there can be no doubt that Bring Me the Horizon will be captivating audiences for years to come.

Years active: 2004 – present
Origin: Sheffield, England
Albums: Count Your Blessings (2006), Suicide Season (2008), There Is a Hell. Believe Me, I’ve Seen it. There Is a Heaven, Let’s Keep It a Secret (2010), Sempiternal (2013), That’s the Spirit (2015)
Stand out songs: Can You Feel My Heart?, Throne, Chelsea Smile bmthofficial.com @bmthofficial

Bring Me The Horizon Official Website