Hailing from the war-torn nation of Ukraine are indie rock band Homeless Radio, a resilient group of musicians consisting of Andrii Yampolskyi (vocals/guitar), Fedir Orlov (guitar), Stepan Tkachuk (bass) and Ivan Orlov (drums). Guitarist Ihor Pankieiev is also technically still a member, though he’s been away, fighting in the terrible ongoing conflict with their Russian invaders.

Formed in the city of Kharkiv in 2016, the band incorporates garage rock, alternative rock, skate punk, grunge and pop influences to create music that runs the gamut from pleasantly melodic to relentlessly intense. I first learned about them at the beginning of 2024, at which time I reviewed their terrific hard-hitting single “Submarine“ (which ranks #34 on my list of 100 Best Indie Songs of 2024). Six months later, I reviewed their follow-up single “Sleep Not”. Now they return with “Fed To The Teeth“, their first new single of 2025.

About the song, Homeless Radio states: “‘Fed To The Teeth’ blends melancholic alternative rock with a fierce skate punk climax, channeling frustration, rejection, and raw emotion into one cathartic release. The track captures a personal transformation from isolation and doubt to indifference and power.” Band vocalist Andrii gave me some background as to what inspired him to write the song while still in his teens: “The song was originally written in 2014, during the war in Donbas which was active at that time. It’s probably the first Homeless Radio song I’ve ever written. At that time, I was finishing high school. We had really shameless and cruel propaganda during those days, so sometimes my classmates were talking real garbage, pushing pro-russian narratives and anti-LGBT agenda. Although it’s possible to find something like this even in modern Ukraine nowadays, at that time, it was almost a trend. I couldn’t agree with it and had numerous arguments that led me to write a song about societal rejection and prejudice. The times have changed significantly. Is it a pro-LGBT or anti-russian propaganda song? I guess so, although it was written during the time when both of these topics were quite different. It’s not a political song, but it was inspired by these political topics.”

The song has somewhat of a retro late 1990s/early 2000s post-grunge feel, starting off with a melancholy fuzzy guitar riff accompanied by a galloping drumbeat, then transitioning into a rather complex melody of relatively quiet verses alternating with louder choruses featuring raging gnarly guitars and pummeling drums. The guys are skilled musicians, as Andrii and Fedir’s dynamic guitar work is truly electrifying, and Stepan’s sturdy bassline powers the song forward while Ivan’s aggressive drumming elevates the song to stratospheric heights. Each time I listen to the song, I discover wonderful little nuances and sounds, like the squealing horn-like guitar notes at the beginning of the line “You will tell and may get only things you’ve never felt“. As always, Andrii’s colorful, highly-emotive vocals bring all the passion necessary to drive the song’s powerful message home.

Invite me to a party, I'll feel like an outsider
You did this out of duty, 'Thanks for coming, you're a cutie'
'Hey, what's wrong? Why so sad?' - 'I'm okay, just hear the voice in my head -
Humiliation, torment session, 'Please stop now! This is my station!'

Why you running? Why you struggling?
You don't know why I am coming!
You're talking 'bout unknown
Never felt this, all in all

Just cursing and hating - oh no, I'm watching and waiting
You will tell and may get only things you've never felt
Prosecution and charges, behind them always darkness
The clamor of denial, in the name of the void and its empire.

Why you running? Why you struggling?
You don't know why I am really coming!
You're talking 'bout unknown
Never felt this, all in all

Oh, I hear the sound
Oh, it is so loud
You're always talking 'bout stuff you've never known
You're not a pro in this field, that much is shown
Oh, I can't stand to be like you, and by the way
To talk about anything, you must know it anyway

“Fed To The Teeth” is another impressive release by this talented foursome. And as I stated in my previous review, it’s admirable that Homeless Radio have managed to stay together as a band and make new music, despite the fact their country has been waging a valiant defense again their Russian invaders for more than three years. I hope they can remain safe and able to continue doing what they love.

Homeless Radio Socials:  Facebook / X (Twitter) / Instagram / TikTok

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Bandcamp / Soundcloud / YouTube