Tag: Ukraine bands

HOMELESS RADIO – Single Review: “Fed To The Teeth”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews6 Comments
Cover art by Kostiantyn Borshch

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.

Fedir, Ivan & Andrii taking it to the streets

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

EP Review: ONESTEP – “Haunting Satellites”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Reviews1 Comment

OnesteP is an alternative heavy metal band based in Kiev, Ukraine that plays hard-hitting rock with a message. I reviewed their excellent debut single “In War We Rust” in February, which you can read here, and they’ve now released a four-track EP Haunting Satellites.  Formed in 2011, OnesteP consists of Siddy on vocals, Eugene Sikoza on guitar & production, Taras Kolomoiets on guitar, and Bogdan Korol on bass. (The band also has a session drummer.)  Strongly influenced by the great bands Korn, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, their intense music style is both fierce and melodically beautiful – always a winning combination in heavy metal. Having two guitarists plus a bassist also gives their music an incredibly powerful, complex sound that reaches all the way down into the core of your soul.

onestep

For their EP, the band stated they wanted ‘songs with deeply emotional lyrics about existential malaise and trends in modern society,‘ and do they deliver! The first track “In War We Rust” is a blistering protest against war, its lyrics a searing attack on mankind’s inability to change its behavior or take any responsibility for continuing to engage in wars: “Your satellites are haunting me and making me blind and I’m losing sight. Now look around and find your waste that you’ve made of this another site.”

The instrumentals are as powerful as the lyrics, with razor-sharp shredded guitars, bone-crushing bass, and thunderous drums that are hallmarks of OnesteP’s sound, and setting the tone for the entire EP.  Siddy’s impassioned vocals are almost terrifying as he screams: “Crawl! Dig em’out! Fall! Pick em’ up! Destroy! Build it up! Got bored? Heat it up!”

The ferocity of the music remains at full throttle on “Cold Revenge,” with the added bonus of rapping vocals, both clean and hardcore (that are also employed on the other two tracks “Illusion” and “Torment Chapter”).  I love the melody on this track, and the guitar work is outstanding. So too with “Illusion,” where the instrumentals and chord change-ups are quite good. I especially love the melodic flourish at the end of the track. On “Torment Chapter,” dramatic, menacing synth chords compete for our attention with thunderous shredded guitar riffs and an exuberant hard-driving beat, making for a great song.  Hell, they’re all great songs, and Haunting Satellites is a terrific EP.

Connect with OnesteP on Facebook,  stream their music on Soundcloud and  YouTube, and purchase on Bandcamp.

Song Review: ONESTEP – “In War We Rust”

On By EclecticMusicLoverIn Artist Spotlight, Reviews1 Comment

onestep2

Nearly every day I receive submissions from artists, bands or their publicists wanting me to review or feature them on my blog, and I’m thrilled when their music is really good. So it was a pleasant surprise to discover a promising young band from Kiev, Ukraine called OnesteP. They play an intense style of alternative heavy metal, and just released their fantastic new single “In War We Rust” in advance of their debut EP, due for release this coming April.

Formed in 2011, OnesteP consists of Siddy on vocals, Eugene Sikoza on guitar & production, Taras Kolomoiets on guitar, and Bogdan Korol on bass. (The band also has a session drummer.)  Having two guitarists gives their music a muscular, hard-hitting sound that quite effectively delivers. Their music style is strongly influenced by the great bands Korn, Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, but the guys bring a fresh approach to their music. Like many new bands, they toured heavily the first few years, experimenting with their sound until they felt it fully represented who they wanted to be, then started writing songs for their first EP. Along with “In War We Rust,” the band states that their EP ‘will feature songs with deeply emotional lyrics about existential malaise and trends in modern society.’

In the band’s own words, “In War We Rust” is a protest against war and mankind’s fear to change its behavior or take any responsibility.  The lyrics are searing: “Your satellites are haunting me and making me blind and I’m losing sight. Now look around and find your waste that you’ve made of this another site.”  

The blistering track immediately hits you like a punch to the gut, leaving you breathless. It’s both savage yet melodically beautiful – always a powerful combination in heavy metal. Eugene and Taras shred their guitars to pieces, making them snarl, wail and scream with abandon, while Bogdan’s intense, heavy bass gives the track incredible heft. Toss in thunderous, hammering drums and Siddy’s fierce, impassioned vocals, and the result is a tremendously satisfying heavy metal track. I love it, and eagerly look forward to hearing their entire EP.

Support OnesteP by following them on Facebook. “In War We Rust” may be purchased on Bandcamp.