Siena Root have released a video to their song “Root Rock Pioneers” this week. As the title implies it’s about root rock, and not just any root rock, but a dazzling one that makes me think of the bluesy hard rock from the early seventies. Deep Purple is a comparison that easily comes to mind, especially because of the brilliant interaction between the lead guitar and the hammond, and also because of the wonderful, dynamic retro-sound which blows any modern, over-compressed rock track off the road. If you want more of this you can listen to the latest album “Pioneers”, which is their fifth album.

Siena Root’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp – on Bandcamp

The trio Sentimental Pet have released their third single, “Killing Time”. It’s quite different from the last single “Evil Mind” from last Spring; we’re faced here with a darker ambience and a tough, grinding, hypnotic rock with reverb drenched guitars and distant voices. Rough guitars threaten to throw us into chaos along the way but never do it, but take command again and continue down the designated route. Interestingly there’s also also a story that comes with the song, a story which places the band in Nicaragua under some mysterious circumstances. You can read it here. Where are Sentimental Pet heading? I’d love to see a bunch of new songs this year.

Sentimental Pet on Facebook – on Spotify –on Wimp

During 2015 The Plastic Pals celebrate 10 years as a band. Today they release the single “Riding With Elvis” which makes it a perfect way to start this music year, I think. It’s been 80 years since Elvis was born today, and the band honour him with a sparkling tribute to rock’n’roll. In their own way, with a rough, tight groove, inspired by Motown, and razorsharp guitar riffs. Another band attribute, the melodic, catchy chorus, is also there, and the question is if the band have ever sounded this good.

The Plastic Pals’ site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Wimp

The Swedish/Icelandic rock trio Death By Toaster released the EP “That’s Life” now in December. The EP is the first in a series of four EP:s, each containing three songs which all together will form the content of the debut album, to be released on the 1st of June next year. The second EP is out on the 16th of January. Listen here below to two of the tracks which I would describe as a mix of alternative rock and melodic hard rock.:

Death By Toaster’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Bandcamp

December 1st. The kids have opened their advent calendars and for once they can eat a piece of chocolate every morning, the Christmas stars are twinkling in the darkness and the cat is cursing the Christmas candles as they have stolen his favorite place on the windowsill. Such a day must of course be crowned with the best of Christmas songs, namely “I Wish a Good Christmas to You” by Jon Rinneby & co.

As Jon told us in an interview here on Meadowmusic, he is releasing the song “I Wish a Good Christmas to You” today, which is all done for the benefit of Musikhjälpen 2014 (“The Music Help 2014”, Swedish charity project run by public radio). All revenue from the song is donated to Musikhjälpen either you click on “Buy” in the player below (which also gives you the song to download), or if you want to donate through SMS directly at the collection box.

Musikhjälpen 2014 is about stopping the spread of HIV in the world, helping those that are most in need and sharing knowledge about HIV and aids. You can read more here (in Swedish). The collection has already started here and there, but the radio show is going on between the 8th and the 11th of December, broadcasted from Uppsala this year.

Here you are, a new Christmas classic in the making: