Badflower

A little grunge and a little emo, the next generation of alternative rock has definitely arrived. And BadFlower is the place to be. Led by a singer with the face of an angel and a voice full of emotion, this quartet knows how to deliver a rock sound that gets under your skin, between melodic verses, raging choruses and catchy compositions.

Born in Los Angeles, it took a fierce determination on the part of Josh Katz on vocals, Joey Morrow on guitar, Alex Espiritu on bass and Anthony Sonetti on drumsticks to get the band out of the bars and clubs of the City of Angels. Six years to go from talented unknowns to millions of streaming listens. And they've done so without ever making concessions on their music, which some critics may find disjointed, but which skilfully blends influences.

The American foursome, who have grown up on Led Zeppelin, Queen of the Stone Age and Iron Maiden, also like to list Billie Eilish as one of their favorite artists. And when they take their inspiration and shake it all up with their explosive energy, the result is airy, subtle verses filled with youthful ardor, answered by screaming, intense choruses sometimes bordering on overt aggression.

Even if the band is still young, they have things to say and don't beat about the bush. When it comes to lyrics, they sweep aside metaphors to express themselves bluntly. Their debut album is a no-holds-barred exploration of mental illness, incest, loneliness and addiction. Themes carried by Josh's sometimes crystalline, sometimes animal voice, which always seems to be on a tenuous thread. With this talent, it's hardly surprising that some people hailed their debut album as "the emergence of a great rock band". Powerfully electric, wildly energetic rock!