“Bruiser” by Big Sleep – A Song Feature

 

     From the outset, “Bruiser” surges with a pulsating rhythmic drive that underpins a delicate upper-frequency guitar. A less subtle guitar soon surfaces, and the attention of a listener is firmly in grasp. Initially, the vocals take a periodical approach with a matter-of-fact tone, but this restraint does nothing to diminish the soaring trajectory of the single from Big Sleep.
 
     There are times when “Bruiser” features multiple vocalists in a back-and-forth dialogue (for example, at 0:51). Unfortunately, the lyrics are not easily understood, but it is not difficult to determine that there isn’t agreement amongst the parties. A segment of the lyrics are included in this post. Interestingly, Big Sleep “borrows” the line “They call me Mellow Yellow” from a 1960s song by Donovan, which is reported to be about either smoking dried banana skins or marital aids.
 
     Big Sleep is based in Dublin, Ireland. The members are Rónán Connolly (lead vocalist, guitar), Matteo Poli (drums), Aidan Gray (bass), and Naiara Clarke LaFuente (guitar), who joined after a chance encounter involving an illegal rave, a forest, and a homemade stage. In 2026, the band released its debut album “Holy Show” via LAB Records. The band explains:
  “At its core, ‘Holy Show’ is an album about transience. In Ireland, a “holy show” refers to a messy situation, emotional chaos, public embarrassment, or the kind of scene you can’t quite look away from. Across ten tracks, Big Sleep turn that phrase inward. Each song captures its own moment of finding, losing, clinging to, or walking away from love.”
 
     The explanation then turns to their single: If ”Holy Show” captures emotional chaos, “Bruiser” is its neon-lit heartbeat. Clocking in at a breathless 199bpm, the track barrels forward with restless urgency. The Spotify stream of the ten-song album is embedded at the bottom of this post.
 
     “Bruiser” by Big Sleep

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigsleepmusicpeople
Website: https://www.bigsleepband.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Bigsleepmusic

Selected Lyrics of “Bruiser” by Big Sleep
Boom boom we shake the room
They call me Mellow Yellow
Mama, what about you
 
Everybody’s got a dream
And it’ll be somebody new
You gotta break into the scene
Let me help you push through
 
Keep it in the pocket
Rinse repeat
In the pocket wrapped up in the sheets
And now you’re falling
Or you can go steady for a couple of weeks

“HOW I DO” by V!ctoria – A Song Feature

 

     V!ctoria explains that “HOW I DO” is about “doing something out of character just to feel close to someone you’ve lost.” Perhaps with calculated intent, the lyrics (included at the bottom of this post) drift into vagueness at times, creating space for personal interpretation and emotional projection from the listener. V!ctoria’s voice balances yearning and assuredness, as the vocal energy and tempo shift adeptly.   

 

     Instrumentally, the percussion is strategic in moving between being5 nonexistence and impactful. The drums drive the energy after the 1:30 mark. But the characteristics of the guitar are the instrumental highlight of “HOW I DO.” The guitar shuns lushness, yet possesses a crisp, clear, and clean upper-frequency shimmer. It shares the tonal DNA of one of our favorites Indie releases of 2025 – “Chinese Restaurant” by Radio Free Alice.

 

     V!ctoria is based in New York City. The credits of “HOW I DO” state that the song was written by Victoria Addy.

 

     “HOW I DO” by V!ctoria

Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/imvxctoria/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@imvxctoria

Lyrics of “HOW I DO” by V!ctoria
Can you stay just a minute?
I’ve been tryna reminisce
Picking up the broken pieces
With bloody hands and no regrets
 
Can I be your body’s silhouette?
Cuz I’ve been tryna fill the space you made
I won’t judge, but tell me this
Can you tell me this?
 
Does she care like I do?
Take the chance like I do?
You’re running out of options
You’re wearing down your conscience
 
I get up at the brink of the dawn
And memorize your favorite song
I grind my teeth on cigarettes
Just to taste your lips again
 
I, I wanna be your silhouette
Sick of always cleaning up the mess you make
Home is losing sentiment
When it’s obvious
 
She don’t care like I do
Change your mind like I do
Take the blame like I do
Does she taste like how I do?
 

“Afternoon of Acid Rain” and “Born on a Train” by Hallucinophonics – Song Features

      Hallucinophonics provide insights into a period of musical history—approximately 1966 to the early 1970s—during which psychedelic music was significantly influenced by the use of hallucinogenic substances. It was a period in which music lovers were more receptive to Experimental and Progressive Rock, and lyrical content frequently adopted surreal imagery, such as slowly answering when called by “a girl with kaleidoscope eyes.”

      It was also a period in which bands prolifically released music. At least one album release per year was common. Hallucinophonics shared a nine-song album in 2025 (”Theatre of the Absurd”) and a thirteen-song album in January 2026 (“Falling”). Within the month following “Falling,” multiple additional singles were released, including “Afternoon of Acid Rain.” Regarding the song, the band said:

 “A surreal psychedelic rock journey from acid rain and face-melting guitars to a warm invitation — come on in, the water's fine. Featuring candy corn girls, crocodile women, avalanche people, and a seven-foot chicken with a six-foot guitar. Moving from dark to bright, this track blends psych rock intensity with dreamy folk warmth.”

 

     Hallucinophonics are based in London, UK. The project’s website references a number of influences, including Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, and Tame Impala. But our closest comparison is to The Moody Blues, as evidenced by the songs “Afternoon of Acid Rain” and “Born on a Train.” Both songs were written by Alexey Belenkiy.

 

     “Afternoon of Acid Rain” by Hallucinophonics

Website: https://elasticstage.com/hallucinophonics
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialhallucinophonics/

Lyrics of “Afternoon of Acid Rain” by Hallucinophonics
In a box full of face-melting guitars
It was an afternoon of acid rain
The hot lava dog was licking its balls
All the clouds were full of flames
 
And then they came to me and said
"Who in the hell do you think you are?"
And I said "Who in the hell do you think I am?"
The candy corn girls kept flying by
And there was love everywhere
 
The crocodile women with the jellyfish hearts
The avalanche people with their glassy-eyed stares
When you're down here you're never very far
From a seven-foot chicken with a six-foot guitar
 
And then they came to me and said
"Who in the hell do you think you are?"
And I said "Who in the hell do you think I am?"
The candy corn girls kept flying by
And there was love everywhere
 
But what the hell
We all gotta go somewhere
And it might as well be a warm place
So come on in
Friend
The water's fine
 
And then they came to me and said
"Who in the hell do you think you are?"
And I said "Who in the hell do you think I am?"
The candy corn girls kept flying by
And there was love everywhere

      “Born on a Train” by Hallucinophonics (previously reviewed at CLICK HERE)

Lyrics of “Born on a Train” by Hallucinophonics
I'm born on a train and I die on a train
Travelin' through my veins like heroin
My blood is a freight train
Pickin' up speed
My soul is a slow train
Wanderin' the reeds
 
My mom was a steam train
My dad was a bus
My sister's a car
My brother's a truck
We're rollin' through your town and we're lookin' for drugs
When we run out of gas
We fill 'em up
 
Ridin' through the night
I can't see the end in sight
Don't you try to talk me down
I'm on a train
 
I once had a lover
She left me alone
She ran out of gas
So I left her at home
So if you should see her
Please don't mention my name
I've never been a man and I'll always be a train
 
'Cause I was born on a train and I'll die on a train
I'll run on your tracks like a runaway
My blood is a freight train
Pickin' up speed
My soul is a slow train
Wanderin' the reeds
 
Ridin' through the night
I can't see the end in sight
Don't you try to talk me down
I'm on a train