Overgrow – “The Earth Will Swallow Me Whole”: This is an act that we have covered a few times, most recently on our list of Ohio artists to watch in 2019. Based on this single, that was the right call. As with Overgrow’s first release last year, this song is nothing but pure emotion. You can’t help but feel what Jake Ciccotelli is singing about. He just keeps cementing his place as one of the best songwriters out there today.

In Her Own Words – “Rose by the Ocean”: This single has me excited for their new album that drops in a few weeks. This is a pop-punk band that has been bubbling under the surface for a few years now, and this very well could be the album that breaks them through, if this single is any indication. I’m glad that more pop-punk bands are writing about things that matter, things like mental health and suicide prevention. As with the demographic that mostly listens to that genre, these bands can truly help people and that makes me happy. TRIGGER WARNING: The music video below portrays a suicide attempt. Do not watch if easily disturbed.

Knocked Loose – “Mistakes like Fractures”: The future of hardcore is here, and boy is it brutal. I’m not one to pit these days, but Knocked Loose is the one band that gets me to do just that. With this single they have picked up where they left off with their last album. Not only that but they have matured, and that just makes them even more dangerous.

Hardcastle – “Something I’ve Been Waiting On”:  A lot of times I’ll see a band’s name a lot yet don’t listen to them. I guess this is what you kids call “sleeping on” an act. Well I’ve been doing that with Hardcastle. I absolutely love this single. It’s just the right mix of pop and rock for me. And they do it well, really well. For me an indication of a good pop song is if it gets stuck in my head, and the chorus to this song is epic AF!!!!! This is a Friday night dance party jam.

Micah Schnabel – “New Shoes”: I started local, and I’m going to end local. Micah Schnabel never disappoints. I’m just going to say it: he is my favorite songwriter. The way he puts things to words is uncanny. And with this single he continues that. He writes about things that are going on around us all, things that we all should be aware of. How we should treat each other. One of the lines that truly stick out to me on this song is, “Why do we refuse to teach little boys it’s ok to say I Love You.” The world needs to hear more of that. I’m glad that Micah Schnabel writes about subjects like that. We need more heroes like him.

-Ray Cobra