The music world generally revolves around the output from the US and UK, so it comes as a pleasant surprise when you stumble across a band from elsewhere in the world; especially when they are at the kind of high standard as Greece’s own Maximum High. Playing around with the classic hard rock formula, all four band members put in a slick and confident performance. ‘Control My Love’ features some fantastic funky bass tones and the guitar work on ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ effortlessly shifts from furious solos to understated atmospheric interludes. The dependable drum work really grabs your attention on ‘Long Ago’ and frontwoman Irene Dimopoulou’s superb soulful vocals really make Maximum High stand out from the crowd. This is a band that blew my expectations out of the water, working together like a well oiled machine to produce a perfect example of what rock is all about. I just hope with the right exposure they can get their message out to the masses and get some rightly earned recognition for their dynamic debut release.
Fans of Rival Sons, The Answer and Saint Jude should check out their eponymous debut EP
Dearly Beloved – Admission
Born and raised in L.A., before bringing her talents to the music city of Nashville, Taylor Noelle is one of the most talented and versatile artists to emerge in the past year. Her debut EP Out of My System is an absolute gem, with each track showcasing a different style and a different side to her personality, all coming together as one multifaceted marvel. I caught up with this purveyor of pop perfection ahead of her first ever trip to the UK:
I’m always on the lookout for fresh ideas, a trait that is becoming increasingly rare in modern music. One of the most intriguing new bands of the decade thus far has been Royal Blood thanks to their unique combination of just bass and drums and just a dash of technical wizardry. However this Brooklyn based band have gone one better and have thrown another bassist into the mix to create a fascinating interplay of sounds. The broody atmosphere is as much built around the empty spaces as it is around the dramatic bass tones, hypnotic rhythms and the trance-like vocals. There’s no denying that the end result sounds greater than the sum of its parts and portrays a grand, yet dark vignette. Their labyrinthine post punk is equal parts menacing and mournful as it pierces its way through the dense haze. The band themselves have an air of mystery around them to match their enigmatic gothic horror soundscapes. They have thus far maintained their veil of secrecy so that only the lucky few have been able to delve into their world, a lucky few that you should be a part of.
In today’s fast moving world the path that the future will take can be very difficult to predict. Fads come and go faster than ever before and music is not immune to the fickle nature of modern life. Someone can be on top of the world one day and then be all but forgotten the next. (Remember Gotye? Anyone heard from him lately?) Likewise acts can be plucked up from obscurity and thrust into the limelight seemingly out of the blue… I bet Rick Astley’s bank account is looking nice and full after all those millions of rick rolls! But even in the disorderly world of pop culture there are patterns to be found. Perhaps the best way to make predictions is to look at how the industry itself is set to change and think about what effect it will have on music. 
I think for most of us 2016 has been a pretty bleak year; marred by death, destruction and division. One of the few guiding lights to lead us through the darkness has been the exemplary music gifted to us by rising stars, and left behind as a final swansong by dearly departed legends. As we move on into an uncertain 2017 let us look back on the year’s lows as chances to learn and grow, and revel in the highs that show the potential majesty of the human spirit. Here’s Belwood Music’s brief picks of a few of the brightest musical beacons of the past twelve months: 
Though we have had a tragic year in many respects we have been blessed with some excellent albums. The ranking was closer than ever this year, and there are many releases that deserve a mention, but here are Belwood Music’s top picks of the past 12 months based on album ratings: 
To coincide with this year’s Belwood Awards we’re introducing a new annual list of the top songs of the year. Apologies for the terrible oversight of not starting one sooner! After re-exploring numerous albums and playlists from January onwards, this list eventually formed after countless shuffle rounds and rethinks. Most of this year’s biggest tunes were from up-and-coming artists which needless to say is a very good sign of a thriving music scene. So without further ado, let’s get down to it: 
Belwood Music 