![Royal Blood: Two men. A lot of noise. Royal Blood made the BBC longlist for the Sound of 2014, but clearly scared the judging panel with their epic rock sounds. Unlike many modern rock bands, there's something authentic in this Brighton duo and they are more about the riffs than the quiffs. New single 'Little Monster' is a hugely impressive example of how modern, heavy rock can balance melody with metal and straddle mainstream and underground sounds.]()
Royal Blood: Two men. A lot of noise. Royal Blood made the BBC longlist for the Sound of 2014, but clearly scared the judging panel with their epic rock sounds. Unlike many modern rock bands, there's something authentic in this Brighton duo and they are more about the riffs than the quiffs. New single 'Little Monster' is a hugely impressive example of how modern, heavy rock can balance melody with metal and straddle mainstream and underground sounds.
![Radkey: It's not just the Brits who are on the top of their game with guitar bands in 2014 - the US is in fine form this year, and Radkey are one of the best rock exports we've heard in years. Specialising in hard-hitting, uplifting and unifying rock anthems (see recent single 'Feed My Brain for the year's biggest chorus so far), that see the band setting their sights on festival main stages. They will be there in no time at all.]()
Radkey: It's not just the Brits who are on the top of their game with guitar bands in 2014 - the US is in fine form this year, and Radkey are one of the best rock exports we've heard in years. Specialising in hard-hitting, uplifting and unifying rock anthems (see recent single 'Feed My Brain for the year's biggest chorus so far), that see the band setting their sights on festival main stages. They will be there in no time at all.
![Drowners: The New Yorkers' debut album is one of the best albums of 2014 so far, packed with the energy and enthusiasm that their evident influences (The Strokes, Babyshambles) struggle to reach in this day and age. Specialising in spiky, laid-back indie rock, Drowners sound undeniably American, and are all the better for it. You'd never get this sort of attitude from the streets of Hull.]()
Drowners: The New Yorkers' debut album is one of the best albums of 2014 so far, packed with the energy and enthusiasm that their evident influences (The Strokes, Babyshambles) struggle to reach in this day and age. Specialising in spiky, laid-back indie rock, Drowners sound undeniably American, and are all the better for it. You'd never get this sort of attitude from the streets of Hull.
![Coasts: Unashamedly pop, Coasts are set to be the next favourite band for anyone who fell for The 1975 and Bastille in 2013. Their recent, speedy single 'A Rush Of Blood' establishes this Bath band as a contender for some massive success in the near future. Touches of Two Door Cinema Club and a great big dollop of electronica complete the formula for a fully-formed and near-perfect indie-pop band.]()
Coasts: Unashamedly pop, Coasts are set to be the next favourite band for anyone who fell for The 1975 and Bastille in 2013. Their recent, speedy single 'A Rush Of Blood' establishes this Bath band as a contender for some massive success in the near future. Touches of Two Door Cinema Club and a great big dollop of electronica complete the formula for a fully-formed and near-perfect indie-pop band.
![Cheatahs: Dark, apocalyptic indie-rock from an awesome London four-piece, Cheatahs are set for big things in 2014, their distinct sound mixing distorted rock feedback with a sense of stadium epic and a great big dose of sixties psychedelia. Heavy, non-compromising production on their tracks can't hide the fact that these guys also write epic, guitar anthems. Big.]()
Cheatahs: Dark, apocalyptic indie-rock from an awesome London four-piece, Cheatahs are set for big things in 2014, their distinct sound mixing distorted rock feedback with a sense of stadium epic and a great big dose of sixties psychedelia. Heavy, non-compromising production on their tracks can't hide the fact that these guys also write epic, guitar anthems. Big.
![SISTERS: If you don't know 'Hush Hush' by Sisters yet, you will. Remember a time before you knew 'Default' by Django Django? No, us neither - and 'Hush Hush' is a all but guaranteed to make the same impact on your listening habits and what you find yourself bouncing to in sweaty tents this summer. A brilliant blend of boy-girl vocals make this Irish born, London based group of newcomers much more than your average indie combo.]()
SISTERS: If you don't know 'Hush Hush' by Sisters yet, you will. Remember a time before you knew 'Default' by Django Django? No, us neither - and 'Hush Hush' is a all but guaranteed to make the same impact on your listening habits and what you find yourself bouncing to in sweaty tents this summer. A brilliant blend of boy-girl vocals make this Irish born, London based group of newcomers much more than your average indie combo.
![Darlia: No pop. No electronics. Darlia are pure, old-school indie rock - and we love them for it. Brought up under the bright lights of the Blackpool illuminations, Darlia come pre-packed with early days Gallagher-esque swagger and an arsenal of catchy, attitude-packed tracks that are certain to explode when the band hit the festival scene this summer.]()
Darlia: No pop. No electronics. Darlia are pure, old-school indie rock - and we love them for it. Brought up under the bright lights of the Blackpool illuminations, Darlia come pre-packed with early days Gallagher-esque swagger and an arsenal of catchy, attitude-packed tracks that are certain to explode when the band hit the festival scene this summer.
![The New Union: Brighton is awash with new indie bands, there must be something in that ocean air. Seagull dropping most likely. The New Union touch on classic, uplifting indie sounds in tracks such as the recently-released single 'NOW', which builds on a piano refrain, sounding a lot like someone gave Tom Odell a massive kick up his BRIT Award winning arse. No offense Tom.]()
The New Union: Brighton is awash with new indie bands, there must be something in that ocean air. Seagull dropping most likely. The New Union touch on classic, uplifting indie sounds in tracks such as the recently-released single 'NOW', which builds on a piano refrain, sounding a lot like someone gave Tom Odell a massive kick up his BRIT Award winning arse. No offense Tom.
![Skaters: Scuzzy and lo-fi, but set for mainstream acclaim and success, Skaters are yet another New York collective to make many British bands rethink their chosen profession, so slick and so polished is their work to date. Check out their 2013 track 'I Wanna Dance' for a definitive modern indie anthem, and everything The Strokes would love to be recording right now.]()
Skaters: Scuzzy and lo-fi, but set for mainstream acclaim and success, Skaters are yet another New York collective to make many British bands rethink their chosen profession, so slick and so polished is their work to date. Check out their 2013 track 'I Wanna Dance' for a definitive modern indie anthem, and everything The Strokes would love to be recording right now.
![Temples: With the success of Tame Impala and Jagwar Ma in recent years, Temples bring psychedelic indie-pop back to Britain, and almost outdo the Aussies at what they have made their own game in recent years. Their long-awaited debut album Sun Structures is an resounding success, and (despite the dodgy promo pics) are highly likely to ride the crest of that wave to big things in 2014.]()
Temples: With the success of Tame Impala and Jagwar Ma in recent years, Temples bring psychedelic indie-pop back to Britain, and almost outdo the Aussies at what they have made their own game in recent years. Their long-awaited debut album Sun Structures is an resounding success, and (despite the dodgy promo pics) are highly likely to ride the crest of that wave to big things in 2014.
![Shy Nature: Upbeat and distinctly British, Shy Nature will come into their own this summer, when their glorious indie anthems will make so much sense in those few, brief hours of summertime we are eventually afforded. Indie-pop that you can actually dance to, Shy Nature take the best bits of The Maccabees and Vampire Weekend and form something altogether unique - and altogether wonderful.]()
Shy Nature: Upbeat and distinctly British, Shy Nature will come into their own this summer, when their glorious indie anthems will make so much sense in those few, brief hours of summertime we are eventually afforded. Indie-pop that you can actually dance to, Shy Nature take the best bits of The Maccabees and Vampire Weekend and form something altogether unique - and altogether wonderful.