If you know where to look there are some really interesting new rock bands breaking through in the UK at the moment, making a distinctive wave in 2025. Check out bands like Rogue Awakening and Wailing Banshee and you will see what I mean, it is a new form of alternative modern rock that pulls from prog and heavy.
Aethoria are a new band from Suffolk, England, and they only released their first song “Tamed” in May 2025.
The band comprises of:
Mecia-Jade Holden – Vocals
Tom Brooks – Guitars
Alex Coombes – Guitars
Connor Sheppard – Bass
Lee Alexander – Drums
I’m going to plunge into the review looking at all three releases, although the new single “Stepping Stones” needs a highlight as it was released July 25. I think one of the things I love about being a reviewer here is the commitment the magazine has to new bands, I know that both Benny and Mark always feel that when these bands make it we can say “we were there at the start.” But also, the really big boys who are there at the top don’t really need us any more, our raison d’etre is to point our readers in the direction of new listening and musical findings!
My review:
“Stepping Stones” (which has a great, slickly produced, video that I have pinned below) makes full use of that expansive guitar sound that the vocals of Mecia-Jade surf with a lighter melodic feel. The single shifts emotion as it can hit hard and heavy when the drums give that rolling thunder and a jungle sense of energy. For a brand new band they definitely have the musical chops and a sound that appears well honed. The single art work is interesting too, the falcon and burning flame (reminded me of Anne Boleyn’s falcon emblem for some unfathomed reason!).
“Bring Me Home” (released June 23) is a heavier track, a song in a hurry. The track looks for the ‘sight of who I am inside’ and features some fast guitar breaks and a solid bass underpin. It’s the least immediately commercial of the three releases, but holds a strong chorus and I think that live it would kick hard.
“Tamed” started everything off back in May (but I suspect these guys have a few tracks already written in their back pocket!) and it is a very decent introduction to their sound – fast and hard guitar and drum sound and a great vocal performance again from Mecia-Jade who is clearly a vocalist with experience, there is no way she has come out of nowhere!
In summary, get on your motorbike and cruise to this band. There’s something brewing in Suffolk, and it sounds like riffs, roars, and real ambition. With Mecia-Jade’s standout vocals riding high on a wave of thunderous drums and dual-guitar muscle, this is a band that doesn’t feel like it’s just starting out—they feel like they’ve arrived. It’s early days, but if Aethoria keep dropping tracks like these, they will gain commercial radio play – those rock radio stations should be playing this one now!
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You can stream music from Aethoria here
By Anna-Louise Burgess