5 Criminally Overlooked Indie Bands You Need To Love

4. The Menzingers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI7H4gfrzPo I had the privilege of seeing The Menzingers at Soundwave, 2012, just after their new album had launched. Playing to a crowd of no more than 200, at midday, it was not a mind-blowing vibe. But as soon as they started playing, I began to suspect people were wearing earplugs. How could they not have been going insane!

To put it simply, the Menzingers are a technically brilliant band who deserve all the attention being herded their way. Bringing the sound of 90s grunge and updating it is no easy task, especially considering the nostalgia associated with that decade, but the Menzingers effortlessly pull it off; they recall the 90s while managing to sound fresh and new. It's a deceptively simple balance, and it results in a band that almost anyone can enjoy. In the last year, they have been expanding their fan base dramatically.

Their most recent album, On The Impossible Past (2012) was critically adored, and was one of the most awesome albums I had not only heard that year, but in several. It struck a balance between melancholy and upbeat, with such songs as "Gates" staying with you long after you heard them.