Rian

Rian sounds like the golden age of FM radio updated for the high-definition era. It is music defined by its verticality: towering vocal stacks, sky-high guitar solos, and a rhythmic foundation that feels like a steady heartbeat at 110 miles per hour. The production is immaculately clean, stripping away the grit of garage rock in favor of a shimmering, expensive-sounding sheen that makes every snare hit feel like an event.

What sets them apart is the technical precision of the guitar work. While many revivalist bands lean into irony or lo-fi aesthetics, Rian embraces the unadulterated virtuosity of the late 80s. The interplay between the melodic vocal lines and the intricate lead guitar fills creates a dense, rewarding texture that feels both nostalgic and vital. It is unapologetically big music that refuses to play small.

Start with the album Twenty-Three to hear the band hitting their stride with the Frontiers label. It captures the perfect balance of their AOR influences and contemporary muscle. If you want something even more refined, move straight to Wings, where the songwriting becomes even tighter and the production reaches a crystalline peak.