(Photo Taken By Billy O'Neill)

On October 19th, 2024, ToyMachine! performed at a popular sports bar, Finnegan’s Pub in Hoboken, New Jersey, along with the New York-based rock band Wild Planes.  

Finnegan’s Pub showed a grand turnout for both bands, with many fans and family of the band members in attendance. The band performed many songs from the new album, along with classic punk and nu-metal songs from bands such as Blink-182 and Rage Against the Machine. 

(Photos Left to Right Taken By Billy O'Neill).                                                                                                         

Local photographer Billy O'Neil, a fan of ToyMachine!, captured the band’s fierce performance. “...They play above and beyond the bar scene I found them at, and I can’t wait to see them move to bigger and bigger venues,” stated Billy when asked about the experience of seeing the band live. 

Billy also expressed that “...On top of being genuinely talented musicians, they have such great showmanship,” along with being incredible performers.

(Photo Taken By Billy O'Neill)

ToyMachine! are no strangers to venues such as Finnegan’s Pub since the past year has seen the band performing in front of Talent Agents at Club Dada in Dallas, Texas, or performing in front of eager fans for the album release party at Louise and Jerry’s Tavern in Hoboken. 

A visualizer for the album's second single, Sitting Alone, was released on the band's Instagram page on August 1st and then released on their Youtube channel a day later. 

On August 8th, the band released a Behind the Scenes (Bleachers | Album Cover Shoot | Vlog) vlog of the Bleachers album cover shoot. The vlog showcased the band in all their glory, messing around on set, getting their makeup done, and the reactions of the models listening to the album for the first time. 

Both of these were shot by Greg Alders (Drummer), who has been the prime mover of the band's promotional visual elements, such as photos and music videos. Greg also shot the cover art for the Bleachers album and photographed the covers for the band's previous singles, such as Runaway Pt.1, Sitting Alone, and Runaway Pt.2. 

Another significant component of ToyMachine!’s branding is Briana Sista, a Director, Producer, and Photographer who constantly assists the band behind the scenes, whether on set for music videos or contributing to creative directions for the band's photo shoots and cover art. 

Briana has also been assisting the band with promotional material by creating visual advertisements for the band's social media pages. One of these visuals, a 15-second reel showcasing the band performing and show details, was vital for promoting the Finnegan’s Pub live performance. 

More shows are expected within the next few months, with one already planned for November and possibly more live performances at the beginning of 2025. 

Stay Tuned, and Stay SLUDGY!!!

(Photo Taken By Billy O'Neill)

…that encapsulates who the band is and what to expect from them in the future. 

Bleachers is ToyMachine!'s first full-length project, featuring 14 tracks, ten songs, and four skits. 

The album is 32 minutes long, with the longest song being the outro of the album and the last single released, Runaway Pt. 2. 

ToyMachine! packs this album with Rap Rock bangers and Post Grunge anthems. Every song has a purpose, ranging from mosh pit ragers to high school love songs. 

Songs like Move & Fight show the band's heavy side, incorporating heavier guitar playing and pounding drums. Meanwhile, songs such as Bleachers & Paradise show the band's sensuality. 

Every song on the album is a testament to the band's commitment to their sound. They have embraced many genre influences throughout the record, creating a cohesive and engaging listening experience. 

The album starts with a 59-second Intro featuring a piano-backed audio recording of Michael O’Connor, Mikey’s (Bassist) father, coaching the young football star in an intense football game. 

The album's theme of football and high school plays a huge role throughout the record, bringing the listener a sense of nostalgia for the times of innocence and blissful confidence. 

Following this, we have the monstrous Move, with marching guitars and a booming drum beat, creating a feel of running onto the football field and preparing for the final game against the rival school across town.    

Sitting Alone, the second single from the album, borders the line between a Nu-Metal banger and an entry-level Screamo song. 

Ray (Vocalist) screams his head off on the chorus of this song, complemented by chunky guitar riffs and a groovy drum fill. Sitting Alone is the tightest and most aggressive track on the album.

The title track, Bleachers (one of my favorites), is the sensual song on the album. This is where the teen angst comes into full force, and Ray visualizes a young romance between two individuals who are making love in various places and forgetting all the consequences of doing so.

Ray then sees the infamous Brog. A bat with frog legs, with see-through skin, like smoke? “YES BRO!!!”

This skit is followed by the song Full of Smoke, where Ray shows his rapping ability over a sporadic rock instrumental. Another tight moment on the album, with this song going from very groovy to intense to back to groovy within four minutes. The band planned this song out, note by note. 

Runaway Pt. 1, the first single from the album, is another excellent, straightforward rock song. The band went all in to make this one of the loudest songs on Bleachers, with the cleanest production on the entire album. 

Douchebag, with the ear-worm of “My girlfriend thinks I’m a DOUCHEBAG,” is one of the catchiest songs on Bleachers. Ryan (Guitarist) showcases his guitar skills in this song, creating one of the catchiest ToyMachine! riffs. Ray sings with the most passion in this song. 

The song Oxygen showcases the band's Hip-Hop roots with Mikey taking rains for the majority of the song's appeal, showcasing the bass players importance of any band. Ray raps his head off on this song, spitting bar after bar, creating a somewhat severe tone on Bleachers. 

Who is… ToyMachine!...? 

Fight is the adrenaline filler on the already intense album. This song visualizes a boxing match between two eager fighters. Everything about this song gets you pumped up, from Ray's confident vocal delivery to the tight instrumental. Greg's (Drummer) impressive snare hits keep the song's energy moving. 

IF SOMEONE COMES UP IN YOUR F*CKING GRILL… ONE TWO THREE FOUR (School of Rock Skit) 

As the album nears the fourth quarter, we receive the song Paradise, one of the many love songs on the album. With grittier production, this song is all over the place structurally yet very catchy. Paradise continues the themes of romantic love among young individuals, this time with a more naive point of view. 

Runaway Pt. 2, the last single released before the release of Bleachers, breaks your heart while bringing the listener back to a time of innocence. This song is one of the more dramatic tracks on the album, leaving the record on a cliffhanger. 

Where will the band go next? Sonically or topically, will they continue with the themes of Bleachers or go in a new direction? 

The album is more than a record of music. Bleachers is a story with a plot that can be transformed into a film. Despite music being limited to the audio realm of believability, not many records can make you visualize how the album could be imagined. 

There was something special about movie soundtracks. This album is the soundtrack to any angsty teen flick of the late 90s. Bleachers scream American Pie’s insecurity of love. Bleachers encapsulate the rush and uncertainness of Superbad. Bleachers showcase the tension of The Breakfast Club. The album is grounded in the realness of the feelings this record produces, with the real moments from the band presented by the skits. 

A different type of production goes into the “movie soundtrack song.” Whether unintentional or not, there's a distinct feeling the song gives off when paired with a particular scene in a movie. Ryan was not kidding when saying the music off Bleachers was similar to watching a movie. 

As of this blog's writing, music videos have yet to be released. However, the fans and I will be interested to see how the band presents a visual body of work that complements the album's themes of naive love and angst. 

Overall, this album is a fantastic entry for ToyMachine!’s catalog that fans, new and old, will appreciate. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease) 

…that breaks your heart while also taking you back to a time of innocence. 

This song is one of ToyMachine!’s deeper tunes, and it can have multiple meanings for every person. The band goes deeper lyrically on this song, with Ray singing more than rapping while Ryan takes over the chorus. 

The song strips back their influences of Rap Rock to move into a Melodic Rock and Post-Grunge direction. The singing style is similar to that of bands such as Silverchair, with an instrumental straight out of any Deftones album. 

Runaway, Pt. 2 has a particular groove the band has yet to touch. The songwriting has clear influences from bands such as Staind and Puddle of Mudd. 

ToyMachine! mentioned on Instagram Stories, “If you like bands such as System of a Down, Incubus, and Tool, Listen to our new single.” 

Runaway, Pt. 2 is the polar opposite of Runaway, Pt. 1, with a darker instrumental and darker lyrics compared to Pt. 1's uplifting and inspirational tone. 

Mikey introduces the song with a sick bass rift, followed by Greg's pounding drum beat and Ryan's monstrous guitar intro, all combined for an epic intro. This is all followed by Ray’s mellow singing in the verse and Ryan’s emotional vocals in the chorus. This is the first time Ryan has sung on a ToyMachine! song since the transition from Blue Lizard. 

The hook is the most intense part of the entire song. Ray & Ryan both deliver heartbreaking singing, while Ryan shows off his guitar skills during the bridge. 

Runaway, Pt. 2 tells multiple stories to many listeners. Ryan mentions, “It's supposed to just take you right where you're supposed to be,” taking the listener back to a time of either intense misery or grand happiness. “Different times you listen, it feels different depending on what your energy is that day, if that makes sense,” Ryan explains how the song's meaning can change depending on how the listener feels.

With Runaway, Pt. 2, the band aimed to showcase their diverse influences and strong songwriting, resulting in a song that resonates with many listeners. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease) 

(Photo taken by Alexa Selca)

A month ago, the band set out on an adventure to downtown Dallas, Texas, to perform live at Club Dada. 

ToyMachine! headlined for 45 minutes alongside two opening acts, Jourdan Blue and Mildy Brown, rounding out the entire two-and-a-half-hour experience. All three brought passion in front of a respectable crowd. 

“After all the times we’ve traveled as a band, certain things become second nature: we’re all gonna meet up beforehand, talk shit, laugh for an hour straight, and try to get out all the anxious energy before boarding. Usually, we’re on the 5-6 am flights out wherever we go, but this last time to Dallas, we had a late afternoon/early evening joint, which was NOT the vibe. After being drained from a long day, getting on a plane to fly across the country is awful! Early morning flights all day!” stated Greg Alders (Drummer).

The band also performed new songs off their long-awaited NEW ALBUM, set to release on June 14th, and performed already released singles. Merch such as tee shirts and hats were also sold after the show.

With this show came ToyMachine! performing in front of important individuals, such as Dallas talent agencies looking to see what the band had to offer and multiple talent buyers and agencies from across the country. 

The band has also signed to ATRX, a talent agency that helps creators build their TikTok live presence. 

ATRX is based out of ToyMahcine!’s home state of New Jersey, which is how the band made the connection. 

ATRX is owned by Bill Herndon, a renowned TV director, writer, and producer with over twenty years of experience in the entertainment industry. 

Herndon has worked as the executive producer and producer on TV series such as 7 Hills, Which Way, Parda, and more. 

"After seeing us at a show, We were approached by Bill Herndon the head of the ATRX TikTok agency, he told us he loved our music. We flew out to Dallas to do an intensive TikTok live workshop, thanks to Bill helping grow our online presence. You will definitely see us more on TikTok now!" Ray Bentley (Vocalist) emphasized. 

Ryan Lamon (Guitarist) gave Herndon a tour of the Film Factory in September of 2023 to view the space for ATRX’s content week there. Ever since ToyMachine! has been working hand in hand with the agency owner.

This is a huge stepping stone for the band as they continue their streak of TikTok lives showing ToyMachine! playing live at venues. This gives fans another outlet to consume their music and to see their aesthetic. ToyMachine! plans to go live more often in the future.

The Dallas show also pinned the growing map the band traveled on. The band plans to perform in more college towns and cities around the country, including Athens, Georgia, at the University of Georgia, Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee, the music capital. 

“As cliche or self-aggrandizing as it may be, you can spot someone from NJ/NYC from a mile away, and ToyMachine! being based out of that area, when we go somewhere like Austin, LA, Guadalajara, or Mexico, it’s usually the first thing we get asked: ‘Are you guys from New York!?’ The way we talk and interact gives our roots away within seconds. But honestly, I’m not mad at it. I love where we’re from, and if it’s that characteristic that different types of people can spot so quickly, that means something. I’ll take it!” mentioned Greg, speaking on the significance of performing in different markets. 

While bunking at the Hilton hotel in downtown Dallas for over a week, the band also had several meetings with ATRX, discussing marketing strategies and where to perform live next. With ToyMachine! already having success in New Jersey and Texas, the band is seeking to have their music be heard in multiple rock and metal markets throughout the country. 

“Playing on the road is always such an experience. You really have to roll with the punches and be okay with things not going your way. Prepare to forget something,” stated Greg about performing on the road. 

With the success of this recent show, ToyMachine!, along with help from Bill Herndon, is planning to format new shows with two opening acts and longer show times. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease)

…that keeps your head bobbing. Ray Bentley embraces his inner Cobain with a screaming hook. 

Sitting Alone screams early Nirvana. The instrumental is straight out of the Nevermind sessions. 

Mikey's bass playing is impeccably clean, lending the song a superb structure, while Ryan's guitar playing is a masterclass in down-tuned riffs. 

Greg does not let up on the drums. Especially during the hook, creating a booming beat in the best possible way. 

On this song, the band is more heavily influenced by grunge than ever, sweeping past previous singles that have dabbled in this style. 

The band’s 2022 single, Cut Off My Hands, is a similar sounding tune to Sitting Alone. 

Fans of early Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, and any band in the Seattle grunge scene will immediately notice the sound on first listen. 

Sitting Alone does not take itself seriously, yet this song is ToyMachine!’s most intense song released recently. This is a headbanger that fans will most likely mosh to at shows. 

This song is a complete 180 stylistically, sounding dirtier than Runaway, Pt.1, giving fans various samples for how the album will sound. 

The band has one more single to release before the album on June 14th, so we will see what style they experiment with next. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease) 

…and a fantastic transition into a bolder sound for the band. This song sounds like the beginning of a high school sports movie soundtrack. 

The band's unique blend of rap rock, a signature from previous songs such as I’m Fine & Sally, is still present, with cleaner production, adding a new layer of intrigue to their sound. 

Runaway Pt.1 has a pumping beat complemented by howling, chanting vocals throughout. Ray’s smooth bars glide gracefully across the song. 

Everyone is on their A-game on this song, with Mikey's bass playing standing out during the verses, followed by monstrous guitar licks from Ryan on each of the chores. 

Greg's drum fills never let up throughout the song, and a bumping beat that keeps your head bobbing. 

On Monday, the 13th of 2024, the band released the cover art of this song on their Instagram Page along with more album teasing, stating, “OUR FIRST SINGLE FROM OUR UPCOMING ALBUM” with a furious football player on the cover. 

The band, leading up to the release of this song, has also shown behind-the-scenes photos of what might be the music video for this song on their Instagram page, along with the announcement of the album's release on June 14th. 

ToyMachine! is visually leading into a 90s high school sports direction, with gothic football players and teen angst bleeding from the promotion material leading up to this song. 

Only time will tell how ToyMachine!’s first album will sound and how the band will move forward visually with the 90s aesthetic they are pursuing. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease) 

After being in the studio, ToyMachine! is BACK to release their new album sometime in the summer.

On February 25, 2023, the band released their final single of the year, We Want Sludge.. Since then, the band hasn’t released any new music.  

ToyMachine! spent most of 2023 writing new music and playing shows throughout New Jersey and New York in preparation for the new album. The band also dropped new merch on their website and regular content on their YouTube & Instagram channels. 

“We like to test our new material live and get the crowd's reaction. That’s how we know which songs to record. It’s simple: if we like it, and the immediate fans and culture like it, so can the world,” guitarist Ryan Lamon says. 

The band released new music videos at the beginning of 2023 for songs such as Lower East Sludge (L.E.S.) and Party and Bullshit. There was also a seven-minute vlog (Sludge Album Sessions) where the band showed themselves recording at the Burn Room. 

According to the Sludge Album Sessions description, the band has not one but THREE albums in the works. 

ToyMachine! released an Instagram reel on January 18, 2024, showing the band playing live and announcing the new album. The album is a mix of Grunge, Punk, and Hip-Hop styles the band has been experimenting with since forming in early 2020, with the release of Flatline—the band's first song ever released. 

ToyMachine! played multiple songs from the upcoming album at numerous shows. Over time, short reels were posted on Instagram, teasing the project. 

Ray Bentley (vocalist) has also ventured into his solo rap project, releasing six singles: Hide In The Mansion, Digi Cash, World War 4, Virtual Cemetery, Whatever 2x (Brain Chip), and Toxic President. Working with Ukrainian producer Baidy, Ray’s side project embraces melodic trap and hip-hop tropes with catchy hooks, melodically dark beats, and auto-tuned vocals, going down a different lane from ToyMachine!. 

Ray has been heavily promoting these singles on his TikTok, along with various visuals and lyric videos for his new solo venture. If you're craving new music before the release of the new album, listen to Toxic President, his latest single. 

Ryan Lamon (guitarist) is excited to announce the album and new music videos as the project nears a release date. Merch will also drop, and a tour will follow when the album is released. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease) 

ToyMachine!, a four-piece rap-rock outfit based in Clifton, New Jersey, blends grunge aesthetics, punk attitude, and the swagger of old-school hip-hop.

Founding members Ryan Lamon (guitarist) and Mikey O’Connor (bassist) formed ToyMachine! (then Blue Lizard) on July 30, 2019. On the same day, Ray Bentley joined to become the band's official vocalist. Greg Alders (drummer) filled in during this time, officially joining the ranks two weeks later.

"We just knew this was the move. Have you seen Ray?! His superstar potential is undeniable. We also knew Greg for years with his old band ‘The Cause and the Cure’ and he's always been an insane drummer. We had to have him."

Ryan Lamon, Mikey O’Connor, and Josh Lang formed the band Blue Lizard in August 2014, playing a traditional grunge sound. The band would see line-up changes for the next five years until rapper Ray Bentley expressed interest in becoming the band's lead vocalist, playing live for the band in various shows during the summer of 2019. Bentley’s intense rapping complimented the band’s instrumental stylings.  

Months later, on February 22, 2020, the four-piece would officially become ToyMachine!, releasing their first official single, Flatline, to major streaming platforms. 

"Writing that first single was an amazing experience. It literally was a song that Mikey has been jamming on since 2017, and it didn't come to fruition until we were jamming it one night, and Ray free-styled the whole thing."

With similar sound and look stylings, ToyMachine! will be very familiar to fans of nu-metal veterans such as System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine, and Limp Bizkit. 

ToyMachine!’s influences also bleed into the world of ’70s punk, with bands such as the Ramones, Sex Pistols, and The Clash. 

Big-name bands such as Nirvana, Van Halen, and the Beastie Boys also hugely influenced ToyMachine! and the various production styles of 90s Hip-Hop acts such as LL Cool J, Eminem, and Lil Wayne. 

Following the formation and release of the band’s first single, ToyMachine! took the time of COVID-19 reign to record and release various singles over the next two years. 

The songs Buzzer and Admit It, featuring Saf Tajik, ended the 2020 season. The band introduced moodier undertones in their lyrics, using the bassy sounds of the instrumentation to fit the already unsettling mood of that time. Both songs received over 25,000 streams on Spotify, with Buzzer almost hitting 50k. 

2021 saw the release of more music along with rising stream numbers for ToyMachine!, with singles such as The Fame, Run Rabbit Run, and I’m Fine bringing more popularity for the band. 

These songs showed the bands maturing into a consistent and up-tempo sound. The Fame shows the extent of Ray's vocal ability. Run Rabbit Run shows the band's groovier instrumentation while showing their metal inspiration. I’m Fine takes the band’s sound into a catchier and radio-friendly direction, with Ray’s smooth singing over an intense pop-rock instrumental. 

I’m Fine would also be a significant success for the band, with over 145,000 streams on Spotify alone as of the writing of this blog post. 

Towards the summer of 2021, the band would release three more singles, I Think I Hate Myself, Party and Bullshit, and Girls Will Be Boys. 

All three singles thickened ToyMachine!’s sound and audience. Along with new music, the band would tour around New Jersey as COVID restrictions began to wind down. 

The band would also build their visual mediums, releasing their first music videos for I’m Fine, Girls Will Be Boys, and The Fame (In 2022). 

Along with the music videos, ToyMachine! would also release various video blogs to show the band’s personal side, fan interactions at live shows, and behind-the-scenes videos of their music videos. “A Band of Misfit Toys” (Documentary by Mikyla Scott) is their most popular vlog released on their YouTube channel, where the band shows a more personal side, with each member introducing themselves and giving their personal history. There's also footage of their live show with a giant mosh pit of listeners and a fan interview—a great introduction to who ToyMachine! is and what the band represents.  

2022 saw the release of Millennial, which took the band into a darker tone than usual, incorporating a brutal grunge sound. This year, the band expanded their social media presence by consistently posting on Instagram and TikTok to promote future shows and new music they would release in the coming months. 

Around the same time, ToyMachine! would place themselves in front of new faces around New Jersey by doing more shows and gardening an extensive fan base, with more ticket sales coming in as COVID-19 restrictions in the state diminish. 

“Sally’s got a seashell” is a verse sludge fans would sing all spring long in 2022. With a catchy chorus and upbeat rock instrumental, Sally became the band's most streamed song on Spotify, raking in over 45,000 streams within a year of release. 

Towards the end of 2022, the band continued their success, releasing three more singles: No Recess, Lower East Sludge (L.E.S.), and Cut Off My Hands. These continued the darker atmosphere of Millennial, leaning heavily into their dark grunge sound. 

ToyMachine! will continue promoting music, performing more shows, releasing more content, and releasing merch in 2023. The band will release their most recent single, We Want Sludge, which takes the band more into a rap-rock direction, with Ray laying down slick bars about their slogan. 

Sludge would become the band's official slogan, heavily used in show posters, merchandise, and song lyrics. 

This year would be a turning point for the band as they write and record their first official album. 

On January 18th, 2024, ToyMachine! released an Instagram Reel announcing their new album, a mix of their staple sounds of Grunge, Punk, and Hip-Hop. The release date is set for the summer. 

Ryan speaks on the new album by stating, “The album is a new approach on early 2000s Nu-Metal, with a fresh approach of vocals by Ray…Most of the songs are cinematic and were written to pitch to movies, television shows, and video games.” 

Ryan then explains the technical aspects of creating the album: “We worked with legendary Filter guitar player Geno Lenardo, who brought his expertise on the production side.” 

Geno Lenardo has worked on soundtracks for various movies and television shows, such as Frankenstein (2014), Peppermint (2018), and Anger Management (2003), which starred Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson. 

Since meeting with the veteran guitar player, the band has regularly flown to Lenardo’s studio in Chicago to record the remainder of the album. 

As fans patiently wait for new music, the band is ready to release singles and music videos at any moment's notice. 

STAY SLUDGY!!!

(Article by Steven Wease)