New Music Report – December 11, 2020
Well, this is it, folks, this is the last of my new music posts for 2020. This is more or less the last week that will feature any notable releases for the remainder of the year, so I’ll be taking a few weeks off. I hugely appreciate every single one of you that’s read these, talked to me about new music, or discovered some new bands through my posts. I’ll pick these back up in January when the new releases start rolling out again, and in the meantime, I’ll be back in a week or so with my Top 10 list from the year.
Inspirit – This is a big one, I’m gonna need you all to bear with me for a second while I explain this. A little more than a decade ago, I was living in Boston playing in a post-hardcore band and there were two bands in particular in the Boston music scene that everyone loved universally: Therefore I Am and Vanna. This band, as it turns out, is literally Vanna from that point in time. If put the Boston music scene from the late-00s into a time capsule, and opened that time capsule up in 2020, Inspirit is what you would get. This is the 2006-ish Vanna lineup with the 2006-ish Vanna sound. They’ve made no attempts to modernize their sound or pander to any contemporary standards. They just made good, classic metalcore with strong vocal hooks, just as we enjoyed it back then, and it turns out, I enjoy it just as much today. Sure, I’m sure it’s partially due to some nostalgic value, as it will be for anybody that’s missed classic Vanna all these years, but there is an undeniable charm and honesty that comes from these songs that feels lacking in today’s hyper-technical, hyper-produced metalcore, and even for that alone, I love it.
Deftones (remix album) – Ok well, what can really be said about White Pony? It’s one of the most monumental albums of all time. So, choosing to remix it on its 20th anniversary was, well, both a no brainer and a bit of a risky move. On the one hand, everyone loves this album, and any opportunity to revisit it is certainly a welcome one. On the other than, what are the chances that songs like “Passenger” and “Change” can actually be improved upon, especially two decades later. I believe that songs are not only representative of the musicians, but also the time they were created, and White Pony really could have only existed in the year 2000. So, even with big names like Mike Shinoda, Squarepusher, DJ Shadow, Phantogram, and Purity Ring remixing these almost untouchable works of music, it wasn’t a sure thing. But did they miss the mark? I guess that’s a subjective answer. “Passenger” is one of my favorite songs of all time. Do I think Mike Shinoda improved upon it? No. Do I appreciate the new perspective on a song that means so much to me? Absolutely. And I think that’s the takeaway. This doesn’t improve upon White Pony, it simply allows you to look at it through a new lens, and I think for that, it’s worth a listen.
Singles – You know how I’ve been saying for weeks that I don’t usually talk about singles then proceed to talk about singles? Well, these are two of my favorite bands and I can do what I want.
Every Time I Die – God, what a fucking year 2020 has been. And the postponement of the new ETID album was another giant turd on a great big disappointment of a year. But man, are they coming in at the last minute to save the day. These two new singles prove that they really are one of the greatest bands out there. ETID may be my favorite band so I’m very, very biased here, but these new singles; holy shit, dude. Not only are these absolute rippers, but the production value is the best we’ve ever heard from the boys, Goose’s drumming fits the band perfectly, and the on top of all that, the band are still out there willing to keep experimenting with new and adventurous compositions. As a result, these singles are a very enticing taste of what’s to come. Now here’s hoping we can get our shit together in 2021 so we can get the new album and I can see these guys live again. In the meantime, check out the livestream they’re doing this Saturday (12/19).
Cult of Luna – Speaking of 2020 being a disaster, this was the last band I got to see live, I’m actually wearing a Cult of Luna hoodie right now. So, I’m awfully fond of these guys too. I honestly wasn’t expecting new material from them so quickly after their absolutely incredible 2019 album, A Dawn to Fear, but here we have the first single off their upcoming EP. “Three Bridges” is an epic, almost 9 minute long sludgy, post metal masterpiece. It feels like a continuation of A Dawn to Fear, but very much its own piece moving into a new, grander direction. This is fantastic, and now I’m VERY excited for the new album.