New Music Report – July 31, 2020
This new music post is super short. I think we’re definitely into the part of the release season that’s been royally fucked over by COVID. So unfortunately, the pickings are slim this week, but there’s still something to write about, so here we go.
Northlane – Technically, this isn’t a new album. This is the deluxe version of last year’s Alien, it’s basically just instrumental tracks and a bonus single. That said, this was one of my absolute favorite albums that came out last year, and my undisputed favorite of the new wave of numetal-ish metalcore albums that have been coming out lately. This is the most progressive and fresh take on this sound I’ve ever heard. It’s not just re-hashed metalcore with an occasional Slipknot riff and synth breakdown, it’s an incredibly complex and dynamic piece of music that manages to eclipse not only most other contemporary numetal or metalcore albums that have been released around it. So basically, this isn’t a new album at all, this is just another opportunity for me to talk about a truly remarkable and novel piece of heavy music that I highly recommend everyone check out. It won’t be for everybody, but it’s interesting enough to certainly be worth the listen.
Upon A Burning Body – There is absolutely nothing contemporary about this EP. If it came out 10 years ago, it would still feel kind of dated. But I mean, that’s kind of what you expect with Upon A Burning Body; good ol’ southern metalcore that was very much in fashion 12-15 years ago with bands like Maylene, He Is Legend, super old Memphis May Fire (their first EP, before Matty), and Big Dirty-era ETID. Now, this isn’t quite as good as any of those bands, but it’s still a fun, straightforward EP with some nostalgic metalcore from an era that I honestly miss quite a bit. So, you know, for a little trip back to the days of metalcore past, it’s pretty cool, but that’s about it.
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New Music Report – July 24, 2020
I know I said last week that we’re in a bit of a lull right now, and I suppose in a way, that’s still true. Instead of 5 or 6 albums, I’m only talking about two, but MAN is one of these albums a big one. I’ve been talking about The Acacia Strain all fucking year, it feels like, and this week is the culmination of all of that hype and praise. So enjoy, now I promise I’ll shut up about them until it’s time for my top 10 list at the end of the year.
The Acacia Strain – Before even pressing play, this album has album of the year potential. Everything from the surprise mini EP releases, the suspense of guessing the album name, the absolutely INCREDIBLE album art, etc. TAS have really set the bar high with this one; this is already the coolest release this year. That said, we’ve heard the majority of these songs before, but listening to them as part of a big, cohesive piece really adds even more dimension to it. I’ve been captivated by this album for about 7 months now, so actually having it in front of me is a real treat, but it really lived up to expectations. In fact, this might just be the best Acacia Strain album yet. Which I know is a huge bar to live up to, but I’m genuinely convinced this album is not only their most creative yet, but the most diverse, and the biggest step up from their typical sound. Now, this isn’t like It Comes In Waves – I consider that to be kind of a standalone, anyway – because it sticks close to what they have been known for, but it really is just all that much better. It’s weird, it’s kind of hard to approach this objectively as a new, complete album since I already considered all these songs as individual pieces released throughout the year, but it’s an interesting new challenge that I happened to enjoy quite a bit. I’m going to be singing the praises of not only this album, but the novel approach to an album release, for quite a while to come, this is just excellent.
Neck Deep – I’m gonna get straight to the point: I’m not feeling this album. I loved early Neck Deep; really excellent, bouncy 2010’s pop punk. But the past few albums have slid really far into an “alt rock with leftover whiny pop punk vocals” kinda thing. It reminds me a lot of Yellowcard and New Found Glory from like 2003/4, and I feel the same way about Neck Deep now as I did about them back then. I get what they’re trying to do, I really do, and I understand the appeal, but I also recognize that it isn’t for me. It’s pop punk with about an 80% emphasis on the pop, and that’s just fine, they’re very good at it, despite a few somewhat boring and lackluster tunes on this album. In fact, if you want to check out the highlights, go listen to the singles. So, if you want a nostalgia trip back to the days of Simple Plan and Yellowcard, definitely check this album out. I wouldn’t fault you for it for a second, it’s just not for me.
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New Music Report – July 17, 2020
We’re getting into a bit of a summer lull right now with new album releases. Things were pretty crazy back in May and June, and I expect things to ramp back up again around October and November, as these things usually do. That said, this time last year was chock full of releases, but we’re right at that point in time where COVID came about before the people that were planning on mid-summer releases were able to announce their album, so I know that affected a lot of release schedules. Thankfully, we’ve still got plenty of good music coming out every week. Here’s a couple from this past week.
Lawrence Arms – I’ll be honest, I never really paid enough attention to The Lawrence Arms growing up. I know they’re one of the great underrated, yet still incredibly important (alt) punk bands of the last two decades but that’s about it. And you know, that’s a really big oversight on my part. I admit that. I love all the bands these guys are often compared to like Alkaline Trio, Gaslight Anthem, The Swellers, etc. and friends of mine have sung their praises for years, but I just never took the time to really dive into them. But now that I’ve checked them out, man, this is a fun band. I honestly have no reference point against the rest of the back catalog spanning two decades, but I love this album as it stands alone, completely fresh to my ears. But that said, I’m about to do some digging into old albums and find out for myself.
If I Were You – The Dreambound bands have always been interesting to me. First off, I’m still not sure if it’s actually a record label or just a promotional company, but either way they’ve done an excellent job absolutely blasting YouTube and Facebook with a barrage of Warped Tour-era post hardcore bands. Which just so happens to be my favorite thing in the world. That said, it’s a prime example of throwing shit at a wall and hoping something sticks. They have a ton of truly incredible bands (Captives, Imminence, etc.) but so many of them are woefully forgettable. And honestly, I think that’s a problem that’s indicative of the genre itself, but this carpet bombing promo technique really brings it to light. That said, If I Were You is one of the highlights that I’ve come across from them so far. Now, they do sound very similar to what you’d expect from Dreambound bands, but they just do it so much better than most of them. Which happens to be exactly how I feel about Captives, just not quite as strongly. So, I have a feeling this album will be sitting in the rotation until the Captives album comes out.
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New Music Report – July 10, 2020
New Music – 7/10
Well, I was so proud of being on time last week, so naturally I have to be very, very late this week to balance out the universe. With that, I’ll get straight to it.
Sharptooth – This. Album. Is. A. Banger. Good lord. I can’t think of another album that’s come out this year except for END that has hit this hard. And that’s just the beginning; of course, there is much more to a good record than meaty caveman breakdowns. First off, this is a big step up from their raw and unrefined yet still incredibly charming debut album. Everything feels like it’s been taken to the next level: the composition, the vocal range and delivery, the instrumentation, the lyrics, everything feels a bit sharper, and a bit more mature, yet still just as angry and aggressive as ever. The thoughtful lyrics take a strong and loud stance against not only the typical evils called out by the metal and hardcore scene, but against the latent toxicity of the music industry itself; highlighting the political, social, and feminist issues that have been plaguing the nation for far too long. The causes are real, and the stance is incredibly genuine, and you can feel it in every lyric. This is a direct, in your face record from start to finish, lacking any subtlety whatsoever. Which is fucking perfect, honestly. I love it.
El Ten Eleven – These guys are super weird. Like, really, really weird. They’re an experimental post rock duo that do a wonderful job playing with the boundaries of what can be accomplished with music. And if that all sounds a little mechanical it’s because it is, intentionally so. They don’t play with great flourishes of emotion and wonder like bands like This Will Destroy You. Instead, they create music that makes you think critically about what you’re listening to, utilizing captivating applications of repetition, subtle builds, and interesting synth-driven textures. You have to contemplate it more than you feel it. Which isn’t to say it’s devoid of feeling, instead they approach it from a very Avant Garde perspective that makes you question what those emotions really mean. This particular release is the second part in a three part concept series that’s proving to be incredibly interesting so far. El Ten Eleven certainly isn’t for everybody, but if you want something rather challenging, check it out.
O’Brother – Alright so this is another weird COVID one. This album technically came out this week, but they also released it very suddenly on BandCamp back in May as a pay-what-you-want type deal. So yes, this album has been available for months now, but as of now it’s technically officially released. These guys are a really cool band though, they’ve been described as a bit of everything from post hardcore, to post rock, sludge, grunge, indie, experimental, etc. They kinda just fall in wherever they fit with their newest release. Traditionally, I’d say they’re somewhere between post hardcore and post rock, sort of along the lines of mid-career Thrice and Moving Mountains. But this new album is really just a straight up alternative album. I’m not sure if that’s because it’s more mainstream or if it’s because it really just defies all other conventions and that’s the best way to describe it. But either way, it still utilizes a lot of the complexities you expect from O’Brother with strong dynamic shifts and beautiful atmospherics, but overall this feels different. That isn’t a bad thing, it takes the foundation they built incredibly well and adds new, perhaps softened elements to it to create a whole new sound. This was an excellent progression in the band’s sound, and I can’t wait to see where it takes them next.
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