New Music Report – July 16, 2021
So, this week is an interesting one, but like, not in a good way. There were a bunch of good singles this week, including the best Underoath song since Lost in the Sound of Separation came out, but the albums I covered were largely disappointing. Not bad, mind you, just disappointing. So you know, check em out, draw your own conclusion, but definitely check out the singles.
Times of Grace – So, this name may sound familiar to like, two of you. This band is presumably named after one of my favorite albums of all time, Times of Grace by Neurosis. So, they’re off to a good start already. You may have heard of the members too, they play in this little metalcore band called Killswitch Engage, plus the drummer from Envy of the Coast who is quite possibly the most underrated and overlooked drummer of all time. If you don’t believe me, check out Lucy Grey. Anyway, onto the album, how is it? Well, it’s alright, it verges on forgettable, and doesn’t really stack up to either its namesake, or the member’s work in Killswitch, but both of those are incredibly lofty bars. It’s kind of just a more radio friendly Killswitch Lite. So, you know, it’s not bad, it just feels like you can get more substance from the latest Killswitch album, which was fantastic. Still worth a listen if you’re a big Jesse Leach and Adam D fan, though.
Bulb (Misha Mansoor) – This is actually pretty good timing cause I’ve been on a huge Periphery kick lately. Now, it’s important to note that this is definitely not a Periphery album, but it’s still always cool to get new music from Misha. Obviously, it’s technically incredible, this man is a hell of a guitarist and a great producer as well. But I suppose on the opposite side of the spectrum, this kinda feels like the sort of thing that is going to be covered by amateur djent guitarists on YouTube until the end of time. It also sort of felt like one big ad for Misha’s guitar pedals and sample packs. But despite all that, it’s still fucking awesome. It’s not like anything this dude writes is every bad, but this really was an enjoyable listen. He played around with melodies, technical proficiency, and truly interesting production enough to make it really seem like a genuine album. So for anyone that wants a super shreddy but also very interesting instrumental album, this is worth checking out.
Singles/Albums – Memphis May Fire (Metalcore), Crystal Lake (Metalcore), We Came as Romans (Metalcore), Underoath (THEY’RE BACK BABY), LLNN (Post-Metal), Opeth (Blackwater Park 20th Anniversary Reissue), Imminence (Post-Hardcore), Fit For a King/August Burns Red (Collab Track), Crippled Black Phoenix (Post-Rock)
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New Music Report – July 9, 2021
This week was kind of a busy one with lots of very strange and very remarkable releases. I’m going to be honest, a lot of this was overshadowed by the return of Structures. I know it’s just an EP, but man is it a big deal. It’s so cool to see bands like this returning and putting out new music again. I’m assuming it’s all a result of the pandemic, but whatever caused it, I’m grateful for it.
Structures – I know this is just a 15-minute EP, but I cannot overstress to you just how big of a deal this is. Structures came onto the scene over a decade ago and really wrote the book on how heavy djent could get, and the diversity that the genre could encapsulate. It was so, so much more than just crazy guitar riffs and mind-bendingly complex breakdowns, there was substance to it; complexity, diversity, very clear influences from different genres like hardcore, and man, did it just blow everyone’s minds. So, when they announced a new EP about a month ago after a 7-year hiatus, the hype was incredibly justified. And despite all the time that’s passed, and a leaned out lineup, Structures are still firing on all cylinders. If anything, this new EP, which features guest vocals from heavyweights like Brendan Murphy (Counterparts, END), the band crosses the whole spectrum of technicality into everything from djent to hardcore to nu-metalcore and just about everything else you can think of, all in about 15 minutes. It’s brilliant, just as everyone expected it to be.
VCTMS – I’ll admit, this is one of those bands that always felt like they were around, but I never really paid proper attention to. They’ve been churning out music with alarming regularity, but there were a few pieces that just made it not quite stick with me for whatever reason. And at this point, I’m still hesitant to say I was missing out, but I’m glad I finally tuned in for this new album. Now, this is definitely riding the wave of the nu-metalcore trend that’s happening right now and I understand that definitely isn’t for everybody, but these guys have managed to do it remarkably well, and in a way that actually seems like it can appeal to a broader audience whereas most bands within this sub-genre were kind of one trick ponies, playing to a very specific crowd. If you’ve ever had any passing interest in this band, this is the release to pay attention to.
Berried Alive – This one is a mixtape so I’m going to keep it short. I’m gonna be honest, this dude is kinda like Bilmuri for me, I honestly have no fucking idea if this is a joke project or not. It’s this weird spot where the guys making it are SO talented but the whole idea of the project itself is so fucking ridiculous it’s hard to tell. But this shreds HARD. Definitely check this out.
Singles/Albums – Trivium (Metalcore), Ice Nine Kills (Metalcore), Phinehas (Metalcore), Fallfiftyfeet (Mathcore), Wolves in the Throne Room (Black Metal), Lantlos (Blackgaze), Fawn Limbs (Mathcore), Memorist (Metalcore), Everyone Dies in Utah (Metalcore), TheCityIsOurs (Post-Hardcore), Vuvlodynia (Deathcore/Slam), Mayhem (EP, Black Metal), Sentinels (Post-Hardcore), Don Bronco (Alt Rock), Telomere (Post-Hardcore)
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New Music Report – July 2, 2021
Well, I’m running late again, but these past few weeks have done a number on me, but I’m doing my best to catch up here. Honestly, I can’t say I really mind stacking these weekly reviews like this though. At least in the case of this week’s worth of music, it’s really given me a chance to sit down with everything and really take it all in, and I’ve come away with a deeper appreciation for these albums because of it. I like the quick turnaround to keep everyone up to date, but the two albums I cover for this week are really very, very special, and deserved a few extra spins before I tried writing about them. Also, check out the singles from Eidola and BTBAM.
Born of Osiris – As I said, one of the benefits to me getting a bit behind schedule is that it gives me a chance to go beyond first impressions and really get a chance to get familiar with an album and see how it sits after a week or two and a good number of listens. And man, has this album gotten a good number of listens. This is absolutely one of the standout albums of the year for me, even after the initial luster had a chance to fade. First off, I’m not entirely sure how BOO decided that progressive metalcore needs saxophone, but I’m very glad they did. But beyond that very interesting but well executed inclusion, the whole album is an exercise in phenomenal technicality and songwriting ability. So many bands tend to lean one way or another, and I have to say, I’m in no way impressed with bands that are technically proficient but can’t write an interesting song to save their lives, but BOO have done an amazing job combining both elements into a masterclass of heavy music. Not that that should come as a surprise to anybody, but I cannot stress enough, this album is brilliant.
Year of No Light – This band is very cool, but they’ve mostly flown under the radar, even in relative terms with the post-metal scene, which largely flies under the radar in the first place. To give some context for this band, I discovered them back in 2012 when they released a drone album that was their creative interpretation of a soundtrack for the 1932 German movie, Vampyr. So, they’re a bit strange, but I love them. This new album continues some of those drone and ambient elements, using them to build a dark, eerie tension through the album, while layering them with more traditional post metal. Many post metal bands pride themselves on being the loudest bands out there, but Year of No Light is, in many ways, the embodiment of the opposite of that mantra. They carry their weight in the notes not played, and calculated moments of magnitude. This is a very, very special band, and I truly hope this album is appreciated as much as it deserves to be.
Singles/Albums – Eidola (Post-Hardcore), Between the Buried & Me (Prog Metal), At the Gates (LP, MeloDeath), Bilmuri (Live, Post-Hardcore), Fit for An Autopsy (Remaster, Deathcore), Turnstile (EP, Hardcore), Signs of the Swarm (Deathcore), Lil Lotus (Early-00s Pop Punk), Capstan (Post-Hardcore), We Butter the Bread with Butter (Electronicore)
New Music Report – June 24, 2021
This past week was a very big one for good new music. In addition to the frankly excellent albums that I review below, there were also a few singles that I feel like are worth calling out by name so everyone can get a chance to check them out. Caskets, Make Them Suffer, Fawn Limbs, and ExitWounds are all the specific standouts from this week. There were also way more full-length albums than I had the time to cover that came out, but for sneak peaks of all of this music, be sure to check out my Spotify playlist linked below.
Amenra – I LOVE this band. I try to show this band to as many people as I can but it’s honestly such a strange, intense, niche sound that I don’t really expect too many people to get. It’s a bit hard to pin these guys down, they’re kind of post metal, kind of sludge, with vocals that are an emotional, shrieking combination of hysterical black metal and feral hardcore. And the result is absolutely unique, there really isn’t any other band out there quite like Amenra. Their live shows are presented as a sort of sermon; an intense, almost religious, cathartic experience, and their music has the ability to really draw the listener in to this whole experience, and feel the full breadth of this emotion, whether they’re seeing it live, or listening to it in their car. It’s an incredibly special thing to be able to accomplish and these guys do it time and time again. With strong builds, incredible tension, oppressive weight, and animalistic release, it has everything, and even if this sort of sound isn’t your thing, it’s impossible to not be able to identify with the emotional weight they convey. I cannot possibly recommend this band enough.
Beartooth – I’ll cut straight to the point, I did not think this album was going to go this hard. I thought Caleb Shlomo and Beartooth were working their way towards a more radio-friendly hard rock like Memphis May Fire did for years (and recently rectified on their newest single), and I wasn’t expecting a ton of really interesting music from this one. But man, they took a hard turn, this album goes way harder than anybody expected it too. It’s still hook filled metalcore with lots of clean vocals, but it’s super rowdy, very heavy, and tons of fun. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a huge amount of cheese to this album that’s just impossible to ignore, but I don’t think you’re supposed to. It’s meant to be raucous and brash and a little corny at the same time. But the difference is there’s more than enough actual substance to back all of this up and it leaves the listener with an actually very interesting and very complete album that’s heavier than it has any right to be, and I’m here for it.
Singles/Albums – Carnifex (Deathcore), Fawn Limbs (Mathcore), Caskets (Post Hardcore), Make Them Suffer (Metalcore, feat. Courtney LaPlante), Eighteen Visions (Metalcore), Light the Torch (LP, Metalcore), Lotus Eater feat. Oli Sykes (Nu-Metalcore), Withered (LP, Grind/Death Metal), ExitWounds (Metalcore), Darkthrone (Black Metal), Employed to Serve (Metalcore), Scale the Summit (LP, Prog Metal), Left IV Dead (Prog Metalcore)
New Music Report – June 18, 2021
Ok, so I’m running behind again. Same deal this time, immediately following this post (for 6/18), I’m going to post the new music post for this past week, then I’ll be back on schedule again. I feel bad getting behind though, cause this week was absolutely stacked. The Bossk album was fantastic, of course, but the singles from Sleep Waker, Sleep Token, Ov Sulfur, Teeth, Jinjer, Lingua Ignota… Frankly, most of them, were all just fantastic. If nothing else, definitely check out those that I just listed though, they’re all very very good artists making very interesting music, and they’re all very much worth the listen.
Bossk – I’m willing to bet the majority of you have never heard of Bossk before. That’s totally understandable, post metal in general is an enigmatic and often overlooked genre. You’ve got the big buys like Russian Circles or Neurosis but Bossk never really put their name on the map in the same indelible way. But that isn’t to say they haven’t been one of the underground staples of the genre for over 15 years now. But while the household names have been churning out walls of sound, Bossk has always been following their own path, making music that’s far more experimental, with influences ranging from black metal to trip hop. It isn’t always easy to follow, but if you do it’s an incredibly deep and rewarding experience. And this album is another step up in the complexity and meandering stark soundscapes. It requires a certain amount of patience to be honest, and the result is a bleak, atmospheric, monster of an album. And if that sounds like your sort of thing then this band needs to be at the top of your list, immediately.
Singles/Albums – Sleep Waker (Metalcore), Sleep Token (Metalcore), Ov Sulfur (Deathcore), Capstan (Post-Hardcore), TEETH (Metalcore), Jinjer (Metalcore), Lingua Ignota (Neoclassical Darkwave), Alustrium (LP, Death Metal), Decayer (EP, Blackened Death Metal), Brojob (Deathcore), Scale the Summit feat. Courtney LaPlante (Prog Metal), Fear Factory (LP, Industrial Metal), At the Gates (MeloDeath), Bullet for My Valentine (Metalcore), Black Lotus (Progressive Deathcore)
New Music Report – June 11, 2021
Lots of cool new music last week, and it’s actually all pretty diverse too. Now, I’ve probably said enough about that Lorna Shore single but man, I’m still getting over it. But aside from that, there have been a ton of really quality albums that came out this week. From my oldest favorite band, AFI, to a newer band, WristMeetRazor, that are still scratching that nostalgia itch by doing brand new justice to an old sound that I grew up on. Plus, some more deathcore cause that’s just been cranking out lately, and I’m certainly not complaining.
AFI – AFI was actually my first real favorite band. Back when I was like 11-12 years old, I somehow came across The Art of Drowning, which had just then been released and the band completely changed my life. I’m fully convinced they paved the way for probably about 80% of my personal music tastes. And if you showed that 12-year-old Hogan this album, he would have HATED it. But 20 years later, both AFI and I have grown up quite a bit (mostly), and now, in 2021, I have to say this album is just about perfect. Gone are the hardcore, horror punk, goth rock, whatever days of AFI, and they’ve settled into a sort of post-punk masterpiece which has been the clear destination of their trajectory for a long time now whether anybody realized it or not. It’s the perfect manifestation of an AFI in the present day, with its members in their 40s, and the Days of the Pheonix behind them, so to speak. The whole thing has made me rather nostalgic and I’m sure I’m going to be stuck in the AFI discography for a while but for now, the new album has been steadily on repeat, and much as they were for me back in 2001, they’re still the perfect, reliable soundtrack for me here in 2021.
WristMeetRazor – Speaking of nostalgia, here is another one of the bands leading the screamo revival that I’m absolutely in love with right now. They don’t have as much of the chaotic mathcore elements of SYSC but it’s sort of like the more straightforward If I Die First sound, which is hardly a problem. It reminds me of that very specific sound from the early-00s that combined the energy of hardcore, the heavy At-The-Gates-Core brand of metalcore riffs and breakdowns (think early Atreyu, Eighteen Visions, Bleeding Through, etc), and the drama of post-hardcore and punk, all rolled into one crazy amalgamation of music that was absolutely perfect for the time. And as it turns out, it’s pretty damn perfect for today too. I’ve said this before, it might be partially nostalgia-driven, but I swear these newer bands reimagining this sound are doing a PHENOMENAL job making it sound fresh and frankly I can’t get enough of it. If you remember when Warped Tour was at Nissan Pavilion, this band is for you. Bonus points too, riffing on that hyper-localized reference, they’re a local DC band as well, and I’m always down for supporting local music.
Distant – I have been absolutely spoiled by good deathcore lately. It’s actually a pretty new thing for me too, there was a good long while there where deathcore just didn’t do it for me. I know the genre got a little stale for a while there, but these bands out there these days have been killing it. It’s so much more than relentless double bass and who can write the heaviest breakdown, it feels like there’s some real substance and diversity in the sound. Bands are switching it up and bringing in influences from black metal, death metal, metalcore, hardcore, etc, and it takes what is, frankly, a fairly one-dimensional genre, and adds some dynamic flavor to it. Distant have been doing exactly that. Now, I still stand by what I said, and I think that Mental Cruelty album is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year and kind of edges this one out, and I think the Lorna Shore EP might just take them both out. But new music is certainly a good thing, and I have to say, this is a very good album by a very good band and is definitely worth checking out.
Singles/Albums – Lorna Shore (Blackened Deathcore), Structures (Progressive Metalcore), Amenra (Post-Metal), Deafheaven (Post-Punk/Shoegaze), Times of Grace (Sludge Metal), Fear Factory (Industrial/Nu-Metal), Chunk! No, Captain Chunk (Easycore, if you miss good ADTR, listen to this), The Dead Rabbitts (Metalcore)