“METZ” are set to release their upcoming fourth album Atlas Vending on October 9th via “Sub Pop Records,” and today the band have shared the album’s second single “Hail Taxi,” which features that sludgy grunginess we’ve come to expect from the band, but also features the more melodic side of them that was revealed on their previous single “A Boat to Drown In.” About the track, the band have stated “It’s about looking back, coming to terms with who you were and who you’ve become.” The band have also shared a beautifully directed music video by A.F. Cortes to accompany it. You can watch the music video for “Hail Taxi” below:
There’s just something about pure unadulterated rage in music that either turns you off, or completely enthralls you. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure, you definitely feel it whether you hate it or love it. Los Angeles based artist “Artxdekko” delves deep into the uncompromising feeling of directed rage on his self-produced debut E.P. Things I Can’t Control. Drawing clear influences from ’90s “Alt Rock,” and at times sounding like a dead ringer for “Nine Inch Nails” or “Filter,” “Artxdekko” wears his influences on his sleeve, but never strays into imitation. Instead, he expands and opens up new possibilities for a recognizable sound that unfortunately feels forgotten in contemporary music. Being four tracks in length, this E.P. gets its point across with solid and straight-forward songwriting that combines a fast-paced “Punk Rock” edge with an affinity for blatant aggression. Are these songs about someone in particular, or are they about that general feeling we all feel from time to time when someone wrongs us? With very little background provided with these songs, that mystery seems intentional. Just let the music take you to an emotion you most likely try to repress. Anger is part of being human, and what better way to channel it in a non-violent way than through music? This E.P. will make you feel that rage even if you’re in the happiest of moods.
It’s clear that “Tropical Fuck Storm” isn’t just a one-off project. The band haven’t slowed down since the release of their debut album A Laughing Death In Meatspace back in 2018. Releasing a follow-up titled Braindrops the following year, and now gearing to release their third album later this year, these oddballs are here to stay for awhile. Yesterday the band released their new single “Legal Ghost,” a chilling tune that will appear on their upcoming album along with their previously released single “Suburbiopia.” “Legal Ghost” was originally a cut from member Gareth Liddiard’s “Bong Odyssey” project. About the decision to rework this cut from 1998, Liddiard has stated “It felt like something we could do, and I mean, no one ever heard it. It’s not like we were revisiting “Stairway to Heaven” or something like that. TFS has always come back around to that “Bong Odyssey” thing. If you’ve heard the “Bong Odyssey” stuff, it’s pretty out there, it’s more out there than “The Drones.” So we’re back to being that weird again.” The track will officially be released on September 11th via “Flightless Records,” and will also feature a b-side which is a cover of “Talking Heads'” “Heaven.” You can listen to “Legal Ghost” below:
South East London duo “Normal Average People” have released their second single “Lemo // Memo.” This follows their debut “Baggy Ankles.” Proving the band have immense versatility, “Lemo // Memo” is more melodic than its raucously confrontational predecessor, and features a hint of 60’s Psychedelia all while maintaining their Alternative/Post-Punk style. “Lemo // Memo” will appear on the band’s upcoming E.P. The Moon Salon which will be released on August 26th via “Blitzcat Records.” The E.P. is named after the rehearsal space of the bar members Sam and Emil used to work at where they would sneak back in after the bar would close and bring out amps they had hidden during the week. This is going to be a wild E.P. to say the least. You can listen to “Lemo // Memo” below:
Following the release of their fantastic single “God Is Doing blow” back in 2018, Swedish duo “Hammare” have been hard at work releasing a single a year, and though that may seem like very little in this fast-paced streaming age of music we now live in, just remember, quality music takes time to create and has more longevity than mediocre songs that are pumped out just for the sake of staying relevant. This year we have been blessed with not one but two new “Hammare” songs. “In Back of the Real” was the first, and now the band have released the follow-up titled “Here Comes Trouble,” and as you’ve probably already guessed by the song titles, the band aren’t here to play it safe. At this point we know the band aren’t going to sugarcoat things. Their lyrical content reflects on the human condition and the ridiculous things that divide us when we should be more empathetic and accepting of each other. The band’s view on this can be from a dark and cynical lens, but instead of sounding defeated, they’re saying “We can do better.” “Here Comes Trouble” maintains that same tone, but this is the band’s most danceable track yet with Industrial-laden production consisting of discombobulating synth arpeggios, a funky as Hell bassline, and Desert Rock guitars that wouldn’t sound out of place on a “Queens of the Stone Age” record. You can listen to “Here Comes Trouble” below:
Chicago Post-Punk/Noise Rock band “Ganser” are set to release their new album Just Look at That Sky this Friday via “Felte Records,” and today the band have shared another new track off the upcoming album titled “Projector.” About the track, vocalist/keyboardist Nadia Garofalo states that “It’s what happens when someone becomes so far removed from general society that their thoughts become a Dunning-Kruger Effect echo chamber of pseudo-wisdom and self-affirmations. Connection and perspective gets lost, but that echo becomes louder and often public. We shot this the day after “SXSW” was cancelled. We didn’t know what was coming, but we knew it wasn’t going to be good.” You can watch the music video for “Projector” below:
We’re all guilty of dwelling in the past. Caught up in the could haves and should haves. Many of us reminisce over simpler or happier times, but though acknowledging the past is important, it’s also more important to focus on the present. To lay the groundwork for the future, and to strive to grow and improve. As simple as that concept may be, it’s also very complex, because us as humans have such a vast memory that it’s hard not to live in the past where we’ve invested so much time and emotions. There’s a reason why the old saying “life goes on” rings true, and on her new single “Life Goes Fluently,” up and coming artist “Greysha” captures this feeling in a way that isn’t exactly happy-go-lucky, but also isn’t exactly pessimistic or self-deprecating. Instead, she has created an immaculately produced guitar-driven ballad that finds her diving deep into her realizations and acknowledging that she herself is guilty of dwelling in the past. She’s letting us know that she’s right there with us, instead of waving her finger at us. It’s clear that young love is the main focus on this track. It’s youthful and can be naive, but that’s what makes it so charming. I’m very much looking forward to what she does next.
After three years Canadian trio “METZ” have returned with a brand new single titled “A Boat to Drown In,” which will appear on their upcoming album Atlas Vending which is slated to be released on October 9th via “Sub Pop.” Their new single “A Boat to Drown In” isn’t exactly a full-on departure from their previous work, but it shows a more melodic side of the band while maintaining their raucously grungy style we’ve come to know them for. About the track, the band have stated that it’s about “leaving a bad situation behind. About overcoming obstacles that once held you back, rising above, and looking to a better future. The title refers to immersing yourself fully into what you love and using it as a sanctuary from negativity and a catalyst for change.” You can watch the music video for “A Boat to Drown In” below:
On this day in the year 2000 “A Perfect Circle” released their debut album Mer De Noms. “A Perfect Circle” was created by former guitar technician Billy Howerdel. Upon meeting singer of “TOOL” Maynard James Keenan, Howerdel and Keenan quickly became friends and even ended up becoming roommates. This gave Howerdel the chance to show Keenan his demos he had been working on, which impressed Keenan so much that he proposed the idea of singing over Howerdel’s tracks. After Adding bassist and violinist Paz Lenchantin, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and drummer Tim Alexander who was soon replaced by Josh Freese, “A Perfect Circle” was fully formed. Don’t for one second think this is a supergroup or side project though, because the band have garnered their own fan base. Coming from a band as revered as “TOOL,” it must have been frustrating for Keenan to constantly hear people compare the two bands. Many wanted to hear “TOOL” part 2, but what we got was a whole new project that found Keenan showing a more melodic and emotional side that found the singer exploring themes of love and relationships as opposed to the analytical and often aggressive nature of “TOOL.” The goal to form a band that was as taken seriously and equal to “TOOL” was accomplished. “A Perfect Circle” still to this day have a large following of devoted fans. Happy Anniversary!
Genre: Alternative Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Indie Rock
Label: Self-released
New Delhi artist Astaaq Ahmed has proven himself to be an imaginative visionary with his project “The Earflower Experiment.” His music tells a story while he instrumentally delves into a myriad of genres that maintains his Psychedelic Folk style but isn’t limited as he incorporates clever production techniques and sound design. His new track “Emerge” featuring producer Aman Saxena solidifies his talent. On this track he metaphorically sings from the perspective of someone escaping an ocean as he nearly drowns, and this symbolizes getting out of a toxic relationship. While he sings over melancholy acoustic guitar, we hear waves and splashes from this metaphorical ocean as the track builds into a feeling of being reborn as he is now free. The track then smoothly transitions into a guitar lead final act that can be compared to a band like “Pink Floyd” as the Psychedelia makes itself more prominent and closes the book of this beautifully sentimental story. This is Ahmed at his most vulnerable, and yet he embraces the negative aspects of this relationship embedded in toxicity to recognize his self-worth. This is thoughtful music at its best.
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