Art Rock – MELT REVIEWS

Pozi Share New Single “Edinburgh”

London, UK-based trio “Pozi” are set to release their third full-length album Bark Bark on November 13th, and following their single “Hale-Bopp,” the band have shared another new track off the upcoming album titled “Edinburgh.” The track was developed from a jam at the Banana Row studios in Edinburgh whilst on tour, and according to member Rosa Brook, the song was developed from “an amusing overheard snippet of a phone conversation: “Firstly, mind your own business, secondly, leave me out of it”, which were used as the lyrics for the chorus. These words propelled me into the breathless heady world of an imaginary village. Gossipy and observing but also communal and steeped in lore and myth. Familiarity and ambiguity in equal doses, and the delight of farm shop cheese. It explores staying in one neighbourhood or place and feeling stagnant and claustrophobic, versus going on the road which can also be a gruelling “cruel mistress”. “Edinburgh” is a hauntingly beautiful track with skittering violin plucks that create unease, but offer such engaging sonics while the song transports us to this imaginary village. You can watch the music video for “Edinburgh” below:

Clinic Share New Single “Energies”

Liverpool, UK band “Clinic” have been around for over 30 years now, and though that is a long time, the band have not lost their spark. I have fond memories of seeing the music video for “Walking With Thee” over and over on “MTV 2,” and their album of the same name is one of my all time favorites. Drawing heavy inspiration from the band “The Residents,” “Clinic” offer a prominent visual aesthetic to complement their music, usually wearing surgical masks and celebrating psychedelia. Led by founding members Ade Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley, the band are set to release their tenth album Wild In The Streets on October 30th via longtime label “Domino,” and today the band have shared a new track off the upcoming album titled “Energies.” About the track, Ade Blackburn says, “Energies has a late night party feel, a fun-filled combination of Funkadelic, Carl Douglas and Cabaret Voltaire.” You can listen to “Energies,” as well as pre-order Wild In The Streets below:

Wild In The Streets Pre-order: bandcamp.com/album/wild-in-the-streets

BODEGA Share Bob Dylan Cover “Slow Train”

New York quintet “BODEGA” will release their new album All Inside Aquarium this Friday via “Chrysalis Records,” and according to frontman Ben Hozie, the goal with this album was to “go back to melodic tunes, to be more of a proper rock band,” citing late ‘80s and early ‘90s bands like “The Stone Roses” and “Jane’s Addiction” as influences. Departing from the “Post-Punk” tag, a label the band never fully identified with, All Inside Aquarium is a conscious effort to get back to Rock roots, with more riffing and guitar solos. Today the band have shared “Slow Train” off the upcoming album, which is a Bob Dylan cover, and it’s a catchy reimagining of the Dylan classic. You can watch the music video for “Slow Train,” as well as pre-order All Inside Aquarium below:

All Inside Aquarium Pre-order: https://bodegabk.bandcamp.com/album/all-inside-aquarium

Shady Bug Release New Single “seed”

St. Louis-based Indie Rock band “Shady Bug” are dropping their third full-length album I Wanted to be There on October 30th, and today the band have shared a new track off the album titled “seed.” About the track, lead singer Hannah Rainey says “The song ‘seed’ was written out of a screwed situation of a past love trying to re-enter my life after a sour break-up. “You planted a seed I never wanted you to / I just wanna feel fine but now it all seems so screwed…” I wrote this one on garageband on my ipad before bringing it to the band. I was playing with time signatures and also juxtaposition of moods. I am very obsessed with the solemn love songs ala Cindy Lee. Dark tenderness and nostalgia are huge themes on the entire album.” I Wanted to be There will be released via “Julia’s War Records” You can watch the music video for “seed,” as well as pre-order I Wanted to be There below:

I Wanted to be There Pre-order: shadybug.bandcamp.com/album/i-wanted-to-be-there

HMLTD Share New Single “Umami”

HMLTD will release their third full-length album FANGS on October 23rd via “Lucky Number,” an album described by the band as “A call for gothic insurrection. A return to experimentation, provocation, and confrontation.” Today the band have shared their third single leading up to the album titled “Umami,” and this track sounds very “HMLTD” with a bit of an Electroclash flavor. The accompanying music video features musicians Vincent Turner and Howelle. You can watch the music video for “Umami,” as well as pre-order FANGS below:

FANGS Pre-order: https://hmltd.bandcamp.com/album/fangs

Protomartyr Share New Single “Exalted Eagles”

Protomartyr’s new album Hotel Usona drops this Friday, and though many of us are impatiently waiting to hear this new album from one of the greatest bands of the last 15 years, the band have shared another taster for us while we wait. The track is titled “Exalted Eagles,” and it’s “a hard look at a nation in free fall, gripped by fascism,” according to lead singer Joe Casey. You can listen to “Exalted Eagles” below:

Hotel Usona Pre-order: https://protomartyr.bandcamp.com/album/hotel-usona

Ganser Share New Single “Futuretripping”

Last year Chicago-based band “Ganser” released their stellar third full-length album Animal Hospital, an album that found the band exploring new sonic territories all while maintaining their unique brand of Post-Punk and Art Rock. As the band are about to embark on a tour with the legendary “Bikini Kill,” they’ve released a new single titled “Futuretripping,” and this track is classic Ganser, which brings to mind albums like Odd Talk. You can watch the music video for “Futuretripping” below:

https://ganser.bandcamp.com/track/futuretripping

Liars Announce New Album “A Ban on Plastic Bag Bans,” Share New Single “Ice Pick, Kalamazoo”

It’s been 5 years since the last “Liars” album The Apple Drop, and today the shape-shifting project led by founding member Angus Andrew has announced a follow-up titled A Ban on Plastic Bag Bans. This is Liars’ 11th studio album, and it will be released on March 5th, 2027. The album is described as, “a brooding, mechanical world of lingering tensions. Born from Angus Andrew’s ultimately unsuccessful fight against corporate pollution in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the record captures the psychological atmosphere of living within those frustrations. The album explores how injustice can become part of the background of everyday life, and how exhausting it can be to fight forces that seem too powerful to move. The title, which borrows its name from an actual Michigan law that prohibits local governments from banning single-use plastic bags, is absurd and bureaucratic, and playfully encapsulates the contradictory logic he encountered in his fight, where attempts to reduce environmental harm could themselves become something to prohibit.” The album was written and recorded between America and Angus’s native Australia, and was shaped in close collaboration with Avant-garde Jazz drummer Laurence Pike and multi-instrumentalist Cameron Deyell. The band have also shared a new single titled “Ice Pick, Kalamazoo.” You can watch the music video, as well as pre-order the new album below:

A Ban on Plastic Bag Bans Pre-order: https://liars.bandcamp.com/album/a-ban-on-plastic-bag-bans

HMLTD Announce New Album “FANGS,” Share New Single “I Used To Ride In Limousines”

UK band “HMLTD” are back with an announcement of their third full-length album FANGS. This follows their sophomore album The Worm, which was a heavily theatrical Rock Opera, but this time around on FANGS, the band are celebrating all things Goth. “FANGS is our call for GOTHIC INSURRECTION! It is a return to experimentation, provocation, confrontation. We will never go away. THE FUTURE IS GOTH!” Says the band. About their single “I Used To Ride In Limousines,” lead singer Henry Spychalski says, “It’s the first song we wrote on the album and an ode to failure and success, birthed cathartically at the absolute lowest point in my life two years ago.” The band also says, “We have been working on this album for two years and could not be prouder of it. In the time since The Worm, lots has happened and we have lost our self and re-found it again in this record. It is a return to the founding principles with which we started HMLTD, and is the most HMLTD thing we’ve ever made.” FANGS will be released on October 23rd via “Lucky Number.” You can pre-order the album, as well as watch the music video for “I Used To Ride In Limousines” below:

FANGS Pre-order: https://hmltd.bandcamp.com/album/fangs

Pozi Announce New Album “Bark Bark,” Share New Single “Hale-Bopp”

Photo: Jack Taylor Gotch

London, UK-based trio “Pozi” aren’t your average band. Their reinvention of Post-Punk entails classical-influenced violin, a propulsive rhythm section, and harmonious vocals filled with witty and often times political lyrics. Which makes them one of the most interesting bands out there. Today the band have shared a new single titled “Hale-Bopp” which will appear on their upcoming album Bark Bark, which is set to drop November 13th. About the track the band claims that it “reflects on examples of unity since Covid, moving towards a better world with more love and compassion, before seeming to spiral off-course with the terrifying rise of the far right. The final refrain gives a sense of hope; that catastrophe is delayed – but for how long?” You can listen to “Hale-Bopp” below:

https://poziband.bandcamp.com/track/hale-bopp