Sculpture Club – Worth
For anyone searching for melancholic new wave/goth to fill out some vacant time for recollection, look no further than Salt Lake City’s Sculpture Club. The band channels Robert Smith, Morrissey and the whole wave of Brit rock and goth in their latest album Worth. This eleven track collection is full of romantic and dreamy pop […]
Automatic – Signal
A constant theme in Automatic’s new album Signal is the dichotomy between human and machine. From the formation of the band itself, which had its roots in the DIY punk scene in LA, their grounded beginnings contrast that of their sound. Deciding to forgo the guitar in favor of synths, Izzy Glaudini (synths/vocals), Lola Dompe […]
Koalra – The Wakes
Chicago-based noise quartet Koalra has released their second LP, and it’s the most expansive work the band has ever made to date. The Wakes blends together elements of shoegaze, new wave and post punk, and deftly uses them to illustrate varying degrees of moods and emotions. Influences from artists like Sonic Youth and The Cure […]
Shadowhouse – Forsaken Forgotten
Portland post-punk outfit Shadowhouse has an interesting blend of alt-rock,goth and dark wave. It’s music that’s highly introspective and emotional, icy to the touch, yet not at all afraid of going loud. Their second LP Forsaken Forgotten is full of spine-chilling riffs and glimmering synths, tethered by brooding bass lines and rapturous drums that aren’t afraid to erupt along […]
Ovlov – Buds
I used to struggle with the idea of fuzzy indie rock being used into something that could be considered as dreamy or relaxing. All I could think of when guitars howl and moan with gritty textures is the grinding sandpaper against wood, the rumble of the speakers, the sweat of the mosh pit. There have […]
Koalra – The Fires Burned Everything We Had. When The Dust Settles, They Will Do It Again
Koalra are back again with a new album. The Portland-based rock outfit has been constantly evolving through the years, capturing a skillset steeped in noise rock, krautrock, and post-punk. For their latest release, we see them diving deeply into the kosmische-Musik side of their multifaceted identity, with a concept album entitled “The fires burned everything […]
The Comet is Coming – Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery
The Comet is Coming is a London-based jazz group headed by saxophonist and pillar of the British jazz scene Shabaka Hutchings. Together with keyboardist Dan Leavers and drummer Max Hallett, they’ve pieced together records in a fusion that some may describe as cosmic jazz. Their 2019 record Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery combines cinematic synths, […]
LIFE – A Picture of Good Health
The latest full length LP of LIFE, entitled A Picture Of Good Health is a collection of rapid-fire punk catharsis. It’s a record that focuses on personal and mental experiences conveyed in raw and unadulterated music, where emotions that cut deep are voiced out via pounding drums, screeching guitars and anthemic shouting. Chances are, if there are issues […]
Talk Show – These People
Talk Show is one of the more notable bands in London’s thriving live punk scene. Their first EP entitled These People is a testament to that, filled to the brim with blistering energy, strikingly sharp guitar lines over lyrics inspired by everyday living. The band dips into numerous influences that leverage the strength of each member. Frontman […]
The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears
Post-punk has always been characterized by its gloomy and foreboding mood. Its sound paints dark industrial complexes filled with workers slaving away in its tight walls, of oppressive governments and capitalists chipping away at the lives of their subjects for their own power or wealth. But what’s often overlooked within the genre is how emotional […]
Gen Pop – PPM66
Gen Pop is a group originating from Olympia Washington. Their first full length PPM66 is a volatile concoction of greasy lo-fi punk. Production is raw and scrappy, with unpredictable energy that oozes out of each track. Just like what it’s album cover depicts, this record is composed of stitched up bits and baubles from random garages and workshops, […]
Strange Lot – MindStatE
Strange Lot left Phoenix for the bustling music scene of Austin, Texas to hone their craft and to be a part of the locale garage psych scene. And I must say, the move has paid off, as MindStatE contains the best music the band has ever released. This second offering is grittier, sharper and more cohesive than its […]