For an album apparently inspired by various states of human suffering, the self-titled debut effort from California collective, Spice, sure is a lot of fun. Yes, there are fidgety punk rock rhythms here and no shortage of anxiety on the lyric sheet, but there are driving drums, catchy riffing, and a satisfying kitchen-sink approach too. So it is that opener […]
Read moreI’m tempted to skip over the story of Circus Trees, and ask you to concentrate solely on their music. The Massachusetts outfit’s debut album, ‘Delusions’, out next month, is a swirling whirl of slowcore, post-rock, and heavy-textured melancholy. In the band’s own words, “Our songs are of pain, sadness, loss. Our music drones, grinds, floats. We make this for us, […]
Read moreModern Color continue to evolve. While once upon a time the Californian quintet could have been described as a metal band, and their first albums were melting pots of post-hardcore, here they’ve tweaked the mix again. Ok, so even at their heaviest and most aggressive, the band ably employed gritty hooks, hints of indie rock, and swirling, shoegazey sounds, but […]
Read moreHoneyspider are evolving. Following a recent line-up change the Lancashire quartet’s fun, fuzzy shoegaze has expanded to include shades of post-rock and metal. A fresh taste of that is their new single, the dense and dynamic ‘Marbles’, out today. Those background screams are definitely a nice touch. The band’s 2017 ‘In a Haze’ EP was a solid effort that lived […]
Read moreIn Parallel have got some pedigree. The group count current and former members of Celebrity and Hopesfall in their ranks. The Tennessee outfit aren’t looking backwards here though, they aren’t relying on old glories. In fact, they seem to be doing their damnedest to shed their skin and start over. The band say they play “dramatic rock”, and while that’s […]
Read moreLovely, this. Across five tracks of Eno-esque ambience, gently cinematic synths, and birdsong samples, erstwhile Maybeshewill man Robin Southby (the second member of the band to release solo work this spring) evokes the sounds and sensations of walking through the forests and hills of the Peak District. Despite its ominous title, ‘The Forest Swallows Us Whole’ is lively, sunny and […]
Read moreWay back in 2010, Jesu mastermind Justin Broadrick declared that his band had strayed too far from the guitar-driven sound that he had intended, and too far into electronica. He resolved to divert the electronic elements into a new project called Pale Sketcher and return Jesu to its roots. And it worked. For a while. But now, on ‘Never’, the […]
Read moreChristopher Browder has demolished Mansions. After spending more than a decade building his one-man project into a proper rock’n’roll band that tours with Taking Back Sunday and The Get Up Kids, he’s had enough. ‘Big Bad’, his first album in seven years, forgoes loud guitars and louder drums for soft synths, bubbling bass, and restraint. The band’s record label calls […]
Read moreThis, the debut record from Sour Widows, is a trojan horse. At first it seems polite, pretty, a handful of petals, as if its slow, folksy tones might blow away in a weak breeze. You might be tempted to stick it on as background music when concentrating on something else entirely. But that’s when Sour Widows will emerge. That’s when […]
Read moreIsn’t music the fucking best? I know somehow it’s June already and the world is still on fire, but Zach de la Rocha is screaming again, Lakes released their best song yet, and there’s a new Hum album after 20 years of silence. And more. I love it. I hope you find something to love too. RUN THE JEWELS- Ju$t […]
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