It’s a genuine surprise to hear ‘Only Us’, the first track on Thrice’s tenth album, begin with a bubbling, ominous synth line. It’s a mile away from the powerful roar of the California quartet’s past– no one should expect that anymore- but it is striking, interesting and new. Unfortunately, few moments following it truly demand your attention. Over the last […]
Read moreAs they gear up to the release of their next record, seventh full-length ‘Phanerozoic’, The Ocean Collective are fixing to give sneak peeks at the writing and recording process. You can watch the first installment below. Skip to 1:20 to have your ears pinned to the side of your head. ‘Phanerozoic’ is out on November 2nd via Metal Blade (CD […]
Read morePunk rock is rarely about reinvention, right? And for the most part there is little about ‘Good Friends, Bad Luck’ that feels new or exciting. The Run Up’s bouncy rhythms, positive vibes, and gruff, earnest vocals are all things you’ve heard before, standard fare for fans of much scrappy UK punk. But every so often there’s something more here, a […]
Read moreThat’s a truly terrible band name. But the clunky moniker aside, Cheerbleederz haven’t really put a foot wrong here. It might be because the London trio haven’t attempted too much but from the bouncy buzz of ‘Staying Up Late’ to the infectious melodies of ‘Cabin Fever’, this is four tracks of simple but ever-so-effective indie pop. There is verve and […]
Read moreIf the fact that Future Usses feature current and former members of Intronaut, Mouth of the Architect, and Bereft isn’t enough to prick your ears then you should know that ‘An Existential Haunting’ is the best thing any of them have ever done. Opener ‘What Is Anything’ is cinematic and powerful post-rock, 11 minutes long, taking in booming doom, blast […]
Read moreThere are no prizes for guessing what a new band featuring former members of Palehorse and I Want You Dead who play songs about suicide and death called things like ‘Sonic Euthanasia’ might sound like. This is black and acrid doom and sludgy noise terror made for fans of Integrity, Unsane, and the end of days.
Read moreBearfoot Beware have been together for a while now but their second album ‘Sea Magnolia’, released earlier this year, is the first time their spiky, energetic sound has made its way into these ears. Fans of Alpha Male Tea Party, Bear vs. Shark, and other excellent bands with odd names should welcome the Leeds trio into theirs.
Read moreAugust’s ModerateRockRecommends Spotify playlist is a rollercoaster. Strap in and go from soaring rock to melancholy indie, searing hardcore to ambient soundscapes, and from British rock to Lithuanian punk. I hope you find something to love too. THRICE- ‘Only Us’ NOTHING- Blue Line Baby SUN ARCANA- ‘Wonderful’ THE LOVE LANGUAGE- ‘New Amsterdam’ KIDNAPPER BELL- ‘Mouthful of Pennies’ FOXING- ‘Grand Paradise’ […]
Read more‘Loved’, a scintillating smoke monster of a record, finds KEN Mode returning to do exactly what they do best. The Canadian trio’s noise rock tendencies might have angled out of control on their last album but this is the kind of acrid, bubbling melting pot of off-kilter hardcore, ugly metal, noise and fury that first brought them to the close […]
Read moreAntier play post-rock. But the Barcelona boys don’t do it quite like anyone else. A defiantly Spanish, proudly poetic, thoroughly dynamic duo, they resist clichés and explore the sound with energy, invention and art. Capable of making a thunderous noise and heartbreaking whisper with equal intensity, their 2016 debut album ‘De la Quimera, el Dolor’, is essential listening.
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