Month: June 2023

Cover Song: Placebo (Tears For Fears)- Shout

This is actually pretty funny in my own mind. For years I’ve been talking about how Placebo should do a cover of a Tears For Fears song (my go to for the longest time when discussing this idea was “Everybody Wants To Rule The World). Then a few months back this idea actually came to fruition in that Placebo did cover a Tears For Fears song and they chose “Shout,” and it’s actually really good. I love that not only Brian Molko sings on it but Stefan Olsdal does as well and his voice is the one that sounds best on the track. No to take away from what Brian does but, getting to hear Stefan out in the forefront is awesome. Also, if you haven’t heard Placebo’s latest album, Never Let Me Go, you should check that out too. It’s quite good and reminds me a bit of Sleeping With Ghosts meets Loud Like Love.

Placebo- Shout:

Placebo- Never Let Me Go:

New Release: 10 Years- I Remember

10 Years is back with a new single “I Remember.” The band are hard at work on the follow up to their last album, Violent Allies. I’ve always considered 10 Years to be one of the more consistent bands out. They have quite the catalog of albums and songs now that really hold up quite well. I find myself going back to a few of their albums like The Autumn Effect, Minus The Machine and How To Live As Ghosts quite a lot. This new single is a great representation of the melodic heavy rock they’ve been releasing for going on 20 plus years now. Speaking on the new single guitarist Brian Vodinh said “I Remember‘ is about looking back at our youth and remembering how it felt like we had our entire lives in front of us. How we were full of hope and ambition and kind of clueless to how harsh the real world is. It’s about remembering how we used to always look at the bright side and weren’t so beaten up by life.” I for one am looking forward to what this new 10 Years album brings.

10 Years- I Remember:

Against The Grain- Agriculture

Extreme music is extreme for a reason. When you listen to a band within this genre, there always seems to be a bit more of an expression whether it’s in the heaviness of the music, lyrical content, all around delivery or even melding of other sub-genres to make something that is a bit unsettling while at the same time strikes a chord with an audience. Recently I was introduced to a band that encapsulates all that into their debut album and it absolutely takes zero prisoners. Allow me to get you acquainted with Agriculture. This Los Angeles based 4 piece combined their collective influences to create what they like to call “Ecstatic Black Metal.” Not only is Black Metal a strong constant throughout their music the more you listen, you pick up on all sorts of different artistic elements. The use of improvisational experimentation and a sense of catharsis makes for quite the listening experience.

Agriculture’s self titled debut full length is a sonic assault that sets you on quite the start to finish path. Through the use of heavy music in an extreme fashion, there is a sense of urgency found throughout the album. The well crafted intense guitars and harmonies, along with passionate vocals, atmospheric pathways and intriguing experiments, makes Agriculture’s album one that blooms with grace and a punch to the face. Agriculture’s album will arrive on July 21st via The Flesner and on that day, the fruits of their labor be a statement to both the esoteric and physical world.

Relier:

The Glory Of The Ocean:

Look Part 1:

Find Agriculture Online:

INSTAGRAM | BANDCAMP



New Release: Filth Is Eternal- Crawl Space

Filth Is Eternal are one of my favorite bands that I’ve had the pleasure to write about. They are a powerhouse band that is raw and unapologetic through and through. Their new single “Crawl Space” from their upcoming album, Find Out (out 9.29.23 via MNRK HEAVY) is an anthemic track that hits you in all sorts of ways with interesting melodies and pummeling riffs and rhythms all in a matter of a minute and a half. Filth Is Eternal are quite the force of nature. Their immediacy/urgency in their music is impactful right from the start. And live, this band is on a whole other level of ferociousness. Take a moment and dig into what Filth Is Eternal is cooking and soon, you’ll Find Out what else they have in store for you!

Filth Is Eternal- Crawl Space:


Filth Is Eternal ONLINE:

Stream/Purchase Here: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/follow.OYD

Spotify: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/spotify…

Instagram: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/instagr…

Facebook: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/faceboo…

Twitter: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/twitter…

YouTube: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/instagr…

Filth Is Eternal Official Site: https://filthiseternal.ffm.to/follow.OYD

New Release: Centershift- The Ride

Today is the first day of summer. Each summer, there’s always a few songs/albums that provide the perfect soundtrack to the season. One of my favorite things about summer is being able to put on a song or album and go for a drive and let the music take over. As today is the summer solstice, the first song of summer for me has arrived. My good friends in Centershift have a new single out today called “The Ride” and it’s the epitome of a great summer song. It’s got the right vibe to just roll down the windows and take a ride (pun totally intended). The song itself has a deep meaning as singer/guitarist Jasan Radford states “The Ride is essentially a message to get off your butt and enjoy your life. There’s a bit of hindsight thrown in there, knowing that there have been people that have passed or left my inner circle that I wished I had more time with. If there are things that need to be said, make sure to tell that person and show them the love as well.” With that in mind as you listen, you can definitely pick up on that vibe but, at the same time you can derive your own meaning from it as the song plays out. So enjoy “The Ride” and be sure to check out Centershift live!

Centershift- The Ride:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/track/1Lj8X5SNgTk3onM6O8Tyyk?utm_source=generator

Centershift Live Dates:

07.28.23 – The Pourhouse – Lava Diva, Faint on Call, Shea Stratton from State to State – Oceanside, CA
07.29.23 – Corbin Bowl – with Faint on Call , MAL – Tarzana, CA
08.02.23 – The Six – Faint on Call, MAL – Ventura, CA
08.05.23 – Kilowatt – with Faint On Call – San Francisco, CA
08.19.23 – The Knitting Factory – with Stanford Prison Experiment, Lava Diva, MAL- North Hollywood, CA

Centershift Online:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centershift

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centershift_og

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPYC_oH2hZ-9rInLKV7XyeA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QkvAYDhL2TqKEZuyayHGp
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/centershift/1579054651
Bandcamp: https://centershift.bandcamp.com/

New Release: Baroness- Last Word

This is exciting! New Baroness is on the way! Today, the first single “Last Word” from Baroness’s upcoming new album, Stone was released. On September 15 the long awaited new album arrives via the band’s label Abraxan Hymns. Speaking on the album singer/guitarist John Baizley said “An important through line in Baroness is we don’t like to repeat ourselves. It’s all about the willingness to take risks. When I was younger, the whole point of music was to be different, not to do the same thing, and not to listen to parents or play by the rules. That’s kind of goofy, but in practice, it works. It’s really sort of terrifying to be at the sixth record in your career and think that you’ll have to keep up with your history rather than continually invent. So, we doubled down on continuously inventing to see where it takes us. I think this record is a good reflection of that. ‘Stone’ is a lot more alive, more direct.”

Baroness spent a month shrouded amidst the pines, holed up in a vacation rental that became an impromptu recording space replete with big, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and brick/glass walls. While they wrote “Stone”, Baizley recorded and pre-mixed it in real time, giving each song on “Stone” its own sonic treatment. After the group finished tracking drums, guitars, and bass, they took everything back to Baizley’s basement studio to record vocals. Stone, is the band’s first self-produced album and was mixed by Joe Barresi and mastered by Bob Ludwig.

Baroness- Last Word:

New Music Friday: June 16, 2023

There’s been some good new music released this week, I though I’d compile a bunch here for you to enjoy. In this batch is quite an “eclectic” mix of genres. Here you have new music from Knocked Loose, Shawn Brown, a new video from Mike Shinoda, along with new albums from Queens Of The Stone Age, Creeping Death, and Royal Thunder.

SINGLES:

Mike Shinoda- Hold It Together:

Shawn Brown- Road Of Bones:

Knocked Loose: Deep In The Willow/Everything Is Quiet Now:

ALBUMS:

Queens Of The Stone Age- In Times New Roman:


Creeping Death- Boundless Domain:

Royal Thunder- Rebuilding The Mountain :

New Release: Mutoid Man- Siren Song

Alas!!! “Siren Song” the second single from Mutoid Man’s new album, Mutants has arrived. The album will be out on July 28th and it’s shaping up to be quite a fun and killer record. This is also the band’s first album with new bassist Jeff Matz who you might know from High On Fire. One of the things that makes Mutoid Man such a fun band is that they are always mixing different styles like rock, prog-rock, punk, metal, hardcore, even a bit of the sludgy/stoner side of things. I’m personally very excited about this new album and tour. Mutoid Man live is one of the most fun you’ll have a at a show. Pre-Orders for Mutants can be found HERE!

Mutoid Man- Siren Song:

Anticipated Albums: Fotocrime- Accelerated

I keep finding myself ever more drawn into the “darkwave” sound. There are so many bands out there that can be categorized as such but, there are very few that actually present that “sound” in an inspiring and thought provoking way. The other day I was sent the new album from the darkwave/post-punk band Fotocrime and I can’t stop listening to it. The song first single “Turn Away,” has all the elements you’d expect from a band in this genre but, they add a couple other bits to it like a sharp cinematic texture throughout as well as a tinge of disco to make an infectious, danceable and captivating song. The title track “Accelerated” has an electro-rock feel while at the same time dips into some Depeche Mode territory a la Songs Of Faith And Devotion. The band’s new album, Accelerated is out on September 8th, 2023 via Artoffact Records. This is the band’s fourth studio album and the title is ever so fitting. Fotocrime has taken their darkwave/post-punk sound into a more forward direction (see how the title plays into this all?) that shows how to not only properly evolve within this genre but also breaks new ground on what can be added to it. If you don’t know who Fotocrime is, now is a great time to get into them.

Fotocrime- Turn Away:


Fotocrime- Accelerated:

Find FOTOCRIME Online:

Fotocrime Website

IG: @fotocrime

Bandcamp

Spotify

By: Brian Lacy


Anticipated Albums: Oxbow- Love’s Holiday

There are certain bands within the heavy music community that when they release new material whether it’s a single, EP, split, or full length, you know that this is going to be something worthwhile. With that being said, it’s refreshing to hear new music from the one and only Oxbow! If you don’t know about Oxbow, you really should take a delve into their catalog. Oxbow are a band that take chances and experiment with so many different genres and ideas that in the end wind up being something that really stands out and leaves a mark. By mixing metal, jazz, blues, noise rock and even classical music, Oxbow has a knack for creating shapeshifting sounds that rattle you to the bone. Their latest opus, Love’s Holiday, is the perfect evolution of the band and what they do. Previous Oxbow albums found their impetus in a lyrical framework provided by the band’s vocalist Eugene Robinson, with Niko Wenner applying his musical compositions to the singer’s narratives. However, Love’s Holiday began with the music this go round. A unifying theme throughout the album is love, and was the organizing principle behind these songs, even if they still carry the band’s signature brand of drama and conflict. Oxbow’s new album Love’s Holiday is out on July 21, 2023 via Ipecac Recordings. Pre-Orders HERE!

Oxbow- 1000 Hours:

Find Oxbow Online:


Theoxbow.com

Oxbowofficial.bandcamp.com

Instagram.com/oxbowtheband