Author: audioeclectica

New Release: Poison The Well- Trembling Level

I’m sure I’m not alone in being excited that after 15 years we finally have new music from Poison The Well. Today got a very welcome and exciting new song from the group entitled, “Trembling Level.” this song is a pretty good encapsulation of Poison The Well and it sort of picks up where 2009’s underrated The Tropic Rot. In an interesting development, former guitarist Derek Miller is credited with being one of the songwriters for this track alongside drummer Christopher Hornbrook, vocalist Jeffrey Moriera and guitarist Ryan Primack. This song will be a part of a band new album produced by Will Putney! I for one am stoked on having new Poison The Well. I will hopefully see some of you at their upcoming tour with Glassjaw and Better Lovers!

Poison The Well- Trembling Level:

New Release: Osnova- Climbing Dues

The very awesome and cinematic LA shoegaze band, Osnova, have released a dreamy new single with “Climbing Dues.” Musically on this song Osnova weaves delicate textures and accents those with interesting melodies which then are balanced out by the sweeping vocals that accentuate the dreaminess of the song and feeling. Osnova are one of the LA bands that I’ve been watching for sometime now and I’m enjoying each and every song they put out. Their live shows are captivating in the way the music draws you in and it leaves you with a feather light feeling after. 2025 is shaping up to be a great year for Osnova, so do stay tuned to what they have coming up!

Osnova- Climbing Dues:

New Release: L.A. Crimes- R.I.P.

Since I’ve been getting back into the swing of things with Audioeclectica, I’ve taken a lot of time to check out a lot that I missed out on. One band that I came across that really caught my attention are L.A. Crimes. I was immediately grabbed by their punk rock swagger and great songs. Their latest song “R.I.P.” is classic punk rock at its best. It reminded me of when I was first getting into punk rock as a young kid and L.A. Crimes would most definitely have been a band I’d have listened to back then as well as now. Their self titled EP came out in 2024 but, is fast becoming a favorite of mine in 2025. It’s fast, chock full of great riffs, rhythms that will have you bouncing and a call to action with the lyrics that go deep. I look forward to seeing L.A. Crimes live. I have a feeling they will become a live favorite of mine too.

L.A. Crimes- R.I.P.:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/311OD5Bw3Ys?si=PQxo9INqFO_M9A61&controls=0

Find L.A. Crimes Online Below
https://linktr.ee/lacrimes

Album Of The Week: Machinekit- GODDAMNVANITY

Well, I can officially say I have a favorite album of 2025 so far. I’ve been completely enthralled with the new album, GODDAMNVANITY by Los Angeles based industrial-techno punks, Machinekit. The ten song album is one hell of a gut punch in a totally great way. Inspired by a recurring dream of a woman singing, “Come home, Honeycomb,” Machinekit has put together an album that plays out partly like an internal breakdown that summons all the anger, hate, despair, and inspired pain into a cocoon that develops into a beautifully yet brutal show of force that on the other side comes a sense of self acceptance and growth.

GODDAMNVANITY is an album that not only strikes hard at the times we live in but, also shows the imperfections of each person. When you take that and add an abrasive yet powerful sound that is dynamic in its influences and inspirations. The way the electronic components mix with the aggressive guitars and rhythms along with tinges of ambience, noise and cinematic moments makes this for one hell of a listening experience. It’s one of those ear candy albums for you audiophiles out there.

Machinekit have drilled in on exactly their sound on this album. This album has quite a few twists and turns on it as well that leaves you wanting to keep listening again and again. Frontman, multi-instrumentalist and producer John Rojas, along with drummer Ryan Janke, guitarist Alexander Gillen, bassist Jeremey Trujeque and multi-instrumentalist, Aj Fructuoso bring the chaos needed to usher in 2025!

Overall Rating: 9/10

Machinekit- GODDAMNVANITY:

New Release: Cowboy Destroy- Keeps The Candy Tight

Cowboy Destroy is a band I’ve liked for quite a while now. They have this really cool garage rock meets indie rock that gives a great rockin vibe. I’ve had the pleasure of booking Cowboy Destroy a few times for Cobalt shows and they deliver not just rockin good tunes but a great show as well. There is a recklessness to their live show and their songs emit a volume that would indeed have your neighbors knocking on the garage door to turn down. As 2025 gets started, Cowboy Destroy have a new jam out called “Keeps The Candy Tight.” This song has a cool lo-fi garage sound with a great psych rock edge. Do yourself a favor and check out this song and come see Cowboy Destroy live THIS SATURDAY at the Audioeclectica and The Cobalt Presents show at Hotel Ziggy in Hollywood!

Cowboy Destroy- Keeps The Candy Tight:

Track One: Down- Temptation’s Wings

I thought I’d start off the new year with a great song and a killer track one to boot. I will never forget the first time I heard this song. I was 13 years old and I was chatting with one of the guys who worked at the Tower Records in my town. I recall our conversation swinging toward Pantera as I was also looking to get their live album that was out. The guy said instead of getting the 101 Proof album I should check out this other album which had Philip in it as well. The guy even went and put the CD on in the store and then a couple moments later, the CD was in my hand and in my discman back in the car on the way home. From that point on I’ve been a huge Down fan. So much so that I prefer listening to Down over Pantera. Yes it’s true but, that’s for a whole other topic for another day. The first song, “Temptation’s Wings” is one of those track one’s that the moment you first hear it, you already know you’re going to like what’s to come and the want for more just grows and grows. Interestingly, this song dates back to about 1990/1991 when Down first came to fruition. It’s got this great Sabbath meets Zeppelin vibe with a great bit of Southern Rock charm. Put it this way, I would put this song in my top 25 favorite track one’s! Looking forward to seeing Down in 2025 and having a new album out later this year. If you aren’t familiar with Down, you should rectify that and quick!

Down- Temptation’s Wings:

Down- Down I- NOLA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG82oeXCclA&list=OLAK5uy_kj_nOYGgi9xj7tZ-yxXZ6pWH90CL_sw3o

Audioeclectica’s 2024 End Of The Year Lists

Thank you all for your support through the years and especially 2024. This was a pretty strange year to say the least. Usually I do a bunch of different categories to wrap up the year but, since I took a bit of a break, I thought I’d just do a couple things to wrap things up. 2025 is going to be a great year for Audioeclectica! Stay tuned for all that is coming!

BEST ALBUMS OF 2024 (1-10 are in order, the rest are not):

01) Gouge Away- Deep Sage
02) Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible
03) Linkin Park- From Zero
04) Jerry Cantrell- I Want Blood
05) The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghori Mhori Mei
06) Iress- Sleep Now, In Reverse
07) Kerry King- From Hell I Rise
08) Chelsea Wolfe- She Reaches Out To She…
09) The Cure- Songs Of A Lost World
10) Common Wounds- All Night Blood

11) Pearl Jam- Dark Matter
12) Drug Church- Prude
13) Planes Mistaken For Stars- Do You Still Love Me?
14) Spirit In The Room- Passengers EP
15) Unto Others- Never, Neverland
16) Cold Gawd- I’ll Drown On This Earth
17) Category 7- Category 7
18) Full Of Hell- Coagulated Bliss
19) Umbra Vitae- Light Of Death
20) Duhkha- A Place You Can Come Back From
21) Yellfire- Dear Gods
22) Darkest Hour- Perpetual Terminal
23) Erra- Cure
24) Marilyn Manson- One Assassination Under God
25) The Hope Conspiracy- Tools Of Oppression/Rule By Deception


TOP 10 PRODUCERS OF 2024:

01) Jack Shirley- Gouge Away: Deep Sage
02) Will Putney- Better Lovers: Highly Irresponsible
03) Mike Shinoda- Linkin Park: From Zero
04) Joe Baressi & Jerry Cantrell- Jerry Cantrell: I Want Blood
05) Billy Corgan- The Smashing Pumpkins: Aghori Mhori Mei
06) Alex Estrada- Iress: Sleep Now, In Reverse
07) Dave Sitek- Chelsea Wolfe: She Reaches Out To She…
08) Josh Wilbur- Kerry King: From Hell I Rise
09) Robert Smith & Paul Corkett- The Cure: Songs Of A Lost World
10) Zach Rippy & Scott Evans- Common Wounds: All Night Blood

TOP SHOWS OF 2024:

01) Linkin Park @ Forum
02) Lamb Of God, Mastodon and Kerry King @ Forum
03) Better Lovers @ Regent
04) Hatebreed, Carcass, Harm’s Way and Crypta @ Wiltern
05) Gouge Away @ 1720
06) Slipknot @ Intuit Dome
07) Korn and Gojira @ BMO Stadium
08) Poison The Well, Will Haven and Hopesfall @ Belasco
09) David Gilmour @ Hollywood Bowl
10) All Cobalt Presents Shows

Band Of the Week: Nine Necks

There are a few bands that I’ve had my watchful eye on for some time waiting for them to release new music. Well one of those bands have released a killer new single off their forthcoming EP. The band I’m talking about is Nine Necks. Originally from Chicago, now residing in the greater Los Angeles area, Nine Necks are one hell of a band. Their sound is very much rooted in hardcore with bits of post-hardcore and metal and even a tinge of mid/late 90’s emo (before the scene got taken over by the fashion victims and that awful hair swoop). Their new EP, Ritual & Demise was recorded with Alex Estrada (Touche Amore, Drug Church, etc.) at The Pale Moon Ranch and was mastered by Chris Common (These Arms Are Snakes, The Mars Volta).  The first single “Laid To Rest” is an absolute banger and has elements of Botch and Converge throughout. After the first listen, I had to play it quite a few more times as I found myself drawn into the heaviness and brutality. I’m very excited for this new EP from Nine Necks. They have been on the Audioeclectica radar for sometime and I’m pumped for what’s to come from this band!

Nine Necks- Laid To Rest:

For More On Nine Necks, Click The Link Below!

https://linktr.ee/ninenecks

By: Brian Lacy

What I’ve Been Listening To: November Edition


Since I took a break I’ve been trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed out on. I’m still catching up but I thought I’d put together a list of a few albums that I’ve been listening to. I recommend you all check these bands and albums. I can guarantee you’ll find something you like! Also on a side note, if any of you out there are graphic designers, Audioeclectica could use a new logo! Hit me up!

Enjoy The Tunes!
Brian

What I’ve Been Listening To:

Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible:
This album is what it must feel like to be shot out of a cannon. It’s explosive and full of twists and turns that will leave you wanting more. It might even cause you to spontaneously start jumping up and down due to the energy this album emits. Listen to this as loud as possible!



Jerry Cantrell- I Want Blood:
Jerry’s new album feels like it picks up where Degredation Trip left off. The dark brooding vocals mixed with Jerry’s signature guitar playing makes this a great album. As much as I would love to have a new Alice In Chains album, this one will definitely hold you over till then!! Check out the track “Echoes Of Laughter” it’s my favorite on the album!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_krvAUGLYK3GCL81obV1c-TpojnXdxeBxc

Linkin Park- From Zero:
I never thought this day would ever come but here I am praising a Linkin Park album. I’ll get into how this all came to be in an article to come. This new album featuring their new singer Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain is fantastic. It’s a short and concise album that runs the gamut on all that the band has done and then some. There’s some really great throwback moments on this album as well as all sorts of new things to enjoy. Really give this one a shot. In a world where so many bands have tried to cop their style, the originators return to show how it’s done!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_llu148Ny0qF6bSApqzcVOQ9MaiCYySEG8



The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghori Mhori Mei:
I love this album. It’s The Smashing Pumpkins through and through. It’s a great rock album that we’ve been wanting from them since their “reunion” was announced. Each listen makes me love this album more and more. This is another one that really deserves your attention!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nRnbe2-k5CxdkxL140Fs1baQuL8Dmrgf4

Iress- Sleep Now In Reverse:
Iress is one of my favorite bands I’ve heard in a long time. Each release of theirs gets better and better. This new one adds a heavier and darker vibe to their already dark atmospheric dreamy doomgaze sound. This is an album YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO!!!



Gouge Away- Deep Sage:
This is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. I love this album. Every song on it is impactful and meaningful. This is another album that might find your spontaneously breaking out into a one person mosh pit. Listen to this album!!!



Common Wounds- All Night Blood:
I love a good post-hardcore band and Common Wounds has all the ingredients that I enjoy about the genre. This is their first full length and it delivers quite the punch. The latter half of the album is my favorite part as it tends to be a bit more experimental and epic which I love. I’m very excited to see where this band goes as I quite enjoy them!



Drug Church- Prude:
I’ve been a fan of Drug Church for a while and they keep getting better and better. Their new album continues on the path they’ve been on with some really cool new elements that remind me of Refused a bit. Sadly I just missed their LA show. I’ll have to catch them next time!



Planes Mistaken For Stars- Do You Still Love Me:
This one is a little bittersweet. I have been a Planes fan for many years and when the news came that Gared had passed away it was quite a sad moment. Thankfully though, we have one final album from this very underrated band. This album has all the classic elements that made Planes Mistaken For Stars such a great band as well as some really great melodic moments that will have you raising your glass in cheers!



Spirit In The Room- Passengers:
If you’ve been reading Audioeclectica long enough, you know that I absolutely love Spirit In The Room. I love that each release brings in something different yet it’s still volatile and dangerous, which is something that’s seriously missing from music these days. This EP is a little more subdued and introspective, showing off a different side of Dennis Sanders. Another really enjoyable album to check out!



Kerry King- From Hell I Rise:
I really like this album. Musically it sounds just like what you think it does but, that doesn’t stop it from being an all out assault. Kerry has quite the band backing him with Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, Paul Bostaph on drums and the underrated and awesome Mark Osegueda on vocals. Live this band and these songs are so damn good. I saw Kerry and Co open for Lamb Of God and Mastodon a few months back and it made me really give this album a now outlook.



Cold Gawd- I’ll Drown On This Earth:
I’ve heard of this band for a while now and finally sat down to check them out and I enjoyed what I heard. Their shoegazey Deftones side really comes through in a good way. The dreaminess that this album has to it makes it a great driving album as well as one to put on while working. There’s some definite love for Siamese Dream on this album and that’s totally ok!



Unto Others- Never, Neverland:
The moment I put this album on the first thing I thought of was Type O Negative only a bit more positive. This album is one of the most surprising I’ve heard this year. I love the post-punk goth vibes this album has. I’m quite interested to see what they are like live and I would love to hear them take on a Type O songs to hear what it would be like.



Pearl Jam- Dark Matter:
I’ve been waiting a long time for Pearl Jam to come back with an album like this and FINALLY it’s here. This record has a very old school PJ vibe (Ten and VS with a dash of Vitalogy). The guitars are back to being at the forefront and everything finally clicks for the first time in a long time. This album really doesn’t have the usual filler either. Each time I listen I like this one more and more and find it climbing up my ranking chart for Pearl Jam.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltWvB2Aqnf32SbAI0fhvx8l5O87oruvS0

Category 7- Category 7:
John Bush (Amored Saint, ex Anthrax), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex Machine Head), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, ex Overkill), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) and Jack Gibson (Exodus). On paper this band is killer and on their self titled debut they slay! I’ve always loved John Bush as a vocalist and to have such a lineup of great players writing some killer riffs and metal, this band has everything they need to rip it up!




Album Review: Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible

Debut albums can tell a lot about a band. The inspiration and influence can be quite striking but, the thing I love most about a debut album is how all those elements come together. When Better Lovers first came out last year with their debut EP, it was something shot straight out of a cannon and exploded like a fireworks warehouse. Those songs became the building part for what would be Highly Irresponsible. This debut album packs that same cannon blast only with the full length album, we get to really dive into what this band is all about.

The first track starts with this really delicate intro before it goes straight into the heaviness. From that point you know it’s on! With each song and there is more and more to unpack as the spastic and schizophrenic nature of the music uncoils into a very meticulous regiment of riffs and rhythms that will find you tapping your feet and hands and possibly a mosh pit (if you can find enough people). This album is unrelenting in the way it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Will Putney have done a wonderful job of crating songs that will appease the fans of all the bands these gents are/were a part of and new ones as well. The rhythm section of Stephen Micciche and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak is devastatingly pummeling in such a way that the bounce from the low end will have you jumping out of your chair. Vocally this is quite the performance from Greg Puciato. Like a fine wine or scotch, Greg seems to only have gotten better with age. His screams are reaching new heights and the melodic sensibilities are in the foreground showcasing the versatile vocalist that he is. Found throughout too are lyrics that are quite introspective and full of emotion be it anger, frustration, depression, and dare I even say love.

Throughout the 10 songs that appear on Highly Irresponsible, there isn’t one that feels out of place. In fact, there are certain songs that when they end you wish they were longer specifically, “Deliver Us From Life,” “At All Times, and “Love As An Act Of Rebellion.” The diversity on this album explores so much that with each listen you find more and more to love about it. Their live shows are already ones you shouldn’t miss as the energy that emits from stage to audience is not only contagious it’s infectious. Each member of this band has a highlight moment (though I’m not going to point those out as it would take away from the fun) on the record and it shows. One other thing I love about this album is that there aren’t any constraints on it. Sure there are moments that hark back to other times and bands but, these songs stand out as Better Lovers and Better Lovers only. If you are looking for one hell of a good time and an album that will lift you off your feet, then be responsible and pick up a copy. Enjoy!

Overall Rating: A

Review By: Brian Lacy

Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible: