After 4 long years, Youth Code have finally released a new track in the form of “Puzzle.” This hard charging banger of a song is one they’ve played live on their last couple tours. This track is everything you’d expect from Youth Code. If this is any indication as to what their upcoming new album will be like, we are definitely in for one hell of a beast.
Youth Code- Puzzle:
O’Brother has released a brand new song entitled “Killing Spree” from their forthcoming new album You and I. The band had this to say about this song and their upcoming album. ““Killing Spree” wasn’t our initial choice for a first release, we had originally opted for a song with a more immediate approach, but we feel this is the most relevant choice considering current world events. Life rarely happens according to plan and the spirit of “Killing Spree” is in keeping with that. We truly hope this song brings you some level of calm amidst the chaos. ‘You and I’ will be our first independent full-length release and we couldn’t have pulled this off without the help of our friends.” This song has a really delicate and subtle way about it. It’s deep and seductive and feels right in the O’Brother catalog.
O’Brother- Killing Spree:
Lyric Video:
As a musician and artist, when you have the chance to tap back into a genre that you’ve been away from for a long while, the end result is something that often times feels refreshing and reinvigorating. That being said, while in rehearsals for Wear Your Wounds, Jacob Bannon, Sean Martin and Mike McKenzie, began messing around with some heavy riffs. After realizing what they had, the three of them recruited Greg Weeks (The Red Chord, Labor Hex) and Jon Rice (Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Job For A Cowboy) for the rhythm section to back their aggressive riffs and thus Umbra Vitae was conceived. Taking their name from a poem by Georg Heym, The music and and words are as haunting as it’s namesake. Their debut album, Shadow of Life (out May 1st via Deathwish Inc.), was recorded and mixed by Kurt Ballou. The album one that will pummel the listener with unrelenting force and unpredictability. As well as providing self affirming mantras to give it even more of an edge.
Vocalist Jacob Bannon has gone on to say about Umbra Vitae “After reading the piece from Heym, I immediately felt connected to it. Later, while working on the previous Wear Your Wounds album, my love for Death Metal was rekindled. This was likely a reaction to working on non-aggressive music for such a concentrated period. As these songs started to form, the ominous nature of that original poem came to mind.” He continues, “In many ways it embodied the character of what we were all creating together. For me, Umbra Vitae is darkly confrontational and my own internal struggles are nested within each song. At this point in my life it is of the utmost importance to use this art and music as the vehicle for a healthy purge of emotion. By design, even in something this intense, there is righteous intent to be a better human through the process of creating it.” Umbra Vitae definitely is a band to look out for and hopefully will continue as time goes on.
Umbra Vitae- Return To Zero:
I’m not a big fan of hip hop music of today but, I love Run The Jewels. Ever since I heard their first album, I’ve been hooked. EL-P is a master of beats and production and his rap flow is absolutely sick. Killer Mike is one hell of an MC and both of them combined are simply great. So as we wait, all be it impatiently for all this crazyness in the world to clear up, we can at least have these two new Run The Jewels songs to keep us occupied till the album is finally out.
Run The Jewels- Yankee and The Brave:
Run The Jewels- Ooh La La:
Pearl Jam’s new album Gigaton comes out this Friday. And ahead of it’s release, the band has released a new single, “Quick Escape.” This song definitley is a rocker and it harks back to their Yield days. Which by the way, I highly suggest you taking another listen to. That is one hell of a good album. Anyways, Gigaton seems like it will be a pretty diverse Pearl Jam record with something for everyone on it.
Pearl Jam- Quick Escape:
A while back, Oathbreaker released a new song called “Ease Me” on the Adult Swim Metal Swim 2 compilation. Now, a new EP release featuring the song along with a few different remixes by Jesu, Chelsea Wolfe and others, will be released May 8th (via Deathwish Inc.). Oathbreaker is one of the best bands I’ve heard in a long time and their 2016 album Rheia is an absolute masterpiece. If you’ve never heard it, I urge you to do so. Check out Ease Me and the Ease Me (Jesu Remix) below!
Oathbreaker- Ease Me:
Oathbreaker- Ease Me (Jesu Remix):
Greg Puciato from The Black Queen and The Dillinger Escape Plan is gearing up to release his first solo album this summer entitled Child Soldier: Creator Of God (via Federal Prisoner). This album finds Greg tackling the bulk of the instruments on the record with the exception of the drums which were taken on by former Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Chris Pennie. The first song from this new venture, “Fire For Water” is a pretty killer and badass song. It’s got a bit of a vibe you’d recognize from his Dillinger days but, also a nice side of Nine Inch Nails/Godflesh, and Alice In Chains too.
To elaborate on the album, Greg has stated, “I started writing in May or so of 2019, for what I thought would be the next Black Queen album, except that’s not at all what came out. So, just like with everything else that’s been born from necessity, it felt like the right time to create a home for anything that I do that didn’t fit neatly under any other existing roof. The misfits needed a place to go. This particular song came out really quickly. I guess it’s me reclaiming and owning the abrasive part of me. This whole album is, in a way, a very extreme statement of ownership.” Personally, I’m beyond stoked for this. I have a feeling this album is going to be one hell of an experience.
Greg Puciato- Fire For Water:
On April 24, Trivium will be releasing their new album (and 9th all together), What The Dead Men Say. Today though, the band has released the first single from the record, Catastrophist. This song is definitely a Trivium song through and through, with the riffs, blasts and a good amount of melody. Personally, I’m interested to see where this new album goes. I quite enjoyed their last album, The Sin and Sentence, so this one should continue to build on that.
Trivium- Catastrophist:
Pearl Jam’s new album Gigaton comes out soon (March 27th to be exact) and they just released another single ahead of its release. “Superblood Wolfmoon” is a pretty rockin jam complete with a killer Mike McCready signature solo. They really seem to be having fun experimenting with new sounds and structures on this record. Lets hope this new album is a good one.
Superblood Wolfmoon:
Ever since I heard Wiretap Scars by Sparta, I’ve been hooked. As much as I dug on At The Drive-In, I loved Sparta more. Well, now Sparta is back and getting ready to release a new album, Trust The River (to be released April 10). The first song released, “Believe” is quite an uplifting and promising song. It sort of has a vibe that harks back to their second album Porcelain. Either way, I’m stoked on having a new Sparta album and tour dates as well! 2020 is sure shaping up to be a pretty damn good year for new albums already.
Sparta- Believe:
Sparta Tour Dates:
04/23 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
04/24 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
04/25 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
04/29 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
04/30 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
05/01 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
05/02 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle
05/03 Somerville, MA – ONCE Ballroom
