This is quite exciting. In 2023 The Hope Conspiracy announced their return and now today, we get a new single from their upcoming new album, Tools of Oppression / Rule by Deception was engineered by Kurt Ballou and Zach Weeks at God City Studios, (out May 31 via Deathwish Inc.). The return of The Hope Conspiracy is a very welcomed one! This new single “Those Who Gave Us Yesterday” is one hell of a punch to the gut. There’s always been a sense of urgency to this band and this new album surely will continue that hard line of explosiveness.
In only a couple short weeks time, Gouge Away will release their new album, Deep Sage, one of the records I’ve been anticipating most in 2024. Already the glimpses into this album have shown the progression and evolution of the band. On this new track “Spaced Out” it’s one of those short and sweet bangers that just exudes energy! March 15th is not that far off, so be sure to pick up a copy of this one! The Jack Shirley produced/engineered/mixed album is one of the best of 2024 and it’s only March! Also be sure to check them out on tour with Metz this April and May.
Gouge Away are one of the bands I’ve been impatiently for a new album from and the wait is almost over. On March 15, Gouge Away will release their new album, Deep Sage. After a brief hiatus during the pandemic, the band reconvened in late 2022 to pick up where they left off with writing what would become their new album. In March 2023, Gouge Away teamed up with Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden East and began recording the album. The album was recorded completely analog and almost entirely live. The band performed together in a live room while vocalist Christina Michelle was in an isolation booth, her vocals projected from a monitor so the band could hear her. The end result is a raw unapologetic, noisey yet introspective record that is at the heart of what this band has always been.
This week seems to be a week where I keep listening to bands I haven’t in a while. Well, let’s keep the train rolling with this gem. Frail Body is back with their upcoming second album, Artificial Bouquet which arrives March 29, 2024 via Deathwish Inc. The first single released “Refrain” is one hell of a track that blurs the lines of hardcore, post-hardcore, black metal, and what the origins of “screamo” were all about. Personally, I’m excited to hear where this band goes from this point. This song is only the start of something I have a feeling.
It’s been a minute since I last heard from the Irish-born but now Liverpool-based, A Burial At Sea. I was at a show not too long ago and heard them played in between bands then low and behold I check my email and I see that their long awaited sophomore album, Close To Home on February 23, 2023 via Pelagic Records. Today their third single “Masterfred” arrived and it’s quite the cinematic dynamic song joining already released singles “Pairc Beal Uisce” and ” Tor Head.”
A couple years back I was introduced to Gost and I was rather intrigued by what I heard. Then when Greg Puciato did his first solo show, Gost was one of the openers and from there I got more into them. Now, Gost returns with a new album that is “exhilarating and dangerous at the same time.” The first single released “Widow Song” is a mesh of new wave and black metal influences creating quite the boisterous sound. The new album, Prophecy arrives March 8th via Metal Blade Records!
As we start the new year what better way to kick things off than with the albums of 2024 that are the most anticipated. Some of these are absolutely coming out and others we shall see what happens.
02/09/24: Chelsea Wolfe-She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She 02/16/24: The Baby Goats- Electricity 02/23/24: Darkest Hour-Perpetual | Terminal 03/01/24: Ministry- Hopium For The Masses 03/15/24: Gouge Away- Deep Sage
Iress The Cure The Smashing Pumpkins Better Lovers Spiritbox Centershift Kerry King Project Deftones Converge Thoughtcrimes Emma Ruth Rundle Black Magnet Fear Factory Killswitch Engage Spirit In The Room Sunny Day Real Estate The Halo Effect Black Map Dredg Korn Shadows Fall Thrice The Red Chord Vowws Pearl Jam The Black Queen Anthrax Chevelle Mudvayne Deadsy Failure Gojira The Pretty Reckless The Smile Common Wounds
MAYBE IN 2024: Chimaira? Down? Alice In Chains? Cult Leader?
What a good way to start the week. Today, The Smile, the band featuring Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and former Sons of Kemet drummer Tom Skinner) have announced their second album. Wall of Eyes, the follow-up to their superbly eclectic and quite spelendid 2022 debut, A Light for Attracting Attention, is due out January 26 via XL Recordings. This new album sees the band working Sam Petts-Davies instead of longtime producer/collaborator Nigel Godrich. The video for “Wall Of Eyes” was directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Inherent Vice, Magnolia, etc). If you haven’t heard The Smile yet, I recommend it. There’s bits of Radiohead in it but, it’s more jazzy, funky, and quite fun. I look forward to their album being one of the first of 2024 that I listen to!
If you haven’t heard END yet, you are really missing out. Ever since I first heard their 2017 EP, From The Unforgiving Arms Of God, I’ve been hooked. Their debut full length, 2020’s Splinters From An Ever-Changing Face is one of the best heavy albums in the last decade! Now, here we are in 2023 and END has entered the room again to destroy with their new album, The Sin Of Human Frailty which features the blistering new single “Gaping Wounds Of Earth.” END is heavy through and through with bits of hardcore, black metal, grindcore, and straight up metal. Their new album will be out on October 27, 2023 via Closed Casket Activities. Do yourself a favor and listen to END!!!!!
END- Gaping Wounds Of Earth:
See END on Tour with Full Of Hell, Inter Arma, and Wake:
10/26 — Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts 10/27 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage 10/28 — Cincinnati, OH — Legends Bar & Venue 10/30 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th Street 10/31 — Austin, TX — Elysium 11/02 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater 11/03 — San Diego, CA — Brick By Brick 11/04 — Los Angeles, CA — Lodge Room 11/05 — San Francisco, CA — Great American Music Hall 11/07 — Albuquerque, NM — Launchpad 11/08 — Denver, CO — The Bluebird Theater 11/10 — St Paul, MN — The Amsterdam 11/11 — Chicago, IL — Avondale Music Hall 11/12 — Detroit, MI — Sanctuary 11/13 — Cleveland, OH — No Class 11/14 — Toronto, ON — Lee’s Palace 11/15 — Montreal, QC — Les Foufounes Electriques 11/16 — Cambridge, MA — Middle East/Downstairs 11/17 — Hamden, CT — Space Ballroom 11/18 — Brooklyn, NY — Monarch
Just like many of you, I’m pretty excited about a new full length album coming soon from Crosses. Their long awaited second album, Goodnight, God Bless, I Love U, Delete. will be arriving on October 13th! The album also features guest spots from Robert Smith of The Cure and EL-P of Run The Jewels. The first single “Invisible Hand” is out now and it’s quite infectious. Here’s to hoping Crosses takes this new album out for quite the journey.