The 90’s sound has influenced and inspired so many bands. That distinct guitar sound or the was the bass rumbles to the way the drums punch, there is no denying that “that” sound changed the world. There is a band hailing from Florida, that has captured the essence of the 90’s sound and expanded on it in a very cool experimental and noisy sort of way. The band is called WRONG and they are badass. Made up of members of Torche and Kylesa, WRONG has taken inspiration from 90’s stalwarts Helmet and Unsane and made bombastic heavy rock. Their new album entitled Feel Great, is rifftastic and full of groove that will get your head banging and your feet moving. Wrong is unrelenting and aggressive yet they understand the dynamics of their craft.
A while back I posted about how the band Memento was back and well, they officially are. The have released their first new song in many years and it’s fan-fucking-tastic. This new track entitled “Legacy” is one hell of a rocker. The vocals and lyrics of singer Justin Stewart Cotta are top notch. He hasn’t lost a step at all. The riffs and leads of guitarist Jason “Space” Smith are killer. He’s always had a knack for writing catchy yet riff-tastic jams. If this is just the beginning for what’s to come for Memento, then the future looks pretty bright. Welcome back gents!!!
Since the explosion of electronic music in the last decade, I’ve noticed a resurgence of industrial music, which makes me happy. Industrial inspired bands like Youth Code, Khost, and Fact Pattern have brought the style back and are killing it. Now, there is another band that is really taking industrial music to a different level and they are called Street Sects. Formed in 2013 by vocalist Leo Ashline and multi-instrumentalist Shaun Ringsmuth, Street Sects have taken industrial music and mixed in punk rock, ambience and chaos to create a sound that stands out among the others. Their new album The Kicking Mule (out October 26) has a style that is inspired by bands like Roxy Music and Brian Eno as well as Berlin-era Bowie and Pretty Hate Machine era Nine Inch Nails. The songs are intense and full of life. One listen and you’ll have the sudden urge to get up and move. Singer Leo Ashline’s vocals are reminiscent of the like of Brian Molko of Placebo and Low/Station To Station era Bowie. Street Sects are a band that have found their own niche with The Kicking Mule and have successfully created a sound that will instantly capture those listening.
The other day while I was sifting through my list of bands to check out, there was a band name that caught my eye and raised my curiosity level. That band is called Tombstones In Their Eyes and they are radical! Based in Los Angeles, this psychedelic rock band has crafted a sound that is part psychedelic, part stoner rock, mixed with a bit of shoegaze and ambience. Tombstones In Their Eyes are expressive not just in the soundscapes and riffs they create but in the way the vocals, lyrics and melodies all come together. At times while listening you get sucked into a trance that resembles a lullaby. It’s truly a visceral listening experience. Their 2017 EP Fear is so damn good. It’s the perfect end of night album or for a soothing drive on an open road. On their newest EP Nothing Here, the band gets even grittier and the songs hit like a ton of bricks but, in a way that is still calming to your senses. Tombstones In Their Eyes is a band that has a real knack for creating great music and art. It’s real and full of life. Check them out!
The post-hardcore genre has grown by leaps and bounds. This genre has fast become one of the most prominent ones in heavy music. There is a band from New York that is leaving their mark and giving post-hardcore a more melodic/space rock tinge, and that band is Primitive Weapons. The bands newest material is expansive and full of heaviness without giving up on their roots. Two songs “Keep The Lights On” and “Normalcy Bias” have been released from their upcoming album, Surrender Yourself. These songs show the growth and evolution of a band that is more than just your run of the mill post-hardcore band. The mix of hardcore, metal, and melody is what is making Primitive Weapons a force to be reckoned with.
Industrial music is one of the genres that I have an affinity for. There is something really cool about bands in this genre that can make something so rhythmically intricate and dark. Bands like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry have made industrial music a household name. I’d like to introduce you to Fact Pattern. This industrial doom metal band from Los Angeles is making quite a name for themselves. This three piece band led by singer/guitarist Ian Flux along with drummer Rannen Bozzio and bassist Jack Lowd are bringing back that classic industrial sound but are injecting a bit of a doom metal vibe to their music. Their 2017 EP Structures is full of doom churning melody with a balanced backbone of industrial, giving it the grit it needs. Fast forward to today and Fact Pattern have released “My Guard Down,” the first single from their upcoming album. Fact Pattern are more than just your run of the mill industrial or doom band. They add lush landscapes of sounds to really set the mood. The melodic nature of the songs also make their style something that is accessible but not in a way that it’s watered down. Do yourself a favor and check out Fact Pattern. You won’t be disappointed!
When bands explore different genres and sub-genres the end result can be hit or miss. For those that it works for, the music created and the “art” of it has its way of standing out. I recently came across a band hailing from Texas called Super Thief that has been pushing the boundaries of the “noise rock” sub-genre. While exploring the influence and inspiration of bands like Sonic Youth, Shellac, and The Jesus Lizard, Super Thief as taken what they’ve learned and combined a bit of a punk tinge to make some pretty rockin tunes. Their new EP Eating Alone In My Car, is rocking chaos full of noise, grooves and riffs and rhythms that get you up and moving. Check out Super Thief. They’ve got something going on that is quite fun to listen to and full of a slew of energy.
Ever since I saw them open for Alice In Chains, I can’t stop listening to The Pink Slips. Their show was impactful and full of great rock n roll energy and it left me wanting more. The Pink Slips have defined their sound as a fusion of synth-pop, punk, dance, and vintage rock n roll. I’d say that’s a pretty spot on description. Fronted by the very dynamic and forceful Grace McKagan (aka Grave), along with Desi Scaglione (Guitar), Keenan Bevans (Drums), Charlie Anastasis (Bass), and Trent Peltz (Keys/Backing Vox), this five piece is fast becoming a band that is decimating stages and audiences.
The bands debut EP entitled Trigger, is a welcome addition to the rock world. These songs have lush choruses and riffs and rhythms that make you want to get up and move. Because the bands influences stretch from the likes of Iggy and The Stooges and David Bowie to Bikini Kill and Blondie, it’s no surprise to hear them embrace their “pop” side, yet they do it without losing their “edge.” When you hear a songs like “Danger,” “Gimme,” and “Hello Heaven” you can really hear both sides of the above.
As I mentioned when I saw them live, I was totally taken aback. Their live show is tight and full of energy. So much energy that The Pink Slips will have you in a frenzy when their set ends. It’s a refreshing thing in today’s music climate to have a band like The Pink Slips out there brining that ferocious rock energy back to the youth. The future is bright for this band, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come.
There is a band that is out and about right now that is decimating audiences where ever they play. Their debut full length is leaving a lasting mark in the heavy music circles. And the best part is they are still so young. I’m talking about the band Vein. This is one hell of a band and they deserve your attention.
Vein formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 2013. Their music takes bits and pieces from metalcore, hardcore, punk, and a hint of early nu-metal. Their debut album Errorzone, is one of 2018’s most acclaimed albums. The album in no way sounds forced or out of place. You can tell that each member of the band has studied their influences and without trying to duplicate what they’ve heard, Vein has managed to make something that sounds inspired. There is a real sense of urgency to these songs and album. It’s almost like a call to arms of the entire scene. The length of Errorzone is barely 30 minutes. That tells you that there is no letting up. The eleven songs on the album pummel from the instant the album starts to the end.
Errorzone is just the beginning for Vein. They are on to something that reaches beyond just the hardcore genre. The way they experiment shows that they have so much more to offer. It’s going to be really fun to watch this band progress over the years. Vein is here to inject their style into you and let it take over.
As a music fan I can appreciate the concept of artistry when it comes to making music. Not everything has to formulaic in the sense of verse, chorus and repeat. There is something provocative about a band that is willing to experiment and step outside the box. One such band that I’ve come to really enjoy over the past couple years is Daughters. This newly reformed band has now unleashed two songs from their upcoming and long awaited album You Won’t Get What You Want, which comes out October 26 (via Ipecac Recordings). Daughters is one of those bands that gets lumped into many sub-genres such as nosie-rock and mathcore but, to me they have always just been an alternative rock/metal band. The bands previous three albums, Canada Songs, Hell Songs and self titled album are expansive and show a band willing to change and evolve the right way. Daughters are one of those bands that when you really sit and listen to everything musically and lyrically, there is something truly astonishing about the artistic development and depth each member brings to the band.
Daughters- Satan In The Wait:
Daughters- The Reason They Hate Me:
Previous Albums:
Canada Songs:
Hell Songs:
Daughters:
Upcoming Tour Dates:
October 31 Richmond, VA Strange Matter
November 1 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery
November 2 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
