Band Of The Week

Band Of The Week: Holy Fawn

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Every so often, a band and album comes out that you hear about but, forget to check out in a timely manner. That happened to me over the course of the last few months with the band of the week. A while back, I saw Riley Breckinridge of Thrice raving about the new Holy Fawn album Death Spells. I put it on my list of things to check out but, for some reason, I kept missing it. Well, that was a mistake. What a tremendous band they are, and their album is superb. This Phoenix, Arizona based band is quite possibly one of the best things Arizona has ever exported. Their blend of shoegaze, 90’s reverb rock, ambient tinges and crushing noise is captivating and hypnotic. There is a real depth to their songs and albums that has anyone listening stand at attention and feel compelled to get lost in the music. There’s an element of danger to this band that when you listen, you can tell they are about to erupt with a sound that is devastatingly beautiful. Their album Death Spells is definitely one of the best of the past decade and worth putting in any collection. Holy Fawn has also released a 3 song EP this past January entitled The Black Moon and it’s pretty damn fantastic as well. Holy Fawn is a band that should be on your radar and should be checked out live to get the full effect.

 

Holy Fawn- Death Spells:

 

Holy Fawn- The Black Moon:

Band Of The Week: Caspian

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Over the last few years, there has been a surge of instrumental bands that have changed the landscape of what you can do without vocals. Certain bands have come to the forefront of that and have released seminal albums that have a lasting impact. Caspian, is one of those bands. Through their career, they’ve released a wide spectrum of albums that have reached the heights of cinematic and grandiose rock with an accompaniment of thunderous rhythms and riffs galore that would can shatter glass. It’s been 5 years since their last album, the very highly regarded, Dust and Disquiet. Now, Caspian have unleashed one hell of an epic album with On Circles that, is one of the most captivating of their career. There’s an intimacy on this album that comes out more and more as you listen, while at the same time, there’s an immediacy to it that drives you to tune in closer and closer. On Circles, is Caspian at a creative height and pushing themselves to step out of their comfort zone even more, for example, on closing song “Circles On Circles,” guitarist Phillip Jamieson adds vocals to this very introspective song.

Hands down, Caspian have released the first great album of 2020. This album is definitely going to be talked about through the whole year, as it should be. It covers a wide range of elements the band has become known for and touches on new ground that doesn’t feel out of reach for their capabilities. Caspian are back and ready to set sail on one hell of a journey with this album.

 

Caspian- On Circles:

Against The Grain: Ether Coven

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The many sub-genres of rock and heavy music have given us some pretty awesome bands over the years. When a band begins to draw from different areas of influence and inspiration, the end results can often be refreshing. A couple weeks ago, my attention was drawn to a band that has combined bits and pieces of bands like Neurosis and Swans along with a bit of a Type O Negative vibe and that band is called Ether Coven. The bands new album, Everything Is Temporary Except Suffering, is one hell of a way to start off 2020. It’s got all the elements of the bands I mentioned above along with some other surprises thrown in making it quite a very interesting and thought provoking listening experience. Ether Coven is the type of band that can make those “epic” style songs, along with some straight up heavy and doom laden material, which helps to create a sonic diversity in what they do. Plus having their album being produced by Erik Rutan (Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and so many more) has really packed quite a punch to make sure the end result is pristine. So, break out of your norm, and check out Ether Coven!

 

Ether Coven- Everything Is Temporart Except Suffering:

 

 

 

 

 

Band Of The Week: If It Kills You

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Since the turn of the century, the post-hardcore genre has become one of the most intriguing sub genres of rock music. The amount of room to experiment within it has given us some pretty stellar bands. Taking inspiration and influence from past punk and hardcore bands along with bits of the 90’s like Drive Like Jehu, Jawbreaker, and Fugazi to name a few, Bakersfield’s If It Kills You has really delivered something refreshing and enticing. Their 2018 EP Infinite Hum (recorded and mixed by Kowloon Walled City’s Scott Evans), is one hell of a way to get to know this band. The band is ferocious and passionate and you can hear it in each and every song. As a three piece band too, the guys in If It Kills You really know how to maximize their sound to not only stand out but pack one hell of a punch. I can’t wait to hear what they come out with next.

 

If It Kills You- Infinite Hum:

 

Band Of The Week: Holy Wars

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There are so many bands, artists and records these days, it’s hard to keep up at times. Every so often though, there is one among the bunch that truly stands out and makes you turn up the volume and rock out. A couple months back, I was very intrigued by a video post a reader put up on instagram of a band he saw (should out to Derek Scott aka dubsdotla). That band was Holy Wars and I’ve been hooked ever since. The sounds emitting with the rumbling of bass, atmospheric guitars, industrial tinges, bits of grunge, dark pop sensibilities and a punk attitude, have made Holy Wars a band that really steals your attention and keeps it. Led by singer Kat Leon and guitarist, Nicolas Perez, Holy Wars is taking the scene by storm and rightfully so. Their live performances have become cathartic expressions of passion and art and the live sound that is emitted from the stage is both bombastic and full of desire. It’s pretty intoxicating listening to this band. Upon first listen to Holy Wars, you will be hooked and rightfully so.

 

Holy Wars- Welcome To My Hell:

 

 

Holy Wars Video Playlist:

 

 

Band Of The Week: Clint Lowery

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Clint Lowery of Sevendust is gearing up to release his debut solo album God Bless The Renegades next year (January 31st to be exact). This is the first release he’s put out under his own name. His other solo related projects all had names attached to them be it Hello Demons, Meet Skeletons (which is pretty damn awesome) as well as Call Me No One (the band he started with Morgan Rose of Sevendust). On this album though, it’s all Clint, with the exception of the drums, which were played by Wolfgang Van Halen. So far, two songs have been released from the album, “Kings” and the title track “God Bless The Renegades.” These songs share a bit of the similarities you’d find in Sevendust but, it’s a bit of a departure from that style. Instead, it’s more rock driven but, full of melody. Clint to me has always been the secret weapon in Sevendust, and on this release, he gets to spread his wings a bit more and experiment with things that normally you wouldn’t find on a Sevendust album.

 

Clint Lowery- Kings:

 

 

Clint Lowery- God Bless The Renegades:

 

Band Of The Week: Bent Knee

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Ever since my musical journey began at a very young age, I’ve been intrigued by bands that are very experimental and artsy. Perhaps it’s because I fell in love with The Velvet Underground at a very, very young age (I have my mom to thank for that one). So, these days when I hear something that is a bit off kilter or out there, I am drawn to it in some strange way. Which brings me to Bent Knee. This band is pretty damn cool and full of things you wouldn’t expect. Drawing inspiration from multiple places like pop music, prog rock, jazz and the more avant garde, Bent Knee have really made their place among the best bands you’ve probably never heard but should be listening to. Their new album, You Know What They Mean, is an album that could be described as being ahead of its time but, I prefer to think of it as an album that is innovative, full of great vocals, wicked arrangements, and killer songs. Bent Knee is the type of band too that provides the listener with a real sense of not playing it safe. Instead the more you listen to them, the more you start to get drawn into everything in a sort of trance that expands your mind in a very awesome psychedelic way. I personally can’t wait to see and hear what this bands continues to do for many albums to come. They are definitely a band to watch out for.

Bent Knee- You Know What They Mean:

Band Of The Week: The Wraith

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Over the last few years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the resurgence of post-punk.  There have been a bunch of bands that have really nailed that sound and vibe and have cemented a place in my rotation. Recently, I was introduced to another post-punk styled band that has really grabbed my attention. They are called The Wraith and they are badass. Influenced and inspired by bands like Killing Joke, Samhain and T.S.O.L., The Wraith have taken the post-punks sound and added a bit of cool Death Rock/Punk vibe to their sound. Frontman Davey Bales, has a distinctive voice that delivers the goods. The other members of the band, which includes former Blink-182 drummer Scott Raynor and Brit bassist Paul Rogers, have given the music and songs the darkness and depth needed to make the songs shine. Their new album, Gloom Ballet (out November 29 via Southern Lord) was produced by Mat Mitchell, who has worked with Love And Rockets, The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets, King Crimson and Puscifer to name a few. The first single released from Gloom Ballet, “Wing Of Night” has the right attitude and gusto that will have you inadvertently dancing and wanting to mosh at the same time. The future is not as gloomy as their name might suggest. The Wraith are going to be leaving their mark for sure.

The Wraith:

 

 

 

 

Band Of The Week: Return Fire

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When it comes to metal music, people always tend to focus on the guitar playing and vocals but, there are 2 other elements that really shouldn’t go overlooked, the drums and bass. When you look back through the history of metal, the impact of those two instruments, it’s without a doubt that those are the true driving forces. Think about it, Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, etc, all those bands had such killer rhythm sections that were the ultimate driving force. I’d like to bring your attention to a band called Return Fire led by drummer Joe Nunez, who you might recall as one of Soulfly’s former drummers. His new band, Return Fire is a pretty thrashtastic return to the fold. Armed with a sound that hits on all the right grooves a la Slayer, Pantera, Napalm Death, Prong and even a bit of a Helmet vibe, Return Fire is the real deal. Their debut album is loud, fast and ferocious. If you are a fan of this style of metal, I really think you’ll dig this.

 

Return Fire- Return Fire:

Band Of The Week: Drug Church

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Remember the days of reading the liner notes and seeing the list of bands that are thanked and then checking out the ones you didn’t know? It’s always a pleasure and fun to come across bands that people in other bands you dig like. Not too long ago, I saw a posting on Instagram from Riley of Thrice talking about the band Drug Church. So, I did what I do, and checked them out. Needless to say, I enjoyed what I heard. Drug Church is a post-hardcore band hailing from upstate New York. Their sound is a mix of hardcore punk, alternative rock and a tinge of grunge. Think of it like this, if Black Flag (Rollins era), The Jesus Lizard and In Utero era Nirvana all somehow made music together, you’d get a pretty close resemblance to what Drug Church sounds like. The band was started by Self Defense Family singer Patrick Kindlon. Since their inception, they have released three full length studio albums, and a handful of EP’s and singles. Their most recent album, Cheer, is one of the coolest albums I’ve heard in a long time. It’s a very focused and powerful album as well as experimental. Cheer is the type of album that will leave you wanting to go right back to the first song after its over. The lyrics that accompany the music are smart and and thought provoking with enough of a sarcastic approach to make them really stand out. From the live videos I’ve seen of the band, they are one of the more exciting bands to see live. A band like Drug Church is a much needed breathe of air in a musical climate of today that is dominated by so much manufactured crap. So, do yourself a favor and take a listen to this great band!

Drug Church- Cheer:

 
Drug Church on Audiotree: