Australia must have something in the water to being about so many awesome bands. Rose Tattoo, Silverchair, Memento, Karnivool, and to a lesser extent Wolfmother come to mind when I think of bands from down under. There’s another band from the area that should be on your radar, Twelve Foot Ninja. These guys are pretty damn awesome. They are metal with bits of alternative, prog and a bit of an artsy vibe thrown in. The live videos I’ve seen are super high energy. I’d love for them to do a proper headline tour of the states at some point. Anyways, today, they released the first single “Start The Fire” from their upcoming album, Vengeance (out Oct 15). With this new album, it will be accompanied by a multi-media project that will also feature a ‘high fantasy’ novel by the name of “The Wyvern And The Wolf” (written by Nicholas Snelling) and a graphic novel titled “Vengeance“.
Eighteen Visions are back!!! Today, they have premiered a new single of theirs by the name of “1996“. This one is chock full of the heavy you know and love about the band. Speaking on the song singer James Hart said “It was 1996. At the time, Huntington Beach had no shortage of white supremacists and we were always finding ourselves in a tangle with them. I was serving detention on a Saturday during the first couple of weeks of my senior year in high school. As I entered the detention room I took a shove from one of the nazis we had a beef with that carried over from the previous school year. The hours couldn’t pass soon enough and as the bell rang I was able to catch him outside where I took him to the ground. Once again, I had gotten the better of him and exposed him and his hateful ideas to those that witnessed the events. FUCK ALL THAT YOU BELIEVE & FUCK RACISM.” And then you listen to the song and it all comes together! If this is the direction of their new material, then it’s going to be one hell of a new album or EP they put out!
The mighty Quicksand are back with a new album and first since 2017’s Interiors. Distant Populations is the title of the upcoming album and it’s definitely shaping up to be one of the best of 2021. The album will be out digitally August 13 and on vinyl September 24 via Epitaph Records. Distant Populations was produced and engineered by Will Yip (The Menzingers, Code Orange, Nothing), and mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Megadeth, Trivium). Speaking on the album, “Everyone is on the one hand so connected with each other, and on the other hand, is so far apart.” says frontman Walter Schreifels.“We’re checking out each other’s social media and we know what everybody’s doing. But when we’re sitting in the same room together, we’re looking at our phones,” he adds point out the sad irony of it all. Throughout the album’s 11 tracks, Quicksand explores the duality of our simultaneous existence in individual relationships and as part of a mass society, while also examining the alienation and loneliness of it all. Pretty fitting for the times we are living in if you ask me. Today, the band shares “Missile Command,” a song that emerged from a Quicksand rehearsal jam, recalls Schreifels, “It really kind of focuses on Sergio’s (Vega) whole motif in a very simple way. He and Alan (Cage) just have this really kind of trademark groove, and I think that really sings on this one to me. I just felt like it’s a kind of song that is very us, but we hadn’t written it yet.” Based on “Missile Command” and “Inversion” there is without a doubt the classic sound we’ve all loved since Slip all the while, a bit of a modern flair.
There are some bands out there that are very meticulous and worth the wait. One such band is Bossk. Throughout their career, Bossk has developed a cult following within the Post-Metal genre and has carved their own spot among their peers. Their new album, Migration, is a post-metal, cinematic and ferocious gem. The layers and textures found throughout the album expand with each listen. There is so much to this album that you will be wanting to hit the start button all over again once it’s over.
The album brings together different elements that when fused together makes for one hell of a great listen. One of my favorite things about this album is the atmospheric approach to the songs. It’s experimental and psychedelic at the same time. The push and pull of tension found in the post-metal genre is beyond strong on this release. Each moment captivates your senses and draws you in more and more. I could go on and on about the each song but, as I’ve said in other reviews, that would just take away from the element of surprise. The production on Migration is superb. The synths shine and cut through in a way that is almost haunting. The rumble of the low end and drums makes your blood flow faster and your heart pound harder. The riffs are crunchy and crisp. On the songs with vocals, even the different vocalists help to propel these songs into another dimension.
Bossk have truly created a masterpiece of an album with Migration. There is a real ebb and flow that captures you from the first note. To be able to capture these sounds and feelings makes Migration a truly remarkable album. An album like this has the ability to bring in other listeners from different genres and expand the minds of them. The richness of Migration is on full display with each song. It’s almost like they transcended while making this album which makes the future is very bright for Bossk. Serious contention for Album Of The Year is strong with this one.
The Pretty Reckless is a band that I haven’t given much of a listen to since they first appeared on the scene. Though, over the last couple years I’ve gotten more and more intrigued by them. Firstly after they were handpicked by Soundgarden to open for them on what would be their final tour (We still miss you Chris!!!), and then they released an album that is beyond rockin. It’s classic in the way the music feels (think 70’s rock mixed with 90’s), and then the vocal delivery is pretty damn good. Plus a tight rhythm section that is right in the pocket, it all comes together quite well. On their most recent album, Death By Rock N Roll, there is a song that was just released as a single that has truly captured my attention. The song is called “Only Love Can Save Me Now” and it features Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron. Since I first heard this song, I’ve probably listened to it a few dozen times. This song along with the rest of the album, is one of 2021’s best. The Pretty Reckless are the real deal and I’m very interested to see what happens next for them.
The Pretty Reckless- Only Love Can Save Me Now:
The Pretty Reckless- Death By Rock N Roll (Album Stream):
This has been a really good week for new music. New banging singles and videos aplenty to enjoy. I got you covered with new tracks from Machine Head, The Pretty Reckless, Times Of Grace, Zeal & Ardor, Wolves In The Throne Room, Lorna Shore, Go Ahead And Die (Max Cavalera’s new project), Deafheaven, AC/DC, Amenra, Nonpoint and the very awesome Filth Is Eternal. I’ve gotta say the new song by The Pretty Reckless is pretty damn rockin. It features Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron.
Machine Head- Arrows In Words From The Sky: 3 Track Single:
The mighty Wolves In The Throne Room are back with a new album, Primordial Arcana (out August 20 via Relapse Records). These black metal titans have conjured up one hell of a new album. Taking the reigns for the direction and production, it’s the bands first self produced offering. The first single “Mountain Magick” is a banger for sure. There’s a majestic element to the song that feels eerie and sets the tone for the whole album. This new album is one that will be on many top end of the year lists. It’s uncompromising in its delivery and finds the band even more focused than ever before. Wolves In The Throne Room have a real winner on their hands with Primordial Arcana.
A few days ago, Chvrches released a new song featuring Robert Smith of The Cure. The song “How Not To Drown” is a stunning song. The driving synthpop sensibilities mixed with bits of electronica and a hint of post-punk. The song is featured on their upcoming album, Screen Violence (out August 27th). I’ve probably listened to this song at least 50 times since it’s release. It’s super catchy but, not in the annoying Top 40 Pop way. Chvrches definitely have depth to their sound and style. They are also one of the bands that I like to put on to break up the heavy in my listening. Stoked to see what else they have in store on this new album!
The many sub-genres of rock music are quite fun to delve into. There are certain ones that definitely take some interesting turns and leave you intrigued. Sludge and Stoner metal are two of my favorite sub-genres. Over the years there have been a few bands that have taken the a chance within those genres and explored them deeper. One such band that I’ve been fond of is Red Fang. Since I heard their album, 2011’s Murder The Mountains, I’ve been very interested in what they do on each album. Now in 2021, Red Fang have released their new album, Arrows, and it’s one hell of a ride.
Arrows is a very complete album chock full of great riffs and rhythms. The experimentation on this one shines quite bright too. Rather than rely on the same old tones and sounds that their peers have exhausted, the members of Red Fang meticulously crafted these songs to stand out on their own merit. This album sounds and feels a bit darker than previous albums. There are elements of punk and hardcore that peak out at times giving a new dimension to shift towards. The melodic sensibilities found on these songs are quite strong too. A lot of the times with sludge/stoner metal things get lost among all the fuzz and distortion but, one thing Red Fang has always done is make sure there is room for the melodic. Songs like “Arrows,” “Unreal Estate,” “My Disaster,” and “Anodyne” are my favorites so far, with the latter being one of the best songs the band has ever written.
Arrows is a very strong album. The experimentation works and takes things to another level. This is one of those examples of a band evolving in the right way without leaving their roots behind. The one thing I found a little eh about the album is the production and mix. At times the rumble of the bass and distorted guitars take over too much drowning out the drums but, in a way, it all makes sense. Live though, these songs will be on a whole other level. If you are out there looking for something a little out of left field, than Red Fang’s, Arrows, is the album for you.
Daughters frontman/vocalist Alexis Marshall has released “Hound In The Abyss,” the first single from his upcoming solo album, House of Lull . House of When out July 23 via Sargent House. This is one of those songs that the tension keeps building and building. The unease of the video also helps guide the listener a bit. The album was recorded in Providence with producer Seth Manchester (Daughters, Battles and the Body) and features Marshall’s Daughters bandmate Jon Syverson who made contributions, as did Young Widows’ Evan Patterson and Kristin Hayter, better known as Lingua Ignota. I loved the last Daughters album a ton. It didn’t leave my rotation for quite some time. I’ve been looking forward to this solo album since it was announced. Pre-orders are available HERE!
