I thought I’d try something new today. Since Friday is now “release day” for new albums and such, I thought it would be a good idea to put together all the songs and or albums that came out today and throughout the week. There is so much music being released these days, it’s hard to keep up sometimes but, with this, there’s a better chance you won’t miss something that came out. So here we go…
Mastodon- Fallen Torches (featuring Scott Kelly of Neurosis):
Spirit In The Room- If You Must:
Justin Stewart Cotta- Longing Is Not Love:
Alain Johannes- If Morning Comes:
Sumac- The Iron Chair:
King Buzzo (Buzz Osborne) with Trevor Dunn- Delayed Clarity:
Greg Puciato has premiered his new track “Roach Hiss” from his upcoming solo album Child Soldier: Creator Of God. This is the fourth single released from this record and it’s definitely showing yet another side of how versatile Greg is a vocalist and songwriter. One this track, Ben Koller, Greg’s bandmate in Killer Be Killed, as well as a member of great bands like Converge and Mutiod Man, slays the drums on this one. October 23, 2020 is the release date for the full album via Federal Prisoner Records.
Marilyn Manson is back with a new album entitled We Are Chaos (out September 11). The first song released is the title track. This album was produced by Manson’s longtime friend Shooter Jennings. Based on this one song at the moment, I don’t know what to think about this one. There is definitely a Bowie influence and presence in this track. When Manson released The Pale Emperor a few years back, there seemed to be a resurgence and return to what most of us liked. This new song (granted it’s just one song at the moment) doesn’t have the same feel of urgency like The Pale Emperor did or any of the early albums. There is a bit of a Bowie vibe to this song that makes it interesting but, there is something off about it. I can’t quite place it yet. That being said though, I’m sure some of you out there will quite enjoy this.
Visual artist Jesse Draxler has put together a pretty damn awesome array of different artists to create an audio/video project that is sure to make your head spin (not in the Linda Blair Exorcist way). The forthcoming album Reigning Cement, is based upon using solely environmental sound recordings to create some very interesting and introspective songs. This new one in particular “Valerian,” which features Chelsea Wolfe and Ben Chisholm, is super eerie and haunting. It feels more like a piece you’d find in a score to a film (maybe even a David Lynch or David Fincher film). Without a doubt though, this project is definitely one of the more innovative things I’ve heard in a long while. A few other tracks have been released as well featuring the band Vowws (another favorite of mine), and Full Of Hell. Definitely keep an eye and ear out for this when it’s fully released on September 4th via Federal Prisoner Records.
Chelsea Wolfe, Ben Chisholm & Jesse Draxler- Valerian:
Jesse Draxler- Reigning Cement:
Participating artists include:
Chelsea Wolfe & Ben Chisholm
Dylan Walker (Full of Hell)
Eric Ghoste (Ghostmane)
Exploited Body
Gendo Ikari
Greg Puciato
Intensive Care
Jaye Jayle
Lisa Mungo (Fucked & Bound)
O Future
Planet B
Portrayal of Guilt
Reeko
Shifted
Street Sects
Surachai
Thirst Church
Trentemøller
TR/ST
Uniform
Seb Alvarez (Meth.)
Vowws
I love it when it’s been a while since you’ve heard from a band you like and they drop new music and it’s really good. That’s the case with this weeks Band Of The Week, (Damn) This Desert Air. It had been a few years since there was new music from this band. Their last album, Pyramids, still finds its way into rotation for me and it’s still a rocking record. Now, they have released a new EP called Nebulosity and it’s chock full of crunchy riffs, hard hitting rhythms and soaring melodic vocals. (Damn) This Desert Air is a band that has taken their cues from the space rock of the 90’s (Failure and Hum), added some cool post-hardcore vibes (a la Quicksand) and some melodic grunge in the way that STP did on Core and Purple. When you listen to the song “Body Anchor (Back In Atlantis),” you can definitely hear all three of those influences come into play. There is also a real maturity to this band as well that will probably get overlooked. That element has given these new songs a real sense of purpose and urgency. The passion you can hear in the performances are undeniable and it truly gives new life to this band. A song like “Lonely Train” is a great example of this. Nebulosity is a great way for (Damn) This Desert Air to come back. This EP is an encapsulation of what they’ve done in the past and are working towards. I urge anyone that reads this to really take the time to listen to this band. The pure nature of what this band is really shines. I’m quite excited to have them back and hope this is just the beginning of more to come.
(Damn) This Desert Air- Nebulosity:
(Damn) This Desert Air- Body Anchor (Back In Atlantis):
There are many bands that have tried to go back to their roots while still remaining relevant but, often the end result isn’t quite what it should be or it feels rehashed. That is not the case with the new album The Kingdom by Bush. Their new album is refreshing and a welcome back to what many loved about them in the first place. Let me start off by saying this is a full on rock album and Gavin and company have really delivered. If you’ve been waiting for them to get back to some good riff rock, this is the album for you.
From the time the album starts to till it ends, the consistency and balance of rock is there. Gavin Rossdale promised a “heavy” album and he along with his band have truly delivered on that. The album is chock full of riff heavy songs like “The Kingdom,” “Ghost In The Machine,” “Bullet Holes,” “Blood River,” and “Our Time Will Come.” There are also the more melodic heavy songs like “Flowers On A Grave,” “Send In The Clowns,” “Quicksand,” “Crossroads” and “Falling Away.” One of the more standout tracks is “Undone,” which has some similarities to the more mid tempo songs in the bands catalog but, it feels fresh and current.
The Kingdom is a bit nostalgic but, not in a bad way. It has the best elements of both Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase along with a bit of an Institute vibe. Also, Gavin working with Tyler Bates (who helped resurrect Marilyn Manson’s career with the great album, The Pale Emperor) has made a real impact and have made Bush relevant again in 2020. Another element that makes this album truly good are the performances by Chris Traynor and Corey Britz. Both of these guys have a very distinct style and it shines through on these songs. Most of the drums on the album were done by Gil Sharone (Current drummer Nik Hughes played on the title track and “Flowers On A Grave” and he did a killer job as well) and his work on this album is pretty damn stellar as well as usual. The songs on this album when played live will be huge. I can’t wait for the day that comes again. The only thing that feels off about this album is how the songs were put in order. Personally, I would have chosen the title track, “The Kingdom” to start the album off with.
If you have given up on Bush, this is the album that will definitely bring you back into the fold. If you are looking for a really solid rock album, this is one that you should really take a listen to.
October 23, 2020 is the day that Pallbearer will release their long awaited new album, Forgotten Days. The Little Rock, Arkansas based band formed in 2008 and have since released a trio of albums: Sorrow and Extinction (2012), Foundations of Burden (2014), and my personal favorite, Heartless (2017). The title track is now available for your listening pleasure and this song is just as epic as you’d expect. One thing about Pallbearer I’ve come to realize is that while their albums are really good but, to fully get why this band is so good, you need to seem them live. It’s a whole other experience.
On October 23, 2020, Greg Puciato will be unleashing his debut solo album, Child Soldier: Creator Of God via his Federal Prisoner Records label. Today, “Do You Need Me To Remind You” the next single/video from the album was released and it is one hell of a killer track from the record. Poison The Well/Dhani Harrison drummer Chris Hornbrook lends his skills on this song. This track along with the two others already released (“Fire For Water” and “Deep Set”) have definitely made this one of the most anticipated albums of 2020. Child Soldier: Creator of God was recorded in L.A. between 2019 and early 2020. It was produced by Nick Rowe (Vampire Weekend, Haim) and mixed by Steve Evetts (the Dillinger Escape Plan, the Cure). In addition to Hornbrook, the featured drummers are Ben Koller (Converge, Mutoid Man, All Pigs Must Die, Killer Be Killed, etc.) and Chris Pennie (the Dillinger Escape Plan, Coheed and Cambria). Pre-Orders are already underway over at the label’s bandcamp HERE.
Normally I wait till Friday’s for this topic but, I don’t want to wait till then to talk about this band. A couple days back when checking my music news, I came across a band that just wowed me. I clicked on their lyric video and the moment the first note hit my ears, I knew I was already going to love what I was about to hear. 8 minutes later the song was over and I immediately pressed start over. I’m talking about the band In Parallel and their new song “Leave It With The Ghost” from their upcoming release, Fashioner, which comes out September 04, 2020 via Wiretap Records. This band is made up of members of Celebrity and Hopesfall (who in 2018 released a great comeback album with, Arbiter). In Parallel’s sound is inspired from dark 80’s pop and 90’s shoegaze and post-hardcore – creating a sound that is melodic, expansive and ambient but, at the same time explosive in a way that will catch you off guard in a way that peaks your interest. Their debut album, Broken Codes, is a great representation of what this band is capable of creating. On Fashioner, they recruited Failure’s Ken Andrews to mix their record and the end result is, and you can tell by listening to “Leave It With The Ghost,” a record that gives you chills. In Parallel are the type of band that knows how to tug at your heartstrings while at the same time expand your mind with a sensibility of intriguing rhythms, and the right tones. The road is endless for where this bands music can go and I hope you dig it as much as I do.
Normally, I use this topic to highlight unsigned or up and coming bands but, since they are now an “independent” band, I thought, why not expand upon this topic a bit. Filteris back with their first new song in four years. This new track “Thoughts and Prayers” is taken from the now defunct ReBus sessions that Richard Patrick and Brian Liesegang began working on before the whole Pledge Music debacle. The upcoming Filter album, entitled Murica is due out later this year. “Thoughts and Prayers” definitely has a Short Bus feel to it in parts as well as a bit of an Amalgamut vibe, especially because of the heavy guitar riff and it’s a pretty angry track as well. I’m looking forward to hearing more from this album. Richard has mentioned that he hopes to include a few other songs that he and Brian worked on for this upcoming album.
