Beau Burchell

NEW MUSIC: SEPTEMBER EDITION

I’ve been a bit behind on a ton of releases so I thought why not put a whole bunch of good stuff into one place. Part of the fun of Audioeclectica is the opportunity to share all sorts of different music/genres with you all. This batch is one of the most eclectic ones in quite a while. You’ve got rock, metal, alternative, and more. Enjoy these and let me know what you’re digging!

SINGLES:

The Barbarians Of California- Modern Fashion:

Last year The Barbarians Of California released their debut album, And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth. It’s a total awesome throwback to the mid/late 90’s hardcore. Reminds me a bit of Snapcase, Strife and some other gems from the time. Their new single, “Modern Fashion,” is an absolute banger! Definitely check this out! Also it’s great to have Aaron Bruno and Eric Stenman back together! I grew up in the same area of these guys and their early hardcore bands were always a blast to hear and see!

Foreign Film- Santa Clara:

Are you a fan of the band Will Haven? If so then you’ll dig this for sure. Even if you aren’t a fan of Will Haven, I think you will dig Foreign Film. Made up of members of Will Haven, Foreign Film is a departure from the pulsating heaviness and instead brings about a most atmospheric and soundscape textured sound to the table. Combining influences like The Cure, Pink Floyd, Hum, and more, you can definitely hear the more cinematic approach to this. Really looking forward to more of this!

Greyhaven- Cemetery Sun:

Greyhaven is band I’ve recently gotten into. Really dig the heaviness of the band and the little intricacies found throughout the songs. There are moments when I listen to them that it reminds me of Every Time I Die with a bit more melody. This new song “Cemetery Sun” is a ripping track with soaring melodies and a whole vibe on its own. Their new album, Keep It Quiet is out October 10. Definitely be on the lookout for this one.

Paz Lenchantin- Hang Tough:

This is exciting. Paz Lenchantin formerly of A Perfect Circle, Zwan and Pixies is going to be releasing her debut solo album, Trieste, on October 17. If you are familiar with Paz, you know she is beyond talented. On her debut album, Paz mixes some really cool elements to make music that is very much aligned with a particular vibe. There’s rock throughout but the addition of folk, Latin, strings along with the drums of Josh Freese and guitars of Troy Van Leeuwen, makes this a really interesting one to vibe out to.

Soul Blind- Hide Your Evil:

A little while back a friend of mine suggested I check out Soul Blind, and after doing so, I was hooked. If you are searching for a new band that really gets the 90’s sound in the right wat, Soul Blind is the one! This new track find the band embracing new ground by delving into some post-hardcore territory a la Quicksand and Deftones. Their new album, Red Sky Mourning, is out October 10.

ALBUMS:

Boneflower- Reveries:

I love when I listen to a band without knowing anything about them and it being awesome. That’s what happened when I first heard Reveries by Boneflower. The sheer intensity really drives this album. It’s chock full of emotion and musically the dynamic shapes makes for a very fun listen. If you’ve heard of the band Birds In Row, this band is for you! Definitely check out Boneflower and this album!

Chevelle- Bright As Blasphemy:

Chevelle is one of those bands that is quite consistent on releasing solid heavy rock albums. While this one might not be groundbreaking it’s still a really good album. Throughout the 9 tracks it’s very apparent that Chevelle is experimenting a bit with some different styles and textures. If the last album was the album Tool should’ve made, this new one is more in line with A Perfect Circle meets Helmet. There one song in particular that has me playing it on repeat and that track is called “Hallucinations.” What a great song! If you just want a solid heavy rock album, check out Bright As Blasphemy.

In Transmission- Betterment:

The post-hardcore genre has undergone a lot of changes over the years but, the one constant about the genre is the music is always emotionally charged and hard driving. And when I heard In Transmission’s new EP, that is exactly what I heard while at the same time adding a much deeper approach with atmospheric sounds to expand the space. Produced by Beau Burchell, Betterment is a record that shows much growth in the band as well as being songwriters. I really enjoy this one and think you will too.

Lucie Sue- Battle Station:

I’m always on the lookout for new music and the other day I got sent an album that again, I knew nothing about the artist and when I put it on, I immediately knew I was in for a treat. Lucie Sue is a force of nature for sure. Musically it’s got a punk rock edge, with a dash of Motely Crue swagger and sleeve, and a whole lot of 90’s attitude a la L7 or even Hole. Battle Station is one hell of a record that’s full of raw ferocity and razor sharp teeth that cuts through all the bullshit. I’ve been really enjoying this album and hope there’s a US tour soon!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BLACK MAP- HEX

Ever since I heard “I’m Just The Driver” by Black Map a few years back, I’ve been hooked on them. When I think of the band Black Map, I know I’m consistently going to be hearing a really solidly good rock record with great riffs, soaring melodic and velvety vocals, pulsating low end and thunderous drums. So it’s no surprise to me that their new album Hex, delivers the goods on this record.

From the get go the rock begins. Chock full of hooks and those driving riffs and rhythms, “Disintegrate” sets the tone for what the next eight songs bring. There are moments that remind me a bit of Thrice, Cave In and Failure throughout. The melodic sensibilities that compliment the heaviness on the album is what makes Black Map stand out. And if what the company in which I just mentioned is what this is reminiscent of, that’s some good association. The way this album flows shows that Black Map have really honed in on creating a lush album. At times too even when the music goes into a slower tempo, the weight of the lyrics and delivery of the vocals of Ben Flanagan are just as heavy as his bass, or Mark Engles guitar tone, or the earth shattering drums of Chris Robyn.

There’s a very introspectiveness to this album. In a time when there is a lot to think about and deal with, having a voice like Ben’s that melody rich and soaring with passion, gives the listener ease and connection without having to shout or scream. Though there are moments that are very direct. The guitar work on Hex is also a bit more in a progressive nature. Not in the way of Dredg, even though there are shades of it, it’s more in tune with how Failure expands upon it’s sound in a spacey way. And to top it off with Chris Robyn’s drums it’s like the icing and cherry on top as the bass lines and drums connect in a way that as I mentioned above is quite thunderous. Trust me, when you hear it live, you will definitely know! Hex is a tremendous album that packs quite a lot of goodies in it’s 32 minute running time. And it’s one of those that you’ll want to start again so you can pick out more things to enjoy about this record. And a round of applause to producer Beau Burchell who really brought out some of the best work the band has done.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Standout Tracks: ALL OF THEM!

Review By: Brian Lacy

Black Map- Hex:







Band Of The Week: Low Lives

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Over the last few years there has been a real resurgence of the 90’s sound. Rock bands are starting to really embrace the realness of guitars, bass and drums again. It’s quite nice to hear that quiet to loud noise again. One band I’ve had my eye on for a bit now has truly honed in on that style is the band Lowlives. They have this In Utero era Nirvana sound mixed with a bit of a Silverchair vibe to their sound. The gents in Lowlives have the quiet to loud dynamics down to a science and they have the right amount of melody added to it to make it modern and not stuck in nostalgia. In August of 2018, Lowlives released their Burn Forever EP, which was produced and mixed by Beau Burchell (Saosin, The Bronx, etc) and it’s quite the hard hitting listening experience. Lowlives from everything I’ve seen, are quite the live band as well. Their high energy and passion for what they’ve created emits through each member and out to the audience.

 

Lowlives- Burn Forever EP:

 

Lowlives- Maida Vale Session: