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.
The legendary Quicksand are back with their first taste of new music since 2017’s Interiors. Speaking on the new single “Inversion” singer/guitarist Walter Schreifels had this to say “The music to ‘Inversion’ was very squatter punk at first.” “To get something going vocally I started singing in an English Niel Nausea kind of vibe (Nausea are a peace/squatter punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan). The lyrics reflect the push and pull of being very connected through technology while at the same time being the most emotionally isolated group of humans to ever walk the planet and fun stuff like that.” After listening to the track a few times already today, I can tell you that this one packs a lot of energy and sounds like something you might find on their classic albums Slip and Manic Compression.
Every Time I Die have released a new song from their upcoming albums. “AWOL” is now out for all of our listening pleasures. This track is definitely going to be a live staple for years to come. There’s also a bit of an At The Drive- In vibe to the song. This new album, which still doesn’t have a release date yet, is sure shaping up to be one hell of a good one. If you missed out on the other two songs released (“A Colossal Wreck” and “Desperate Pleasures”), you can check those out below as well!
Every Time I Die released not one but two new songs today and both are absolutely killer. For a band that’s been together for over 20 years, they’ve always been able to grow and evolve in such a way that shows maturity and depth on levels that most bands can only dream of. These two songs are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come. “A Colossal Wreck” is classic Every Time I Die, while “Desperate Pleasures” is a more experimental turn but, still the same band you love through and through.
Architects have dropped a brand new single entitled “Animals.” This song will be on their upcoming new album, For Those That Wish To Exist. There is no release date for the album at this time but, this song is a banger for sure. This song is a bit of a departure from the last couple of Architects albums but, it shows a growth and adds some more elements to their already heavy sound.
Punk music has always been one of those genres that I’ve loved since first listen. It goes all the way back to being about 5 or 6 and hearing the Ramones. From that point onward, I was hooked. There was something about the simplicity of the music that hit home but also the honesty. Granted the latter part didn’t really hit till I got older, I could still sense there was something special about this style of music. As time passed I got more and more into punk music from the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Then 1994 happened and punk music exploded yet again with bands like Green Day, The Offspring and Rancid. It was then that I really delved into what punk music was all about. I then discovered bands like Black Flag, Bad Religion, etc. It was then that I realized the “heavier” side of punk music was for me. So over the years I found myself seeking out those bands that fit that style more. Which brings me to a band I heard a few years ago that has always stood out to me.
Back in 2013 there was an album that came out called Home by a band called Off With Their Heads, and there was something about this record that really left a mark. This band had the whole package, from hard hitting riffs and super punchy bass and drums to the honest lyrics and vocal delivery that made it all believable. Home, Off With Theirs Heads’ third full-length (though it could be considered their fourth depending on if you count the Hospitals record as an album), found the group diving deeper into experimentation without compromising their roots. This album is “real” and it’s grit shows through. When you have songs that tackle topics like anxiety, anger, and self loathing, it’s tough not to feel a connection. There is an underlying sense of catharsis to these songs which makes the end result feel very positive and optimistic. Songs like “Start Walking,” “Shirts,” “Nightlife,” “Focus On Your Own Family,” “Don’t Make Me Go,” “Always Alone,”and “Stolen Away” are not only standout songs but, anthems as well.
Singer Ryan Young has a voice that you feel every word he sings. It’s one of those immediate voices that will stay with you and act as a mantra of sorts. Musically, Off With Their Heads hit you like a ton of bricks. There is a real sense of urgency to the way they play and deliver the songs. You can really hear that on Home. Off With Their Heads are the type of band that has much in common with their punk influences but also bands like Jawbreaker and Jawbox. The realness and honesty (there’s that word again) really shines through in this band. That is something that will always have a lasting effect on those that listen and take the words to heart. Do yourselves a favor and take a listen to this unsung masterpiece and, celebrate a true work of art!
This past Saturday, Every Time I Die rolled through Los Angeles and absolutely destroyed part of downtown. Riding high on their 20 Years Of Bullshit tour, Every Time I Die left their mark in Los Angeles, not just as band thats been killing it for 20 years but, as a band that has truly cemented their place among the legends of their genre. As a fan of the band for nearly 20 years, I have to say that, these gents seriously get better as time goes on. Before I get into just how good their live set was, let me begin with the other bands on the bill.
The first band up was Vein. This band has been blowing up as of late and the hype is real. Their 25 minute set all be it brief was intense and chock full of energy that you would expect to see at a show like this. Performing songs from their debut album Errorzone, Vein ripped through their set with precision, passion and unrelenting force. I’ve been curious to check this band out since I heard them earlier this year and they did not disappoint. I could see them seriously becoming a band that will steal the show from many bands in the near future. They have the ability to really become a force of nature if they keep on the path they are on. Vein have a sound rooted in hardcore but with shades of metal, industrial, and a slice of nu-metal (a la the first 2 Korn and Slipknot records). Watch out for Vein when they come through your town!
The other two bands on the bill Angel Dust and Turnstile brought with them a ton of energy and a good amount of the kids in the crowd were eating it up. My friend I was with and I both looked at each other countless times throughout both sets wondering what the hell we were watching. Maybe it’s our age showing through and we just didn’t “get it” or it was really that bad. I will say though that they riled up the crowd in a good way before Every Time I Die took the stage and showed these kids how it’s done.
Every Time I Die are legends. Lets just put that out there. For 20 years now, they truly have done things the way they wanted to and have continuously put out quality music. This evening was one for the books. Around 10:45 pm, Every Time I Die took the stage and for the next hour and twenty minutes, Los Angeles was owned by ETID. Their set was stunning. Compiling songs from all their 8 albums into an anthology set, was special. The amount of singing along all night from the crowd was something for the books. The diverse crowd of youngsters to the older ones made this night really represent 20 years of greatness. Songs like “Floater,” “Ebolarama,” “Apocalypse Now and Then,” “No Son Of Mine,” “Roman Holiday,” “Moor” “The Coin Has A Say” and “Map Change” were among the standouts of the set. The entire set as I mentioned was special, and I’m sure it wasn’t easy to just pick a couple songs from each album but, each choice perfectly represented each record and showed just how much the band has developed over the years. I will say this too, “Map Change” is one of the best songs of new millennium. Not only was it a great song to end the night on but it really is one of the best songs Every Time I Die has ever written.
I can’t say enough about how truly great Every Time I Die is. Not just as a band and songwriters but how they truly bleed and believe in what they do. They are one of “those bands” that no matter what, when they come through your town, you go see them. As I mentioned too, they are legends and rightfully so. They have ushered in a new wave of heavy music and fans. Their discography stands up among the greats, and they still have so much more in them. Their latest album, 2016’s Low Teens, has been in constant rotation from the day I bought it. I personally can’t wait to see and hear what Every Time I Die does next. Thank you Every Time I Die for 20 years of greatness.
Every Time I Die Set List:
01) Emergency Broadcast Syndrome
02) Floater
03) I Been Gone A Long Time
04) Ebolarama
05) Apocalypse Now And Then
06) Bored Stiff
07) The New Black
08) No Son Of Mine
09) We’rewolf
10) INRIhab
11) Roman Holiday
12) The Marvelous Slut
13) Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space
14) Holy Book Of Dilemma
15) Decayin’ With The Boys
16) Moor
17) Thirst
18) Glitches
19) It Remembers
20) The Coin Has A Say
21) Map Change
One of the UK’s best bands, Architects, are gearing up to release a new album entitled Holy Hell, out November 9th via Epitaph Records. Holy Hell is the bands first album without their founding guitarist and principal songwriter, Tom Searle. The album’s first single, Hereafter, is a crushingly melodic track, that shows the versatility of what Architects can do. Speaking about what the album is about drummer Dan Searle said “Holy Hell is about pain: the way we process it, cope with it, and live with it. There is value in pain. It’s where we learn, it’s where we grow.” Based on that, Holy Hell, looks to be one hell of a deep and dark album.
Thrice’s new album Palms comes out this Friday (September 14 via Epitaph Records). They’ve already premiered 2 stellar songs from the album, “The Grey” and “Only Us.” Now, they’ve unleashed “The Dark” on us all. This song has an interesting history. Thrice asked fans to be a part of the song by sending in audio and video of them singing a specific part, and they would be included in the final version of the track. This song definitely has a “vibe” to it that’s very Thrice.
Thrice has released a new track, “Only Us” from their upcoming album Palms (out September 14 via Epitaph Records). “Only Us” is Thrice experimenting a bit but not losing sight of what they do best. The song is full of lush melodies and emotion. “Only Us” is the type of song that when played live will be a beast. Check it out!!!
AUDIOECLECTICA 