I’m sure you all have heard one of those songs, that when you hear it, it just feels right. The way the music hits you or the words, it’s just this serene thing to happen. This week, one of my favorite Los Angeles bands, released a new single and it’s really been a delight to listen over and over. I’m talking about the band Witkin and their new single “Hard To Be Happy.” I’ve had the pleasure of booking Witkin at a few Cobalt shows over the past year and this is the real deal. If you dig on 70’s era Bowie, 90’s alt rock and a dash of glam, then you will definitely dig on this! “Hard To Be Happy” is one of those anthemic songs that really shines a bright light. It’s very cool to hear optimism in a song like this. Witkin is having an album release show on Saturday October 18th at Corbin Bowl in Tarzana. Make sure you save that date and come rock out with me and Witkin!
After 5 long years, A.F.I. have returned with their first new release. “Behind The Clock” is the first single from their upcoming twelfth studio (that’s right 12 full length studio albums), Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…, which comes out October 3rd via Run For Cover Records! This new song feels like it falls in the Sing The Sorrow/Burials era which to me is awesome since those are my two favorite A.F.I. albums.
As for the rest of the album, the band as stated “‘The goal of ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…‘ was to make an album with a singular mood, something dreamy and ethereal, and the band members found themselves diving headfirst into influences that had always been deeply embedded in AFI’s musical core, but now were being brought to the forefront. The result is an album that feels out of time, at once familiar and fresh, drawing on classic sounds and reinterpreting them through a modern lens. ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…‘ is dark and otherworldly, but also grandiose and stately, biting and beautiful in equal measure—in other words, it’s very AFI, yet not quite like any version of the band you’ve ever heard before.’ So with that in mind, I’m quite eager to hear what they have coming up. It really feels like the gents in A.F.I. have laid it all out on this record.
A couple weeks back the very awesome Black Magnet released “Endless,” the first single from their upcoming new album, Megamantra (out July 25 via Federal Prisoner). “Endless” was just the beginning though as Black Magnet have released another song, “Better Than Love.” If you thought “Endless” was a kick to the teeth, “Better Than Love” expands upon their already punishing industrial sound and adds a great left turn to their style that immediately pulls you in and doesn’t let go. I’m quite stoked for this new album. 2025 looks to be a great year for Black Magnet!!
It’s only April and I believe I have found the album of the year. A couple weeks back I introduced you to the band Idle Heirs. I’ve been enthralled by this album from the moment I heard it in full. The singles definitely got me right off the bat as well. The 8 tracks on the album are some of the most gut wrenching, soul bearing and intense performances I’ve heard on record. Written by Coalesce’s Sean Ingram and Multi Instrumentalist/Producer Josh Barber, Life Is Violence, just set a new standard of what the “post-metal” genre should be.
I’ve mentioned in other reviews of mine that I don’t want to dissect each song as I feel that it truly takes away from the listeners experience of the album. The rawness, intensity and emotional charge that this album brings out of oneself is quite an accomplishment. It’s one of those albums that is like a mirror that responds back to you. The personal elements found throughout this album are eye opening and cut pretty deep. The way those emotions that are poured into these songs are enough to make you uncomfortable but, in a good way that is quite introspective. The vulnerability that Sean Ingram delivers on these songs is uncanny. The deeper you listen, the more you hear all the pain, anguish, remorse, sorrow and more in his vocal performance. I can only imagine how much more his live performance of this would be. I’ve seen Coalesce and this has got to be even more intense than that. There’s that word again “intense.” That’s truly what this album is. Musically Sean and Josh Barber crafted songs that not only are heavy in the traditional senses but, allowed for all the lyrical concepts to come to life through different instruments be it a simple shuffle on the drums, atmospheric soundscapes, sludgy tones, bright tones and a plethora of more. Life Is Violence is a great title for this album as that is a great summation of what this all sounds like.
When I first heard this band/album it immediately struck a chord with me. I don’t know what I was looking for at the time but, this was the one. For the past few weeks I’ve truly soaked this album up. It’s become one of those I can’t go a day without listening to it at least once. The eruption of brilliance that is poured out over 51 minutes is pretty astounding. I’d love to know more about the recording of this album because there are so many great nuances to it, that I’m just beyond curious to know. This is seriously one of those special albums that feels magical and for lack of a better phrase “Lightning In A Bottle.” What an incredible album and foundation to start with because, I sure hope this project keeps going. This is the power of music at its finest. The connection to a record and all that it brings. Thank you Sean and Josh for what you put into this to make what I truly consider to the the album of 2025!
For a while now, I’ve been searching for the a certain type of band to come along and ease my pain of not having Neurosis nor Isis (the band) being active. I know that sounds silly considering there are plenty of bands out there that I’ve heard that could possibly do it but, I’ve been looking for that one band to take that style a bit in a different direction and I found it. Guiltless, a fitting name for a band that definitely has that Neurosis vibe (their album is released through Neurot Recordings and guitarist/vocalist Josh Graham did work with Neurosis creating visual components). Joining forces with Sacha Dunable, Billy Graves and Dan Hawkins, members of Intronaut and Generation Of Vipers, this devastating four piece has taken the good old fashioned doom sound and added some really fun twists, turns and dynamics to push beyond that sound.
The debut album, Teeth To Sky is quite the eruption. Throughout the 8 songs and over 40 minutes of the album, the way it becomes immersive is quite the listening experience. There’s a ton of little nuances found throughout the songs that give Teeth To Sky the charm it has. Mixing doom with post metal, noise rock, ambient undertones and the twist… optimism. The addition of optimism in this style of music is quite interesting and part of the reason why it took me a minute to write this. I’ve been listening to this album for the past few weeks, eating up all the things I was looking for. As I kept listening especially listening with my really awesome headphones on, that’s when I started to figure out this album. There’s a reoccurring theme found on the album of how “one must take advantage of life” and in the times we are in, it’s pretty epic to find that in this style of music.
To describe each song and get into that would take away from the effect you’d have from listening on your own. The bludgeoning aggressiveness that is found throughout propels the album but, Teeth To Sky is more than that. This album is one of those that will grow on you as it did with me. I look forward to hearing more from Guiltless and seeing how they develop and evolve. These songs need to be played live and I would bet that the decibel levels will be astounding. Definitely give Guiltless and this crushing debut album a ton of listens. And if/when they arrive in your town, I’d go see them too!
Since I took a break I’ve been trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed out on. I’m still catching up but I thought I’d put together a list of a few albums that I’ve been listening to. I recommend you all check these bands and albums. I can guarantee you’ll find something you like! Also on a side note, if any of you out there are graphic designers, Audioeclectica could use a new logo! Hit me up!
Enjoy The Tunes! Brian
What I’ve Been Listening To:
Better Lovers- Highly Irresponsible: This album is what it must feel like to be shot out of a cannon. It’s explosive and full of twists and turns that will leave you wanting more. It might even cause you to spontaneously start jumping up and down due to the energy this album emits. Listen to this as loud as possible!
Jerry Cantrell- I Want Blood: Jerry’s new album feels like it picks up where Degredation Trip left off. The dark brooding vocals mixed with Jerry’s signature guitar playing makes this a great album. As much as I would love to have a new Alice In Chains album, this one will definitely hold you over till then!! Check out the track “Echoes Of Laughter” it’s my favorite on the album!
Linkin Park- From Zero: I never thought this day would ever come but here I am praising a Linkin Park album. I’ll get into how this all came to be in an article to come. This new album featuring their new singer Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara and drummer Colin Brittain is fantastic. It’s a short and concise album that runs the gamut on all that the band has done and then some. There’s some really great throwback moments on this album as well as all sorts of new things to enjoy. Really give this one a shot. In a world where so many bands have tried to cop their style, the originators return to show how it’s done!
The Smashing Pumpkins- Aghori Mhori Mei: I love this album. It’s The Smashing Pumpkins through and through. It’s a great rock album that we’ve been wanting from them since their “reunion” was announced. Each listen makes me love this album more and more. This is another one that really deserves your attention!
Iress- Sleep Now In Reverse: Iress is one of my favorite bands I’ve heard in a long time. Each release of theirs gets better and better. This new one adds a heavier and darker vibe to their already dark atmospheric dreamy doomgaze sound. This is an album YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO!!!
Gouge Away- Deep Sage: This is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. I love this album. Every song on it is impactful and meaningful. This is another album that might find your spontaneously breaking out into a one person mosh pit. Listen to this album!!!
Common Wounds- All Night Blood: I love a good post-hardcore band and Common Wounds has all the ingredients that I enjoy about the genre. This is their first full length and it delivers quite the punch. The latter half of the album is my favorite part as it tends to be a bit more experimental and epic which I love. I’m very excited to see where this band goes as I quite enjoy them!
Drug Church- Prude: I’ve been a fan of Drug Church for a while and they keep getting better and better. Their new album continues on the path they’ve been on with some really cool new elements that remind me of Refused a bit. Sadly I just missed their LA show. I’ll have to catch them next time!
Planes Mistaken For Stars- Do You Still Love Me: This one is a little bittersweet. I have been a Planes fan for many years and when the news came that Gared had passed away it was quite a sad moment. Thankfully though, we have one final album from this very underrated band. This album has all the classic elements that made Planes Mistaken For Stars such a great band as well as some really great melodic moments that will have you raising your glass in cheers!
Spirit In The Room- Passengers: If you’ve been reading Audioeclectica long enough, you know that I absolutely love Spirit In The Room. I love that each release brings in something different yet it’s still volatile and dangerous, which is something that’s seriously missing from music these days. This EP is a little more subdued and introspective, showing off a different side of Dennis Sanders. Another really enjoyable album to check out!
Kerry King- From Hell I Rise: I really like this album. Musically it sounds just like what you think it does but, that doesn’t stop it from being an all out assault. Kerry has quite the band backing him with Phil Demmel on guitar, Kyle Sanders on bass, Paul Bostaph on drums and the underrated and awesome Mark Osegueda on vocals. Live this band and these songs are so damn good. I saw Kerry and Co open for Lamb Of God and Mastodon a few months back and it made me really give this album a now outlook.
Cold Gawd- I’ll Drown On This Earth: I’ve heard of this band for a while now and finally sat down to check them out and I enjoyed what I heard. Their shoegazey Deftones side really comes through in a good way. The dreaminess that this album has to it makes it a great driving album as well as one to put on while working. There’s some definite love for Siamese Dream on this album and that’s totally ok!
Unto Others- Never, Neverland: The moment I put this album on the first thing I thought of was Type O Negative only a bit more positive. This album is one of the most surprising I’ve heard this year. I love the post-punk goth vibes this album has. I’m quite interested to see what they are like live and I would love to hear them take on a Type O songs to hear what it would be like.
Pearl Jam- Dark Matter: I’ve been waiting a long time for Pearl Jam to come back with an album like this and FINALLY it’s here. This record has a very old school PJ vibe (Ten and VS with a dash of Vitalogy). The guitars are back to being at the forefront and everything finally clicks for the first time in a long time. This album really doesn’t have the usual filler either. Each time I listen I like this one more and more and find it climbing up my ranking chart for Pearl Jam.
Category 7- Category 7: John Bush (Amored Saint, ex Anthrax), Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex Machine Head), Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, ex Overkill), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) and Jack Gibson (Exodus). On paper this band is killer and on their self titled debut they slay! I’ve always loved John Bush as a vocalist and to have such a lineup of great players writing some killer riffs and metal, this band has everything they need to rip it up!
Debut albums can tell a lot about a band. The inspiration and influence can be quite striking but, the thing I love most about a debut album is how all those elements come together. When Better Lovers first came out last year with their debut EP, it was something shot straight out of a cannon and exploded like a fireworks warehouse. Those songs became the building part for what would be Highly Irresponsible. This debut album packs that same cannon blast only with the full length album, we get to really dive into what this band is all about.
The first track starts with this really delicate intro before it goes straight into the heaviness. From that point you know it’s on! With each song and there is more and more to unpack as the spastic and schizophrenic nature of the music uncoils into a very meticulous regiment of riffs and rhythms that will find you tapping your feet and hands and possibly a mosh pit (if you can find enough people). This album is unrelenting in the way it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go. Guitarists Jordan Buckley and Will Putney have done a wonderful job of crating songs that will appease the fans of all the bands these gents are/were a part of and new ones as well. The rhythm section of Stephen Micciche and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak is devastatingly pummeling in such a way that the bounce from the low end will have you jumping out of your chair. Vocally this is quite the performance from Greg Puciato. Like a fine wine or scotch, Greg seems to only have gotten better with age. His screams are reaching new heights and the melodic sensibilities are in the foreground showcasing the versatile vocalist that he is. Found throughout too are lyrics that are quite introspective and full of emotion be it anger, frustration, depression, and dare I even say love.
Throughout the 10 songs that appear on Highly Irresponsible, there isn’t one that feels out of place. In fact, there are certain songs that when they end you wish they were longer specifically, “Deliver Us From Life,” “At All Times, and “Love As An Act Of Rebellion.” The diversity on this album explores so much that with each listen you find more and more to love about it. Their live shows are already ones you shouldn’t miss as the energy that emits from stage to audience is not only contagious it’s infectious. Each member of this band has a highlight moment (though I’m not going to point those out as it would take away from the fun) on the record and it shows. One other thing I love about this album is that there aren’t any constraints on it. Sure there are moments that hark back to other times and bands but, these songs stand out as Better Lovers and Better Lovers only. If you are looking for one hell of a good time and an album that will lift you off your feet, then be responsible and pick up a copy. Enjoy!
I’ve come across some good tunes over the past couple weeks that I’d like to share with you. There’s something here from so many different genres which makes this even more fun. Take a listen to these jams and let me know what you dig! Enjoy!
01) The Baby Goats- Two Shakes: I’m really digging on this band. I’ve seen them a few times at The Cobalt Presents shows and they are pretty damn fun and awesome. I love that they embrace the 80’s new wave sound and add a little something else to it to give it a bit more charm. Their live show is quite fun as well. By the middle of the first song, you can’t help a little foot tapping or head bobbing. It’s catchy, infectious and fun! Definitely check THE BABY GOATS out!
02) Groundstate- Floating Away: The 2000’s nu-metal era is starting to make a bit of a come back. I keep hearing a lot of bands trying to embrace a sound that quite frankly got convoluted and over-saturated by generic crap. Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of bands from that era we want to forget. One band that I’ve heard most recently is Groundstate. These guys have been able to take the best parts of that era and mix it in with a bit of 90’s alt rock and the end result is pretty good. Their sound is definitely reminiscent of that time so it does strike a nostalgic chord with me. Check it out!
03) Ghost- Spillways (featuring Joe Elliot of Def Leppard): Ghost is one of those bands you either like or don’t. I happen to like it. It’s just fun and totally over the top in a good way. This track with Joe Elliot sounds straight out of the 80’s around the time that Def Leppard’s Hysteria was on top of the charts and they were one of the biggest bands in the world. There’s so much seriousness in the world that a band like Ghost is perfect to let you forget about all that and just have fun!
04) Metallica- Screaming Suicide: I don’t know about you all but, I’m excited for a new Metallica album. They’ve been an all time favorite of mine since I was 4 years old and that is never going to change! This second single they’ve released “Screaming Suicide” is pretty damm good. It has some cool throwback moments to their early years, a bit of the bluesy sound from Load and still a kick ass attitude compliments of James Hetfield’s vocals and lyrics. James is seriously one of the most underrated writers (both musically and lyrically). I can’t wait to hear this song live. I have a feeling this one will be quite explosive when they hit the road
05) Seven 40 Seven- On and On: Seven 40 Seven is another band that I’ve seen at a few of The Cobalt Presents shows. These guys are a straight up rock n roll band. Solid songs and a really fun live show to top it off. A band like Seven 40 Seven is much needed in the music landscape now. I’m so tired of all these laptop rock bands. These guys are just here to rock with no frills or filler, just rock!
06) Turbid North- The Decline: I recently came across this band and I fully dig on this! It’s badass and rad! This is their first album in over 7 years. They have a sound that combines space-rock, doom, and at times full-blast death-grind and all together it’s hypnotic and brutal!. Think about it as though Black Sabbath met Failure and then somehow Napalm Death and Kyuss all merged to form a band. I’m looking forward to Turbid North hitting Los Angeles. I need to see this live!
07) Vanishment- No More Torture: I was recently introduced to the band Vanishment and I am totally into it. It’s parts, thrash metal, speed metal, NWOBHM, and even a little bit of a stoner metal vibe. This band is comprised of former/current members of Pacific Northwest bands like Himsa, Hell Promise, Heiress, Lair of the Minotaur, Trial, North American Bison and more. The combination of all these influences coming together like this is pretty damn good! I for one am stoked to hear more from Vanishment!
08) MAL- Ritual: MAL is one band that I’ve been following for quite some time. I love this band. They bring a really cool take on 90’s rock mixed with prog to make something that stands on it’s own merit and then some. They really know how to cut deep with the way they write songs. One moment you can be head banging away at a part of a song and then next thing you find yourself swaying in a cool trance as all the elements they have come together. Live they are something else too. It’s an experience when you listen and see MAL. They are another band that have played many Cobalt Presents shows and each time they play, I never want it to end. Check Out MAL!!!
09) Centershift- Fade Away: I love this song. It’s so damn good. It’s one of those tracks that when you hear it in the context of their album, it ties it all together beautifully. It’s deep, a little dark and yet full of hope in a very cool and interesting way. Centershift released their debut album, A Different Shade Of Color in late 2022. It’s one of those albums that takes you on quite a journey, as an album should. The track “Fade Away” is exquisite and a really good representation of what the band brings to the table! If you haven’t heard Centershift, you should probably fix that!
10) Bush- Kiss Me When I’m Dead: I seriously can’t get enough of the new Bush album, The Art Of Survival. It’s really, really, really good. I’m not messing around. This album and their previous one, The Kingdom, has the band back on track and have delivered an album that stands up with Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase. There’s a ton of songs on the new album that I could pick to show you. This one “Kiss Me When I’m Dead” though, every time I hear it when I put the album on, I can’t help but turn the volume up a little more and sing along. It’s such a good song! Well done Gavin!
We are a ways out from a new Slipknot album but, they seem to have been keeping busy. Today, they released a new song called “All Out Life” which is supposed to appear on their upcoming album. Enjoy!
A while back I posted about how the band Memento was back and well, they officially are. The have released their first new song in many years and it’s fan-fucking-tastic. This new track entitled “Legacy” is one hell of a rocker. The vocals and lyrics of singer Justin Stewart Cotta are top notch. He hasn’t lost a step at all. The riffs and leads of guitarist Jason “Space” Smith are killer. He’s always had a knack for writing catchy yet riff-tastic jams. If this is just the beginning for what’s to come for Memento, then the future looks pretty bright. Welcome back gents!!!
