In only a few more days as of this writing, Mastodon will be releasing their long awaited new album, Marrow Deep. Already two stellar songs have been released from the album in “Your Ghost Again” and “Snakes For Dinner.”
Now, “In The Ruins” has been let out of the gate and it’s definitely a deep one! The song is inspired by the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene and the havoc it wreaked upon Troy and his family. The catastrophic storm severely flooded their home and destroyed personal belongings, leading to a nearly two year period of displacement that coincided with the whole band navigating the passings of Brent and Brann’s mother Michele. Talk about inspiration. Jeez!
The thought of experimentation and exploration within music swings like a pendulum. Each side has its own distinct sound and feel just like Machinekit’s new EP, Body Without Organs. In a fun metaphorical sense, perhaps each organ that is missing represents the style of the music.
Across five intense and almost primitive songs, Machinekit mastermind, John Rojas, emits a mixture of electro-punk, jazz, industrial, doom, and darkwave all in a raw nature. This is where the primitive sense comes in. The vocals tear through skin and pull at your own organs. The way the songs have a visual impact gives the EP an even darker and tortured feel. The instrumentation here is direct and given a clear mission to teeter the line of precision and avant-garde.
When a release like Body Without Organs arrives, it might take a minute to fully grasp what is happening. Go with it! As each song pulls you in a twist, there’s more to uncover with each listen.
After six years, Hatebreed are back with a brand new album. On November 06, Fatal Paradox will be unleashed. “Kill Count Increase” the first single is also track one on the record and set things off with a bang. The song itself is an all out heavy blast of metal and hardcore. This is a great crossover sound and song. Jamey Jasta sounds superb and aggressive as all hell. The album was produced by longtime collaborator Chris “Zeuss” Harris. Very much looking forward to this record!
The idea of the band Will Haven going in a full on 180 degree direction than their known heaviness is beyond intriguing. Usually when you hear a band, well the majority of a band, step out of their known repertoire it can go a bit haywire. That’s not the case for Foreign Film. While there is still a bit of heavy, their debut album, A Love Letter, is an ethereal ambient melodic rock record that soars in direction that flies through the atmosphere.
Across ten songs and forty two minutes you will get lost in this new world of Will Haven’s Jeff Irwin. Along with his fellow bandmates Mitch Wheeler (drums), Adrien Contreras (bass) and Sean Bivins (guitar) he’s also joined by Rylan Kerr (guitar), Robin Florkin (piano/keys) and Tami Taracena (backing vocals), they’ve made a record that moves in a more “post” rock style that’s emotive and full of lush soundscapes. This project has long been in the making and now comes to fruition.
Each song evokes it own emotion. There’s not one song on here that feels like it repeats itself. Instead it weaves an intricate web of all sorts of inspiration making A Love Letter an album that truly captures the essence of the idea. I urge everyone to listen from start to finish to see the whole picture come to life.
Foreign Film’s A Love Letter truly is a thoughtful piece of music and art that fits stands out on its own. There’s a place for both Will Haven and Foreign Film and rightfully so. Enjoy what this album is. The evolution of what this band can be is only getting started.
The wait is almost over for new Mastodon! That’s right, the best band of the new millennium, yes I said it and stand by it, will be releasing their ninth studio album, Marrow Deep, on August 28, 2026! The band have already released the song “Your Ghost Again” and have now served up “Snakes For Dinner.” Joining Mastodon on this song is Queens Of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme. You might remember his guest appearance on “Colony Of Birchmen” from Blood Mountain.
As we all know, this is Mastodon’s first album without the late Brent Hinds. If you’ve been listening to Mastodon as long as I have, you know that when tragedy strikes, the next album is quite the gem.
We all have those bands we pay attention to. One of those you look forward to new music just to hear what directions they venture in. For the past couple of years, Machinekit has fast become a favorite of mine. They aren’t your typical electronic based band. Instead, Machinekit bends genres to create intriguing and interesting music.
Machinekit has released their first new single “Voyeurism” from their upcoming new EP, Body Without Organs (out August 3rd). “Voyeurism” is a track that has an electro/industrial vibe mixed with a stark minimalist aesthetic, making for a very intense listen.
When bands start to evolve past their origin point, most of the time it’s pretty interesting and shows real growth as songwriters. One band that I’ve had my ears tuned to since I heard them a few years back, have been subtlety showing that growth in their music. That band is Black Magnet.
Black Magnet have released some of the best modern industrial music in the last couple decades. And they’ve only been around for a handful of years. Their album Body Prophecy, is an unsung masterpiece. The follow up, Megamantra, is an all out audio assault of heavy and viciousness. That’s not to say each album didn’t have those outlier songs that hit at different elements and ideas. Which has led us to where we are now in the band’s evolution.
The mastermind behind all this is James Hammontree and on this new song, “Keep It Downtown,” the roots are still intact, only this time an alternative twist has been added to the mix. A move into post punk and more gothic undertones is now more prevalent in an exciting way. The Jesus and Mary Chain and David Bowie (you can hear his late 70’s Berlin era and early 80’s work in this) have been cited as inspirational examples into this new territory. I’d also put The Cure (Faith/Pronography era) into the fold too. “Keep It Downtown” has the grittiness of its origins with a swagger of these new distinct elements. Produced by Nick Rowe (who also co-produced Greg Puciato’s debut solo album, Child Soldier: Creators Of God, as well as being a member of the underrated, Bloodsimple), produced this song. This new collaboration between Black Magnet and Nick is something to keep your ears on!
Enjoy!
By: Brian Lacy
Black Magnet- Keep It Downtown:
Audioeclectica Interviews- James Hammontree of Black Magnet:
Earlier this year, Converge released their tenth studio album, Love Is Not Enough. Right out of the gate that album hit you like a pile of bricks. Then a sudden left hook came out of nowhere and the announcement of a second album to be released a few months later. And now we have arrived at that time and Hum Of Hurt, is everything you’d hoped it would be and then some.
Never a band to rest of their laurels, Converge explore every single nuance of influence and inspiration on Hum Of Hurt. There’s a very up front and confrontational approach to a lot of these songs that comes from the depths of each member of the band. One of the best aspects of the album is the sense of groove. The abstract atmospheric elements ooze out of the rhythmic grooves and blasts. While Love Is Not Enough leaned more into metal territory, Hum Of Hurt leans more into noise rock and emotional hardcore. The combination of those and their signature sound, propels this album past the previous.
Each song has its own charm and place. The sequencing of the album is tremendously satisfying. The way the album starts with the very image inducing “Slip The Noose,” you know that this is going to be a record that will tighten your heart. “Doom In Bloom” into “It Only Gets Worse” is a stellar one two punch! Then comes a trifecta of oblivion and obliteration with “Detonator,” “I Won’t Let You Go,” and “It’s Not Up To Us.” At this point catching your breath is a smart idea as “Dream Debris” sweeps you into a new realm. Just as you think the dust has settled, you’re thrust into the final three songs “It Used To Matter,” “Hum Of Hurt,” and “Nothing Is Over.”
What is accomplished here in thirty three minutes is near legendary. This is the year of Converge. It’s started out that way and it’s continued. There’s a feeling to this record too that makes you want to hear it played live in full. I can only imagine the sonic boom of intensity from that. Hum Of Hurt is a soon to be classic not just for Converge but, the genre as a whole.
The time for new Mastodon has arrived!! While this news is superb, it is a little bittersweet, as this will be the bands first album without the recently departed, Brent Hinds.
“Your Ghost Again” is a great welcome back for Mastodon. This song has the heaviness, psychedelia, and emotional energy that has become signature throughout their illustrious career. There’s a bit of a Once More Round The Sun vibe to this song and a tinge of Blood Mountain. Be sure to listen till the end, as it’s quite the treat!
When you ignite the future with the right bands, there is a good chance you can see where music is headed. For too long, modern heavy music has gotten too overproduced and frankly generic. Granted that sounds like a blanket statement, when there are bands out there that don’t fall into that trap. Instead what’s happening is a bands full of youngsters are providing a resurgence of a more raw and invigorating sound. There is one band in particular that has caught my attention for some time and has chosen the punk and hardcore route, XCOMM.
XCOMM have released their debut album, Time To Burn, and just like its title, that statement rings very true in a multitude of ways. Across eleven songs and thirty minutes, this unrelenting five piece band, rip through the gamut of the best of what hardcore punk is. While influences like Minor Threat, Black Flag and Bad Brains are the foundations of the genre and can certainly be heard here, Xcomm don’t rest on that. What you hear is part homage and the rest is pure and full of promise.
Kicking things off is “Reasons” a shotgun blast right out of the gate. This is just that start of the boiling tension that starts this album. Also the video for this song was directed by Dean Karr and perfectly executed that feeling. Check it out! Next is “Hot Pursuit/One and Nothing” a two for one song that shows that promise I mentioned earlier. Just listen. “Fake ID” is a fun barnburner of a track. And again, a fun video worth watching. “Borrowed Happiness” is a thrashy punk song that hits at the right melodic tinges. The title track “Time To Burn” is a to the point statement. “Pirates” continues the onslaught with guest vocals from Ghostmane. “Running Zeros” is a departure from the frantic frenzy. In fact this standout is song that shows another side of the band. There’s some great little subtle nods in this song as well towards those inspiring bands. “Relevance” returns to the punk sound with a snarl and crashing backdrop. “No Teeth” will definitely get circle pits going. It has that vibe right from the beat drop. “Purity” is eighty seconds of a a slamming good time. Closing out the album is “Negativity.” Don’t get that twisted though, this song packs a ton of optimism for what’s to come from XCOMM.
What Ross Robinson was able to get from XCOMM on Time To Burn is exquisite. The raw prowess of the production combined with ferocity of the songs really makes for a great listening experience. Having seen the band live, a good amount of their live energy is here in a way that only Ross can capture. Each band member has their own moments through that shows not just their musical abilities but, shows how each member plays a dynamic role in these songs.
XCOMM are without a doubt legit. They have the live show, songs and energy to make you a fan. Time To Burn is a great debut and one hell of a way to get your attention. There is a definite throwback element to this album too that, if you came of age at certain points, will remind you of that time in the best of ways. It’s worth noting too that for all the seriousness on this album, it’s also a fun record. And who can’t use a little fun in their life?!!
