Punk

NEW MUSIC SPOTLIGHT: GOUGE AWAY- FIGURINE

In March of 2024, the very awesome Gouge Away returned after a prolonged hiatus with their album Deep Sage. From the moment that album was released it has not left my rotation. It’s a superb album that hits all the right notes of hardcore, punk, emo, and then some. If anything Deep Sage is a modern post hardcore masterpiece. Now a couple years have passed and the craving for new Gouge Away has been tamed for the moment with the release of their new single, “Figurine.” This new song is a blast of ferocious energy and hits you in the feels quite hard. “Figurine” is more in the realm of punk than hardcore with the bite of both. Gouge Away recently signed with Run For Cover records and are gearing up for quite a year of shows including being handpicked by Foo Fighters to open a few of their shows later in 2026. I’m very much looking forward to new Gouge Away. Please let there be a headlining Los Angeles show in the near future!!! Enjoy “Figurine”!!!

Gouge Away- Figurine:

SONG(S) OF THE WEEK: XCOMM- HOT PURSUIT / ONE AND NOTHING

XCOMM ARE THE REAL DEAL! I’ve been stoked on this band since I heard them a couple years ago. Already they’ve hit the ground hard with two banger releases in “Reasons” and “Fake I.D.” Now here we go with more and one in particular that is damn good! That’s right two songs in one! The video for them as well is fun, inquisitive, and very much them. Way to hit another one out of the park Dean Karr! The first song “Hot Pursuit” continues their hardcore/punk style with gritty vocals and charging riffs. The second song though is the one that’s going to put them over. “One And Nothing” is one hell of a great post-hardcore song. Not only does this show that each member has chops but, it shows they can write! Ross Robinson really got great things to come out of XCOMM. Really look forward to what is to come for these lads! Enjoy XCOMM!!

By: Brian Lacy

XCOMM- HOT PURSUIT / ONE AND NOTHING:

NEW RELEASE: THE BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA- BOMB TO A KNIFE FIGHT

For a little bit now, I’ve been really getting into The Barbarians Of California. There is a fun and urgency to what they are doing and I’m all for it. Made up of longtime friends, Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION and Eric Stenman of Tinfed, The Barbarians Of California is a return to form of sorts for both. Aaron and Eric both got started in the hardcore world and though they both went in different directions for a point, this is where the roots are. Their new song “Bomb To A Knife Fight” has a very 90’s hardcore vibe with a a sort of hip-hop undercurrent throughout. And that breakdown! Oh yeah!! Looking forward to what’s to come from The Barbarians. And you can catch them on the West Coast leg of the Poison The Well/Converge tour!!

Bomb To A Knife Fight:

ALBUM RANK UPDATED: DEFTONES

For well over thirty years now, Deftones have cemented themselves as one of rock and alternative music’s most influential and inspiring bands. Throughout their career, they’ve always pushed the boundaries of genres and constantly found new elements to add into their ten studio albums. When you listen to a band like Deftones, it can be a bit polarizing in that you expect one thing and get something else. Not every album in a band’s catalog is going to be amazing. Some right away will be “That One,” while others might take a bit to grow on the listener. And sometimes, you just have a dud. It all happens. Even a dud, albeit as a whole might not be good, there are still some moments or songs that give it a glimmer of a bright spot. RAnking albums is never easy especially when you tackle a catalog such as Deftones. And with that here’s the Audioeclectica Updated Album Rank.

Continued On Page 2…

Pages: 1 2

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: 01/16/26

I keep saying this because it’s true, 2026 is off to the races in terms of new album announcements, new music, new tours and who knows what else is to come in the next eleven months! That being said, this past week has seen a barrage of new singles from some of your favorites as well as some you might not know yet! In this batch for New Music Friday, I present new music from Lamb Of God, Filth Is Eternal, Nothing, Fotocrime, Gaerea, Metal Allegiance, clubdrugs . Give these a spin and let me know what you are into! Listening eclectically is much more fun than you’ve ever thought!

Continued On Page 2

Pages: 1 2

HARDCORNER: XCOMM- FAKE ID

Who says you can’t have fun in Hardcore? Have you heard XCOMM?! I’ve been stoked on XCOMM for a bit now. As part of The Cobalt Presents we have had the pleasure of booking them a couple times and each time they have absolutely rocked the venue! Seriously, this band is no joke! The ferociousness is real and the venom being spit via the auditory assault will cause you to turn the volume as loud as you can. Their new single “Fake ID” is a righteous slab of straight forward hardcore punk. Produced by Ross Robinson, he has really been able to capture the raw intensity of Michael, Jay, Revel, Adan and Hunter. This new song is beyond fun as vocalist Michael Gatto said “‘Fake ID‘ rips! It’s about getting rejected from shows for being under 21 when all you want to do is check out a band. The video shoot was amazing — it was so funny to walk around town dressed as grandmas for a day. I thought we looked great and I love how the video concludes with us walking into the ocean…” I’m sure we can all relate to not being able to get into shows because of being under 21. This is the bands second single joining “Reasons” from their upcoming debut album, Time To Burn which is due out mid 2026 on Blowed Out Records — the label founded by legendary producer Ross Robin­son, rapper Ghostemane and industry vet Bill Armstrong. So with that in mind, fire this song up loudly!

By: Brian Lacy

Fake ID:

XCOMM ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/xcommpunx

https://www.facebook.com/XCOMMPUNX

https://xcomm.bandcamp.com

AUDIOECLECTICA INTERVIEWS: ANDY KNAPP OF SNOT / STRONGER THAN MACHINES

THIS IS AN AUDIOECLECTICA EXCLUSIVE

Hi! I’m very excited to bring you episode three of The Audioeclectica Interview Series. On this episode we are joined by Andy Knapp the new singer of Snot as well as the singer of the band Stronger Than Machines. This is Andy’s first interview since becoming the singer for Snot and I couldn’t be happier to present this to you all. Listen to the interview below and be sure to check out Snot and Stronger Than Machines!

I will be at the Snot show at the Glass House on December 5th! Hope You Are Too!

The Audioeclectica Interviews Episode 003: Andy Knapp (Snot/Stronger Than Machines):

Click Below For More Streaming Options:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/luckystarradio/audioeclectica-14-snot-andy-knapp

SNOT ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/snotband/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/SnotOfficial/

STRONGER THAN MACHINES ONLINE:

https://www.instagram.com/stmofficial/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/p/Stronger-Than-Machines-100063632820821/

Episode Credits:


Host: Brian Lacy (Audioeclectica)
Co-Host: Justin Sinclair (Sinister Reviews)

Recorded and Produced By: Brian Lacy
Co-Produced and Edited By: Diggy Kat

Intro Music: Brian Lacy (And The Streets Were Silent)
Background Music: Vufcup

Andy Photo: Istvan Bruggen

Distributed By: Lucky Star Radio



NEW RELEASE: CONVERGE- LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

I know I’m beyond excited about New Converge! How about you?! That’s right, on February 13, 2026, via Epitaph Records, Converge will be releasing their eleventh (that’s correct 11) studio album, Love Is Not Enough. The first single is the title track, “Love Is Not Enough” and it’s a barnburner right out of the gate. With 35 years under their belts, Converge are set to release an album that according to Jacob Bannon, “Love Is Not Enough is all about momentum. “It does a thing that no other Converge record does—it keeps ramping up,” Bannon says. “And that’s definitely by design. Internally, we passed around dozens of ideas for sequencing because everyone interprets music differently and there’s no right way of doing it. When we do that, we always joke that we all have to be equally unhappy. But this is the one that works.” Personally, I really can’t wait for this record. If you’ve never seen Converge live, you should change that as well. They are one of the most intense live bands you’ll ever see.

Converge- Love Is Not Enough:

NEW RELEASE: BETTER LOVERS- THE IMPOSSIBLE END

If you’ve been reading Audioeclectica for a while now, you know that I’m quite fond of the band Better Lovers. Their debut EP, God Made Me An Animal as well as debut album, Highly Irresponsible, are in constant rotation still. The excitement from listening to them and then the exhilaration of their live show is untamable. The infectiousness of the ferocity has only gotten better now as Better Lovers have released the Deluxe Edition of Highly Irresponsible. On this edition there are 2 new songs added to the record. “Don’t Forget To Say Please” came out a couple months back and now “The Impossible End” has been delivered. I really dig on the twists and turns this song inhabits. If you get a chance to see Better Lovers on this November through Mid December tour they are doing (dates below), GO!!!! If you don’t, you must be allergic to having fun! Really looking forward to what 2026 holds for these gents!

The Impossible End:

Don’t Forget To Say Please:

Better Lovers Tour Dates:

11/13 Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
11/14 Athens, GA – 40 Watt (feat. Atomic Rule)
11/15 Jacksonville, FL – Albatross (feat. Atomic Rule)
11/16 Orlando, FL – Vans Warped Tour (Better Lovers only)
11/18 Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall
11/19 New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
11/21 Austin, TX – Come & Take It Live
11/22 Houston, TX – Bad Astronaut
11/23 Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City
11/25 Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
11/26 Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre
11/28 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
11/29 Madison, WI – Majestic
11/30 Joliet, IL – The Forge
12/01 Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme
12/03 Columbus, OH – A&R Bar
12/04 Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall
12/05 Long Island, NY – Amityville Music Hall
12/06 Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s

Better Lovers:

12/13 Buffalo, NY – Riverworks (‘Blissmas‘) (feat. Glassjaw, Saves The Day, Terror, etc.)

SONGS THAT SHOULD BE PLAYED LIVE: CONVERGE- EVE

Back in 2017 when Converge released their album, The Dusk In Us. It’s quite the album for Converge. It’s one of those albums that really spans their catalog and has become a renowned record. Before the record itself was released, the first single “I Can Tell You About Pain” came out with a b-side. That b-side wound up being the very epic and captivating song “Eve.” Why this wasn’t on the album is beyond me. This actually might be my all time favorite Converge song at this point. When you listen to the seven and a half minute opus, it definitely takes you places. The way the guitars shift from doom/sludge into etherial/atmospheric sounds, to the synths creating waves, while the rhythm drives and then pummels into a colossal explosion. While “Eve” has been in the setlist for a short period of time, and performed thrity-three times, it’s one that should be in rotation a lot more. There’s really something powerful about this song in particular that more people need to experience live. I’ve never seen it performed live and it’s “the one” Converge song I’d probably go absolutely apeshit for if I saw it live. So, let’s put it out into the universe to get “Eve” added more often!!!

Converge- Eve: