Long time no talk.
I let this get away from me for what… 6 months? Crazy stuff. I tried to start a deep dive into a couple of things and got a crazy writers block. I’m putting those in the backseat for now.
I’m gonna start this off with a mid year round up of stuff I have thoroughly enjoyed. Time has a way of slipping by faster when you get older, it’s just how it goes. I started this blog because I was tired of seeing popular music publications promoting stuff they were clearly paid off for doing, or essentially becoming glorified buzzfeed articles in their own right. And if we’re being honest, why would you want to read pieces about punk hardcore and metal from someone who’s never even seen Agnostic Front or Eyehategod at CBGB or Rattus ABC no Rio? Or someone that discovered extreme music in their late 20s or 30s?
It boils down to less of:
“you can’t control when you were born”
or
“some people discover things later than others”…
That’s all well and fine.
My issue is more with people who seem to think they’re some kind of authority or expert on a subject they just discovered.
Am I an authority?
Of course not.
Am I an expert?
Bitch I might be.
I am not the most social person, never have been. So I became a sponge to the only thing that has consistently brought me joy in life, music.
I was subjected to punk at such a young age it just stuck with me. No matter where I am in life, what kind of music I am playing… it sticks with me. Emanates from my pores. Hard to explain.
One of the first bands I ever heard was the Ramones, no lie. My father spent his younger years going to see them and the New York Dolls every chance he could, and he raised me in a tiny tenement apartment on Saint Marks Place. NYC punk has been around me my entire life.
This is not me bragging, or proving I’ve been into this for longer. I’m sure it sounds like that, I’m well aware that I can really come of as “old man yells at cloud” a lot of the time but this is more just giving my perspective. Maybe explaining why I’m hesitant to read that NY times or Vice article about punk or hardcore.
I’m awake at 4am writing this up. Gathering my thoughts and sipping coffee before heading off to my soul sucking full time job in the service industry. I ask myself “what happened in the last 6 months?” A lot. The year is off to a pretty strong start when it comes to music, here are some of the more notable releases in my opinion.
Teitanblood - “From The Visceral Abyss” - Norma Evangelium Diaboli
In my eyes, this band can do no wrong. They just nail death metal right. It sounds evil, atmospheric and primal. They have a trend of topping each record they have done before and this is no exception. Blistering fast drums, guitars that seemingly ring out into eternity and thunderous bass. Don’t sleep on this one if you haven’t heard it yet
Sijjin - Helljinn Combat - Sepulchral Voice
There was a hole in my heart when Necros Christos broke up. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out Malte was doing a new band. That first record was an incredibly solid death metal record. Kinda no frills just straight up in your face traditional death metal. (Think Possessed,Slayer and Onslaught with Necro Christos vocals).
So I was eager to hear this one. I don’t think the singles did it justice at all. The second this album starts you are greeted with a very unique riff. Your immediate thought is “does this riff work?”
It does. This becomes a reoccurring theme as you are subjected to some of the most unique and interesting guitar work I’ve heard on a death metal record in a long time, paired with some of my favorite death metal vocals. The first LP might have been all meat and potatoes, this one is a full feast. Highly recommend.
Age Of Apocalypse - In Oblivion - Closed Casket
I’m a sucker for clean vocals sometimes. It has to be done right. Like something with Only Living Witness, Life Of Agony or even Agents of Man just clicks for me.
That is also the case for the first time I heard Age Of Apocalypse. Very clearly a product of New York heaviness, AOA stands out from their contemporaries for me with one simple fact: this dude can sing his ass off. They lean more into this with their second full length. Production is massive, heavier and the solos stand out. I’m excited to see them continue to evolve.
Turnstile - Never Enough - Roadrunner
Let me preface this by saying, this is not the band I played with 11 years ago… and that is very okay. I remember when they were a trapped under ice side project, and now Turnstile feels fluid like water. Ever changing and ever experimenting, this is my favorite version of them yet. This record feels like a total Alt rock album, sure there’s bits of punk and hardcore sprinkled in to show off their roots. But it’s so much more than that. I’ve seen a lot of articles dwelling on if they’re a hardcore band or not anymore. My rebuttal to this: who fucking cares. If you like bands enjoying musical experimentation outside of the box, you might enjoy this.
Multiple listens required.
Caustic Wound - Grinding Mechanism of Torment - Profound Lore
I’ve never heard an album that lives up to the title more. This record off the bat is in your face, unrelating and cruel. Death Grind is back on the menu boys, and we’re eating good. Admittedly I don’t know how deep I had been digging for new death grind, but most grindcore I’ve kept up with didn’t seem to stay on the death metal edge of things. Abrasive and to the point. Very good.
Phrenelith - Ashen Womb - Dark Descent
After the first lp, I was hooked and really looking forward to their next offering. Chimera was good, but wasn’t a step up from the first one, so it left a little to be desired. I was stoked to see them announce Ashen Womb, and they deliver. A step up in every way possible from the last few. Fans of mid tempo, expansive death metal take note.
The Massacred - Nightmare Agitators - Active 8
Pure UK82 worship. In my opinion, more contemporary hardcore bands need to lean into this instead of going down the beatdown road… we have enough beatdown bands!!!
All the best things you liked from that Savageheads LP, and all the best things you like from Appendix, The Skeptix, The Mau Maus, all that good stuff. Reminds me of being on saint marks place in 2003. (You wasn’t there)
Corbin - Crisis Kid - Self Released
I’ve been keeping up with this guy from when he was “Spooky Black” probably one of the only like “sad boy” artists I find myself enjoying. I really liked the last two records, this one caught me by suprise because it almost goes down a Synth Pop route which honestly, is a perfect fit for this guy.
I noticed almost right away some of the songs have a more upbeat tempo than his previous efforts. That doesn’t mean the songs are happier per-se just catchier, and a little bouncier. Looking forward to what he does next, hopefully don’t have to wait 4 years for another album.
Upcoming stuff I’m looking forward to:
Skinhead - “It’s a Beautiful Day, What a Beautiful day” - Closed Casket, releases June 20th
Anamanaguchi - “Anyway” - Polyvinyl releases August 8th
Dead Congregations new album whenever that happens
Runegmagick and Bolzer are teasing something new too. Looking forward to that.
Sabrina Carpenter just announced a new album, Man’s Best Friend, I am not ashamed to say I enjoy her catchy take on pop music.
Whenever Morrissey wants to release “Bonfire Of Teenagers” or “You’re Right, It’s Time.” or whatever the fuck he wants to call it now. I am ready. He’s playing Radio City in September, if you are a fan even the littlest bit, I suggest going. Last time he played there it was one of the best live music experiences I’ve ever had. That is… if he doesn’t cancel.
That about wraps it up for me, I’ll try be a little more active on here.
-L