Release Roundup: June 2nd
Featuring The Amity Affliction, 50 Lions, Psycroptic, and more.
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
Two videos for y’all this week! Here’s my chat with Dan & Elly Vex: the symbiotic halves of Naarm/Melbourne indie punks MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD. We chat about the group’s not-so-dramatic origin story, crafting their career-best material for their recently released Wise and Dangerous LP, rocking DIY tours, opening for Suicidal Tendencies, delirious rave visits at the foot of the Himalayas, and why Eurovision decided to double down on corny cringe. Check it out below:
And for my ongoing Dispatch Bay series, Aussie chaos merchants TOTALLY UNICORN are hitting the road yet again to celebrate the launch of their latest single, “Hard Feelings”: a righteous ode to growing up, overcoming anxiety, and sticking it to your brain in the wee hours when it ceases to STFU. Frontman and all-round legend Drew Gardner took time out of his precious day off to jump on the pod for a quick yarn. Check it out below:
SIDE A:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
The Amity Affliction – “All That I Remember”
With the much-publicised exit of bassist/vocalist and original member Ahren Stringer now behind them, Aussie metalcore staple THE AMITY AFFLICTION are confidently ushering in a new era.
The group has released their first taste of music with the new addition of Johnathon Reeves (also of Kingdom of Giants) on clean vocals, and it’s a fiery, pummeling cut that deals with fractured familial relationships.
Now look, all personal drama aside, I’ve been an Amity fan for nearly twenty years, and I feel like Jonny sounds right at home here. So, I’m all for it. Watch the video for “All That I Remember” below:
Dead Mall – Superliminal
On their forthcoming debut full-length, Newcastle newcomers DEAD MALL aim to fuse elements of alt-rock, nu-metal, power-pop, and electronica with their hardcore roots. Now, is it an ambitious goal? Sure. But does it work in practice? Abso-fucking-lutely.
Take one listen to the ripping title track from Superliminal (out August 21st), and tell me you don’t wanna hum that soaring hook all goddamn day. (Yes, I’ll wait.) Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
50 Lions – “Misery”
Byron Bay bruisers 50 LIONS were one of the first hardcore bands that really “clicked” for me. Having a local band embody the fun and fury of the subgenre eventually led me to revisit the classics and find artists and styles that I adore to this day. So, having the group return with new music after a nine-year absence feels like a full-circle moment for little hardcore kid me.
I’ve also seen reports of a new LP in the works for both Last Ride & Six Feet Under Records, with release rumoured for later this year, so watch this space. Listen to “Misery” here.
The Maggie Pills – “Velobell”
Led by Argentinian frontwoman Delfi Sorondo and Venezuelan drummer Mario Perez, Naarm/Melbourne-based punk rockers THE MAGGIE PILLS formed in 2019 shortly after both members immigrated to Australia.
The band’s latest single, “Velobell,” is billed as “a blistering fusion of grunge distortion and punk urgency,” with mixing from Brad Jackson and mastering by Grammy-winning engineer Emerson Mancini (Kendrick Lamar, Paramore, Linkin Park). As the quintet states:
“Whether you’re wrestling grief, burnout, addiction, or just the quiet emptiness of everyday life, ‘Velobell’ is a howl from the void that says: ‘You’re still in there, and you're not alone’.”
Stream the single in full here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Psycroptic – “Architects of Extinction”
Tasmanian tech-death dealers PSYCROPTIC have officially joined the esteemed Metal Blade Records roster for the release of their forthcoming full-length album and follow-up to 2022’s Divine Council LP.
Guitarist Joe Haley described this announcement as “a surreal and humbling moment” for the long-running band, as they prepare to forge ahead and push onward into extremity once more:
“We’re currently in the final stages of finishing our new album, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on. To kick off this awesome new chapter on the right note, we’re dropping our brand-new single, ‘Architects Of Extinction.’ Enjoy.”
Watch the video for “Architects of Extinction” below:
SIDE B & FEATURE ALBUM:
I’ll be posting my Side B write-ups on CARDBOARD CUTOUTS, TWIABP&IANLATD, HOLY FAWN and STRAY FROM THE PATH on the TPD Patreon. If you'd like to check them out, please consider becoming a Friend of the Show (for just $3 USD or $5 AUD per month).
By joining, you become part of our alternative music community, get access to our existing bonus content, and have the opportunity to send me a mildly threatening chat message with some new music you like. I’m deadly serious about this. I want your recommendations!!