Weekly Roundup: February 20th
Featuring Frenzal Rhomb, Heriot, The Amity Affliction, and more.
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
Heriot – “Demure”
UK metallers Heriot have finally come through with new music. Their latest single for Church Road Records is called “Demure,” and it marks their first new music since their 2022 debut EP, Profound Morality. Speaking about the new track, vocalist/guitarist Debbie Gough says:
“‘Demure’ depicts the conflict of remaining integral in a world overwhelmed by scrutiny. It sheds light on the loss of being an individual while attempting the unattainable pursuit of neutrality.”
No word on a new release/project at this point in time, but I suspect the group are building up to something exciting. Watch the haunting and surreal video for “Demure” below:
The St Pierre Snake Invasion – Galore
Keeping things focused on the good folks over at Church Road Records, Bristol art-rockers The St Pierre Snake Invasion have been announced as the latest signing to the label, and they'll be releasing their third LP, Galore, on April 21st. The album was recorded at Middle Farm Studios in Devon and produced by Mark Roberts, and is set to feature guest appearances from Ashley Tubb (Sugar Horse) and Aisling Whiting (Sang Froid). Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
DZ Deathrays – “King B”
Aussie indie-punk mainstays DZ Deathrays are back with a raucous new single. In a press release, the trio say the track harnesses an “epic force of motion.” To my ears, it’s a slight experimental detour for the group, infused with classic hard-rock elements, big synths, and the subtle warmth of acoustic instrumentation. Frontman Shane Parsons explains that he “wanted a track that was about getting people together and feeling the energy of that… ‘King B’ was the name of the riff, and well, we celebrate it.” Listen to “King B” here.
Sunbleached – Delicate Places We Hide
I’ve featured Brisbane alt-rock outfit Sunbleached in the newsletter previously, and I’m stoked to talk about their forthcoming sophomore EP, Delicate Places We Hide, out on March 24th. The EP follows on from last year’s offerings, previous singles “Spinning Around” and “Toyfriend,” and it builds upon their signature blend of emo, shoegaze and post-hardcore created in collaboration with producer Tristan Higginson (Waxflower). According to the quartet, their latest single is “about being in love with your best friend and just getting lost in those feelings. It has more rock influence than on our previous releases—it still stays true to our roots, but it’s a bit more lighthearted lyrically.” Stream the EP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
Emu – “Sittin’ Here Thinkin’”
This one came about as a recommendation from the good blokes in Faerie Ring, who I featured in the newsletter earlier this month. (Stream their new track and preorder their new record, Weary Traveler.) It’s the latest track from Sunshine Coast groovers Emu, who feature members from Hobo Magic and ZONG. They're back with a new riff-fuelled rock and roll single, “Sittin’ Here Thinkin’,” and it’s the first track off their upcoming debut album, due to be released in late 2023. They’re also set to support international heavyweights Earthless on the road as well, so keep an eye out for that. Listen to “Sittin’ Here Thinkin’” here.
Frenzal Rhomb – The Cup of Pestilence
It’s a new decade, which means it’s time for a new Frenzal Rhomb record. Yay! This will be their first album since 2017’s Hi-Vis High Tea, which I reviewed for Killyourstereo back in the day, a record that had all the “trademark Frenzal elements that fans know and love: the tongue-in-cheek lyricism and nasal vocal prowess of affable frontman Jason ‘Jay’ Whalley; crisp power chords courtesy of Lindsay McDougall; and percussionist Gordon ‘Gordy’ Forman's cracking snare hits.” I would expect this new record, The Cup of Pestilence, to be much of the same. It’s out on April 7th, and it’ll be the first to feature new bassist Michael Dallinger. Curiously, song titles include “Dog Tranquiliser,” “How to Make Gravox,” “Old Mate Neck Tattoo,” and, “Thought It Was Yoga but It Was Ketamine.” Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
The Amity Affliction – “I See Dead People” feat. Louie Knuxx
Aussie metalcore bruisers The Amity Affliction have come through with another brutal new single. Frontman Joel Birch was quoted as saying that the band's new stuff would be the “heaviest material” they’ve ever written, and man, he wasn’t kidding. “I See Dead People” features the late New Zealand rapper Louie Knuxx, who passed away in 2021, and it is absolutely blistering. According to Birch: “The song is about the ongoing and nebulous struggle that comes with dealing with the pain of friends killing themselves while myself dealing with passive suicidal ideation.” New material, aka the band’s eighth studio album, is expected for later this year. Check out the hard-hitting performance clip for “I See Dead People” below:
PONY – Velveteen
The sophomore album from Toronto power pop duo PONY, Velveteen, will be released on May 19th via Take This To Heart Records. I came across this act as the main support for Canadian shoegazers softcult, and they’ve received praise from outlets like The New York Times, Stereogum, Billboard, NYLON, Exclaim!, and additional support slots for Jimmy Eat World, Fucked Up, and Militarie Gun. The band’s catchy new single is a love song “about falling hard and fast, and allowing your love brain to trick you into believing that you’re in a healthier mental state than you truly are.” Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Listen to all these tracks and more on the TPD 2023 CUTS playlist, updated weekly.
HEAVY METTLE:
A closer, more in-depth look at a new record that ticks all my boxes.
Korine – Tear
I already featured Tear in the newsletter at the beginning of the month, describing Korine as blending “new wave and synthwave with emo and goth textures to craft a dense and hypnotic sound.” Well, that new LP from the Philadelphia duo is finally out, and I can’t stop listening to this record.
In addition to the album’s outstanding pre-release singles, like “Burn the World” and euphoric “Train to Harlem,” Tear also contains some of the group’s best-ever material. Deep cuts like “Chimera” and the propulsive “Deicide” ripple and shine with glorious open choruses and danceable rhythmic pulses, adding complex shades to Trey Frye’s rich, bombastic instrumentation and vocalist Morgy Ramone’s soaring vocal lines. It’s pure synthpop escapism at its finest.
Stream here: Bandcamp | Spotify
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
Tasmania’s patron saint of good times, Sir Thomas Busby, of punk rockers Luca Brasi and post-rock sextet follow joined the Pitch pod last week to run through a stacked list of local legends, close mates, and inspiring artists. It’s a great selection of tunes featuring Caspian, A Wilhelm Scream, Clews, Lovebreakers, We Set Sail, and more. Check it out below: