Weekly Roundup: January 22nd
Featuring Heavy Temple, RUN, Many Eyes, and more.
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
RUN – “Spring” (feat. Joel Birch)
We’ve got a brand new single from Naarm/Melbourne blackened post-metalcore outfit RUN. It comes after a busy few weeks for the group as they support The Amity Affliction on a regional tour of Australia alongside fellow Naarm/Melb heavy hitters Alpha Wolf and Terminal Sleep. “Spring” is billed as a “blast of bright-yet-brooding energy featuring guest vocals from Amity frontman Joel Birch” and marks the start of a triumphant new era for the band: As frontman Lochlan Watt states:
“‘Spring’ is all about new beginnings. Being alive can be pretty brutal, but over and over again, it proves to me to be worth pushing through the muck, and with that in mind, I tried to write a song that champions perseverance while embracing the cosmic mysteries and darkness of existence. After guesting on an Amity track in 2008, it was a really nice full-circle moment to get Joel on board for this. Musically I think it’s really fun too—shout out to RUN’s first-ever guitar solo.”
Watch the video for “Spring” below:
sleepmakeswaves – It’s Here, But I Have No Names For It
Aussie post-rock luminaries sleepsmakeswaves are back with an electrifying new album, titled It’s Here, But I Have No Names For It, which arrives on April 12th via Bird’s Robe Records. Written during the pandemic, the eight-track album was self-produced and recorded at Golden Retriever Studios in Sydney, Australia, with the group finalizing work on the new collection in 2023, including string arrangements by Simeon Bartholomew (SEIMS). While fans of the band’s explosive aggression will not be disappointed, the record also features new production and arrangement elements to further push the band’s sonic boundaries. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Mannequin Death Squad – “Everybody’s Movin’”
The first new band on my radar this week is Naarm/Melbourne-based rock/punk duo Mannequin Death Squad, who have unveiled their raucous new single, “'Everybody’s Movin’”. It was produced by the band themselves, with mixing from Brent Quirk and mastering by Matt Gray (Violent Soho, The Veronicas). The track is packed with grungey riffs and wild vocals from lead singer Elly Vex; it’s hooky, a little rebellious and a whole lot of fun, and justifies their inclusion as support for acts like Suicidal Tendencies, Frenzal Rhomb, and WAAX. On the inspiration behind “Everybody’s Movin’,” the duo states:
“‘Everybody’s Movin’ is about one of those nights out when you just don't want to be there. The energy is raging, the music is shaking the floors. But deep down, it’s as if you've wandered onto a set where you don't belong. The initial glamour of bright lights and attractive people has morphed into a bizarre world where everyone's trashed, the floor is on the ceiling, and the flies are all dead. Leaving you in a personal tug-of-war between social pressure and the strong desire to exit.”
Listen to “Everybody’s Movin’” here.
Gulfer – Third Wind
Noodley emo sad-boys Gulfer have announced their forthcoming record, Third Wind, which drops via Topshelf Records on February 28th. The record sees the Montreal outfit embracing their mid-2000s pop-punk influences, fusing them with quirky songwriting, slow-burn drum and bass passages, and a youthful punk spirit. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Savings – “Driving Blind”
Speaking of emo, Albuquerque upstarts Savings have a new single out. It’s called “Driving Blind” and is out now under independent release and showcases the band’s steadfast commitment to a DIY attitude:
“Driving Blind” was written during the recording process for our EP Get Well Soon. While the song itself didn’t make the project, we all still had a lot of faith in it to be a standalone single. The song itself derives from the idea of looking back on a past life and a past version of yourself who lived there and not being able to recognize that person.”
Listen to “Driving Blind” here.
Heavy Temple – Garden of Heathens
The second new band on my radar popped up purely because of the album artwork (which is always a strong sign). The band in question is Philly psych warriors Heavy Temple, and their upcoming sophomore album, Garden of Heathens, is out on April 12th through Magnetic Eye Records.
Now, to give you a sense of what we’re dealing with here: the group’s frontwoman goes by the moniker ‘High Priestess Nighthawk’; stated influences include Baroness, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, and Fu Manchu; and the album artwork by James Bousema is straight out of a pulp fantasy book feverdream: melting ruins, celestial god skulls, goat-horned demon creatures, cheeky scorpions and various mythological creatures swimming in the primordial soup. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Many Eyes – “Future Proof”
No word yet on the highly anticipated debut album from Many Eyes, the new outfit from a post-ETID Keith Buckley. However, we do have a new quicksilver single from the group, which follows their previously released singles “Revelation” and “Mystic Cord”. “Future Proof” is another melodic barnburner with Buckley wailing on a huge alt-rock chorus paired with a colourful and trippy music video. Watch the clip for “Future Proof” below:
VR SEX – Hard Copy
Psychedelic post-punkers VR SEX (who also feature members of Drab Majesty) are dropping a new album on Dais Records. It’s titled Hard Copy and arrives on March 22nd. Following their Rough Dimension LP release in 2022, the group expanded into a fully collaborative five-piece, producing “10 tracks of sneering psychedelic punk streaked with Chrome-damaged freak-outs and snotty power pop harmonies chronicling sex doll love affairs and glue-sniffing fatales.” Say no more; sign me the fuck up. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Listen to all these tracks and more on the TPD 2024-7 HITS playlist, updated weekly.
HEAVY METTLE:
A closer, more in-depth look at a new record that ticks all my boxes.
Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon
I’ve been excited to talk about this one for a long time. It’s been kicking around my inbox for months, and now that it’s out, I can confidently say that Dead Mother Moon, the Century Media debut from San Fernando metallers Upon Stone, is one of the best melo-death records I've heard in years and it’s already an early contender for metal AOTY.
The album was produced and mixed by Taylor Young (Drain, God's Hate, Kruelty, Tribal Gaze), and on his Instagram, he mentioned his enthusiasm around the record’s release:
“Very stoked on the release of [Upon Stone’s] debut LP, one of the coolest new metal bands there is. We talked a lot about how a lot of melodeath bands’ early albums hit so much harder than later ones, and us all agreeing their album should have that violent and young feeling to it. On the other end of that, I think the acoustic section of ‘Dusk Sang Fairest’ is one of my favourite sounding things I’ve ever tracked.”
I think this point—the youthful lust for violence —is often overlooked in discussions of early genre classics from melo-death trailblazers like In Flames, At The Gates, and Dark Tranquility. These groups were young and brash at the time, and their creative hunger fuelled an artistic intensity that resulted in furious tempo shifts, tight rhythmic lock-step, and the relentless pursuit of precise aggression.
It’s clear to me that Upon Stone carry this torch with ease, making melodeath that’s catchy and recognisable without sacrificing heaviness or authenticity. This is the real deal.
Stream here: Bandcamp | Spotify
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
Last week, frontman Thomas O’Malley from Crush++ joined The Pitch pod to run through a Hit List that encompasses the full dynamic range of his self-confessed “weird” musical tastes. Myspace post-hardcore, glitchy hyper-pop, mid-2000s emo staples, and a smattering of “objectively” questionable deep cuts showcase the depth of influence at play on the group’s debut full-length, Power Pleasure (out February 9th). Check it out below:
New sleepsmakeswaves 😍