Weekly Roundup: July 29th
Featuring Ocean Grove, Fit For An Autopsy, Origami Angel, and more.
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
Since moving to Victoria, I’ve seen post-hardcore outfit Post Heaven more than any other band. The Naarm/Melbourne quintet’s blend of 90s grunge, shoegaze and alt-metal soundscapes is captivating, and their four-track Watch The Framework As It Falls EP from last year totally rules. Last week, Yasmin de Laine & Pat Kearney joined us at TPD HQ to chat about their breakthrough debut, racking up wild support slots, and what’s on their sonic horizon for 2024. It’s a sick chat, and you can check it out below:
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Now, on with the words…
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
Ocean Grove – “My Disaster”
Ocean Grove, aka The ODDWORLD Collective, are back this month with another nu-metal-flavoured cut titled “My Disaster”. The group recently announced the launch of their very own label, ODDWORLD Records, as well as signing to SharpTone Records outside of Australia. “My Disaster” follows their previous single “Fly Away,” acting as a throwback to the trio’s heavier roots while also expanding on the sonic palette that has typified their *ahem* ODD persona. According to vocalist Dale Tanner:
“‘MY DISASTER’ doubles down on OG’s definitive nu-metal sound, with a theme that we’re no strangers to. This track delves further into the mental highs, lows and chaos inherent to the human condition. It hits hard, but with an emotional awareness for our listeners to adopt.”
Watch the video for “My Disaster” below:
Touché Amoré – Spiral in a Straight Line
When I saw screamo flag bearers Touché Amoré earlier this year as part of the inaugural New Bloom festival line-up, the Californian quintet were in fine form. They’ve since announced their first new album in four years: It’s titled Spiral in a Straight Line, and it’s set for release on October 11th through their new label home, Rise Records. Perhaps more curiously, the forthcoming LP was recorded with legendary producer Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot, Glassjaw, At The Drive-In) and features collaborations from Julien Baker (Boygenius) and the legendary Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr.). Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
SIGNALS – “Poetry of Spite”
Adelaide chaos merchants SIGNALS dropped an absolute belter last week in the form of the sledgehammer of dissonance that is aptly titled “Poetry of Spite”. As one would expect, this cut delivers on its namesake with pounding drums, piercing panic chords, and thoroughly pissed, caustic vocals. This is chaotic metalcore FFO Vein, Sanction, Heavensgate, and arguing about the merits of crowd-killing (no comment). Listen to “Poetry of Spite” here.
Regionals – Spoonbender
Sydney-siders Regionals bill themselves as, quote, “Your favourite sad band’s favourite sad band”—a level of self-deprecation and brutal honesty that I can always appreciate. The quartet’s debut album, Spoonbender, is coming out on August 23rd through Scary Stories and Team Glasses Records. The LP was recorded by Lachlan Mitchell at Parliament Studios, with mixing by Mark Perry and mastering by Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound. It’s a great collection of spacious alt-rock tunes, and you’d do well to check it out. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Fit For An Autopsy – “Hostage”
No one does crushing existential deathcore quite like Fit For An Autopsy. The New Jersey metal titans are back with their forthcoming album, The Nothing That Is, due out on October 25th via Nuclear Blast and Human Warfare. Their new record follows 2022’s groove-laden Oh What The Future Holds and features stellar artwork from returning collaborator Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration. You just know shit’s gunna bang when there’s a mf’ing black hole on the cover. Listen to the lead single “Hostage” here.
envy – Eunoia
Legendary post-rock/screamo masters envy return with their eighth studio album, Eunoia, expected on October 11th through Temporary Residence Ltd. Named after a concept drawn from Ancient Greek rhetoric that means “well mind” and “beautiful thinking”, the album is billed as an “increasingly eclectic (and seemingly inexhaustible) well of ideas,” “packed with an abyssal emotional depth” and the “most efficiently impactful album” of their lengthy 30-year career. How do you say “hell yeah” in Japanese? Ā,-sōda ne? Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Behind Crimson Eyes – “DEAD.DROP.DEAD”
In sad news for Aussie elder emos everywhere, Behind Crimson Eyes are announcing their impending retirement. As frontman Josh Stuart explains:
“We are saddened, but also excited to share this final chapter with everyone… It’s been an incredible journey. We have toured with some of the biggest bands in the world including Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Disturbed and so many more. This wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our fans. So we thank you all, and look forward to celebrating the past 20 years with all of you soon!”
Not going out without a bang, the quintet have dropped a new heavy metalcore banger taken from a forthcoming EP arriving in early 2025 before what will surely be the group’s final farewell tour. Watch the clip for “DEAD.DROP.DEAD” below:
Origami Angel – Feeling Not Found
I’m relatively new to Washington, D.C. emo/pop duo Origami Angel, but their upcoming record, Feeling Not Found, was produced by Will Yip and is due out on September 27 via Counter Intuitive. The duo have also released a double single video for “Dirty Mirror Selfie” and “Where Blue Light Blooms,” of which the former sports a gnarly lead riff worthy of late 2000s Four Year Strong at their peak. [Insert low-hanging fruit, “easycore” joke here.] Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (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.
State Faults – Children of the Moon
State Faults very nearly didn’t make it through The Plague Years™️ as a band, and their latest record almost didn’t exist at all. It’s fitting, then, that crossing this existential gulf and harnessing a sense of purpose permeates this phenomenal album right through to its transcendent thematic core.
“When we let go of the past and unburden ourselves with preconceived and usually unfounded fears,” vocalist/guitarist Jonny Andrew explains, “that scary, looming void magically blooms with endless possibilities for happiness.” In this way, Children of the Moon is definitively the quartet’s grandest realisation yet, equal parts sonically daring, euphoric and heart-wrenching.
As F.O.T.S. and editor Andrew Sacher put it for BrooklynVegan:
“Beyond whatever specific subgenre it is, this is music for people who love big ideas, fearless ambition, emotional sincerity, and overwhelming intensity. If you turn it up loud and let it wash over you, it’s gonna leave an impact.”
If you’re still not sold, listen to the staggering album closer “Bodega Head” and “feel the glow”.