Weekly Roundup: July 31st

Featuring Polaris, Dying Wish, Koyo, and more.

Owen Morawitz

Jul 30, 2023

MOSH PITHY:

A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.

Polaris – “Nightmare”

It’s been a sombre time for Polaris as the Sydney melodic metalcore allstars were dealt with the sudden passing of lead guitarist Ryan Siew in late June, forcing the band to withdraw from their European tour run. Now, with the time taken to collectively mourn their loss, the band have decided to continue on with the release schedule of their forthcoming third LP. Fatalism drops on September 1st via Resist Records/SharpTone Records, and the band have recently released a ferocious new single. As drummer and lyricist Daniel Furnari explains:

“This was the second of three music videos we filmed with Ryan earlier this year. It has been a challenging and very emotional task to complete these videos in light of what has happened, but after careful discussion with his family, we collectively felt that we wanted to share with the world the final things that Ryan created with us. We will proudly cherish the memories of him contained in this footage and hope you will too.”

Watch the video for “Nightmare” below:

Nation of Language – Strange Disciple

Brooklyn indie outfit Nation of Language are prepping for the release of their third full-length LP, Strange Disciple, and it’s out on September 15th through Belgian label Play It Again, Sam. The record was produced by Nick Millhiser (Holy Ghost!, LCD Soundsystem) and was recorded while the New York trio were between tours, “inspiring the band to make music that would best translate to a live setting... [with] more live drums and guitar than ever before.” Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).

Ceilings – “Big Missile”

One of the perks of doing this whole alternative music newsletter/podcast thing is that people will just send you their music, fresh and steaming hot off the presses! To this point, Winnipeg rock outfit Ceilings have a shiny new single out in the world. It's called “Big Missile,” and it plays out like a well-worn homage to the 2010s Run For Cover records sound, which is extremely my shit. The Canadian quartet previously released their five-track Double Vision EP last year, and I have it on good authority that this track is part of the writing sessions for the group’s forthcoming full-length. Listen to “Big Missile” here.

Blodet – Death Mother

If a band/album is featured on the Church Road Records roster, there’s a very high chance that I will fuck with it. This is very much the case for Blodet, who hail from the small northern Swedish town of Skellefteå. The sextet formed back in early 2014, and they’ve been churning out a dissonant sonic palette of “atmospheric doom and post-metal with brooding folk and European post-hardcore sensibilities” ever since. Their latest full-length is titled Death Mother and comes out on September 29th, so get stoked for that. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).

Koyo – “Message Like a Bomb”

Would You Miss It?, the upcoming debut full-length from Long Island melodic hardcore outfit Koyo (out September 29th from Pure Noise Records), is easily one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Previously released singles like “Anthem” and “You're On The List (Minus One)” have been super strong, with massive hooks and big guitars, and this pattern holds for the group’s latest pre-release track, which sports a wild guest feature from none other than Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw and Head Automatica fame. I'm also glad the band are okay after recently surviving a nasty van accident; touring is a dangerous thing, and after what happened to the Year of the Knife crew, I truly hope that everyone stays safe out there. Listen to “Message Like a Bomb” here.

Deafcult – Future of Illusion

Well, I didn’t have this on my 2023 bingo card, but it looks like we’re getting a new Deafcult record, folks! The self-described Brisbane “DOOM POP NOISE GAZE” outfit have returned from the abyss after a six-year absence following the release of their debut LP Auras, which is one of my favourite records from that year. Now they’re back with their second full-length album, Future of Illusion, due out on Aug 14th through Hobbledehoy, and it marks a left-field turn in terms of their expansive sonic scope. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).

Dying Wish – “Watch My Promise Die”

After months of teasing, we finally got an announcement from Portland metalcore all-stars Dying Wish on the long-awaited follow-up to their 2021 debut album, Fragments of a Bitter Memory. The quintet's new record is titled Symptoms of Survival, and it arrives on November 3rd via SharpTone Records. According to vocalist and high-kick aficionado Emma Boster:

“Symptoms of Survival is an eleven-part piece covering the complexity of human suffering in all forms. From the honest and personal perspective of heartbreak, painful trauma, loss, rage, and regret — to the more objective perspective of war, greed, and ultimate survival.”

Watch the video for the group’s bludgeoning new single below:

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – I Love You

It’s already been a big year for Canberra/Ngambri punk rockers Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, and they’re continuing to go from strength to strength with the forthcoming release of their debut album, I Love You, due out on Oct 6th through Domestic La La. The group’s latest single, “I Used To Be Fun,” is a catchy punk rock ditty with big singalongs and hooky riffs that “shares the shifts in what having fun looks like as you get older.” A sentiment that I, as a man in his early thirties writing a newsletter about alternative music, can in no way whatsoever relate to. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).

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HEAVY METTLE:

A closer, more in-depth look at a new record that ticks all my boxes.

Mutoid Man – Mutants

What do you get when you combine Cave In, Converge, and High on Fire? The unique, genre-smashing shenanigans of New York metal trio Mutoid Man, of course. The group runs off the dynamic partnership of vocalist/axe-man Stephen Brodsky and skinsman Ben Koller (also of the phenomenal Killer Be Killed), with their latest record, Mutants, being their first album in six years, as well as the first to feature High on Fire’s Jeff Matz on four-string duties.

Crushing cuts like “Unborn” and “Siphon” play out as a chaotic and unhinged throwback to earlier records like 2017's War Moans while also acting as the perfect complement to the sludgy, groovy swagger of album standout “Memory Hole.” What I appreciate most about Mutants, though, is how the innate aggressiveness of these tracks doesn’t detract or diminish the weird and idiosyncratic melodic sensibility of Brodsky’s vocals—particularly present on pre-release singles like “Siren Song” and “Demons”—which is one of the best elements of his work with Cave In and others. It makes for a highly enjoyable blast of metal, hardcore, prog, and math rock. Highly recommended.

Stream here: Bandcamp | Spotify

ERRONEOUS BOTCH:

Last week we wrangled one-half of YouTube reaction sensation The Break Down and self-described “punk rock dad” Johnny Needham onto the pod to chat about his favourite record of all time. We dug into Johnny’s affinity for California rockers Thrice and his deep love for their third full-length album and major label debut, The Artist in the Ambulance. We went long on the album’s post-hardcore legacy, its sonic twists and turns, and the band’s ballsy decision to re-record a beloved fan favourite. It was a super fun chat! Check it out in full below:

The Pitch of Discontent