Weekly Roundup: March 25th
Featuring The Story So Far, Necrot, King Stingray, and more.
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
King Stingray – “Through The Trees”
We haven’t heard from Northeast Arnhem Land rockers King Stingray in a hot minute, but the boys are back with the first taste of new material from their untitled sophomore album. The sextet’s latest single, “Through the Trees,” is a breezy surf rock tune inspired by their travels around Australia following the whirlwind release of their 2022 debut album, which saw them chart at #6 on the ARIA Charts, garner two AIR Awards, win the 2022 Australian Music Prize, the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award, and three National Indigenous Music Awards. As the Yolŋu surf-rockers said in a press release:
“On the surface, [‘Through the Trees’] is a fun travelling song representing adventure, but beneath the surface, it talks more deeply about the concept of time and how precious it is. It’s about overcoming adversity, coming out the other side, and reaching that breath of fresh air.”
Watch the video for “Through The Trees” below:
Softcult – Heaven
We’re finally getting a new release from Canadian grunge-gaze outfit (and F.O.T.S.) Softcult, and I couldn’t be more stoked. The twin duo’s forthcoming EP is titled Heaven and will drop on May 24th through Easy Life Records, with the group fresh off their debut Australian shows and New Bloom festival appearances. I absolutely adore Softcult’s music, and based on historical data, their EPs are pretty much a shoo-in for my EOY lists, so watch me forecast another entry for 2024 right now. Stream the EP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
Necrot – “Drill The Skull”
I’ve been a big fan of Oakland death metallers Necrot ever since the release of 2020’s devastating Mortal LP. Well, with the pandemic years firmly in the rearview, the Cali trio are back with that record’s full-length follow-up, titled Lifeless Birth, and it’s set for release on April 12th through Tankcrimes. According to bassist and vocalist Luca Indrio:
“The last few years have been tough for us and pretty much for everyone. The result is Lifeless Birth, our most aggressive album so far, but at the same time, also the most melodic. We have always been progressing as a band and I think this is our full maturity stage. We want to leave our mark and so far, Lifeless Birth is without doubt our best effort.”
Listen to total rager “Drill The Skull” here.
The Story So Far – I Want To Disappear
It’s been six years (!) since the release of The Story So Far’s Proper Dose LP, a fan-favourite and critical darling record that displayed massive leaps in maturity and growth from the band’s pop-punk roots. Well, we’re finally getting the follow-up from the Californian rockers, and I Want To Disappear, their upcoming fifth studio album, will be out on June 21st via Pure Noise Records. The album was produced by Jon Markson (Drug Church, Koyo), and the quartet will also be joining A Day To Remember on their American tour run alongside Four Year Strong, Militarie Gun, Pain Of Truth, and Scowl. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
Splinter – “One Last Darkest Day”
I don’t have many details on this one, but we have a new single from Newcastle heavy hardcore outfit Splinter. It's called “One Last Darkest Day,” and it sounds gargantuan. The track’s music video highlights themes of addiction and substance abuse, which pairs pretty well with the confronting sonics on display. The band also recently supported their friends in Volatile Ways on their tour with Dying Wish and The Acacia Strain, so they’re likely (read: hopefully) gearing up to do more in the future. Listen here.
Greyhaven – Stereo Grief
Kentucky post-hardcore crew Greyhaven have announced their signing to Solid State Records and are prepping a new EP release to celebrate. Stereo Grief drops on April 12th and follows 2022’s This Bright and Beautiful World LP. According to vocalist Brent Mills:
“The EP is a loose story of someone navigating existential fear relating to all life and all death on a grand scale through a multi-dimensional lens. I was inspired by a short story I read while we were tracking that sort of serves as a backdrop for what's going on in the lyrics. Overall, I feel like this is the best material we've written so far and it's only hinting at where we're going.”
Stream the EP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify).
Pallbearer – “Where The Light Fades”
After teasing fans for weeks, Little Rock doomsayers Pallbearer have unveiled the details for their forthcoming fifth album, Mind Burns Alive, scheduled for release on May 17th through Nuclear Blast Records. The Arkansas outfit are one of my favourite groups of the last decade, and I adore their entire catalogue: raw, heartfelt, crushing, philosophical, emotionally stirring music, also responsible for one of the loudest shows I’ve ever witnessed. Vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell describes how the quartet stripped everything back on the nearly hour-long LP:
“These songs are a deeper exploration of dynamics and sonic colour than anything we have done up to this point. I’m of the belief that true heaviness comes from emotional weight, and sometimes sheer bludgeoning isn’t the right approach to getting a feeling across. [These six tracks] are vignettes that tell the stories of people who deal with myriad sicknesses of the spirit… illnesses communicated by the world we live in, and the subjects are the symptoms of the disease.”
Watch the video for “Where The Light Fades” below:
Sea Urchin – Destroy!
Here’s a fun new find for the week. I received an email from Matt Strickland asking me to listen to his project Sea Urchin, who are releasing their debut album, Destroy!, through Ba Da Bing Records on April 5th. As Matt tells me, the second single from the record, “New Guy,” is “for fans of broken-hearted pop punk with shades of cannibalism and Lovecraftian transmutation.” Matt also helpfully included 10 facts about the group, including his New Jersey origins, his love for 1950s rock ‘n’ roll and Meat Loaf, and his commitment to taking silly ideas incredibly seriously. 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.
West Thebarton – Mongrel Australia
(R)Adelaide rockers West Thebarton have a new record out through the good folks over at Domestic La La. It’s their long-awaited second full-length LP, Mongrel Australia, and it totally rips.
Here’s what the sextet had to say about the album over on the Boomers-shouting-into-the-void digital notice board known as Facebook:
“From broken backs to black eyes, lock-ins to lockdowns, mind swings to teary sheds, Mongrel Australia isn’t about how much fight is in the dog; it’s about how willing the dog is to fight. We took a journey to get here, and now we share that journey with you: the people, the culture, the landscapes, the sun beating on your neck while you’re dreaming of disappearing down the coast and the crush of the vice grip twisting inch by inch.
Mongrel Australia is a sonic chainsaw of a fairytale, and no one is safe. Still West Thebarton FOREVER. Still, fuck the east FOREVER. Still, West is the best FOREVER. Still, drain that black ink and wear it across your chest FOREVER. Enjoy the record. Crank it loud.”
Hell yeah. Don’t fuck with (R)Adelaide, folks.
Stream here: Spotify
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
Danny and Xavier from Play Drive dropped into TPD HQ for our latest guest episode, and the boys threw down a banger Hit List of Naarm/Melbourne’s heaviest hitters to celebrate. With the trio’s debut EP, Desire Path, out now and their first show locked in, we chat about band break-up grievance periods, overcoming imposter syndrome, finding inner strength through your mates, and how to make something familiar feel new again. Check it out below:
Oooooh, thank you for alerting me to the new music from The Story So Far!