Weekly Roundup: March 31st
Featuring Split Chain, Age of Apocalypse, Snooze, and more.
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
There are two videos again this week! The first is my special chat with Spencer Chamberlain, vocalist of Floridian post-hardcore giants UNDEROATH and crooner for alt-indie outfit SLO/TIDE. Underoath’s tenth album, The Place After This One (out now through MNRK Heavy), finds the quintet at the dawn of a new era, one forged in the search for creative freedom and a firm rejection of expectation.
Spencer chats with us about finding the right producer to realise the group’s collective vision, the tension between the risk of new music and familiar fan-favourite records, and how the last five years have changed his lyrical outlook:
The second features JOYCE MANOR frontman and all-around affable guy Barry Johnson. We chat about whether Joyce is a “real emo” band, playing shows on late-night TV shows, hitting a confident stride in their 15-year career, their whirlwind anniversary tour celebrating 2014’s stellar Never Hungover Again, and what it’s like to rip through a “perfect 45-minute set.” Check it out below:
SIDE A:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
Split Chain – “bored. tired. torn.”
Years ago, I wrote a whole thing about “nu-grunge” and how the evolution of punk and alternative subgenres in the 90s goes a long way to explaining our current (and some might add, everlasting) fixation on a particular form of aesthetic revivalism.
Case in point: Bristol outfit SPLIT CHAIN really love the 90s, and they have an entire album dropping soon to prove why. The group’s full-length debut motionblur is out on July 11th through Epitaph Records and speaks directly to growing up with and still adoring acts like Deftones, Hum, Failure, and more. As bassist Tom Davies puts it:
“We wanted to honour the things that shaped us: the lifestyles, the music, and the pop culture that became part of our identity.”
Watch the video for “bored. tired. torn.” below:
Dance – Demo
Speaking of revivalism, y’all fuck with late 90s/early 00s metalcore like I do? Yeah?? Dope. Well, you should definitely check out Sydney youngbucks DANCE and their shiny new four-track demo.
Everything from their logo to their merch to the sonics and impeccable use of samples speaks to a very hyperspecific style of shrieking mosh music, and folks, let me be absolutely clear: Violence has never sounded so sweet. Stream the demo in full here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Age of Apocalypse – “Mortal Coil”
While we’re talking about the 90s, let’s talk about playing stupid-heavy riffs but also singing like a soulful yet perpetually depressed person. Obviously, the explicit reference point here is the almighty Crowbar, but you could also shout out Twitching Tongues for a more modern flavour.
As it happens, both Taylor and Colin Young of Twitching Tongues show up on this new AGE OF APOCALYPSE record, for production and vocal appearances, respectively. The group’s second full-length LP, In Oblivion (arriving on May 23rd through Closed Casket Activities), follows 2022’s Grim Wisdom and promises more groovy metallic hardcore from the Hudson Valley crew. Watch the video for the album’s lead single, “Mortal Coil,” below:
Leatherman – Turn You On
In September, I pushed a single brave thought out into this vast, uncaring universe: ‘Oi, lets get a LEATHERMAN album happening next year. Yeah? Cheers!’ And would you know it, my non-denominational prayers have been answered! Turn You On is out on April 10th via Legless (AU), This Charming Man (UK/EU), and Green Noise (US), and finds the “Hard rockin’, power poppin’” outfit in devishly fine form.
The Naarm/Melbourne quintet have crafted a record that boasts “songs about partying, freaking out, true crime, taking the piss out of footy players, lust and heartbreak,” with “the stomp and gallop of 80s metal gods and classic power pop hooks fused with modern kicks.” Sounds like a good fucking time to me. Stream the LP’s pre-release single/s here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Snooze – “Harked”
Look, I know the world kind of sucks right now, because of *looks around and shrugs aimlessly*, and a lot of this misery can be blamed on one thing: algorithms. They secretly govern our lives, hollow out the meaningful joy of creative jobs (oh hey, that’s me!), dictate what becomes news and/or discourse (or some strange flattened version of both), and they’re also responsible for sending me truly unhinged Temu ads for nightmare fuel products that would make David Lynch cackle like a hyena (RIP to the GOAT).
But sometimes, the mighty algorithm suzerain (I’m looking at You, Tube) flicks a new band my way that makes me stop and go, “Hey, this is cool.” One such band is Chicago “happy heavy” math-rockers SNOOZE and their latest jam “Harked,” which is taken from their forthcoming LP, I Know How You Will Die (out this Friday). Wait, does the algorithm know something I don’t? Hello??
SIDE B & FEATURE ALBUM:
My Side B write-ups on VIAGRA BOYS, PUP, CROSS CHECK, and DEAFHEAVEN are available now on the TPD Patreon. So please consider becoming a Friend of the Show (for just $3 USD/$5 AUD per month).
You can join our alternative music community, access our existing bonus content, and send me a mildly threatening chat message with some new music you like. I’m deadly serious about this. I want your recommendations!!