Weekly Roundup: November 27th
Weekly Roundup: November 27th
Featuring The Hope Conspiracy, Northlane, Iron Chic, and more.
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
Alpha Wolf – “Bring Back The Noise”
Aussie metalcore bruisers Alpha Wolf have dropped a new single titled “Bring Back The Noise”: “an undeniable party-starter on steroids demanding to be cranked to 11.” The track follows their 2020 sophomore album, A Quiet Place To Die, and their 2022 split EP, The Lost & The Longing, with labelmates Holding Absence. It’s emblematic of the band’s caustic approach to nu-metalcore (sorry, not sorry): industrial punding, harsh riffage, and DJ scratching alongside vocalist Lochie Keogh's savage growl. As the quintet put it:
“We've found a way to be okay with delivering in-your-face style vocal hooks that will get any crowd jumping and singing along; ‘Bring Back The Noise’ delivers just that. Whether you like yelling along, head-banging or moshing, we invite everyone to turn it up loud until their speakers blow.”
Watch the video for “Bring Back The Noise” below:
Still Ruins – S/T
Do you—like me—enjoy a roomy gothic vocal paired with a syrupy, reverbed-out guitar line? Well, friend, look no further than Oakland dream pop outfit, Still Ruins. Formed in 2020, their debut single, “Perfect Blue,” rolls through soaring melodies, flowing rhythms, and deep vocals. The track comes off of their upcoming self-titled debut EP, set for release on January 12th through DIY/punk label Smoking Room. Stream the EP’s pre-release single here (Spotify).
The Halo Effect – “The Defiant One”
Melodeath supergroup The Halo Effect have dropped a stellar new single titled “The Defiant One.” It’s a B-side from the sessions of their debut album, Days Of The Lost, which was one of my featured albums in the newsletter last year. As vocalist Mikael Stanne (also of Dark Tranquility, ex-In Flames) explains:
“In order to hold you over before we present you with what we have written and recorded for the next album, here is ´The Defiant One´. The video was shot at Pustervik, Gothenburg, during our sold-out tour of Sweden, and it captures us in our hometown among some of our closest friends.”
Listen to “The Defiant One” here.
Iron Chic – Ancient Pistol b/w Enjoy The Silence
It’s been a few years since we heard from legendary Long Island punk rockers Iron Chic. The band dropped their “Catgut” single back in 2021 and previously put out a split LP with Toys That Kill in 2018. Now they’re back with a surprise single in the form of “Ancient Pistol” and a B-side cover of “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode. It’s great to hear their arm-in-arm, pint-swilling take on melodic punk once again—real fun, dive-bar-show-with-all-your-mates-type shit. Stream the two-track single here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
New Miserable Experience – “The Nude”
Speaking of covers, bedroom synth rockers New Miserable Experience—members of Rosetta, Revocation, Model Prisoner and Lotus Thrones—have announced an EP titled An Uninteresting Event, and it’ll be out in full for people on January 19th. The four-song collection features covers from Catherine Wheel, Depeche Mode, Glassjaw and The Deftones. Discussing the lead single, a cover of “The Nude” from Catherine Wheel's sophomore record Chrome (1993), vocalist David Grossman states:
“The initial idea… actually started during the writing process of our first EP, Philosophy on Pessimism. Josh started working on it and just got pushed to the side. Chrome is an all-time favourite album of ours, and it made sense to release this cover on the 30-year anniversary of the record.”
Guitarist Joshua Kost adds adds:
“We started working on the remixes, and the conversation started about doing a few covers to add to it. We narrowed it down to 4 songs from a list that was way too big.”
You can listen to an exclusive track premiere of “The Nude” on Episode #107 of The Pitch pod here.
The Hope Conspiracy – Confusion/Chaos/Misery
Despite being very close to the auspicious EOY List season, we still have new releases squeaking in for release at the tail end of the year, and I certainly didn’t have this one on my 2023 bingo card. The Hope Conspiracy have roared back to activity after 14 years with a brand new four-track EP, Confusion/Chaos/Misery. The band are one of the seminal hardcore acts of the 2000s, with their 2002 Endnote LP being an underrated classic, in my humble opinion. Since their last release in 2009, members of the group have been active in a multitude of other acts: All Pigs Must Die, Hesitation Wounds, Lies, Paint It Black, Spiral Heads, Ways Away, and more. Stream the EP in full here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Northlane – “Dante”
Aussie heavy purveyors Northlane will be touring on home soil in February next year and bringing along Erra, Landmvrks, and Banks Arcade for the ride. To celebrate, they’ve unveiled the first hint of material following their ARIA #1 award-winning album, Obsidian (2022). Continuing their signature fusion of metal and electronic soundscapes, their new single "Dante" is a futuristic rocker with a keen ear for hooky melodies and intricate guitar work. The track was recorded with old friend and revered producer Will Putney, who last collaborated with the band on their breakthrough record Singularity (2013) and its #1 follow-up Node (2015). Watch the striking video for “Dante” below:
Tozcos – Infernal
I first came across Mexican-American punks Tozcos through a glowing No Echo review of their 2018 debut album, Sueños Deceptivos. The Santa Ana outfit peddle no-frills hardcore punk with jangly guitar leads and biting hooks–think the Adolescents, T.S.O.L., Circle Jerks and other staples of late 80s/early 90s SOCAL skate punk. Their follow-up album Infernal is out now through Quality Control HQ and Toxic State Records, and it fucking owns. If you enjoy hardcore with plenty of attitude and style, bolstered by simple, catchy, bouncy songwriting, then this is for you. Stream the LP in full here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Listen to all these tracks and more on the TPD 2023 CUTS playlist, updated weekly.
HEAVY METTLE:
A closer, more in-depth look at a new record that ticks all my boxes.
Future Static – Liminality
Speaking of late-blooming AOTY contenders, the highly anticipated debut album from Naarm/Melbourne-based metal quintet Future Static is well and truly in the running. Liminality was produced, mixed and mastered by Belle Haven's Christopher Vernon (Windwaker, The Beautiful Monument), and is out now through Wild Thing Records.
This record is an incredible fusion of metalcore, progressive metal, alt-rock, and pop for fans of giant hooks and explosive energy. However, it’s the vocal performance that’s the real standout here. There’s undeniable talent and chemistry between bassist Kira Neil and Melbourne-born, Barcelona-raised front-woman Amariah Cook, a formidable duo that generates so much emotional resonance in their group’s material. On the album’s inspiration, Cook states:
“Whenever one of us would send through a new demo or piece to the aural puzzle, it felt like a gift in a time of persistent solitude. We emerged with a cohesive yet diverse body of work, trickled with each member's unique musical voice and writing style. Everything about this album came from the heart and soul of the band. The best way to describe it? It is the physical representation of friendship, teamwork, and our unconditional love for music.”
Stream here: Bandcamp | Spotify
ERRONEOUS BOTCH:
It's déjà vu time, folks! Last week we teamed up for yet another guest-less episode of The Pitch pod to run through a playlist primer for the 2023 edition of Good Things, including some catalogue deep cuts, headliner anthems, and old favourites. Get festival ready and check it out in full below: