Weekly Roundup: September 13th
Featuring Mastodon, Angel Du$t, Wharflurch, and more.
MOSH PITHY:
A curated selection of cool shit for you to listen to.
Angel Du$t – “Big Bite”
Baltimore hardcore supergroup Angel Du$t have announced their new record, YAK: A Collection Of Truck Songs (out October 22nd via Roadrunner Records), produced by returning board maestro Rob Schnapf (Elliot Smith, Guided by Voices, Saves The Day). Lead single “Big Bite” hits a lot like the material on the band’s Bigger House EP. It’s bouncy, fun, and effervescent, swinging by on breezy melodies from vocalist/guitarist Justice Tripp. Watch the vampiric clip directed by Ian Shelton (Regional Justice Center/Militarie Gun) below:
Khemmis – Deceiver
Nuclear Blast Records are set to release Deceiver, the fourth LP and label debut from Denver doomsayers Khemmis, on November 19th. Alongside critical darlings like Pallbearer and Elder, the band, in my humble opinion, represent the peak of modern American doom, so I’m stoked to see which direction they gravitate towards on this new record. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Spotify/Youtube).
Wise – “Intro / Madness Beyond”
As new additions to the Triple B Records family, Whittier outfit Wise will drop their debut seven-track LP, The Essence, on November 12th. The band’s latest single is a breakneck example of fight-for-your-life metallic hardcore, packing charged verses and lightning solos into a concentrated two-minute blast of aggression. Listen to the “Intro / Madness Beyond” here.
Wharflurch – Psychedelic Realms of Hell
I was a massive fan of Blood Incantation’s 2019 record, Hidden History of the Human Race, mainly because it answered one very specific question: “What if death metal but you’re also on acid and really like space?” Likewise, Floridian heathens Wharflurch aim to scratch a similar itch with a somnambulistic foray into OSDM extremity on their debut LP, Psychedelic Realms Ov Hell. I mean, just look at that glorious album cover. Need I really say anymore? Stream the full LP here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
One Step Closer – “Autumn”
One Step Closer’s debut LP, This Place You Know (out September 24th via Run For Cover Records), is set to be one of the most anticipated melodic hardcore releases of the year and a huge sonic leap forward for the young Wilkes-Barre outfit. The group’s latest single, “Autumn,” is emblematic of this bold musical evolution, bristling with winding post-hardcore riffage, precise tempo shifts, and vocalist Ryan Savitski’s strained mid-range cry. Listen to “Autumn” here.
True Faith – They Can Always Hurt You More
Channelling late ‘80s goth/post-punk soundscapes, Boston-based outfit True Faith will soon drop their debut full-length album, They Can Always Hurt You More (out November 2nd through à La Carte Records). If you’re still listening to “Boys Don’t Cry” or “Isolation” non-ironically, and you feel like being morose and alone sometimes, then this album is definitely your vibe. Stream the LP’s pre-release singles here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Mastodon – “Pushing the Tides”
I feel like Mastodon were constantly doing weird shit in the 2010s. After dropping some of the heaviest and most influential doom/sludge metal albums of the 2000s, records like 2011’s The Hunter and 2014's Once More 'Round the Sun went for more mainstream radio, QOTSA-adjacent appeal with mixed results. Nothing wrong with that, and while Emperor of Sand (2017) ended up being mostly forgettable for me personally, I maintain high hopes for Hushed and Grim, the band’s newly announced double LP (out October 29 through Reprise Records). Watch the head-scratcher video for “Pushing the Tides” below:
Starless – Hope Is Leaving You
Atmospheric post-rock albums are mostly dime-a-dozen these days, so it takes a special hook to truly stand out from the crowd. For me, when I came across Hope Is Leaving You, the sophomore LP from Chicago quartet Starless, it was the production credits that snagged me. Recorded and mixed in 2019 by Sanford Parker (Pelican, Planes Mistaken for Stars) and mastered by Colin Jordan (Spirit Adrift, The Lion’s Daughter), the record has enough talented hands involved to craft a standout listen. Expect an unwavering focus on the perils of the human condition, focused through lumbering distorted riffs, melancholic choruses and ethereal vocal lines. Stream the full LP here (Bandcamp/Spotify).
Listen to all these tracks and more on the TPD 2021 VIBING playlist, updated weekly.
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