From Body Void to Tilian, there is something for everyone among this week’s best new releases.
Life will probably never be the same as it was before the COVID pandemic took the world by storm. Mourning the loss of the world we knew is normal, but it’s important to recognize all the good that continues to exist. Each new week brings us music that has the potential to change countless lives, and this week’s batch of new releases is no exception. There are too many good records for us to mention, but here are four we believe everyone should experience. This is the best new music of the week.
BODY VOID – Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth (Prosthetic)
BODY VOID is one of the noisiest bands that we have ever heard. It’s almost impossible to describe just how much sound two individuals pouring every bit of emotion they feel into music can produce. Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth addresses the state of America in the context of our dying planet. The duo draws parallels between the crumbling infrastructure of the United States and the careless way humans are destroying the only world they call home. That may all read as defeatist, but on the contrary, BODY VOID is far from giving in or giving up. The band understands that we must first face the horrific reality of our situation if we ever hope to make positive changes. As discordant and harsh as moments on this record may be, there is an underlying thread that we can get through whatever the universe throws our way as long as we are willing to put in the effort to be better.
Bodom After Midnight – Paint The Sky With Blood (Napalm)
All we can do in response to our lack of control is laugh and keep going. Paint The Sky With Blood was written to help usher in a new chapter for Bodom After Midnight, but it inadvertently became the final bow of a metal icon. The three-song EP is a fitting farewell to vocalist and guitarist Alexi Laiho, whose sudden passing recently sent shockwaves throughout the metal community. These songs are a testament to his enduring legacy, as well as a love letter to the genre itself. We consider this essential listening for any fan of heavy music, and we believe it is a fitting, albeit unfortunate, end to Laiho’s iconic career.
Racquel Jones – IgnoRANT
We need Racquel Jones more than Racquel Jones needs us. A painter, model, rapper, and more, Jones is on a mission to make us more honest. She understands that life is too short to Chi away from confrontation, and she views her art as a means to start conversations. Her music touches on everything from sexual identity to religion, and it’s delivered in such a way that it makes you think while also moving your feet. You can dance to it or cry to it, but you shouldn’t live life without it. Racquel Jones is the future. Don’t get left behind.
Altarage – Succumb (Season Of Mist / Underground Activities)
Nothing can prepare you for what Altarage offers listeners on their fourth full-length album. Succumb is a sonic pummeling that will no doubt impress and devastate metal fans worldwide. The record dives into the destructive nature of many things, including nostalgia, and doubles down on the technical precision that has become a trademark of the mysterious group’s sound. From the relentless pace of “Negative Arrival” to the twenty-one-minute closing track, Altarage pulls out all the stops to deliver something special.
Tilian – Factory Reset (Rise)
As if being in Dance Gavin Dance didn’t provide enough opportunities to explore every wild idea that came to mind, Tilian Pearson is back in the spotlight with his fourth solo studio album. Factory Reset does its absolute best to defy expectations. It’s an amalgamation of rock, pop, and soul aesthetics that never focuses on one idea or sound for too long. Tilian wants to remind listeners that life and art are what we make of it, and he does so by embracing the boundless possibilities of his artistic identity. He understands that if we cannot define him, we may realize that the same is true for ourselves. We can be anything and anyone we want, but it is on us to make our dreams a reality. Factory Reset is here to inspire experimentation, and it does so with wildly catchy hooks listeners won’t soon forget.
New Music Friday recommendations feature a collection of new releases from Haulix clients chosen by the company staff. Join Haulix today and gain immediate access to the industry’s leading digital promotional distribution platform: http://haulix.com/signup.
