Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of April 30, 2021

New Music

From Dropkick Murphys to Tetrarch, 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.

Dropkick Murphys – Turn Up That Dial (PIAS)

What more needs to be said about Dropkick Murphys? The Boston punk outfit has outlasted nearly every one of their peers, thanks to a fierce commitment to fan engagement and constant progression. Their latest combines heartfelt odes to simpler times and Punk anthems for a new generation that refuses to submit to society’s demands. At this point, it seems evident that Dropkick Murphys would rather die on stage than retire, and honestly, we aspire to that level of commitment in our craft. Long live Ken Casey. Long Live Al Barr. Long live DKM.


The Undertaking! – Funeral Psalms (Solid State)

When you add an exclamation point to your name, you better make good on the promise of delivering something worth shouting about. The Undertaking! does just that with their Solid State Records debut, Funeral Psalms. The ten-track offering leaves little room for interpretation, as the band pours every thought and emotion they have regarding the human experience into the record. Their relentless, in-your-face approach to songwriting will rattle your bones and help your soul break free from the confines of a culture that demands you put in eight hours every day working a job you hate to pay bills for the things you need to survive. This is retaliation. It is a work of art intended to incite change in whatever form that may be, and it couldn’t arrive at a better time.


Tetrarch – Unstable (Napalm Records)

Unstable finds Tretrach fulfilling their destiny. The forward-thinking metal band has been called the next big thing by every influential publication known to man. That kind of praise and adoration can make some skittish, but not Tetrarch. Unstable find the group honing their already impressive skills while finding creative new ways to drive home urgent messages regarding the finite nature of our existence. The record pulls back the curtain on mental health and economic anxiety to explore how growing up in the chaos of our world can inform our every waking thought. Some artists shy away from these topics because they view music as an escape, but Tetrarch sees it as a form of medicine. Through their art, Tetrarch is making it okay for everyone to admit they’re not okay, and that catharsis could very well usher in a better world for us all.


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.

James Shotwell