From The Devil Wears Prada to Waterparks, there is something for everyone among the best new music releases of the week.
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.
The Devil Wears Prada – ZII EP (Solid State Records)
They say you should never make a sequel to something people believe is perfect. The Devil Wears Prada has never bothered with what other people say. 11 years after the release of their beloved Zombie EP, the metalcore titans return with a new series of stories that are both hopeful and horrifying in equal measure. Rather than rehash old ideas, the Devil Wears Prada uses this release to explore where they want their genre to go in the future. They are dreaming as big as possible here, and it pays off in significant ways with hooks and riffs fans won’t soon forget.
Kaonashi – Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year (Equal Vision)
On their sophomore album, Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year, Kaonashi expands on the foundation set by their debut EP with a fascinating tale of heartache and vengeance. The record follows Jamie, an androgynous high schooler who concocts a plan to enact revenge on those who’ve wrong them. As they attempt to keep their anger under control, compounding personal issues push Jamie to the breaking point until everything comes to a head with an epic three-song finale that explores what happens when people turn a blind eye to those in pain.
People often claim that they are making music that is unlike anything you’ve heard. In the case of Kaonashi, that statement is true. The Philadelphia band is blurring genres and breaking all the rules. You will never hear another album like this one, including any other release this band puts out in the future. What we have here is new music in its purest form.
Just Friends – JF Crew Vol. 2 (Pure Noise)
The ska revival is alive and well. If Just Friends is not leading the revolution, then they are not far behind. A perfect blend of pop, ska, and punk sensibilities, Just Friends are bringing feel-good vibes to anyone willing to listen. The second installment of their ongoing JF Crew series offers three immediately memorable songs, including a bombastic cover of No Doubt’s “Hella Good.” It’s not long enough to be the complete soundtrack to your summer, but it seems impossible to believe that you will not have these songs on repeat for the next several months. Just Friends is one good tour in a few good licensing placements away from taking over the world. Don’t fall behind. The future is here.
Waterparks – Greatest Hits (300)
If you’re new to Waterparks, don’t worry. While Greatest Hits does include the band’s best material to date, it is not a compilation of everything they’ve done up to this point. Instead, the group’s fourth album pulls the best elements from each of their previous releases and blends them with lyrics that do not shy away from tough topics or silly observations. From tough talk on mental health to grappling with their relationship with fans, the humans in Waterparks pull listeners into their headspace with sugary-sweet melodies and bouncy instrumentation that is sure to get your feet moving. It’s scientifically impossible to remain still while listening to this record. Make your mom and doctor proud by putting it on, getting off your butt, and dancing the day away with one of alternative music’s brightest stars.
Pop Evil – Versatile (eOne)
Pop evil makes rock music for hard-working individuals who feel left behind. Their songs speak to the unbreakable will of the human spirit and urge listeners to make the most of the time they have left. The group could easily write a song tackling cultural divides or economic inequalities, but they understand their audience turns to music as a means of escape and inspiration. Their fans are looking for music to help them get through the day and whatever hardships they will encounter along the way. Pop Evil delivers just that, and Versatile lives up to its name by finding exciting new ways for the group to approach their favorite themes. Versatile is a soundtrack for self-improvement that understands we are all in this together. You cannot get ahead if you hold your brother down. Pop Evil reminds us that we must uplift one another the same way we try to pull ourselves up, and that is a message everyone needs to hear.
Monster Magnet – A Better Dystopia (Napalm Records)
Recording an album of covers that people want to hear is a difficult task for virtually any musician. Attempting to deliver a collection of cover songs in metal is almost unheard of. The critical gaze placed upon such releases can be severe enough to scare away any who may consider attempting it. Monster Magnet does not care about critics. The metal deities have more than proven themselves several times over, and they have reached a point in their careers where anything goes. Fans want whatever the band wants to share, and the band has chosen to deliver a collection of covers that may be unfamiliar to general audiences. It’s an expansive and psychedelic experience that is wholly unique.
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.
