From the return of Staind to the empowering new record from Diamante, rock fans have plenty of great new music to enjoy this 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.
Staind – LIVE: It’s Been Awhile (BMG)
2021 is a year of new beginnings for many in the music industry. Not only are artists starting to shake off the dust from a year spent off the road, but many musicians are returning to the Spotlight for the first time in a long time. Maybe the pandemic inspired them to engage with fans again, or perhaps this was the plan all along, but Staind is kicking off their return with a live album that celebrates their impressive rock catalog. The band’s first live album, recorded in New England just a few years ago, reminds us of the group’s ability to tap into the human condition with raw emotion and aggressive hard rock. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to go to a concert, and considering the band’s growing tour itinerary, it could not arrive at a better time.
Diamante – American Dream (Independent)
When you grow up playing in bands on the Sunset strip and fighting for attention in an increasingly crowded Los Angeles music scene, having talent isn’t enough to make a career. Diamante, a sapphire-haired rock Queen, has talent to spare. She writes excellent songs, puts on one hell of a live show, and regularly engages with fans. She does everything you would expect a successful rock musician to do, but that’s not what makes her special. The reason you should care about American Dream is that it strips away the falsehoods that run rampant throughout much of the rock ‘n’ roll you hear on the radio. It’s a raw and honest picture of somebody fighting tooth and nail to make their dreams come true. You will find yourself relating to every line, and in no time at all, you will also sing along. American Dream is a record for the underdogs.
MOD SUN – Internet Killed The Rock Star – Deluxe Edition (Big Noise)
Deluxe versions of albums rarely deliver something more impressive than the original release. More often than not, the initial version of an album was the only version listeners needed to hear. MOD SUN’s expanded Internet Killed The Rock Star is an exception. Featuring eight new tracks that nearly double the album’s length, this deluxe edition takes fans deeper into the life and experiences of one of music’s most enigmatic performers. The rapper turned rockstar turned everybody’s best friend spills his guts over a collection of driving rock and punk songs meant to elicit the biggest response possible. You will want to laugh and cry and fight simultaneously, which is precisely what MOD SUN wants.
Book of Wyrms – Occult New Age (Desert Records)
We don’t know you personally but believe us when we tell you that you need more psychedelic doom metal in your life. Book of worms is one of the genres leading ask, and their third record is their best to date. Packed with heavy riffs, prog aesthetics, and haunting vocals, Occult New Age is a wild ride through the expansive imagination of musicians whose talents rarely receive the recognition they deserve. This is the kind of album that converts nonbelievers into metalheads. It will mark a dividing point in your life between before and after you have experienced everything Book of Wyrms has to offer. You will never be the same.
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.
