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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music Of June 18, 2021

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From the return of Fear Factory to the impressive debut of De’Wayne, there are several can’t miss new music releases this week.

The world is changing. After a year of forced isolation, artists and fans are finally starting to reconnect. Dozens of great albums are hitting shelves every week, and we know that nobody has time for everything. We want to help you find the can’t miss albums and keep you up-to-date on the records everyone will be talking about next week. We realize that documenting every new release would be virtually impossible, but here you will find several new albums from Haulix clients that we feel deserve your time and support. This is the new music you need to hear:

UnityTX – HELLWAY (Pure Noise)

UnityTX is the future. The Texas hardcore group has steadily built a rabbit following over the last several years, and with the return of live music eminent, they’re releasing their best material to date. HELLWAY is a ferocious four-song collection that will have you starting mosh pits at home, in your car, and everywhere in between. It’s the perfect combination of chug-friendly breakdowns and cathartic angst delivered in such a way that it moves you on a profoundly spiritual level while also being the perfect soundtrack for gym life and street fights. Please turn it on, turn it up, and release all that rage simmering beneath your skin (in a healthy way).

LeBrock – Fuse (FiXT Neon)

Describing LeBrock to anyone unfamiliar with their music is a lot like explaining a painting someone hasn’t seen. You can speak to the technical aspects of the work and the artist’s execution of them, but you can never fully express how it makes you feel. Virtually anyone can create a piece of art, but not everyone can make the people who witness it feel something. That ability is where true talent lies, and Lebrock does just with Fuse. It’s a dance-rock record that neither tries to be a rock album or a dance album. It’s full of big Hart and big hooks and catchy instrumentation that keep you fully engaged throughout its eleven tracks. Each song stands on its own as an original vision, yet every track flows seamlessly into one another. If you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to listen to this album on repeat for extended periods. We recommend it.

The Day of The Beast – Indisputably Carnivorous (Prosthetic Records)

A compendium of 10 terrifying tales contained within a single full-length album, Indisputably Carnivorous is the long-awaited new record from The Day of the Beast. The relentlessly aggressive release channels the darkest corners of the human psyche into a macabre collection of horrific visions meant to elicit a strong response from listeners. It’s the kind of album that nightmares are made of, and we mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Indisputably Carnivorous is a brazenly imaginative and nihilistic metal record you have been unknowingly waiting for your entire life. Set aside some time to take this one in because once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum (Nuclear Blast)

The last few years have been difficult for fear factory fans. Between infighting amongst the group and very public lawsuits, nobody could blame longtime supporters for worrying about whether or not the group will continue to deliver their signature sound on future releases. Aggression Continuum, which has been in the state of release limbo for several years, shows one of metal’s most influential bands can still riff and rock like no other. It’s a fitting continuation of the sound listeners have grown to love, but it also takes progressive steps forward that delve deeper into the best elements of the band’s music. It’s the crushing dystopian fantasy that you want, as if all the chaos surrounding the group is somehow conveyed as exquisitely detailed songs. The future of the band remains unclear in many ways, but this record undeniably rules. 

De’Wayne – Stains (Hopeless)

Nobody is one thing in music anymore. There are no more bands that strictly make rock music, for example. The idea that you need to be easily packaged and sold is outdated thinking. Today’s listeners love variety, and they seek artists with unique perspectives who blend multiple sonic influences. De’Wayne may be only one example of this type of talent, but they’re also among the best young artists the industry offers. Stains is an eclectic and compelling release that introduces the world to a voice it needs to hear. De’Wayne tells us their story as only they can by crafting a tactile world with music alone. 

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of June 4, 2021

From ferocious new records by Atreyu and Red Fang to the early demos of Decapitated, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.

The world is changing. After a year of forced isolation, artists and fans are finally starting to reconnect. Dozens of great albums are hitting shelves every week, and we know that nobody has time for everything. We want to help you find the can’t miss albums and keep you up-to-date on the records everyone will be talking about next week. We realize that documenting every new release would be virtually impossible, but here you will find several new albums from Haulix clients that we feel deserve your time and support. Check it out:

Atreyu – Baptize (Spinefarm)

Baptize marks the beginning of a new chapter for Atreyu. After two decades and numerous albums, the band is moving forward without longtime vocalist Alex Varkatzas. The resulting record is a hard rock juggernaut combining the heaviness that fans have come to expect from the group with a lyrical blend of optimistic melancholy. The men of Atreyu are no longer the angry young men who brought metalcore to the masses, and that’s a good thing. Nobody wants to hear grown men complain about childish struggles. If they do, then there is plenty of that to be found in music today. Instead, these lifelong road warriors who have witnessed the unbelievable heights and unfathomable lows of the music industry firsthand are speaking to the present. It’s about what is happening right now and how they’re handling it, both for better and worse. Baptize is a metal album for adults that tackles grown-up situations with maturity and ferocity unmatched in the genre. It may be the start of a new era, but the heart remains the same. 

Rise Against – Nowhere Generation (BMG)

The world needs Rise Against. In a time of significant geopolitical turmoil where everything seems upside down and nobody can make progress without the risk of death or poverty, bands such as Rise Against are surprisingly hard to find. The group’s message about perseverance in the face of heartache and economic struggle has kept heavy hearts alive throughout the new millennium. Nowhere Generation is more of the same in the best possible way. The band may be writing about the same topics they’ve covered for years, but it feels like the world is starting to pay attention for once. There is an urgency to the music that hasn’t been present since the band’s early work, and it’s likely to inspire countless listeners to become more active in their communities. If you need a soundtrack to rebellion, look no further than this record. It will not disappoint.

Decapitated – The First Damned (Nuclear Blast)

It takes a lot for a re-issue to appear in this feature. Countless artists release music every week, so we rarely find a good reason to add an album that many have already heard. Decapitated is a rare exception. The First Damned, initially released in 2000, collects the band’s earliest material. The demos feature a glimpse at the origins of the world’s most influential metal bands. Despite the poor recording quality and less evolved skillset, the band’s ability to take their genre by storm is apparent on every second of this collection. It is hard to imagine anyone hearing this material and believing the group would become anything less than world-renowned sensations. The First Damned is absolutely riveting and should be considered essential listening for any fan of heavy music.

latewaves – Hell To Pay (Know Hope)

Do you know that frustrating feeling that pulses through your tired bones at the end of a long workday when nothing has gone as planned? As your head begins to ache, considering things that you still need to do, you reach for a snack or smoke or drink that will alleviate your worries, if only for a moment. As you bring your chosen vice to your lips, your body begins to flood with serotonin, and that sensation is the best way to describe what it’s like hearing latewaves’ debut album. Hell To Pay is a collection of blue-collar rock tracks that transforms all the rage and sadness flowing through the veins of countless humans walking the planet today into catchy, relatable music. It’s the kind of album you put on to feel less alone because it reminds you that we’re all in this together, even if it doesn’t seem like it. We are all doing whatever we can in hopes of waking to a better tomorrow, and when that day doesn’t come, we keep on keeping on. Most of us are doing everything we can to hold ourselves together, and this record captures that struggle as few albums can.

Red Fang – Arrows (Relapse)

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Red Fang has been waiting for this moment. After shelving the release of their new album in 2020 due to the pandemic, the band is finally ready to share their best record to date with the world. Arrows is a sprawling and complex rock record that keeps listeners on their toes. From the unassuming introduction (“Take It Back”) to the blues-influenced “Funeral Coach,” everything about this record embodies Red Fang’s knack for finding groove-heavy goodness amid the calamity of hard rock. You will want to drink, fight, and drive as fast as your car will go a while this record unfolds. It’s the ultimate soundtrack for living recklessly, and while we do not encourage such behavior, we won’t blame you if Arrows makes you act a little crazy. 

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of May 28, 2021

From the crushing new EP by Of Mice & Men to unexpected and unplugged Gwar recordings, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music 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.

Of Mice & Men – Bloom EP (Sharptone)

Few bands successfully transition from Warped Tour headliners to mainstream rock phenoms. Even less undergo this evolution without losing the sound that made fans love them in the first place. Of Mice & Men have accomplished both, and they’ve done so while releasing the best music of their career. 2021 marks a new experiment in how the band releases music. They no longer think about their songs as being contained to albums. Instead, they’re giving fans new music as regularly as possible, and this latest batch of tracks is nothing short of exceptional. Come for the crushing heaviness and stay for the urgent, heartfelt lyricism. You won’t regret it.

Gwar – Disc With No Name (Pit Records)

Anyone who tells you they are coming out of the last year unchanged is probably lying. Every last one of us spent the last year longing for things we took for granted and regretting things we chose not to do. We often wondered if we would ever get to do the things we love again, and thankfully, it looks like we will. Gwar is no exception. The aliens that are hell-bent on ruling us pathetic humans are sharing something unexpected on Disc With No Name. It’s a collection of unplugged and fully reimagined performances that capture the beauty of the brutality that makes Gwar unique. You’ve never heard of death threat sound as beautiful as it does on this recording, and the fact it arrives just before the band can return to the road and slay audiences everywhere is the icing on an already great cake.

Alestorm – Live In Tilburg (Napalm Records)

It takes a very skilled group of musicians to take a concept as silly as drunken pirate metal and make audiences view it as a legit art form. Alestorm is the only band up to the challenge. After a year without concerts, the band celebrates their return to touring with a live record that captures their performative madness. Consider this a drinking album for people who aren’t ready to return to crowds but deeply desire to be amongst metalheads again. It also works as a perfect marketing tool for the band’s upcoming tour dates. We’ll see you in the pit.

Chris Campbell – Orison (Innova Recordings)

Most music is trying to sell you an idea or lifestyle. The songs you hear on the radio or recommended through algorithmic playlists try to figure out what you want and then sell it to you. It’s a good racket if you can manage to write things that are both catchy and vague enough to be twisted into an auditory sales funnel, but it’s not for everyone. Chris Campbell, for example, has almost nothing to sell. His music asks that we take a look within. He’s writing meditative arrangements meant to deepen your understanding of self. Orison is a seven-track exploration of consciousness and awareness that pleads with us to break from society and focus — at least momentarily — on our well-being as individuals. Campbell understands that we need one another to get by, but first, we must learn to love ourselves. Orison is the soundtrack for overdue self-care and healing. Please don’t take it for granted.

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of May 21, 2021

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music Of May 14, 2021

From the grief-stricken heaviness of The Ember, The Ash, to the southern catharsis of Myles Kennedy, 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.

The Ember, The Ash – Fixation (Prosthetic)

The solo endeavor of a musical polymath who goes only by the name 鬼, THE EMBER, THE ASH is a project shrouded in mystery and offers recognizable glimpses into emotional turmoil. Fixation is a sleek and complex offering, joining together symphonic black metal with the unrelenting heaviness of metalcore. As the album welcomes you into its crushing embrace, listeners embark on a journey through a traumatic event and the ripple effect it creates not only for the victim but those around them. As the band searches for meaning in the calamity, listeners bear witness to the grief process and all that it entails. Fixation is not for the faint of heart, but it is easily one of the most memorable albums of 2021.

Mouth For War – Life Cast In Glass (1126 Records)

Standing at the crossroads of Groove metal and death metal is Mouth For War, an ambitious Colorado band dead set on becoming a familiar face in the hard music community. Singer Trae Roberts wrote the album to honor his little sister, who was killed in January 2020. The songs reflect the pain, confusion, and seemingly endless heartache that follows such a tragic loss. As Roberts and his bandmates work through their feelings, listeners are given brutal instrumentation that will shake them to their core. This is the kind of album that can carry you through your darkest days. It will provide you with hope when you feel like you have no hope left, and it will keep you company when it seems like the world has left you behind.

Bernth – Elevation 

Elevation is a record unlike any other on this list. Not only is it an entirely instrumental release, but it is created by a leading YouTube personality whose most significant goal is to make the ultimate guitar album. Bernth believes the guitar is far from dead, and he uses Elevation to make a strong argument for its continuing influence over all areas of music. He seamlessly blends jazz, rock, metal, pop, and everything in between together to create a whirlwind of sound you won’t be able to quit. Bernth knows he’s attempting something special, and he puts his all into making this record the best possible creation. 

Scar Of The Sun – Inertia (Napalm Records)

Greek metal band Scar Of The Sun has been the talk of the international music community for several years. Inertia, the band’s third album, should be the one to put them on the map. Featuring precision instrumentation and biting vocals are brought together through exquisite production, Inertia is a hard-hitting release that has already won over metal icons and influencers worldwide. Scar of the Sun is your favorite band’s favorite band, and they deserve to be yours as well. Make time in your schedule for this record. You won’t regret it.

Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March (Napalm Records)

It is easy to argue that Myles Kennedy has nothing left to prove. The fixture of the hard rock world for the better part of a quarter-century, Miles has become synonymous with southern catharsis. He has the voice and songwriting chops to make you feel things that you’ve been trying to avoid for years. Slips between the mesh of whatever shield you use to protect yourself from the harsh realities of this existence and begs you to consider doing the emotional labor necessary to lead a better life. The Ides of March puts this skill set in the spotlight while also highlighting its ability to write straightforward rock songs that move your feet and heart in equal measure. We often say that there is something for everyone on new music Friday, but that has rarely been more true than when it comes to this record. Myles Kennedy is an everyman making music for the everyman, and we cannot wait to see what he does next. 

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of May 7, 2021

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.

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

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of April 23, 2021

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of April 16, 2021

From Greta Van Fleet to Cannibal Corpse, 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.

Greta Van Fleet – The Battle at Garden’s Gate (Republic)

Michigan’s Greta Van Fleet has spent the better part of the last decade becoming one of the most talked-about rock bands on the planet. The group has been the subject of so much discussion that it’s almost hard to believe that they’re only on their second album. The Battle at Garden’s Gate expands on the foundation of previous releases by channeling the influence of several iconic rock acts whose names now adorn the walls of the genre’s hall of fame. But this record is not merely a rehash of things we’ve heard previously. Greta Van Fleet asserts themselves more than ever with this release, and their wide-eyed youthfulness is present throughout the album. The pitch-perfect combination of old and new gives The Battle At Garden’s Gate a sense of timelessness, and it points to a bright future for the band.

Hail The Sun – New Age Filth (Equal Vision)

Equal Vision Records has a knack for finding and nurturing artists that defy easy classification. Hail The Sun, for example, cannot be filed away as either an alternative rock band or post-punk scene darlings. The group is too experimental for radio but not heavy enough for the so-called underground scene, which affords the band space to define themselves. New Age Filth is a progressive and profoundly emotional record that explores a vast range of human experiences to create an all-encompassing look at what it means to live in the world today. By blending their journeys into the record, Hail The Sun keeps things grounded while maintaining lofty ambitions for the future of their music. New Age Filth is, to put it simply, impressive in every way. 

Escape The Fate – Chemical Warfare (Better Noise)

Escape the Fate burst onto the rock scene as an amalgamation of 80s hair metal eccentricities and modern alt-rock edge. That image and sound catapulted the group to the forefront of their genre, but they did not let that early success slow their efforts to evolve. The band is now largely sober, far less image-focused, and tighter than ever. Chemical Warfare takes the band’s journey and puts it into song, detailing all the struggles and setbacks that created the men that the members have become over the last decade. It’s a profoundly inspirational collection of tracks written with the hope of influencing positive change that arrives precisely when the rock world needs it most. Where they go from here is anyone’s guess, but fans will be happy to know the band is at the top of their game with this release. 

Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined (Metal Blade)

Though many have tried, no one can replicate the heaviness or aggression of Cannibal Corpse. Violence Unimagined, the band’s fifteenth studio album, is the latest testament to the enduring talent of Buffalo’s best export. It’s eleven tracks of masterfully produced and crushingly brutal death metal performed with precision by the people mainly responsible for the genre’s global popularity. Cannibal Corpse has nothing left to prove, and they know it, so instead, they’re making the best music they can — as only they can — for the benefit of metal fans everywhere.

The Offspring – Let The Bad Times Roll (Concord)

Over three and a half decades into their career, The Offspring continue to deliver their signature combination of so-cal punk and alternative rock with Let The Bad Times Roll. Many groups would be happy to rest on the success of their catalog, but Dexter Holland and crew push forward. Their latest channels the frustrations of the past year and the many ongoing terrors of the world into a collection of songs that demand listeners find joy wherever they can. Make no mistake: Let The Bad Times Roll is not about ignoring all the wrongs in the world. It’s about finding happiness amid the chaos and how creating spaces for others to do the same will make this planet more hospitable for everyone.

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.

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Haulix Recommends: The Incredible Records That Saved 2020

In a year where nothing went as planned, music carried us through with unforgettable hooks and fiery riffs that we will be spinning well into 2021.

Ranting about the moments and experiences 2020 stole from us is effortless. There are trips never taken, concerts delayed, albums shelved, and potential life-changing opportunities that never came to fruition. At Haulix, we are trying hard to reflect on all the good that 2020 brought, especially with music. There are albums and artists we discovered this year that made the last twelve months more bearable. We heard songs that we will sing until our lungs give out, and we found a lot of emerging talent that we will see as soon as live music returns.

It is impossible to name all the artists and records that made this year worth surviving, but here are ten releases we believe saved 2020.

Laura Jane Grace – Stay Alive (Polyvinyl)

Punk icon and bestselling author Laura Jane Grace gave 2020 a much-needed dose of good news by surprising her fans earlier this week with Stay Alive, the singer/songwriter’s first solo album. Featuring fourteen tracks produced by Steve Albini in early July, the record perfectly depicts the swirling chaos of emotions that many have felt throughout 2020. It’s a record about wanting to be anywhere other than where you are, possibly in someone else’s skin, all while coming to terms with the ever-present need to love ourselves. It’s an album that is both aching for escape and basking in the often overlooked pleasures of being alone, which is to say, it’s a perfect summary of what most of us are dealing with right now. 

Spiritbox – Holy Roller 7” (Rise Records)

Spiritbox is the best new band of this and any other year in recent memory.  Formed in 2017 by husband and wife duo Courtney LaPlante and Michael Stringe, Spiritbox recently signed with Rise Records as part of a partnership between the influential label and Pale Chord. The first product of that deal is this 7”, which packages the group’s breakout single with a remix featuring Crystal Lake vocalist Ryo Kinoshita. The new track doesn’t add length to the song, but it does help make an already brutal song hit a bit harder. That should be enough fans champing at the bit for the band’s next release, which we hope arrives sooner than later. Until then, “Holy Roller” remains a strong contender for song of the year

Bearings – Hello, It’s You (Pure Noise)

Canadian rock band Bearings deliver a large amount of heart and hooks with their latest full-length record. Hello, It’s You captures the epic highs of young love and our deep-rooted longing to belong in a manner that never ceases to captivate its audience. Do you wish you were anywhere else doing anything else right now? Have you found yourself yearning to find a way back to a simpler time? Are you embracing the endless possibilities of adulthood with wide-eyes and a cautious spirit? If one or more of these questions hit home, then there is at least one song on this record for you.

Run The Jewels – RTJ4

Some may say RTJ4 is more of the same, but that is an oversimplification of Run The Jewels’ latest offering. The elements that fans have come to expect are present, yes, but they are more refined. The beats are funkier, and there is more precision in the lyrics. The message of RTJ4 is never up for debate. Run The Jewels make groove-heavy rap for a working-class population that is more aware than ever of the oppression that they face and the need for immediate change. Though the duo cannot facilitate systemic upheaval on their own, they are doing their part and ask that we do the same.

Lamb Of God – Lamb of God (Epic)

Expecting Lamb of God to deliver a great album is like expecting grass to be green or water to be wet. The metal titans are one of the longest-running bands in the modern heavy music scene, and they never miss their mark. Lamb of God’s music speaks to the importance of maintaining forward momentum and how personal evolution is the key to a long and happy existence. That isn’t to say that progress is smooth or doesn’t require pain, but the group’s 2020 self-titled album tells us that endurance through hard times often produces the most significant art and understanding that humans can achieve.

Sharptooth – Transitional Forms (Pure Noise)

Transitional Forms is about more than music scenes and whatever stupid rules people try to enforce within it. Much like Sharptooth’s catalog, the album aims at numerous political and societal issues. It touches on economic strife, sexual assault, vulnerability, and how far too many people never practice what they preach. It captures the struggle and anger experienced by oppressed people from different walks of life and lays bare that things must change. It’s a call to action as much as it is a razor-sharp criticism of those who continue to walk through life, turning a blind eye to the realities of existence. Over the last decade, the group’s travels have shown them that most people want things to change, but few are willing to get off their asses and do the work necessary. Sharptooth is already doing their part, so why can’t you?

Best Ex – Good At Feeling Bad (No Sleep)

Not one to fall into the tropes of Bukowski or Salinger that entangle many of her musical peers, Mariel Loveland’s style of storytelling is one of wide-eyed optimism presented in the face of uncertainty with unabashed honesty. She’s neither the hero nor the villain in her journey. Her perspective is that of a world traveler that has felt the overwhelming joy of mass acceptance and the cold chill of failure. Good At Feeling Bad, the latest work from Best Ex, is about what comes after all that, where the real adventure begins. Loveland knows anything is possible, and she’s open to whatever the next chapter entails. [Full review]

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit – Reunions (Southeastern)

Reunions examines the role we play in the world around us. Jason Isbell and his band, The 400 Unit, leave no rock unturned in their search for answers to life’s biggest questions regarding purpose and grief. The album provides few solutions on either front but finds comfort in acknowledging that we are on this journey through the chaos of existence. If we can learn to love one another and shed the weight of stress and mistakes from our past, Isbell believes we can find a lasting sense of peace amidst the turmoil of our daily lives. It’s a big idea that some will think impossible, and he understands that. Rather than giving listeners an optimistic ear-beating, he focuses on crafting undeniably soulful songs in hopes people will reconsider our limitless potential for change. [Full review]

Trivium – What The Dead Men Say (Roadrunner)

What The Dead Men Say, Trivium’s ninth studio album, reflects on the past in hopes of saving the future. The band – Matt Heafy, Corey Beaulieu, Paolo Gregoletto, and Alex Bent – pull from everything they’ve done to deliver an album that serves as a thesis statement for Trivium’s career. It’s a relentlessly heavy yet undeniably melodic exploration of existence that pulls from philosophy and mythology in equal measure to paint an elaborately-detailed portrait of what makes us human. Fans will hear hints of the youthful confidence that fueled Ember To Inferno and  Ascendency, alongside the grit of In Waves and melancholy of Silence In The Snow. How Trivium combines these seemingly conflicting ideas gel is one of the record’s many wonders. That said, the real mastery lies in their ability to do so while also creating incredibly accessible music for new listeners. [Full review]

Fit For A King – The Path (Solid State)

Growing up is never easy. Fit For A King has been the go-to breakdown band of modern metalcore fans for the last decade, but The Path marked a clear attempt at evolution unlike anything found on the group’s previous releases. The band didn’t abandon their roots as much as they continued to develop their signature combination of riffs, thunderous drums, emotional catharsis, and high-gloss production. The result is The Path, an undeniable sonic leap forward that is as catchy as it is empowering. It’s the kind of record that makes you believe anything is possible while motivating you to work harder toward becoming your best self. It’s what all great music you should be, and we cannot wait to hear where the band goes from here.

The records highlighted here represent a tiny fraction of the many great releases promoted through Haulix in 2020. We want to thank all of our clients for their continuing effort to bring great music to the masses. Let’s work together to make 2021 the best it can become.

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