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Haulix Recommends: The Best New Music of July 2, 2021

Born of Osiris New Music

From Born of Osiris to Postcards From New Zealand, 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:

Born Of Osiris – Angel Or Alien (Sumerian Records)

There is a moment near the end of “Poster Child,” the opening track on Born of Osiris’ latest album, where the track is stripped down to reveal its jazz-friendly foundation. In those few fleeting seconds, Angel Or Alien shows its true colors. For as heavy and digitally engineered as the production may be, BOO continues following the footsteps of music legends from previous generations. Their sound may be more chaotic than their influences, but the technical skill of the group is never up for debate. There is a craftsman-level quality to every aspect of this record. Finding that kind of precision in metal today is increasingly rare, but BOO makes it look easy.

Postcards From New Zealand – We Watched Them Devour, Vol . 3: City Islands (Self-release)

It’s hard to explain Postcards From New Zealand to the uninitiated. In the simplest terms, the group crafts atmospheric rock records that distort your sense of time and reality to illustrate epic tales of people grappling with an impossible reality. The band comments: “City Islands is the third chapter of a saga that we started in 2017 with We Watched Them Devour. The music follows a group of survivors who experienced that “something” came down from heaven and wiped out all life and all of society.”

If you’re looking for a sonic journey unlike any other, look no further than this record.

Nanowar of Steel – Italian Folk Metal (Napalm Records)

There are very few successful parody metal bands in the world. We can debate the reasons for this all day long, but suffice to say, writing genuinely good heavy metal that is also humorous can be difficult. Nanowar of Steel more than rise to the challenge with Italian Folk Metal. The ambitious thirteen-track collection blends the band’s signature powerhouse sound with elements of Italian folk music to create an engrossing journey through some of the country’s incredible folk tales. We admittedly don’t speak Italian, but we know good music and storytelling when we hear it. Manowar Of Steel is making history fun again. Don’t miss out.

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 25, 2021

From Beartooth to Light The Torch and Sullivan King, 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:

Beartooth – Below (Redbull Records)

Not all rock music is about escapism. The men of Beartooth prefer to process emotions and wrestle with hardships rather than pretend such struggles do not exist. Their catalog is a compendium of tales about everything from addiction to mental health explored through an honest, grounded perspective. The band believes that everyone can overcome the problems they face, but they admit that doing so requires work. Below is a soundtrack for doing the work. Each song plays like a clenched fist connecting with the face of your enemy. You will conquer life when listening to this album. Picture your goals, throw Below on the stereo, and get to work.

Buckcherry – Hellbound (Round Hill Music)

Some people still believe Buckcherry’s contributions to rock history are little more than “Crazy Bitch” and “Lips Of An Angel.” These people are wrong. Hellbound, the group’s ninth studio album in their twenty-plus-year career, is a rip-roaring throwback to the days when jangly blues-rock dominated the underground. It’s a loose and fun rock record that paints vivid pictures of late nights spent packed into dive bars where everything was inexplicably wet and the people are living for the moment. This record will make you want to drive fast with the windows down under a star-filled sky with your hand dancing in the wind. Buckcherry is trying to give you a temporary escape. Take it.

Free Throw – Piecing It Together (Triple Crown Records)

Piecing It Together is a perfect analogy for Free Throw’s approach to life. Now comfortably into adulthood, the Nashville-based band is making angsty emo rock for adults who spent their teen years shouting, “it’s not a phase.” Their music tackles the struggles of adulthood with the same intensity and razor-sharp wit that younger groups might use to cover young love. The result is a collection of songs grappling with the things we cannot control and urging us to do something about the things we can. It’s about doing the best you can with what you have and where you’re at for no other reason than loving yourself enough to try. We don’t know what you’re going through, but it’s worth remembering that sometimes, staying alive is enough. 

Light The Torch – You Will Be The Death Of Me (Nuclear Blast)

Howard Jones is on the Mount Rushmore of modern metal titans. You can probably argue he also belongs on any tribute to metal in general. The frontman and songwriter, whose career spans decades, continues to impress with the latest record from Light The Torch. Alongside his bandmates, Jones showcases a craftsman-like skill for metal artistry. Every element of You Will Be The Death Of Me is refined to the point of near perfection, yet the album still feels emotionally raw. That would be considered impressive for most artists, but for Light The Torch, it’s just another day at the office.

Sullivan King – Loud (Hopeless Records)

Sullivan King is the future of hard rock. He’s not the first person to blend rock with EDM, but he is one of the few to do so successfully. Loud is a riot-inspiring, party-starting concoction of ideas and noise that will cause your heart rate to spike. King does everything in his power to make you feel something. There are anthems of protest and songs of hope shared with an invigorating energy that nobody will be able to resist. I don’t know that there has ever been another album quite like Loud, which makes it difficult to describe, but I understand that it’s an experience you cannot miss. 

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 18, 2021

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 11, 2021

From Wristmeetrazor’s powerful second album to the impressive debut of Mammoth WVH, 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. Check it out:

Hammer King – Hammer King (Napalm Records)

There is no room for confusion with a name like Hammer King. Either you deliver the best power metal anyone has heard in years, or you give up and go home. Since 2015, Hammer king has delivered on the promise of their name by dropping banger after banger on the international metal scene. The band’s sincere devotion to old-school power metal shines on their latest self-titled release. It’s a loud and cathartic offering that will awaken the thunder within your spirit. You’ve not heard another album like this one in 2021.

Wristmeetrazor – Replica of a Strange Love (Prosthetic)

Two years after taking the metal market by storm with Misery Never Forgets, Wristmeetrazor returns to center stage with their highly-anticipated second record. Replica of a Strange Love is a musical shotgun blast to the chest. The album plunges listeners into the doom and gloom of a generation obsessing over sex, death, and romanticism with big hooks and pummeling instrumentation. These songs would’ve put the band on the map 15 years ago when the modern metalcore scene rose to the public spotlight. In 2021, Wristmeetrazor is positioned to become the new leader in its field. They are making the kind of music people say they wish artists in this genre still made, and they are doing it as well as anyone can. 

Mammoth WVH – Mammoth WVH (EX1)

Trying to make a name for yourself as the son of a celebrity is difficult. Trying to become known when your father is considered a god among men is even harder. Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late Eddie Van Halen, uses his self-titled debut album for staking his claim to the modern rock throne. The 14 track release posts incendiary reps, soaring vocals, and hooks that will keep you singing along while drumming on your steering wheel all summer long. It’s the kind of album that lets you know the talent behind it will be with us for a long time. It is the dawning of a new king, and he goes by Wolfgang Van Halen.

Living Dead Girl – Exorcism (Self-released)

Canada’s Living Dead Girl doesn’t waste any time on her debut album. Exorcism offers 11 banging tracks that deliver what founding member Molly Rennick describes as her “goth girl gone bad” attitude. Her sound combines Motionless In White, Rob Zombies, and any number of notable riot grrrl bands. The resulting sonic concoction is down-tuned upbeat goodness that argues goth rock is far from dead. With the right tour or placement, it’s not hard to imagine Living Dead girl quickly becoming the next household name in hard rock. 

Sinoptik – The Calling (ONErpm)

Ukrainian psychedelic stoner rockers Sinoptik hold nothing back on The Offering. A complex release offering meaningful lyrics and a unique perspective on existence, the record aspires to resurrect an age when larger-than-life rock songs were the norm. Each track stands on its own as a complete work filled with emotion, creative instrumentation, and poignant thoughts. The fact it all flows together is proof of Sinoptik’s immense talent. They give us volumes of stories and ideas in the same amount of space others use to share a single thought. They are magicians as much as they are musicians, and The Calling argues they deserve much more recognition in the years ahead. 

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 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 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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