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

new music

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 New Music Recommendations for December 18, 2020

Offering something for everyone, the latest new music Friday features Swedish metal legends and Australian pop-punk newcomers.

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.

grabyourface – Sea
(Negative Gain)

The new face of modern goth, grabyourface explores the depths of their soul by crafting lush, expansive songs about the human condition. Sea is a six-song collection focusing on mental health. The record addresses how anxiety and depression can inform our worldview while also tackling abuse, PTSD, and more violence in a manner that only they can. If that sounds heavy, it’s because Sea is exactly that, but it’s also one of our favorite EPs of the year. Allow yourself to become lost in the melodies of this record. You never know what you may discover.

American Dream Machine – Deadhearts

For many people, 2020 has felt like an ending, but American Dream Machine might disagree. The modern rock band is releasing its debut album, Deadhearts, this week. The record takes all the uncertainty, stress, and frustrations that many of us feel right now and channel those elements into hard-hitting songs with soaring hooks you won’t soon forget. These 10 tracks flow seamlessly together, and the production from  Kile Odell (Motionless in White, Awake At Last) will no doubt keep you coming back for more.

Stuck Out –
Lie Through Your Teeth (Sharptone Records)

Australians are handling COVID-19 better than most Americans, and now they’re bringing that same skill level to pop-punk. Stuck Out’s four-song Sharptone Records debut brings the energy of Warped Tour and pairs it with a grounded sense of realism. This is about as close to pop-punk for adults as any band can hope to create. It’s a fresh bit of harsh reality set to anthemic song structures that leave you feeling hopeful, even if the world is still falling apart.

WOMBBATH –
Tales of Madness (Transcending Obscurity)

It’s no secret that Europe knows metal. Every other continent may believe they’ve gotten a handle on the medium, but European musicians are heavier, more prolific, and more interesting than any other group on the planet. With that in mind, Sweden’s WOMBBATH delivers a devastatingly brutal epic with Tales Of Madness, an eight-track record that is not for the faint of heart. The release reimagines some of the group’s earliest work, which may be new to fans outside the group’s home country, and takes listeners on an unforgettable journey. Make sure you wear a seatbelt and a helmet when embarking on this ride. 

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 New Music Recommendations for December 11, 2020

New York hardcore heroes Cro-Mags and Ohio’s Foxy Shazam are just two groups with thrilling new music releases 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.

Foxy Shazam – Burn (EEEOOOAH)

Ohio’s Foxy Shazam emerges from a half-decade long hiatus with Burn, an album as wild and unpredictable as its members. Lead by the singular voice of Eric Nally; the band expands on their signature blend of punk and classic rock to create a sprawling sonic landscape of endless possibilities. There are songs here that will reassure you the chaos of 2020 won’t last forever and others the delight in watching the world burn. It’s the kind of album that deserves to not only be heard but experienced, and we are cursing this awful year for robbing us of the opportunity to see the band perform. 2021 may be better, but even if it isn’t, at least Foxy Shazam is back and better than ever.

Cro-Mags – 2020
(Mission Two)

When former Victory Records’ head Tony Brummel launched Mission Two Entertainment, the Cro-Mags were the first band to join his roster. A longtime favorite band of Brummel, Cro-Mags lay the foundation for a rebellious future with 2020, their second release in this wretched year. The New York hardcore legends do what they do best on this release, taking down everyone and everything that stands between them and absolute freedom. The title track may be the most ferocious of the bunch, with thunderous drums and hypnotic riffs, but we’d wager it’s the aptly titled “Chaos In The Streets” that listeners will be returning to for years to come. 

Less Than Jake –
Silver Linings (Pure Noise)

Another album that feels fitting of the year we’ve just endured, Silver Linings finds ska-punk legends Less Than Jake at the top of their game. The raucous opener, “The High Cost Of Low Living,” sets the stage for a record that urges the audience to find joy wherever they can. That energy continues throughout the release thanks to “Keep On Chasing,” “Dear Me,” and “Move,” all of which blends hopeful optimism with Less Than Jake’s knack for humorous self-deprecation. You may feel like there is nothing left to cheer for in the world, but the music contained in this release argues otherwise. We may always mess up, forget who we are, and lose our way, but Silver Linings reminds us that somedays, just being alive is worthy of celebration. Put this record on and forget everything else. Your problems won’t go away, but after spending an hour with Less Than Jake, your troubles might not seem so bad.

The Inferno Doll – Sacrifice

It can be hard to describe the forward-thinking metal of The Inferno Doll without using cliche phrases like wicked, witchy, or occult. Vocalist and songwriter Laura Vargas has crafted a darkly entertaining collection of material that channels the energy of a summoning ritual and offers it to listeners willing to submit to whatever ethereal beast may answer their cries for help. It’s a hypnotic voyage into the spiritual realm that is equal parts catchy and demonic but only in the best possible ways. 

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for November 27, 2020

Rock legends Smashing Pumpkins and alternative newcomer Year Over Year deliver some of this week’s best new music.

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.

Smashing Pumpkins – Cyr (Sumerian Records)

A band that needs no introduction, Smashing Pumpkins continue to evolve with Cyr, their eleventh studio album and first release with Sumerian Records. The twenty-track record finds Billy Corgan and his bandmates exploring new sonic territory without sacrificing the songwriting that built their career. There are songs about the passing of time and the regrets we carry with us and several tracks addressing the state of the world. It’s a wild and unruly journey that will keep fans enamored with the seemingly boundless talent of modern rock’s most interesting band.

Year Over Year – The Love We Think We Deserve (Independent)

Being in your twenties can be difficult. Between transitioning from childhood to adulthood, changing social circles, searching for careers, discovering your identity, and longing for love, chaos abounds. Doing all that amid the first global pandemic in a century is enough to break even the strongest people, but thankfully, music exists to help keep our heads above water. Year Over Year‘s new album, The Love We Think We Deserve, takes the calamity of life today and channels it into a deeply soulful journey that provides comfort as you process whatever is causing you pain. It’s the happy-sad record of the year. Please don’t sleep on it.

Within the Ruins – Black Heart (eOne)

No one would blame Within The Ruins for resting on their laurels. The Massachusetts-based group has spent the last decade rising through modern metal’s competitive world with a slew of beloved records. They can play anywhere, and an audience will appear ready to mosh and scream along to every track, but that isn’t enough for them. Black Heart is a battle cry. Within The Ruins don’t want to be one of the best in their field. They want to be the number one band on the planet, and they are fighting for that position with a relentlessly aggressive release that more than proves their strength.

Hatebreed – Weight of the False Self (Nuclear Blast)

COVID-19 delayed the release of Hatebreed‘s new album for seven months, but the wait was worth it. Weight of the False Self finds Jamey Jasta and crew at their absolute best, delivering anthems of perseverance and mental fortitude despite impossible odds. The album urges fans to shake themselves from the illusion that they are somehow special or different than others. We are only here for a limited time, and we will struggle every day that we have air in our lungs. The only way to get ahead is to fight for what we want, work together, and never lose hope. That is all that matters, and Hatebreed gives us a collection of songs on this album to cement that information in our hearts and minds.

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for October 23, 2020

Brimming with furious riff and soaring hooks, this week’s new music roundup offers a bounty of radical rock releases that you would be a fool to miss!

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 five from our clients that we believe everyone should experience.

Sevendust – Blood & Stone (Rise Records)

Most bands are lucky to release three studio albums before going on hiatus or breaking up. Blood & Stone is Sevendust’s thirteenth record, and it sounds just as energetic as their 1997 self-titled debut. From the crunchy riff of “Dying To Live” to the cathartic “What You’ve Become” and reflective “Wish You Well,” the Georgia rock band uses their latest creation to analyze the lessons learned throughout their career. The group stops short of saying they’ve figured out how to live and succeed in the modern age, but they now share a bond that time and struggle cannot break. Blood & Stone tells us that Sevendust is here to stay, and they’re urging us to be as bold as them in everything we attempt during our short time on this planet.

Pup – This Place Sucks Ass (Rise Records)

No one understands the challenges of chasing dreams as a human born in the late twentieth century better than Pup. Their nihilistic optimism creates a space where listeners can scream about all the things going wrong in their lives while figuring out how to live in the present. It’s a delicate balance between clinging to hope and calling out the things we cannot change, but these Canadian gentlemen make it seem easy. This Place Sucks Ass is precisely what fans have come to expect. Complete with gang vocals and the creeping suspicion we might feel the way we do right now for the rest of our lives, it’s everything we need to keep fighting for a time when things might improve (even if we know they never will).

Undeath – Lesions of a Different Kind (Prosthetic Records)

Offering a new take on a classic sound, New York’s Undeath has quickly built a ravenous following in the death metal scene. Lesions of a Different Kind is leaps and bounds beyond the material found on the band’s 2019 demo, but it stays close to the themes and aesthetics that initially helped the group take the heavy music scene by storm. This is the kind of record that genre fans will have on repeat throughout the winter, and with each subsequent listen, they will find themselves developing a tight connection to the three-piece that should lead to strong ticket sales once live music resumes in 2021. Lesions is an album that deserves to be heard in concert, and the work ethic displayed on it tells us that we will have many opportunities to witness Undeath’s rise through the metal ranks in person in the years to come.

Hands Like Houses – Hands Like Houses (UNFD)

Summer may have come and gone, but there is a vibe running throughout Hands Like Houses’ self-titled EP that hits you the same way that only a road trip with the windows down in mid-July can. It’s easy and breezy on the surface, but the deeper you dig, the more immersive the experience becomes. “Space” tackles the struggle of figuring out who you are when you’re trying to be something to everyone, while “Dangerous” seeks to harness the power we possess within ourselves. Like the other tracks on the record, these songs serve as a collection of rapturous moments where the band — along with listeners — can take stock of how a life with music has shaped the people they’ve become. This is therapy as much as it is an artistic expression, and the fact it works on a commercial level argues that Hands Like Houses should continue using this approach moving forward. 

The Bouncing Souls – Volume 2 (Pure Noise Records)

Creativity is an endless journey that can radically evolve with time. The way someone writes a song or paints a portrait in their youth may look and feel nothing like the work they do later in life, but that doesn’t mean they’ve lost touch with themselves. It often means the opposite because time gives us the gift of perspective, enabling us to view our history with fresh eyes. The Bouncing Souls have seen and done everything a band can hope to do. They’re using the gift of a long career to revisit their catalog and reimagine the material that still resonates deep within their souls. Volume 2 is the latest in this series of second chances, and it proves that no matter how the band chooses to express themselves, their songs will always hit close to home. 

Discover even more new music from Haulix clients by streaming our essential fall playlist on Spotify.

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for October 16, 2020

Whether you’re looking for breakdowns of the musical or emotional variety, these new music picks have something for you.

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.

Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown – Pressure (Snakefarm/Spinefarm)

Tyler Bryant has nothing left to prove. After a decade of constant touring and recording, the rock meets blues talent has built a fervent following that any artist would desire. His marketing talents are only outmatched by his musical output, which has been consistently inspiring. Pressure finds a perfect balance between old school aesthetics and a modern outlook that understands our collective yearning for freedom. It’s a fitting soundtrack for quarantine, combining the frustrations of the year with inspiring anthems that will make you want to drive fast and break laws. We wouldn’t blame you for getting into trouble while this plays, but please, don’t blame us for whatever happens next.

Mayday Parade – Out of Here EP (Rise Records)

Emo icons Mayday Parade refuses to rely on the successful output of their past to define the people that they are today. No one would blame the Florida-based rockers for becoming a modern legacy act, touring into irrelevance with greatest hits sets, but the band continues to push forward. As the title infers, Out Of Here plays like the blueprint to an escape plan that listeners will hatch as the EP unfolds. We expect every song on this release to appear in the band’s 2021 setlist, so you better start learning the words now.

Molasses – Through The Hollow (Season of Mist)

Through The Hollow is a constant reminder that the search for artistic greatness is never-ending. The first full-length release from a group of industry veterans, the record revels in the journey that is creativity. The record is both haunting and enchanting, pulling listeners into a world wherever anything is possible, and everything is on the table. It’s the kind of immersive listening experience that all artists strive to deliver, and we imagine anyone who partakes will have a hard time walking away. Through The Hollow will stick with you like muscles to bone.

Lost Symphony – Chapter II (XOFF Records)

Every corner of music has reached a saturation point where virtually any new artist falls in line with someone or more than one talent that came before them. Finding something boldly original is the dream of any genre fan, and the answer for hard rock fans lies in Lost Symphony. A supergroup of sorts, the band combines metal and classical music styles to create a wholly original sound. It’s symphonic, yes, but it’s also far more commercial than any group typically carrying that title. When listeners put on the band’s latest work, Chapter II, they embark on a sonic odyssey they won’t want to quit.

Chapter II is an essential record. Not for metal fans, but everyone. Don’t think twice. Dive in and let Lost Symphony carry you far away from the hellscape that is 2020.


Discover even more new music from Haulix clients by streaming our essential fall playlist on Spotify.

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for October 2, 2020

Boasting a bevy of new music from rising musicians and the latest greatest hits compilation from a modern rock juggernaut, October 9 is a big day for music fans everywhere.

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 five we believe everyone should experience.

Bloodbather – Silence EP (Rise Records)

The world needs more bands like Bloodbather. The Florida metal act blurs the lines between chaos and methodical precision with their Rise Records debut EP, Silence. The album boasts unpredictable turns that the majority of rock music is missing, and in doing so, the album creates a listening experience that will keep listeners of all ages on their toes. We don’t know how the group managed to convey so much intensity over so few tracks, but we’re glad they did, and we are already champing at the bit to hear more. Silence is, without a doubt, one of the best breakout releases of 2020.

Eye of the Destroyer – The Wolf You Feed (Self Released)

Eye of the Destroyer is one of the worst kept secrets in heavy music. The duo’s crushing sound has turned heads worldwide, but the forward-thinking band has resisted the urge to join the traditional label system. Their passion for their craft, coupled with a need to work through personal demons, gave life to The Wolf You Feed. It’s a cathartic record that brings healing in the form of relentless sonic aggression. There is nothing like it, and there never will be, so strap in and let Eye Of The Destroyer rock your world.

Lindsay Schoolcraft – Worlds Away (Cyber Proxy)

COVID-19 has stunted the creativity of countless artists, but not Lindsay Schoolcraft. A staple of the gothic metal community for many years, Schoolcraft is channeling her roots on her enchanting solo record, Worlds Away. Accompanied by her electric harp and minimalist production, Schoolcraft takes listeners on an epic journey of the soul. She touches on love and loss, as well as the sacrifices that life in the arts can demand. It’s a record that seems as therapeutic for Schoolcraft as it is for listeners, so grab your friends, light some candles, and have yourself a cry. Things might not get better, but at least we have each other.

Pave The Jungle – The Hissing (Self Release)

The Hissing is the debut EP from UK rock band Pave The Jungle, but you wouldn’t know that by listening to it. The record, which borrows from indie rock and punk with gleeful abandon, sounds like the result of a career already years underway. The songs seek to find understanding in an age of division by examining the minutia of existence. It’s not about world peace or getting everyone to believe the same thing, but of accepting ourselves and relinquishing our evolutionary desire for control. Life is chaos, and The Hissing makes a good argument for embracing the wild ride that is being alive regardless of what tomorrow may bring.

Five Finger Death Punch – A Decade of Destruction Volume 2 (Better Noise)

You don’t need us to tell you that Five Finger Death Punch knows how to write a good rock song. The group’s catalog is packed with anthems of strength and perseverance that have inspired millions to push themselves a bit harder in life. There is no country on the planet where FFDP is unable to fill venues, and the latest volume in their Decade Of Destruction series offers proof that the band has already cemented their place in music history. Of course, the songs are great, including the new tracks available exclusively as part of this compilation. Please turn it on and turn it up. 

Discover even more new music from Haulix clients by streaming our essential fall playlist on Spotify.

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Haulix New Music Recommendations for October 2, 2020

Between surprise solo releases from two rock icons and an incredible new work from metal legends, the first weekend in October is great for new music.

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 five we believe everyone should experience.

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. – JS

DevilDriver – Dealing With Demons I (Napalm Records)

Fans of DevilDriver will be happy to learn the metal legends remain at the top of their game. The aptly titled Dealing With Demons I, the first in a planned series of releases, finds Dez Fafara and crew sorting through the things that hold them back. It’s an album about recovery, trauma, and making sense of a world that often seems alien to those who inhabit it. The heaviness of the material is matched by the band’s crushing sound, which pours through your speakers and headphones with the ferocity of wild wolves on the hunt for fresh meat. Other bands in the group’s position could rest soundly with the knowledge they’ve given the world albums that listeners will spin for years to come, but DevilDriver has more to offer. They won’t stop until they drop, and that (hopefully) won’t be for a long time. – JS

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. – JS

Field Medic – Floral Prince (Run For Cover Records)

Blame it on COVID-19 or the isolation that came with it, but many artists are struggling to maintain the creativity they once felt. Kevin Patrick Sullivan may be an exception, and the proof of that lies in Field Medic’s inspiring new release, Floral Prince. Combining songs shared throughout the quarantine era through Sullivan’s Field Medic web series with previously unreleased material, the new record from the Bay Area musical chameleon does not disappoint. The energy on the material here is infectious, with each track benefitting from an undeniable sense of spontaneity. Listeners will not know what to expect from track to track, but they can bet whatever happens next will be just as exciting as what came before. Floral Prince explores love and life with a poetic wit that is destined to keep fans coming back for more. – JS

Greg Puciato – Child Soldier: Creator of God (Federal Prisoner)

The unexpected early release of Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato’s debut solo album is as surprising as the material itself. Child Soldier: Creator of God is an aggressive, experimental adventure through the celebrated musician’s mind that never disappoints. The release is only available on Bandcamp for the time being, so head over there and check it out! – JS

Discover even more new music from Haulix clients by streaming our essential fall playlist on Spotify.

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Haulix Recommends: Seether – ‘Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum’

Returning with their first new material in three years, Seether delivers one of the year’s most exciting rock albums with Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.

The history of rock music is littered with bands that exploded onto the music scene with one or two incredible albums before burning out creatively. Those same artists, many of which are active right now, then focus on touring as long as humanly possible with the hopes people never get tired of the songs they wrote years — or even decades — prior. It’s a sad fact of life that is as common as fist pumps at concerts, but thankfully, Seether is not falling victim to that way of life.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, the band’s first album in three years, reminds the world that Seether is a powerful force. Translated to “If you want peace, prepare for war,” the album delivers songs to inspire hope in hard times. Seether has experienced rock bottom first hand, which is a topic they’ve written about at length, and they’re making it clear with this record that they never want anyone else to know those heartbreaking emotional depths. They want to save you or at least encourage you to save yourself.

“Bruised and Bloodied,” an early cut, perfectly exemplifies the sound and message of Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. Driving, aggressive production provides a riveting backdrop for Shaun Morgan to sing about the realization that the responsibility of happiness and personal development rests on the should of the beholder. People will come and go in this life, some making more significant impacts on you than others, but they cannot do anything to save you from yourself. The world will eat you up and spit you out without a second thought. The universe does not care whether you thrive or drown in a well of sorrow. Life is what you make it, and Seether urge you to recognize that time is running out.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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Haulix Recommends: Kill The Lights – ‘The Sinner’

Combining classic metalcore with a modern edge, Kill The Lights make a bold statement on hard rock’s future with their full-length debut, The Sinner.

Supergroups are held to higher standards than most and Kill The Lights is no exception. Uniting original Bullet For My Valentine co-founder Michael “Moose” Thomas [drums] with Throw The Fight frontman James Clark [vocals], Jordan Whelan of Still Remains [guitar], and Travis Montgomery of Threat Signal [guitar], the band is the creation of people known for consistently raising the bar in the world of metal. Giving the world a mediocre release, or even one that is considered “just okay,” is not an option. If Kill The Lights is going to release something, it has to be great.

“We all loved the idea of having some of those throwback elements with a fresh sound,” exclaims James. “We aimed for something classic either a 15-year-old or 50-year-old could enjoy. It came out naturally by virtue of us working together. It’s not contrived. We give reverence to our influences, but Kill The Lights is its own entity.”

He’s not wrong. While many artists stretch themselves too thin by attempting to appeal to a wide demographic, Kill The Lights overcome generational gaps with ease. Critics will say that is because rock and metal haven’t evolved as much as other music areas in recent decades, but that isn’t true. Today’s young metal acts are more aggressive, brash, and far more reliant on digital trickery than yesteryear artists. The goals remain the same, but the approach has changed, and The Sinner finds a way to bring that evolution full circle in a manner that is equal parts heavy and cathartic. It’s undeniably intense, yes, but there is a lot of heart as well. 

But it’s unclear if their work in other groups is responsible for Kill The Lights sound as much as the experiences the members’ previous bands made possible. Their musical precision is never up for debate, but that would be true whether or not the record or group existed. The album’s real magic is in the way it channels the human condition into rallying cries for people from multiple walks of life and generations without submitting to genre tropes or delivering a scattershot release. The album builds from the opening soundbite that calls for the burial of demons and reclaiming life, to the rapturous cry for strength to persevere the throes of existence on “Unmoved,” The Sinner is the medicine we need to survive the hell that is 2020.

Kill The Lights did what they set out to accomplish with The Sinner. Across eleven tracks, the rock veterans display a firm grasp on their genre while sharing songs of hope and retaliation that are easily accessible for metal fans of all ages. It’s the kind of album that the community needs right now, and it points to a bright future for the group in the years to come.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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