From Trivium to We Are Scientists, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
Trivium – In The Court Of The Dragon (Roadrunner)
Metal masters Trivium return to the spotlight with another incredible collection of riffs and soaring anthems on In The Court Of The Dragon. The impressive creative run the band has been on over the last decade continues with this release, furthering their efforts to blend technical prowess with commercial accessibility. The result is a record packed with massive stories conveyed as only Matt Heafy and his bandmates can deliver. It’s a fascinating and deeply enjoyable release that further argues for Trivium to be crowned the kings of modern metal.
POORSTACY – Party At The Cemetery (10K Projects)
POORSTACY is the quasi-punk artist to emerge from Los Angeles with a Travis Barker cosign and a horde of teen fans. Party In The Cemetery delivers fourteen rock-influenced tracks that rally against oppression, heartache, and regret. It’s as if every line of every song POORSTACY pens is written with the sole intent of making the listener feel more alive, if only for a few minutes. Each track consists of bombastic energy wrapped around a frantic yet concise vocal performance that immediately hooks you. POORSTACY is not the only person making music like his or writing songs about these subjects, but nobody can duplicate the undeniable heart behind each note. POORSTACY wants to succeed, of course, but you get the sense that goal comes in a distant second behind making his fans feel less alone.
We Are Scientists – Huffy (Masterswan Records)
Indie pop is not a genre known for producing artists with careers that a decade or more. We Are Scientists is an exception to this rule. To be more specific, they set the standard that other artists should follow. Like other releases in the band’s catalog, Huffy continues the band’s efforts to refine further an already top-notch sound while remaining open to experimentation. In other words, it’s an incredible fun release that packs a lot of heart and technical artistry into a catchy work of art that listeners will find easy to enjoy.
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.
From Tremonti’s heaviest record yet to Sleep Token’s second offering, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
Tremonti – Marching In Time (Napalm Records)
Mark Tremonti is a modern rock god with a catalog of RIAA-certified hits to back up any claims to the genre throne he hopes to make. From Creed to Alter Bridges, and more recently with his solo band, Tremonti has proven himself to be a rock craftsman capable of balancing memorable hooks with heartfelt lyrics like no other. Marching In Time, the latest from Tremonti, continues his musical legacy by exploring his heavier influences. By combining a darker sound with lyrics inspired by recent events, Tremonti delivers the most urgent release of his career. These songs will live on forever, but they need to be heard today.
Sleep Token – This Place Will Become Your Tomb (Spinefarm)
Arguably the most enigmatic metal group on the cusp of mainstream stardom since Ghost, Sleep Token has spent the last few years building a devout global fanbase that is champing at the bit for the band’s sophomore release. This Place Will Become Your Tomb expands the sound of Sleep Token in daring and exciting ways, often stretching the idea of being a metal band to the absolute limit. As they explore the possibilities of their sound, Sleep Token conveys cathartic odes to love and death with a deep soulfulness that resonates long after each song ends. You won’t find another band doing what Sleep Token is doing right now, which makes them the best to do it by default. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of this record. You deserve to live deliciously.
We Butter The Bread With Butter – Das Album (AFM Records)
Anyone old enough to remember the height of Myspace’s popularity will likely remember the name We Butter The Bread With Butter. The group was a mainstay of various Myspace music charts, but they did not die with the once-dominant social media platform. WBTBWB has remained active throughout the last decade, and Das Album continues its efforts to toe the line between genius and parody with incredible precision. It’s perhaps the only deathcore album releasing in 2021 that is guaranteed to make you laugh and bang your head in equal measure.
Crisix – The Pizza EP (Listenable Records)
Is there any better combination than thrash metal and pizza? Spain’s Crisix is blessing the world with a fast and furious four-song collection loosely inspired by the world’s favorite meal. Tracks like “No Tip For The Kid” and “World Needs To Mosh” pulls listeners into a frantic world of chaos and noise that doesn’t let up until the record ends. Be sure to grab a limited edition vinyl before it’s too late. https://www.shop-listenable.net/fr/186_crisix
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.
From The Plot In You to the blistering debut from Spiritbox, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
You, Me, And Everyone We Know – Something Heavy (Know Hope Records)
Something Heavy is an album about doing the work most of us choose to avoid. It’s about opening all those old scars and processing the trauma of being alive in the modern-day. The fact the album is also one of the most fun and exciting releases of 2021 is something of a magic trick. Ben Liebsch and the rest of the band have crafted an enthralling record that will inspire you to work a little harder at becoming the best version of yourself. You’ll also want to sing along and dance, possibly while crying. That’s cool. Do what feels good.
The Plot In You – Swan Song (Fearless Records)
The Plot In You is an enigma. The Ohio quartet defies classification at every turn, and it’s safe to say they’re doing so on purpose. Rather than chase fame or Billboard hits, The Plot In You focuses on crafting something real in a marketplace of frauds. Their songs see the world for the way it is rather than the way they wish it were, and fans are grateful for the honesty. Not everyone is ready to face facts and accept their role in the chaos of it all, but for those prepared to feel something, Swan Song is the record for you.
Spiritbox – Eternal Blue (Rise Records)
It’s safe to say that Spiritbox has become one of the most talked-about groups in metal. “Holy Roller” established the band as a trio to watch in 2020, and their subsequent singles have only served to expand the vision of what the group hopes to accomplish. Eternal Blue is a sprawling and unpredictable record filled with poetic highs and gut-wrenching lows, each perfectly constructed by three like-minded musicians working as one. The album has a seamlessness that very few acts ever pull off, especially in metal, but Spiritbox makes it look effortless. You will think these individuals were put on this Earth specifically to make this record, and honestly? We have no evidence to say otherwise.
Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa (Napalm Records)
Tribal groove metal is a niche genre dominated by foreign acts whose lives and creativity are heavily influenced by their family and cultural history. Of the acts pursuing this craft on the international stage, few have made a name for themselves, like Alien Weaponry. Their music pulls from an ultra-specific sense of place and time that helps the group’s catalog stand out from many of their peers. Every band likes to believe they are the only band doing what they do, but in the case of Alien Weaponry, that may be true. No one else could make Tangaroa, and if nothing else, that alone makes it worthy of your attention.
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.
From Andrew W.K.’s divorce album to the return of punk legends Face To Face, there is something for everyone among this week’s best new music.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
Andrew W.K. – God Is Partying (Napalm Records)
Most of us think of Andrew W.K. as the party guard, but what about the human underneath? God Is Partying, the latest album and Andrews catalog is the enigmatic songwriter’s most diverse and challenging album to date. Fueled by a combination of apocalyptic anxiety and rumination on divorce, the 12 tracks on this record offer a bold and engaging exploration of the human experience at one of the strangest points in history. You will want to dance and cry simultaneously, but that’s kind of the point. Life is hell, but this life is all we have, and Andrew W.K. wants us to make the most of it.
It’s hard to find new ways to tell people about the intergalactic charm of Gwar, the wildest rock band in the universe. Nobody in music is doing anything like GWAR, and nobody ever will. From the lyrical content to the theatricality present in both songs and performances, these extraterrestrial rockstars are blazing a path for themselves that no one can follow. Scumdogs XXX Live! captures a live recording of the band’s biggest songs as well as any release can. It’s got the rough around the edges feel of a gig, but with the crystal-clear production of a studio. The result is a listening experience that comes as close to replicating the chaotic energy of the band’s live show as anyone could hope. It’s not quite like being there, but it’s the next best thing.
Face To Face – No Way Out But Through (Fat Wreck Chords)
California’s Face To Face are living legends in the punk community. For over a quarter-century, Face To Face has been writing material that inspires generations of young artists to pick up guitars or drumsticks and process their complicated emotions through songs. As adults with families, the men of Face To Face are experiencing an entirely new set of life experiences, each just as challenging and exciting as before. Rather than rest on their laurels, the band challenges themselves to find ways to address these situations and emotions through the style that made them famous. Not many punk bands are writing songs about what it’s like to be over 30, but when you hear how well Face To Face does it, it’s easy to understand why others may get scared. No Way Out But Through is not just the soundtrack to the rest of your life but the guiding rule. Come what may, the only way out is through.
The Dead Deads – Tell Your Girls It’s Alright (Rumble Records)
The Dead Deads are writing songs that challenge industry norms, and in doing so, they’ve become an emerging force of nature in the rock community. The three-piece isn’t afraid to combine their rock and metal chops with pop and soul elements to create something that feels new despite being deeply rooted in genre history. Tell Your Girls It’s Alright channels the boundless possibilities that exist within us into a record that combines spectacle with heart. The final product is a taste of what the future may hold for rock, and if you ask us, the genre has never been this exciting.
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.
From the return of Grayscale to the protest-ready work of Confused, there is something for everyone among this week’s new music releases.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
Grayscale – Umbra (Fearless Records)
Grayscale is not so much a band or group as it is a movement influencing every corner of the modern alternative music landscape. On Umbra, Grayscale’s third full-length album, the band sheds the wide-eyed optimism of earlier releases in preference of a more mature but still fun collection of tracks that probe life’s biggest questions. It’s as if the band can take any small moment and turn it into a metaphor about living better, healthier lives. You will walk away from this record thinking about the pop-rock genre differently, and that’s entirely due to Grayscale’s commitment to constant growth and progression. They don’t want to be the biggest band in the world, but they do want to be the next band that changes your life. Let Umbra move you.
Jinjer – Wallflowers (Napalm Records)
The world wasn’t ready for Jinjer when the band burst onto the international music scene in 2012, but that’s okay. Like all good groups that eventually become great, Jinjer needed time to refine their unique approach to music. Their sound is a combination of multiple metal influences combined over a soulful bed of rock aesthetics. Wallflowers, the band’s latest, continues Jinjer’s efforts to become the biggest rock band on the planet. Boasting massive hooks and unforgettable riffs, each song on Wallflowers plays with the same exciting unpredictability that has become a signature of the group’s sound.
For anyone feeling lost or defeated, Wallflowers is the record for you. It’s chock-full of anthems about the resilience of the human spirit, and really, who doesn’t need a reminder about their strength at a time like this?
Confused – Riot (Confused Records)
Canada’s Confused have written the must-hear album of 2021 for anyone looking to cause a little political upheaval. Riot is a raucous collection of protest songs and punk anthems for underdogs everywhere who are sick of living under broken systems controlled by the ultra-elite. It’s the kind of album you expect to be played during an actual riot, combining memorable hooks with crunching guitars. Vocalist Al Del Barrio summarizes everything nicely in a press release for the record by claiming, “We’ve never been shy about expressing what’s on our minds, and these songs definitely reflect where we are in 2021 after all the bullshit we’ve all experienced in the last couple years.”
If you’re sick of the world, Riot is for you. Please don’t sleep on it.
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.
From the debut of Spirit Breaker to the bone-crushing heaviness of Slaughter To Prevail, there are several notable records among this week’s new music releases.
We love our clients. Over the last decade in business, Haulix has played a small part in helping thousands of records reach tastemakers worldwide. Watching artists reach and even surpass their dreams is immensely humbling. We take no credit for anyone’s success, but we do want to highlight a few clients whose recent new music releases are currently on repeat in our offices. Check it out:
Slaughter To Prevail – Kostolom (Sumerian)
Describing Slaughter To Prevail to anyone unfamiliar with their music is a challenge. In the simplest terms, the European sextet writes bone-crushingly heavy metal songs that often move at the speed of light. Their music is fast, furious, and unflinchingly honest. There is no topic they won’t explore. If you want to know what the future of extreme music sounds like, Kostolom is as close as you will get without a time machine. Nobody is doing it like Slaughter To Prevail, but soon, countless knockoffs will arise. Get into the real thing before the real thing is hard to find.
Spirit Breaker – Cura Nata (Solid State)
Spirit breaker is not interested in a surface-level conversation with fans. The rising rock band uses their debut full-length album to plunge deep into the heart of the human experience. The group prides itself on writing honest and innovative rock songs that explore complex emotions and situations without losing sight of the catchiness needed to sell music. Threading the needle of being intellectually stimulating and inexplicably memorable is difficult for groups with many more years of experience, but spirit breaker makes it look easy. Here’s hoping that Cura Nata ushers in a new generation of artists who are similarly excited about figuring out this thing called existence.
Sepultura – Sepulquarta (Nuclear Blast)
Metal icons Sepultura mark another chapter in their career with their latest (and arguably greatest) live album. Sepulquarta captures the band at their best, delivering anthemic songs of passion and progression in the face of impossible odds to people who are living for each note they perform. The only problem is, those fans are not in the room. Sepultura made the entire live album in quarantine and fans streamed it while stuck in their homes. Still, it’s the kind of live album that convinces you never to miss another tour. Your wallet may not be ready for how good this record sounds, but your heart and soul will thank you for experiencing it.
Eyes of Perdition – Incendiary Truths (Self-released)
Eyes of Perdition’s intense debut EP takes listeners on an adventure through the real Las Vegas. Beyond the bright lights of the strip lies a city filled with broken dreams and hard people. There are problems with crime, drugs, and violence that are often overshadowed by the allure of a global tourist destination. I don’t know where Eyes of Perdition go from here, but the future is as bright as the strip that put their city on the map. Vocalist Lindsay O. Pulls from her traumas and experiences to deliver a story of perseverance and determination that is likely to inspire everyone who hears it.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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.
