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 the return of The Maine to the debut of Domination Campaign, 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. Here is the new music you need to hear:
Domination Campaign – Onward To Glory (Prosthetic)
There is an undercurrent of aggression running throughout Onward To Glory that may cause listeners to drive fast, act reckless, and completely stop caring about the opinions of others. Domination Campaign has crafted an album for the battles we face in life. Each song plays like a call to arms, commanding listeners to get off their butts and make something of themselves. It’s engaging and propulsive to such an extreme extent that you cannot help being impressed at the band’s ability to maintain such a high level of energy throughout the record. You won’t need coffee or Red Bull after Onward To Glory enters your life. All you need to do is figure out what you’re going to accomplish first.
The Maine – XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time (Photo Finish / 8123)
The members of The Maine are outliers in the world of alternative music. After sneaking into the late-era neon phase of pop-rock with sugary sweet songs about young love and bad decisions, The Maine blossomed into touring professionals with a knack for infectious songwriting. They outlasted virtually every one of their peers by refusing to play by the established rules of the corporate music industry. The Maine owns their branding, their songs, and their legacy. They choose their destiny, and their fans help them make it a reality. XOXO: From Love & Anxiety In Real Time is another entry in an arguably flawless catalog, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, it’s incredibly good.
Empty Heaven – Getting The Blues (self-released)
There is no other artist like San Antonio’s Empty Heaven. An amalgamation of synthesizers and punk distilled with heavy literary influence, empty Heaven crafts genre-blurring songs about life and the concept of existence. You never know where the tracks will take you, but that’s part of the fun. Empty Heaven has the unique ability to make you think while also making you want to move your feet. It’s like listening to Aristotle ponder life’s biggest questions while simultaneously serving as the DJ for a party taking place in a middle-class American basement that is known online as a popular DIY venue. Suffice to say, Getting The Blues is the sound of the underground.
Lost Symphony – Chapter III (Self-released)
Lost Symphony exists at the crossroads of heavy metal and classical music. It’s a place where anything is possible, yet only a few groups dare explore. Every release is a big, bold, and expansive composition carefully constructed with the hope of sparking your imagination. It’s not hard to close your eyes during Chapter III and find yourself exploring a strange alternate reality filled with mythical beings and life-altering quests. It’s kind of like a choose your own adventure novel, only with a better soundtrack.
Trivium – In The Court Of The Dragon (Roadrunner)
New Music Friday is usually reserved for albums. There are far too many singles for us to highlight every song released every week by one of our clients, but every now and then, attract comes along that we must discuss. Trivium returns just a year after their last album with a brand new song that is sure to be played on a loop by metal fans worldwide. If anyone out there still doubts the talent or appeal of this band, “In The Court Of The Dragon” will convert them. It’s a sprawling tale of blood, death, and dragons that combines all the qualities that make Trivium’s music so great. The video is also a short film. Check it 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.
As we enter the back-half of the year, the Haulix team takes a moment to celebrate some of the best albums released thus far in 2020.
Believe it or not, we are only halfway through 2020. The year that just won’t end has already given us more than most as far as cultural shifts and life-changing headlines are concerned. From COVID-19 and murder hornets, to the suspension of live music and an inability to visit a movie theater anywhere in the United States, 2020 is challenging everyone to keep their head above water. It is also giving us some truly incredible records, and that is what we are trying to focus today.
Musicians in 2020 are more in tune with the state of the world than previous generations. Artists from every genre are discussing topics like politics and the economy in a direct manner, and very few are pulling any punches when about those in power. The music being created right now is doing more to unite people and bring us hope for a better future than any leader, and we believe more great songs are coming in the months ahead.
Picking our favorite albums of the year is a tradition that goes back as far as this blog. We never have the time to highlight every release that leaves a positive impact on us, but we did want to pull ten albums we believe are essential listening experiences. There is no ranking or order to the presentation here. We only ask that you set aside a little time to give each artist or group a chance to change your life.
Trivium – What The Dead Men Say
What The Dead Men Say, Trivium’s ninth studio album reflects on the past in hopes of saving the future. The band – Matt Heafy, Corey Beaulieu, Paolo Gregoletto, and Alex Bent – pull from everything they’ve done to deliver an album that serves as a thesis statement for Trivium’s career. It’s a relentlessly heavy, yet undeniably melodic exploration of existence that pulls from philosophy and mythology in equal measure to paint an elaborately-detailed portrait of what makes us human. Fans will hear hints of the youthful confidence that fueled Ember To Inferno and Ascendency, alongside the grit of In Waves and melancholy of Silence In The Snow. How Trivium combines these seemingly conflicting ideas gel is one of the record’s many wonders. That said, the real mastery lies in their ability to do so while also creating incredibly accessible music for new listeners. [Full review]
Run The Jewels – RTJ4
Run The Jewels could not have anticipated how much the world would need RTJ4 when they set its June 5 release date. Fan demand was already high, but after the last two weeks in America, the music of El-P and Killer Mike has a new sense of urgency. The booming beats and tongue-in-cheek lyrics on life and death in a broken system seep through your ear canal and take residence in your cerebellum. It’s a soundtrack to survival for a generation raised to believe that living under the surveillance of other people is normal that demands we strategize ways to create lasting change that benefits all people. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, but that’s okay because the outcome will be worth the struggle. [Full Review]
Best Ex – Good At Feeling Bad
Not one to fall into the tropes of Bukowski or Salinger that entangle many of her musical peers, Mariel Loveland’s style of storytelling is one of wide-eyed optimism presented in the face of uncertainty with unabashed honesty. She’s neither the hero nor the villain in her journey. Her perspective is that of a world traveler that has felt the overwhelming joy of mass acceptance and the cold chill of failure. Good At Feeling Bad is about what comes after all that, which is where the real adventure begins. Loveland knows anything is possible, and she’s open to whatever the next chapter entails. [Full review]
Lamb of God – Lamb of God
On their new, self-titled release, Lamb of God targets all the topics that most of us choose to ignore because implementing meaningful change often feels impossible. The band asks that we stop accepting a world where everything is on fire and demands that we do something about it. Everything from the opioid crisis, to school shootings and immigration, is put in the spotlight through some of the group’s heaviest production to date, all to make us pay attention to the broken state of civilization. If you’ve fallen victim to complacency, Lamb of God is here to deliver a wakeup call that will shake your bones and clear the cobwebs from your mind. It is a reminder that you are more powerful than you know, and it is your responsibility to use your strength for good. [Full review]
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit – Reunions
Reunions examines the role we play in the world around us. Jason Isbell and his band, The 400 Unit, leave no rock unturned in their search for answers to life’s biggest questions regarding purpose and grief. The album provides few solutions on either front but finds comfort in acknowledging that we are on this journey through the chaos of existence. If we can learn to love one another and shed the weight of stress and mistakes from our past, Isbell believes we can find a lasting sense of peace amidst the turmoil of our daily lives. It’s a big idea that some will think impossible, and he understands that. Rather than giving listeners an optimistic ear-beating, he focuses on crafting undeniably soulful songs in hopes people will reconsider our limitless potential for change. [Full review]
Dance Gavin Dance – Afterburner
Afterburner finds Dance Gavin Dance refining their talents while pushing the creative envelop wherever possible. It’s the kind of musical chaos and experimentation that would border on cacophony if it were attempted by anyone less skilled or in sync than the members of the group. Track to track, beat to beat, Dance Gavin Dance work to find new ways to catch fans off guard while simultaneously giving them precisely what they expect. It’s a magic trick of sorts, handled by musical magicians making seriously unserious music with the precision of fine craftsman. [Full review]
Dogleg – Melee
Dogleg, the latest in a long line of alternative bands to rise from the mitten state in recent years, is chasing dreams of changing lives and selling records with a passion unmatched by their peers. The band’s Triple Crown Records debut, Melee, speaks to that ferocity with ten songs built upon all the angst and stress of trying to survive in our modern times. It’s a cathartic collection of high hopes and broken dreams that reaches through the speakers with each note and lyric, urging listeners to get off their ass and influence positive change in the world around them. [Full review]
Body Count – Carnivore
Carnivore continues Body Count’s reputation for speaking their minds on the state of the world. It’s an album about taking life by the reigns, taking responsibility for your actions, and working to create the world you want to see. Body Count has grown tired of people complaining, especially when they’re not doing anything to influence change, so they use this record to ignite our collective desire to fight for a better life. They believe nothing happens unless you work to make it happen, and they use this record to urge listeners to take action. [Full review]
The Amity Affliction – Everyone Loves You…Once You Leave Them
Australian post-hardcore favorites The Amity Affliction are internationally recognized for their fierce lyricism and hard-hitting music. Their time in the spotlight has a devoted following of fans who wear their hearts on their sleeves with clenched fists and weary eyes. For them, the music The Amity Affliction creates is about more than trudging through the experience of existence. Fans know the group is writing to inspire rebellion, both from the world as we know it and from the people they were in the past, in hopes we all seek to reborn as better, more empathetic human beings. [Full review]
Hot Mulligan – You’ll Be Fine
Michigan’s Hot Mulligan is leading a long-overdue alternative uprising that emphasizes heart over tradition. Their music takes the moments in life most keep to themselves and leverages them through big hooks to create a welcoming, fully-transparent presentation that helps the group stand out from many of their peers. You’ll Be Fine teaches us how to be like them by urging us to get over ourselves before we become someone we hate.
Metal masters Trivium are planning to take the internet by storm with a unique livestream experience that is sure to please fans worldwide.
On Friday, July 10th at 4:00PM ET, Trivium, the kings of streaming who have been embracing the art of the livestream for years, will play their first live show since the April 2020 release of their new album What The Dead Men Say.
This will be a brand new production and the arena-style visual show will stream globally from Full Sail Live, the state of the art event, and broadcast arena at Full Sail University in the band’s hometown of Orlando, Florida.
Trivium will debut a new stage show that is cohesive with new album visuals and will perform songs from the new album on stage for the first time.
Pre-show festivities will kick off at 3:00PM ET and will feature event host Terry Bezer of the Mosh Talks show on Knotfest.com, who will lead viewers through interviews, clips from pre-production week, and an opening support slot from Reading, England’s Sylosis.
Tickets for the event are $9 and will be available at live.trivium.org on June 25 at 12:00PM ET.
Exclusive, limited edition event merchandise and VIP bundles can be purchased here.
A portion of the profits of the show will go to benefit the music therapy program at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, a non-profit hospital.
“We had to get creative when we heard there was no touring this summer,” the band explains. “We held off on the Zoom concerts and asked our creative/production team to come up with the biggest real-time live metal streaming event of the summer and what we now have to present to you is our show called ‘A Light or a Distant Mirror.’ This performance will be 100% live and is not pre-taped. We will have a brand new epic stage set and lights, and we will bring it 100 percent. We are thankful to our friends at Full Sail University, who are providing us a first class performance arena and the Maestro broadcast team for streaming our show to the corners of the earth! We hope you can join us.”
“Hosting this virtual concert with Trivium is a true full circle moment for us on numerous levels,” says Jay Noble, Full Sail University’s VP of Alumni & Event Production. “Before its release, the album What The Dead Men Say was recorded on campus in our flagship professional recording studio — the Audio Temple, with Course Director Darren Schneider serving as a Recording Engineer. That experience allowed us to welcome home Full Sail graduate and Trivium guitarist, Corey Beaulieu, alongside the entire band including lead guitar and vocalist, Matt Heafy, who can recall recording at Full Sail during his teen years. Through our latest collaboration with Trivium, we are excited to bring this unique livestreamed musical experience to Trivium fans, our university community, and audiences around the globe, during a time when music is needed most.”
Twenty-one years into a career built by defying expectations, Trivium delivers their hardest-hitting release to date on What The Dead Men Say.
Like Dante in Kevin Smith’s 1994 feature film Clerks, Trivium was not supposed to be here today. The Florida-born metal act rose through the hard rock ranks during a period when their peers seemed to disappear almost as fast as they hit it big. The world of heavy metal was (and in many ways still is) a fickle place where musicians are often forced to choose between creative fulfillment and appealing to the lowest common denominator. It takes a specific type of musician to endure the storms of criticism in pursuit of their artistic vision, and lucky for all of us, Trivium is that kind of band.
What The Dead Men Say, Trivium’s ninth studio album reflects on the past in hopes of saving the future. The band – Matt Heafy, Corey Beaulieu, Paolo Gregoletto, and Alex Bent – pull from everything they’ve done to deliver an album that serves as a thesis statement for Trivium’s career. It’s a relentlessly heavy, yet undeniably melodic exploration of existence that pulls from philosophy and mythology in equal measure to paint an elaborately-detailed portrait of what makes us human. Fans will hear hints of the youthful confidence that fueled Ember To Inferno and Ascendency, alongside the grit of In Waves and melancholy of Silence In The Snow. How the group makes this seemingly conflicting set of ideas gel is one of the record’s many wonders, but the real mastery lies in their ability to do so while also making an incredibly accessible record for those unfamiliar with their catalog.
Trivium recorded What The Dead Men Say in sixteen days, an accomplishment that speaks to their unified vision for the album. The ten-song tracklist touches on many topics, perhaps notable being a general unease about the world and our place in it. “Catastrophist,” the album’s lead single, makes this point clear as Heafy sings, “how far along before we fade away?” He uses the track to express his concern for the arch of humanity and our lack of empathy. To him, every step we take forward as a species comes with a cost that is all too often placed upon those least capable of paying, as he expresses with the line, “the arrogant numb to our needs.”
“Amongst the Shadows and the Stones” explores similar themes through the lens of endless war. Heafy sings about a mother reconciling a hellish landscape to feed her child and lessons learned through broken bones and corpses as thunderous production from Josh Wilbur adds extra bite to an already ferocious track. The energy of the song will make people move, but it is the message that lingers the longest. Trivium has seen enough to that know that substantial changes are needed to save humanity from itself. Until such changes are made people will continue to die for no other reason than making money with the blood of the innocent, which is something the band cannot support.
Does that line of thinking make Heafy an anarchist? Far from it. The overwhelming sentiment throughout What The Dead Men Say is Heafy and the rest of Trivium’s concern for others. As the title infers, we must learn from those that came before or we will be doomed to fall victim to similar behaviors. Trivium had no way of knowing their record would arrive amidst a global pandemic where the wealthiest among us are urging the working-class masses to return to normalcy despite scientific evidence that such actions would endanger their lives. Nevertheless, the band has supplied the perfect soundtrack for fighting against such tyranny with a perspective aimed at making the world a better place for everyone. What The Dead Men Say is a heavy record with heart, and it’s the second half of that description that matters most.
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.
