Merzbow & Meat Beat Manifesto
Extinct
Cold Spring (2024)
Extinct is a meeting of giants, seeing the breakbeat-fueled leftfield industrial electronic of Meat Beat Manifesto clashing with the noise onslaught of Merzbow. As the first of the record’s two tracks, “¡FLAKKA!” settles in, it is the intricate and layered rhythmic backbone of MBM prevails, setting the tone. It is a post-club application, the staggered percussion forming complex structures and … Read more
Mouth Wound
Tallow
Handmade Birds (2024)
Alright! Handmade Birds, easily one of the most important underground extreme/experimental labels of the '10s, is entering a new phase with their Literary Criticism series of releases. The introduction is now upon with Mouth Wound, the project of artist extraordinaire, Trine Paaschburg, who dives head first into the intersection between dark ambient, noise, and industrial. Paaschburg has already been making … Read more
Night Court
$hit Machine
Recess (2024)
Forget all the stereotypes about punk. Night Court are a punk band, but they aren’t nihilistic or aggressive. Instead, they’re scrappy and DIY and -- while they are certainly cynical at times -- they carry an air of positivity. It’s a well-defined sound on the band’s fourth LP, with 17 bouncy songs to singalong to. “Human Torch” is a fitting … Read more
Night Jobs
Shop Dog EP
Independent (2024)
Can a band sound too personal? Too local? These are my burning questions as I break down the latest EP from Night Jobs of Minneapolis. The lyrics of these five songs are highly personal, from adopting pets to local transit routes to calling out people, by name, who have caused strife. They say to write what you know, and Night … Read more
Nightfreak
Nightfreak
Big Neck Records (2024)
Semi-feral punk outfit NightFreak are back with a self-titled LP filled with breakneck riffs and 70s metal bombast. The Chicago group haven’t slowed down since 2022’s Speed Trials but they have filled out. NightFreak the album is lousy with warm back beats and melodic guitars; although, hardcore vocals and tight drums still reign supreme. Album opener “Blackout” is dead serious … Read more
No Future
Mirror
Iron Lung (2024)
No Future are unleashing their debut record, following many short-fused, chaotic EPs and demos. The hardcore punk band from down under subscribes to the genre’s noisier, most extravagant, and brutal sub-division. Mirror’s energy is outright belligerent, capable of inflicting maximum damage with its minimalistic tendencies. The electrifying effect of “Silent Morality” is explosive, with a hi-hat sound capable of literal … Read more
Økse
Økse
Backwoodz Recordz (2024)
Økse is a gathering of brilliant, creative minds. The project's roster is pristine, with avant-jazz phenoms Mette Rasmussen on saxophone, Savannah Harris on drums, and Petter Eldh on bass/synths/samplers joining electronic artist and multidisciplinery extraordinaire Val Jeanty (of the fantastic Turning Jewels Into Water project.) The result is a multi-faceted work that stands on top of multiple sonic pillars, as … Read more
Pearl Jam
Dark Matter
Monkey Wrench, Republic (2024)
When Pearl Jam dropped Gigaton in 2020 - a mere two weeks after the world shut down, there was a lot of fear and uncertainty about what track we were on as a society, and even as a species. We clung to whatever north star could guide us through those dark times. So it really says something that still, four … Read more
Pharmakon
Maggot Mass
Sacred Bones (2024)
Pharmakon's body of work is a visceral etude on the human condition. Since 2013 with the release of Abandon, Margaret Chardier has explored the darkest sides of the human mind, psyche, and body through the fierce nature of power electronics. This path resulted in the absolute highlight with 2019's Devour, with Chardier perfecting her style. Noise storms raging, abstracted rhythmic … Read more
Pinhead Gunpowder
Unt
1-2-3-4 Go! Records (2024)
Pinhead Gunpowder began in 1990, recording a 7” in 1991. The band last released a 7” in 2008… Until late 2024 when the band returned with the 14-song full-length Unt. So congratulations if you had “we get a new Pinhead Gunpowder record before a new D4 record on your bingo card. (These two bands released a split 7” in 2000 … Read more
Planet B
Fiction Prediction
Three One G (2024)
Justin Pearson. The only person who you could hear Mike Patton say “Goddamn, that guy’s in a lot of bands”. And it’s true. The list of groups Pearson has been a part of reads longer than his lyric sheets. But within the myriad of music the man has released, Planet B is somewhat of an anomaly. There are synths. There … Read more
Post Scriptvm
Eisstoß
Tesco Organisation (2024)
Post Scriptvum’s works are defined by their hypnagogic quality, and ability to construct a harsh dreamscape and lead the listener through. Take the start of their newest record, Eisstoß, as an example. “Frazil” unfolds slowly, the beeping sound mimicking a faraway radar trying to slowly cartograph the unknown space. This anchoring quality is vital in any noise and power electronics … Read more
Rob Moss and Skin-Tight Skin
Records
Rock On Records (2024)
Rob Moss was a member of one of my favourite D.C early hardcore bands, Government Issue as well as Artificial Peace. While Rob officially joined Government Issue in 1983 and played on their US tour, one could say he was a GI since the band began. Rob not only sang backup vocals on the Legless Bull E.P., he made that … Read more
Scrunchies
Colossal
Learning Curve Records (2024)
I’ve covered a lot of bands in the Scrunchies family tree in the past, so Colossal is pretty much what I expected. Yet, at the same time, it’s a slight turnaround in style for the band, who released Feral Coast in 2022, which was a punkier sound. Their third LP, on new label Learning Curve, Colossal takes a hard ‘90s … Read more
Sex Organs
We're Fucked
Voodoo Rhythm (2024)
Sex Organs is a duo based between The Netherlands and Switzerland, formed by members of The Anomalys and The Jackets who play scuzzy garage-punk while dressed as genitalia. Obviously, it’s a gimmick where the band has a focus on their fun, sex positive message rather than breaking new artistic ground. That’s a short way of saying this record reminds me … Read more
Shehehe
Namedroppers
Say-10 (2024)
Shehehe, from Athens, GA, deliver a powerful sound that’s part rip-roarin’ rock ‘n’ roll, and equal part Ramones. It’s as classic as it gets in a way, while still feeling like a unique band that’s doing their own thing. Throw in a dose of DIY grit, and you’ve got their general sound. It’s punk rock from the heart, where you … Read more
Spells
Past Our Prime
Big Neck Records, Keep It a Secret Records, Rad Girlfriend Records, Shield Recordings, Snappy Little Numbers (2024)
Calling your record Past Our Prime and then having a song named “Past My Prime” is messing with my head as I write this. But while there is no arguing that SPELLS are a self-aware band, that’s about as much as they’ll really mess with the listener on this record, titled (again), Past Our Prime. Musically speaking, the band play … Read more
Sprints
Letter to Self
City Slang (2024)
Rage meets dance-punk on Dublin four piece, SPRINTS’, first full length release. After a smattering of well received singles and a trail of blazing live performances, the group released their album following the success of their previous EP, A Modern Job. The Irish punk band’s star continues to rise in the good company of contemporaries Fontaines DC and Pillow Queens- … Read more
