Category Archives: New Music
Luther, hailing from Philadelphia, has already made quite a name for themselves in their brief existence. The band has played with everyone from The Menzingers and Dave Hause to The Bouncing Souls and Hot Water Music. With a 7-song EP and a 4-way split under their belt, Luther’s first full-length effort, Let’s Get You Somewhere Else, was released on October 9th through Chunksaah Records.
The album kicks off with “The Concrete Sound,” which immediately brings to mind Apathy and Exhaustion-era Lawrence Arms. Continue reading
Leave a comment | tags: chunksaah records, fest, Hot Water Music, let's get you somewhere else, luther, luther cd, philadelphia, philadelphia punk, philly punk, punk rock, Static Radio, The Arteries, the bouncing souls, the lawrence arms, the smoking popes | posted in New Music, News, Reviews
Impressive dynamics, scathing lyrics, and artistic cohesiveness have accurately characterized Propagandhi in the past; the same applies here, on Propagandhi’s sixth full-length and Epitaph Records debut, but these characteristics are on such prominent display this time around that I can’t help but hail Failed States as the band’s best release.
On Failed States, Propagandhi critiques subjects ranging from human nature to the often deafening effects of social media — some broad subjects, for sure, but their vitriol is just as passionately applied to specific current events. On “Rattan Cane,” bassist Todd Kowalski assumes the menacing voice of an Indonesian police officer as he, in his fascist act of “spiritual cleansing,” shaves the head of a young punk. The empowering “Cognitive Suicide,” meanwhile, addresses the degrading “gender verification” of Olympic track runner Caster Semenya in 2009. “Are they terrified of unobscured and brilliant colours?” asks Kowalksi. “Perhaps you cracked the door to their own forbidden worlds.” The song is annotated with additional words of encouragement for Semenya.
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Leave a comment | tags: A Wilhelm Scream, canada, canadian punk, caster semenya, chris hannah, Epitaph, epitaph records, failed states, g7, g7 welcoming committee, propagandhi, todd kowalski | posted in New Music, Reviews
Cerce (pronounced “sir-say”) is a fierce, scorching, raging fire, with flames that rip forth unpredictably, burning fast. The 5-piece Boston band just released their self-titled, 6-song EP/7”, so I grabbed a fire extinguisher and gave it a listen.
The EP opens with a slow, brooding, feedback-heavy, meandering instrumental. The song helps set the stage for the pain, furor, and soul-baring to come, almost lulling you, before seamlessly plowing into the second track, “Weary,” drums pounding at a very fast tempo. Continue reading
Leave a comment | tags: Becca Cadalzo, boston, boston hardcore, boston punk, cerce, hardcore, Patrick Talesfore, punk, Tim Altieri, Zac Suskevich, Zach Weeks | posted in New Music, Reviews
When you start listing the bands that Ryan Seagrist and Pat Schramm have been involved with, it kind of makes sense that they have produced a demo that leaves you desperate for more. Between them, they have played with bands such as Discount, Latterman, Bridge & Tunnel, Fellow Project, and Monikers.
But with Young Ladies, these two friends based in NYC have produced something that is a departure from their trademark sound and lets them showcase a different side of their song writing, leaning more towards indie rock or 90s alternative than straight forward punk rock.
I spoke to Ryan and asked him how the project came about.
“I work in a recording studio sometimes in the city, had a couple of free days, and Pat and I went in and just finished those three tunes. We posted the songs and have already gone through a few hundred downloads. So we’re really stoked,” Ryan explained.
With this demo, Young Ladies have taken the themes of friendship, loss, loneliness, and big city life that have run through so many of their previous bands lyrics and delivered them in way that lets them step out from the shadows of their other projects and I, for one, can’t wait to hear more.
Leave a comment | tags: bandcamp, Bridge & Tunnel, bridge and tunnel, discount, Fellow Project, free download, latterman, monikers, new york city, NYC, Pat Schramm, punk rock, rock, Ryan Seagrist | posted in New Music
It has been quite a year for No Weather Talks. Next month they will play their first US show at FEST 11, coming only weeks after sharing stages with bands such as Latterman, Banner Pilot, and Crusades in their native Germany. Despite only forming late last year, Hamburg’s No Weather Talks has been making a lot of Festers’ “must see” lists after releasing an incredible demo earlier this year.
The 4-song demo opens with “Separation Perfected,” where Painted Thin-esque melodies wrestle with driving guitars and a sing-a-long chorus. “Forever Tomorrow” brings the demo to a close with female/male dual vocals working in perfect harmony, never fighting for attention, but rather complementing each other over Dischord-influenced angular guitar riffs.
Sadly, any new female-fronted band seems to receive the same old, lazy comparisons to those that have gone before, but these five friends are not the new Discount or Germany’s Fifth Hour Hero; they are No Weather Talks and they could be your new favourite band.
You can catch No Weather Talks at FEST 11 on Saturday, October 26 at Boca Fiesta at 7:10pm.
Leave a comment | tags: Banner Pilot, Crusades, dischord, fest, fest 11, germany, germany punk, hamburg, hamburg punk, latterman, no weather talks, painted thin, punk rock | posted in New Music
After an eight-year silence, Pilot To Gunner is back, releasing a new song from their forthcoming album. And I couldn’t be more excited.
When their debut album, Games At High Speeds, came out in 2001, I was blown away. Between the song structure and the vocals, it sounded really fresh to me and I was sold. But after only one other full length, 2004’s Get Saved (also an excellent release), PTG appeared to vanish.
Well, they’re back. Guilty Guilty is expected to drop in October on Arctic Rodeo Recordings and, like Get Saved, was produced by the legendary J. Robbins. Rumor has it that it’s 12 tracks of awesome. I’ll let you know if that’s true once I get my hands on a copy (expect a future post)!
The new song, “We Die Today,” is streaming at Punknews.org. It’s just over three minutes of angular, rhythmic, rock and roll with Scott Padden’s distinct vocals dancing powerfully over the tempo changes. The hooks are huge, too, causing uncontrollable head-nodding and body twitching.
If this track is any sign of the rest of the album, fans of PTG will be stoked to find the band back on the scene. And those unfamiliar with the band should quickly familiarize themselves with the back catalogue.
Leave a comment | tags: arctic rodeo, arctic rodeo recordings, games at high speeds, get saved, j. robbins, jrobbins, padden, pilot to gunner, pilottogunner, ptg, punk, punk rock, rock, rock and roll, scott padden | posted in New Music, News
If you were fortunate enough to see Leagues Apart at Fest last year, you are probably already a fan. The Manchester, UK based band has been making friends around the world with their frenetic and fun live shows for years now. If you are in the crowd for their show at what is sure to be a packed Loosey’s at FEST 11, expect jokes, human pyramids, and plenty of beer. But, most importantly, expect to see one of the best bands England has to offer.
Leagues Apart proudly wears their influences on their sleeve – early Menzingers or Hot Water Music are a good reference point – but the band’s clever lyrics and amazing shared vocals add something uniquely English to the mix, making a sound that is all their own. With their most recent EP, Buffalo Club, the band does something very few manage; they capture all the passion, energy, and urgency you find at their shows and, in the process, make an EP that is virtually impossible to listen to without hitting the play button the second it ends.
Make sure you catch them at FEST 11 on Sunday October, 28 at Loosey’s at 5:10pm.
Leave a comment | tags: british punk band, buffalo club, england, fest, fest 11, gainesville fest, Hot Water Music, leagues apart, manchester, menzingers, punk, punk band, uk | posted in New Music, News
The Jealous Sound will be releasing their sophomore LP, A Gentle Reminder, on January 31st. The record is their first full-length since 2003’s Kill Them With Kindness. The band has released 2 songs from the record, ‘Your Eyes Were Shining’ and ‘Change You’ as well as February tour dates which can be seen below.
Burnt Toast Vinyl has announced pre-orders for the limited test presses (no longer available) and the regular pre-order which consists of pink vinyl and includes a download code. Go here to pre-order A Gentle Reminder.
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Leave a comment | tags: The Jealous Sound | posted in Music News, New Music, News, Uncategorized
There really isn’t a good reason why Run, Forever shouldn’t already be your favorite new band. The Pittsburgh, PA-based trio has found their stride playing tunes that blend the folk-rock sounds of early Against Me! and The Sidekicks’ ‘90s emo-pop homage to create a sound that should be welcoming to anyone that appreciates anything that falls under the blanket term of punk music. The band’s debut full-length The Devil, And The Death, and Me is beautifully morbid and insanely poppy, and their recently released split 7” with Atlanta’s The Wild takes from the most intense, driving sounds of their full length and turns it up a notch. If you want to check out a band that in a couple months/years will have you can saying “I knew about this band before they got huge,” then go listen to Run, Forever pronto. A band this good cannot go unnoticed for very long.
Be sure to check out Run, Forever at FEST 10 on Friday Oct. 28th at The Laboratary at 11:20pm
Leave a comment | tags: fest 10, pittsburgh, run forever, the devil and death and me, the wild | posted in New Music, News
There really isn’t a good reason why Run, Forever shouldn’t already be your favorite new band. The Pittsburgh, PA-based trio has found their stride playing tunes that blend the folk-rock sounds of earlyAgainst Me! and The Sidekicks’ ‘90s emo-pop homage to create a sound that should be welcoming to anyone that appreciates anything that falls under the blanket term of punk music. The band’s debut full-length The Devil, And The Death, and Me is beautifully morbid and insanely poppy, and their recently released split 7” with Atlanta’s The Wild takes from the most intense, driving sounds of their full length and turns it up a notch. If you want to check out a band that in a couple months/years will have you can saying “I knew about this band before they got huge,” then go listen to Run, Forever pronto. A band this good cannot go unnoticed for very long.
Be sure to check out Run, Forever at FEST 10 on Friday Oct. 28th at The Laboratary at 11:20pm
Leave a comment | posted in New Music, News
National Underground 