STAGHORN + Decibel

“Wormwood III, despite your thoughts and opinions on the band’s environmental/DIY stance, politics and the intensity of their idealism which has them going all-in as opposed to just posting about it on Facebook, is a listen that’s easy to get absorbed by and lost in.”

-Decibel

Stream the new EP, Wormwood III, in its entirety via Decibel Magazine, here.

Staghorn was founded in South Florida by Jared and Lexy, later joined by a third member, Luke, and eventually transplanted to their current location of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. The collective imagined an origin story of "Staghorn" (accompanied by a comic book illustrating as such alongside their first EP), which tells of the fictional post-apocalyptic group of people who have traveled back in time to warn humanity of an animal revolt in the the future that will leave mankind on the brink of extinction. With two of the band’s members currently living predominantly off-grid, their environmental ethics and exhaustingly DIY attitude are at the heart of everything the Staghorn collective does, including their Mogwai/ Godspeed You! Black Emperor style of epic, introspective, transcendentalist compositions. Equally heavy in concept and musicality, their art is meant to create a soundtrack to a better world by highlighting that which is both bleak and hopeful along the way. Strongly principled as a do-it-yourself collective which operates Leave Your Mark Print Shop and Mills Custom Amps, the band uses their trades, creativity and compassion to affect a working, sustainable future: they create their own amps and cabs, print all of their own merch, and have records pressed that are predominantly made of recycled materials. In short, activism is the driving force behind every element of Staghorn’s art.

Wormwood III will be released as a one-sided, etched 12" EP pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Limited to 500 copies (300 on Coke bottle clear with brown smoke, 200 random color variant- a Shuga Exclusive) in partnership with Shuga Records in Chicago. This limited first edition release will be screen printed by hand on recycled paper. 

Preorder link here for coke bottle clear variant.

Shuga Records Exclusive random color variant preorder here.

Upcoming shows: June 21 - Lincoln, NE @ Duffy’s Tavern June 23 - Chicago, IL @ Francisco FunHouse July 5 - Urbana, IL @ Audiofeed Festival - Black Sheep Stage September 13 - Hamburg, DE @ Astro Stube September 15 - Ninove, BE @ Cafe Gonzo September 16 - Ghent, BE @ Kinky Star September 18 - Montreuil, FR @ La Comedia September 20 - Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana w/ yndi halda September 21 - Canterbury, UK @ UCA Union Bar w/ yndi halda September 22 - London, UK - Omeara September 23 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club w/ yndi halda October 19 - Indianapolis, IN @ Indiana State Brewery Post - POST. Festival October 23- Birmingham, AL @ The Firehouse October 24 - Atlanta, GA @ The Bakery October 25 - Savannah, GA @ The Jinx October 27 - Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST November 3 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk November 5 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Triple Nickel November 7 - Calgary, AB @ The Palomino w/ yndi halda November 10 - Vancouver, BC @ The Wise Hall November 11 - Seattle, WA @ Vera Project w/ yndi halda November 12 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir w/ yndi halda

LOW DOSE

Low Dose – the new Philadelphia band consisting of all three members of the late, great Fight Amp, plus electrifying frontwoman Itarya Rosenberg, formerly of Legendary Divorce – has revealed new song "For Sure," off its upcoming, self-titled debut album.

Stream Low Dose's "For Sure," here: 
https://lowdosephilly.bandcamp.com/

Plans for the full album release are still in the works as the band talks with labels, but "For Sure" is a pure gem of the Nirvana/Hole school of heavy punk rock, pointing to great things ahead. 

Fight Amp chose to end its run in 2016 while at the peak of its game – Revolver hailed that band's songs as "delirious sludge-punk anthems" and Stereogum likened them to Unsane – but with all three members back under one roof in Low Dose, the next chapter is here. "For Sure" burns with all the driving power and melodic prowess of Fight Amp, boosted to an even higher level by Rosenberg's howl-roar. Rosenberg states that her inspiration for Low Dose comes from an abusive relationship and long breakup she describes as "literal hell."

"For Sure" (and the album it is comes from) was recorded and mixed by Steve Poponi (Fight Amp, Psychic Teens) at Gradwell House Studios in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, and mastered by Dave Downham (Creepoid, Beach Slang).

A limited cassette single of "For Sure" and another album track, "Right On," sold out in 24 hours.

Low Dose plays its very first show, July 21st in is hometown of Philly. Stand by for more news as it develops.

Live:
July 21 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's w/ Purling Hiss

Lineup:

Itarya Rosenberg - vocals, guitar
Mike McGinnis - guitar
Jon DeHart - bass
Dan Smith - drums

Photo by Mark Diehl

STRUCKOUT + Gear Gods

"Big and dark hardcore outfit Struckout have some new tunes coming out soon. It’s very exciting times. One of those tunes, more specifically, is this spooky soul “Don’t Translate; Adapt”. Do yourself a favor and get lost in this one, because it’s 100% worth your three minutes.”

-Gear Gods

Check out Struckout's newest single, "Don't Translate; Adapt," as well as check out their rig setup, via Gear Gods, here.

Struckout is a noisy post-hardcore band from Long Beach, California, formed in 2012 by bassist & vocalist Daniel Speer, and later joined by percussionist James Goldmann and guitarists Josue Quiquivix and Garrett La Bonte. On Struckout’s third LP, topics range from the hollow nature of menial tasks at work, the exploitation therein, and the general meaninglessness of things, to what it’s like to live in the political climate of today, trying to push forward, and struggling/coming to terms with identity.

Struckout’s most recent self-titled album will be released on July 20th, 2018 and will be available on vinyl, CD, and cassette through Postmark Records, as well as digitally through all major outlets (including iTunes, Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, etc.).  Preorder here.

Self-titled LP: 1. Scratch 2. Tell Me You Feel the Same 3. Don’t Translate; Adapt 4. Queer Shit 5. Accrued Vacation Days (Daniel Listens to Krautrock Once) 6. Polaroid Pt. II 7. I Kind of Think Emo Music is Fucking Pointless 8. We’ve Tried Nothing and We’re All Out of Ideas

Upcoming shows: June 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Locker Room July 20 - Upland, CA @ The Palisades (Record Release) July 21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space July 27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Emerald House July 29 - Santa Ana, CA @ Beatnik Bandito August 7 - Long Beach, CA @ 4th Street Vine August 8 - Fullerton, CA @ Programme SK

THE MANX + Brooklyn Vegan

“...This new version of “The Rainbow Slammers” is a spastic, discordant, beautiful mess. It’s very cool, very weird stuff…”

-Brooklyn Vegan

Check out the new remix, “The Rainbow Slammers (HONUS HONUS REMIX)” feat. Buzz Osborne, via Brooklyn Vegan, here.

Mystery Skum and The Odyssey of Goo is a collection of previously unreleased tracks, remixes, reinterpretations, guest spots, and noise experiments, created as a companion to avant-garde punk act The Manx’s last LP, Voyage in Bad Taste. Guest features include Justin Roiland of Rick and Morty, Buzz Osborne (The Melvins), Ryan Kattner (Man Man, Honus Honus), JR Slayer aka Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers, Head Wound City), as well as many other respected artists. Lyrically, the band likes to make things “gooey and vibrant,” and the same can be said of their live performances (think sparkly hot pants and slime- lots of slime).

Mystery Skum and The Odyssey of Goo will be released on limited edition slime green cassette (limited to 200) as well as digitally. Preorder link here.

Mystery Skum and The Odyssey of Goo:
1. Hand Me The Flesh
2. Mystery Skum
3. Superbowl Funday
4. Plasmatic Debris (Tommy Meehan REMIX)
5. The Armenian Galaxy Overture (Paul Christensen ACOUSTIC VERSION)
6. Voided Voyage (Sexaroid REMIX)
7. La La La La La La La La La La La La
8. Sac Gargles To Transmed In His Pond Scum Vehicle (By DJ Embryonic Petit Sac)
9. Glorious Times To All That Suffer (JR SLAYER REMIX)
10. So Much Passion
11. Black In The Trash (304 Angstroms REMIX)
12. The Armenian Galaxy Prelude (Paul Christensen ACOUSTIC VERSION)
13. The Hateful Spew Has Been Digitized (Featuring Justin Roiland)
14. Sac’s Catastrophic Voyage (DJ Embryonic Petit Sac REMIX)
15. Ziggy’s World Of Wood
16. Salted Peanuts
17. Ziggy’s World Of Worms
18. We Are The Ones
19. The Tunnels Of Bad Taste (Sexaroid REMIX)
20. Arlo’s Soliloquy
21. The Little Lemons Of Diggity Doom
22. The Rainbow Slammers (Honus Honus REMIX)
23. Cody’s Candy Gyroscopics
24. Tighten Your Brood (Tommy Meehan REMIX)
25. Tighten Your Guys (Rossco Soletrain REMIX)

Upcoming shows:

July 28 - Tijuana, MX @ YouRevolution

STAGHORN + Metal Injection

“Intensely focused on instrumentation, Staghorn uses their arrangements and juxtaposes them with sections of a spoken word. Individual moments across the EP's 22-minute runtime showcase the band's knack for emotive rhythms and melodies and teasing time signatures. Consequently, these arrangements bolster Staghorn's message of sustainability and water conservation."
-Metal Injection

Listen to an exclusive stream of the instrumental version of Wormwood III, via Metal Injection, here.

Wormwood III was recorded at Earth Analog Studios (Owned by Matt Talbot of HUM)  in Tolono, IL by Aaron McAllister. It will be released as a one-sided, etched 12" EP pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Limited to 500 copies (300 on Coke bottle clear with brown smoke, 200 random color variant- a Shuga Exclusive) in partnership with Shuga Records in Chicago. This limited first edition release will be screen printed by hand on recycled paper. 

Preorder link here for coke bottle clear variant.

Shuga Records Exclusive random color variant preorder here.

Self-titled EP:

Wormwood - Chapter III

Discography:

Parousia I/ Kismet II EP, self-released, 2015

Wormwood III EP, self-released, 2018

Upcoming shows:

June 19 - Springfield, IL @ The Black sheep w/ LUME 

June 20 - Rock Island, IL - Rock Island Supper Club w/ Cloud Rat and Closet Witch 

June 21 - Lincoln, NE @ Duffy’s Tavern 

June 23 - Chicago, IL @ Francisco FunHouse

July 5 - Urbana, IL @ Audiofeed Festival - Black Sheep Stage 

September 13 - Hamburg, DE @ Astro Stube

September 15 - Ninove, BE @ Cafe Gonzo

September 16 - Ghent, BE @ Kinky Star

September 18 - Montreuil, FR @ La Comedia

September 20 - Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana w/ yndi halda 

September 21 - Canterbury, UK @ UCA Union Bar w/ yndi halda 

September 22 - London, UK - Omeara

September 23 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club w/ yndi halda 

October 19 - Indianapolis, IN @ Indiana State Brewery Post - POST. Festival

October 23- Birmingham, AL @ The Firehouse

October 24 - Atlanta, GA @ The Bakery

October 25 - Savannah, GA @ The Jinx

October 27 - Gainesville, FL @ THE FEST

November 3 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk

November 5 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Triple Nickel

November 7 - Calgary, AB @ The Palomino w/ yndi halda

November 10 - Vancouver, BC @ The Wise Hall

November 11 - Seattle, WA @ Vera Project w/ yndi halda

November 12 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir w/ yndi halda

JUSTIN PEARSON + Decibel

“Justin Pearson has had an interesting musical career, to say the least. From trolling Jerry Springer to collaborating with Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo, Pearson—best known by Decibel readers for being in The Locust, Dead Cross, and Retox—has been through a lot in his 27 years of loud, loud antagonism.”

-Decibel Magazine

Read an interview in which Pearson discusses the meanings behind a few of his songs in support of his new book, The Race to Zero, via Decibel Magazine, here.

Justin Pearson is an internationally known musician, record label owner (Three One G Records), author, and actor. He is perhaps best known as bassist and vocalist for bands such as Dead Cross, The Locust, and Retox. Having traveled the world touring in hardcore and punk bands since age 15, Justin has come to know and work with a broad spectrum of captivating personalities and brilliant minds, from being on the soundtrack to John Waters’ Cecil B. Demented, to acting in an Asia Argento’s Incompresa, to playing in Dead Cross with Mike Patton and Dave Lombardo, who he will be touring with throughout EU/UK this summer. The Race to Zero archives Pearson’s lyrics and prose from over the last two and a half decades.

The Race to Zero is available through Pioneers Press and Three One G Records. Order here.

Layout, design, and cover art by Brandon McMinn.

Published Works:

How to Lose Friends and Irritate People, Three One G, 2011

From the Graveyard of the Arousal Industry,  Soft Skull Press, 2010

See Justin on tour with Dead Cross:

Jun 19 - Lausanne, CH @ Les Docks
Jun 20- Cognac, FR @  Les Abattoirs
Jun 22- Vitoria, ES @ Azkena Rock Festival
Jun 23- Clisson, FR @ Hellfest
Jun 24- Dessel, BE @ Graspop
Jun 26- Eindhoven, NL @ De Effenaar
Jun 27- Hamburg, DE @  Markthalle
Jun 29 - Helsinki, FI @ Tuska Metal
Jul 03 - Berlin, DE @ SO 36
Jul 04 - Gydnia, PL @ Open’er
Jul 06 - Roskilde, DK @ Roskilde Festival
Jul 08 - Belfort, FR @ Eurokeenes
Jul 10 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkweg

POUND + Metal Injection

Head over to Metal Injection to get battered by "x.x-.x.x.-x.x" – the new song and music video by "hypnotic grind-duo" Pound. Metal Injection calls it, "a mix of controlled chaos and ambient charm... a video/audio experience you may need to see more than once to wrap your head around." 

Watch and listen, here:
http://www.metalinjection.net/video/grind-duo-pound-releases-hypnotizing-and-chaotic-new-video-for-x-x-x-x-x-x

Based in Seattle, Pound conjures jaw-dropping chaos and groove, via a baritone 9-string guitar and two drum kits.

The debut self-titled album is coming July 13th on Silent Pendulum Records. Mixed and mastered by Dave Otero (Primitive Man, Cattle Decapitation).

Pre-order, here:
Digital + vinyl: https://silentpendulumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pound

Digital + merch: https://pound.bandcamp.com

"Instrumental grind duo Pound play a super groovy, mathy form of the genre... The mathy chaos shares as many similarities with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah as it does with other grindcore bands."
–Decibel

"Hypnotic grind-duo Pound... with their catchy melodic grooves and truly unique approach to music making... a mix of controlled chaos and ambient charm."

–Metal Injection

Photo by Grant Staab