OUT TODAY: The Tunnel - Condemned/Collapse EP

 

Condemned/Collapse Recorded and mixed by Jordan Sobolew (Reptoid) February 2020 at Santo in Oakland, CA. Mastered by Kyle Spence (Harvey Milk, J Mascis, Kurt Vile). This EP is now available digitally: https://thetunnelsf.bandcamp.com/album/condemned-collapse

Watch the videos for both tracks of The Tunnel's EP, Condemned/Collapse, via BrooklynVegan.

See the video for track "Collapse", via Northern Transmissions, here.

“The new songs exist somewhere between the noisy post-hardcore of The Jesus Lizard and the gothy post-punk of Killing Joke, and each one has its own creepy black-and-white video created by vocalist/guitarist Jeff Wagner.”

- BrooklynVegan

San Francisco noise rock scoundrels The Tunnel have been perfecting their unique blend of haunted post-punk and swampy atmospherics since 2008. Crooked and restless, The Tunnel's discography draws apt comparisons to The Jesus Lizard, 16 Horsepower, Killing Joke, and The Birthday Party - an intoxicating mixture of outlaw ballads, cranky drum machines, sprawling sci-fi blues, and pummeling, angular deathrock. Sam Black and Jeff Wagner have served as the black heart of the band since 2010, with Black handling bass/electronics and Wagner howling haunted prose and heaving guitar tones.  Drummer Michael Jacobs (ex-pOrch) has transformed the rhythm section with his brawny dynamics since joining in 2018.

Cover art, music videos by Jeff Wagner.

 

Of the theme of the band’s two song EP, Condemned/Collapse, the band explains that it is impossible to feign a cheery worldview, and yet, “there is a jagged beauty and sense of humor in there, holding its own amongst the violence.” Both accompanying videos, created by vocalist/guitarist Jeff Wagner, have a similar/complimentary black and white abstract aesthetic, despite the fact the songs are different in aural styles-- “Condemned” a more melodic approach, and “Collapse” more abrasive and energetic.

Condemned/Collapse EP: 

1. Condemned

2. Collapse

 

THE TUNNEL website

Bandcamp

Facebook

IG: @thetunnelsf

Spotify

YouTube

Out today: TEDDY PANOPOULOS - Lost in Love

Lost in Love, the new EP by Teddy Panopoulos, is out today.

Stream and buy the EP, here:

https://teddypanopoulos.com/releases

Produced by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, P.J. Harvey), Lost in Love is the debut solo work by the NYC musician. 

Panopoulos' work as a member of Dead Waves (alongside his brother Nick) has been compared to Neil Young and Sonic Youth; Stereogum described Dead Waves as "a hypnotic, nightmarish dreamscape"; Noisey stated, the band "will make you stare at the sun and see the end of existence." Burning Ambulance described it as "bridging the gap between experimental rock and some sort of unknown, barbarous folk music."

Using only analog synths and his primal vocals, Panopoulos' songs on Lost in Love are truly haunting, unsettling, and beautiful – minimalist anthems of pure human emotion, continuing where Dead Waves left off.

“Lost in Love was produced by Victor Van Vugt, who has also worked with Nick Cave and P.J. Harvey, and whose expertise has really brought out the sense of isolation in the freaky psych-folk tracks that Teddy composed. They really sound like they’re being half-heard across a field out in the American west, terminating from some compound known to be run by acid dropping, neon cultists. And somehow that will make you feel at home. Trust in Teddy to lead you to the promised land!"
–New Noise

"Sorrowful electropop... 'Lost in Love' may be melancholy but it exists on a foundation of hope."
–CVLT Nation

"Anguished honesty... A raw, visceral quality that suggests a miraculous one-take capture."
–Echoes and Dust

Photo by Jeremy Balderson

THE TUNNEL - Condemned/Collapse Videos

“The new songs exist somewhere between the noisy post-hardcore of The Jesus Lizard and the gothy post-punk of Killing Joke, and each one has its own creepy black-and-white video created by vocalist/guitarist Jeff Wagner.”

- BrooklynVegan

Watch the videos for both tracks of The Tunnel's upcoming EP, via BrooklynVegan, here:

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/watch-the-tunnels-videos-for-both-songs-on-their-new-dark-noisy-post-punk-ep/

San Francisco noise rock scoundrels The Tunnel have been perfecting their unique blend of haunted post-punk and swampy atmospherics since 2008. Crooked and restless, The Tunnel's discography draws apt comparisons to The Jesus Lizard, 16 Horsepower, Killing Joke, and The Birthday Party - an intoxicating mixture of outlaw ballads, cranky drum machines, sprawling sci-fi blues, and pummeling, angular deathrock. Sam Black and Jeff Wagner have served as the black heart of the band since 2010, with Black handling bass/electronics and Wagner howling haunted prose and heaving guitar tones.  Drummer Michael Jacobs (ex-pOrch) has transformed the rhythm section with his brawny dynamics since joining in 2018.

Condemned/Collapse Recorded and mixed by Jordan Sobolew (Reptoid) February 2020 at Santo in Oakland, CA. Mastered by Kyle Spence (Harvey Milk, J Mascis, Kurt Vile). This EP will be available digitally September 25th. Preorder, here.

Condemned/Collapse EP: 

1. Condemned

2. Collapse

 

THE TUNNEL website

Bandcamp

Facebook

IG: @thetunnelsf

Spotify

YouTube

MOXIEBEAT + BrooklynVegan

"Were you burned out before the pandemic?

Is life not working out?

Have you failed more than once?

Is the repetition wearing you thin?

Does the uncertainty fuck with your mental health?

Have you discovered you’re not special?

Us too. KILL RESET."

- Brent Aragon (Moxiebeat)

Listen to Moxiebeat's "39-second hardcore punk scorcher," "Kill Reset”, via BrooklynVegan:

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/listen-to-moxiebeats-39-second-hardcore-punk-scorcher-kill-reset/

Moxiebeat is not just a band, but an Inland Empire collective of sorts that have worked to push their ethics in the form of creating local safe spaces for artists and activists, a record label (Ethospine Noise) since 2001, and music since 2013. It is a three piece noisy punk band made up of Tomas L. Acosta (Tomasacre) on drums, Brent Aragon (B-Train) as bassist/vocalist, and Fritz Aragon (Zufos) as guitarist/vocalist. Members of the band are also founding members of Riverside community radical space, Blood Orange Infoshop (RIP). Activities there included “art shows, running nazis out of town, harm reduction, homeless advocacy, and general activism.” Here, they booked similarly radical, heavy, and DIY-based bands like The Evens, Alice Bag, Cloud Rat, ACXDC, Hot Nerds, Despise You, Loma Prieta, Thou, The Body, Shit Coffins, and Graf Orlock. Rather than list bands as influences, Moxiebeat draws inspiration from friends, art, activism, everyday people and the greater DIY community. Given this, it’s no surprise that, when asked about the themes or lyrical/musical concepts found in Pop Sounds, the response was that it covers such topics as “death, despair, isolation, vulnerability, justice, activism, and destroying shit.”

Pop Sounds was recorded by Jonathan Nuñez (Torche) in Los Angeles, who started Nuñez Amps in 2017, the year this album was recorded. Moxiebeat was the first band to use Nuñez Amps/pedals in a recording. Mastered by Brad Boatright (From Ashes Rise vocalist/guitarist, mastered Off!, Sleep) at Audiosiege, in Portland.  It is being released October 30th on their label, Ethospine Noise, marking its 35th release.

BOOTBLACKS - "Hidden Things"

BOOTBLACKS: NYC post-punks release new track "Hidden Things" from upcoming Artoffact Records album "Thin Skies"

Bootblacks' new single "Hidden Things" is out now.

"Hidden Things" appears on the New York City band's upcoming new album Thin Skies, out October 9th on Artoffact Records.

According to Bootblacks frontman Panther Almqvist: “'Hidden Things' is about looking into darkness to find your way out of it.”

Stream the song, here:
https://bootblacks.bandcamp.com/track/hidden-things

Pre-order the album, here:
https://bootblacks.bandcamp.com/album/thin-skies

Thin Skies, Bootblacks' first album for Artoffact Records, zooms forward where its predecessor, Fragments, left off. Produced by Jason Corbett of Artoffact labelmates ACTORS, Thin Skies is a marriage of post-punk emotion and clubland sweat. The nine songs combine a driving, dancefloor pulse with soulful, melodic post-punk, yielding results that are positively anthemic.

Panther Almqvist's brooding voice captivates as it veers from detached cool to deep vulnerability. Guitarist Alli Gorman's hard jangle "channels the trademark delay techniques of [U2's] The Edge," in the words of Post-Punk.com. Keyboardist Barrett Hiatt's arpeggiated synths are the life force pushing the songs relentlessly forward, as Larry Gorman bashes a mix of acoustic and electronic drums with power and perfection. Backing vocals come courtesy of Shannon Hemmett (ACTORS) and Kennedy Ashlyn (SRSQ, Them Are Us Too).

As well as playing shows at every significant venue in its hometown of NYC, Bootblacks has toured North America and Europe, most recently being handpicked by Modern English as direct support for a 2020 North American tour (currently postponed).

More info:
http://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2020/07/bootblacks-thin-skies.html

Photo by Drew Reynolds

STARING PROBLEM - "Eclipse"

 

"This band is rad! On their new album, Eclipse, the band takes the ominous darkness of Bauhaus and shoots it up with the cool disdain from the likes of Honey Bane or Rubella Ballet. If you like punk rock, but often feel it's not quite spooky enough, or if you wish the Vivian Girls played around with black magick, here is the ticket."

- Punknews.org

Stream the album in its entirety, via Punknews.org, here:

https://www.punknews.org/article/73334/check-out-the-new-video-and-album-by-staring-problem

Staring Problem is a post punk, darkwave trio based in Chicago, IL, comprised of drummer Alix Carl, bassist Milo Mendoza, and guitarist/keys/vocalist Lauren Owen. These three collectively draw influence from the likes of New Order, The Cure, Mark Hollis/Talk Talk, and Parlor. The band’s debut tape in 2010 marked the first release on Modern Tapes, and both the band and the label couldn’t be happier to release this upcoming LP as the two simultaneously celebrate ten years of existence, percolating underground at their own pace outside of the expectations of the more traditional side of the music industry. Since their inception, they’ve released their tape and three EPs, with the upcoming Eclipse marking their first full-length effort. 

This release by Modern Tapes will be available digitally, as well as on vinyl with silkscreened jackets and silkscreened insert, September 23rd.Preorder, here.

“Eclipse” is the first vinyl full-length by this long-running Chicago post punk trio. Early goth overtones, proto-shoegaze allure and raw DIY production have informed this incredible collection of songs, which is definitely their best yet. Themes in Eclipse focus on plants and animals, love and loss, and  science fiction.

 

Eclipse LP:

1. Eclipse

2. Cheshire Cat

3. M

4. Primrose

5. Invisible

6. Spock

7. Branches

 

STARING PROBLEM

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STRANGELIGHT - "Digressions from Sierra Leone"

STRANGELIGHT: Oakland supergroup reveals "Digressions from Sierra Leone" single from upcoming debut album

"The twisty, smart, enlivening, and all around killer debut from post-hardcore expanders Strangelight... A sonic attack that combines the best aspects of the members other bands (Transistor Transistor, Kowloon Walled City, True Cross) with an extremely welcome and heavy dose of Propagandhi and Hot Snakes-esque rock n’ roll perversion."
–Decibel

Stream new Strangelight single, "Digressions from Sierra Leone," here:
https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2020/09/17/track-premiere-strangelight-digressions-from-sierra-leone/

Pre-order the debut album, Adult Themes, here:
https://strangelightoakland.bandcamp.com/

From Oakland, California, Strangelight rips the gate right off its hinges with Adult Themes – ten glorious chunks of anthemic rock n' roll by way of teeth-gnashing hardcore punk. The band consists of current and former members of Kowloon Walled City, Less Art, Transistor Transistor, Swingin' Utters, Cobra Skulls, and more.

Of the new single, guitarist/vocalist Nat Coghlan says, "It’s about musicians, actors, celebrities, whoever, benefiting from 'bringing attention' to an issue while not really doing anything to help it... and the irony of how the issue helps out the artist in question more than vice versa."

As Decibel reports, Strangelight's ruckus is likely to dazzle fans of Hot Snakes and Propagandhi as well as Coghlan's former outfit, the beloved Transistor Transistor, whose last album, 2008's Ruined Lives, Decibel called "feverish post-hardcore" and Revolver Magazine described as "discordant riffs and manic beats that unapologetically put the rock back in 'noise rock.'"

Adult Themes was engineered and mixed by Kowloon Walled City's Scott Evans and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Gouge Away).

More info:
http://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2020/08/strangelight-adult-themes.html

Photo by Sara Sanger

VIOLETIGER + Northern Transmissions

 

Listen to Violetiger's newest single, "Silver Plums", via Northern Transmissions:

northerntransmissions.com/violetiger-debut-new-single-silver-plums/

The best sessions are still the spontaneous ones, especially when they produce some song ideas forming a basis for what is to come. So it happened in 2018 when Violet Candide and her partner in crime, Tigerlilly, joined forces to create the Vienna-based synth duo Violetiger. Violet Candide’s name may also be recognized for her solo project Peppy Pep Pepper, an amalgamation of cold and beautiful synth and drum machine constructions layered with minimalist vocals in the style of bands like ADULT., The Normal, or Void Vision. Jumping forward, it is now 2020 and the intentionally anonymous and reclusive duo are releasing their debut ep, Transformation. Influenced by the dark 80s electronic era, they created songs for one’s own personal dancefloor apocalypse-- gloomy and detached, yet complex and driving. Transformation will be available at the end of September on the label Modern Tapes.

 

This release by Modern Tapes will be released digitally and on vinyl September 30th. Preorder, here.

 

Transformation:

1. Transformation

2. Eternal Avenues

3. Silver Plums

4. Rotation of Steel

5. Chair Loss

Out today: DEAD QUIET - Truth and Ruin

Dead Quiet's third album Truth and Ruin is out today on Artoffact Records.

Stream the album and buy it, here:

https://deadquiet.bandcamp.com/album/truth-and-ruin

From Vancouver, Canada, Dead Quiet's blazing jams are marked by soaring vocals, burbling organ, and crushing riffs, resurrecting the spirits of the hard rock and heavy metal titans of the late ’70s and early ’80s. There are traces of Deep Purple, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath, among others, but Dead Quiet rocks with a prowess all its own.

Frontman Kevin Keegan found lyrical inspiration from his day job, working on the front lines of the opioid epidemic in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Keegan is flanked by guitarist Brock MacInnes (of Juno Award winners Anciients), newest member Mike Rosen on keyboards, and the rhythm section of bassist Mike Grossnickle and drummer Jason Dana.

Truth and Ruin was engineered and mixed by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung) at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver. It was mastered by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Chelsea Wolfe) at West West Side Music in Hudson Valley, NY.

More info and images:

http://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2020/07/dead-quiet-truth-and-ruin.html

"A sound so expansive that you start to astral project into some blissful neon universe... Heavily-riffed, organ-laced parts that pull you into the darkness of your own soul..."

–CVLT Nation

"Organ-laced heavy blues met with post-hardcore crush..."

–The Obelisk

"Dead Quiet make music saturated with respect for the hard rock and heavy metal titans of the late ’70s and early ’80s."

–New Noise

"A stoner rock powerhouse."

–Invisible Oranges

"Heavy rhythms and riffs coupled with organ playing that sounds straight out of the 70s... The focus is to just get in, slay, and get out while still being catchy enough to stick the melodies deep in the brain cavity."

–Nine Circles

Photo by Milton Stille

DEAD QUIET + CVLT Nation

DEAD QUIET: CVLT Nation premiere Vancouver heavy metallers' third album "Truth and Ruin"

With Dead Quiet's third full-length, Truth and Ruin, out September 11th on Artoffact Records, CVLT Nation is now streaming the entire album.

Stream the album, here:
https://cvltnation.com/dead-quiet-truth-ruin-album-premiere/

Buy the album, here:
https://deadquiet.bandcamp.com/album/truth-and-ruin

Frontman Kevin Keegan has made this statement about the inspiration behind Truth and Ruin: "Myself and my bandmates Brock and Dana all work in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver as mental health, overdose prevention, harm reduction, frontline workers. It’s a real mixed bag of a job and definitely has its fair share of incidents... Finding dead bodies, dealing with the fentanyl epidemic and relentless overdoses as well as working with people with severe mental illness and addiction... My job title is Project Manager at a housing facility for drug users and those with mental health issues. There's a lot of trauma and death in this line of work so you really have to be ready for anything. There's really never a dull moment in this line of work."

CVLT Nation reports: "Riffalicious Rock n’ Fucking Roll! Even though the album draws inspiration from the grim reality of their day jobs, their music gives you a moment of peace and release from whatever bullshit the world’s piled on you that day. Maybe it’s the moments where they break out into a sound so expansive that you start to astral project into some blissful neon universe. Or maybe it’s the heavily-riffed, organ-laced parts that pull you into the darkness of your own soul to dig up your skeletons and burn them. Whatever it is about Dead Quiet, if you love to be pummelled by drums and electrified by riffs and surrounded by the greasy embrace of rock n’ roll, then you’re gonna love... Truth and Ruin."

From Vancouver, Canada, Dead Quiet's blazing jams are marked by soaring vocals, burbling organ, and crushing riffs, resurrecting the spirits of the hard rock and heavy metal titans of the late ’70s and early ’80s. There are traces of Deep Purple, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath, among others, but Dead Quiet rocks with a prowess all its own.

Keegan is flanked by guitarist Brock MacInnes (of Juno Award winners Anciients), newest member Mike Rosen on keyboards, and the rhythm section of bassist Mike Grossnickle and drummer Jason Dana.

Truth and Ruin was engineered and mixed by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung) at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver. It was mastered by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Chelsea Wolfe) at West West Side Music in Hudson Valley, NY.

More info and images:
http://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2020/07/dead-quiet-truth-and-ruin.html

Photo by Taylor Bourque

TEDDY PANOPOULOS - "If You Ever Come Down"

TEDDY PANOPOULOS: Echoes and Dust premieres Dead Waves frontman's new solo track, calls it "raw, visceral, miraculous"

Dead Waves frontman Teddy Panopoulos' first solo EP, Lost in Love, is 12 minutes of pure pain and wonder, direct from his soul to your ears. Panopoulos creates little anthems out of analog synths and raw wails, produced by Victor Van Vugt (Nick Cave, P.J. Harvey), and today Echoes and Dust is premiering the EP's opening track, "If You Ever Come Down."

Stream the track, here:
https://www.echoesanddust.com/2020/09/exclusive-track-stream-teddy-panopoulos-if-you-ever-come-down/

Pre-order the EP, here (out September 25th on Entheon Records):
https://teddypanopoulos.com/releases

Echoes and Dust reports: “Nowhere is his anguished honesty more evident than in opener ‘If You Ever Come Down’, a short, sharp 'crie de coeur' with a raw, visceral quality that suggests a miraculous one-take capture."

Under the Dead Waves banner, Panopoulos and his brother Nick have released three full-lengths and three EPs, all within half a decade. Burning Ambulance described Dead Waves' most recent album, 2018's God of the Wild, as "bridging the gap between experimental rock and some sort of unknown, barbarous folk music," likening it to Sonic Youth, Neil Young, and Wolves in the Throne Room, while CVLT Nation called it "fragile, and full of cosmic pain." Noisey proclaimed: “Dead Waves will make you stare at the sun and see the end of existence.”

Where God of the Wild left off, Teddy Panopoulos now carries on. Even more minimal, even more raw than what came before, Lost in Love removes layers and exposes this tortured soul that much more clearly. Truly haunting, truly unsettling, truly beautiful, Lost in Love might be the purest account of the human condition we will hear this year.

Photo by Jeremy Balderson

SWING KIDS - "Fake Teeth" Video

 

"Swing Kids were one of the key bands of San Diego's chaotic '90s post-hardcore scene... and despite only lasting for three years and 11 songs (including a cover of Joy Division's "Warsaw"), they've proven to be highly influential on post-hardcore, emo, and screamo bands for many years to come."
- BrooklynVegan

Watch the new video, created by Displaced/Replaced, for track "Fake Teeth", via BrooklynVegan:

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/swing-kids-prep-full-discography-anthology-release-watch-a-new-video/

Swing Kids formed in the mid 90’s out of a mix of obscure punk, hardcore, and geography-specific social politics. The band, made up of Justin Pearson, Jose Palafox, John Brady and Eric Allen drew inspiration from jazz and swing era ethics, creating a strand of genre-defying music. The band was short lived, documenting their entire existence in a handful of songs/releases over a couple of years. The band did their last few shows recruiting Jimmy Lavalle who was part of notable acts such as The Locust, The Crimson Curse, The Black Heart Procession, Gogogo Airheart, and Album Leaf, to play second guitar. Then the unexpected happened; guitarist and founding member of Swing Kids and Unbroken, Eric Allen, took his own life. Over a decade later, Eric still lives on in his music. The final chapter of the band was written, as the remaining members had the opportunity to play two benefit shows in Southern California raising thousands of dollars for charity. The shows, or “funerals” as the band members looked at it, displayed that the band’s spirit will live on, and showcased the evolution of the remaining members’ musicianship. Jose Palafox went on to play in notable acts such as Tit Wrench, Bread and Circuits, Yaphet Kotto, and Baader Brains. Bassist John Brady has since played in Sweep The Leg Johnny and Agonista. Vocalist Justin Pearson is known for contributing to a multitude of bands and projects over the years including Dead Cross, The Locust, Retox, Planet B, Head Wound City, and Deaf Club.

This release by Three One G will be available digitally, as well as a limited edition of 500 “antifa colored” black and red splattered vinyl with gatefold cover. Preorder, here.

 

Anthology has been re-mastered by Brent Asbury. Layout and design by Bran Moon.

RYAN BUTLER fundraiser

Our comrade Ryan Butler — guitarist of Landmine Marathon and recording engineer for Exhumed, Misery Index, Ghoul, and more — is battling an extremely rare liver disorder called Wilson’s Disease. This is a life threatening situation and Ryan was recently added to the liver transplant list. Fundraising efforts have begun to offset medical debts and living expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/24cmxss8eo

The Chain's Curran Reynolds states: "Working as publicist for Landmine Marathon was a high point in my career. Ryan has contributed a ton to the scene in Phoenix and beyond, and it's great to see people coming together to support him right now."

Former Landmine Marathon vocalist Grace Perry states: “If you’re lucky enough to call him a friend, you know how much he has given and impacted the local music scene over the past several decades... I spent over 7 years in a band with this hunk of burning love and can’t begin to explain how amazing he really is. Sending him and his family all my love and compassion during this difficult time."

Former Landmine Marathon bassist Matt Martinez states: “Ryan is a great friend to so many of us. Ryan has more than likely entered and impacted your lives through music; As a member of the bands Landmine Marathon, Unruh, Northside Kings and many more, he has released music to critical acclaim, toured the world and established countless lifelong friendships. As the owner and engineer of Arcane Digital recording studio, he produced, engineered, mixed and mastered an impressive catalog of music that fills our record collections... In 2019, Ryan was diagnosed with Wilson’s Disease; this is the same disease that took his mother’s life. Wilson’s Disease is an extremely rare, inherited disease that causes excessive copper to accumulate in the liver. Unfortunately the disease has progressed to the point where liver failure is inevitable. Luckily, Ryan was recently put on the list for a liver transplant. The transplant will eradicate the disease and return Ryan to a much more normal way of life. We expect a suitable donor organ to be found very soon (weeks or months). Knowing that these are both financially and emotionally stressful times for all of us, we are humbly reaching out to our strong and powerful community and extended family to help offset some of the overwhelming financial impact of the journey of healing that Ryan is taking on."

Photo by Fred Pessaro