Friday, October 30, 2020

OUT TODAY: Moxiebeat - "Pop Sounds"

  

"Finally, the first full-length album from this power trio. Pop Sounds shatter the senses with 18-tracks and 42-minutes of searing riffs and rhythmical disarray. MOXIEBEAT pulls you into a noise-repleted world where thrashing chords collide with rapid hits and droning train wrecks. Dark tones accompany themes of departure, justice and positive nihilism. Toss your phone in a landfill, Pop Sounds deflect all reception."
—Idioteq 

"With members having served time in bands Dogs of Ire, RogueState, Restrained; they’ve been collectively pummeling the Inland Empire for years. Lest I ramble, however glowingly, I’ll leave you with the band’s own succinct summary of their thematic through lines across the LP: 'death, despair, isolation, vulnerability, justice, activism, and destroying shit.'”
—No Echo

"They named their record for a genre with minimal soul, food that can’t nourish, and sound that’s fleeting. But when I hit play on this record they smash me with soul and force-feed me with knowledge, and I can’t stop listening until all 18 psychedelic punk tracks have had their way with me."
—Cvlt Nation

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. 
 
Pop Sounds is being released today on their label, Ethospine Noise, marking its 35th release. Preorder the transparent neon pink, limited edition vinyl, here:

Pop Sounds LP:

  1. Anxious Again

  2. Narito Kami

  3. Peoples Protection Program

  4. YouthxCult

  5. Salmutations

  6. Better Healing

  7. Fool Display

  8. Different Damnage

  9. Long Term Future Society

  10. Centuries of Reinforcement

  11. Theatre Melt

  12. Memory Gland

  13. Death Air

  14. Citizen of The World

  15. Kill Reset

  16. Nightwares

  17. Kingdom Crumbs

  18. Mutebox

CITY OF INDUSTRY - "Cabbages and Kings"


City of Industry's music video for new track "Cabbages and Kings" is now streaming.

"Cabbages and Kings" appears on upcoming new album, False Flowers, out December 4th on Amerikan Aesthetics.

Pre-order the album, here: 

From Seattle, Washington, City of Industry mix earnest melody, crusty annihilation, and Seattle gloom – for fans of Ceremony, Dystopia, His Hero Is Gone, Pixies, and more.

Stereogum has stated recently, "City of Industry’s sound is a wracked, intense take on metallic hardcore; they’re the kind of band that would’ve fit just fine alongside Converge or Integrity on a late-’90s bill. But they’re not fundamentalists, and they also take inspiration from a few generations of scuzzy noise-rock."

The trio expands its sound into new realms of musicality on False Flowers, its third full-length. Anthemic hardcore is peppered with piano, viola, radio transmissions, and at least one majestic David Gilmour-esque guitar solo. Vocalist Ossa Humiliata lyrics, addressing both personal and political situations, are remarkably poetic; he names Rainer Maria Rilke and W.H. Auden as inspirations.

False Flowers was recorded by Nich Wilbur at The Unknown in Anacortes, WA (Mt. Eerie, Sumac, Angel Olsen); mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Gouge Away).

More info: 

Out today: NETHERLANDS - Zombie Techno Undead


Just in time for Halloween, Brooklyn-based "psych-prog-sludge-pop beast" Netherlands presents Zombie Techno Undead, a new expanded version of their acclaimed 2020 album, Zombie Techno.

Zombie Techno Undead features three bonus tracks: "Go Wrong" and "P.T.S.D." are brand new Netherlands originals and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" is a cover of The Jacksons' 1978 classic, reimagined in true Netherlands fashion as a euphoric dirge.

Netherlands' as-yet-untitled sixth full-length album has already been recorded with Converge's Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio, mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Alexis Berthelot (Gojira, Frank Ocean), and will be released in 2021.

Stream the "P.T.S.D." music video, here: https://cvltnation.com/netherlands-p-t-s-d/

"Netherlands carry their anti-capitalist, pro-environmentalist messages on the back of a psych-prog-sludge-pop beast! Addictive, heavy, luminous sounds..."
–CVLT Nation

"Sludge-and-drudge psychic rock rascals."
–New Noise

"One helluva dark-disco blast that rattles the skeleton and gets them old bones grooving."
–Rebel Noise

Thursday, October 29, 2020

BEN WEINMAN + Empty Streets

Dillinger Escape Plan’s Ben Weinman teams with Empty Streets on new track to benefit animal sanctuary

–––––––

Dillinger Escape Plan founder/guitarist and Suicidal Tendencies member Ben Weinman has teamed up on a brand new track with Empty Streets, the solo project of musician Aaron Thompson.

The unlikely duo’s collaboration, “Fracas,” will be released Friday, October 30th, exclusively via Ben Weinman’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BenWeinman

A sample of the track is available now, here: https://soundcloud.com/party-smasher-inc-445478528/fracas-sample

All proceeds will go directly to Party Smasher Sanctuary, the New Jersey animal sanctuary founded by Weinman and his wife, currently housing over 75 rescued animals, including goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, horses, turkeys, and ducks.

–––––––

Inspired by their mutual love for animal rescue, Weinman and Thompson decided to collaborate on the new track and the result can only be described as the bastard child of Hans Zimmer and Nine Inch Nails, with some twists and turns a la The Dillinger Escape Plan's more melodic work. 

Many will recognize Aaron Thompson’s alter-ego, Small Hands, from his prolific body of work as one of the most celebrated adult stars of his generation. But before the tattooed Elvis was invited to Joanna Angel’s casting couch, he was setting stages ablaze around the globe as a rocker. Thompson’s newest solo project, Empty Streets, represents a return to form for this multi-talented artist.

Thompson had this to say about the collaboration: “Both my beautiful dogs are rescues, and I can’t imagine life without them. This track with Ben was a fierce, bombastic way to kick down some barriers, celebrate the Halloween season, and help a cause that’s close to my heart.”

Currently, while on hiatus from playing guitar with legendary thrash legends Suicidal Tendencies, Weinman has been scoring the music for the upcoming film, Red 48, starring John Malkovich, Michael Jai White, and Tyrese Gibson. After listening to “Fracas,” it is clear that this new cinematic direction for the former Dillinger Escape Plan mastermind has had an impact on his creative output. “Fracas” incorporates odd rhythms, beautiful soundscapes, and orchestrations that could easily lend themselves to film.

Weinman had this to say about the collaboration: "I've been trying to figure out a way to work on something with Aaron for a while now and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to throw a weird one at him, in the spirit of Halloween, while creating more content for my Patreon. Patreon has been such an amazing way to keep me making tunes while also helping me with the ever-growing expenses associated with taking care of approximately 75 farm animal rescues with my wife and kids.”

At Weinman’s Patreon, in addition to purchasing music for as little as $1 per song, fans can choose a number of other tiers offering behind-the-scenes interviews, merchandise, and Dillinger Escape Plan rarities.

Also check out Empty Streets’ latest EP, here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/emptystreets1/demons

And enjoy Thompson's acting skills, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0b9HXdBotk

Weinman and Thompson are both available for interviews now. 



Wednesday, October 28, 2020

MOXIEBEAT + Cvlt Nation

 

"They named their record for a genre with minimal soul, food that can’t nourish, and sound that’s fleeting. But when I hit play on this record they smash me with soul and force-feed me with knowledge, and I can’t stop listening until all 18 psychedelic punk tracks have had their way with me."
- Cvlt Nation

Stream Moxiebeat's new "vicious psychedelic punk" album, Pop Sounds, in its entirety, via Cvlt Nation, here:

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.
 
Pop Sounds is being released October 30th on their label, Ethospine Noise, marking its 35th release. Preorder the transparent neon pink, limited edition vinyl, here.

Friday, October 23, 2020

RED FICTION + Metal Injection

 

"Red Fiction drags you into jazzy metal Hell with new song 'Laceration,' featuring baritone sax recorded through Marshall stacks, ambient field recordings, Moog analog synthesizers, and 60's Fender bass VI."
- Metal Injection

Hear the premiere of the "brilliant insanity"that is "Laceration," via Metal Injection, here:

Red Fiction (formerly Atomic Ape) was founded in 2012 by Jason Schimmel in Los Angeles, CA. The band has two prior releases under Atomic Ape: a full length album, Swarm, and 7” vinyl, Rampage, were both released in 2014 on Web of Mimicry. Jason Schimmel, who plays guitar, keyboard and bouzouki in Red Fiction, is a current member of Secret Chiefs 3, a band founded by Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More). Jason is also a founding member of the defunct band, Estradasphere, and has performed concerts throughout the world with John Zorn’s Masada project. The band is also made up of Ryan Parrish (tenor and baritone saxophone), Max Whipple (bass), and Shawn Baltazor (drums). Atomic Ape has toured and connected with experimental artists of all kinds, including Mike Watt, Behold the Arctopus, INUS, Neil Hamburger, Fartbarf, Duk, Burning Ghosts, Qui, Corima, and Major Entertainer.
 
Visions of the Void will be available on John Zorn’s label, Tzadik Records, November 13th, 2020. Preorder, here.

Out Today: SWING KIDS - "Anthology"

 

"Swing Kids’ brief existence was fraught with equal amounts of creative triumph as personal tragedy and is set to be celebrated via 'Anthology,' a remastered collection of those eleven songs."
- Decibel Magazine

Stream the remastered album, via Decibel Magazine, here:

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, and 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, on CD, as well as three limited edition vinyl variants of 500 “antifa colored” black and red splattered, 250 blue and 250 smoke-colored, with gatefold cover. Order, here.

 

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

 

 One of Three One G’s earliest releases was Swing Kids’ S/T 7” EP, which featured four original tracks as well as a harsh version of Joy Division’s “Warsaw”. Soon after the band released this EP, they followed up with a split 10” EP with Spanakorzo, which shared band member John Brady. After a few short tours and a jaunt over to Europe, the band called it quits due to drummer Jose Palafox relocating to the Bay Area. Swing Kids did manage to track one last song, “El Camino Car Crash” which is the additional track on the digital follow-up of the band’s entire collection, simply titled “Discography”. Over the years, this nine-song collection would become a staple for the Three One G community. After the sudden and immense loss of founding member Eric Allen, the band reformed to play two charity shows in his memory, and the documentation of this final chapter was a self-titled 7” single featuring an updated version of “Situation on Mars” as well as a new track titled, “Fake Teeth”. For the first time, all of these tracks have been remastered by Brent Asbury and are in one physical release, the complete “Anthology”.

 

Anthology:

  1. Disease

  2. Line 1

  3. Clean Shade of Dirty

  4. Warsaw

  5. Blue Note

  6. Intro to Photography

  7. Situation on Mars

  8. Forty-Three Seconds

  9. El Camino Car Crash

  10. Fake Teeth

  11. Situations on Mars

Out today: STRANGELIGHT - Adult Themes


Strangelight's debut album, Adult Themes, is out today.

Listen and buy, here: 
https://strangelightoakland.bandcamp.com/

Strangelight is a new, Oakland, California post-hardcore dream team, featuring members of Kowloon Walled City, Less Art, Transistor Transistor, Swingin' Utters, and more.

The band makes driving rock n' roll, laced with teeth-gnashing hardcore punk and a dose of existential dread; for fans of Hot Snakes and Fugazi, as well as the aforementioned bands.

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


“An extremely welcome and heavy dose of Propagandhi and Hot Snakes-esque rock n’ roll perversion."
–Decibel

"A dark, dissonant and dynamic affair."
–No Echo

"One rager of an album. One that sneaks up on you and wins you over with catchy, garage-rock-damaged, post hardcore."
–New Noise

"In its subject matter and stark realism, the record reminds me of Pissed Jeans or what IDLES have recently done with their recent LPs."
–Echoes and Dust

“I like to believe that Oakland’s Strangelight is named after the Fugazi song from the seminal album 'The Argument,' and why shouldn’t they be... They’ve come together and they’re ready to knock down all doors with their enormous sound, built on Hot Snakes-fueled punk and adrenaline, stomping and thrashing one moment, dense and thudding the next."
–Post-Trash

"Centered around Coghlan’s howled vocals, fuzzy power chords, thunderous drumming and mosh pit friendly hooks, the song evokes the frustration of life..."
–The Joy of Violent Movement

"Noise rock-infused punk n’ rollers."
–Idioteq

NETHERLANDS - "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"


NETHERLANDS: NYC psych-sludge rockers release The Jacksons cover from upcoming "Zombie Techno Undead"

Netherlands, heralded this week by New Noise Magazine as "New York City’s sludge-and-drudge psychic rock rascals," have reworked The Jacksons' "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," into a euphoric dirge.

Written by Michael Jackson and brother Randy, the original track appeared on The Jacksons' 1978 Destiny album. Netherlands frontman Timo Ellis says: “I credit this song with being one of the fundamental inspirations for my wanting to become a musician at all.”

Stream Netherlands' cover of 
"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," here: https://thenetherlands1.bandcamp.com/track/shake-your-body-down-to-the-ground-undead-bonus-track

The cover is a highlight of Zombie Techno Undead, Netherlands' new expanded version of its acclaimed Zombie Techno album, originally released in June of this year. Out October 30th, just in time for Halloween, Zombie Techno Undead sees the addition of three bonus tracks, including The Jacksons cover and two new Netherlands originals.

Somewhere between the colossal weight of the Melvins, the sugary hooks of Torche, the gleeful drama of Rush, and the absurdism of Frank Zappa, Netherlands' singular sound lies. Falsetto vocals, brain-quaking synthbass, manic guitar shred and martial drumming combine in supremely weird, catchy songs that rage and groove, as frontman Timo Ellis (a Brooklyn avant-rock mainstay and collaborator of Yoko Ono, Cibo Matto, and many more) delivers scathing critiques of capitalism, materialism, and environmental devastation.

Netherlands' as-yet-untitled sixth full-length album has already been recorded with Converge's Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio (Torche, High On Fire) and mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Alex Berthelot (Gojira, Frank Ocean). 

Photo by Gus Aronson

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

RED FICTION + BrooklynVegan

"Kerberos" is a track that was inspired by the odd metered rhythms, virtuosic melodies and unique instrumentation found in Eastern European folk music. Our attempt was to blend those elements with the visceral power of metal and the subtle improvisational nature found in jazz."
— Jason Schimmel (Red Fiction)

Stream the "frenetic opening track" "Kerberos," from Red Fiction (formerly Atomic Ape), via BrooklynVegan, here:

Red Fiction (formerly Atomic Ape) was founded in 2012 by Jason Schimmel in Los Angeles, CA. The band has two prior releases under Atomic Ape: a full length album, Swarm, and 7” vinyl, Rampage, were both released in 2014 on Web of Mimicry. Jason Schimmel, who plays guitar, keyboard and bouzouki in Red Fiction, is a current member of Secret Chiefs 3, a band founded by Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle, Faith No More). Jason is also a founding member of the defunct band, Estradasphere, and has performed concerts throughout the world with John Zorn’s Masada project. The band is also made up of Ryan Parrish (tenor and baritone saxophone), Max Whipple (bass), and Shawn Baltazor (drums). Atomic Ape has toured and connected with experimental artists of all kinds, including Mike Watt, Behold the Arctopus, INUS, Neil Hamburger, Fartbarf, Duk, Burning Ghosts, Qui, Corima, and Major Entertainer.

 

Visions of the Void was composed, recorded and produced by Jason Schimmel at The Bunker LA in Los Angeles. Mixed by Justin Phelps (past clients include Mr. Bungle, Dead Kennedys, The Mars Volta, Poison Idea, Amanda Palmer, Cake) and Jason Schimmel at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, CA.

 

This album will be available on John Zorn’s label, Tzadik Records, November 13th, 2020. Preorder, here.

Visions of the Void LP:

  1. Kerberos

  2. Ophiocordyceps

  3. Pratfall II

  4. Clone 13

  5. Selket

  6. Narrows

  7. Laceration

  8. Chromatopsia

  9. Antilla

  10. Witch of Brunswick

  11. Poisoned Sky

 

RED FICTION Website

Instagram

Facebook

MOXIEBEAT + No Echo

“'Narito Kami' is a bite-sized blast of righteous indignation that tours manically through Moxiebeat’s myriad of influences. From the opening notes, the trio absolutely mangles their instruments, choking out violently bent and squealing guitar lines."
- No Echo

Listen as No Echo premieres "Narito Kami," a ripper from their upcoming Pop Sounds:

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, Brent Aragon, and Fritz Aragon. 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.” 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 is being released October 30th on their label, Ethospine Noise, marking its 35th release. Preorder vinyl, here.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

STRANGELIGHT - "Walks Into a Bar"


STRANGELIGHT: No Echo premieres "Walks Into a Bar" music video

Oakland post-hardcore dream team Strangelight has teamed with No Echo to premiere new song "Walks Into a Bar." 

"Walks Into a Bar" appears on Strangelight's debut album, Adult Themes, out next Friday, October 23rd.

Stream the song, by way of a music video created by Strangelight's Tony Teixeira, here:
https://www.noecho.net/features/strangelight-adult-themes

Pre-order the new album, here:
https://strangelightoakland.bandcamp.com/

From Oakland, CA, Strangelight consists of members of Kowloon Walled City, Transistor Transistor, Swingin' Utters, Less Art, and more. The quartet bashes out glorious, driving rock n' roll, laced with teeth-gnashing hardcore punk and a dose of existential dread. Fans of Hot Snakes, Fugazi, and the aforementioned bands, rejoice.

No Echo calls the album, "a dark, dissonant, and dynamic affair." Decibel calls it, "an extremely welcome and heavy dose of Propagandhi and Hot Snakes-esque rock n’ roll perversion."

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