Out today: TUNIC - Wrong Dream

Wrong Dream, the new album by Tunic, is out today on Artoffact Records.

Stream the album, here: https://tunicband.bandcamp.com/album/wrong-dream

Recorded and mixed at Machines With Magnets by Seth Manchester (Metz, The Body, Liturgy, Lightning Bolt), Wrong Dream is Tunic's greatest and most engaging work to date. The band's tangle of dissonance and angst is laced with heart-swelling moments of melody, basslines evoking early post-punks like Gang of Four and Public Image Ltd., and odd instrumentation. While still rife with sounds that will perk the ears of old Tunic fans, and most Amphetamine Reptile or Three One G devotees, Wrong Dream sees Tunic assume an accessible new form – something closer in spirit to Fugazi than to anything that can be neatly boxed as "noise-punk" or "hardcore."

–––

"Tunic’s third album 'Wrong Dream' is a noise rock tour-de-force, which promises to be their most engaging to date."
–Invisible Oranges

“The band builds on their taut, aggressive approach, still steeped in abrasive textures and heavy rhythms, but with more space and tension between the moments of explosive climax. It’s an album as much about the anxious in-between as it is the moment of impact.”
–Treble

"A deviation from the formula of brief, frantic tracks the trio has been pushing out for a decade... Sparse post-punk... A pummeling sense of dread."
–Flood

"It feels as if Tunic have shed the cocoon and become a fully realized anxious butterfly, spreading their wings to rain chaos across the world. And how grateful am I to be present for it all. This record is absolutely one of my favorites of the year so far, and each time I return to it, it gets even better."

–New Noise

"The third record in the span of six years for noise rock/post-hardcore outfit Tunic, and 'Wrong Dream' finds them at their finest... Tunic channel the distressed glory of Joy Division."

–PopMatters

"With the upcoming release of their new album, 'Wrong Dream,' Winnipeg-based noise rockers Tunic are at their most realized and probably most nervy to date. The album's songs combine discord and distress with melodic moments, and comprise and engaging unit."
–Destroy//Exist

"The band's anxious yet forceful sound... tightropes between aggression and uncertainty. Think classic Amphetamine Reptile Records with some more solemn Fugazi elements."
–Scene Point Blank

"Spirited guitar and bass tracks that gel into something downright anthemic."
–Idioteq

"Winnipeg, Manitoba-based noise rock/post-hardcore trio Tunic are back for another full-length. Beyond the dissonant post-hardcore hulk... Some bravely melodic stuff in there too."
–Grizzly Butts

"Anyone familiar with Tunic‘s previous work will immediately notice that they’ve slowed down. Less frantic and frenetic this time around, with more room to steep."
–Boolin Tunes

"Experimental while at the same time very hard charging... I get a bit of an early Helmet vibe from the 'Strap It On' era mixed with a little bit of Fugazi."
–Audioeclectica

–––

Tunic embarks on a North American tour in May, then supports UK band John for another North American run in October.

May 3 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
May 5 - Minneapolis, MN - Mortimers
May 6 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
May 7 - Detroit, MI - City Club
May 8 - Windsor, ON - The Meteor
May 9 - Waterloo, ON - Dive Bar
May 11 - Toronto, ON - Orwell's
May 12 - Ottawa, ON - Rainbow
May 13 - Montreal, QC - Turbo Haus
May 14 - Boston, MA - O'Briens
May 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
May 16 - Allentown, PA - Red Door at Muhlenberg College
May 18 - Washington, DC - Pie Shop
May 19 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR
May 20 - Kansas City, MO - Farewell
May 21 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
May 25 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
May 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Aviary
May 27 - Calgary, AB - The Palomino Smokehouse

All dates w/ John:
Oct 3 - Phoenix, AZ - Linger Longer Lounge
Oct 4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
Oct 5 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
Oct 7 - San Francisco, CA - Brick and Mortar
Oct 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
Oct 11 - Portland, OR - Mission Theater
Oct 13 - Salt Lake City, UT - The DLC @ Quarters
Oct 14 - Denver, CO - Skylark Lounge
Oct 17 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
Oct 18 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
Oct 20 - Toronto, ON - The Baby G
Oct 21 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
Oct 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
Oct 25 - Washington, DC - DC9
Oct 26 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/tunic-wrong-dream.html

Out today: KING YOSEF - An Underlying Hum

An Underlying Hum, the new album by King Yosef, is out today on Bleakhouse.

Stream the album, here: https://kingyosef.bandcamp.com/album/an-underlying-hum

Based in Portland, Oregon, the prolific young artist/producer's past collabs include Youth Code and some of the biggest names in rap, including Ski Mask the Slump God. New solo album An Underlying Hum was engineered and mixed by Converge's Kurt Ballou.

A series of seething bangers, laced with ominous melodies, An Underlying Hum's songs penetrate deep and haunt the skull for days; a mix of metallic hardcore bounce, industrial noise, ghostly ambience, and massive hooks. The album represents a deep dive into childhood traumas and a quest toward self-betterment, inspired by Yosef's time in therapy.

“A scathing onslaught of heavy hardcore chugs a la Code Orange and wire-sparking industrial-metal fuckery that recalls his collaboration with Youth Code.”
–Revolver

"Produced by Kurt Ballou, King Yosef combines industrial, heavy hardcore, nü metal and even bits of trap in a very natural way. Fans of Code Orange’s 'Underneath' in particular should direct their attention to King Yosef – the producer’s new album lives in the same heavy, mechanical universe that blends organic and machine heaviness."
–MetalSucks

"Pummeling industrial with hardcore aggression."
–BrooklynVegan

"A record that encompasses a rich diversity of musical styles... Post-hardcore slowly melts into a hypnotic alter-self, with moments like 'Echo' bringing to mind the more sentimental aspects of Code Orange."

–PopMatters

"King Yosef has through his myriad releases and collaborations demonstrated a healthy disregard for the trappings of genre, as his work has moved freely across the realms of hip-hop, trap, metal, industrial, electronic, and all points in between. Now, he has announced the release of a new full-length album, titled An Underlying Hum, which sees him working with Kurt Ballou (Converge) and Steve Evetts (Sepultura, Deadguy) to delve into themes of childhood trauma and seeking to attain personal identity."
–ReGen

"A visceral concoction of hip-hop, metallic hardcore and industrial metal that uses both live and electronic instruments to launch a formidable and focused onslaught. Recorded and mixed by the inimitable Kurt Ballou, it strikes an excellent balance between both the processed and the organic, creating a massive sound that feels bleak, dystopian and futuristic on the one hand, and raw, feral and grounded on the other."
–Distorted Sound

"Ruthless and authoritative vocals... Ruminating guitars and brooding drum grooves."
–Boolin Tunes

"'An Underlying Hum' is a giant step forward for this prolific artist."
–Echoes and Dust

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/king-yosef-underlying-hum.html

Out today: ELEPHANT RIFLE - Broken Water

Broken Water, the new album by Elephant Rifle, is out today on Learning Curve Records.

From Reno, Nevada, Elephant Rifle's freak flag-waving brand of Western noise rock falls in a crack between the most jagged crags of '90s noise-rock, '80s hardcore, and '70s classic rock. New album Broken Water is the prolific band's ninth release since 2010.

Stream the album, here: https://learningcurverecords.bandcamp.com/album/broken-water

“Gruesome, gravelly... Yes, it sounds a little bit like something you would expect to hear in 'The Hills Have Eyes,' but that’s exactly how it should be. Much like sludgy contemporaries Chat Pile, who captured the essence of their hometown in grim, gristly detail, Elephant Rifle works through the unique, semi-surreal flavors of isolation one must face in the desert. Its off-kilter, sludgy style of no-wave embraces its environment in the strangest of ways."
–Fecking Bahamas

"The band drives forward with burliness of a Melvins/Jesus Lizard jam session and the quirks of guys raised on 'Trout Mask Replica.'"
–Northern Transmissions

"The pride of Reno."
–Protonic Reversal

A tour with Facet kicks off in May and includes a stop at Caterwaul 2023.

May 20 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project w/ Facet, Nerver
May 21 - Carson City, NV @ Shoe Tree Brewing w/ Facet, Reptoid
May 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon w/ Facet, Baby Gurl
May 23 - Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle w/ Facet, Quits, Almanac Man
May 24 - Kansas City, MO @ Farewell w/ Facet
May 25 - Des Moines, IA @ The Dark Slide w/ Facet
May 26 - Minneapolis, MN @ Caterwaul Festival
May 27 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/03/elephant-rifle-broken-water.html

CEL DAMAGE - No Volume

CEL DAMAGE: Silent Pendulum Records to release California mathcore phenoms' new album No Volume; new music video streaming now

Silent Pendulum Records announces the July 14th release of No Volume, the new album by the label's newest signing, Cel Damage.

Stream the official music video for new track, "If You're Going to Be a Ghost, Are You Going to Watch Me?" here: https://www.noecho.net/features/cel-damage-no-volume

Pre-order the album, here (digital): https://silentpendulumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/no-volume

Pre-order the album, here (LP): https://silentpendulumrecords.com/products/cel-damage-no-volume

Perched in California's High Desert – the region, north of LA, marked by towns like Apple Valley and Hesperia – Cel Damage has been creating music at a furious pace since its formation in 2014. Upcoming new album No Volume is the band's 12th release in a decade.

"Our local scene is pretty eclectic," says frontman Danny Mathews. "I feel like the music scene is vastly different from the majority of people here. I mean, the people in the scene are more progressive than the people that are living here."

Inspired by bands like Heavy Heavy Low Low, Mathews and his co-conspirators in Cel Damage – his brother Josh Mathews on drums, Riley Tews on guitar, and Robert Cordova on bass – bring a mix of chaos, sass, and earth-splitting heaviness. Spastic Three One G-style forays are balanced by volcanic breakdowns of the most anthemic and crushing variety. Handclaps, synths and wits'-end screams are tempered by moments of pure, steamrolling, metallic hardcore bliss. 

Lyrically, Mathews paints beautifully surreal pictures on No Volume. "If You're Going to Be a Ghost, Are You Going to Watch Me?" begins with these lines: "Mountains are looming / Screaming the letters in no specific order / Eyes begin to twist / Who ever really knows anyone in a room?"

Discussing that song's meaning, he states: "Sometimes the future can seem bleak. Just take a second and remember the good past memories. Sometimes that's what you need to push forward."

No Volume was engineered and mixed by Brad Racine at Local Man Studios, and mastered by Nick Townsend at Infrasonic Sound. The album is yet another high point for Silent Pendulum Records, the Brooklyn-based label helmed by drummer Michael Kadnar, whose roster boasts Glass Casket and Dr. Acula, among others.

Cel Damage embarks on a summer tour of the Southwest in June.

Tour:
Jun 23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock (w/ Marrow)
Jun 24 - El Paso, TX @ The Music Gallery (w/ Marrow)
Jun 25 - Austin, TX @ Mohawk Inside (w/ Mothman)
Jun 26 - San Antonio, TX @ Snake Hill (w/ Mothman)
Jun 28 - Denton, TX @ Andy's Bar (w/ Mothman)
Jun 29 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Sanctuary
Jun 30 - Albuquerque, NM @ Chancla DIY
Jul 1 - Tucson, AZ @ Groundworks
Jul 2 - San Diego, CA @ Eagles Club (w/ Marrow)

Tracklist:
1) I'm Taking the Pins Out
2) Are You Kidding Me
3) We Look Nothing Like Ourselves
4) If You're Going to Be a Ghost, Are You Going to Watch Me
5) They Said I Can Go to the Dance (feat. Sage Jackson)
6) It's Mathematically Impossible
7) Mt. Moon
8) Medium Talent
9) George Wilson (feat. Drez Martinez)
10) Such a Sad Monument to Somebody's Dreams and Aspirations Cut Short
11) You Will Lose Somebody, Someday
12) I Was Catfished

Lineup:
Danny Mathews - vocals
Riley Tews - guitar
Robert Cordova - bass
Josh Mathews - drums

Discography:
No Volume - 2023, Silent Pendulum Records
Split w/ Marrow (single) - 2021, One Wing Records
Take a Number I'm Busy at the Moment (single) - 2021, self-released
Until You Reach the Shallow Part (single) - 2021 self-released
Runoff of Acid, Oil and Water (EP) - 2020, self-released
Zebulon (EP) - 2020, Extinction Burst
New Advice (EP) - 2019, self-released
Making Ours - 2018, self-released
Misanthrope II (EP) - 2016, self-released
Misanthrope (EP) - 2016, self-released
I Ain’t No Salesman - 2015, self-released
I (EP) - 2014, self-released

Photo by Josh Alvarez

INTERCOURSE - "The Iceman's Tears"

INTERCOURSE: Connecticut hardcore outsiders find inspiration in The Jesus Lizard and a hit man on new single "The Iceman's Tears"

New Intercourse track “The Iceman’s Tears” is now streaming.

Stream the song, here: https://www.invisibleoranges.com/intercourse-the-icemans-tears/

Pre-order the album, here: https://learningcurverecords.bandcamp.com/album/intercourse-halo-castration-institute-lp

Invisible Oranges reports: “These Connecticut crusaders meld the crushing noise of The Jesus Lizard with ample hardcore influences, prompting lead singer Tarek Ahmed to quip: ‘We’re too weird for a lot of the hardcore scene and too aggro for the weird scene.’ Pounding drums give way to Ahmed’s pained and shouted vocals, while guitars have you bobbing and bouncing to the crazed atmosphere…”

The new track is inspired in part by the story of hit man Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski. "We’ve had a running theme throughout the band's history, about the loss of innocence and becoming increasingly desensitized to the world around you." says Ahmed. "There’s a lot of songs about the fucked up characters I’ve grown up around and there’s a ton of true crime references. 'Iceman’s Tears' is about Richard 'The Iceman' Kuklinski’s sentimental side."

New album Halo Castration Institute drops May 5th via Learning Curve Records.

Intercourse is on tour now.

Apr 27 - Richmond, VA @ The Bike Shop
Apr 28 - Greensboro, NC @ etc.gso
Apr 29 - Atlanta, GA @ Inner Space
June 2 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom (w/ Pissed Jeans)

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/03/intercourse-halo-castration-institute.html

TUNIC x Treble

TUNIC: noise-punks' transcendent new album "Wrong Dream" streaming now; North American tour kicks off next week; fall tour with John announced

One day ahead of its official release on Artoffact Records, Tunic's new album, Wrong Dream, is streaming in its entirety.

Stream the album, here: https://www.treblezine.com/listen-tunic-wrong-dream-album-stream/

Buy the album, here: https://tunicband.bandcamp.com/album/wrong-dream

Recorded and mixed at Machines With Magnets by Seth Manchester (Metz, The Body, Liturgy, Lightning Bolt), Wrong Dream is Tunic's greatest and most engaging work to date. The band's tangle of dissonance and angst is laced with heart-swelling moments of melody, basslines evoking early post-punks like Gang of Four and Public Image Ltd., and odd instrumentation. While still rife with sounds that will perk the ears of old Tunic fans, and most Amphetamine Reptile or Three One G devotees, Wrong Dream sees Tunic assume an accessible new form – something closer in spirit to Fugazi than to anything that can be neatly boxed as "noise-punk" or "hardcore."

Tunic vocalist/guitarist David Schellenberg states: "For the longest time Tunic used to be about punishing the listener with the loudest, fastest and most intense songs possible and we still hold true to that a lot of the time now, especially live, but we're just adding a bit more dimension to our songs now."

Teeming with raw, vulnerable lyrics, the album's songs illustrate various forms of trauma, from abuse to tumultuous relationships to the deaths of friends. Schellenberg explains that it is essentially an album about cause and effect – a meditation on the consequences of choices made, and how one's life can so easily spiral in one direction or the other. 

"This record is about pursuing the wrong dream," he says. "Be it a lifestyle that leads you down a negative path, or pursuing 'The American Dream' of capitalism. I have no advice to give, I have no idea if I'm on the 'right' path myself. I just try to be happy and fulfilled in my life and I hope that others can find that too."

Tunic embarks on a North American tour in May, then supports UK band John for another North American run in October.

May 3 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
May 5 - Minneapolis, MN - Mortimers
May 6 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
May 7 - Detroit, MI - City Club
May 8 - Windsor, ON - The Meteor
May 9 - Waterloo, ON - Dive Bar
May 11 - Toronto, ON - Orwell's
May 12 - Ottawa, ON - Rainbow
May 13 - Montreal, QC - Turbo Haus
May 14 - Boston, MA - O'Briens
May 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
May 16 - Allentown, PA - Red Door at Muhlenberg College
May 18 - Washington, DC - Pie Shop
May 19 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR
May 20 - Kansas City, MO - Farewell
May 21 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
May 25 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
May 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Aviary
May 27 - Calgary, AB - The Palomino Smokehouse

All dates w/ John:
Oct 3 - Phoenix, AZ - Linger Longer Lounge
Oct 4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
Oct 5 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
Oct 7 - San Francisco, CA - Brick and Mortar
Oct 10 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
Oct 11 - Portland, OR - Mission Theater
Oct 13 - Salt Lake City, UT - The DLC @ Quarters
Oct 14 - Denver, CO - Skylark Lounge
Oct 17 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
Oct 18 - Chicago, IL - Schubas
Oct 20 - Toronto, ON - The Baby G
Oct 21 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
Oct 24 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
Oct 25 - Washington, DC - DC9
Oct 26 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus

Photo by Adam Kelly

THE CHAIN x 7

Celebrating 7 years of The Chain today. Cheers, everyone!

Curran, JP, Brandon.

CATERWAUL 2023 x Flipper

CATERWAUL 2023: punk legends Flipper team with Cows frontman Shannon Selberg to close out mammoth Minneapolis noise rock festival

The organizers of Caterwaul 2023 announce the addition of the legendary Flipper to the lineup, featuring Shannon Selberg on vocals.

Founded in San Francisco in 1979, Flipper's heavy, irreverent version of punk can be credited as a precursor to the sound defined as noise rock, and the band has been a direct influence on many within the scene. Prior to Selberg, other collaborators through the years include Mike Watt, Krist Novoselic, and David Yow.

As the singer of Cows, Selberg rose to infamy in the late '80s for his unhinged stage presence, with The New York Times describing his performances as a mix of "defiance, pain and dark comedy"; he then continued on to found The Heroine Sheiks with Swans guitarist Norman Westberg.

Flipper, fronted live for the first time by Selberg, will close out the fourth and final night of Caterwaul 2023, capping off a long weekend's worth of performances from a who's-who of noise rock royalty, past and future. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 26-29th, the festival will unfold across two of the city's most revered rock venues, Palmer's Bar and Mortimer's Bar.

In addition to the historic Flipper set, other highlights of Caterwaul 2023 include: Cherubs, Child Bite, Couch Slut, Djunah, Elephant Rifle, Hands Up Who Wants to Die, Multicult, The Tunnel, Tongue Party, Totimoshi, USA Nails, Vaz, and Whores., amongst dozens more.

Caterwaul 2023 is the second installment of this annual fest, conceived by Learning Curve Records and Seismic Wave Entertainment as a platform to celebrate noise rock in its many forms, and as a means to strengthen the community.

Learning Curve Records owner Rainer Fronz states: "The philosophy behind Caterwaul is to try and build a name that can be used as a standard. A standard that can be recognized as a beacon for bands, clubs, promoters, and stores. With Caterwaul, you know you will get under-the-radar, cutting-edge music made with passion and commitment. Caterwaul bands helping Caterwaul bands, leads to people telling other people about those bands and building a network."

On that note, the Caterwaul organizers have played an active role this year in helping bands on the lineup route their tours in a cooperative way. Dubbed "Caterwaul Run" by Fronz and his partner, Seismic Wave Entertainment's Conan Neutron, numerous Caterwaul artists have joined forces to tour together, to and from the festival, expanding the spirit of Caterwaul all across the continent.

For the full Caterwaul 2023 lineup and info, visit the official website, here:

https://www.caterwaul.org/

Purchase tickets, here:

https://ticketstripe.com/caterwaul2023

Caterwaul 2023 logo, by Whitney Does

Photo of Shannon Selberg, by Mike White

KING YOSEF - "Living in the Hum"

KING YOSEF: "Living in the Hum" doc chronicles the making of acclaimed new album, features Kurt Ballou (Converge) and more

New King Yosef documentary “Living in the Hum” is now streaming, chronicling the making of the new album, An Underlying Hum.

The doc features footage from the recording sessions with producers Kurt Ballou (Converge) and Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan), as well as footage from a West Coast tour with industrial act Trace Amount and other behind-the-scenes action.

Stream it, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyOkeh3nwo

An Underlying Hum drops April 28th via King Yosef's Bleakhouse collective. Revolver Magazine calls the album “a scathing onslaught of heavy hardcore chugs a la Code Orange and wire-sparking industrial-metal fuckery.”

King Yosef is a 25-year old producer/vocalist, based in Portland, Oregon, whose past collabs include Youth Code and some of the biggest names in rap, including Ski Mask the Slump God.

A series of seething bangers, laced with ominous melodies, An Underlying Hum's songs penetrate deep and haunt the skull for days; a mix of metallic hardcore bounce, industrial noise, ghostly ambience, and massive hooks. The album represents a deep dive into childhood traumas and a quest toward self-betterment, inspired by Yosef's time in therapy.

MetalSucks states: "Prolific producer and musician King Yosef already has a name for himself, working with rappers like Ski Mask the Slump God and industrial mainstays like Youth Code, but his debut album is new territory for the musician. Titled An Underlying Hum, King Yosef explores heaviness in a variety of genres – industrial, hardcore and experimental hip hop, namely – in a way that feels distinct."

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/king-yosef-underlying-hum.html

Out today: CHAT PILE/NERVER - Brothers in Christ

Brothers in Christ, the new split EP by Chat Pile and Nerver, is out today on Reptilian Records and The Ghost Is Clear Records.

Chat Pile's 2022 full-length, God's Country, was one of the year's most talked-about albums, putting forth a harrowing, metallic version of noise rock that cut to the bone. Pitchfork's review of the album called it "terrifying and thrilling in equal measure... a vivid rendering of the towering piles of poison littering America’s psychic landscape" and compared the sound to Floor, Godflesh, and Unwound. From Kansas City, kindred spirits Nerver wield punishing noise rock in the vein of Unsane, bolstered by swells of melody that elevate the songs to majestic heights.

Listen and buy, here: http://www.reptilianrecords.com/products/740555 

Listen and buy, here: https://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/740695

"Kansas City’s Nerver are new to me, but their two tracks on the new Brothers In Christ split are top-shelf examples of metallic, misanthropic sludge that recall the great Amphetamine Reptile bands of the ’90s... Nerver’s songs fit in beautifully next to the two new Chat Pile tracks, which are unsurprisingly sick."

–Stereogum

"Since Chat Pile’s God’s Country became the sludge metal soundtrack of 2022, the same few words seem to pop up when fans or critics discuss their music: filthy, crushing, punishing. And in case it wasn’t clear, these descriptors couldn’t be more complimentary to the band, as proven by the fact that their latest single 'Cut' is just as filthy, crushing, and punishing as anything from their 2022 debut. Taken off a forthcoming split EP with fellow filthy sound makers Nerver, it hints that Chat Pile has no intention of lightening things up anytime soon. Thank god for that, because we’ll shovel this sludge into our mouths for as long as they continue to put it out."
–Consequence

"No one does anger quite like Chat Pile... On April 14, they’ll share Brothers in Christ, a split EP in collaboration with Kansas City noise rockers Nerver... The new song starts with two toxic chords from Luther Manhole’s guitar that float like a shimmering miasma as the rhythm players (drummer Cap’n Ron and bassist Stin) enter like a battering ram. Frontman Raygun Busch follows shortly thereafter, his twitching growl commanding a fearful power despite rarely rising above speaking volume." 

–Fader 

"This Friday (4/14), noise rock/post-hardcore bands Chat Pile and Nerver will release their split EP Brothers In Christ via Reptilian Records and The Ghost Is Clear Records. You've already heard Chat Pile's "Cut," and we're now premiering Nerver's "Kicks In The Sky." It's a caustic, abrasive song that pairs very well with Chat Pile (and their shared forebears like The Jesus Lizard and Unsane)." 

–BrooklynVegan

"At around 15 minutes, flaws are nearly impossible to find in Brothers in Christ. Chat Pile represents themselves perfectly with these two elite tracks that offer a lot of dire emotionality that fans will love. Nerver, though just formally introduced to me here, pack a hell of a punch and take a more straightforward, aggressive route with their music - a great stylistic foil to Chat Pile’s unpredictability - but you still get the sense that things are far from okay. It’s a delectably rotten Midwestern pre-apocalypse painted by two forerunners of the depression noise rock circuit..."

–Lambgoat

"When Chat Pile released 'God’s Country' last year, the band was overwhelmed with support for their noise rock/sludge/nü metal fusion. Less than a year later, they deliver two abrasive new songs on the B-side of a split with Kansas City’s Nerver. Chat Pile made an active effort to focus on the alt-rock and indie influences in their sound but that doesn’t mean that 'Brothers in Christ' is any softer or less emotionally arresting for it. 'Brothers in Christ' is as unsettling and dark as any heavy sludge album."

–MetalSucks

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/03/chat-pile-x-nerver.html

BODY STUFF - "Fame (feat. Tiffany)"

BODY STUFF: pop icon Tiffany lends vocals to new single "Fame"; official music video streaming now; Tiffany tour kicks off tonight

NYC band Body Stuff has released the official music video for new single "Fame," featuring guest vocals by pop icon Tiffany.

"Fame" appears on the upcoming new album, Body Stuff 4, out June 2nd via The Chain.

Body Stuff vocalist/songwriter Curran Reynolds says: "1987, living out in the country in Maine, Tiffany's voice rocked me profoundly. All these years later, to team up with her on this song of mine, it's a dream come true."

Reynolds shot the "Fame" music video in his hometown of Camden, Maine. Stream the video, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYdPWbTsDxs

Body Stuff is the duo of Curran Reynolds and Ryan Jones. Prior to launching the project in 2013, the two friends served together as the rhythm section for Today Is The Day and, before that, Wetnurse.

Across three EPs – Body Stuff (2013), Body Stuff 2 (2016), and Body Stuff 3 (2020) – a singular sound was established. Passionate vocals and wistful hooks were bolstered by a bellicose drum machine and thick guitars conjuring industrial-metal power, while a ghostly fog blanketed the whole affair.

A Metal Injection article in 2020 stated: "If Godflesh ever teamed up with Billy Idol, they'd still be trying to collect the formula that makes Body Stuff infectiously entertaining." A review in The Wire Magazine in that same year hailed the band's "doomed romanticism and synth-assisted stadium rock" and concluded: "It's hugely evocative stuff."

With Reynolds' songwriting at the heart of the project, he and Jones work closely together to track and mix the songs; Jones, also a live audio engineer for Grammy winners Portugal. The Man, owns and operates NYC recording studio Growlhouse, where Body Stuff 4 was realized.

Recorded between 2020 and 2022, Body Stuff 4 sees Body Stuff reach its most fully fleshed-out state thus far. From the raw minimalism of the earlier work, the sound has progressed into a more ornate form while still retaining its rough edges and bleeding heart. The album was mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Torche, Code Orange).

Tiffany's vocals on "Fame" were recorded by producer Mark Alberici.

Body Stuff plays April 19th at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, with Djunah: https://dice.fm/event/rw8v5-djunah-rid-of-me-body-stuff-the-triceratops-19th-apr-saint-vitus-bar-new-york-tickets

Tiffany kicks off a US tour tonight in Philly:

Apr 13 - Philadelphia, PA @ City Winery

Apr 14 - Pawling, NY @ Daryl's House

Apr 15 - South Orange, NJ @ South Orange Performing Arts

Apr 16 - Norwalk, CT @ Wall Street Theater

Apr 17 - Red Bank, NJ @ The Vogel

Apr 20 - Portsmouth, NH @ The Music Hall Lounge

Apr 22 - Turners Falls, MA @ Shea Theater Arts Center

Apr 23 - Boston, MA @ City Winery

Apr 28 - The Woodlands, TX @ Dosey Doe Big Barn

Apr 30 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues

May 2 - Newberry, SC @ Newberry Opera House

May 5 - Boca Raton, FL @ Boca Black Box

May 6 - Daytona Beach, FL @ Daytona Beach Bandshell

May 13 - The Colony, TX @ Lava Cantina

May 15 - Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/body-stuff-body-stuff-4.html
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodystuffworldpeace/

Bandcamp: https://bodystuff.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7IFvh8WYrZfahoaCOAQtKD
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/body-stuff/668201392

Photo of Body Stuff, by Paul Roura

INTERCOURSE - "I Need Saturday Off..."

INTERCOURSE: Connecticut hardcore outsiders drop new single via No Echo, gear up for East Coast shows

Intercourse has released new single “I Need Saturday Off So I Can Play a Teenager’s Basement.”

The song appears on the prolific Connecticut band's upcoming new album Halo Castration Institute, out May 5th on Learning Curve Records.

Stream the track, here: https://www.noecho.net/features/intercourse-halo-castration-institute

Pre-order new album, here: https://learningcurverecords.bandcamp.com/album/intercourse-halo-castration-institute-lp

No Echo states: “On their forthcoming album, and ninth release in less than a decade, Halo Castration Institute, Intercourse crystalize all of their varied sonic influences into an aural maelstrom that metalheads, record store clerks, AmRep devotees, and outsider hardcore vinyl collectors will approve of.”

Intercourse's seedy mix of noise rock and mosh is constructed from eerie tones, primitive breakdowns, and frontman Tarek Ahmed's strangulated roar. Of the new single, he states: "This song is about the unrelenting grind of life under capitalism."

The song's guest vocals come courtesy of Peter Kovalsky (Ether Coven, Remembering Never).

Catch Intercourse on tour this month:

Apr 26 - Baltimore, MD @ The Depot
Apr 27 - Richmond, VA @ The Bike Shop
Apr 28 - Greensboro, NC @ etc.gso
Apr 29 - Atlanta, GA @ Inner Space

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/03/intercourse-halo-castration-institute.html

ELEPHANT RIFLE - "Dry Nurse"

ELEPHANT RIFLE: Reno noise rockers evoke the Wild West on new single "Dry Nurse"

Reno, Nevada band Elephant Rifle has revealed new song “Dry Nurse."

Stream the track, here: https://feckingbahamas.com/exclusive-elephant-rifle-fire-off-a-gruesome-gravelly-modern-no-wave-banger

Fecking Bahamas accurately describes the sound as “gruesome, gravelly… sludgy, off-kilter." The band bashes out a strange brand of noise rock, somewhere between The Jesus Lizard, Dead Kennedys, and Captain Beefheart, and on songs like “Dry Nurse” they really evoke the Western landscapes of their home state.

New album “Broken Water” was recorded by Tim Green of The Fucking Champs and drops April 28th on Learning Curve Records.

Pre-order the album, here: https://learningcurverecords.bandcamp.com/album/broken-water

A tour with Facet kicks off in May and includes a stop at Caterwaul 2023, the who's-who noise rock fest curated by Conan Neutron and Learning Curve founder Rainer Fronz.

May 20 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project w/ Facet, Nerver
May 21 - Carson City, NV @ Shoe Tree Brewing w/ Facet, Reptoid
May 22 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon w/ Facet, Baby Gurl
May 23 - Denver, CO @ Seventh Circle w/ Facet, Quits, Almanac Man
May 24 - Kansas City, MO @ Farewell w/ Facet
May 25 - Des Moines, IA @ The Dark Slide w/ Facet
May 26 - Minneapolis, MN @ Caterwaul Festival
May 27 - Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/03/elephant-rifle-broken-water.html

Photo by Metal Jeff

TUNIC - "Disease"

TUNIC releases official music video for new single "Disease," calls it "a song about capitalism"; Artoffact Records to release new album "Wrong Dream"; North American tour in May

Tunic has released the official music video for new single "Disease," a song from the Winnipeg trio's forthcoming new album, Wrong Dream.

Recorded and mixed at Machines With Magnets by Seth Manchester (Metz, The Body, Liturgy, Lightning Bolt), Wrong Dream drops April 28th on Artoffact Records.

Stream the "Disease" video, here: https://floodmagazine.com/130373/tunic-disease-first-listen/

Pre-order the album, here: https://tunicband.bandcamp.com/album/wrong-dream

Wrong Dream is Tunic's greatest and most engaging work to date; the band's tangle of dissonance and angst is laced with heart-swelling moments of melody, basslines evoking early post-punks like Gang of Four and Public Image Ltd., and odd instrumentation. While still rife with sounds that will perk the ears of old Tunic fans, and most Amphetamine Reptile or Three One G devotees, Wrong Dream sees Tunic assume an accessible new form – something closer in spirit to Fugazi than to anything that can be neatly boxed as "noise-punk" or "hardcore."

Wrong Dream sees vocalist/guitarist David Schellenberg at his most vulnerable and transparent. "You’re supposed to be satisfied, sturdy and strong," he sings on "Disease," the new single. "But what you really feel is stuck."

"'Disease' is a song about capitalism," Schellenberg states. "During the pandemic I found myself making a stable income and, since there was no touring, I wasn't burning it on the road pursuing what I really wanted to do, this band. I started to feel myself drift away from the identity I strived so hard to create. My entire self worth was tied so strongly to being a touring musician, and if I didn't have that anymore, then who was I? The short answer is, just another cog in the machine, working 40+ hour weeks. The metaphor is simple. It was cancerous, it overtook my body, my life and sense of self."

Tunic embarks on a full North American tour in May.

May 3 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
May 5 - Minneapolis, MN - Mortimers
May 6 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
May 7 - Detroit, MI - City Club
May 8 - Windsor, ON - The Meteor
May 9 - Waterloo, ON - Dive Bar
May 11 - Toronto, ON - Orwell's
May 12 - Ottawa, ON - Rainbow
May 13 - Montreal, QC - Turbo Haus
May 14 - Boston, MA - O'Briens
May 15 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
May 16 - Allentown, PA - Red Door at Muhlenberg College
May 18 - Washington, DC - Pie Shop
May 19 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR
May 20 - Kansas City, MO - Farewell
May 21 - Chicago, IL - The Empty Bottle
May 25 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
May 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Aviary
May 27 - Calgary, AB - The Palomino Smokehouse

More info and images: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/tunic-wrong-dream.html

Photo by Adam Kelly

NERVER - "Kicks in the Sky"

NERVER: Kansas City noise rockers release "Kicks in the Sky" from new Chat Pile split

Nerver has revealed new song "Kicks in the Sky."

Stream the track now via BrooklynVegan: https://www.brooklynvegan.com/stream-kc-noise-rockers-nervers-kicks-in-the-sky-from-split-with-chat-pile/

"Kicks in the Sky" appears on Brothers in Christ, the Kansas City band’s new split with Chat Pile.

“Brothers in Christ” drops Friday, April 14th via Reptilian Records and The Ghost is Clear Records.

BV has these words for the new Nerver track: “It's a caustic, abrasive song that pairs very well with Chat Pile (and their shared forebears like The Jesus Lizard and Unsane).”

Nerver calls it “a story about being crammed in a van with too many people, who are on the verge of strangling each other during an overnight drive. But when all hope is lost, with the help of performance enhancing drugs, a hero emerges."

See the band on tour in May!

May 6 - Chicago, IL @ ZBR Fest
May 7 - St Louis, MO @ The Sinkhole
May 8 - Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone
May 9 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Yes We Cannibal
May 10 - Houston, TX @ Bohemeo's
May 11 - Austin, TX @ Chess Club
May 12 - Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
May 13 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Sanctuary
May 14 - Albuquerque, NM @ La Chancla
May 15 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room
May 17 - San Diego, CA @ Red Brontosaurus
May 18 - Hollywood, CA @ Knucklehead
May 19 - Oakland, CA @ Eli's Mile High Club
May 20 - Reno, NV @ The Holland Project
May 21 - Eugene, OR @ Blairally Vintage Arcade
May 22 - Portland, OR @ High Water Mark
May 23 - Vancouver, BC @ 648 Kingsway
May 24 - Seattle, WA @ Jules Mae's Saloon
May 26 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Ace's High Saloon
May 27 - Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
May 28 - Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown
May 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ Caterwaul Fest
May 30 - Kansas City, MO @ Farewell

KING YOSEF - "Echo"

KING YOSEF: Youth Code collaborator releases anthemic new single "Echo" from Kurt Ballou-produced "An Underlying Hum" album

King Yosef has revealed "Echo," the latest single from his upcoming new album, An Underlying Hum.

Recorded and mixed by Converge's Kurt Ballou at GodCity Music, the album drops April 28th via Bleakhouse.

MetalSucks calls the new song, "reminiscent of Godflesh, or even Code Orange — pulsing electronics, buried harsh vocals and explosions of heaviness make up the sound, with a noticeable emphasis on the industrial side." The haunting voice on the chorus belongs to guest vocalist ghrins.

Stream the song's official music video, here: https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/04/06/king-yosef-debuts-echo-from-kurt-ballou-produced-debut/

Pre-order the new album, here: https://kingyosef.bandcamp.com/album/an-underlying-hum

King Yosef is a 25-year old Oregon producer/vocalist whose past collabs include Youth Code and some of the biggest names in rap, including XXXTentacion and Ski Mask the Slump God.

A series of seething bangers, laced with ominous melodies, An Underlying Hum's songs penetrate deep and haunt the skull for days; a mix of metallic hardcore bounce, industrial noise, ghostly ambience, and massive hooks.

An Underlying Hum is a deep dive into childhood traumas and a quest toward self-betterment, inspired by Yosef's time in therapy. He says this about the new single: "In the larger scheme of the record, 'Echo' is the first song to hold the mirror up and start psychoanalyzing my tendencies and what it means. I more or less was wondering if I was really any different than these people that had affected me so negatively throughout my life. Upon reflecting a lot, I really wasn’t that far away from a lot of their tendencies. Hurt perpetuates hurt. A sort of circle."

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/king-yosef-underlying-hum.html

KONINGSOR - Death Process

KONINGSOR: Texas mathcore phenoms find purpose through tragedy on new "Death Process" EP on Silent Pendulum Records; new track streaming now; US tour begins this week

Silent Pendulum Records announces the June 2nd release of Death Process, the new EP by Austin, Texas band Koningsor.

Stream the EP's first single, "Bile Ritual," here: https://silentpendulumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/death-process

Pre-order the EP, here: https://silentpendulumrecords.com/collections/koningsor

In a 2021 post, BrooklynVegan stated: “Silent Pendulum has released music by The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Heavy Heavy Low Low, and others, and if you dig those bands you’re probably gonna like the chaotic mathcore of Koningsor... that’ll bring you right back to this genre’s early/mid-2000s heyday but sounds fresh today too.” 

Giving the world the first taste of the new EP, new single "Bile Ritual" begins as a jagged and exuberant rave-up in the fashion of early Botch, turbo-boosted with torrents of double bass drumming and fleet-fingered string handling. For all its frantic twists and turns, the song is anchored by a hard metallic groove and an undercurrent of emotion. Metal Injection recently hailed Koningsor for “treading the line between complete chaos and control” and "Bile Ritual" absolutely delivers on that promise.

Toiling in the Austin scene since 2016 – fine-tuning its lineup, releasing three EPs, and sharpening its craft by way of shows with the likes of Norma Jean and Lorna Shore – Koningsor reached the point of collapse before finding the strength and inspiration to finish the new EP. Drummer Andy Sadler explains: "Josh, Paul, and I all had parents pass away during the recording process. Josh lost his mother, Paul and I both lost our fathers. The album title and all the lyrics are about the struggle that came from the pain and the mix of emotions brought about by their losses. When we lost our parents we were all in shambles and our personal lives were spiraling out of our control. Not only did we lose parents, Paul lost five family members in total during a six-month span. Had we not been there for one another and helped carry each other through every day, we would not have seen the light. This EP is a testament to that resilience, and is dedicated to the family and loved ones we lost along the way."

Speaking about the EP's first single, Sadler states: “'Bile Ritual' is about relying on false crutches to regain a brief respite from the burdens of the lowest times in life.”

Death Process was engineered and mixed by Kieran Krebs (Mothman, Televangelist) and mastered by The Dillinger Escape Plan's Kevin Antreassian. The cover art was created by Dieter Geisler.

A US tour kicks off this week.

Tracklist:

1) Rubberdactyl
2) End of an Error
3) Slow Creep
4) Tongue Cutter
5) Bile Ritual
6) Death Process

Lineup:
Paul Boudreaux - vocals
Josh Applekamp - bass, vocals
Blake Koningsor - guitar, vocals
Andy Sadler - drums, vocals

Discography:
Death Process EP - 2023, Silent Pendulum Records
Koningsor EP - 2021, Silent Pendulum Records
A Quiet Panic EP - 2019, self-released
Suavacado EP - 2017, self-released

Tour:
April 7 - El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse *
April 8 - Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room *
April 9 - San Diego, CA @ Til Two Club *
April 10 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Whiskey Richards *
April 11 - Fullerton, CA @ Programme Skate and Sound *
April 12 - Lodi, CA @ Wildwood Skate Shop *
April 13 - Chico, CA @ Gnarly Deli *
April 14 - Reno, NV @ Alturas Bar *
April 15 - Medford, OR @ Johnny B's *
April 16 - Bend, OR @ The Capitol *
April 17 - Portland, OR @ Dante's *
April 19 - Yakima, WA @ Le Chateau *
April 20 - Pocatello, ID @ SIXES LLC *
April 21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Hive *
April 22 - Denver, CO @ Lion's Lair # *
April 23 - Colorado Springs, CO @ Vultures # *
April 25 - Wichita, KS @ Kirby's # *
April 26 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th St # *
April 27 - Tulsa, OK @ The Whittier Bar # *
April 28 - Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Club # *
April 29 - Houston, TX @ The End #
April 30 - Austin, TX @ Valhalla # *

* = Steaksauce Mustache
# = The Motion Mosaic

Photo of Koningsor, by Travis Seekrits

CHAT PILE - "Cut" video

CHAT PILE reveals official music video for new single "Cut," calls it "a little prairie nightmare fantasy"; split with fellow Midwest noise rockers Nerver drops this month; UK tour in August

With Chat Pile's new single "Cut" released in March, the Oklahoma City band has now revealed the song's official music video.

Stream the "Cut" music video, directed by Will Mecca, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiXmIxfnu2U

Chat Pile bassist Stin gives this statement about the video: "We knew we'd be in very good hands having Will Mecca impress his vision upon our track. Will's been documenting the Southern Plains punk, metal, DIY and underground scenes on archaic and obsolete formats for a decade now. He perfectly encapsulated the general malaise that comes from living in this part of the country while imbuing it with a little prairie nightmare fantasy."

"Cut" appears on Brothers in Christ, Chat Pile's forthcoming split EP with Kansas City noise rockers Nerver, out April 14th on Reptilian Records and The Ghost Is Clear Records.

Pre-order the Brothers in Christ EP from Reptilian Records, here:
http://www.reptilianrecords.com/products/740555

Pre-order the Brothers in Christ EP from The Ghost Is Clear Records, here:
https://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/740695

Chat Pile's 2022 full-length, God's Country, was one of the year's most talked-about albums, putting forth a harrowing, metallic version of noise rock that cut to the bone. Pitchfork's review of the album called it "terrifying and thrilling in equal measure... a vivid rendering of the towering piles of poison littering America’s psychic landscape" and compared the sound to Floor, Godflesh, and Unwound. Stereogum described it as "a grimy and splenetic sludge-attack that stands tall as one of the year’s best albums."

Stin has stated that the band's tracks on Brothers in Christ represent a conscious decision to allow their "indie and alt-rock tendencies" to shine. He names Slint, Sonic Youth, Guided By Voices, and Starfish as influences. Vocalist Raygun Busch has credited author Stephen King as the inspiration for the songs' lyrics.

From Kansas City, kindred spirits Nerver wield punishing noise rock in the vein of Unsane, bolstered by swells of melody that elevate the songs to majestic heights. Of Nerver, Stin has said, "Their band kicks absolute ass. It's Chat Pile's hope that this union helps draw some attention to what is quickly becoming known as Braum's Region Noise Rock, i.e. splattery bands from the Heartland, like Bighand//Bigknife, Big Water, Nerver, Abandoncy, Nightosphere, Whep, and others."

Chat Pile plays Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands in April, followed by a UK tour in August.

Apr 22 - Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn Festival

Aug 14 - London, UK @ The Dome
Aug 15 - London, UK @ The Dome
Aug 17 - Bristol, UK @ Arctangent Festival
Aug 18 - Manchester, UK @ Rebellion
Aug 19 - Glasgow, UK @ Core. Festival

Photo of Chat Pile, by Juliette Boulay