Curated by Monk
After another hectic week of delivering the hottest hits and blastin’ ‘bangers around, you think we’d be putting our feet up and chillin’ with a nice ice cold cider or three… well, we are, but we’re also accompanying them with another playlist crammed with the most incendiary sounds around at the moment. So, let’s get stuck straight in and get the deathdecks a spinnin’ and the ice a clinkin’, shall we?
Atomic Life ‘All In Bad Taste’ (Self-Released)
The first in a number of collaborative efforts sees this Long Island-based alt-rock “supergroup” – made up of drummer Billy Rymer (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ho9909 and Thoughtcrimes), guitarist Cody Hosza (Glassjaw) and bassist Michael Sadis (NK, The Rivalry) alongside multi-disciplined performance artist/vocalist Adea Frances – hoping not to leave a bad taste in our mouths with this latest, Nietzschean twist of the grotesque:
Still Wave ‘Spaceman (With A Gun)’ (These Hands Melt)
Collaboration remains the name of the game as this Italian project features members of Rome In Monochrome and Aborym, who are collectively taking us into a metaphorically nightmarish alternate reality with this first taste of their forthcoming debut album, due at the end of JUne:
The Funeral Portrait ‘You’re So Ugly When You Cry’ (Better Noise Music)
Our third and final “collab” (as the hip kids call it”) sees theatrical emo punks TFP teaming up with The Used frontman Bert McCracken for a surprisingly upbeat and catchy trip into the depths of depressive darkness:
Kyle Sevenoaks ‘You Are Not Gods’ (Self-Released)
From collaborations to a defiantly solo effort from a composer who ironically shares his name with a somewhat nondescript commuter town, but proves that there is nothing ordinary or mundane about what he does with this slice of anarchic cyberpunk:
Wheel ‘Disciple’ (InsideOut Music)
These Anglo-Finnish progressive metallers obviously believe in the power of three, as this was the third single to be lifted from the trio’s third album, which was released on the third day of the month. That chemistry works as the debate created within the track is enigmatic, intriguing and rewarding:
The Toxhards ‘The Butcherman’s Lament’ (Self-Released)
These off-the-wall avant-garde LA rockers are known for their outrageous stage shows, often featuring them performing in eight-foot tall pig suits, and this madcap approach is reflected in this, the latest instalment in an ongoing saga about a prizewinning hog and his battle with a butcher determined to turn him into the best ham sandwich you’ve ever tasted… in the meantime, whet your appetite with this slice of madcap muscial lunacy:
The Georgia Thunderbolts ‘Stand Up’ (Mascot Records)
These southern boys are set to ‘Rise Above It All’ with the release of their second album at the end of August, and already it is shaping up to be the soundtrack for a simmering summer, as the Thunderbolts deliver the musical equivalent of their name and defiantly prove they can #StandUp for themselves:
The Dangerous Summer ‘What’s An Hour Really Worth’ (Rude Records)
The answer to the question asked in this latest offering from these emo-infused alt rockers lies right here in this very feature, as spending an hour in our company will help you discover gems such as this:
Eddie 9V ‘Saratoga’ (Ruf Records)
We take a trip deep into the territory of desert blues with this first single from the Atlanta-based guitarist’s new album, which also more than puts us in the mood for the brace of gigs he plays in this corner of the Überverse next week:
Robert Jon & The Wreck ‘Give Love’ (Journeyman)
The latest cut to be extracted from thoroughly excellent upcoming new album ‘Red Moon Rising’ sees RJ and his wreckers in introspective mood with this invigorating blend of uplifting piano melodies and soaring vocals, delivering a message of universal love and compassion – a message which all too often goes ignored, but not on this occasion, fortunately:
Kent Hilli ‘Can’t Stop Loving You’ (Frontiers)
After almost a decade fronting projects such as Perfect Plan, Restless Spirits and the revitalized Giant, former footballer Kent Hilli released his debut album at the end of last year, showcasing the breadth and depth of his vocal talent via a batch of songs on which he had been working for almost 20 years. This is a beautiful example of his rich ability:
Hunter ‘Runaway Ramp’ (Metalopolis)
These German hard rock veterans blend elements of ‘DC and ZZ Top into their classic Teutonic vibe as they prove they can still stand toe-to-toe, and defiantly so, with many of their younger labelmates:
The Howlers ‘I Need Your Love’ (Self-Released)
This East London power trio certainly don’t need our love as they’ve plenty of the retro-style rock ‘n’ roll variety to go around with this final taster from their upcoming debut album, released in a couple of weeks time:
Kickhunter ‘Shame On Love’ (Metalopolis)
Another dose of classic metal revivalism now, as the German veterans serve up another reminder of their extensive back catalogue with yet another archive track from their imminent ‘Greatest Kicks‘ retrospective collection:
Great American Ghost ‘Hymn Of Decay’ (SharpTone)
This hard-hitting and uncompromising exploration of living with dementia, both as a sufferer and someone looking on from the outside, is brutally honest and another slice of emotive alt-core from these revitalized progressive metallers:
Coping Method ‘Closing In’ (Fixt)
Did we say we had no more collaborations? Well, we lied as here is another one, this time between metalcore upstarts Coping Method and enigmatic electronic artist Reebz, who between them deliver a brutal and dark depiction of paranoia and existential dread:
Onlap ‘Ghosts’ (AFM)
And just when you thought we’d finally done with the cross-generic team-ups, along comes another, as the French alt-metallers enlist the help of Lansdowne for the final taster of their upcoming new album:
Between The Rats And Snakes ‘Heavy’ (Self-Released)
A final dose of metalcore (and this is a promise we are keeping this time) as these Dutch dynamos provide us with our penultimate offering of this edition:
Rhapsody Of Fire ‘Diamond Claws’ (AFM)
We finish with a dose of symphonic metal, and there are few who have exemplified the genre better over the past three decades than the ROF mastermind Alex Staropoli, who is promising us that the project’s upcoming 15th album will be their most intense yet, with “not a ballad in sight” (or should that be sound?).
So, there you go for another fortnight, at least as far as the main Club offering is concerned. Don’t forget that we’ll be bring you more fresh new sounds each and every day right here on the site that tickles the parts of the trolls others can only dream of dusting… In the meantime, as we gear up for the road racing season here in this li’l corner of the Überverse, as ever keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep ‘er rockin’ \m/