Cürated by Mönk
So, here we are, poundin’ ‘n’ pummellin’, stompin’ ‘n’ strollin’ through another month in what is already proving to be another busy rockin’ ‘n’ rollin’ year here in the Überverse… We’ve the death decks fully cranked up, and the amps set so loud that the neighbours are gonna enjoy some of the finest sounds around (whether they want to not!) – just as are you, our loyal readers… so, grab a chilled beer or three and settle into your favourite armchair and enjoy our latest selection of the hottest aural delights to have come our way over the past seven days:
Absinthe Green ‘Death By A Thousand Cuts’ (Self-Released)
These Greek alt-metal groovers, fronted by the charismatic and defiantly single-minded Eirini have become first favourites on our playlist over the past year, and this latest cut (sic) from their debut album further cements why they have done so…
Banda AL9 ‘She Can Do It All’ (Wicked Cool Records)
This Brazilian indie-pop duo must be doing something right, as they were hand-picked by the legend and supreme judge of good taste that is Steve Van Zandt, who describes them as “[tapping] straight into that power-pop sweet spot” on this, the first release outside their homeland, which will be followed by a full-length length album over the summer:
Civil Villains ‘Come Home’ (Thundersnuff Records)
The Oxford alt-rock post-hardcore trio break a three-year recording silence with the first taster of their upcoming second album, with the band describing the single as “musically and lyrically bipolar, lurching between cruelty and compassion… of those rare songs that more or less arrives in a single sitting, it’s fairly autobiographical and, in parts, about wrestling with the creative process itself”.
Following The Signs ‘Break The Frame’ (Self-Released)
The first of two back-to-back releases from the Emerald Isle sees the Cork nu-metalcore contenders confronting restriction, expectation, and the invisible structures that confine identity and ambition. It’s a track rooted in defiance and personal awakening, calling on listeners to reject imposed limitations and carve out their own path, regardless of opposition on this, the second sample from their upcoming new EP, which will see them ‘Evolve’ still further next month:
Gather The Lost ‘War At Dawn’ (Self-Released)
The Dublin alt-rockers draw from elements of prog, dream-pop, metal, funk and shoegaze as they sound a declarative battle cry, transporting us to what they themselves describe as transporting us to “the moment in your life when you decided, be it mentally or outwardly, that enough was enough… when you chose to fiercely advocate for yourself, knowing what lay ahead could be the hardest and longest battle you might ever face” with this third sample from their upcoming debut album, due sometime later this year:
i ‘Often’ (SODEH Records)
This started out as a private love letter from the LA alt-rockers’ frontman to his wife, before evolving into a deeply personal and emotionally charged ballad that blends grunge grit with heartfelt vulnerability, all of which took on a new meaning after she successful beat a rare adrenal gland cancer:
Inoria ‘Inside Out’ (SODEH Records)
Blending prog textures with alt-rock sensibilities, this Danish combo dive deep into the uncomfortable space between surrender and self-control, pulling the listener, slowly and deliberately, into a spiralling inner dialogue that feels both intimate and unsettling:
Melonball ‘The Static’ (Thousand Islands Records/Static Records)
The latest taster of their upcoming second album sees the German punks explore the uneasy space between closeness and stagnation – the feeling of being both held and stuck in a relationship at the same time, where the low-level hum of repetition, comfort and doubt sparks the question of now how to escape but whether you even want to…
Nothing Speaks ‘Blackwater’ (Self-Released)
The Edinburgh grunge quartet rounded off a busy year of festival appearances and single releases by disappearing to a writing retreat in deepest Lincolnshire, of which this is the second result to see the light, described by the band as their “most technical and diverse song as of yet with technical double finger bass tapping, head twisting grooves and hard hitting breakdowns to keep any listener on their toes”:
Scarlet Tantrum ‘Inside Out’ (SODEH Records)
The North Carolina indie rockers capture emotional intensity with cinematic depth and fearless vulnerability, at the same time blending moody production, immersive atmosphere and deeply personal lyricism in this exploration of obsession, desire and the fragile tension between longing and losing control:
Sucker Trap ‘Science Of Macabre’ (SODEH Records)
The Vancouver alt-rockers dive headfirst into cosmic darkness, in the process fusing classic ‘80s metal swagger with philosophical depth and modern bite, channelling the ominous weight of Black Sabbath, the theatrical edge of Judas Priest, and the infectious energy of The Darkness, while carving out a sound that feels both familiar and fiercely original.
UltraBomb ‘Look Forward In Anger’ (DC-Jam Records/Virgin Music Group)
The punk rock super-trio of Greg Norton (Hüsker Dü), Derek O’Brien (Social Distortion, Agent Orange, Adolescents) and Ryan Smith (Soul Asylum) deliver a sense of urgency fuelled by sharp, melodic urgency which sees them turned shared frustrations into connection, purpose and positive movement on this latest extract from their upcoming third album, due at the beginning of May:
Vulgarithm ‘We’ve Become The Strays’ (Self-Released)
Having released three EPs of his self-styled ‘riff rave’, this one man electro-metal prodigy (sic) is preparing to unleash his debut full-length album, of which this is the third floor-filling ‘banger to grace our deathdecks:
So, there you have it, our latest baker’s dozen of selections to kick off a new rockin’ ‘n’ rollin’ week in… well, rockin’ ‘n’ rollin’ style. We’ll be back same time, same place next week with another selection of the finest tunes which will have been embracing our eardrums in the intervening period. And don’t forget to check out our daily picks as well… In the meantime, keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on Über Röckin’ in the free world \m/