Armor are a hardcore punk band from Tallahassee, Florida that began in 2019 (presumably). I don't have much info on them, except that they put out on hell of a 7" this year in the form of Some Kind of War, which is four flawless tracks of exceptional hardcore. It's a blistering release that blends the gruff aggression of Negative Approach with d-beat influence. They've also put out a demo which is worth checking out. Enjoy.

The Witch Trials were a four-piece electropunk project that existed very briefly in October 1980. The group compromised of Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Adrian Borland (The Sound), Morgan Fisher (Mott The Hoople) and Christian Lunch. They recorded a single EP in a single improv session, which was released a year later on Subterranean Records (who also put out a lot of early Flipper and Dead Kennedys singles) and reissued by Alternate Tentacles a few years later. The four tracks on their self-titled EP are eerie soundscapes, crafted with shots of noise, off-kilter keyboards, mechanical drums, and Biafra's looming spoken word. It's an experimental outing, especially considering the other projects its members were involved in, but an interesting listen both for its historical uniqueness and its hauntingly evil sound. Enjoy.

Very few bands in recent history have carved out a truly unique niche like Akron, Ohio's CityCop have. Since their inception in 2010, they have blended together a plethora of sounds and genres to create something that is completely their own. After a slew of solid releases, they are finally back with the follow-up to 2017's fantastic The Same Stories That Never Get Old with the five-track EP Nesh, which is out today on the newly-formed Little Elephant Records.

Today (October 13th) Komusō are back with their anticipated second EP, Luck Will Be On Your Side This Week. It's the follow-up to their debut self-titled EP that was released earlier this year, and set the bar very high for this band. They are a four-piece from Tokyo, Japan that features members from multiple notable bands, including No Omega, Careless, Det ar darfor vi bygger stader, Cape Light, and 5000. Luck Will Be On Your Side This Week features three new tracks, all of which offer up something different and make for an incredibly intense listen. You can pre-order the 7" EP from Zegema Beach Records today, with 149 records being pressed on black and 151 on clear. It's also being released by Left Hand Records, zilpzalp records, and Adabana Records. Check out the full album stream and pre-order info down below.


"Still / まだ" introduces a pulsating rhythm section with an immediately recognizable Spiderland influence. The guitar arpeggios are dissonant and off-tempo, while the vocals mutter quietly in the background. The song slowly builds tension through clashing guitars before blasting into its climatic end that recalls the final moments of "Good Morning, Captain".

Track 2, "Forgotten People / 忘れられた人々" wraps around a single arpeggio with melodic subtleties added to it, and again brings back the whisper-thin vocals. The build in this song is absolutely fantastic, and a strong indicator of Komusō's strong musicianship. It's the way they walk the fine line between melodic and dissonant, and make for entirely new emotional experiences through their very deliberate notation. Plus the guitar solo on this is an unexpected but very welcome surprise, as the underlying instrumentation begins to trip over each other to bring the track to a surprisingly pleasing end.

And finally, "Extension / 拡大". This song takes a bit of a detour from the Slint influence, and the first to bring back those insane screamed vocals from their debut EP. This is a passion-fueled scream fest, with enough dynamic depth and instrumental aptitude to not fall into total chaos. They manage to create an incredibly sad emotional palette through longing chords and an over-the-edge vocal delivery, which really hits and resonates with the listener. It's an incredible closer to this short-but-sweet EP.  Overall, it's a notable progression from their already-solid debut, and a fantastic demonstration of a new band whose about to make waves in the screamo world.

Here's one that'll dent some skulls. Euclid C Finder is a one-man Baltimore, Maryland-based mathcore/grindcore project created by Mike Mehl (who was also in Egarra, Kiss The Sky Goodbye, and Neck First). It began earlier this year with the release of his debut EP, A Standard Basis For The Set Of All Discontent, which is now being followed up with this new 6-song EP (titled Euclid C Finder!). This thing is a blissfully chaotic blend of extreme music influences, with throat-shredding vocals, dissonant guitars that sound more like alarms, and rhythms so off-kilter they could cause cardiac arrest with their irregular beats. Fans of bands like Graf Orlock, .Gif From God, Daughters, and Fear Before will particularly get into this.

I'm super happy to share with you this latest EP, which you can stream in its entirety now. Its official release date is slated for October 8th, with tapes available through both the band and Zegema Beach Records. The self-titled EP is on the A-Side, while their debut EP takes up the B-Side, making for twice the gut-punch experience. Check all of that out down below.

Chalk Hands are a four-piece screamo/post-hardcore band from Brighton, UK that formed in 2017. They released a two-track EP last year, Burrows & Other Hideouts that has garnered quite a bit of attention for its seamless blend of post-rock melody and atmosphere, post-hardcore's technical prowess and non-linear song structure, and screamo's intensive vocals and chaotic instrumental collisions. This band has come out of the gate with two hard-hitting, experimental and forward-thinking tracks, carving out their own corner in the screamo/hardcore/whatever world. They've apparently been active in working on new material, which is something to definitely look out for, because based on their debut alone, Chalk Hands are going to do great things. Enjoy.

Formerly Bodies is an indie project created by singer-songwriter Hannah Weir, from Lansing, Michigan. She's only put out one EP thus far, but the three tracks on it are nothing short of incredible. Sonically, they are very ambient and haunting, featuring slow, reverb-soaked chords and arpeggios accompanying her vocals. It can definitely draw strong comparisons to Julien Baker, both for the incredible songwriting talent and the somber atmosphere created. Definitely recommended. Enjoy.

Ontario's Drew Thomson is back with a new EP, Stay, out today on Dine Alone Records. Perhaps better known as the frontman of the raucous punk band Single Mothers, Drew has released a handful of EP's under his own name with a decidedly calmer sound. This marks his first one under the new moniker "The Drew Thomson Foundation", which is an appropriate change since this EP deals with new beginnings and brings out a new sound. Now, first and foremost I am a massive fan of this guy's work, and anyone who has ever been trapped in a car with me can attest to that. Thus, any attempt at a "review" of this would be beyond biased, so a "rant" is more fitting. Moral of the story, check this EP out.

Stay trades out the acoustic-based or clean electric melancholy of his earlier work for a full-on distorted power chord sound, complete with a full backing band. Drew solidifies himself as a graduate of the University of Craig Finn, with incredible lyrical wit and detail, shout-along choruses, and an undeniable rock n roll energy. His vocal ability and songwriting skills just continue to get better, and the result is his most accessible material to date paired with his continued distinct charisma. Lyrics have always been a strong suit of his, and the guy who once wrote Negative Qualities seems to have found a far more sunny disposition, which is reflected in this new EP.


The intro wastes no time with "Married To The Night", which immediately opens with Drew's vocals and a loud, overdriven guitar before the entire band kicks in. The punk influence is immediately more evident than on any of his previous releases. Vocally, he dabbles in the sing-speak style more commonly used with Single Mothers. This is the perfect delivery for the wordplay and lyrical density he is renowned for. He fits a lot of detail into this 2-minute track, which says just enough to capture a moment without indulging in it.

"Pace Yourself" is an alt-country ballad in the vein of Lucero, which sees Drew trading in his "whiskey spell" for "diet coke and lime". The acoustic guitar on this track suggests that it may have started much more stripped down. With the addition of the full band instrumentation, this song sounds a lot less lonely than it may have originally, which is perfectly fitting for the song's subject matter. This track pulls together a huge, communal chorus with some incredible lyrics that hit a little too close to home. Its a reflection on a previous self juxtaposed with the current self, and the changes that have arisen in that time, and the sense of hope that brings. Drew throws in some incredible personal details on both lives with that chorus hammering home the simple yet poignant life lesson: pace yourself. This is the second track released from the EP, and a definite highlight.

Track 3, "Rifle" is a bit of a detour on this EP, with its run-time being over twice any other song on here at 5:21. Its foundation is a riff played on what sounds like a cross between a bass and a synth, over steady toms, with some guitar flashes decorating the spaces. It burns a little slower than the rest, but brims with lyrical potency, allowing Drew to tell this story with vivid detail and feeling. It contains fantastic lines such as "All this goddamn town has is a funeral home, a liquor store and a church. Not sure which one I'll end up in first". The wordy chorus hits its peak the third time around post-bridge, where the guitar work begins swelling, and the snare and cymbals hit. The slow build and progression hits an incredible climax here before devolving into the bass/synth riff to close.

The closing track, which also happens to be the title track and first single released is "Stay". It's an incredible concept to hit on, and one universally (albeit painfully) understood by so many. This track borders on a pop song, with an upbeat chord progression, standard song structure, and catchy refrain (the kind of earworm that gets stuck in your head). The lyrics on this track are pretty immediate, with the narrator dealing with the loss of someone who left before their time of self-improvement. It's got this incredible duality to it, where it fits into both camps of happiness and sadness (for lack of better words), which I think perfectly encapsulates the human condition (as pretentious as that sounds). Regardless, this is an incredible song with a replay value that does not wear out easily, and a highlight in Drew's already-amazing catalogue. You can check out the video for "Stay" below.



I'm not sure if my recommendation has much merit, but I do truly suggest giving all of Drew's music a listen, especially Stay (and Single Mothers if you haven't heard them, holy shit get on that). This is a fantastic project from one of my favourite songwriters kicking around today, and one I will be (and have been) listening to tirelessly. The music, lyrics, and hooks are all simply astounding, which I know is a vague description, but also abundantly true. I wholeheartedly encourage you to check this out. You can buy or stream it over at Dine Alone at the link below. Enjoy!

The EP kicks off with 30 seconds of feedback that throttles into the first track, "Neon Sequitor". This introduces the defining sound of the band, with chorus-laden angular leads, fully fleshed-out chords, and shaking vocals that build into screams. The refrain hits with a memorable intensity, something that's immediately noticeable about these songs. They are just as easy to sing along to as they are to mosh the fuck out to. The band established such a high, fast-paced energy on this first track, it's bound to grab you out of your seat. "Immaculate" continues to crank it out, with skull-fracturing verses, and an incredibly catchy melody in the chorus of straight-forward singing. The bass and drums roll steadily in the bridge, allowing the guitars to shimmer in atmospheric noise.

"Sarcophaguts", the first song released from the EP, features a call-and-response verse between the vocals and instrumentation. The vocals are manic throughout the track, except for the chorus, which cuts through with one of the EP's strongest melodies to tie the track together. This is a personal highlight on this thing, especially when it breaks to just guitar and vocals before bringing it back full-force for the outro. Simple things like this can often be the most effective, and Slow Bloom absolutely kill it on this track. They waste no time launching into "Cataracts", with a spoken-sung vocal passage, which is why I've often drawn comparisons to ATDI in the past. This track is a bit more winding than the previous ones, and burns slower, but with the same intensity.  The vocals hit soaring highs in the choruses, and rally throughout the rest. Plus, the bass tone here is impeccable.

"Hex Hex Hex" closes this 5-track EP out with a wall of sound for rhythm. The echoed background vocals playing off the lead vocals in the chorus makes  for a definite highlight, as well as the change-up of vocals about half-way through, which are a little toned down, but twice as seething. This song is undeniably memorable, with catchy melodies, solid lyrics, and a climax build-up into the final chorus that's sure to snap your neck back. They finally pump the brakes to leave some breathing room at the end, letting the EP exhale to a close.

Overall, there are not enough good things I can say about this. They are absolutely recommended for people who just want a high-energy, catchy band with some instrumental chops to boot. You can stream the entire EP on Bandcamp below,  or pick up the 12" from No Sleep or Dog Knights Productions. Also, check out the dates for their upcoming US West Coast Tour in April.

I Love Your Lifestyle are a five-piece emo/indie/punk band from Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden that formed in 2012. They play an excellent blend of up-beat punk mixed in with the bright, twinkly/noodley guitar sound of midwestern emo, with some catchy as hell Cap'n Jazz vocals. Basically, they're Algernon Cadwallader reincarnated. We Go Way Back is one of the best emo records to come out in the past few years, and their new 2-song EP is just as good. I can't recommend this band enough for fans of Kinsella-inspired midwestern emo. Enjoy.

Giles Corey is a project created by Dan Barrett, a Connecticut musician who is also known for another project of his, Have A Nice Life. This particular project, Giles Corey, has been active since 2011 with the release of a self-titled album. It's garnered nothing but acclaim over the years, and for good reason. It's difficult to figure out a place to begin in describing this album (and all his work, for that matter). For one, and this is going to sound incredibly pretentious, but Barrett creates more than music, he crafts an experience. The atmospheres he creates are lonely, desolate, and most of all, engaging. From the artwork, to the book that accompanies this album, Giles Corey is a project that requires one's full immersion in. There is a clear, personal emotional intensity here, which simultaneously explores Barrett's own psyche, while also creating something for any listener to relate and indulge in. This kind of music is for the lowest points in life, and in exploring the darkest recesses of the mind, somehow a light at the end of the tunnel is found. Or something like that. Though though certainly are philosophical and emotional elements in his work, to quickly speak on the music alone here, it's absolutely fantastic. These atmospheres created with just an acoustic guitar, layers of breathy vocals, light percussion, and some background orchestral swelling reflects the depressive nature of this music alone, without even having to explore the book or lyrical accompaniments. Just by listening, this album still takes the listener on a conceptual journey through a person's depression and brink of suicide. I honestly can't recommend this enough.

What's essential here is the self-titled album, which also includes a booklet only included if you buy it on Bandcamp (which I highly recommend doing, but I've provided just the musical portion of it here). The follow-up Deconstructionist is technically not an album, but is described as a "philosophical tool". Again, I recommend reading more into it on Bandcamp, which also includes another booklet in its download. Hinterkaifeck is a fairly straight-forward EP, and Live in the Middle of Nowhere a fairly straight-forward live album (he even does some Have A Nice Life songs). Enjoy.

Side By Side were a five-piece New York hardcore band that were only around between 1987 and 1988. They're often associated with bands like Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, since they share members. Along with the aforementioned, Side By Side were integral in developing the NYHC sound and Youth Crew movement. However, their recorded output was minimal relative to the others. In their time as a band, they only released one 7" and made two compilation appearances. The 7", You're Only Young Once... was released in 1988, and was one of the first albums put out by Revelation Records. It's an absolute classic, and a definite must-listen for fans of second-wave NYHC. It was reissued in 1997, which also included their compilation tracks, demo, and some live material. That's the version I have here, with the first seven tracks being the original EP. Enjoy.

I have to credit Dead Pulpit with showing me yet another great band for me to fawn over, and just had to share them here. This time it's Blank Look, a five-piece hardcore/powerviolence band from Tempe, Arizona. Their Bandcamp has them tagged as "fight metal", and I think that's a pretty accurate description of them. The aptly titled Pain came out earlier this month, and it's devastating as hell. It's basically a cracked-out tantrum of anger that makes you want to tear everything apart and put your fist through as many walls as possible. Fans of Dead In The Dirt and Magrudergrind need to pay close attention here. Without a doubt this is one of my favourite hardcore/powerviolence EP's I've heard all year, so get listening and grab the cassette if you can. Enjoy.