Feature / Music / Year End 2016
Pass The Mic: Record Labels on 2016

Now in its tenth year, Pass The Mic is a SPB tradition where we ask the artists and record labels producing some of our favorite music to comment on the year in music: what albums they enjoyed, what bands they discovered, what their label released and what they're excited for that's coming in 2017. A few highlights:

Brent Eyestone (Bleach Everything/Magic Bullet Records)

"It would be cool if someone came up with a  new kind of subversive and interesting kind of music that wasn’t just some weird mishmash of different, preexisting genres. I want to hear some new shit or else I’ll just keep listening to my old shit that I know I like."

Will Butler (To Live A Lie Records)

"2016 will be the year that a lot of amazing queer and bands with women rose up in a lot of scenes and took charge as they should."

Halo of Flies Records

"I'm tired of hearing about how recording went, how your sound has changed. I want to care."

Read on and find out what some of our record label friends made of the year!

Andy (Tour Van Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. Witches with Dicks - Not Just Another Passing Season 
2. Martha - Blisters in the Pit of My Heart 
3. Googie - 'Tis what 'Tis
4. Notches - High Speed Crimes
5. Boilerman - Feel Ways about Stuff

Honorable mention:

Brickfight - To What End. Probably would've been top 5, but I only heard it the day I made this list.

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Angry Gods. Discovered in a recent label trade with Hip Kid Records. Brutal stuff, filled a void in me where brutal stuff needed to be.

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

Package tours and reunions. Not a fan of either, honestly.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

Well, our first planned release of 2017 has been cancelled, so that's that. Maybe I'll sift through some of these demos I've been meaning to listen to? Warm Needles is recording a new record now as well.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

I'm really excited to hear the Remnants LP which I hope will be released soon. I've heard the new songs live a few times and they're infectious. Also, Heavy Pockets. That teaser song is a ripper.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

As long as sites are highlighting smaller bands and labels I make it a habit to check them out. I especially like interviews. 

Brent Eyestone (Bleach Everything/Magic Bullet Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
2. Savages - Adore Life
3. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Disassociation
4. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne - Collegrove
5. PJ Harvey - The Hope Six Demolition Project

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I’ve been listening to a lot of Mrs. Magician since they’re local to where I live and I’ve caught them a few times now. I don’t know if any music “has an impact on (my) life” anymore. I’m trying to be less hyperbolic in an age of constant hyperbole. I just dig their tunes. They’re like a downer Beach Boys, which kind of perfectly juxtaposes the political climate with my visual settings out here.

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

I’ll remember it as the year that we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain album that’s on my record label. We did a month of shows in the major cities and I went to all of them. It was intense meeting so many fans of that album and hearing all of their individual stories. There would be easy ones (“I got married in my living room to this album”), but there’d be ones where you’d need to step away after and take a breather… everything from people showing you hesitation scars on their wrists to people that buried close ones to a particular song. None of it will leave my mind anytime soon...

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

I’m trying to knock out vocals for this full=length called The End of Everything Good. Working on some milestone anniversary Magic Bullet stuff as well, since 2017 will mark 20 years in the can.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

I honestly don’t know what’s supposed to come out. It would be cool if someone came up with a  new kind of subversive and interesting kind of music that wasn’t just some weird mishmash of different, preexisting genres. I want to hear some new shit or else I’ll just keep listening to my old shit that I know I like.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

I kind of stopped reading or browsing music websites altogether. I’m not trying to sound “too cool” for it or anything… I just haven’t really found the time to read about music since it’s so difficult to keep up with simply listening to music. I listen to music instead of read about music, if that makes sense.

Halo of Flies Records

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. High Spirits - Motivator
2. Ultha - Converging Sins
3. Helion Prime - s/t
4. Klimt1918 - Sentimental/Jugend
5. Void Omnia - Dying Light

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

This is a hard one. Because there's like 4 of 'em. But i'll go with two.

HIGH SPIRITS I knew of but had never heard before really, and the new LP is brilliant, uplifting heavy metal.

HELION PRIME I just found like 2 months ago randomly and they are modern power metal all about sci-fi, which is a perfect combination. 

I suppose both just make me happy and make me want to listen to and play heavy metal more than ever.

And to me thats more important than bands being groundbreaking, challenging, et al. I have my limits, I dont need you to push them for me.

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

Tons of great bands and records, though perhaps so many that its impossible (even more than last year) to keep up.

I think this year I was tempted to buy music much more than in recent years. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

A pile of records as usual.

• Dakhma lp
• Cloud rat / Crevasse split 7"
• Hexis lp
• Cloud rat / Disrotted split lp
• Cloud rat / Moloch split lp
• Archivist dlp
• Khmer lp
• Northless dlp
• Protestant lp (maybe, we're terrible at being a band)
• Svalbard lp

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

Primarily the ones above, but also anything new from CLOSET WITCH.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

In-depth features, longer interviews. Recently I've read some great interviews on a site I won't name and I really enjoy seeing the time taken to ask real questions of parties (bands/labels/whoever) that actually have something to say. I'm tired of hearing about how recording went, how your sound has changed. I want to care.

Jim Gies (Hip Kid Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

In no particular order and not counting demos:

1. Warthog - Warthog 7"
2. Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder
3. Animal Lover - Stay Alive
4. Spit-take - Frog Rock
5. Dark Thoughts - Dark Thoughts

Runner up would be Witch in Her Tomb - Meditations LP which only didn't make the list because it's technically a collection, not a proper album.

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

One of my favorite new bands of the year is Chew from Chicago.  Their demo is really great and since hearing it I've seen them live a bunch.  They've been cemented as one of the best hardcore punk bands going for me and I'm stoked for my band Rash to do a split with them.

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

I'll remember it as the year I got to tour Japan and see some of the best Japanese punk bands around like Thirsty Chords, Turncoat, Navel, and Big City, among many others.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

I'll be releasing the Liquids - Hot Liqs LP with Not Normal Tapes, as well as doing US releases of Thirsty Chords material.  As for playing music, a new Rash 7" is in production and I hope to record new Gidim material.  2017 will also see the release of a tape by the black metal project I do with Simon from Cracked Vessel entitled Mycelium Cloak.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

I'm looking forward to a 7" from The Bug, new material from Uranium Club,  Woe, Cracked Vessel, Chew, and tons of stuff I've yet to discover or am forgetting right now.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

I'd love to see more long form interviews/reviews that spend a lot of time digging deeply and thinking critically about independent music and artists.

R. Loren (Handmade Birds)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. David Bowie - Black Star
2. Solange - A Seat at the Table
3. Angel Olsen - My Woman
4. Planesmistakenforstars - Prey
5. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I wrote off Bloc Party years and years ago, then this year rediscovered them and am still scratching my head baffled by why I hadn't developed an avid appreciation sooner. They have reinvented themselves flawlessly with each record.

Also, Oathbreaker. I just love their sound, especially the vocal performance.

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

The year that Ellie Goulding's - Delirium was so excellent the year before that it outplayed the 5 I listed above.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

A very substantial and multifaceted project will roll out. No details to offer at this time.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

I have no clue which of my favorites will release next year. I wouldn't mind more La Dispute, Actress, a Dredg reunion, more Oil Thief.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

Less predictable coverage. Unearth more interesting bands to put me in a constant state of discovery.

Slovenly Recordings / Black Gladiator

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. The Cowboys - S/T (Lumpy Records)
2. Musk - Musk 2: The Second Skumming (12XU)
3. Chill - Take It From The Blind Side (Rhinestone Records)
4. Sleeping Beauties - S/T (In The Red)
5. The Sueves - Change Your Life (HoZac)

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

SITES 'n' SOUNDS. I bought this insanely rare '60s garage 45 from Delta, PA towards the end of summer. I did some research and located the organ player. Turned out he was practicing with his new crew every Sunday, just down the street from my house! He brought me his second to last copy of the 45 - mint and unplayed - and gave us permission to reissue it. This is not the kind of thing that happens every day, especially in the garage-punk world. 

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

The year we lost Billy Miller of Norton Records. A driving force and true champion of unsung heroes of the savage past of rock'n'roll, and a very dear friend to us. We take great solace in knowing that his partner and wife Miriam Linna is going to blast Norton off to further reaches than it ever dared.  

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

New LPs from BIZNAGA (Spain), BRAD POT (Australia), MORAL PANIC (NYC), and reissues of the PUKE SPIT & GUTS "Eat Hot Lead" LP (1980 San Fernando Valley degenerate punk) and the SITES 'n' SOUNDS 45 (unknown monster moody garage from PA).

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

DES DEMONAS on In The Red. These guys are heavy as shit and have a 10 foot tall lead singer who's originally from Africa. And the upcoming LP from the GARY WRONG GROUP on 12XU. Guaranteed to be weird and evil. 

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

RAW and SINCERE ENTHUSIASM.

Will Butler (To Live A Lie Records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2016? (In order 1-5)

1. Sex Prisoner - Tannhauser Gate
2. Gouge Away - .Dies
3. Blood Pressure - Need To Control
4. Busted Outlook - Not Defined By Violence
5. S.H.I.T. - i

2. What band did you discover in 2016 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

This is the hardest question to answer as I think all music I discover makes a huge impact. I'm not sure this made an impact in 2016 on me but has reverberated throughout my music history but the Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger repress is a huge thing for me. I'm pretty sure that album was a stepping stone to punk and generally heavier music in general. 

3. How will you remember 2016? (In terms of music)

2016 will be the year that a lot of amazing queer and bands with women rose up in a lot of scenes and took charge as they should. G.L.O.S.S. continued to be a huge splash with their big record deal and break up, Boston continues to have amazing bands like Dame, Firewalker, and Leather Daddy, Baltimore has Claw, and NY has bands like Hot Heads and Krimewatch. 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2017?

TLAL is looking to push three LPs, a few splits, and a slew of tapes out all right at the buzzer of 2016. Notably I'm doing the new Nashgul LP/tape, WVRM LP/tape, Triac/Sick/Tired LP, as well as splits from Deadbeat/Boak and Cave State/Concussive. Tapes include re-releases from The Kill and a stack of great stuff.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2017?

I'm ready for all these bands who are dropping A+ demo tapes to record EPs or full-lengths. I'm ready for each band in answer #3 to drop new music! I'm ready for more underground bands to rise up. I'm in a band who has only played a show and has a handful planned but look for a good recording from Oxidant early in 2017.

6. What would you like to see more of when it comes to music coverage websites (such as ours)?

I love the streaming exclusive content, thank you so much for posting the Nashgul LP!