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White Lung

Paradise
Domino (2016)

Since the 1980s, Vancouver, B.C. has always had a thriving punk scene, but the new millennium came in like a reaper and scythe, decimating live music venues until there was virtually nothing left. So, in true DIY fashion, performances began in the underground parking garage of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, that became known as The Emergency … Read more

Shallow Cuts

Empty Beach Town
No Idea Records (2016)

Sometimes I want to add a lot of back story, my own perspective coming into a record. While that certainly shapes the experience, sometimes you have to let it stand for itself. Shallow Cuts tie into a number of other bands: Dan Padilla, Madison Bloodbath, The Gateway District, Dear Landlord, Tiltwheel. Probably the whole of San Diego the way this … Read more

Coathangers

Nosebleed Weekend
Suicide Squeeze (2016)

A lot of the bands I listen to have gotten older and slowed their productivity so it’s nice to realize that The Coathangers are already releasing their fifth album even it’s already been a decade for the Atlanta-formed trio. On Nosebleed Weekend the band takes a bit of a curve toward a cleaner, less challenging sound, even if it’s just … Read more

American Football

LP2
Polyvinyl (2016)

American Football are the sort of band that shouldn't have attracted so much attention. When they first properly emerged in 1999, a copy of their eponymous debut in hand, they were still playing small college bars around the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Their album cover was so low-key it should have been unremarkable, depicting the darkened exterior of a … Read more

Esben and the Witch

Older Terrors
Season of Mist (2016)

Taking their name from a well-known Danish fairytale, the trio from Brighton entered with confidence the alternative rock world. A series of EPs and three full-length records, with Violet Cries and Wash The Sins Not Only the Face especially standing out, has led the band down an interesting road, as their alternative rock style took on elements from indie rock … Read more

SURVIVE

RR7349
Relapse (2016)

S U R V I V E, the experimental synth quartet from Austin, rose to fame quite fast when it became known that two of its members contributed to the score of Stranger Things, a hit sci-fi/horror series on Netflix (just in case you have been living under a rock.) That information alone can give a fair insight on what … Read more

Metallica

Hardwired...to Self Destruct
Blackened Recordings (2016)

8 years. Jesus. That’s the same length of time as Barack Obama’s two-term administration. That’s the entire lifespan of an 8 year old child. That’s too goddamn long between albums, is what it is. Yes, Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett and Trujillo have finally returned with a new album – Hardwired…to Self Destruct. We all know, given their rarity of appearance on … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Various Artists

Fatso Jetson / del-Toros Split 7”
Shattered Platter (2016)

Given that it's a split release between a well-established group and one making its U.S. debut, the best thing about 2016's Fatso Jetson / del-Toros 7” may be how well its two tracks play alongside one another. Self-proclaimed “godfathers of the desert rock scene,” California's Fatso Jetson kick off the record with the churning “Dream Homes.” Conveying a sense of … Read more

Arms Aloft

What a Time to Be Barely Alive
Red Scare Industries (2016)

Midtempo punk sounds like such a boring idea.And sometimes it really is.But when it works, it’s hard to top. The chords are still powerful and concise, the frustration and fury still present, but it’s more tempered when the tempo drops down a bit and more powerful when it rises to the top. The vocals need to sneer and snarl instead … Read more

Oathbreaker

Rheia
Deathwish Inc. (2016)

Starting off with an unusual combination of crust, hardcore and black metal, Oathbreaker have evolved significantly since their debut album, Maelstrom. The follow-up album, Eros/Anteros saw a further evolution of their sound, with post-metal elements beginning to populate their palette. This slightly eased the connection between hardcore and black metal, and resulted in a more expansive vision. Rheia comes now … Read more

Various Artists

Oneida & Rhys Chatham - What's Your Sign?
Northern Spy (2016)

Collaborations in the experimental music domain always bring something interesting to the table. Oneida is a great experimental rock band, encompassing elements of noise rock, psychedelia and krautrock, as a method of crafting a diverse sound. Having released a plethora of records, mostly through Jagjaguwar, they are now putting out their first collaborative full-length with Rhys Chatham. Chatham is a … Read more

Johann Johannsson

Orphee
Deutsche Grammophon (2016)

The Icelandic composer has risen magnificently in the last few years due to his works within the film domain. A prolific artist, Johannsson has contributed with scores for some excellent recent movies, including The Theory of Everything, as well as his frequent collaborations with visionary director Denis Villeneuve, in Prisoners, Sicario and the upcoming Arrival. Johannsson returns now with Orphee, … Read more

Marillion

F.E.A.R.
Intact (2016)

For a Marillion fan, a new album isn’t just a release – it’s an event. And as far as events go, on an ascending scale from a co-workers 30 day alcohol-free chip celebration, to a close cousin’s Harry Potter themed wedding, to the birth of your new baby, FEAR is more of a birth. A birth of ideas in a … Read more

The Blind Shake

Celebrate Your Worth
Goner (2016)

I’ve covered The Blind Shake for most of their career so far. Over that time it’s been a steady growth often focused on syncopated and rhythmic rock: forceful, punchy, and precise. The kind of rock that you can set your watch to, while still angry and striking a deeper chord. They’ve taken some turns along the way: their collaborations with … Read more

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