Cerca:back on track

Manfredi Romano, founder and A&R of Life and Death Records, has been a pivotal figure in electronic music for over two decades. This year marks an important milestone as he is invited to curate the upcoming fabric presents mix for fabric Records, a release that highlights his instinctive storytelling and the distinct musical identity he has cultivated throughout his career.

Manfredi’s journey began in Italy around the turn of the millennium, tour-managing punk bands and organizing left-field music events before completing his studies in computer science at the University of Pisa. He went on to form DAZE, Italy’s first booking agency dedicated exclusively to electronic music, laying the groundwork for what would become a globally influential presence in the scene.
In 2010, he shifted focus to his own artistic project, DJ Tennis, which quickly gained international recognition for its emotive blend of house, techno, and disco. Renowned for creating intimate atmospheres in even the largest spaces, DJ Tennis has performed at leading clubs such as Circoloco Ibiza, Fabric London, and Panorama Bar Berlin, and at major festivals including Sonar, Timewarp, Primavera Sound, and Coachella. His 2022 residency at Phonox in London further showcased his ability to shape dancefloors with nuance and depth. Since 2017, he has also co-founded and curated Rakastella, the celebrated Art Basel Miami festival created in partnership with Life and Death and Innervisions.

As a producer, DJ Tennis draws from early relationships with post-rock pioneers such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Tortoise, and Fugazi, channelling their influence into intricately layered electronic compositions. His work has appeared on respected labels including Kompakt, Rhythm Assault, Running Back, !K7, Cercle Records, Aus Music, and Circoloco Records, alongside frequent releases on Life and Death. His remix portfolio includes collaborations with Diplo, Boys Noize, Loco Dice, WhoMadeWho, and Acid Pauli, among many others. He has also previously contributed a DJ-Kicks mix, bringing his eclectic sensibilities to one of electronic music’s most beloved series.

After extended periods living in Miami, Berlin, and Barcelona, DJ Tennis now resides in Paris. Outside the studio and club environment, Manfredi is a passionate chef who has curated menus for charity events and collaborated with Beatport at ADE, Pioneer, and Resident Advisor. He is also an avid collector of bicycles, vintage action figures, and vinyl — his record collection now surpasses eleven thousand pieces.

With the forthcoming fabric presents DJ Tennis release, he offers a deeply personal, narrative-driven statement that reflects decades of crate-digging, boundary-pushing selections, and a lifelong devotion to sound. It marks a new chapter in his artistic evolution and stands as one of the year’s most anticipated entries in the iconic series.
The first single from DJ Tennis is a collaboration with long-time studio partner Ashee, and it immediately sets the tone for the mix: warm, seductive, rhythm-driven, and emotionally charged.

“I Wanna Know” is a sleek club track built around a pulsing groove and a steady, hypnotic rhythm. The low end is rounded and warm, giving the track a driving but understated momentum. Percussion is crisp and minimal, allowing the bassline and vocal elements to take center stage. The repeating, robotic earworm of a vocal hook, “I wanna know’ is the lynchpin to the track and will remain in your head long after the track has finished.

It’s the kind of record that warms up a room early in the night, sets the tone for a sunset beach set, or adds a lush, emotional peak during a more leftfield club moment.

Whiskey is the 1996 debut album by Jay-Jay Johanson. An exciting mix of trip hop, nu jazz and drum 'n' bass; all with the amazing vocals of Jay-Jay himself. Key tracks like ""So Tell the Girls That I Am Back in Town"" and ""It Hurts Me So"" showcase his ability to fuse smooth, lounge-like vocals with electronic beats and lush instrumentation. Whiskey received critical acclaim for its emotive depth and unique style, establishing Johanson as a compelling figure in the late Nineties music scene. This album is a must for anyone who enjoys Moloko, Tricky, Archive and Lamb.

xm Black talk [Part 1]
[xn] Hörprobe Track 8: Black talk [Part 1]



[xr] Thank you [Part 1]
[xs] Hörprobe Track 9: Thank you [Part 1]




























[yv] Listen here [Part 1]
[yw] Hörprobe Track 15: Listen here [Part 1]








[h] B4 | Charles Earland - Black talk [Part 1]
[i] B5 | Melvin Sparks - (Jazz) Thank you [Part 1]





[o] D2 | Freddie McCoy - Listen here [Part 1]

Guti returns to Crosstown Rebels with improvisational new EP, ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’.An exploration of instinct, groove, and the new Latin sound, the Argentinian live maestro returns to Damian Lazarus’ imprint on 13th March 2026.

A new wave of Latin-infused groove arrives on Crosstown Rebels, and South American favourite Guti is at the helm. Returning to Damian Lazarus’ imprint with a release that captures his music in its most immediate and expressive form, his four-track ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ EP marks his first material on the label since 2020, reigniting a relationship that stretches back over 15 years. For the Argentinian artist, the studio has always been a living room, a jam space, a place where ideas can breathe, collide, and evolve naturally. Throughout his career, Guti has blended groove-driven house and Latin percussion into a signature sonic language in which spontaneity guides the process. The result here is a new release that feels as alive as it does intentional, designed for ears, hearts, and dancefloors alike.
Title track ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ opens with warm rhythmic layers and subtle instrumental interplay, a space where melody and movement coexist freely. ‘What You Give’ follows, pulsing with the organic energy of jam-session dynamics, each percussive gesture and melodic line alive with intention. On the flip, ‘The Truth’ unfurls a rich tapestry of percussion, soulful vocals, and improvisational motifs, while ‘La Nueva Onda Latina’ closes the EP as a vivid statement; an embodiment of the “new Latin sound” at the heart of Guti’s ethos, where instruments, electronics, and collaborative energy meet on equal footing. At its core, ‘You Know Ya Miss Me’ is a showcase of a musical mind at work: deliberate yet free, precise yet flowing, rooted in tradition but open to the unexpected. It’s a reflection of Guti’s belief that dance music can be both kinetic and expressive, that improvisation and groove can coexist, and that the most resonant sounds are born when musicians let go in the moment. This EP invites listeners into that space, to move with the rhythms, and to experience a sound unmistakably Guti; organic, vibrant, and alive.

2026 Repress

Lars Huismann returns to Mutual Rytm as he delivers the second instalment of his "Sounds From The Past" trilogy on the label.

As SHDW & Obscure Shape's Mutual Rytm imprint continues to grow, it's clear that the DJ and producer pairing have a strong vision for the label and are building an equally impressive roster of artists to form the imprint's core family members. One of the early standouts is Lars Huismann, who arrived to deliver a selection of impactful offerings influenced by the "golden years" of techno in his own unique style crafted by various production techniques. Having featured on the label's opening VA and delivered the first EP for MR002, racking up a wealth of global support in the process, mid-November welcomes a return for the Berlin-based talent as he serves up six fresh cuts in his signature sound for "Sounds From The Past II".

Opener "Sounds From The Past II" is an action-packed title cut fusing typically slick rolling grooves with hazy melodies and atmospheric releases of tension, while "Propulsion" takes cues from its title and sees precise drum shots, echoed background vocals and a tunnelling groove taking the track right into the thick of the action.

On the flip, B1 "Loucura" brings a percussive workout as frantic organic drums and resonant brass melodies bring a party
to proceedings, with "Stroke" and "Nudge" both armed with tough kicks, zipping synths and more subtle vocal work.

Digital buyers get an extra exclusive in the form of "Dub Division", welcoming a slightly more subdued but equally as impactful track guided by dubby chords and peppy hi-hats to close the show.

Originally released in 1993 on Full Motion Records, Tranvision by Optical Phase is a cult Italian progressive house / trance record from the early ’90s underground.

Produced during the golden era of Italian progressive, the track captures the hypnotic and melodic sound that defined many European dancefloors of the time, driven by atmospheric pads, rolling rhythms and uplifting synth progressions.

Long sought-after by DJs and collectors, the record has become increasingly hard to find in its original pressing.

Now finally back on vinyl, making this early ’90s Italian progressive gem available again for a new generation of DJs and collectors.

DJ Amir takes another deep dive into the back catalogue of Detroit's legendary Strata Records to curate a 2nd volume in his Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit compilations. Whereas volume one took in the soulful edge of the Strata canon this volume, as Amir says, 'leans into the label's groovier, funkier edges whilst still celebrating its bold, avant-garde spirit.' DJ Amir's relationship to the Strata label has resulted in the release of the long lost Charles Mingus live 'Jazz in Detroit' box set released on BBE Music along with re-issues from The Lyman Woodard Organisation and re-imaginings of Strata's genre defying music by Berlin based DJ and producer collective, Jazzanova as well as remixes from Kai Alce, Wajeed, Henrik Schwarz, re.decay and DJ Amir himself and, of course, volume one of The Sound of Detroit. Featuring music from The Soulmates, Fito Foster, Keith Boone & Janice Coombs and The Contemporary Jazz Quintet amongst others, The Sound of Detroit volume 2 absolutely exemplifies the importance of Strata Records in the history of innovative Black music as well as its place in the cultural landscape of Detroit as a powerhouse city for art and music. Released by BBE Music in collaboration with 180 Proof Records as a triple vinyl LP and high res. digital download DJ Amir presents Strata – The Sound of Detroit volume 2 really is a gem of a compilation to grace any serious music head's record collection.

Russell Paine (Super Disco Edits).

These four tracks simply blew me away when I heard them. Its raw disco funk cosmic energy that you just can't replicate. Sometimes when you get a long disco track that's eight or ten minutes long, mundane thoughts and loss of interest can start to kick in once the dums and bongo's have faded.

This isn't the case with Magique. You just keep joining the rocket ride to the stars.

From the social message disco funk of "Inch By Inch" which is still relevant to today's social problems. "Dancin" and "Disco Nights" epitomise why we love disco.

And finally "Disco Cowboy" has a sound that harks back to those Plainfield NJ P-Funk roots. I think if any of the Dj pioneers from the 1970's stumbled across these they would have been etched in Disco Folklore!

Walter Thomas’s “Chicago Knights” LP features a retrospective of songs written and released between 1987 and 2009, primarily with the Roland 1824 and the Fostex 8 track reel to reel. Channeling the spirit of underground soul and dance music specifically rooted within the greater area of Chicago, Illinois–a city known for its deep and healthy soul and r&b roots–this compilation features 8 of its 9 tracks on vinyl for the very first time.

The intro track “I Wanna Get Witcha” dates back to 1987, holds a proven track record of kicking off many a dance floor, rocking clubs worldwide in a blur of boogie-funk, disco, and soul. “Immaturity” and both versions of “Fed Up” echo the emotional differences and tensions between lovers in a spat. “Magic City” served as the anthem and homage to its namesake roller skating rink in 90s-era Waukegan, IL. While “Chicago Knights” is a relentless mid-tempo groove inspired by the aggressive motorists that dominate Chicago roadways, “2nd Chance” drops the tempo to a slow r&b roll, preaching the ethos of love, peace, and forgiveness.

Last but certainly not least, “E&J’s” was a real commercial jingle used for a once legendary BBQ joint “E&J’s” in Illinois: a short bonus track to close out the LP. These 9 tracks are just a touch of Walter’s expansive body of work, and we’re stoked to bring them to you on wax.


Walter Thomas is a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger, and composer from North Chicago, IL known for his soulfully smooth arrangements and vocals. Walter has toured internationally with quintessential soul groups like the Temptations and Friends of Distinction, as well as opening for performers including the Floaters, Bette Wright, The Emotions, and The Drifters. His decades of touring with nightclub and concert performances have honed this gifted artist into a seasoned and refined live act.

As Nathan Fake rises from the nocturnal subterranea and rave catharsis of his previous records, on Evaporator, he resurfaces into the domain of daylight, bringing a tangible sense of air rushing against your face, of big skies, and endless landscapes. The idea of pop accessibility that trickled into 2023’s Crystal Vision is refracted here through the prism of sweeping ambient, deep electronica, and trance uplift. Evaporator is Fake’s idea of “airy daytime music”, with each track a different barometer reading across the album’s varying atmospheres, which range from vibrant sunbursts, bracing rainscapes, and fine mists of clement melodics. “It’s not overtly confrontational electronic club music,” states Fake. “It’s quite pleasant, it’s accessible. As I was progressing through making the tracklist, I called it a daytime album. It doesn’t feel like an afterparty album.” For the past decade Fake has been gingerly introducing collaborations with heroes and friends alike into his lone, idiosyncratic working process. Border Community alumni Dextro AKA Ewan Mackenzie transmutes his ferocious drumming for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs into the blurred choral thump of ‘Baltasound’. ‘Orbiting Meadows’, meanwhile, is his second collaboration with Clark, an eerily idyllic duet where microtonal 18EDO piano clangs slowly twirl around wailing pads. Evaporator marks the junction point of old technology and ever fresh creativity for Nathan. The trusty “dinosaur” age software, particularly Cubase VST5, that has powered two decades of music is rarely updated. “I used to sort of feel a bit ashamed of using such old software, and then I kind of had an epiphany – that’s just how I work”, comments Fake. “That’s just how I play. I’m very fond of these old tools, and I get the most joy out of them, but now I’ve incorporated new technology too.” When an artist accumulates so much synergy with their instrument, music making becomes instinctual. By Fake’s account, much of Evaporator just fell into place. The album title arrived randomly in his head (“it felt completely perfect. Airy.”), ideas looped and developed until things locked into place and just felt right. ‘The Ice House’ is a fleeting glimpse of the sonic world he taps into in this creative state, its glassy FM synths built around a counterpoint between rough-hewn crystalline arpeggios and sparse yet gravitas-bearing bass. “That riff I just wrote out on the keyboard, I just played it forever and ever and ever. The original track ended up being really short. Here you go, and it’s gone!” These unplanned channellings of sound call forth records from Fake’s past while he looks ahead, perhaps getting at the very essence of his musicianship. The opener ‘Aiwa’ (“the breeziest,” he muses) reminds of the introspection that characterised Providence, excited by the fire and grit of Steam Days’ textural experiments, its chunky slams and clatters surging into a flood of harmonic buzzing as they reach out for old wisdom. ‘Hypercube’ stampedes in a similar chronological confluence, infusing an incessant synth line reminiscent of the golden age of rave with the crackling, ecstatic energy of modern festival anthems. Like the vaporisation of liquid to particles, everything that Evaporator presents has a mutant desire to be amorphous. Sounds rarely settle; the irradiated garage beat of ‘Bialystok’ is pitched downwards to driving, rebounding effect, while ‘You’ll Find a Way’ warps static into shivering energy, cinematic synth strings building anticipation into a gradual gush of chords. This translates into a more expansive stereo field than Fake has explored before. ‘Slow Yamaha’ saves the wildest, most kinetic transformations for last with a cornucopia of crispy melodies and fried drums; a sibilance of cymbals on the left, a susurrus of shakers on the right, and kaleidoscopic lasers pulsing and fizzing all around. Evaporation culminating in pure excited atoms. In a world where music has increasingly become background content, making albums remains lifeblood for Fake: “It makes me realise how long; twenty years is ages! It’s weird to see how much the world has changed. Release day back then you did fuck all, now you spend all day on socials. When I grew up the people who made the electronic music I was into were quite mysterious, and the artwork was very abstract. There was a massive distance between you and that music, and that was a key part of it, really. Now it helps to be an extrovert, and I'm just not, but the album marks the first time my face has graced the cover art. I’ve never wanted to do this before, I'm very shy, and generally I don’t like being seen,” he professes. “But, twenty years in, I supposed I could try something new. I'm very lucky that I'm somehow surviving in this world, where the media world favours extroverts and interesting looking people. It’s not my world but somehow I’m still in it.” Evaporator continues to prove Nathan’s necessary presence, with some of his most engaging, varied, and magical music yet.

Melodize is bringing the world back on the dance floor with Lauer and his 4-track “K1m Fantasy” EP. Behind the label is Brooklyn-based DJ and musician Beartrax, who is known for his groovy yet moody compositions. Philipp Lauer, known as Lauer, is a true veteran in the electronic music sphere, with over 20 years of experience, yet his sound remains novel and fresh.

This time, Melodize and Lauer shape the world of a fantasy dance floor where everything is possible. “K1m Fantasy” starts with Lauer letting his confidence shine through as an experienced professional with a signature sound in the first track “Boss Electro”, which will inevitably showcase why he’s the boss.

The playful tune of “Rabbits” takes the listener on a journey through electro-induced synths much like the image of curious rabbits playing on a grass field. The eponymous B-side “K1m Fantasy,” with its steadily unfolding mellow soundscape, is an introspective piece exploring the fantastical world of the techno dance floor where all becomes one.

Lauer’s last treat is “Choirs,” where brassy exclamations take turns with a haunting choir of electronic voices, reminding us that unity is key to pleasure and existence.

INDUSTRIAS MEKANIKAS is back with the third instalment of the ANTIKHRIST VISIONS saga. This release is particularly symbolic: it’s the ninth in the catalogue, marked by the infernal numerology that runs right through the whole series. It’s a descent into a sonic underworld, where noise becomes ritual and pleasure is just pure agony.

The artist tasked with opening this new chapter of the saga is the mighty Óscar Mulero, an essential figure on the national electronic scene and one of our biggest international ambassadors, whose career has left a deep mark on contemporary music. Here, with Faceless, he delves into dark, precise, and devastating electro territory; a spiritual machine that dictates the pulse of chaos.

Next up, we’ve got Pressurized Modulator with Reddrum: hard, crunchy, industrial electro, absolutely buzzing with electrical tension and twisted sonic matter.
Closing out the A-side is Jacko Volvone (aka Hoax Believers) with Quieren Cerrar Las Fábricas: a track that expertly blends electro, techno, and post-punk echoes, resulting in a tense, distorted, and combative sound, like a working-class echo shouting from the abyss.

Flipping over, the B-side opens with Hanging Nuts (made up of Waje Martín, Fake Robotik, and Ruben Montesco). They unleash a murky descent of filthy, distorted, primal electro, slashed through with guitars and raw, guttural vocals: a genuine chant from beyond the grave. The second cut marks the debut of Techselektah & Phil Fork with Champagne No Potable: a raging street anthem packed with fury, energy, and social criticism, where Spanish vocals emerge amidst EBM structures that have that ‘80s spirit, reinterpreted with today’s raw edge. And the big finish is down to HBK1 alongside Rigor Mortis, with Instinto Caníbal: a full-on explosion of electro-industrial and EBM that awakens the body’s most primitive urges.

Antikhrist Visions Vol. III is a sonic summoning from the lands of Hades: ritualistic matter, organic sound, and primal force. A testament to pleasure and torment—Tormento do Gostar—etched into the vinyl as if it were molten iron.

Memento Mori.

Ladyhawke is the debut studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Pip Brown, originally released in 2008. The album is rooted in synth-pop and new wave, drawing clear influence from 1980s electronic pop through its use of synthesizers, programmed drums, and guitar-driven arrangements.

This re-issue faithfully replicates the original 13 track UK version with its gatefold sleeve and lyric booklet, and is pressed on 180g vinyl

Tim Maia’s self-titled 1973 album is one of those records that hits you from the very first groove and doesn’t let go. Originally released on Polydor Brazil, this was the fourth in a series of Tim’s self-titled albums and many fans and critics still consider it the crown jewel. Packed with irresistible hooks, lush arrangements, and that unmistakable Tim Maia swagger, the album captures the singer at the peak of his creative powers.If you’re new to Tim Maia, here’s the quick story: born in Rio de Janeiro, Tim was a larger-than-life icon whose music married American soul and funk with Brazilian samba and pop long before “fusion” was a buzzword. A true musical polymath, he absorbed everything from Curtis Mayfield to Motown and translated it into a sound entirely his own, gritty, passionate, and full of groove.



He didn’t just introduce soul to Brazil; he made it Brazilian.On this 1973 release, Tim pushes everything up a notch. The arrangements are bigger, slicker, and surprisingly majestic, without losing the raw spirit that earned him a devoted following. From the moment ‘Réu Confesso’ opens the album, you know you’re in for something special—smooth, funky, and heartfelt in all the right ways. The bittersweet ‘Gostava Tanto de Você’ remains one of his most beloved classics, while ‘O Balanço’ bursts with Brazilian flavor that practically dares you not to move. And with tracks like ‘Do Your Thing, Behave Yourself’ and ‘Over Again,’ Tim shows just how naturally the soul idiom fit him, even when he switched to English.This record has everything: deep grooves, soaring strings, magnetic vocals, and that unmistakable sense of joy that Tim Maia carried into every session. It’s a front-to-back winner—one of those albums that deserves a spot not just in Brazilian music history, but in any collection that celebrates great soul, funk, and timeless grooves.If you’re a longtime fan, it’s a reminder of why Tim Maia is legendary. If you’re discovering him for the first time, this is the perfect place to start. Either way: press play, turn it up, and let Tim do his thing.

When Saracen released their debut album ‘Heroes, Saints & Fools’ back in 1981, the UK Rock scene certainly took notice. Their combination of Magnum-like melodies and Uriah Heep intensity and vocal stylings immediately endeared them to fans of the NWOBHM scene, and fans of classic British Rock in general.
All songs and lyrics were written by lead guitarist Rob Bendelow, who left prior to the release of their second album, ‘Change Of Heart’, in 1984. While this sophomore effort still contained a few Bendelow songs, the band had changed direction, moving away from the almost Pomp and NWOBHM of the debut for a more polished and Melodic Rock direction.
Unfortunately, this new direction didn’t resonate with the fans, and the band broke up not long after.
However, Bruce Mee of Now & Then Records had always been a massive Magnum and Saracen fan. Having already convinced Bob Catley to start a solo career in the late 90s, he also had very productive talks with Rob Bendelow. This great friendship resulted in the band reforming and the release of ‘Red Sky’ in 2003. Rob Bendelow and Saracen were back.
Later signing to Escape and releasing several more great albums, Rob Finally retired from the music scene a few years ago, but the band gamely soldiered on, keeping his songs and legacy alive for their many adoring fans.

In an instance of total cosmic kismet, that same Bruce Mee was also co-organiser of the inaugural ‘Tower of Fire’ UK festival, and in 2024 invited Saracen to play the event along with other well recognised names of the scene such as Nitrate, Remedy, Atack, White Skies and Gabrielle de Val. The event was multi-track recorded, and the results of the Saracen set were so good that it was decided to release a very first live album.

The title of the live album is taken from the name of their crushing opening song: ‘Crusader’. And in a further act of unbelievable karma, the magnificent album artwork and design are created by Sebastian Kozak, the very same creative artist responsible for the brilliant artwork on the band’s come-back album ‘Red Sky’ back in 2003.
All but one of the songs that day were from that incredible debut and those 5 songs, along with 3 others previously recorded live by the band, make up this totally amazing live album. For fans of Saracen and NWOBHM, this is a moment we never thought we’d ever see: a brilliant live Saracen album with vocalist Steve Bettney sounding as incredible as he did over 40 years ago.

Motown Records: The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and The Vandelas and, of course, The Temptations. It is antithetical to mention any of those without the others. The community of artists started as the Sound of Young America, but as history has proven, it became the sound, the look and the inspiration of so much more. And now, little nuggets of Motown's influence can be found the world over. David Ruffin, founding member of Motown superstars The Temptations, went on to become a successful solo artist even after he left the group. In 1969, Ruffin released two fantastic solo records, My Whole World Ended and Feelin' Good. Between 1970 and 1971 he recorded what was to be his third long playing solo record. However, his career was suddenly put on hold when Motown, for reasons unclear, shelved the album that had been dubbed David. The record had even been assigned a catalog number and final artwork. Ruffin returned in 1973 with a brand new LP titled David Ruffin (treated officially as his third LP) and the previously recorded album David sat on the shelves, unheard for decades. This deluxe 2xLP set features the original, rare David LP, plus an LP of bonus tracks and mono single mixes all packaged in a beautiful gatefold jacket, featuring extensive liner notes and striking color photographs of Ruffin. His red and yellow suede suit featured in the interior gatefold LP jacket is an absolute must-see! The record was cut and pressed at Third Man's Detroit HQ, just a couple miles away from the original Motown HQ. For the first time ever on vinyl, Third Man is proud to present the essential, true third LP from the Temptations' mighty David Ruffin.

With “chapters left unread” , 22-year-old Berlin artist Dust of Apollon presents his debut album: an electrifying yet deeply emotional work that moves between electronic and rock elements. Across 14 tracks, the album revolves around themes such as identity, inner conflict, love, depression, and healing. Throughout, there is a recurring sense of looking back on the unread chapters of one’s own life: moments that once felt impossible to understand, and wounds that only years later found their words. The focus track, “end of the road, ” stands as one of the album’s most intense moments. It tells the story of two lovers who draw closer to each other in the night, only to drift apart again when daylight breaks. A raw and honest conflict between hope and letting go, between closeness and the fear of reopening a wound that may never fully heal Thus, “chapters left unread” becomes not only a musical debut, but an intimate self-portrait: a look back at what once was, and an attempt to make peace with one’s past...chapters left unread that are now finally being read!

RE-PRESSED ON CLEAR VINYL!!! The long-anticipated collection of rare A-sides, B-sides, covers and unreleased outtakes from influential punk rock favorites and emo granddaddies JAWBREAKER. A twenty-track Alpha-Omega of rare and previously-impossible-to-find songs presented chronologically from their first demo in November of '88 (before they were even named Jawbreaker ) to their final studio recording, a version of "Boxcar" re-worked at the end of the DGC Dear You sessions. Beautifully packaged with inviting artwork and track-by-track commentary and lyrics (printed courtesy of AARON COMETBUS). 24-Hour Satisfaction Therapy, indeed.

Mizery aus San Diego sind ein rebellisches Kraftpaket, das mit seinem Crossover-Hardcore-Sound für Aufsehen sorgen will. Mizery wurden 2014 mit ihrer EP ,Survive The Vibe" bekannt, gefolgt von ihrem 2016 erschienenen Album ,Absolute Light" (Flatspot Records). Mit ihren groovigen Rhythmen und dynamischen Live-Auftritten erregten sie schnell Aufmerksamkeit. Die Idee zu Mizery hatten die Kindheitsfreunde Jose Luna (Gesang) und Taylor Parker (Leadgitarre). Als die beiden den Schlagzeuger Cayle Sain trafen, wurde aus der Idee echt was. Bald darauf holten sie Miguel ,Mikey" Salazar am Bass dazu und begannen als Vierergruppe zu komponieren. Nach der Veröffentlichung des Albums tourten Mizery mit Genre-Größen wie Power Trip, Terror und Backtrack und nahmen Ahmad Ali am Bass auf, wodurch Mikey zur Rhythmusgitarre wechselte. Wie der Rest der Welt kam auch die Band während der Pandemie zum Stillstand, schrieb aber weiter Songs und war bereit, mit voller Kraft zurückzukommen. Im Dezember 2023 erschütterte der unerwartete Tod des Schlagzeugers Cayle Sain, der auch mit Twitching Tongues, God's Hate und GhosteMane auftrat, die Musikszene und brachte Mizery verständlicherweise zum Stillstand. Während sie ihre Trauer verarbeiteten und nachdachten, wussten die Mitglieder von Mizery, dass sie weitermachen mussten, und eine gefundene Aufnahme gab ihnen ein neues Ziel. Jose und Taylor entdeckten, dass Cayle die Vorproduktions-Demos, die sie ihm geschickt hatten, genommen und in einem professionellen Studio Schlagzeugspuren dafür aufgenommen hatte. Mit der Hilfe des Produzenten Taylor Young (The Pit) konnte die Band diese Schlagzeugspuren bekommen und sie für ihre selbstbetitelte EP verwenden. Die Mizery-EP, die am 20. März 2026 bei Flatspot Records erscheinen soll, ist ein offen politisches Album, das sich um Erneuerung und Reflexion dreht. In den sechs Tracks werden die Texte als Waffe eingesetzt, wie Jose erklärt: ,Es ist eine Reflexion einer Welt, die einige von uns sehen und andere ignorieren. Die Gewalttaten, die Angst vor Gewalt und die Auswirkungen von Gewalt." Die Songs weichen von einem geradlinigen Kurs ab und mischen mitreißende Rap-Gesangspassagen mit metallischen Riffs, einfallsreichen Grooves und einigen Überraschungen. Die Einflüsse stammen von Leeways ,Adult Crash", Merauders ,5 Deadly Venoms" und Only Living Witness' ,Innocents", kombiniert mit den Werken von Rage Against The Machine und P.O.D., die die Bandmitglieder in ihrer Jugend geprägt haben. Schon beim Opener ,Renegade Rhythm" wird klar, dass Mizery es ernst meint, wenn sie sich mit dem Zustand der Welt auseinandersetzen und dabei Musik machen, die im Kopf bleibt. ,The Weapon PT.II" ist der lauteste Track auf der EP und setzt auf Worte, um Veränderungen zu bewirken, statt auf physische Gewalt. Den Abschluss der EP bildet der selbstgerechte Song ,Eulogy" mit Gastgesang von Sammy Ciaramitaro von DRAIN. Der Song entstand als frühe Demo und war der einzige Track, für den Cayle programmierte Drums anstelle von Studioaufnahmen verwendet hatte. Um die Single zu vervollständigen, sprang Schlagzeuger David Stalsworth (Militarie Gun, Torena) bei den Aufnahmen ein und ist nun Mitglied von Mizery. Während manche die Veröffentlichung der EP als Triumph betrachten mögen, ist sie für Mizery ein Beweis für ihre Beharrlichkeit und zeigt, dass die Band bereit ist, in eine neue Ära einzutreten.

Mizery aus San Diego sind ein rebellisches Kraftpaket, das mit seinem Crossover-Hardcore-Sound für Aufsehen sorgen will. Mizery wurden 2014 mit ihrer EP ,Survive The Vibe" bekannt, gefolgt von ihrem 2016 erschienenen Album ,Absolute Light" (Flatspot Records). Mit ihren groovigen Rhythmen und dynamischen Live-Auftritten erregten sie schnell Aufmerksamkeit. Die Idee zu Mizery hatten die Kindheitsfreunde Jose Luna (Gesang) und Taylor Parker (Leadgitarre). Als die beiden den Schlagzeuger Cayle Sain trafen, wurde aus der Idee echt was. Bald darauf holten sie Miguel ,Mikey" Salazar am Bass dazu und begannen als Vierergruppe zu komponieren. Nach der Veröffentlichung des Albums tourten Mizery mit Genre-Größen wie Power Trip, Terror und Backtrack und nahmen Ahmad Ali am Bass auf, wodurch Mikey zur Rhythmusgitarre wechselte. Wie der Rest der Welt kam auch die Band während der Pandemie zum Stillstand, schrieb aber weiter Songs und war bereit, mit voller Kraft zurückzukommen. Im Dezember 2023 erschütterte der unerwartete Tod des Schlagzeugers Cayle Sain, der auch mit Twitching Tongues, God's Hate und GhosteMane auftrat, die Musikszene und brachte Mizery verständlicherweise zum Stillstand. Während sie ihre Trauer verarbeiteten und nachdachten, wussten die Mitglieder von Mizery, dass sie weitermachen mussten, und eine gefundene Aufnahme gab ihnen ein neues Ziel. Jose und Taylor entdeckten, dass Cayle die Vorproduktions-Demos, die sie ihm geschickt hatten, genommen und in einem professionellen Studio Schlagzeugspuren dafür aufgenommen hatte. Mit der Hilfe des Produzenten Taylor Young (The Pit) konnte die Band diese Schlagzeugspuren bekommen und sie für ihre selbstbetitelte EP verwenden. Die Mizery-EP, die am 20. März 2026 bei Flatspot Records erscheinen soll, ist ein offen politisches Album, das sich um Erneuerung und Reflexion dreht. In den sechs Tracks werden die Texte als Waffe eingesetzt, wie Jose erklärt: ,Es ist eine Reflexion einer Welt, die einige von uns sehen und andere ignorieren. Die Gewalttaten, die Angst vor Gewalt und die Auswirkungen von Gewalt." Die Songs weichen von einem geradlinigen Kurs ab und mischen mitreißende Rap-Gesangspassagen mit metallischen Riffs, einfallsreichen Grooves und einigen Überraschungen. Die Einflüsse stammen von Leeways ,Adult Crash", Merauders ,5 Deadly Venoms" und Only Living Witness' ,Innocents", kombiniert mit den Werken von Rage Against The Machine und P.O.D., die die Bandmitglieder in ihrer Jugend geprägt haben. Schon beim Opener ,Renegade Rhythm" wird klar, dass Mizery es ernst meint, wenn sie sich mit dem Zustand der Welt auseinandersetzen und dabei Musik machen, die im Kopf bleibt. ,The Weapon PT.II" ist der lauteste Track auf der EP und setzt auf Worte, um Veränderungen zu bewirken, statt auf physische Gewalt. Den Abschluss der EP bildet der selbstgerechte Song ,Eulogy" mit Gastgesang von Sammy Ciaramitaro von DRAIN. Der Song entstand als frühe Demo und war der einzige Track, für den Cayle programmierte Drums anstelle von Studioaufnahmen verwendet hatte. Um die Single zu vervollständigen, sprang Schlagzeuger David Stalsworth (Militarie Gun, Torena) bei den Aufnahmen ein und ist nun Mitglied von Mizery. Während manche die Veröffentlichung der EP als Triumph betrachten mögen, ist sie für Mizery ein Beweis für ihre Beharrlichkeit und zeigt, dass die Band bereit ist, in eine neue Ära einzutreten.