Buscar:rock out

DYING VICTIMS PRODUCTIONS is proud to present JORDSJØ’s highly anticipated new album, Pestkrønikene, on CD and vinyl LP formats. JORDSJØ released their first tape in 2015. With the fourth tape, 2017’s Jord, the band got a wider audience outside their native Norway and subsequently released full-lengths on such labels as Karisma, Pancromatic, and Apollon. The band works as a duo in the studio, but for the last eight years, they have played live as a quintet. JORDSJØ are led by multi-instrumentalist Håkon Oftung, who has been a part of Oslo’s psychedelic, progressive, and heavy rock undergrounds for many years, and has played in Black Magic, Tusmørke, The Chronicles of Father Robin, Wobbler, Zenon, and labelmates FLIGHT to mention but a few. He’s joined by longtime companion and childhood friend Kristian Frøland, who plays drums and percussion, and also produced and mixed Pestkrønikene. Pestkrønikene is a part of JORDSJØ’s 10-year anniversary, and their ninth release overall. The record started out as a compilation of studio outtakes from 2020-2025, but then took on a form of its own, with the songs linked together thematically. Lyrically, those themes reflect war, upheaval, the fall of kings and the rise of a new dawn, and cults and sects. Sonically, Pestkrønikene encapsulates the JORDSJØ experience as well as extends beyond it. Mythical and magickal, the album honors the band’s background in hard rock and heavy metal, and combines this with their own analog and organic blend of progressive / psychedelic folk rock.

Spirit of 76 Summer Campaign - Blow Your Face Out captures the J. Geils Band at their rowdiest and most electrifying. Recorded live at the height of their ’70s powers, the album is a raw, sweat-soaked blast of blues-rock, R&B, and hard-driving boogie. Peter Wolf’s swaggering vocals and the band’s loose-but-locked-in groove turn every track into a party, with extended jams and call-and-response energy that put you right in the middle of the crowd. It’s not a polished studio showcase—it’s a full-tilt document of a band feeding off the audience and blowing the doors off the room. 2 LP set recorded at Boston Garden and Cobo Hall in November 1975 is remastered from the original analog masters by Bernie Grundman.

By the time Mayday Parade began work on Sugar, the closing installment of their three-part album series, they had pushed themselves further than ever before.Following Sweet (April 2025) and Sad (October 2025), the pop-rock quintet committed to a relentless cycle—write, record, tour, repeat—building a body of work that captures the full scope of their sound across nearly 30 songs.

Sugar brings the trilogy to a close in powerful fashion, emphasizing both reflection and forward momentum through the driving emo pulse of first single “Blame It on the Youth,” the hypnotic piano ballad “What Happens Next,” the glossy melodic groove of “Two Hearts,” and the nostalgic energy of “Sweet Sad Sugar,” which reflects on the Tallahassee roots that shaped the band.
Just as importantly, the project marks the beginning of a new era defined by autonomy. Released independently, the set sees Mayday Parade taking full control of their creative output—a full-circle moment for a group that first built its audience by selling CDs in Warped Tour parking lots and quickly became a leading voice of the late-2000s emo wave thanks to gold- and platinum-certified singles like Jamie All Over and Miserable at Best.
It's this willingness to chase something ambitious, no matter how daunting, that has defined them from the very beginning. Now, with the trilogy complete, Mayday Parade find themselves in a position few of their peers can claim: still creatively restless, still evolving, and still finding new ways to win.

2026 Repress

For the better part of two decades, the acclaimed band Calexico has crossed musical barriers, embracing a multitude of styles, variety in instrumentation, and well-cultivated signature sounds. With their forthcoming record Edge of the Sun, out April 13th via City Slang, they take inspiration from a trip to a place surprisingly unexplored by the band before in Mexico City, and with the benefit of many friends and comrades to help guide the way.

Encouraged by the experience, the guest list grew to include Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Nick Urata (Devotchka), Carla Morrison, Gaby Moreno, Amparo Sanchez, multi-instrumentalists from the Greek band Takim, and Neko Case. Burns' brother John Burns lent a hand to some lyrics and songwriting, and the band's keyboardist, Sergio Mendoza, stepped up to co-write and arrange certain songs, ultimately co-producing the album along with Burns, John Convertino, and longtime associate Craig Schumacher.

“WAR.POEM” was recorded at THE ROCK NOIR studio in 2025/2026 as a reaction to a piece I read on the Israeli military use of FLECHETTE SHELLS in Gaza, this led to a much deeper study of the 20th/21st century history of war. The album was composed entirely using a TAPE O MATIC 710 reel to reel from 1958, a 1960’s mayfaair JVC reel to reel, aa 1965 G.E. solid state portable reel to reel from 1965, a portable 1970’s Panasonic cassette player, a ring modulator as well as various other effects and synths.
The loop that is the basis for WAR POEM ZERO which takes up the whole of side one, happened by accident when I put a reel on the wrong way up, it produced aa sound of such great melancholy and beauty, I just let it play…
This album owes a debt to “SWANSONG” by NURSE WITH WOUND from the album “A MISSING SENSE” where experimental sound is used as an anti war protest.
Chris Connelly 2026
You are unlikely to hear a record of such brutal intensity, or indeed authenticity as this. To call it “old school industrial” would be to do it a disservice, but also not THAT wide of the mark. It is packaged sympathetically to Chris’ previous release for the label, the long sold out LP “White Phosphorous”.
It is limited to 300 copies pressed in military grey vinyl.

This is the first studio album recorded by The Fabulous Thunderbirds - It introduced the outside world to the contemporary blues of this peerless band that was forged in the clubs of Austin, Texas featuring Jimmie Vaughan on guitar and Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica with Keith Ferguson on bass and Mike Buck on drums

Auckland-based indie-pop outfit Borderline officially plant their flag in the New Zealand music scene with their self-titled project, Borderline. Seamlessly blending the nostalgic warmth of classic indie-rock with the polished, infectious hooks of modern pop, the band delivers a sonic snapshot of youth, ambition, and navigating the fine line between late-night euphoria and introspective vulnerability. Driven by shimmering guitar lines, driving bass rhythms, and anthemic vocals, the project feels both intimately local and ready for a global stage.

Borderline serves as a definitive introduction to the band’s signature sound, trading in sun-drenched, feel-good anthems built for summer road trips alongside high-energy tracks that tackle the fast-paced nature of modern relationships. By balancing cinematic storytelling with irresistible hooks, the up-and-coming band crafts a listening experience that is both fresh and deeply relatable, securing their place as a compelling new voice to watch out of New Zealand.

Shiverstruck, the latest album from IAN SWEET, finds songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jilian Medford at her absolute best. Produced and mixed by Ben Allen (Deerhunter, Washed Out, Belle and Sebastian), the record centers a deliberate return to analog instrumentation, with acoustic guitars, piano, strings, and live drums at the forefront. Medford’s writing is more confident, direct, and emotionally exposed than ever, with soaring, melodic tracks like “Criminal Kissing” and “Jilian” revealing a striking new dimension of IAN SWEET.

IAN SWEET’s music has amassed millions of streams worldwide and earned praise from FADER, The New York Times, Stereogum, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Pitchfork, which named Show Me How You Disappear one of the Best Rock Albums of 2021 and profiled Medford as a Rising artist that same year.

One of the biggest “re-discoveries” of obscure eighties US Metal/Hard Rock are Ashbury from Tuscon in Arizona. The band, led by brothers Randy and Rob Davis, did originally record two very hard to find albums: »Endless Skies« in 1983 and the (belated) follow-up »Something Funny Going On« (issued in 2010). However, the roots of the band go way back to the late 1970s, when multi-instrumentalist Randy Davis formed his very first band (called Ashbury South) in Southern Oklahoma in late 1977. The original vinyl edition of »Endless Skies« came out in 1983 (with a circulation of 1,000 copies). ”It was a complete indie project all the way,” states Rob Davis. “We worked mostly on a budget of $ 5,000 for the entire project. Our distribution was through Tower Records in the western United States.” Ashbury's sound has sometimes been compared to Jethro Tull and the Davis brothers are indeed not too unhappy about this comparison: ”We both have a big smile on our face with that question,” they explain. “Yes, we are proud to be compared with Jethro Tull.” Ashbury's first album does feature an iconic artwork. Who was responsible for it and what does the cover signify? ”The cover signifies Creation, and the choices we all make,” elaborate Rob and Randy. “The cover obviously coincides with the opening song 'The Warning', about the Prophet who warns against bad choices, evil and greed. The final touch was a 'fantasy' setting, a look just off from any real world appearance.” Randy and Rob Davis are playing as brothers in Ashbury, they have always been the core of the band: ”We would not continue performing as Ashbury without both being involved. We write independently, and also together, therefore the very creation of the music would be different if one of us left the band. We also both sing lead vocals, so the sound of the band would be altered. I might refer to a recent tour concerning Styx - touring without Dennis DeYoung - therefore it's NOT Styx.”

Van Morrisons neues Album 'Remembering Now' markiert seine Rückkehr zu Original Music mit einer reichen Mischung aus Soul, Jazz, Blues, Folk und Country und enthält die lang erwartete Single 'Down To Joy'.

Van Morrison, blue-eyed Soul-Shouter und wild-eyed Dichter-Magier zugleich, ist einer der wahren Erneuerer der populären Musik. Er ist ein rastlos Suchender, dessen beschwörender Gesang und alchimistische Verschmelzung von R&B, Jazz, Blues und keltischem Folk das vielleicht spirituellste Werk im Rock'n'Roll-Kanon hervorgebracht hat. Seine Aufnahmen, die nur den Launen seiner eigenen Muse unterworfen sind, decken ein außergewöhnliches stilistisches Terrain ab und bewahren doch eine Geschlossenheit und Reinheit, die unter seinen Zeitgenossen nahezu unerreicht ist. Was sie verbindet, ist die mythische Kraft seiner einzigartigen musikalischen Vision und seines feurigen Gesangs: spiralförmige Wiederholungen von Klagen und Flüstern, die die Grenzen der Sprache umgehen, um emotionale Wahrheiten zu artikulieren, die weit über den Rahmen der wörtlichen Bedeutung hinausgehen.

After spending the last few years relentlessly touring across Europe and the UK, building a fiercely loyal fanbase through sold-out shows and unforgettable live performances, LEAP have built unstoppable momentum with their recent album, ENTROPY. First released digitally in late 2025, the album didn"t just connect-it exploded, racking up 21 million global streams and catching the ear of Epitaph Records, who quickly brought the band into the fold. There"s a magnetic push-and-pull at the heart of ENTROPY: big, anthemic alt-rock hooks wrapped around lyrics that don"t shy away from life"s messier moments. Frontman Jacky Scott leads the charge with a voice that can pivot from raw confession to fist-in-the-air release, turning heavy themes into something unexpectedly uplifting. It"s that balance-dark edges with a bright, communal core-that"s earned early praise from Rolling Stone and Kerrang! alike. And the fans are already all in. Following a sold-out European run, tickets for LEAP"s first U.S. shows in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles vanished months in advance-proof that their emotionally charged, high-energy sound translates far beyond the studio. At its core, ENTROPY feels like a shared experience: songs built for singalongs, for release, for connection. LEAP aren"t just channeling chaos-they"re turning it into something unifying, loud, and impossible to ignore.

Odisea is the new album, actually the real debut from Los Retros, out in April on Stones Throw. It draws inspiration from 1980s Japanese City Pop, and marks a new creative chapter from Mauri Tapia shaped by growth, reflection, and renewed purpose. It's been a journey since Tapia first captured hearts with the lo-fi magic of "Someone To Spend Time With", recorded at the age of 17 on a humble four-track in his parents' living room. Now 25, the Oxnard native has stepped into an entirely new season of life - he married his high school sweetheart, became a father to two daughters, and embraced spiritual faith. Earlier this year, he revisited his start with Early Days (2016-2019), a compilation of unreleased music from Mauri's teen years. "Jazz fusion has become my favorite genre and greatest inspiration of all time," Mauri says. "I made this album for the version of me that first fell in love with music. It's my full-circle moment - a sonic hat tip to my beginnings - as well as a nod to the forefathers of jazz fusion and city pop for leaving us with great music." Through it all, he's kept the same DIY spirit, writing and recording every note himself, only now in a home studio of his own. On Odisea, Tapia blends neon-lit City Pop with the melodic sensibility of Latin American soft rock. Mauri's deep love for 70s and 80s jazz fusion records anchors the album, yet Tapia filters those influences through a modern lens. Odisea features two Japanese vocalists, - Hikari and HITOMITOI. Also check out Los Retros new compilation "Early Days" released simultaneously. RIYL soul, bedroom pop, indie, modern jazz, downtempo, soft rock, Mac DeMarco, Thee Sacred Souls, Skinshape, Men I Trust

Early Days (2016-2019) is a new collection of previously unreleased songs from Mauri Tapia a.k.a Los Retros. From a young age, Tapia has been a prolific songwriter, spending his teenage years writing and recording song after song. Influenced by soft rock and left-field South American pop, Early Days (2016-2019) captures the sound of this formative era Streaming everywhere today, Early Days consisting of 15 tracks, recorded from Mauri's parents' living room using nothing more than an old four-track recorder, that only existed in low quality online, now mastered, sequenced, and physically released for the first time. It was during these sessions that Los Retros created the song "Someone to Spend Time With", now certified Gold. Early Days comes with a companion visual for "Without You", edited by close friend and collaborator Ross Harris from found footage of early Los Retros tour stops. Check out Los Retros proper debut "Odisea" released simultaneously too. FFO soul, bedroom pop, indie, modern jazz, downtempo, soft rock, Mac DeMarco, Thee Sacred Souls, Skinshape, Men I Trust, Too Slow To Disco

Lockhart is a new melodic rock/AOR band from Canada, fusing synthesizer-fueled eighties arena rock with classic hard rock. The trio consists of Devon Kerr (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Jason Junop (bass) and Fabio Alessandrini (drums). Jason is best known for his work in Cauldron and Goat Horn. Devon’s main band is Axxion, and Fabio plays or has played in Bonfire, Enforcer, Annihilator, Hardline and many others. Lockhart issued their debut EP »No Chance« in 2022, followed by the single “City Pulse” in 2025. The band has signed with High Roller Records, and their first full-length album »City Pulse« is now ready to be unleashed to the public. It's hard to describe the specific sound of Lockhart in all its details but on »City Pulse« you will certainly hear a lot of Journey, Boston, Toto, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, and maybe even some Starcastle. “The influences are endless,” comments the vocalist, guitarist and keyboard player Devon Kerr, “and they go deep. I appreciate the comparisons. These bands are monumental. Lockhart has a sound of its own though. Bands that existed during the times you mentioned definitely provide influence! However, if you look past the surface (overdriven guitars and old synthesizers), you’ll hear influences from 50s doo wop, legends like Brian Wilson, and straight up choral music, too.” Compositions such as “The Dose That Made You Poison”, “Under Fire”, “Before The Fall’” or “Together As One” are very well constructed and flawlessly performed. “For me, songwriting is a deliberate process,” explains Kerr. “I set out a time and carve out the songs. Lyrics are written last. Once the song is ready, it undergoes hours of polishing to mold the perfect choir parts, guitar leads, and so on. Everything is very deliberate and carefully selected. Nothing was written by accident.” You can clearly hear that on »City Pulse«. With their melodic, at times even poppy approach Lockhart may stand out a bit on High Roller Records. Devon Kerr: “Our music has so many elements that traditional metal fans value, but with something very different, too. Something that might be new for some of the High Roller Records fanbase. I mean for those unsure, we’ve got Nick from Municipal Waste shredding guitar leads on ‘You Wouldn’t Know Love’, and Ian from Cauldron on ‘Can’t Shake It’ …”

American hard rock band Alcatrazz once featured legendary musicians like singer Graham Bonnet as well as guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai. With their current line-up of guitarist Joe Stump, keyboard player Jimmy Waldo, bassist Gary Shea, drummer Mark Benquechea and new singer Giles Lavery, Alcatrazz re-recorded nine songs of their back catalogue. In addition to well-known numbers like “Hiroshima Mon Amour”, “Island In The Sun” and their biggest hit “God Blessed Video”, »Prior Convictions« also features two brand-new numbers, “Transylvanian Requiem” and “Stand And Wait Your Turn”. The release embodies how Alcatrazz sound today. Guitarist extraordinaire Joe Stump can barely hide his excitement: “Something old is something new and these new versions of some of the old Alcatrazz classics are killer and 100% metal.” “The new line-up is firing on all cylinders,” enthuses keyboardist Jimmy Waldo, while his colleague on bass, Gary Shea”, adds: “My prior convictions have always remained true, step up and rock hard. »Prior Convictions« continues the Alcatrazz saga with a 21st century twist of classic songs and new music.“ Although »Prior Convictions« is not a new studio album, it’s a clear sign that Alcatrazz are continuing the legacy, giving new fans the chance to get familiar with a whole bunch of bona fide hard rock classics from the eighties. Old fans, on the other hand, will quickly learn that the new line-up is every bit as potent as past incarnations of the band. »Prior Convictions« was originally issued exclusively on CD in 2025 via Brave Words Records. Thanks to High Roller Records, it’s now also out on high-quality vinyl.

One of the finest singing brother duos of all time, The Everly Brothers ' close harmonies became one of the most identifiable sounds of the early rock & roll era of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Presented here are the very best of The Everly Brothers' pop charting-singles from the peak of their career. "There have been some wonderful harmony pairings in popular music: John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Michael Stipe and Mike Mills, Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell, everyone will pick their own; but there is something very special about family and especially sibling harmony. A modern group like The Proclaimers took their inspiration directly from the Everleys, who borrowed something in turn from The Louvin Brothers and other acts of the time. The voices were not just in tune but shared a very particular timbre. The brothers fell out in time, as brothers do, but when they sang - and there's no need to list the songs; they're stitched into the history of rock'n'roll - they didn't sound like two men, but like one." - Brian Morton "Phil and Don were the most beautiful sounding duo I ever heard. Both voices pristine and soulful." - Paul Simon

Scarred For Life is the third studio album by Australian hard rock band Rose Tattoo. The album was released in October 1982 and peaked at number 11 on the Kent Music Report. Scarred for Life launched Rose Tattoo to international success with the rock anthem "We Can't Be Beaten".

On 16 August 2006, they were inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame.

Scarred For Life is availabel as a limited edition of 750 individually numbered copies on red & white swirl vinyl.

For over a decade, fans around the world have screamed their lyrics back at AS IT IS across the UK, USA, Europe, Japan, and Australia. They’ve lit up festival stages and toured alongside scene legends like Neck Deep, Sum 41, Against The Current, Silverstein, Mayday Parade, Set It Off, and so many more - building a community that has only gotten louder, prouder, and more connected with time. Fans have seen AS IT IS honoured with multiple Rock Sound Magazine awards, including the 2025 Icon Award and 2019’s Power of Music Award, and celebrated on the covers of Rock Sound, Upset, Kerrang, and Alternative Press. Their voice has even echoed into The New York Times and GQ, where their honesty and emotional transparency helped shape a bigger conversation about what music can mean to people. With their self-titled fifth studio album at the forefront, AS IT IS aren’t just reflecting on their journey - they’re welcoming fans into a new chapter. One defined by growth, resilience, and the unbreakable connection between the band and the people who have stood with them every step of the way.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 40 years ago that we started out as a cover band in the night clubs of California before writing and recording our own songs and selling millions of albums. Just like our musical heroes The Beatles, Rolling Stones, or even Jimi Hendrix, all artists who honed their craft by learning cover songs from the legends before them, we did the same as youngsters and still enjoy paying tributes and recording cover songs today. HOMAGE is our new album that not only pays tribute to legends but gives us a chance to showcase our lead singer’s diversity as well as the musical dynamics we learned as a band many years ago. And now, our new album HOMAGE is a thank-you note written in sound. An offering to the great singers and songs that shaped the music we grew up listening to and the songs we would eventually write.

Each track showcases Jeff Keith’s incredible vocal ability Something that may have been overlooked throughout our long career. But not by our fans.........!!! HOMAGE isn’t about imitation. It’s about acknowledgment. About tracing the line from influence to identity, from listening to becoming. You ask why ? .....why not! It felt like a good thing to do, it’s been 20 years since we did Real to Reel.....It sparked writing a new original Tesla song called “Never Alone” And it’s what bands are supposed to do ..make music. These songs were picked for various reasons… Mostly because they’re some of the greatest singers of all time: Elvis Presley Freddie Mercury Sam Cooke David Ruffin Etta James James Brown And some of the others because we liked the songs and grew up hearing them on the radio or on our turntables. Anyway, we hope you all enjoy this as much as we did making it....Thank you for all the years ..Keep it Real and keep Rockin!!!!!

and the second chapter in an ongoing improvisational document recorded inside one of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s abandoned oil tanks.

Gaf & The Love Supreme Arkestra work outside conventional studio frameworks. Their music emerges from extended improvisation sessions that unfold sporadically, sometimes over several days. Built around drums, guitar, bass, modular synthesis and samplers, and expanded with vibraphone and winds (flutes, saxophone, Herreño whistle), the group continues to move between jazz, psychedelic rock and free-form experimental composition.

While Ganzfeld drew from the misty northern coast of Isla Baja, Retiro Espiritual turns toward Taganana, one of Tenerife’s most remote regions. Its isolation, Atlantic exposure and volcanic terrain inform the record’s pace and focus. The title reflects this shift: a space for retreat, collective creation and suspended time.

Sonically, Retiro Espiritual leans warmer and more reflective. Flutes drift over slow grooves, extended jams unfold patiently, and traces of 70s spiritual jazz surface throughout. The experimental core remains, now shaped by repetition, space and a calmer, sunlit atmosphere.

Another autonomous transmission from a band committed to ritual, territory and long-form collective improvisation at the edge of the Atlantic.
—
Recorded live in 2020 in Tenerife Canary Islands
Produced by Mladen Kurajica
Mixed by Jorge Lozano
Master by Daniel García
Artwork Felipe González Cabezas

The band was founded by Miriana Santamaria (vocals and bass) and Daniel Sick (guitar), both formerly of VoodooPank. They were soon joined by Micol Ottina (drums), who was replaced in 2022 by Eugenio Bordacconi. After a period of live performances in the Macerata area and two EPs, the power trio signed with Overdub Recordings, on which their debut album "Manaus" (2024) will be released. Their influences range from the heavy rock of Pentagram to Blue Oyster Cult, from TAD to Spaceman 3. Dystopian, swirling guitars create a claustrophobic atmosphere, guided by an ethereal yet raw voice: an alternation of drawn- out, dreamlike moments and tight, relentless passages.

Sacred Leather is a traditional heavy metal band from the heart of Indianapolis, consisting of Dee Wrathchild (vocals), Lynn St. Michaels (lead guitar), Cvon Owens (rhythm guitar), Magnus Legrand (bass) and Don Diamond (drums). Following a privately manufactured live cassette, 2018’s debut album »Ultimate Force« and numerous (digital) singles, the new »Keep The Fire Burning« is the band’s most definite statement yet. Produced by the legendary Arthur Rizk (Eternal Champion, Power Trip), every track on the record is a call to arms. High-octane compositions such as “Spitfire At Night”, “Phantom Highways” or “Malevolent Eyes” show that Sacred Leather are true defenders of the faith. All songs breathe the raw power of classic 80s metal. Bassist Magnus Legrand comments: “Judas Priest has been a massive influence on us - not just aesthetically or stylistically, but in their ability to cover a wide range of sounds while always remaining unmistakably themselves. That balance is something we actively strive for: to explore every facet of heavy metal without ever losing our identity. The same can be said for KISS, Scorpions, and Queensrÿche - bands that can rock, rip, soar, go epic, or strip it down to something tender, all while keeping their signature intact. That versatility, anchored by a strong sense of self, is the standard we hold ourselves to.” According to Magnus Legrand, »Keep The Fire Burning« is a clear progression from the debut album »Ultimate Force«: “It’s sharper in its songwriting, stronger in its musicianship, and more focused in its execution. Where »Ultimate Force« laid the foundation, this record pushes further into those same territories with greater intent and refinement. It builds on what we established before, expanding the scope while tightening the strike. As a whole, »Keep The Fire Burning« is a relentless ride through the heart of traditional heavy metal - familiar in spirit, but undeniably Sacred Leather in execution.“

*Repress*

From the slamming science of “Ricochet,” through the jittery ghost-rave of “Survival” and the outer-space lover’s rock of “Dubbing You,” to the manic magic of “Finest Illusion,” this collection of early EPs by rave legends Foul Play tracks an astonishing evolution across barely more than a year. Some of the top tunes to come out of the hardcore > jungle > drum & bass journey? Yes, but also some of the most thrilling and gorgeous music of the entire ‘90s.

Simon Reynolds, author of Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture.

Re-mastered by Beau Thomas of Ten Eight Seven Mastering and re-issued for your aural pleasure. Don't sleep on this one!

Im Jahr 2002 veröffentlichten Reigning Sound "Time Bomb High School", ein brandheißes Rock-'n'-Roll-Album, das die Herzen und Ohren aller eroberte - von Little Steven Van Zandt bis hin zu Howlin' Pelle Almqvist von The Hives. Seit der Erstveröffentlichung ist "Time Bomb High School" auf Vinyl vergriffen und zum Heiligen Gral für Plattensammler geworden. Jetzt haben diese Sammler Grund zur Freude: "Time Bomb High School" kehrt auf Vinyl zurück, neu gemastert und mit einem neuen Cover von Greg Cartwright. Von The Guardian als "ein wahrhaft unanfechtbarer Rock'n'Roll-Soul-Klassiker" gepriesen, war "Time Bomb High School" der Durchbruch für das in Memphis ansässige Quartett aus Cartwright (Gesang, Gitarre), Jeremy Scott (Bass, Hintergrundgesang), Greg Roberson (Schlagzeug) und Alex Greene (Orgel, Gitarre, Hintergrundgesang). Die Songs - Cartwrights Eigenkompositionen und Coverversionen wie "Stormy Weather" und "I'd Much Rather Be With the Boys" - sind so lebendig wie eh und je, doch das Herzstück dieser Ausgabe von "Time Bomb High School" liegt in der Reihenfolge der Titel, die originalgetreu der Erstpressung von 2002 beibehalten wurde. Seite 1 bietet Midtempo-Balladen und Liebeslieder. Seite 2 besteht ausschließlich aus Rocknummern. Das Album beginnt mit vier der verletzlichsten Sehnsuchtslieder von Reigning Sound, bevor es in eine Interpretation von "I Don't Believe" der Lokalmatadoren aus Memphis, The Guilloteens, übergeht. Daraus entsteht ein fast völlig neues Album. Die Selbstsicherheit und Prahlerei der Band bleiben intakt, doch das Album wirkt ernsthafter und offenherziger, als hätten sie ihre Schutzmauer abgebaut, um den Hörer wirklich hereinzulassen seine Lobeshymnen fühlen sich an wie ein Zufluchtsort vor dem Sturm. Es gibt keine falsche Art, "Time Bomb High School" zu hören, aber dies ist seine endgültige Form: ein Klassiker, der bereit ist, wiederentdeckt zu werden, und für den Rock-Kanon genauso unverzichtbar ist, wie die verstaubten 45er-Platten, die Reigning Sound inspiriert haben.

”What Parts & Labor have figured out how to do, in a way no one else really has, is to make noise anthemic.” —PITCHFORK “Visions of disaster sound more optimistic with every album.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES “Parts & Labor is … creating rock albums that everyone who cares about rock music should own.” —CHICAGO TRIBUNE ”Part psychedelia, part noise, part all-out rock... exhilarating stuff.” —THE GUARDIAN ”East Coast art-punk with a 21st-century overhaul.” —Q ”A joyous explosion of sound.” —MOJO After a 14-year hiatus, prismatic noise-punk fireworkers Parts & Labor, a beloved institution of Brooklyn's '00s underground, re-emerge with a double-drummer lineup and colossal double album. The 79-minute Set of All Sets (July 10, Ernest Jenning Record Co.) is an expansive, blown-out gush of apocalypse-pop that imagines utopias and confronts the overwhelming weight of the infinite. Their first album since 2011, Set of All Sets finds the band re-energized, rebooted and expanding their punk-kosmische, matching their skyscraping melodies and squelching electronics with hypnotic rhythms and frenzied tumbles of percussion. Parts & Labor co-founders Dan Friel and BJ Warshaw are joined by the simultaneous battery of drummers Christopher Weingarten and Joe Wong — asynchronous members during their critically acclaimed four-album run on indie rock titans Jagjaguwar. The power trios that made 2007's breakthrough Mapmaker and 2011's swan song Constant Future have merged into a single four-piece, at once a brand new vision, a clamorous continuation and a recapturing of the deafening sound of their "final" two shows in 2012. With eight weaponized limbs from two veteran drummers, Parts & Labor surges forth with rhythms inspired by Tanzanian singeli, ecstatic free improv and the motorik of vintage krautrock. Friel and Warshaw beam with the most majestic and triumphant melodies of their career, windswept cascades of bubblegum Boredoms and Big-Music-gone-hardcore.

100 Copies Only, Orange 7” Vinyl, packaged in Numbered A4 6 Page Lyric Wallet with safety pin fastening

To celebrate Punk’s 50th year 1976-2026, Mal-One has put together an E.P. of his punk poetry. A limited edition of 100
numbered copies on orange vinyl contained in an art folder, behind a safety pin for good measure. Contained inside lie the lyrics of these poetic verses. Side one contains `The Ballad of Punk Rock’ in all its 5 minute and 57 second glory.
Mal-One telling a brief history of how we got from there to here in all its pomp and circumstance. Side two carries a
further 5 Punk Art poems telling us some more punk related stories . Hope you enjoy the listen.1. The Ballad Of Punk Rock (5.57)

First time double-cassette reissue of 1987's double LP opera rock by Spain's legendary punk band Eskorbuto. "Los demenciales chicos acelerados" is a political satirical work against any kind of dictatorial regime. "Los demenciales chicos acelerados" is Eskorbuto's fourth studio album, originally released by Discos Suicidas in 1987. It was their most ambitious project, a double LP rock opera in the vein of "Quadrophenia" by their beloved The Who. It tells the story of an unscrupulous young man who wishes to achieve power at all costs, stepping over everyone and everything in order to do whatever he wants politically. In the end, he falls due to his ego and is betrayed by those around him. Hence lines such as "crowds are a nuisance", "I'll come unscathed out of the attacks planned by my image consultant" or "shouting in front of the scum". In 1988 band members Iosu and Juanma narrated the album's concept and story on a Radio Euskadi show, the Basque Country's public broadcaster. This satirical political plot also explains the controversial sleeve art, Eskorbuto were equalling the unprincipled politician of their rock opera with the Nazis and Franco's dictatorship. It's a conceptual record that attacks any kind of dictatorial political regime. The original sleeve caused some trouble, to say the least, with its combination of Nazi photos and the Spanish flag on the back accompanied by the words "Of national interest". lthough "Los demenciales..." came out on Discos Suicidas, in typical Eskorbuto fashion the band stole a copy of the master and sold it to the Twins label, which also released it a few months later with new cover art.The album contains new versions of a few previous tracks such as 'Ratas rabiosas' and 'Enterrado vivo' plus the studio version of 'Más allá del cementerio'. For the recording the band enrolled keyboardist Aitor Amezaga, who would also collaborate on their next album.

Swedish hard rock powerhouse THUNDERMOTHER is set to unleash a thrilling live album, Live'n'Alive! Founded in 2009 by guitarist Filippa Nässil, the band's highly acclaimed 6th studio album Dirty & Divine (2025) hit the top 3 on the Official German Rock/Metal Charts. Recorded on tour in 2025, Live'n'Alive showcases the band's sensational live energy through 19 tracks from the band's catalogue of electrifying rock anthems, from THUNDERMOTHER classics to newer hit tunes, all live and uncompromised!

Matt Scottoline - Sänger, Songwriter und Frontmann von Philadelphias bester Indie-Rock-Band, HURRY - ist ein Grübler. Das ist verständlich; wir leben in unruhigen Zeiten, in denen sich die Welt so schnell verändert, dass man kaum noch mithalten kann. Für Matt treffen diese Ängste diesmal jedoch näher an seinem Herzen: die bevorstehende Vaterschaft, ein runder Geburtstag am Horizont und quälende Fragen über seinen Platz in der Musikszene. Braucht die Welt wirklich ein neues Hurry-Album? Nach den zehn Songs zu urteilen, aus denen ,Zoned Out" besteht - Hurrys sechstes Album in voller Länge und das vierte bei Lame-O Records -, lautet die Antwort ein klares Ja. Aufgenommen im The Metal Shop von Ian Farmer und koproduziert von Farmer und Scottoline, zeigt das Album Hurry in Bestform. Erneut unterstützt von Rob DeCarolis am Schlagzeug, Joe DeCarolis am Bass und Justin Fox an der Gitarre, klingt die Band geschlossener denn je - so perfekt aufeinander abgestimmt, dass sich alles mühelos anfühlt. Schon beim Eröffnungstrack ,All Sunk In" mit seinen stampfenden E-Gitarren und der Ohrwurm-Melodie ist der Ton sofort gesetzt. Die Verstärker sind lauter, der Groove strahlt eine selbstbewusste Lässigkeit aus, und Matts Stimme klingt besser denn je. ,Moving After You", das Highlight des Albums, klingt wie der beste Song, den Teenage Fanclub nie aufgenommen hat - was den Gastauftritt von Gerard Love umso perfekter macht. Es ist zeitlose Popmusik, gemacht für diese Zeit.

French quartet Mourir are preparing to release their second full-length studio album, Nous, le venin, this summer via Pelagic Records. Their forward-thinking take on black metal and uncompromising approach to their work marks them out as ones to watch when they present this new material live at festivals across Europe including Hellfest, Rock In Bourlon and Resurrection festival in the months to come. With a demo, an album and an experimental EP to their name, the four-piece retreated to the studio at the end of 2025 to write the music for Nous, le venin. Recorded in January 2026 with Amaury Sauvé (Birds in row, Igorrr, Pneu) at The Apiary Studio in Laval, France, the six tracks are the very embodiment of Mourir's approach to black metal. Although they draw inspiration from many artists in the old-school black metal world, they opted to lean into a more modern sound - one that would allow the depth of their sonic choices to shine. Blending elements of sludge and post-metal to the rawness of their black metal sound, and combining this with a mix that gives space to both the low frequencies and the high-octane viscerality, Mourir have created something both distinctive and captivating. Thematically, the band turns their detached gaze towards an ever-more untethered modern society, one that is inhospitable to those seeking meaning in the cruelty and absurdity of a seemingly senseless world. Yet within these tracks exists slivers of light, of hope and of luminosity - a belief that something better is possible is woven throughout the melodic passages and most celestial, ecstatic elements of their sound. The evocative cover art by Thomas Davezac captures the feeling of disconnection that permeates the album. Mourir have recorded an album that cements their place among underground greats who deftly eschew the nostalgic trappings of black metal convention and breathe new life into the genre. Nous, le venin is imbued with raw emotion that is perfectly complemented by stylistic choices that echo the sentiment of being freed from the chains of the past. FFO Ultha, Fluisteraars, Envy and Neurosis

French quartet Mourir are preparing to release their second full-length studio album, Nous, le venin, this summer via Pelagic Records. Their forward-thinking take on black metal and uncompromising approach to their work marks them out as ones to watch when they present this new material live at festivals across Europe including Hellfest, Rock In Bourlon and Resurrection festival in the months to come. With a demo, an album and an experimental EP to their name, the four-piece retreated to the studio at the end of 2025 to write the music for Nous, le venin. Recorded in January 2026 with Amaury Sauvé (Birds in row, Igorrr, Pneu) at The Apiary Studio in Laval, France, the six tracks are the very embodiment of Mourir's approach to black metal. Although they draw inspiration from many artists in the old-school black metal world, they opted to lean into a more modern sound - one that would allow the depth of their sonic choices to shine. Blending elements of sludge and post-metal to the rawness of their black metal sound, and combining this with a mix that gives space to both the low frequencies and the high-octane viscerality, Mourir have created something both distinctive and captivating. Thematically, the band turns their detached gaze towards an ever-more untethered modern society, one that is inhospitable to those seeking meaning in the cruelty and absurdity of a seemingly senseless world. Yet within these tracks exists slivers of light, of hope and of luminosity - a belief that something better is possible is woven throughout the melodic passages and most celestial, ecstatic elements of their sound. The evocative cover art by Thomas Davezac captures the feeling of disconnection that permeates the album. Mourir have recorded an album that cements their place among underground greats who deftly eschew the nostalgic trappings of black metal convention and breathe new life into the genre. Nous, le venin is imbued with raw emotion that is perfectly complemented by stylistic choices that echo the sentiment of being freed from the chains of the past. FFO Ultha, Fluisteraars, Envy and Neurosis

o Standard Edition black heavyweight vinyl
o 44 tracks from the 2025 sci-fi RPG
o Each disc covers one of the game's major factions
o Art Nouveau-inspired artwork
o Widespined outer sleeve
o Printed inner sleeves

Obsidian Entertainment, Xbox, and Laced Records present the official vinyl release of The Outer Worlds 2 Original Soundtrack, a sanctioned audio record of Arcadia's most influential systems, ideologies, and approved listening experiences.

The specially mastered tracks span three LPs presented in deluxe Art Nouveau-inspired packaging. The collection captures daily life in the colony-where progress is monitored accordingly, optimism is responsibly distributed, and deviation is resolved through established channels.

Volume 001: Truth, Justice, & Dispute Resolution introduces the sound of arrival of the Earth Directorate. Sweeping orchestral themes and restrained electronic textures underscore exploration, investigation, and the reassuring sense that Arcadia's instability is both anticipated and accounted for.

Volume 002: Wireless Free Arcadia represents Auntie's Choice at peak efficiency. Bright melodies, big band swing, and relentlessly cheerful compositions promote comfort, productivity, and sustained consumer confidence. Freedom is included. Continued satisfaction indicates proper use.

Volume 003: Mental Enlightenment & Refreshment pairs the Protectorate and the Order of the Ascendant. The Protectorate asserts control through ceremonial authority, rigid rhythms, and formal arrangements devoted to discipline, doctrine, and public order. The Order of the Ascendant follows with colder, more abstract compositions focused on empirical certainty, controlled experimentation, and outcomes unburdened by sentiment.

Composed by Oleksa Lozowchuk, Antonio Gradanti, and Jim Bonney, the soundtrack of The Outer Worlds 2 blends cinematic scoring, period-inspired styles, and sanctioned cultural messaging to reflect a colony guided by ambition-and the systems entrusted to manage it.

Nach der Veröffentlichung von „idea 1“, kündigt Kelela ihr neues, drittes Album an, das am 10. Juli bei Warp Records erscheint – und veröffentlicht die zweite Single „linknb“, produziert von Oscar Scheller.

Der Track entstand in einer Phase der Schreibblockade und begann als Mantra, das Kelela schrieb, um sich wieder an die Arbeit zu bringen. Angeführt von einem labyrinthischen Gitarrenriff über treibenden Metal-Drums ist „linknb“ ein Song über Selbstvertrauen, das man sich durch Schwierigkeiten erarbeitet hat, darüber, sich nicht klein machen zu lassen. „Es ist nicht schwer, mutig zu sein / Es ist leichter, zu viel preiszugeben / Ich weiß nur, dass ich den Weg geebnet habe, unterbezahlt.“

Das von Mischa Notcutt inszenierte Video versetzt Kelela in die Mitte einer urbanen Traumlandschaft. Als enger Freund und Kelelas ehemaliger Kreativdirektor war Notcutt die naheliegende Wahl. Das Video lässt Realismus und Abstraktion ineinanderfließen und verwandelt eine einsame Reise in eine Meditation über Selbstfindung und Erneuerung.

Mit „new avatar“ rückt alles, worauf Kelela hingearbeitet hat, in den Fokus. Sie begann ihre ersten Songs in der Indie-Szene von Washington, D.C. zu schreiben, bevor die Clubmusik und die elektronische Produktion, die ihre frühe Karriere prägten, die Oberhand gewannen. Mit „new avatar“ schließt sie den Kreis: R&B, unterlegt mit verzerrten Gitarrenklängen, trifft auf neue Schnittstellen in der Tanzmusik und gipfelt in einem Sound, der aus all den musikalischen Einflüssen schöpft, die sie je geprägt haben. Das Album enthält zudem Kollaborationen mit PinkPantheress, A. K. Paul und Fousheé.

„Dieses Album findet Trost in der Konfrontation“, sagt Kelela. „Ich möchte nicht, dass die Musik von dem ablenkt, was wirklich in der Welt vor sich geht; ich möchte, dass sie in dieser verrückten Zeit Sinn ergibt und den Menschen gleichzeitig hilft, mit der Schönheit und Freude in Kontakt zu kommen, die sie ebenfalls erleben.“

Das Album setzt sich mit einer Welt auseinander, die aus allen Nähten auseinanderfällt, und mit der Klarheit, die das Überleben erfordert.

„Die Leute sollten auch wissen, dass meine Freunde und ich ständig lachen und dass Humor kein Abwehrmechanismus ist; er ist Ausdruck dafür, wie scharfsinnig wir die Dinge einschätzen und wie klar wir die Welt sehen.“

Im Kern schildert „new avatar“ eine vielschichtige Erfahrung, und obwohl die Außenwelt präsent ist, schwächt sie Kelelas Entschlossenheit zu keinem Zeitpunkt.

About Kelela: Throughout her globally revered, boundary-pushing career, Kelela has established a lane of her own in R&B and electronic music. On her long-awaited third album, new avatar, the singer/songwriter (through the versatility of the guitar) challenges perceptions of these genres, while weaving together fragments of lived experiences to shape a world of connection and resilience during times of unrest.

The songs journey through Black femme rage, joy as resistance, Gotham City-esque dystopia, misogynoir, romantic tension, and more. It’s anchored by production that demands a broader rethink about alternative, rock and indie music.

Kelela’s defiant nature has propelled her so far already — from her hometown of Washington, D.C to world stages. In 2013, she released her debut mixtape, Cut 4 Me. She continued solidifying her revolutionary R&B sound with 2015’s Hallucinogen EP, with The New York Times naming its single, “Rewind,” one of the “25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music Is Going”. By 2017, she released her electric debut album Take Me Apart (which was followed by 2018’s TAKE ME A_PART, THE REMIXES), building upon her intimate storytelling.

After a nearly five-year hiatus, she returned in 2023 with her groundbreaking second album, Raven, and its critically-acclaimed counterpart, RAVE:N, The Remixes in 2024. Raven has been hailed as one of the ‘Best Albums of 2023’ by Pitchfork, Billboard, Vulture, Variety, and more, while the remixes solidified her as a leader in the dance music space.

In 2025, Kelela showcased yet another innovative side of her artistry with her live album In The Blue Light, which hit #5 on the Contemporary Jazz chart and #20 on the Jazz Albums chart. Now, with new avatar, Kelela displays the masterful intention she puts into forming new sonic cityscapes. But don’t confuse it with escapism: “I don't want the music to be a distraction from what's really going on in the world; I want it to help you get into it.”

LTD Edition, Artwork by John Frusciante

LP1 New album
LP2 Available on vinyl for the first time
LP3/4 Debut album on green vinyl
LP5 Second album on red vinyl

When I recorded the first 2 Trickfinger records, I had recently discovered that you could make electronic music in a room with a bunch of synced machines going at the same time, record it on a
CD burner and have a finished track. I've heard this process described as “overdubbing into the air”. It was as exciting to me as my first 4 track was when I was 14. I wasn't trying to be good, or
original. I was just excited that music could be made that way; it felt like I was a whole group of musicians playing together… or like I was jamming with ghosts of myself. This has actually been a
very common way of making electronic music since the 80s, particularly in the main pioneering genres like Chicago Acid and Detroit Techno, but anyways I didn't figure it out until 2006. In 2007,
I started doing it myself, which resulted in what was eventually released as Trickfinger, and Trickfinger II. I was just home from tour and was still in the middle of recording The Empyrean.

A couple of years later I started making music by overdubbing onto a computer, but using the same machines. I tried to make music that didn't sound like anything else. I saw a way of combining
Progressive Rock and Synth Pop which nobody had done. And I was combining my songwriting and guitar playing with these old machines in a way which I was sure was unique. I had reached a point
where it was more important to do something original than to do something good, whatever “good” means.

Some of this music did not get a proper release, and is compiled here as the vinyl record High Low. I don't think I have ever tried so hard at making music as I did during that period. This in contrast to
those two Trickfinger records, where I wasn't trying at all. There’s something to be said for both mental states. When you're in one, the other seems impossible. I was really pushing myself on High
Low. Looking back, it was as if I had an audience inside myself, driving me to go beyond my abilities, while at the same time I had a total disregard for any concept of an actual audience. It
was one of those periods in life where things come together in a certain way that feels natural at the time, but seems foreign in retrospect. It felt like I was going to die if I didn't do something musically
different.

The fourth record in this box is me breaking in a new mixing console, making live-to-stereo music. The record is called Rotation, and it is all new music. These tracks are more in the “not trying”
category, since we're on that subject. I had just come home from tour, and was just really glad to be in the studio with my machines. Acid Test thought it would be nice to do a box set commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of Trickfinger, and so we put together this box set, with homemade cover art.
John Frusciante 2026

2026 Repress

Initially conceived as a short-run cassette for Altered States Tapes, YL Hooi's nameless collection of textural apparitions oscillate between icy DIY minimalism, FX-drenched atmospherics and nang chamber dub. A ghost-like transmission, Hooi's voice serves to anchor an array of sonic abstractions and impressionistic melodic motifs as a sense of purgatorial ambience dominates throughout. Co-produced with alleged fellow Kallista Kult member Tarquin Manek (LST, M. Quake), Untitled's ultimate sensation is its halfway state, as if caught between worlds.

The album's final form speaks of its origins, recorded intermittently over a two year period (2017-2019). The extended time passage seeps into the song structures, spiralling and mutating from the same centre - the elegiac pulse of opener 'Title' presages the hymnal lilt of 'Straight Thru', before birthing the inverted bossa nova of 'W/O Love'. The result is a constantly shifting tableaux of shared liminal spaces. These songs seemingly emerge in plumes of smoke, magician's tricks conjured from the ether. It's a vision that ossifies at Untitled's midpoint with a cover of Love Joys' 'Stranger', the lovers rock original morphed into the transportive intimacy of Hooi's own hazy inner space, a totem of the LP's amorphous and ultimately sensuous qualities.

The sound from both down under and way out there in subspace, Untitled is an inspired masterstroke of experimental mystics. This 2021 Efficient Space edition is remastered and robed in new artwork that honours the Melbourne-based earth dragon's Chinese and Russian heritage.

Die großen Hitalben von den Black Eyed Peas erscheinen neu auf Doppel-Vinyl. Mit dabei sind die Alben
”The E.N.D” und ”Behind The Front”, ”Monkey Business” und ”Elephunk”. Hier sind unter anderem die
Chartsürmer-Singles ”Boom Boom Pow”, ”I Gotta Feeling” sowie frühe Singles wie „The Way U Make Me
Feel“ zu finden.

Under the moniker Trace Mountains, Dave Benton writes music that asks large questions in quietly profound ways. On the project’s earliest release, the 2014 compilation Buttery Sprouts & Other Songs, these thoughts appeared as lo-fi scraps of wit andtenderness. But by the time A Partner to Lean On, Trace Mountains’ debut full-length, arrived in 2018, Benton’s perceptive indie rock had matured into more existential meditations about identity, existence, and finding sense in an increasingly chaotic world.
In the two years since A Partner to Lean On, Benton’s life has undergone several large changes, namely the dissolution of LVL UP, the indie rock quartet he co-founded in college, and a move to Kingston, a small city in New York’s Hudson Valley. Composed during—but not directly inspired by—this transition, Trace Mountains’ second record, Lost in the Country, reflects Benton’s need toreconnect with his inner world.

Prompted by an urge to access a more authentic voice, Lost in the Country finds Benton digging deeper into candid songwriting. “I wanted to open myself up and write lyrics that are a little bit more direct,” he explains. “I write a lot of songs that are about myself and a lot of songs that aren’t, but on this record, the focus is turned inward either way.” The result is Trace Mountains’ strongest and most assured record yet, 10 songs driven by a desire for introspection and self-discovery. The backdrop for this insularity is an expanse of wide blue skies, seas of trees, and winding roads, ideal locales for thoughts to blossom into greater reflections of the outer world. The slow-burning “Absurdity,” which Benton modestly says is about “hiking and standing in the country,” uses the sublimity of the wilderness to comment on technology’s inescapable presence. Similarly, the driving opener “Rock & Roll” transforms the premise of a “simple song about being a rocker” into a stream-of-consciousness, apocalyptic poem about delusions, regrets, and getting lost in your own limited perspective. This self-examination culminates with the record’s ambitious and anthemic title track. Channeling the cosmic sprawl of the War on Drugs or Kurt Vile, Benton recalls a moment of deep loneliness and depression outside a concert venue in the Netherlands, and how an unexpected moment of compassion led to a moment of awakening.
Despite its frequently bucolic setting, Lost in the Country’s underlying current is an urgent commitment to Trace Mountains and “finding a creative process that requires me to be honest with myself.” “I know I sing to forget, I sing to hold my breath, to feel the thumping in my chest,” Benton sings on “Cooper’s Dream.”This line is “rooted in the importance of music in my life, it’s definitely a reflection on that and how I can keep it in my life, because if I’m not careful and I don’t nurture it, I could lose it.” The self-imposed pressure has been empowering for Benton. “I really like having full control in making a record, deciding what songs are going to be on it, as well as shaping the vibe or narrative of the whole thing,” he says. “It brings a peace of mind knowing that I am responsible for just my voice.”

Es gibt keine andere Band wie Angel Du$t. Tatsächlich ist diese einzigartige Gruppe fast schon dadurch definiert, wie sehr sie sich von der Masse abhebt. Wenn es also klar ist, dass Angel Du$t mit niemandem zu vergleichen ist, wie sind sie dann? Sind sie bahnbrechende Genre-Zerstörer oder eine der letzten echten Gitarrenbands? Sind sie die Verkörperung unverblümter Aggression oder ernsthafte Experimentatoren? Sind sie die Hardcore-Version einer Indie-Band oder ist es umgekehrt? Man könnte sich solche Fragen stellen, wenn man die mehr als zehnjährige Reise von Angel Dust betrachtet aber das neue Album der Band, COLD 2 THE TOUCH, legt nahe, dass es vielleicht doch nicht so kompliziert ist. Oder wie Sänger/Mastermind Justice Tripp es ausdrückt: Angel Du$t ist Rock 'n' Roll." COLD 2 THE TOUCH fängt diese einfache Tatsache besser ein als je zuvor. Die 26 Minuten eklektischer und knallharter Musik machen deutlich, dass Angel Du$t sich nicht in die Grenzen enger Subgenres pressen lässt und dass ein so elementarer Begriff wie Rock n' Roll tatsächlich wie angegossen passt. Dies ist das seit langem offenste und wildeste Album der Band eine Mischung aus harten Riffs und großen Hooks, die durch Tripps offenherzigen Existentialismus ergänzt werden. Eine ganze Reihe von Mitwirkenden macht COLD 2 THE TOUCH zu einem fesselnden Hörerlebnis, das den Zuhörer immer wieder überrascht: Gitarrist Jim Caroll macht sich besonders in Zero" bemerkbar, einem echten Angel Du$t-Epos, das über drei Minuten lang spiralförmige Riffs bietet und Gesang von Wes Eisold von American Nightmare und Cold Cave enthält; Downfall" hat das Knurren von Patrick Cozens von Restraining Order; Man On Fire" greift auf die britische Punklegende Frank Carter zurück und The Beat" enthält kehlige Gastbeiträge von Taylor Young von Twitching Tongues, Deadbody und anderen. Die letzten beiden Songs des Albums, The Knife" und The Beat", fassen genau zusammen, was Angel Du$t zu einer so besonderen Band macht. Es ist ein kreatives Unterfangen, bei dem offenherzige Gedanken über die Endlichkeit des Lebens mit der ungezügelten Spannung gewalttätiger Riffs koexistieren können, bei dem echte Menschlichkeit gedeihen kann und es vor allem darauf ankommt, sich selbst und seinem eigenen Spektrum an Gedanken, Interessen und Gefühlen treu zu bleiben. Das bin ich", sagt Tripp. Und ich spreche auch für die Band: Wir sind Leute, die immer aggressiven Rock 'n' Roll spielen werden. Das passiert, ob du es magst oder nicht. Ich bin ich, und wenn du mir im Weg stehst, werde ich dich vernichten."