Slacker’s Prom is Gus Baldwin & The Sketch’s new single from forthcoming album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Austin band Gus Baldwin & The Sketch shares a new single from their forthcoming debut album The Sketch via PunkNews. – Slacker’s Prom. Available on DSPs and Bandcamp. (US/THEM group, 2024)
Gus Baldwin is a singer/songwriter/ex-hippie/part-time punk hailing from Austin, TX. After a stint holding down drums for Dallas surf punk legends Sealion in high school, Baldwin went on to form the Psych Pop combo Acid Carousel, which he led for 6 years and 20 something releases before departing the band on Halloween night 2021.
Since leaving Acid Carousel, Gus has made a name for himself as a solo artist in Austin, constantly performing as a singer/songwriter, one man garage band, or with his band The Sketch. Quickly releasing a string of titles on his own GetWithIt! Records imprint, including the EPs THRILLER II, and Live Bugs, as well as a slew of singles, Gus established himself firmly as the godson of Texas rock ‘n roll. Splitting his time as a frequent collaborator with The Black Angels, Baldwin also works with the likes of Christian Bland & The Revelators as well as The UFO Club with Night Beats frontman, Danny Lee Blackwell.
The Sketch is the full length debut of Gus’ partnership with The Sketch. The album was recorded in one day at Studio 22 in Los Angeles by engineer Joey Oaxaca (White Reaper, Starcrawler).
The Sketch will be available on LP, cassette and digital on January 31, 2025. Pre-orders are available.
Gus Baldwin & The Sketch‘s tour of Western U.S. states continues this month. Current dates below are below. Midwest & Eastern shows to follow in early 2025.
GUS BALDWIN & THE SKETCH LIVE 2024: 12/04 Reno, NV – Lo Bar Social 12/07 San Francisco, CA – Kilowatt 12/09 Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing 12/10 Las Vegas, NV – The Griffin 12/11 Visalia, CA – Cellar Door 101 12/12 Long Beach, CA – Alex’s Bar 12/13 San Diego, CA – The Tower Bar 12/14 Los Angeles, CA – The Redwood Bar 12/20 Austin, TX – Hotel Vegas
Artist: Gus Baldwin & The Sketch Album: The Sketch Label: Permanent Teeth Records Release Date: January 31, 2025
01. Part I
02. Part II
03. Part III
04. Itch
05. Steady on It
06. Luxury Television
07. Slacker’s Prom
08. (She’s Gone) Arigato
09. Beautiful Delilah
10. What the Freaks Say
11. Sympathy for Sunday
Just goes to show you can still be catchy as hell while playing really fucking loud… I’m not entirely sure there’s a single that can capture the live energy the drips from the stage when Gus Baldwin & The Sketch are up there, but this brand new single is pretty damn close.” — Austin Town Hall
“Kick ass to bombastic levels.” — Cosmic Clash
“Noisy, fuzzy punk with a distinct pop sensibility… Full of energy and anger while also managing to be a lot of fun.”— New Noise Magazine
Blood Incantation is: L-R Paul Riedl (Guitars, Vocals), Morris Kolontyrsky (Guitars), Jeff Barrett (Fretless Bass), Isaac Faulk (Drums). Photo: Julian Weigand, used with permission
Death metal is a subgenre of extreme metal characterized by its aggressive, fast-paced sound, often featuring growled or screamed vocals, heavy guitar riffs, and complex drumming. Its appeal lies in its raw energy and cathartic nature, offering a way for listeners to release pent-up emotions. Fans are drawn to the technical skill required to play the intricate rhythms and fast tempos, as well as the intensity of the performances. The dark themes, often exploring death, decay, and existential questions, provide a sense of escapism for some, while the sheer heaviness of the music creates an adrenaline-fueled experience.
If you’re a fan of the genre, there’s a new album out by Blood Incantation worth noting.
Blood Incantation is an American death metal band from Denver, Colorado formed in 2011. Their new album Absolute Elsewhere is the sound of a star being born. (another side, 2024)
“The Stargate” Side One: A violent storm invokes the familiar before a grand cosmic key turn for a hint of sweeping scope to come with spiritual acknowledgement and accompaniment by Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning on synths on the song’s second tablet. Musically as violent as it is mediative, with subtle spoken passages flitting between Nicklas Malmqvist’s (Hällas) busy synthesizer keys and Mellotron strings invoking both the modern and ancient, and it is all given sharp focus by Arthur Rizk’s powerfully dynamic and enveloping mix. Blood Incantation depart Extreme Metal’s traditionally antiquated waystation, warping their way towards “Genre of One” stature, as “The Stargate” intones the disembodiment of consciousness itself, careening through the stargate towards Samsara-like reincarnation, punctuated by the occasional growl from Sijjin/ex-Necros Christos main man, Malte Gericke.
“The Message” Side Two: A step through doorways of unearthly beauty, playfulness, quirk and horror. As if David Gilmour jams beside Chick Corea and Trey Azagthoth melting together through psychedelic hyperspace, eliciting mystical vibes and a tangible metaphysical transcendence. Dalos briefly reengages with this track in his native language, alongside star-riding Malmqvist, whose iconic synth/keys work throughout the album adds to the unearthly atmospherics that with Absolute Elsewhere defines a new musical epoch for Blood Incantation, as much as 21st century Metal itself.
In total the piece hovers at nearly 45 minutes, their longest full length recording yet, the album’s two movements are as confounding as they are engaging, exponentially expanding upon the formulas laid down by their scene-shattering debut Starspawn (2016) and landmark follow up Hidden History of the Human Race (2019).
For inspiration, the group looked to the mid-70s progressive rock collective, Absolute Elsewhere as the album’s namesake. For the uninitiated, Absolute Elsewhere’s obscure 1976 album, In Search of Ancient Gods, was constructed as a musical accompaniment to the works of Chariots of the Gods author, Erich Von Daniken, and his theories of non-terrestrial humanoid prompts towards mankind’s evolution. The subject matter of which should serve as no surprise to anyone familiar with Blood Incantation’s cosmically philosophical leanings. But make no mistake, the four musicians working under the Blood Incantation banner for the past decade – guitarist and vocalist Paul Riedl, drummer Isaac Faulk, guitarist Morris Kolontyrsky and bassist Jeff Barrett – have successfully left the microgravity of genre behind and are re-writing the Rosetta Stone of extreme music with a new language entirely.
Absolute Elsewhere is available from Century Media. Its physical version features a 73 minute feature film All Gates Open: In Search Of Absolute Elsewhere which tells the story of their time in Berlin during the summer of 2023, while recording at the legendary Hansa Studios. It is available on Blu-Ray with the album’s deluxe media book package and includes the documentary’s original soundtrack, All Gates Open (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) which includes 60 minutes of exclusive new music distinct from the new album.
This special edition will also include Blood Incantation’s 2023 maxi-single, “Luminescent Bridge” for the first time ever on CD, and of course, Absolute Elsewhere in both standard and Dolby Atmos / 5.1 mixes, alongside exclusive liner notes, exclusive interviews, behind the scenes photos and a forward by Ross Dolan of Immolation. Underscoring the classic Progressive Rock vibe, the album is adorned with contemporary visionary paintings by the iconic and reclusive 70s Sci-Fi artist Steve R. Dodd.
Blood Incantation sets out on an extensive North American tour crossing both coasts and more with support from Midwife. All tickets are on sale now here. A full list of dates is available online.
Blood Incantation Absolute Elsetour Dates:
Nov 27: Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall ~ Nov 29: Montreal, QC – Fairmount ~ Nov 30: Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace ~ Dec 01: Detroit, MI – Magic Stick ~ Dec 03: Chicago, IL – Metro ~ Dec 04: Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line ~ Dec 05: Omaha, NE – Bourbon Theater ~
~ w/ Midwife
Early Praise For Absolute Elsewhere:
“the metal album of the year” NPR
“an amazing, proggy, thrilling death metal epic” The Needle Drop
“This album is the work of a band who have proven themselves capable of anything. It belongs on the shelf alongside Pestilence’s ‘Testimony Of The Ancients and Spheres’, The Orb’s ‘UFOrb’ and Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’. It’s a goddamn masterpiece.” The Wire
“the ultimate Blood Incantation album” Brooklyn Vegan
Serj Tankian’s Foundations mines music and lyrics from previous decades and reframes them in a hard-hitting, intensely focused collection. Like all of his work, the five songs that comprise Foundations encompass a wide range of sounds and styles. It is music that traverses multiple eras and vast swaths of emotions. It is also very much a rock album – “music of rebellion,” says Serj.
A true creative tour de force, he recorded Foundations primarily at his own Serjical Strike Studios in L.A. He wrote, performed, orchestrated and produced all the material, as well as contributed the artwork – an original piece titled “Sunburst” – that adorns the album cover. Dan Monti (guitars, bass and drum programming), provided additional instrumentation on the record and bassist Mario Pagliarulo and SOAD drummer John dolmayan on Cartoon Buyer.
Foundations, Serj says, is “A retrospective of songs from different eras of my life, meant to complement the memoir,” and caps what has been an incredibly prolific year for him, from the release of his memoir the New York Times bestseller “Down with the System,” to the massive, sold-out System of a Down headlining show at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with over 50,000 fans. But even as he is now revealing his “foundations,” Serj is already looking ahead. “The next record will likely be a record of covers, collaborations and collages,” he envisions.
Serj has also released a diverse selection of limited edition variants of the Foundations EP on colored vinyl with an etching featured on Side B of every package. The Foundations vinyl package includes a Red & Black Starburst vinyl available on his own official webstore and an Opaque Purple version only available in U.S. record stores nationwide.
He was introduced to the melding of cultures, ideas, and ideals from a very young age. An Armenian born in Lebanon and raised in Los Angeles, the principles learned from this integration have led to his understanding of the oneness of all things and have since maneuvered and transfigured into the music and art that he lives to create. A proud Armenian American and a dedicated activist; along with Tom Morello, Tankian co-founded the non-profit organization Axis of Justice, which strived to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.
He has composed scores for many films and television series, had his paintings exhibited in galleries in the U.S. and New Zealand, and released two books of his own poetry. He has also been an executive producer on multiple documentaries, including I Am Not Alone, which tells the story of Armenia’s 2018 revolution, and which won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, The American Film Institute Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, among others.
Sonic shapeshifter Vlad Holiday announces debut record with release of new single Closer. Photo: Kate Lamendola, used with permission.
Romania-born, Nashville-based melancholy romantic Vlad Holiday recently announced that his debut record, My Favorite Drug, will be released on November 15 via ONErpm. Along with this news comes the second single Closer. Feeling like a covert mission, or a secret known only between two lovers, the deeply layered song seems to endlessly build before it is quickly punctuated. (Big Hassle, 2024)
The most recent release features guest vocals from Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz, who is also a co-writer on the track. For careful listeners, Shultz’s voice can be heard singing the “ah ah ah ah” hook and some repeated “closers” in the outro.
On the single, Holiday shares, “This is a love song. It introduces the romantic element of the album. It’s about going with the flow and letting the universe do its thing, rather than forcing things into existence.”
Kacey Musgraves joined Holiday for the bender-ender, genre-fusing track I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore. The sultry, mischievous track arrived right on time for his tour dates alongside Cage The Elephant, Young the Giant and Bakar. See all upcoming dates here and below.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES November 6 – Grand Rapids, MI – Pyramid Scheme November 7 – Indianapolis, IN – LO-FI Lounge
On his upcoming debut album Holiday said, “I’ve been releasing music for years, and a full-length album never really seemed like a thing I wanted to do. But as these songs were being written, I was noticing a pattern. Fragments of a story I had to tell. More for myself than for anyone else. It’s definitely one of those, ‘listen to it in order’ albums.”
Vlad Holiday has made a career of romanticizing the past, the human condition, and looking at love and relationships through dark-tinted lenses. With downtempo crooner tracks all tinged with melancholy, Holiday has built a sonic world of his own that tries to find comfort in accepting the darker moments in life. Having gained over 40 million streams as a completely independent artist, it seems as if he’s resonating with a subculture of people that are also trying to do the same.
Born in Bucharest, Romania, later having to flee to New York, and now based in Nashville, Holiday’s sound is heavily shaped by the weight of feeling like an outsider always on the move. Building the foundation of his music career with a downtown NYC lo-fi sound, he’s deeply indebted to his love for vintage microphones, tape machines and other old recording equipment; key elements of his signature sound and production style.
Now in Nashville, there’s an optimism to Holiday’s current chapter as he builds out his next body of work while collaborating with other artists in Music City. Most recently, he co-wrote Cage The Elephant’s “Neon Pill,” “Metaverse” and “Over Your Shoulder” before being joined by Kacey Musgraves on “I Don’t Wanna Party Anymore. However bright the current moment may be, flecks of Holiday’s past always steep his music in a darkness that shows that he is a human in the middle of his journey.
Bob Sumner wrangles real-life subject matter with a good-time country sound in new album. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Vancouver, BC – Singer-songwriter Bob Sumner cites the musically progressive sensibilities of his heroes when talking about the spirit of his new album, Some Place to Rest Easy, out now via Fluff & Gravy (worldwide) and North Country Collective (Canada). “They were always creating something new, something different,” he says of idols like George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. With that ideology in mind, Sumner set about creating an album that takes as much inspiration from the audio production of Randy Travis as it does the lyrical soul of Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker—a melding of eras, sounds, concepts, and stylings that’s informed by the past, but never bound by it. (IV-PR, 2024)
With Some Place to Rest Easy, Sumner picks up the tempo compared to his previous releases, balancing the stirring lyrical depth fans have come to expect with a more buoyant, lively feel. “It felt appropriate to give the music itself some joy,” says the man who’s made a career out of tapping into difficult-to-touch-on, real-life stuff in a relatable, palatable manner. In the end, that’s what Sumner’s music has always been about—more than a single sound, influence, instrumental, or clever line. “I always want people to feel something,” Sumner explains. “If I heard that this album helped somebody that was feeling down, even just by feeling some other emotion for a little while, that’s the number one thing for me.”
Fans can now stream or purchaseSome Place to Rest Easy. Sumner will take the stage at Nashville’s world-famous Bluebird Cafe on September 15. Tickets and complete tour dates are available online.
Some Place to Rest Easy tracklist: Bridges Motel Room Don’t We Though You Can Stay Here Forty Years on the Floor Didn’t We Dream Turn You Into Stone Baby I Know Lonesome Sound Familiar Feeling Is It Really Any Wonder
Some Place to Rest Easy In The News:
“A blend of past, present, and future sounds” – American Songwriter
“More than a single sound, influence, instrumental, or theme, the through line in Sumner’s music has always been vulnerability.” – Glide Magazine
“Genuine and weighty songwriting” – Americana Highways
“High class, country leaning Americana.” – Americana UK
“It takes a deft hand to put out a good, sad record…Bob Sumner nails it on Someplace To Rest Easy.” – Twangville
Sueco releases sophomore album Attempted Lover. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Platinum-certified singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Sueco has released his highly anticipated sophomore album, Attempted Lover. This is Sueco’s first independently released album showcasing his dynamic, experimental sound, which combines alternative rock, emo-rap, and punk elements. He channels the spirit of nineties punk through a 21st-century lens, tapping into the unpredictability of hyperpop, the catharsis of hardcore, and a whole lot of hip-hop finesse. (Big Picture Media, 2024)
The album highlights his raw vocals, meant to be played at full volume through listeners’ speakers. He had a few singles off of the album released leading up to this including the stripped-back song “Mulholland Drive,” fast-paced anthem “Drama Queen.” His most recent single is the heavy alt-rock banger “Outta My Head,” which hit #1 on trending audio for Instagram reels, further showcasing fans’ anticipation for the album release.
“I put this album together after coming home from a year and a half of non-stop touring. It was really nostalgic for me skating around the streets I grew up on, and I decided to set up a studio in the garage of my dad’s house where I started making music about 15 years ago. I looked through about 200 demos, piecing together some of the best songs I could find, and this album is what came out of it.” – Sueco
Earlier this summer, Sueco announced his North American tour supporting the album, kicking off September 13 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Supporting him on this tour will be the newly formed rock band GXTP, fronted by hit producer Poo Bear.
They will make stops throughout North America, visiting major cities such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York, and more before wrapping on November 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets are available to purchase now.
Upcoming Sueco North America Tour Dates: September 13 – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida September 14 – Jacksonville, Florida September 15 – Orlando, Florida September 17 – Atlanta, Georgia September 19 – Dallas, Texas September 20 – Houston, Texas September 21 – Austin, Texas September 24 – Phoenix, Arizona September 25 – San Diego, California September 27 – Los Angeles, California September 28 – Santa Ana, California September 29 – Santa Cruz, California October 1 – Sacramento, California October 3 – Seattle, Washington October 4 – Vancouver, British Columbia October 5 – Portland, Oregon October 9 – Denver, Colorado October 11 – Kansas City, Missouri October 12 – St. Louis, Missouri October 15 – Minneapolis, Minnesota October 16 – Madison, Wisconsin October 18 – Chicago, Illinois October 19 – Detroit, Michigan October 20 – Toronto, Ontario October 22 – Montreal, QC October 23 – Boston, Massachusetts October 26 – New York, New York October 28 – Cleveland, OH October 29 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania October 31 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania November 1 – Silver Spring, Maryland November 2 – Charlotte, North Carolina
Sueco’s debut single, “Fast,” blew up in a big way during 2019. It captured #1 on TikTok, #1 on Spotify’s Viral 50 – Global, and #1 on the Viral 50 – US, reached gold status, and attracted Offset and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie for its high-powered Official Remix. On the heels of his first full-length project MISCREANT, he teamed up with Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Yachty for “Speed Of Life,” Papa Roach on “Swerve” [feat. FEVER 333 & Sueco], and Illenium on “Story Of My Life” [feat. Sueco & Trippie Redd].
Embracing his earliest influences, he has also worked with producers and cowriters such as John Feldmann [Machine Gun Kelly, Avril Lavigne, Jxdn, 5SOS] and Colin “DOC” Brittain [5SOS, Papa Roach]. He served up “PRIMADONA,” “SOS” [feat. Travis Barker], “Sober/Hungover” [feat. Arizona Zervas], and “Paralyzed.” After generating over 1.2 billion streams throughout his career so far and receiving praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, NYLON, Alternative Press, Billboard, and more, this is just the beginning for Sueco.
Two Trains Left announce new LP Probably For Nothing. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Two Trains Leftis a pop-punk band hailing from Paris. Their debut EP Sorry & Pathetic, released in 2018, garnered significant attention and set the stage for the band’s future successes. This initial triumph led them to open for notable acts such as Anti-Flag, Story Untold, Between You & Me, and Hockey Dad in Paris, as well as Møme on the main stage of the “24h de l’INSA” festival in Lyon. (Two Trains Left, 2024)
The group recently released their new single and music video for “Sail Away”featuring long time supporters Chunk! No Captain Chunk! Blending both Parisian artist’s distinct styles together brings a powerful dynamic to the song, creating a unique sound that serves as a personal anthem of growth, self-discovery, and determination. Combining catchy guitar riffs, groovy bass lines and powerful vocals, “Sail Away” invites listeners on a journey through raw emotion and undeniable intensity.
They also announced that their latest LP, Probably For Nothing is scheduled for release on September 20. The 12 track album produced by easycore icons Chunk! No Captain Chunk! frontman Bertrand Poncet takes listeners on a thrilling ride through Two Trains Left’s evolving soundscapes, showcasing their unique blend of high-energy tracks and reflective ballads. Probably For Nothing seamlessly combines infectious melodies with heartfelt lyrics, reflecting the band’s coming of age while encapsulating their journey through the unknown.
Speaking to how one’s personal evolution can lead to resilience and liberation, even if the outcome is uncertain, the band shares:
“Probably For Nothing captures our evolution and experimentation in a way that feels cohesive and engaging. We wanted to create an album that resonates deeply with listeners, offering them a mix of powerful anthems and reflective ballads that they can connect with on a personal level. Our hope was to leave a lasting impact and provide a memorable and engaging listening experience from start to finish.”
Maya de Vitry’s The Only Moment will be out July 12. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Maya de Vitry’s vibrant voice seems to rise out of some necessity of bringing songs to life, embracing listeners with what Folk Alley calls a “soulful intimacy.” She grew up in a musical family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, understanding music to be a place of gathering, a way to spend a summer night around a campfire. Maya first traveled and performed as a fiddling street musician, and then in bars, theaters, and on festival stages as a founding member of The Stray Birds (2010-2018). Since the band parted ways in 2018, Maya has been devotedly creating a powerful new body of work—one that consistently blurs genre while showcasing her delight in storytelling and her extraordinarily dynamic singing. In addition to performing and recording, Maya is a sought-after co-writer and co-creator and has been steadily and closely collaborating within her chosen musical community of Nashville, Tennessee, for nearly a decade. (IV-PR, 2024)
Her latest single, “Odds of Getting Even,” owes its inspiration to an unlikely figure in the greater Americana world: the late, great soul and funk singer, Sharon Jones. “I really wanted to do this one justice, for this song to feel as alive and exuberant as I think it wants to be – and I just honestly couldn’t find that in myself for a while. But this finally felt like the perfect band and moment in my own life for me to sing this one,” she says, having compiled her Nashville “bar band” of A-list, next-generation players for this new batch of songs. “I feel especially lucky to have my friend Phoebe Hunt singing harmony. She’s on the whole record, but on this song I just think she’s absolute magic.”
“Odds of Getting Even” is the latest single to be released from Maya de Vitry’s upcoming self-produced album The Only Moment—out July 12. Fans can stream or purchase “Odds of Getting Even,” check out de Vitry’s previously released single, “Compass,” and pre-order The Only Moment ahead of its July 12 release.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The Only Moment tracklist:
Nothing Else Matters
Compass
Odds of Getting Even
I’m Not Going Anywhere
If They Feel Like Wings
Some Rent
Burning Building
Addicted
Watching the Whole Sky Change
Ribbon
Produced by Maya de Vitry and mixed by Grammy-award-winning engineer Justin Francis (Madison Cunningham), The Only Moment is an unabashed blend of indie folk, indie rock, and indie pop, with elements of Americana and alt-country. Recorded at Phantom Studios in Gallatin, TN, the album captures the unfettered energy and occasional chaos of de Vitry’s Nashville “bar band,” featuring Anthony da Costa on electric guitar, Ethan Jodziewicz on electric bass, and Dominic Billet on drums. These three musicians played a pivotal role in nurturing de Vitry’s vision, crafting atmospheres around her songs that feel unrestricted by notions of genre.
Catch Maya de Vitry on tour: June 21 – Tryon, NC – Summer Tracks Music Series July 12 – Nashville, TN – Finally Friday w/ WMOT at 3rd & Lindsley July 20 – Bethlehem, NH – Colonial Theatre (co-bill w/ Griffin William Sherry) July 26-27 – South Hiram, ME – Ossipee Music Festival August 31 – Erwin, TN – Sol Slam Mountain Jam September 24 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Lounge September 25 – Cambridge, MA – Club Passim September 26 – Portland, ME – Oxbow September 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Owl Music Parlor September 28 – Lancaster, PA – West Art September 29 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java October 1 – Evanston, IL – Space October 3 – Milwaukee, WI – Anodyne October 4 – Madison, WI – Shitty Barn October 5 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center (supporting Robin & Linda Williams) November 1 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Caffe Lena November 2 – Lincoln, VT – Burnham Presents
Afraid of Tomorrows is due out June 21 via Fiction Records. Photo: Steve Gullick, used with permission.
Starting over is never easy. It takes guts, determination and will power to move out of the shadows of yesterday. But this is precisely what British rock band The Mysterines has done. Their ferocious new album, Afraid of Tomorrows, out on June 7 via Fiction Records, burns the past to the ground and builds something brand new out of the rubble. (Big Hassle, 2024)
Formed in Liverpool, The Mysterines – frontwoman Lia Metcalfe, drummer Paul Crilly, bassist George Favager and guitarist Callum Thompson – has undergone a radical transformation over the past few years. Fresh with new purpose and reinvigorated from songwriting sessions while secluded away in the countryside, the band is about to release the best music of their career. “We can feel the difference with this album,” Metcalfe says. “These songs show how far we’ve come. We’ve grown up a lot.”
Afraid of Tomorrows is the perfect frame for Metcalfe’s extraordinary voice. Like no one else on the British rock scene, she can switch suddenly from a lascivious purr to a hair-raising yowl, the love-child of Courtney Love and Karen O. The most impressive part of the record is how much it demonstrates the band’s colossal ambition.
This week, the band released their whirring new single “The Last Dance,” the third track to be taken from the highly-anticipated new album Afraid of Tomorrows.
Bolstered by a blistering guitar solo and thunderous drum beats, “The Last Dance” details finding solace in something that is not real. Frontwoman Lia’s imagination dances wildly through the track, as it tells the tale of a person who falls in love with a porcelain mannequin and longs to dance with them.
“I suppose it’s an analogy for what loneliness can do to you. Once you’ve exhausted all the dark alleyways of drugs and alcohol, you end up reaching for something to connect to that isn’t real.” – Lia Metcalfe
The Mysterines is set to embark on their biggest headline tour to date this fall across Europe and North America. The band will play a string of exciting shows this summer, including at Crystal Palace Park as special guests to Bloc Party for their huge 20th anniversary show on July 7, and numerous festivals including Riot Fest in Chicago. North American tour dates will go on sale this Friday at 12p.m.ET — complete tour info available online.
UPCOMING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES September 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy September 11- Phoenix, AZ – Last Exit September 13 – Colorado Springs, CO – Vultures September 15 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry September 17 – Toronto, ON – The Cave September 19 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge September 22 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
Lord Buffalo’s new album Holus Bolus will be released July 12, 2024. Photo: Metal Injection
Austin heavy psychedelic-Americana band Lord Buffalorecently released a new single from their forthcoming album Holus Bolus. CvltNation shares “I Wait on The Door Slab” single HERE. Also now streaming on Bandcamp and all DSPs HERE. (US/THEM Group, 2024)
Metal Injection previously launched the title track and official video for “Holus Bolus” HERE.
Lord Buffalo is Daniel Pruitt (guitar, bass, piano, vocals, melodica), Garrett Hellman (guitar, sub-bass, piano, synths), Patrick Patterson (violin), and Yamal Said (drums, percussion).
Lord Buffalo is heavy in the way that ghosts are heavy… in the way that billowing dust is heavy.
That is to say, the Austin, TX Psych-Americana band’s music impacts hard, though it seems impossible to touch. Their sound flows through us, it doesn’t invite the Pavlovian response of typical heavy rock music
Perhaps it’s fitting then that their new album Holus Bolus takes its name from an antiquated term meaning “all at once.” It materializes instantly from the first notes of the opening title track, like a dark grey haze drawing listeners in with the band’s deft juxtapositions of droning violin, guitars, drums and vocals. It draws equally from Morricone and Badalementi as from Sabbath and Swans.
While the quartet trudges the same murky waters as dark emotive brethren David Eugene Edwards/Woven Hand, Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle, Earth/Dylan Carlson, Echo & The Bunnymen, and Nick Cave, their creative interplay of Middle Eastern influence with a distinctly Western feel takes listeners in entirely new directions as the album envelops them. Holus Bolus was recorded by Danny Reisch and Max Lorenzen at Good Danny’s in Lockhart, TX. Mixed by Danny Reisch. Mastered by Max Lorenzen.
“While the making of this record feels a bit like a sleep-deprived hallucination to me. Listening to it now, I find it strangely hopeful — there’s a kind of release that you hit in exhaustion. I think the record knew what it was after, even if we didn’t. It felt very much like the record just appeared one day, holus bolus.” – Daniel Pruitt
Holus Bolus will be available worldwide on vinyl, CD, and digital via Blues Funeral Recordings on July 12,2024. Pre-order HERE.
Artist: Lord Buffalo Album: Holus Bolus Label: Blues Funeral Recordings Release Date: July 12, 2024
Courtesy album photo, used with permission
Holus Bolus
Slow Drug
Passing Joy
Malpaisano
I Wait on the Door Slab
Cracks in the Vermeer
Rowing in Eden
“Known for their atmospheric spin on folk-rock, at times sounding like the Anthology of American Folk Music beamed from outer space.” — NPR Music
“A dusky, moody, roots-quaking disc of tension and release.” — Austin Chronicle
“Lord Buffalo masterfully mixes straightforward, stoner-tinged rock with more violin-driven post-rock tones into one beautifully captivating sound that everyone should be familiar with.” — Metal Injection
SA Examiner 