September came and went. We sent some of the US team down to Riot Fest to catch all the action whilst on this side of the pond there were so many shows we lost count of how much fun we had. Winter may be coming but the good new music is still pouring out. Here are our picks for September 2015
The Front Bottoms – ‘2YL’
Can The Front Bottoms do any wrong? It seems not. They came back with the third album packed with all the catchy melodies and kick ass drums that we’ve grown accustomed to. ‘2YL’ has a chorus that gets jammed into your head and never leaves. “Two young lovers and half price drinks” is everyones relationship goals right? [Maryam Hassan]
Pears – ‘Anhedonia’
Pears has come from almost nowhere, and now are touring with major bands and signed to Fat Wreck Chords. Most of their songs are a unique blend of the speed and intensity of hardcore, the melodic sensibility of pop punk, and the gut-wrenching power of grindcore. This track, though, is a little different from most of the band’s output, and I always love different. It still has elements of all of the above, but this track is harder and more punishing. And, while the borderline metallic side of hardcore punk is normally not my thing, this track just does it for me. It’s just a taste of what’s to come in their new album due out this spring, and it’s not fair that we have to wait that long! [Paul Silver]
Meat Wave – ‘Reunion’
Chicago weirdos Meat Wave have finally released “Delusion Moon”, a thirteen track non-stop assault of driving bass and drum rhythms, unforgiving guitar parts, and fantastic social commentary. “Reunion” is a song that has a desperate, somber tone, eventually giving way to a musical build up and Chris Sutter’s repeating line “What was lost, stays lost forever.” It’s overwhelming, emotional, and intense- a combination that makes this trio and this album well worth the listen. [Mike Petruccelli]
State Champs – ‘All You Are Is History’
They gave us ‘Secrets’, then they gave us ‘Losing Myself’ and now, Albany pop-punkers State Champs have dropped an absolute bomb in the form of ‘All You Are Is History’. Within the first ten seconds you’re given the biggest drop and coinciding “OH!” that you’ll be kick-jumping all over the place and the rest of the track has potentially the catchiest melody we’ve heard all year. This is pop-punk at its absolute finest, Derek Discanio’s vocals are on point, the guitars are chunky and the opportunity for gang chants are huge. If this is what we can expect from forthcoming album ‘Around the World and Back’ then it’s going to be a strong contender for album of the year. [Tamsyn Wilce]
Slayer- ‘Pride In Prejudice’
So, I have been treated this month. New albums from Maiden and Slayer and from one of my favourite new hardcore bands, Go Deep. All great records. But I’ve gone with the closer from Slayer’s new album as my track of the month. A real slow one by Slayer’s standards, ‘Pride In Prejudice’ is track twelve on ‘Repentless’ and one of the finest tracks from Slayer this side of the millenium. But then, the whole album is fucking faultless, so… [Mike Scott]
Atreyu- ‘I Would Kill/Lie/Die For You’
Atreyu went on hiatus for awhile, but they are well and truly back with new album ‘Long Live’. ‘I Would Kill/Lie/Die For You’ is just one example of what you can expect from the rest of the album: classic Atreyu catchy choruses and killer riffs. YES. [Lais Martins Waring]
Coheed and Cambria- ‘Here To Mars’
Claudio and crew have stepped away from the comic inspired ‘Amory Wars’ with their latest non concept album due for release in October, ‘The Color Before The Sun’. First single ‘Here To Mars’ is a more mellow, romantic offering than their earlier albums and highlights the growth of the band and particularly Claudio, who’s partner is about to have a child, the love for her inspiring this track. Claudio’s distinctive vocals are laid over a catchy and funky guitar and bass line. Along with ‘You’ve Got Spirit Kid’, this track suitably wets the appetite for the upcoming LP. [Dave Bull]
Parkway Drive- ‘The Sound of Violence’
With a little nod towards Fear Factory, Parkway Drive come out with this masterpiece of a song. Pulsing, fast and relentless aggression will make this song a live favourite and they’ve certainly raised the bar when it comes to huge hardcore tinged metal to please the masses. Queue the huge circle pit. [Mark Gadong]
Donovan Wolfington- ‘Mosquito’
On their new album How To Treat The Ones You Love, Donovan Wolfington experiment with sounds and attempt to sonically find themselves during an album about being lost. Oddly enough, the song that ends up standing out the most is the one where they’re right at home. “Mosquito” is the New Orleans punks at their best. Acerbic and fast while floating before snapping into a beatdown of a bridge. It’s the best song this year that will undoubtedly lead to accusatory finger-pointing in the pit. [Jay Papandreas]
Christina Rotondo- ‘Holy’
Taking influence from PVRIS and the newer musical direction of Bring Me the Horizon, vocalist Christina Rotondo has created a melancholy track in the form of ‘Holy’. Wrought with emotion, it sees the ex-Searching Alaska frontwoman embrace dark lyrical content whilst using delayed electric guitars to create an ethereal ambience. It’s an incredibly personal track, complete with a strong, visceral finale, and is one that’ll hopefully see Christina create more solo tracks in this vein. [Jess Tagliani]
Tellison- ‘Helix & Ferman’
Four years in the making, Tellison’s third album ‘Hope Fading Nightly’ is a masterclass in life-affirming sadness. Wrapping its recurring themes of hopelessness and despair in a deceptive sheath of enchanting guitar lines and vocal harmonies, this dichotomy – equal parts heart-warming and heart-rending – is none more obvious than on the album’s second track. Indeed, ‘Despair’ is the name of the Nabokov novel from which ‘Helix & Ferman’ takes its name, but you’ll be so fooled by the Biffy-esque dynamics you’ll almost forget that the inherent depression of the ‘Drink red wine/say you’re fine’ hook. Top track from a great album by a criminally under-rated band. [Rob Barbour]
OBN IIIs- ‘Trash Heap’
Austin musician Orville Neeley III keeps himself quite busy, playing and touring constantly in several projects (Bad Sports, OBN IIIs, Blaxxx). Opening track “Trash Heap” off Neeley’s namesake band OBN IIIs’ new record is a rowdy, garage-punk good time that channels Portland punk band Wipers. Listening to “Worth a Lot of Money,” out September 14 on 12XU Records, all of these tunes sound like the band is obsessed with Thin Lizzy (and I can tell you from partying with these dudes during their stop in Indy that they certainly are), but “Trash Heap” is an especially good way to kick off the record. Neeley’s vocal delivery and the steady drumming in this track remind me of another early punk band, Radio Birdman. Whether these influences are worn on the band’s sleeves intentionally or not, drawing on classics like these make this garage rock and roll a lot of fun to end your summer. [Sarah Scanlon]
Motion City Sountrack- ‘It’s A Pleasure To Meet You’
After a detour into the more mature sounds explored on ‘Go’, Motion City Soundtrack are back to their best on new album ‘Panic Stations’. ‘It’s A Pleasure To Meet You’ is a technicolour blast of trademark keyboards, tight guitar riffs, and Justin Pierre’s expertly crafted lyrics. What’s more, the refrain of “You are not alone, we’ve all had our battles with darkness and shadows” is an inspirational rallying call delivered with equal parts empathy, enthusiasm, and hope, that many can identify with. [Chris Hilson]
Petal- ‘Sooner’
Scranton, PA singer-songwriter Kiley Lotz has returned under her Petal moniker with ‘Sooner’, and it is a perfect, mid-tempo alt-rock track. Drawing from the classic “Quiet/Loud” dynamic of the 90’s, and filled with the melodic sweetness Death Cab For Cutie, it is utterly infectious. Lotz has expanded her range, and her voice gracefully swoons throughout ‘Sooner’, even bearing resemblance to Dolores O’ Riordan of The Cranberries when she pushes herself. It comes from her forthcoming full-length ‘Shame’ on Run For Cover, and if the growth she has already shown from her ‘Scout’ 7” to ‘Sooner’ is anything to go by, it will be a thoroughly enchanting album. [Glen Bushell]
Swmrs – ‘Miley’
A punk tribute to contemporary pop-dive and all-round unpredicatable whirlwind Miley Cyrus might not be on the top of everyone’s must hear list… yet, Swmrs’ debut single (disregarding their Emily’s Army material) is an absolute banger (reference to Cyrus’ album title fully intended). Pulling in FIDLAR vocalist Zac Carper on production duties, the subtle commercial twist on the riotous surf-punk sound makes for an upbeat grunge number that reinvents Swmrs as a true contender. It’s no surprise that Swmrs opted to release an ode to the current queen of reinvention herself. [Ben Tipple]
Lucero- ‘Throwback No.2’
Lucero’s All A Man Should Do is the aftermath of the Women and Work party. It is filled with tales of longing for home and love lost due to a life on the road. The record is reminiscent of That Much Further West or Tennessee. The song “Throwback No. 2” is soulful and upbeat which makes it stand out from the first half of the LP. It even charts new territory for the band…a marriage proposal. Filled with honest lyrics and backed by solid horns, the track may be one of the best on the album. [Daniella Heminghaus]
WATERMEDOWN – ‘Exposure’
To choose only one song from Watermedown’s Somewhere Sleepless, EP feels like tearing your favorite chapter from a brand new paperback. Together, the five songs capture, possibly, the most raw emotion tracked since The Hotelier’s Home, Like No Place Is There. The forth track, Exposure, opens softly and builds tremendously as Jonny May’s honestly admits, “I’ve never wanted any more than for someone to understand me.” Don’t let the cliche emo lyricism here turn you away. The passion is real, the emotions are relentless, and Watermedown tears at every empathetic piece of your psyche in the best (and almost therapeutic) ways. Mays sings, “A million dollars under water with a chance to be discovered, but I think I’d rather drown instead.” Interesting, since this record should undeniably get this music the exposure it truly deserves. [Tori Pisco]