Dead Dads Clubbe
"Plough" is the very first single from Tennessee duo Dead Dads Clubbe, and I'm not even gonna try to classify it, 'cause any tune that carries the twang of pedal steel would tend to fall outside the realms of which I can half-confidently speak. That being said, it's easy to appreciate this haunting and atmospheric composition, which utilizes dense, reverberated ambience and a fair amount of layering/panning to create subtle detail through the guitars, which surround equally stirring vocals in the form of softly restrained singing. It's tough to make out some of the lyrics, which may well be intentional, as the general tone feels emotionally intense. A very promising start, and I'm already eager to hear more...
As is standard these days, "Plough" is streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and whatever other digital music sources you might rely upon.
Exorbitant Prices Must Diminish
Presumably named after the Disrupt track, Exorbitant Prices Must Diminish is a Swiss grindcore act featuring members of a bunch of bands that I'm unfamiliar with—Convulsions, Kakothanasy, Murge, etc.—plus Nostromo, who I recall enjoying and writing about a few times 20-some years ago. "EPMD," for short (What would Erick and Parrish say!?), has been around for almost a decade, but For a Limited Time is their debut "full-length." I use quotes 'cause we're talkin' rip-roarin' grind standards here (17 songs in about 21 minutes), so one might argue that this is technically an EP. All that matters, though, is that the material absolutely destroys. Tight and fairly technical riffing, an array of tempos and vocal styles, and damn well-produced to boot. And, holy shit, can we discuss the monstrous bass tone and utterly ripping bass lines that totally keep up with the guitars!? Yeah, I'll take it!
For a Limited Time is out now on light blue or black vinyl from Lixiviat Records and Jungle Noise Records. Choothar Tapes did the cassette, which is available on Bandcamp alongside the digital. I don't know if streaming diminishes exorbitancy, but you can also find the album on Spotify, Apple Music, and so forth.
Her Head's on Fire
With lineup ties to Garrison, Small Brown Bike, Saves the Day, etc., the debut from Her Head's on Fire was one of my favorites of 2022, so I've been eagerly anticipating a follow-up, which just hit the streets a couple of weeks back. As the opener quickly indicates, Strange Desires is another damn fine outing that perfectly blends equal parts alternative/indie rock, emo, post-hardcore, and then some into a whatever-you-want-to-call-it concoction. Perhaps this new material is slightly more ambitious in some sense—somehow "bigger," with more subtle atmosphere? But without meandering, it's important to note! The songwriting absolutely hangs onto a significant amount of energy and catchiness—most notably in "Cuts," "Better Men Than Me," "Why are We Alone," etc. Damn fine, indeed. I haven't had enough time to sit with it just yet, but we certainly have another contender on our hands here...
Strange Desires is vinyl-only when it comes to physical copies, so grab one on purple haze with yellow splatter (150 copies) or purple/black smash (250 copies) through Iodine Recordings via Deathwish. Bandcamp's got your digital, and you can stream on Spotify and Apple Music and all that.
Inerth
Coincidentally, another favorite from 2022, Madrid, Spain's Inerth recently returned with a new four-song EP that continues to explore their punishing brand of lightly industrialized doom/sludge. The end result is well-suited for fans of, say, Mindrot/Eyes of Fire with vague dashes of a little Fear Factory and the like. A superb bass tone/presence helps add texture to an absolute steamroller of churning guitar rhythms, while admirably brutal vocals effectively shift into occasional drones of singing as the compositions periodically flow toward more spacious and atmospheric tendencies. This five-piece is still quite deserving of more attention. If this genre falls within your listening habits, seek Inerth out immediately.
Hybris is out now on orange (100 copies) or black (300 copies) vinyl through Abstract Emotions. Pick one up from Inerth on Bandcamp; or fire up Spotify or Apple Music or something to stream away.
Walled City
I was recently exposed to St. Petersburg, FL's Walled City on Instagram (Thanks, Cornered!) and was instantly blown away. Their debut album, World Pain, came out back in May and provides an excellent display of raging-yet-melodic hardcore/punk with an occasionally crusty edge, not to mention some absolutely scathing vocals. All of which coalesces in a manner that's familiar, but still retains its own identity. The tracks cover a good range of tempos and often sit in that driving, D-beat sweet spot, while the faster fare touches on classic hardcore and the "slower" moments can lean into that His Hero is Gone/Tragedy level of dark heaviness. Killer lyrics, too, which is always appreciated. I have to say, this is one of the more exciting surprises I've stumbled onto this year. Absolutely awesome. Don't sleep!
Pick up World Pain on LP or digital straight from Walled City on Bandcamp. Those who stream, there's always Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Their entire discography is fantastic and very much recommended, but this new album takes the #1 position, for sure.
Zbrucz
Zbrucz is a raw, D.I.Y. screamo (or "emoviolence," to some) group out of Slovenia, and Riparia Riparia looks to be their first proper outing after a two-song demo last summer. Though self-recorded "in a shelter and a living room," the production is actually not as rugged as you might expect (check out their demo if you want the ear-splitting abrasiveness), and what rawness is present certainly adds to the vibe in appropriate form. They really cover all the bases here—surging distortion, intensely impassioned screams/yells, jangly clean passages, a dash of singing, some grinding blasts of speed—and this is all in the first track alone! Quite an impressive seven-song/20-minute EP overall. I'll certainly be following along to see what the future holds...
Riparia Riparia is a name your price download through Bandcamp; or stream via Spotify, Apple Music, etc. I know there are a number of record labels with their fingers on the pulse of this genre, so it seems to me that one of 'em would be wise to reach out to Zbrucz about presenting their music in tangible form!
