Industrial Puke
Gothenburg grinders Industrial Puke (featuring lineup ties to Burst, Rentokiller, Blessings, and others) released their debut album, Born Into the Twisting Rope, earlier this month. The 10-track ripper includes all four songs from last year's Where Life Crisis Starts EP ("Banished" remains a highlight), plus six all-new scorchers that further intensify their display of crusty hardcore with a deathy, HM-2-ish edge—while introducing a hint more subtle melody and even the occasional doom-laden undercurrent. Here and there, I even find myself thinking about His Hero is Gone, which is always a compliment!
Born Into the Twisting Rope can be grabbed on limited edition CD or LP (and digitally) through Suicide Records. If you're the type to depend on the spoils of technology, feel free to stream the tunes on Spotify or some such.
Mightyfew
I'm extremely excited that this Australian act who I've written about a few times since waaaaaay back in 2002 has suddenly returned with what I believe are their first new recordings in... 17 years or something!? Mightyfew initially started out as somewhat of a Deftones-ish type of group, but over the course of just under a decade developed and matured into a unique form of heavy alternative/indie rock that feels familiar and uncommon all at once. These two songs—both of which are fantastic—feel like a natural progression from where the band left off all those years ago. Still heavy, but a little more spacious and angular, with a killer balance of atmosphere, emotion, and energy—not to mention a superb recording that's probably the best they've ever sounded. I sincerely hope this isn't the last we'll hear from this sorely underrated gem of a group.
"Don't be So Fucking Dramatic" and "Keep Your Head Up, Kid" are available digitally on Bandcamp. (I'm told that a small vinyl pressing is likely on the way, too!) Streamin' peeps can load up Spotify or whatever.
New Dawn Fades
New Dawn Fades is a project from George Chamberlin (Ritual Earth, Autumn, etc.)—who handles everything sans drums herein—but while the band name and cover art might have you conjuring visions of Joy Division-influenced post-punk of some sort, in fact you'll be greeted by a brand of sludgy-yet-propulsive "stoner rock" that very much brings to mind Deliverance era C.O.C. I mean, if you can't imagine Pepper Keenan belting out the chorus of "True Till Death," I don't know what the hell you're listening to! Very strong writing all around: great riffs, forceful builds into memorable choruses, and relatively straightforward and to-the-point without being overly simplistic. I had been following this undertaking on Instagram and was curious, but I have to confess this is even better than I might have anticipated. Definitely looking forward to hearing more.
Three-song EP, Forever, is up on Bandcamp now, and I imagine it'll hit Spotify and such on or around its official release date of June 12.
Nowheres
Someone on Instagram recommended me Linköping, Sweden's Nowheres a while back, and I was immediately impressed by their take on high-energy melodic hardcore. It's rare for me to get excited about any form of hardcore that's rooted in an old school type of sound, but when it's done right, I can't deny it. Last Dance First brings to mind Count Me Out circa Permanent meets Betrayed circa Substance; though with more of a loose, textured, emo-ish bent to their melodic intensity. Seven songs in less than 13 minutes, and every damn one's a keeper. Superb cover art, too. I'm very interested in hearing more from this band!
Pick up Last Dance First as a one-sided 12" with screen-printed B-side or cassette from Genet Records or Svensk Hardcore Kultur. Digitally, look to Bandcamp, or stream on Spotify or the service of your choosing.
Statues
Yes, yet another Swedish act (Umeå this time), Statues (ex-Kevlar, etc.) released album #3, Black Arcs Rising, at the start of the month. 12 new songs of their immediately identifiable take on fuzzy, jangly, punked-up alt.-rock. There's generally more experimentation with texture and ambiance this time around, but by no means is that to be taken as code for "boring," as you'll still encounter deceptively hooky earworms galore. Hell, "Hiding in a Hole" is basically a straight-up punk ripper, while the noisy edge of "Dead of Summer" also proves the range of this affair. As mentioned above, when Statues lands on the playlist, you know who you're listening to instantly, and that's far too uncommon these days.
I'm a bit heartbroken that Black Arcs Rising's not available on CD, but there are two different vinyl variants through Lövely Records. If you enjoy hands-free listening and fake virtual "collections," Spotify and the like will have you covered.
Verminizer
Verminizer is a deranged duo featuring musician Ben Neäth with Brian Vocal Terror (Watchmaker, Annihilust, etc.), and they've recently wrought a 28-minute full-length of blackened drum machine grind that's so harsh, raw, and chaotic that one of my initial comments to the band was that portions of it sound "like a decaying Speak & Spell on fire..." Generally frenzied and severely over-the-top, but there are some murkily dissonant cuts like "Abysmal Dementoid" as well. Despite my commentary thus far, there are indeed some tangible riffs, and—aside from "Enigmatic Ruin"—things don't erode into the realm of pure noise. Still, this is obviously not for everyone, though is sure to bring a smile to those intrigued by the most hyper-obscure corners of niche grindcore.
Verminizer is available via Death Hymns on black cassettes with full-color inserts (with some art that's like the rodent version of Reek of Putrefaction) inside sleek black cases that have the band logo laser-engraved onto the front, which is an insanely nice touch. Bandcamp's got you covered otherwise.
