#NewMusicFriday: 11th October 2024

Another hectic #NewMusicFriday is upon us with a lengthy list of releases. It’s led by notable releases from The Offspring, Touché Amoré, and Delta Sleep, which you can read my thoughts on below.

Beyond them, there are albums from Myles Kennedy, who delivers his third full-length, ‘The Art Of Letting Go’. With his distinct, towering voice with plenty of riffs on offer. Real Friends‘ ‘Blue Hour’ begins a new era for the Illinois band, as they go fully independent while musically serving up their most lyrically vulnerable songs. The Linda Lindas’ second full-length, ‘No Obligation’, maintains their vibrant brand of punk. Whereas Chat Pile‘s raw, uncompromising noise rock enters a barbed ‘Cool World’, expanding on the landscape ‘God’s Country’ provided.

There is also the return of acclaimed Japanese post-rock and scream outfit Envy. ‘Eunoia’ is said to be the sound of a band “arena-ready”. Today also marks the debut release from Seven Hours After Violet. Founded by System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian, their eponymous record utilises deathcore personnel, such as vocalist Taylor Barber (Left To Suffer) and Winds of Plague guitarist Morgoth, and combines it with hints of alt-rock and metal.

Earlier this week, Against The Current singer Chrissy Costanza stepped out of the trio with her ‘VII’ EP. Furthermore, the recently reunited As It Is rummaged through their archives as ‘A Decade Uneventful: Rarities from Okay. and Never Happy’ gives a preview of next month’s compilation.

Amongst today’s other releases, Steel City heroes Def Leppard return to Sheffield for an intimate late album. Finland’s Oranssi Pazuzu provides some psychedelic black metal. Des Rocks expands last year’s Dream Machine’ with ‘The Lucid Edition’ and Manchester indie punk duo Arms & Hearts share their musings on a variety of social and political issues on ‘The Future Is Not Bright’. While up-and-coming multi-instrumentalist Vienna Vienna delves into themes of queerness, self-acceptance, and his evolving relationship with faith on ‘Wonderland’.

The Offspring – Supercharged

After 30 years together and 20 since their ‘Smash’ breakthrough, The Offspring don’t really need an introduction. In some way or another, their impact on US punk rock has been constant, even during lengthy periods between new material. Their eleventh album, ‘Supercharged’, aims to rejuvenate the SoCal outfit and rectify the mistakes 2021’s ‘Let the Bad Times Roll’ made.

While it doesn’t completely correct the tired clichéd errors, it does see Dexter, Noodles and company thrive in familiar punk rock skin. ‘Light It Up’ gallops away with an abundance of energy before ‘The Fall Guy’s chord progression is rampant with familiarity, sharply executed. Later on, ‘Get Some’ dives into distorted punk territory with some impressive riffing from Noodles, along with a not-so-subtle wink to Queen’s ‘Stone Cold Crazy’. It’s swiftly followed up by the chugging ‘Hanging By A Thread’.

Admittedly these songs arguably aren’t on par with “classic” Offspring, you can’t be helped but be sucked in by how catchy they are. Even when they’re delivering routine melodic punk like ‘Make It Right’, the ’60s doo-wop “bar da da da”s prove to be an earworm. It’s followed by the lyrically jarring ‘OK But This Is The Last Time’ that utilises a playful, driving hook in its chorus.  Whereas ‘Come To Brazil’ sees them embrace elements of ’80s stadium metal, while taking a tongue-in-cheek dig at their Brazilian fans. It firmly leans into The Offspring longstanding use of humour and is only expanded by the rampant “olé olé olé” outro.

‘You Can’t Get There From Here’ rounds things out in a relatively straightforward manner. Lyrically it allows Dexter Holland to ruminate on imposter syndrome. It’s paired with a routine melody that you expect from The Offspring, yet like many of the hooks on offer here, it has just about enough to it to make you hit replay.

Coming in at just a hasty 33 minutes, The Offspring provides a cutthroat exploration of reliable tropes with occasional (and subtle) twists. ‘Supercharged’s strength is its melodic execution, proving that the Holland and Noodles still know how to deliver catchy hook after catchy hook.

Touché Amoré – Spiral In A Straight Line

Having emerged as one of post-hardcore’s most consistent bands over the past decade or so, the return of Touché Amoré comes with a hint of anticipation. Their discography is littered with frontman Jeremy Bolm’s multifaceted narrative, leaning into life experiences, and giving his, and others’, reflective perspectives. This has allowed the Los Angeles band to become dynamic while never sacrificing their rawness. Album number six, ‘Spiral In A Straight Line’, considerably maintains this trend while pushing their versatility.

At its core, and as its title somewhat suggests, is a narrative that life isn’t straightforward, and hits you with unpredictability. Bolm, along with guitarists Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt, bassist Tyler Kirby and drummer Elliot Babin, put the lens on a loop of anxiety. From the moment ‘Nobody’s’ begins, Bolm is questioning his purpose and his band’s adversity; “Is it enough? To call it off ?” It’s an idea he revisits on the penultimate track, ‘The Glue’. Here he admits to struggling to “see it through” despite doing all that he can. Whereas ‘Hal Ashby’ contains one of ‘Spiral…’s strongest choruses as Bolm ruminates on being misunderstood and aims to “recalibrate”. It is the constant poetic self-analysis that makes Touché Amoré stand out amongst their peers.

For all of his lyrical strength, Bolm is backed by a reliable group that continues to tighten their sound sonically and well-paced execution. ‘Force of Habit’ allows Kirby’s plodding bass line underneath Stevens and Steinhardt’s appetising and ringing guitars. Whereas ‘This Routine’s atmospheric drive complements Bolm’s agonising words of growing distance. ‘Subversion (Brand New Love)’ pulls in the pace, with assistance from Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh’s Lou Barlow. It also allows Babin’s pounding drum work to shine alongside Stevens and Steinhardt’s jangly and considered guitars. Regular collaborator Julien Baker returns to make it a hat-trick of appearances. The Grammy winner lends her vocals to interweave on album closer, ‘Goodbye For Now’. Serving as a harmonious foil to Bolm’s aggressive voice with her acrobatic and cathartic flair.

Although there’s musical depth to Touché Amoré, there’s a constant punk-like texture. Whether that be on the explosive ‘Disasters’, penetrative ‘Mezzanine’, or ‘Finalist’s kinetic execution show. It merely adds to the quintet’s adaptability, all the while leaning into their capabilities as a wired, intense and solid collective.

The combination of Bolm’s passionate, mentally weathered, and relatable songwriting, and a robust musical unit makes for a collection of anthemic and stirring songs. This results in another addictive and refined Touché Amoré album.

Delta Sleep – Blue Garden

For 14 years, Delta Sleep have become a prominent mainstay in the UK’s indie math-rock scene. In turn, they’ve never been a band made for bigger things, opting to comfortably deliver a string of admirable releases while occasionally stepping into conceptual territory. 2021’s ‘Spring Island’ honed in on the quarter’s emotional nuances, providing a consistent level of quality in the process.

The arrival of fifth album, ‘Blue Garden’ promises an expansive Delta Sleep. It is the result of a more collaborative, and thoughtful recording process. Having abandoned their Brighton base in favour of Daft Studios in Belgium, the four-piece recorded with Mark Roberts (Black Peaks, Toska, The Physics House Band) over two and a half weeks. The end result is twelve evocative songs that dwell on internal and external themes, touching on personal despair and widespread turmoil.

Throughout, it tonally treads the fine line between light and dark. ‘Dawn’ twinkles with ambient keys before ‘Slow Burn‘s dense power chords interrupt. Emphasising Delta Sleep‘s sonically darker tone, Dave Jackson’s bass broods as guitarist Dev Yüceil’s vocals ruminate on focusing on his own needs as he “watches the world burn”. 

‘Blue Garden’ does a fine job of balancing out Delta Sleep‘s ability to organically grow and experiment. For example, ‘The Distance’s colourful percussion firmly leans into their math-rock tendencies before settling into a smooth R&B rhythm. Yüceil’s words yearn for connection despite his lyrical and vocal intimacy. It’s complemented by ‘Glow’s sultry tenderness. With its dimly lit instrumentation and hushed vocals, it’s delivering with a captivating quality. Elsewhere, ‘Illuminator’‘s opening is dominated by swirling, glitchy effects abruptly by remote words of despair. It’s

In contrast, there are moments where the quartet, completed by guitarist Glen Hodgson and drummer Blake Mostyn, deliver sturdy and emotive indie rock songs. Alongside ‘Toe Stepper’ and ‘Sl_ck_rs’, mid-album highlight ‘Figure In The Dark’ thrives with bold energy, melodic charm, and newfound love adrenaline poured into its lyrics.

As ‘Blue Garden’ reaches its conclusion, ‘A Casa’ comfortably sits into soft, atmospheric territory, with dynamic drum work and plucky rhythms. Carried with an experimental flair, it exemplifies Delta Sleep‘s growing palette of sounds and tones. It’s followed by ‘Sun Chaser’, which aims to provide a sense of comfort to the disillusion that threads ‘Blue Garden’ together. Yüceil’s final resolute words of “I’ll see you when the sun is shining” are accompanied by towering guitars, and distant cheers and applause.

Overall, Delta Sleep confidently takes progressive steps on ‘Blue Garden’ yet never abandons their emotional math-rock tendencies. It’s tonally well-balanced between their melody-driven strengths and interesting, pallette-expanding advancements. As a result, it offers just enough to entice new fans and is sure to please those who have stuck by them.

What is out on #NewMusicFriday?

The Offspring – Supercharged
Myles Kennedy – The Art Of Letting Go
Touché Amoré – Spiral in a Straight Line
Real Friends – Blue Hour
The Linda Lindas – No Obligation
Chat Pile – Cool World
Envy – Eunoia
Delta Sleep – Blue Garden
Chrissy Costanza – VII EP
As It Is – A Decade Uneventful: Rarities from Okay. and Never Happy
Seven Hours After Violet – Seven Hours After Violet
Def Leppard – One Night Only Live At The Leadmill, Sheffield
Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja
Des Rocs – Dream Machine: The Lucid Edition
Vienna – Wonderland
Arms & Hearts – The Future Is Not Bright
The Chesterfield Kings – We’re Still All The Same
StrateJacket – Bad Start
Ad Infinitum – Abyss
Crucifiction – Will to Power
Vicious Rain – There Is Beauty In Letting Go
Veil of the Seprent – Gallery of Sin III
Kanaan and Ævestaden – Langt, Langt Vekk
DoFlame – BENT
Lake Drive – Post-Internet Romance
lolitslea – Nothing Lasts Forever
Blue Mar – OLIVEIRA
Hell Is Other People – Moirae

If you think I’ve missed something or have a new album/EP/song to tell us about, tell us about it here.

If you’re looking for the latest tracks focusing on rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, then check out our ‘Newish Music’ playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.