If you have been reading my weekly introductions to these round-ups, then you’ll know that hasn’t been much to get excited about in recent weeks. Thankfully, that’s not the case today. This week’s #NewMusicFriday is led by a handful of noteworthy releases.
As you can read below, Twin Atlantic, Four Year Strong, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Destroy Boys all return with new full-lengths that are worth spending time with. The same can be said for ‘life till bones’, the new record from oso oso. With 2022’s surprise ‘sore thumb’ album being considered a collection of songs that never got “past their original demo stage”, this fifth outing is considered oso oso‘s first proper album in five years. It sees frontman Jade Lilitri in a reminiscent mood, looking back on past loves with a mix of fondness and frustration. Nevertheless, ‘life till bones’ is littered with raw indie/emo gems, paired with Lilitri’s instinctive pop sensibilities.
As for emerging acts, Lithuanian-born Beatrich Pundžiūtė aka Broken Hearts Club unleashed her (Welcome To The…) EP earlier this week. It sees the London-based artist break out her former electro-pop skin, opting for a liberating brand of pop-rock. Its title track and opener ‘Hate It’ have an accessible ruggedness, while songs such as ‘Town Called Misery’ and ‘IYKYK’ pulsate with pop-rock slickness.
There are also new releases from Fucked Up, Mushroomhead, Siamese and more.
I’m away at ArcTanGent next week, so there won’t be a #NewMusicFriday round-up. Here’s a short list of new releases out next week:
Yours Truly – Toxic
GEL – Perosna
Falling In Reverse – Popular Monster
Charly Bliss – Forever
Horse Jumper Of Love – Disaster Trick
Creed – Human Clay (Deluxe)
Royal Blood – Royal Blood – 10th Anniversary Edition
WREX – This Hell Goes a Long Way Down
Yosemite In Black – The Pursuit Of
Extinction A.D. – To The Detested
Family Dinner – God Looks Out For Fools
Twin Atlantic – Meltdown
After dabbling in R&B funk, and synth-pop on 2022’s ‘Transparency’, Twin Atlantic return to their anthemic rock roots on ‘Meltdown’. It starts off strong with the infectious ‘Asleep’ and the pounding ‘Stuck In A Car With You’. Along with ‘World Class Entertainment’, you’re provided with a three-track run of bangers that are driven by muscular guitars and punching percussion.
Although it’s great to hear Twin Atlantic in radiant form, they do stumble into the occasional pitfall. For example, ‘Harder’ soars above and beyond yet doesn’t quite deliver the gut punch it’s trying to do. ‘Get Out’ rushes through full of adrenaline but still comes off as routine anthemic rock by the numbers. Later on, ‘I Couldn’t Miss You Much More’ follows a similar tone; bold but flat. In contrast, the title track proves to be effective with its classic U2-esque slow-burning guitar complementing Sam McTrusty’s encouraging words. “Hold on a minute, I’ve nothing to prove,” he sings in the pre-chorus, as he picks himself up.
It is no doubt Twin Atlantic have found their footing again, wrapping themselves in a big, assured rock sound.‘Fall’ is a late album thrill and follows ‘Lift’s Americana punk venture, both serving at noteworthy tracks. ‘Snow In Texas’ brings ‘Meltdown’ to a standstill, allowing McTrusty’s distinct Glaswegian tongue to take centre stage against an atmospheric, acoustic-led musical background. With words filled with regret, it highlights the lyrical maturity that weaves its way through ‘Meltdown’. Benefitting by working by themselves in two studios, removing outside influences has allowed McTrusty, along with bassist Ross McNae, returning guitarist Barry McKenna and incoming drummer Joe Lazarus, to hone in on a reflective narrative.
‘Meltdown’ can summed up as a welcomed return to form. It sees Twin Atlantic come full circle from their earlier, considerably more favourable, output.
Four Year Strong – analysis paralysis
Having been tagged with the “easycore” name since emerging in the 2000’s, it’d be easy for Four Year Strong to easily lean into former glories. However, the Maryland quartet aren’t ones to rinse and repeat. Sure, they’ve taken the occasional venture down re-recording/re-imaging old numbers, yet when it comes to fresh material, it’s executed with a sense of progression. Album number eight, ‘analysis paralysis’, sees them taking favourable risks. Whether that’s on the rugged and industrious ‘aftermath/afterthought’, or the boisterous hardcore punch of ‘bad habit’.
Throughout it all, Dan O’Connor and Alan Day take the lead with their distinctive co-vocal work and harmonies. It’s joined by a roaring rawness that blasts through with intensity on tracks such as ‘daddy as mine’, rollercoaster’ and ‘paranoia’ with its fun groove. When combined with a comfortable nouse for pop-punk hooks, you’re left with an impressive outing that injects favourable quirks to Four Year Strong‘s bow. For those who want crushing pop-punk, there’s ‘better get better’ and ‘dead end friend’. Along with the explosive ‘STFIL’ (sucks to fall in love), they contribute to the downbeat narration, one full of uncertainty.
And So I Watch You From Afar – Megafauna
Two years after delivering their multimedia project, ‘Jettison’, Northern Ireland instrumental experts And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA) return with their eighth full-length, ‘Megafauna’. With its aim to serve as a “headstrong exploration and heartfelt appreciation” to the people and places (such as Belfast and the seaside town of Portrush) that have influenced ASIWYFA in some shape or form. Conjured up during a period of introspection, ‘Megafauna’ scurries through their 20-year-long career with dramatic ebbs and flows throughout.
While the quartet do explore various tones and textures, such as on the spacey atmospherics of ‘Gallery of Honour’, ‘Years Ago’s twangy refrain, and ‘Any Joy’ and its earthly, sweeping execution, it’s done with accuracy. From the outset on ‘North Coast Megafauna’, there’s a welcomed roughness around ASIWYFA‘s freewheeling guitars. Here, and later on ‘Button Days’, the use of distortion, is playful and exciting on the ear.
As a collective, ‘Megafauna’ allows them to be expressive, yet rarely diving headfirst into experimental territory. Each member’s execution is precise, and given space to shine. For example, Chris Wee’s drums on ‘Mother Belfast (Part 1)’ battle for dominance. While its instant follow-up (‘Mother Belfast (Part 2)’) highlights the sonic rawness that appears throughout. Interlaced with jazzy guitars, it’s clear Rory Friers and Niall Kennedy thrive off one another, as Ewen Friers’s rigid bass line holds it down.
Considerably album finale, ‘Me and Dunbar’, brings it all together, highlighting ASIWYFA‘s musical finesse in the process. Timid strums segue into a wall of distortion before hitting you with a foot-tapping math-laden mid-section, allowing for a rich, cinematic finale.
Where others ravel in atmospheric grandeur, ‘Megafauna’ brilliantly allows ASIWYFA‘s to effortlessly express themselves in a manner of styles, yet remains cohesive throughout.
Destroy Boys – Funeral Soundtrack #4
Ever since guitarist Vi Mayugba and vocalist Alexia Roditis formed Destroy Boys when they were 15 years old, each record has seen Californian punks grow. Nine years in, ‘funeral soundtrack #4′ sees the quartet, completed by Narsai Malik (drums) and David Orozco (bass), aim to expand their musical palette past their punk roots.
Admittedly, there’s a scrappy punk undertone that rears its head throughout, even on the brooding opener ‘Bad Guy’. However, the production work of Carlos de la Garza (Paramore, The Linda Lindas, Best Coast) gives Destroy Boys a broader, presentable sound. ‘Beg For The Torture’ is a heavy hardcore-infused blast before ‘Praying’ provides a resonating chorus wrapped up in a Hole-esque anthemic chorus. Likewise, ‘You Don’t Know’ embraces a favourable hook as Alexia Roditis ruminates about online critics, subtly giving a middle finger to them in the process. ‘Plucked’ plays on a sunny power-pop tempo with complementary harmonies. While Scowl’s Kat Moss and Mannequin Pussy’s Missy Dabic join in on ‘You Hear Yes’ to collectively vent their frustration of female frustration.
Throughout, Roditis showcases charisma, amid touching on vulnerable topics as a queer, non-binary persona. Vocally, their range is impressive and is accompanied by a band who are more than happy to complement the slight musical risks, as they (Roditis) pay homage to their roots. For example, ‘Amor Divino’ (Divine Love) is sung in Spanish and Latino guitars twinkle on ‘Shedding Skin’.
With notable touring support spots (blink-182 and Alkaline Trio) and festival slots in their recent history, ‘funeral soundtrack #4’ has considerably been positioned as Destroy Boys‘ “breakthrough” record. While it doesn’t quite hit those lofty aims, it offers enough momentum to keep the quartet growing.
What is out on #NewMusicFriday?
Twin Atlantic – Meltdown
Four Year Strong – analysis paralysis
Destroy Boys – Funeral Soundtrack #4
And So I Watch You From Afar – Megafauna
Fucked Up – Another Day
oso oso – life till bones
Honey Revenge – Retrovision (Extended Edition)
Broken Hearts Club – Welcome To The Broken Hearts Club
Siamese – Elements
HammerFall – Avenge The Fallen
Futurebirds – Easy Company
Mushroomhead – Call The Devil
The Rosies – Vol.3
One Outta Ten – Better Days
Kurokuma – Of Amber and Sand
Ghost Iris – M.U.R.K.
Nova Charisma – Metropolitan
Second Shadow – Inertia
Never Back Down – Never Back Down
Luna Falling – Ctrl + End
Duhkha – A Place You Can’t Come Back From
Jr. Juggernaut – Another Big Explosion
Lost In Society – The Distribution of Comfort
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.
