Content Breakdown
What is out on this #NewMusicFriday?
Take me to the Playlist
Hot Milk – Corporation P.O.P
Somehow, Hot Milk have been kicking about for the best part of six years. In that time, the Manchester-based group have evolved from pop-punk to alt-pop. While 2023’s debut full-length, ‘A Call to the Void,’ leaned into alt-rock with positive results. Fast-forward to the present, the quartet’s sophomore effort, ‘Corporation P.O.P’, proves to be a grittier and meatier offering.
On the surface, it takes a lyrical raw direction. It clouds in reliability, allowing the leading pair of Han Mee and Jim Shaw to lean into their working-class roots, often providing a satirical critique of society (see ‘Insubordinate Ingerland’), war, religion, addiction, and personal well-being (‘(How Do I) Make the Devil Fall Asleep’).. Furthermore, it’s done in a punk-fueled manner with a very British tongue.
Once again, the duel vocal dynamic of guitarists Han Mee and Jim Shaw proves to be a central point. They’re aided by the seemingly promoted rhymic pairing of bassist Tom Paton and drummer Harry Deller. Collectively, Hot Milk‘s sound continues to be bold and at times, steely. The aforementioned (How Do I) Make the Devil Fall Asleep’ and ‘Insubordinate Ingerland’ give ‘Corporation P.O.P’ a strong start. Not only does it lyrically and stylistically set the tone, but it also sets the quality hard to beat.
However, they make a good go at it. ‘The American Machine’ is an explosive rager against corporate American greed; “You’re half the world away, And that’s too fuckin close to me,” screams Shaw in its chorus. Although ‘Hell Is On Its Way’ lacks impact, ‘Swallow This’ utilises electronics into Hot Milk‘s heavy alt-rock fabric, complementing the lyrically intense narrative of media manipulation and consumerism.
Having leapt between genres and styles before, it’s no surprise ‘Corporation P.O.P’ does too. ‘Warehouse Salvation’ is a rave-infused curveball, moulded as a love letter to Manchester and the escapist comfort it provides. Meanwhile, ‘Payment of Pain’ pulsates with industrial textures, elevating its bleak, self-destructive narrative. Although moments like these stand out, they’re not entirely effective. The latter especially lacks an impact, and when paired with ‘Sympathy Symphony,’ it creates an unsatisfactory ending.
For all their dynamism and lyrical ferocity, Hot Milk can still write big hooks. ‘Chase The Dragon’ balances raw, emotional vulnerability with an unforgettable melodic pull, making its chorus stick long after the song ends. Meanwhile, ‘Asphyxiate’ bursts with a bouncy energy that propels the track forward, providing a dynamic contrast to the album’s heavier moments and showcasing Hot Milk’s knack for blending infectious rhythms with meaningful lyricism.
All things considered, ‘Corporation P.O.P’ sees Hot Milk bravely venturing into darker, heavier territory, a move that, while uneven at times, showcases the band’s evolving confidence and willingness to push their sound beyond expectations. Though some moments don’t fully land, the album’s raw, relatable narratives and stylistic experiments reinforce Hot Milk’s identity as a band unafraid to confront complexity and contradiction. Ultimately, ‘Corporation P.O.P’ is a compelling step forward, proving that Hot Milk are growing not just as musicians but as storytellers unafraid to challenge themselves and their listeners.
Pig Pen – Mental Madness
Pig Pen knows what the deal is. 10 songs thrashed out in under 25 minutes. Consisting of Matty Matheson (of ‘The Bear’ fame and a chef and restaurateur, Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire/Doom’s Children), Daniel Romano, drummer Ian Romano (Daniel Romano’s Outfit), and bassist Tommy Major (Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Young Guv), ‘Mental Madness’ is the result of a shared love for classic 80’s hardcore.
While others are taking the genre into previously unseen areas (for example, Turnstile), Pig Pen dilute it down to its rawest form. Relentlessly delivered, it’s a noisy blast of straight-up hardcore. With a majority of the songs flashing by in roughly 90 seconds, there’s very little room for experimentation. The downside of this is that very few moments stick. Even though cuts like ‘Heat Wave,‘ ‘Mental Mentality,’ and ‘Venom Moon Rising’ tear through with razor-sharp precision, there’s a lack of variation. Elsewhere, ‘Power Love Train’ stomps with a chugging groove. ‘XJXIXDX’ is the outlier from the rampant approach that dominates ‘Mental Madness’. Across six minutes, its brooding, sludgy builds to a wall of noise of screams and distortion before shattering into ear-piercing feedback.
However, it doesn’t take away from it being a rather monotonous offering. Yet you can forgive that the quintet, as it’s clear Pig Pen is a passion project.
What is out on #NewMusicFriday?
Hot Milk – Corporation P.O.P
Pig Pen – Mental Madness
Citizen – Everybody Is Going To Heaven (10 year anniversary edition)
TSS – End of Time
Heaven Shall Burn – Heimat
Moving Mountains – Pruning Of The Lower Limbs
Botch – 061524 (Live)
Skegss – Top Heavy
Motörhead – The Manticore Tapes
Blood Vulture – Die Close
Higher Power – There’s Love In This World If You Want It
Aerial Salad – Roi de l’herb
Deciduous Forest – Fields of Yore
We Contain Multitudes – Minako
Awaken I Am – The Only Way Out Is Through
Seedbed – Stalemate
Shadow of Intent – Imperium Delerium
Royale Lynn – Black Magic
Vandoliers – Life Behind Bars
Deadlands – SEVEN
Lammping – Never Never
WARHOG – The Dystopian Chronicles, Vol. 3
All Men Unto Me – Requiem
Deadguy – Near-Death Travel Services
Starling – Forgive Me,
Lil Skies – The Evolution Of The Rose
Greet Death – Die In Love
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.
