#NewMusicFriday: November 8th 2024

After the shitsh*w of the outcome of the US Presidential Election, #NewMusicFriday is here to provide some sort of comfort through a barrage of new releases. This week’s round-up highlights releases from State Champs, emerging UK alt-metallers Defences, and the first “real” release from Sol Invicto.

For the most part, this week’s list of releases has a metallic taste. For example, there is the surprise new EP from Counterparts, ‘Heaven Let Them Die’. Aussie unit Make Them Suffer shares their self-titled album as they continue to be metalcore mainstays. Whereas The Plot In You delivers a third hat-trick of textured melodic post-hardcore with their ‘Vol. 3’ EP. Dutch symphonic metal maestros Delain‘s ‘Dance With The Devil’ brings together new material, live cuts and instrumental tracks. Glaswegian group Codespeaker have been compared to the likes of Neurosis, Cult Of Luna, and Bossk. Today they release their second album, ‘Scavenger’, nine tracks of sonically desolate post-metal. It’s also worth mentioning ‘The Shape Of Punk To Come Obliterated’ which sees a whole host of names (Zulu, Brutus, GEL, Touché Amoré and more) pay tribute to Refused‘s influential album.

Away from all things metal, there’s a handful of underground releases. London-based outfit Ritual Error embrace elements of early 90’s San Diego post-hardcore and mid-90s noise rock with a razor-sharp debut album – ‘Dial in the Ghost’. Sardonic, noisy Leeds four-piece Thank release their Big Scary Monsters Records debut, ‘I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed’. With flourishes of electronic experimentation, disco grooves, and Freddy Vinehill-Cliffe’s freak-outs, the record is a brash, socially conscious, and occasionally, lyrically witty. It results in a quirky, genre-crossing collection. There’s also ‘From The Wayside,’ the debut album from Brighton trio prom. Pulling in parts of 90s alt-rock and hardcore, it swirls with a DIY rawness and radiant surges.

There are also releases from Into It. Over It., Lord Of The Lost, Massive Wagons, Sólstafir, The Body, and Chiefland.

State Champs – State Champs

Eleven years on from marking their arrival with ‘The Finer Things’, New Yorkers State Champs have maintained their status as being on the sunnier side of pop-punk. Like many others before them, State Champs‘ fifth full-length effort is self-titled in an attempt to define their longevity. It’s an aim that they just about achieve. On the surface, this is very much a part and parcel State Champs album. It’s filled with an abundance of energetic hooks and punchy choruses that are sure to satisfy casual fans.  However, if you’re wanting something more from the four-piece, you might be disappointed.

There’s no doubt that lead singer Derek DiScanio, bassist Ryan Scott Graham, guitarist Tyler Szalkowski, and drummer Evan Ambrosio can provide pop-punk bangers aplenty. ‘Light Blue’ and ‘Silver Cloud’ quickly serve their purpose. Whereas ‘Too Late To Say’ drives forward with a confident bounce, as well as some impressive percussion work from Ambrosio in the middle.

The aforementioned ‘Silver Cloud’ highlights the quartet’s experience and ability to deliver melodic earworms. For the most part, State Champs are able to pull this off with ease. However, when ‘Hell Of It’ attempts to stir up some late-night carefree vibes, it becomes a victim of some clunky rhyming; “drinking that shit wine, rewind, bring us back sunshine, realise”.

The problem with State Champs that after five albums, they’ve dug themselves into a stylistic hole that is expected of them and that they can’t seemingly get out of. At least lyrically there are glimpses of vulnerability. On ‘Golden Years’ and the buoyant ‘Too Late To Say’ shows signs of DiScanio of coming to grips of being in his 30’s. With his band members scattered across the country, settling down etc, Derek’s lyrics tend to be reflective. ‘Just A Dream’ pluckily reminiscences of “better days” yet allows him to admit to living within himself. However, it’s countered by expected moments aimed at shitty ex’s such as ‘Sobering’, ‘I Still Want To,’ and ‘Clueless’. Even though the latter shows signs of introspection as DiScanio sings “Why do I do this, Put myself through it, I’m feeling stupid.”

On this evidence, State Champs aren’t likely to excel to legendary status in the pop-punk sphere anytime soon. However, ‘State Champs’ serves its purpose as being a reminder of the quartet’s melodic prowess. If you want 12 slices of hook-filled, occasionally introspective, pop-punk then State Champs are certified winners in doing just that.

Defences – Shadowlight

On past evidence, Hertfordshire-based outfit Defences have been touted as promising up-and-comers in the pool of UK alt-metal/metalcore upstarts. Much like 2021’s ‘In The Balance’, album number three, ‘Shadowlight’, sees the quintet comfortably bed themselves into metalcore tropes with admirable results.

Songs such as ‘Perish’ and ‘Gold In The Dark’ have that familiar cinematic production shine and are backed by muscular riffs from Calum Wilmot. While Owen Hughes-Holland (bass) and Kyle Parke (drums) add to the hefty weight as vocalist Cherry Duesbury and keyboardist William Young elevate songs like ‘Perish’. Their duel vocal work is considerably Defences‘ strongest characteristic.  On the latter, and on ‘Silence & The Sound’ they’re able to build an atmosphere of trepidation, through the pair’s impressive clean vocals. The atmosphere and tension are cohesive and allow them to stir up a claustrophobic tone.

As the record moves forward, ‘Breathe It In’ thrives on gigantic percussion and crushing guitars before ‘Inspirit’ gently slows things down. Riding on a fragile wave and a simple tempo, it highlights Defences‘ growing versatility. Where in the past they may have rushed through, throwing anything that sticks, here they’re able to utilise their strengths poignantly.

Despite some appreciative moments, some moments make Defences fail to stand out from the crowd. ‘Ego(Maniac)’ is another punchy, pulsating affair that delivers an expected riveting breakdown amongst its towering hook. While the later pairing of ‘The Almost’ and ‘Greatness’ merely come off as filler. Closing with its title track, ‘Shadowlight’ ends strongly. Again utilising Duesbury’s vocals against an airy musical backdrop, it compellingly builds to a driving finale, before pulling back with twinkling acoustics. It leaves you feeling there’s some hope of Defences breaking out from the wrath of bands within metalcore.

Besides, at times, being quite generic, ‘Shadowlight’ is a promising effort from Defences. It’s subtly cohesive, both musically and lyrically, and they allow themselves to individually show their strengths. In short, a step in the right direction albeit one that will need to take a huge stride forward next time out.

Sol Invicto – Loosely Aware

With members from Deftones, Cypress Hill and Sikth involved, Sol Invicto is sure to pique some interest, especially if you dive a little further into their backstory. Founded in 2007 by producer and guitarist Richie Londres, Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill and Stephen Carpenter of Deftones, the project initially leaned into lo-fi industrial drum and bass, blending it with Bobo’s Latin-flavoured percussion and Carpenter’s familiar crushing riffs. Yet the band’s sound shifted towards a raw, metal sound leading to the introduction of Sikth drummer Dan Foord. While 2017’s privately released ‘Initium’ consisted of demos and experimental tracks built over time, ‘Loosely Aware’ is considered Sol Invicto‘s first proper release.

Merely a snapshot of a soon-to-be-recorded album, its three tracks serve up a thrilling snapshot of what’s to come. Sean Plague from Norwegian/British noisecore Plague To Pyres rounds out the line-up on vocals, screaming his way through heavy density his bandmates produce. ‘The Obvious Play’ is intense, led by the duel percussion work of Bobo and Foord. While there’s a familiar chugging to Carpenter’s guitarwork, providing the opener with a restless energy. ‘Revelation Of The Method’ maintains it with colourful and bruising drum work, as it battles with Londres’ sharp guitar and Plague’s growls. ‘Lost In Translation’ is as destructive with swirling production conjuring up a bleak, heavy tone. Yet it’s the riveting guitars and percussive assault that come out on top, even when Bobo throws in some Latino flavour in the final minute.

‘Loosley Aware’ rolls through in 14 minutes, providing a thunderous introduction to Sol Invicto. With an impressive list of personnel involved, it’s no surprise that the three tracks here are the sound of a seasoned band. Effortlessly crossing the fine lines of djent, tech metal, and metallic hardcore, there’s depth and finesse to what Sol Invicto are capable of. A short, sharper taster of what’s to come.

What is out on #NewMusicFriday?

State Champs – State Champs
Counterparts – Heaven Let Them Die
The Plot In You – Vol. 3
Make Them Suffer – Make Them Suffer
Defences – Shadowlight
Sol Invicto – Loosely Aware
Thank – I Have A Physical Body That Can Be Harmed
Various Artists – The Shape Of Punk To Come Obliterated
Into It. Over It. – Covers Collection Vol. 1
Lord Of The Lost – From The Flame Into The Fire (Deluxe Edition)
Delain – Dance With The Devil
Ritual Error – Dial In The Ghost
prom – From The Wayside
Massive Wagons – Earth To Grace
Codespeaker – Scavenger
Ray Hawthorne – Ray Hawthorne Sucks
Chiefland – Sentiment Valley
Sólstafir – Hin helga kvöl
The Body – The Crying Out of Things
Scions – To Cry Out In The Wilderness
Cahill//Costello – Cahill//Costello II
Klone – The Unseen
For Closure – Cliffside Serenades
Westfalia – Odds and Ends
The Boy Detective – Exhibition
Auriferous Flame – The Insurrectionists and The Caretakers

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.