{"id":93545,"date":"2023-05-12T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T09:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=93545"},"modified":"2023-05-12T20:43:07","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T19:43:07","slug":"newmusicfriday-may-12th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-may-12th-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday (May 12th 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week’s roundup of #NewMusicFriday album and EP releases is led by\u00a0The Amity Affliction<\/strong> who are returning with their eighth album – ‘Not Without My Ghosts’<\/em>. It’s just one of several heavy releases today with\u00a0The Acacia Strain<\/strong> (who are releasing two albums), Veil Of Maya<\/strong>, Devildriver<\/strong>, and masked newcomers\u00a0Swollen Teeth<\/strong> among those with new material out there.<\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a dynamic set of emotional pop-punk songs, then ‘Why Would I Watch’<\/em>, the third album from\u00a0Hot Mulligan<\/strong>, will certainly fulfil that void.<\/p>\n

As for up-and-coming names, happydaze<\/strong>, and girlfriends<\/strong> are bands to take note of. You can read more about both of them below.<\/p>\n

As for other newcomers, Tokky Horror<\/strong><\/a> serve up an intriguing brand of jungle-infused punk. While\u00a0CRASHFACE<\/strong> injects electronica into their adrenaline-fuelled brand of punk.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere,\u00a0Dropkick Murphys<\/strong> deliver another collection of Woody Gutherie-penned acoustic songs<\/a>, Never Ending Game<\/strong> provide some classic slammin’ hardcore, The Rocket Summer<\/strong> returns with a vibrant alt-pop record (‘ShadowKasters’<\/em>) and Teri Gender Bender showcases retrospective nativity on\u00a0‘Catspeak’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

You can listen to them all below or over on\u00a0Apple Music<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Amity Affliction – Not Without My Ghosts<\/h2>\n

Aussie metalcore heavyweights The Amity Affliction<\/strong><\/a> are now eight albums deep into a career that has occasionally diverted off the tried and tested formula. Nevertheless, at their core TAA are still a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n

‘Not Without My Ghosts’<\/em> is\u00a0The Amity Affliction<\/strong> at their most ferocious. Ablazed with scorching riffs, breakdowns, blast beats and deafening screams from Joel Birch, it sees the quartet thrive in a heavy metalcore skin while maintaining an emotional core. Take the recent single, ‘It’s Hell Down Here’<\/a> <\/em>for example. While Birch and drummer Jon Longobardi bring brutality in the verse, Ahren Stringer’s serves up a soaring, memorable hook in its chorus, amplifying the theme of morality.<\/p>\n

Although\u00a0TAA<\/strong> have a tendency to utilise clean melodic hooks (see ‘God’s<\/em> Voice’ and ‘Close To Me’<\/em>), tracks such as ‘I See Dead People’<\/em> (featuring late New Zeland rapper Louie Knuxx),\u00a0‘The Big Sleep’,\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0‘Fade Away’<\/em> are delivered with a satisfying level of density.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0‘Not Without My Ghosts’<\/em> far from reinvents The Amity Affliction<\/strong>, it greatly showcases their strengths.<\/p>\n

\"Hot
Photo Credit: Kay Dargs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hot Mulligan – Why Would I Watch<\/h2>\n

Michigan quartet\u00a0Hot Mulligan<\/strong> have been knocking on the door of emo\/pop-punk’s elite for quite some time with their notoriety rising with every release. Their third full-length,\u00a0‘Why Would I Watch’<\/em>, looks to continue that trajectory.<\/p>\n

For longtime fans, there are the usual Hot Mulligan<\/strong> tropes such as quirky song titles and Tades Sanville’s signature yelps. Nevertheless, ‘Why Would I Watch’<\/em> is more coherently delivered, embracing sonically riveting instrumentation.<\/p>\n

Early tracks such as\u00a0‘It\u2019s a Family Movie She Hates Her Dad<\/em>‘ and ‘Shhhh! Golf is On’<\/em> firmly plays into the vibrant emo\/pop-punk in 3 minutes or less playbook. Yet Hot Mulligan<\/strong> doesn’t lie on their laurels and shows a willingness to expand their musical palette. ‘Cock Party 2 (Better Than The First)’<\/em> compellingly builds to a radiant conclusion. While\u00a0‘No Shoes in the Coffee Shop (Or Socks)’<\/em> shines through with its groove, before ‘Betty’<\/em> provides a whistful respite.<\/p>\n

Throughout Chris Freeman and Ryan Malicsi exchange twisting Midwestern emo riffs aplomb, neatly slotting into Brandon Blakeley’s boisterous drum work. ‘Gans Media Retro Games’<\/em> exemplifies this brilliantly, especially when you include Sanville’s sandpaper screams. Late album highlight ‘Smahccked My Head Awf’<\/em> puts Sanville’s lyrically raw and exceptional melody play to the forefront.<\/p>\n

Overall, ‘Why Would I Watch’\u00a0<\/em>allows\u00a0Hot Mulligan<\/strong> to be more dynamic, and in places, round off the rough edges of past releases whilst not sacrificing any traits that have got them this far.<\/p>\n

\"happydaze\"<\/p>\n

happydaze – Full Free Radical<\/h2>\n

Emerging Glasgow\/Edinburgh group happydaze<\/strong> look to make a name for themselves with their latest EP – ‘Full Free Radical’<\/em>. Neatly injecting slick electronic and trap beats, the Scottish quartet bring a modern twist to the pop-punk genre.<\/p>\n

‘Full Free Radical’<\/em> is swarming with big hooks. Tracks like ‘Faded’<\/em> and ‘Cool Blue’<\/em> are bold and punchy. While ‘Thinkinofu’<\/em> sees\u00a0happydaze<\/strong> confidently wearing their influences with a sound that is reminiscent of Neck Deep and The Story So Far.<\/p>\n

Throughout vocalist and producer Luke Bovill incorporates elements from various genres with ease. For example,\u00a0‘Day in and Out’<\/em> aptly uses lo-fi beats before garage drum samples penetrate on ‘Heaven You Felt’<\/em>. And if you’re looking for a luminous, carefree, and summer-ready blast that offers plenty of longevity, then look no further than the title track.<\/p>\n

Closing with the hedonistic vibes of\u00a0‘Same To Me’<\/em>, happydaze<\/strong>‘s “experimental” take on pop-punk makes the Scottish group an exciting prospect.<\/p>\n

\"girlfriends\"<\/p>\n

girlfriends – Over My Dead Body<\/h2>\n

Travis Mills and Nick Gross aka\u00a0girlfriends<\/strong> are sure to be a duo who will split the opinion of pop-punk purists. However, if you’re leaning towards the pop side of the spectrum then ‘Over My Dead Body’<\/em> has a lot to offer.<\/p>\n

As its title track and recent single\u00a0‘Life\u2019s A Brittany’<\/em> showed, girlfriends<\/strong>‘ brand of pop-punk is comfortably slick in its presentation, allowing the duo to stylistically sit alongside past touring pals Machine Gun Kelly and Avril Lavigne. While questionably musically lightweight, tracks like\u00a0‘Plastic’<\/em> and ‘Talk’<\/em> show how Mills and Gross are able to write playful melodies with ease.<\/p>\n

girlfriends<\/strong> and ‘Over My Dead Body’<\/em> is firmly an accessible take on nostalgia-tinged pop-punk made for the masses. Some will hate it, others will eat it up shamelessly. If you’re undecided, you could always check them out at Slam Dunk?<\/a><\/p>\n

What is out on #NewMusicFriday?<\/h2>\n

The Amity Affliction – Not Without My Ghosts
\nHot Mulligan – Why Would I Watch
\nThe Acacia Strain – Step Into The Light\/Failure Will Follow
\nDropkick Murphys – Okemah Rising
\nVeil Of Maya – [M]OTHER
\nDevildriver – Dealing With Demons Vol. II
\ngirlfriends – Over My Dead Body EP
\nHappydaze – Full Free Radical EP
\nThe Rocket Summer – SHADOWKASTERS
\nCRASHFACE – Prototype
\nTokky Horror – KAPPACORE
\nTeri Gender Bender – CATSPEAK
\nHIMALAYAS – From Hell to Here
\nSwollen Teeth – Swollen Teeth
\nNever Ending Game – Outcry
\nMelvinator – The Rise Of The Melvinator
\nBring The Hoax – Single Coil Candy
\nEsben And The Witch – Hold Sacred
\nBurial Clouds – Last Days Of A Dying World
\nThe Dark Side Of The Moon – Metamorphosis
\nMidwife + Vyva Melinkolya – Orbweaving
\nPABST – 1, 2, 3, Go!
\nSunbeam Overdrive – Diama
\nMotion Sick – Falling Behind
\nLone Wolf – HAZE WAVE
\nRyan Oakes – Wake Up
\nBlack Spiders – Can’t Die, Won’t Die<\/p>\n

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