{"id":93606,"date":"2023-05-19T10:00:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T09:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=93606"},"modified":"2023-06-01T19:51:01","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T18:51:01","slug":"newmusicfriday-may-19th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-may-19th-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday (May 19th 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week’s #NewMusicFriday considerably highlights band’s and artist’s ability to mix things up.<\/p>\n

Amongst the plethora of releases out today is ‘Phantomime’<\/em>, a new covers EP from\u00a0Ghost<\/strong>. It sees Tobias Forge and company put their gothic stadium rock stamp on songs from Genesis, Tina Turner, and Iron Maiden.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere,\u00a0Sleep Token<\/strong> delivers their anticipated third album – ‘Take Me Back To Eden’<\/em>, and The Used<\/strong> put it all out in the open on ‘Toxic Positivity’<\/em>.\u00a0Steel City’s\u00a0Def Leppard<\/strong> gets all orchestral as they team up with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on\u00a0‘Drastic Symphonies’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When it comes to noteworthy rising names, there’s the new EP from Bristol-based “genre-fluid” Sun Spot<\/strong>. There are also releases from politically-charged punk from\u00a0Lambrini Girls<\/strong>, towering Yorkshire post-punks Feral Family<\/strong>, and Seattle outfit Pastel Faces<\/strong> tread the fine line between melodic hardcore and pop-punk.<\/p>\n

If you’re after some metal to kickstart your weekend, there’s music from brooding doom-makers\u00a0Vnder A Crvmbling Moon<\/strong>, atmospheric proggers\u00a0The Ocean<\/strong>, and Frozen Soul<\/strong> bring some ice-cold death metal.<\/p>\n

For those wanting some straight-up melodic rock, there is new music from Cinema Stare<\/strong>,\u00a0Harsh Light<\/strong>, and Kala<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Finally, if you want some towering instrumental post-rock, take a listen to\u00a0FORT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sleep Token – Take Me Back To Eden<\/h2>\n

From the moment Sleep Token <\/strong><\/a>dropped ‘Chokehold’<\/em> and ‘The Summoning’<\/em> at the start of the year, you knew the enigmatic group were in for a big year, especially as the latter garnered plenty of reactions across social media.<\/p>\n

Since then, Vessel 1 and 2 have released four more tracks, demonstrating their muscular versatility.\u00a0 Collectively, the six tracks out there served their purpose by building excitement and intrigue for ‘Take Me Back To Eden’<\/em>. While tracks such as the haunting synth-laden\u00a0‘Aqua Regia’<\/em> or the slick R&B vibes of\u00a0‘Granite’<\/em> don’t quite have the same impact on their own, when they’re pieced together in\u00a0‘Take Me Back\u2026’<\/em>, it all makes sense.<\/p>\n

Sleep Token<\/strong> have repeatedly shown their ability to produce enthralling music that seamlessly transcends and incorporates genres. Take\u00a0‘Vore’<\/em> for example. Larger-than-life production booms as Vessel 1 croons and screams in equal measure. Whereas\u00a0‘DYWTYLM’<\/em> pivots comfortably into plucky, atmospheric pop. Nevertheless, at the core is Vessel’s emotional lyrical depth, allowing them to build a compelling world of ecstasy and misery.<\/p>\n

They might be polarising for some, but ‘Take Me Back To Eden’<\/em> is sure to be a satisfying conclusion to\u00a0Sleep Token<\/strong>‘s trilogy, allowing their cult to keep on growing.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Used – Toxic Positivity<\/h2>\n

Throughout their career,\u00a0The Used<\/strong>‘s frontman Bert McCracken has resonantly been frank, lyrically laying out on the line.\u00a0‘Toxic Positivity’<\/em>\u00a0 is their ninth(!) full-length and questionably sees McCraken at his most blunt.<\/p>\n

Alongside McCraken’s depression and anxiety, the album was created amid an intense social, economic and political climate. Joined by bassist Jepha, drummer Dan Whitesides and guitarist Joey Bradford, serve up a record that is unashamedly honest yet combines it with The Used<\/strong>‘s distinctive brand of melodic alt rock.<\/p>\n

‘Headspace’<\/em> soars with optimism, as does\u00a0‘Top of the World’<\/em>. Whereas ‘Pinky Swear’<\/em> stomps with lyrical determination (“Save me, I need to know what it feels like, Before I fade away”<\/em>).\u00a0Ultimately pulling from all corners of their 23-year-long career, ‘Toxic Positivity’\u00a0<\/em>is a boisterous record that celebrates\u00a0The Used<\/strong>‘s past, present, and future.\u00a0 From the sonically explosive density of ‘The Worst (Worst I\u2019ve Ever Been)’<\/em> to\u00a0‘I Hate Everybody<\/em>‘<\/em>s hip-hop-heavy tempo, to the acoustic bittersweet (and guilt-ridden) tone of ‘House of Sand’, ‘Toxic Positivity’ <\/em>confidently swings back and forth stylistically, being tied together by McCraken’s cathartic words.<\/p>\n

\"Sun<\/p>\n

Sun Spot – Working Memory<\/h2>\n

With a melting pot of ethereal lo-fi pop, jagged 90’s indie, and melancholy 2000\u2019s dance with a sprinkling of post-punk, emerging Bristoians Sun Spot<\/strong> firmly back up their “genre-fluid” tag on‘Working Memory’<\/em>. The quartet’s experimental twists and turns are certainly unique yet there’s a charm to what they do.<\/p>\n

Recent single,\u00a0‘Keepsake’<\/em>, exemplifies this with its blissful synths, laidback guitars, and sunswept tempo. Whereas\u00a0‘Dead In The Water’<\/em> hones in on the hedonistic vibes, and\u00a0‘Shiver’<\/em> is simply a pleasant blend of acoustic guitars and fuzzy experimentation. Additionally,\u00a0‘Panic Room’\u00a0<\/em>brings a sense of unhinged chaos to the end of the EP; distorted vocals and screeching guitars.<\/p>\n

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

Ghost – Phantomime
\nSleep Token – Take Me Back To Eden
\nThe Used – Toxic Positivity
\nDef Leppard – Drastic Symphonies
\nThe Ocean – Holocene
\nVnder A Crvmbling Moon – I: Oblivion
\nYouth Fountain – Keepsakes & Reminders Acoustic
\nSun Spot – Working Memory
\nKid Brunswick – The Fall: Part 1
\nLambrini Girls – You’re Welcome
\nHorse Jumper Of Love – Natural Part
\nPastel Faces – Blossom
\nDecent Criminal – There’s More To It Than Climbing
\nSir Chloe – I Am The Dog
\nBad\/\/Dreems – HOO HA!
\nFeral Family – Playtest
\nFrozen Soul – Glacial Domination
\nIn Somni – Lifeless Carnation
\nFramework – Change Is Not the Enemy
\nCinema Stare – The Things I Don’t Need
\nHarsh Lights – Watch The World Divide
\nKala – Diary Of A Depressed Creative
\nGozu – Remedy
\nHotWax – A Thousand Times
\nLockstep – Arrival
\nDays Like These – ICON
\nFORT – All Is Said And Done, We Still Draw Breath
\nPaper Bee – Thaw, Freeze, Thaw
\nFeatherweight – Ojal\u00e1 Eternidad<\/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