{"id":93878,"date":"2023-06-16T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=93878"},"modified":"2023-06-16T01:18:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-16T00:18:17","slug":"newmusicfriday-june-16th-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-june-16th-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday (June 16th 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the weather heating up, there are plenty of noteworthy releases this #NewMusicFriday<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For starters, distorted emo-punks Origami Angel<\/strong> delivers the ideal soundtrack with their new mixtape – ‘The Brightest Days<\/em>‘. While Brighton “grit pop” specialists\u00a0Snake Eyes<\/strong> return with more DIY indie-punk goodness in the form of new EP,\u00a0‘health<\/em>‘. There’s also angst-laden emo\/pop-punk courtesy of Calmgrove and their melodically-rich EP ‘True Color’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If you’re looking a bit more soothing, Icelandic post-rock legends\u00a0Sigur R\u00f3s<\/strong> return with their first studio album in 10 years –\u00a0‘\u00c1tta’<\/em>.\u00a0While at the heavier end of things, we have Chicago’s raw adventurous punks\u00a0Lurk<\/strong> with ‘Natural Causes’<\/em>, Texas death metal crew Creeping Death<\/strong> delivers a pummelling on ‘Boundless Domain’<\/em>, and there is progressive metalcore from promising Dutch group Endeavour<\/strong>. Their debut full-length,\u00a0‘For The Time Being’<\/em>, is certainly one for fans of Architects and Northlane.<\/p>\n

I should probably mention\u00a0‘In Times New Roman\u2026’<\/em>, the new record from Queens of the Stone Age<\/strong>. While I’m sure it’s a fine collection of cool desert rock, and understandably Josh Homme has been through the wringer with battling cancer<\/a>, losing close friends and collaborators, and ongoing custody issues, I don’t feel comfortable giving such a spotlight to someone with alleged domestic violence accusations<\/a> against them. While at times I’m able to separate the delicate topic of the music and the creator, on this occasion I can’t. Also, I’ve not really been into much of their output since\u00a0‘Songs for the Deaf’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Origami
Photo Credit: Bob Sweeney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Origami Angel – The Brightest Days<\/h2>\n

For me, Washington D.C duo Origami Angel<\/b> were a pandemic\/lockdown music discovery. 2021’s ‘Gami Gang’<\/i> double LP served up a brand of emo-punk that expanded into other territories; screamo, post-rock, and electronic. While last year’s ‘Re: Turn’<\/em> and ‘DEPART’<\/em> saw vocalist\/guitarist Ryland Heagy and drummer Pat Doherty showcase two different ends of their musical spectrum. The former being an acoustic EP, with the latter rattling with hardcore density.<\/p>\n

With such a willingness to explore and be dynamic, it’s somewhat no surprise their new release,\u00a0‘The Brightest Days’<\/em>, is being dubbed as a “mixtape”. Nevertheless, the one consistent is that it provides bright and bold hooks, giving the eight tracks plenty of charm. From the chugging eruption of the opening title track, to surf-rock harmonies on\u00a0‘Thank You New Jersey’<\/em>\u00a0 to the frantic density via ska-punk breakdown on ‘Kobayashi Maru (My Very Own)’<\/em> to Heagy’s raw vulnerability on the bittersweet ukulele-led on ‘Looking Out’,\u00a0<\/em>Origami Angel\u00a0<\/strong>aren’t afraid to change things up.<\/p>\n

Whereas\u00a0‘My PG County Summer’,<\/em> ‘Second Best Friend’ <\/em>and\u00a0‘Few And Far Between<\/em>‘ perfectly exemplify Heagy and Doherty’s aforementioned bright and bold hooks that sonically sound more impactful than you’d expect from a two-piece. When it all comes together, it’s a delightful listen and is sure to pull you out of any slumber.<\/p>\n

\"Snake
Photo credit: Jessie Rose (@jesssierosee<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Snake Eyes – health EP<\/h2>\n

Brighton trio\u00a0Snake Eyes<\/strong> are (fairly) newcomers with\u00a0‘health’<\/em> coming off the back 2021’s debut EP,\u00a0‘Skeletons’<\/em>‘ and last year’s\u00a0‘lovehate<\/em>‘ mixtape. It sees them cut off the considerable fat of the latter, and showcase their collective and individual strengths.<\/p>\n

Pulling in elements of indie, punk, and grunge to form a self-styled “grit pop”, songs such as ‘medicine’<\/em> and ‘no one is truly cool’<\/em> thrive on a scuzzy, melodic drive. Throughout there’s a lo-fi rawness to\u00a0Snake Eyes<\/strong> with thoughtful, honest lyricism.<\/p>\n

When it comes to discussing up-and-coming British bands,\u00a0Snake Eyes<\/strong> show why they deserve to be part of the conversation.<\/p>\n

\"Sigur
Photo Credit: Tim Dunk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sigur R\u00f3s – \u00c1tta<\/h2>\n

Announced (yet rumoured) just yesterday, Sigur R\u00f3s<\/strong> are back with their first studio full-length in a decade in the form of\u00a0‘\u00c1tta’<\/em>. It also sees the return of keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson, who rejoined the Icelandic post-rockers last year.<\/p>\n

With the album being released on such short notice, it’s difficult for me to give a full account of ‘\u00c1tta’<\/em>. Nevertheless, with the release of ‘Bl\u00f3\u00f0berg’<\/a> earlier this week, as well comments from J\u00f3nsi stating the band wanted “the music to be really sparse, floaty and beautiful”<\/em>, I get the impression it’s going to a majestic and cinematic listening experience. Especially with the London Contemporary Orchestra (conducted by Robert Ames) heavily featured throughout.<\/p>\n

Be prepared to be swept away.<\/p>\n

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

Sigur R\u00f3s – \u00c1tta
\nOrigami Angel – The Brightest Days
\nQueens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman\u2026
\nBilly Talent – Live at Festhalle Frankfurt
\nSnake Eyes – health EP
\nCalmgrove – True Color
\nLurk – Natural Causes
\nAlt. – Abeyance
\nCreeping Death – Boundless Domain
\nEndeavour – For The Time Being
\nOrchid\u2019s Curse – The Decay
\nFifth Angel – When Angels Kill
\nHex Poseur – Stunning
\nDrift Away – Chapter 1: Misery
\nHeavenward – Pyrophonics
\nCheer-Accident – Fringements Two
\nRoseneath – Nowhere Safe
\nShe – Goodpaster
\nHome Is Where – the whaler<\/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