{"id":97028,"date":"2024-09-20T10:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T09:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=97028"},"modified":"2024-09-20T21:11:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T20:11:28","slug":"newmusicfriday-september-20th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-september-20th-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday: September 20th 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Content Breakdown<\/h3>\n

FIDLAR – Surviving The Dream<\/a>
\nVoid of Vision – What I’ll Leave Behind<\/a>
\nGiant Walker – Silhouettes <\/a>
\nWhat is out on this #NewMusicFriday?<\/a>
\nTake me to the Playlist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After last week’s ridiculously busy #NewMusicFriday<\/strong>, today is relatively quieter. However, there is still a handful of new releases that are worth mentioning. For example, new albums from\u00a0Fidlar<\/strong>,\u00a0Void of Vision<\/strong>, and\u00a0Giant Walker<\/strong> are covered in detail below.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, there is the return of European symphonic metallers\u00a0Nightwish <\/strong>as they deliver their tenth album –\u00a0‘Yesterwynde’<\/em>. Vended<\/strong> aim to step out of their father’s shadows with their self-titled full-length. It’s ideally raw and intense with a helping of metallic grooves and the occasional hook (see ‘The Far Side’<\/em>). Kublai Khan TX<\/strong> gives the young upstarts a run for their money in the chaos stakes with ‘Exhibition Of Prowess’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There is also new music from\u00a0Bearings<\/strong> as they give last year’s\u00a0‘The Best Part About Being Human’<\/em><\/a> the deluxe treatment. You can also hear new releases from goth-rockers Unto Others<\/strong>, reggae-rooted punk quartet The Calamatix<\/strong>, longstanding post-grunge group\u00a0Seether<\/strong>, and Bright Eyes<\/strong> return with\u00a0‘Five Dice, All Threes’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"FIDLAR
Photo Credit: Steve Rose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

FIDLAR – Surviving The Dream<\/h2>\n

Four albums deep into their career, SoCal surf punks\u00a0FIDLAR<\/strong> are getting to grips to no longer being the spring chickens they were when they burst onto the scene in 2010’s.\u00a0 ‘Surviving The Dream’<\/em> sees them return after five years away, and explores their reckless spirit while maintaining a familiar surf punk sound.<\/p>\n

From the outset of ‘Fix Me’<\/em>, Zac Carper presents a feeling of existential crisis, accepting his bi-polar diagnosis. It’s backed by a blistering, adrenaline-rush of feedback-drenched guitars and speedy drums. Carper’s downbeat tone, more often via self-prescribed drink and drugs, appears throughout the 13 tracks on the record.<\/p>\n

‘Sad Kids’\u00a0<\/em>is irritably catchy, bedding itself in cutesy power pop as Carper admits to “fucking up”<\/em> is his “passion”<\/em>, before\u00a0‘Down N Out’\u00a0<\/em>provides some Beach Boys-esque harmonies amongst its sturdy, jangly surf punk. It continues Carper’s story of recklessness.\u00a0‘Orange County’<\/em>s washed-out guitars are complemented by conflicted words of giving up. Likewise,\u00a0‘Get Off My Wave’<\/em> dismisses the people who try to help Carper, continuing his self-destruction.<\/p>\n

Stylistically, FIDLAR<\/strong> does show diversity. Whether that’s on the grunge fuzz of\u00a0‘Change’<\/em>, the sun-soaked\u00a0‘Dog House’<\/em>, or the tension-building stop-start of ‘Nudge’<\/em>. It does offer just about enough to see\u00a0‘Surviving The Dream’<\/em> all the way through to the end. Although it does start strongly, its mid-section comes off as fairly weak and forgettable. The variation is welcomed but considerably lacks a lasting impact.<\/p>\n

Despite Carper’s personal issues and seemingly self-destructive tendencies, FIDLAR<\/strong> have survived the dream they began over a decade ago. However, you can’t help but feel ‘Surviving The Dream’<\/em> sees a band in an uncertain transition. They’re still attached to what made them so exciting yet drop hints of progression albeit limited.<\/p>\n

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\"Void<\/p>\n

Void of Vision – What I’ll Leave Behind<\/h2>\n

The story of how ‘What I’ll Leave Behind’<\/em> came to exist is somewhat miraculous. For Jack Bergin, of Aussie n\u00fc-metalcore mob Void of Vision,<\/strong> his life in recent years has been dominated by severe headaches, exhaustion, surgeries, and seizures. Bergin had suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), in short, a tangle of blood vessels in his brain, and later bleeding of the brain. His recuperation led Jack to question his own mortality and wondering what his lasting impact will be on the world.<\/p>\n

Fast-forward to the present and\u00a0‘What I’ll Leave Behind’<\/em> sees Bergin put all out there emotionally.\u00a0‘Oblivion’<\/em> sees him question\u00a0“Well is there really more than this?”<\/em>, serving as a release for the pent-up frustration. Paired with an industrial crunch and a towering, melodious chorus, it sets the tone well.\u00a0‘Supernova’<\/em> hints at Bergin’s regret and time lost (“Another year I signed away, Another product of my own mistakes”<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Throughout, Bergin along with James McKendrick (guitar\/vocals), George Pfaender (drums) and Mitch Fairlie (guitar) musically thrive in their assured brand of synth-laden metalcore. ‘Blood For Blood’<\/em> is a pummeling onslaught. Whereas ‘Neurotic’ and\u00a0‘Midnight Sweat’<\/em> show industrial grit but are often countered by expected genre tropes.\u00a0‘Gamma Knife’ <\/em>and ‘Decades’<\/em> both ride on soaring choruses and pulsating breakdowns. Yet they attack each song with the same amount of vigour, bringing a sense of consistency.<\/p>\n

Tied together by tales of vulnerability, it all comes to a head on the electro-swelling ‘Angel of Darkness’<\/em>. With its title being shared with Bergin\u2019s new on-stage persona, it highlights his internal conflict with being an artist or focusing on getting better.<\/p>\n

If you look past the occasional generic traits of metalcore, you’ll find an album that strengthens\u00a0Void of Vision<\/strong> in the genre. Threaded by an emotional narrative, and aided by an assured and a (somewhat) distinctive sound, ‘What I’ll Leave Behind’<\/em> is a rewarding record.<\/p>\n

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\"Giant<\/p>\n

Giant Walker – Silhouettes<\/h2>\n

Having caught the eye of Church Road Records (Blanket, Palm Reader, Respire), Geordie quartet Giant Walker<\/strong>‘s second album,\u00a0‘Silhouettes’<\/em>, comfortably marks them out as a name to watch in the prog rock sphere. While others in said genre opt for sprawling instrumentation,\u00a0Giant Walker<\/strong> realises where their strengths lie.<\/p>\n

For starters, there is the astounding soulful voice of Steff Fish. Throughout she dominates, and soars early on from\u00a0‘Make Me’<\/em>. While\u00a0‘Time To Waste’<\/em>s luscious melody wraps itself around sturdy, stringent guitars. Additionally, tracks like\u00a0‘Halcion’<\/em> and\u00a0‘Round and Round’<\/em> sound muscular. The latter thrives on its big riffs. In contrast, the title track, along with ‘So You Say’,<\/em> allows the four-piece to show their softer side with ease.<\/p>\n

By favouring a melodic-driven sound,\u00a0‘Silhouettes’<\/em> and\u00a0Giant Walker<\/strong> stride with conviction, creating a compelling album in the process.<\/p>\n

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

Nightwish – Yesterwynde
\nFIDLAR – Surviving The Dream
\nBeartooth – The Surface (Deluxe Edition)
\nBearings – The Best Part About Being Human (Deluxe Edition)
\nVended – Vended
\nHot Mulligan – Warmer Weather
\nBright Eyes – Five Dice, All Threes
\nKublai Khan TX – Exhibition Of Prowess
\nGiant Walker – Silhouettes
\nVoid of Vision – What I’ll Leave Behind
\nThe Calamatix – The Calamatix
\nUnto Others – Never, Neverland
\nSeether – The Surface Seems So Far
\nLoveLost – Collapse
\nLICE – Third Time At The Beach
\nCharlotte Wessels – The Obsession
\nKingdom Of Giants – Bleeding Star
\nRival Schools – Pedals (deluxe reissue)
\nRival Schools – United By Fate (LP repress)
\nRival Schools – Found (LP repress)
\nRegional Justice Center – Freedom, Sweet Freedom
\nDownhaul – How To Begin
\nNeon Trees – Sink Your Teeth
\nNo Guidance – Late To The Party
\nThe Black Pacific – Here Comes Our Wave
\nBird’s View – House of Commando
\nDeath By Gong – Descalator
\nNoopinion – Revolt and Resolve
\nStoke Signals – Make Dying Fun
\nHalf Happy – Conversation Killer
\nI Prevail – True Power (Expanded)
\nUniform – Nightmare City
\nAll Hope Remains – Find My Way<\/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