{"id":97944,"date":"2025-01-24T10:00:38","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T10:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=97944"},"modified":"2025-01-24T20:54:36","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T20:54:36","slug":"newmusicfriday-january-24th-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-january-24th-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday: January 24th 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Content Breakdown<\/h3>\n

Vukovi – My God Has Got a Gun<\/a>
\nSlowly Slowly – Forgiving Spree<\/a>
\nWhat is out on this #NewMusicFriday?<\/a>
\nTake me to the Playlist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

It’s rather a busy #NewMusicFriday<\/strong> this week. For starters, there are new albums from\u00a0Vukovi<\/strong> and\u00a0Slowly Slowly<\/strong>, which you can read more about below. However, beyond that there is the return of influential instrumentalist Mogwai<\/strong>. Their eleventh album,\u00a0‘The Bad Fire’<\/em>, maintains their ominous and cinematic approach, comfortably delivering measured build-ups and compelling crescendos. And of course, the occasional interesting song title –\u00a0‘If You Find This World Bad, You Should See Some of the Others’<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Nottingham sister duo\u00a0Alt Blk Era<\/strong> will be looking to leave their mark with their debut album,\u00a0‘Rave Immortal’<\/em>. They scurry their way between genres, taking in elements of rock, drum n’ bass, metal, electronic, and more. It sees Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam deliver a narrative of unity, representing diversity and inclusivity. While Nyrobi’s chronic illness provides a sharp, vulnerable core, shielded by the blend of DnB and alt-rock.<\/p>\n

There is also a new EP from fellow UK upstarts –\u00a0State Of You<\/strong>. Featuring personnel from Outcry Collective, Polar and Hildamay, ‘On A Knife\u2019s Edge’<\/em> is a visceral blast of hardcore that has seen comparisons to Cancer Bats, Beartooth, and The Bronx. Whereas Beneath A Steel Sky<\/strong> emerge from Glasgow to deliver their promising debut –\u00a0‘Cleave’<\/em>. Firmly part of the post-metal scene, the sextet provide a well-executed mix of thunderous riffs and foreboding atmospherics.<\/p>\n

You can also hear new releases from\u00a0August Burns Red<\/strong>, who celebrate 20 years of\u00a0‘Thrill Seeker’<\/em>,\u00a0ONI<\/strong>,\u00a0DITZ<\/strong>,\u00a0blacktoothed<\/strong>,\u00a0Bilk<\/strong> and many more.<\/p>\n

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\"Vukovi\"<\/p>\n

Vukovi – My God Has Got a Gun<\/h2>\n

For 15 years, Vukovi<\/b> have forged their own path. Unapologetically unique, and refusing to get lost in the shuffle of their peers, the Scottish duo have repeatedly shown confidence to do it their way.\u00a0Having grabbed our attention with their 2017 self-titled outing<\/a>, the Glasgow outfit has evolved from their highly energetic brand of rock. 2020’s\u00a0‘Fall Better’<\/em> and 2022’s\u00a0‘NULA’<\/em> stretched into electro-rock and industrial-pop territory. Meanwhile, as songwriters, Janine Shilstone (vocals) and Hamish Reilly (guitar) have grown to deliver personal and complex songs. The arrival of ‘My God Has Got A Gun’<\/em> marks a bold new chapter that considerably captures\u00a0Vukovi<\/strong> at their creative peak.<\/p>\n

Read our full review here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Slowly<\/p>\n

Slowly Slowly – Forgiving Spree<\/h2>\n

For almost a decade, Melbourne band\u00a0Slowly Slowly<\/strong> has been delivering heartfelt rock rooted in introspective songwriting and melodic sensibility. For their fifth album, ‘Forgiving Spree’,\u00a0<\/em>vocalist\/guitarist Ben Stewart leaned into names such as The Killers, Bruce Springsteen, and John Farnham as influences. It’s paired with a set of sensitive and personal songs that allow the album to develop an emotional anchor.<\/p>\n

Recorded between their hometown and Los Angeles, Stewart and company serve up an admirable set of catchy and earnest songs. However, despite this being their fifth album, there are consistent and distinct reminders of other bands and artists. Surely, a band this far into a career should be able to hone in on an unmistakable sound? Unfortunately,\u00a0Slowly Slowly<\/strong> wants to either be The 1975 (see\u00a0‘That’s That’<\/em>) or\u00a0‘Futures’\u00a0<\/em>era Jimmy Eat World (‘How Are You Mine?’<\/em>), or generally an ’80s radio-rock-inspired band. Sure, that’s a harsh opinion to share but there are a sprinkling of highlights.<\/p>\n

For starters,\u00a0Slowly Slowly<\/strong> commendably has a proven flair for writing uplifting rock songs. ‘Gimme The Wrench’<\/em>. and the aforementioned ‘How Are You Mine?’ <\/em>indicate their ability to write anthemic hooks. Musically, their scope is wide with a nostalgic tint.<\/p>\n

As a lyricist, Stewart broadly explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Nonemoreso on\u00a0‘Hurricane’<\/em>. Backed by a Killers-like surge, the track allows Stewart to sing of his wedding day, the news of expecting their first child, and sadly, a miscarriage. It sees Stewart paint a detailed, compelling narrative that is delivered with complete sincerity. The ebb and flow of joy and tragedy is finely towed throughout\u00a0‘Forgiving Spree’.<\/em>\u00a0‘All Time’<\/em> conjures up images of destined love with jangly guitars. It’s followed by ‘Love Letters’\u00a0<\/em>with its sultry balladic groove.<\/p>\n

Album closer, ‘Born Free’<\/em>, counters the spirited display. Stripped back and ominous, it allows Stewart to look inward, reflecting on the passing of several family members, and his purpose. It’s a tender, poignant finale, bringing musical depth, and a contrast to the upbeat radio-rock.<\/p>\n

Even though\u00a0‘Forgiving Spree’<\/em> doesn’t give\u00a0Slowly Slowly<\/strong> the chance to carve out a distinctive sound, their strength lies in their ability to write praiseworthy melodic rock songs.<\/p>\n

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

Vukovi – My God Has Got A Gun<\/a>
\nMogwai – The Bad Fire
\nAlt Blk Era – Rave Immortal
\nLinkin Park – From Zero A Capellas
\nAugust Burns Red – Thrill Seeker: 20th Anniversary Edition
\nONI – Genesis
\nSlowly Slowly – Forgiving Spree
\nState Of You – On A Knife\u2019s Edge
\nDITZ – Never Exhale
\nBilk – Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll
\nblacktoothed – Headway
\nYoung Knives – Landfill
\nLet Me Downs – North by Southwest
\nBeneath A Steel Sky – Cleave
\nVacant Home – Can You Show Me Who I Am?
\n\u00a1Ponce! – \u00a1Ponce!\u2026 does Anime
\nCascade Riot – New Disguise
\nSleepbomb – The Sleeping Dead
\nSunmancer – Everything Falls Apart
\nWardruna – Birna
\nWatch My Dying – Egyenes Ker\u0151l\u0151
\nOh The Humanity! – Ground To Dust
\nAvatarium – Between You, God, The Devil And The Dead
\nBeaconfire – Sudden Trauma
\nCorroding Soul – Corroding Soul
\nDays To Waste – Forget Me When The Summer Ends
\nThe Veils – Asphodels<\/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