{"id":98279,"date":"2025-02-28T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=98279"},"modified":"2025-02-28T01:01:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T01:01:03","slug":"newmusicfriday-february-28th-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newmusicfriday-february-28th-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"#NewMusicFriday: February 28th 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid #000; text-align: center;\">\n<h3>Content Breakdown<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"#list\">What is out on this #NewMusicFriday?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#playlist\">Take me to the Playlist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><center><script src=\"https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">kofiwidget2.init('Support Already Heard on Ko-fi', '#29abe0', 'J3J4MX03R');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script><\/center>As soon as it has begun, February flies by and ends with a round of <b>#NewMusicFriday<\/b> releases.<\/p>\n<p>This week&#8217;s list of albums and EP&#8217;s is your usual mix of recognisable and unknown names. For the former, the return of <strong>A<\/strong><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>rchitects<\/strong> is going to be at the top of many people&#8217;s agendas<\/span>. Their eleventh album,\u00a0<em>&#8216;The Sky, The Earth &amp; All Between&#8217;<\/em>, sees the metalcore group comeback with a bang with a bombastic, heavy collection.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to emerging names, you may recognise South West quintet\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/tag\/oversize\/\"><strong>Oversize<\/strong><\/a> having popped up on the site in recent weeks. Today sees them deliver their debut album &#8211;\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vital Signs&#8217;<\/em>. You can read more about that below.\u00a0 Likewise, London nu-rock outfit <strong>paradise fell.\u00a0<\/strong>will be aiming to grab your attention. Their\u00a0<em>&#8216;Songs for ur Head&#8217;<\/em> mixtape captures\u00a0Matty Bankhurst\u2019s personal struggles with mental health, wrapped inside an energetic ball of alt\/pop-rock.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes familiar names, Nottingham-based prog metalcore mob <strong>The Five Hundred<\/strong> continue to show ambition with their third album &#8211; <em>&#8216;Ghostwriter&#8217;.\u00a0<\/em>While\u00a0<em>&#8216;Here Be Dragons&#8217;<\/em> from German\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">metallers<strong> Avantasia<\/strong><\/span> sees the &#8220;supergroup&#8221; deliver another fantastical rock opera odyssey.<\/p>\n<p>Away from rock and metal,\u00a0<strong>you,<\/strong> <strong>infinite\u00a0<\/strong>debut their self-titled full-length. Bringing together\u00a0<strong>This Will Destroy You<\/strong> founding members guitarist Jeremy Galindo and former bassist\/keyboardist Raymond Brown, it leans into their instrumental post-rock origins. Unsurprisingly, it results in a captivating record that thrives in delivering wide soundscapes.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s a contrast to what <strong>Split Dogs<\/strong> serve up on &#8216;<em>Here To Destroy&#8217;<\/em>; full-throttle punk rock n&#8217; roll. Meanwhile,\u00a0<strong>Cheekface<\/strong> surprise released their fifth album,\u00a0<em>&#8216;Middle Spoon&#8217;<\/em>, earlier this week, providing an eclectic mix of punk, ska, and indie.\u00a0<strong>Balance &amp; Composure<\/strong>&#8216;s\u00a0<em>&#8216;Live At Studio 4&#8217;<\/em> recording of\u00a0<em>&#8216;The Things We Think We&#8217;re Missing&#8217;<\/em> gets its digital release. Working with long-time collaborator, the recording elevates the cathartic tone of the 2013 album, without sacrificing its rawness.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97685\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97685\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-97685\" src=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Oversize-_-James-Williams-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"Oversize\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Oversize-_-James-Williams-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Oversize-_-James-Williams-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Oversize-_-James-Williams-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Oversize-_-James-Williams.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97685\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: James Williams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Oversize &#8211; Vital Signs<\/h2>\n<p>Coming off the back of a couple of EP&#8217;s, South West outfit\u00a0<strong>Oversize<\/strong> have made the leap to\u00a0<strong>Sharptone Records<\/strong> to release their debut album. As a recognised label with a roster that includes Boston Manor, Vukovi, and Holding Absence among a wealth of others, you can&#8217;t help but feel there&#8217;s some belief in what <strong>Oversize<\/strong> are capable of on\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vital Signs&#8217;<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Its ten tracks firmly swirl around in the ether of shoegaze and alt-rock with a raw heaviness. However, there are moments of urgency as\u00a0<em>&#8216;Stalling&#8217;<\/em> soon delivers with big guitars and bold drums sinking into atmospheric instrumentation, only for\u00a0<em>&#8216;Are You With Me?&#8217;<\/em> to wake it up. Dominated by Sam Shutler&#8217;s penetrative drum work and shimmering guitars, it comfortably rides a surging wave of alluring alt-rock\/shoegaze.\u00a0<em>&#8216;Fall Apart&#8217;<\/em> cranks things up with its post-hardcore crispiness that doesn&#8217;t outstay its welcome.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"OVERSIZE - Vacant (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WxlhR5FcUno?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Although\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vital Signs&#8217;<\/em> proves to be dynamic and richly layered, there are moments where it frustrates. By embracing shoegaze elements,\u00a0<strong>Oversize<\/strong> tend to lean into the hazy, mid-tempo traits one too many times. It leads to tracks such as <em>&#8216;Something Clean&#8217;<\/em> and\u00a0<em>&#8216;SALT&#8217;<\/em> to lose their impact. It&#8217;s contrasted with <em>&#8216;The Incline&#8217;<\/em> where fuzzy, choppy guitars complement Sam McCauley&#8217;s caring words of\u00a0<em>&#8220;tell us what&#8217;s inside, We avoid the sunshine&#8221;<\/em>. Later on,\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vacant&#8217;<\/em> strides with striking guitars, providing one of the album&#8217;s memorable melodies.\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vital Signs&#8217;<\/em> titular track closes out the outing, pulling in all of <strong>Oversize<\/strong>&#8216;s strengths into one. The hazy vocals, piercing drums, and layered, distorted guitars whirl into one final compelling offering.<\/p>\n<p>There is no doubt\u00a0<strong>Oversize<\/strong> have achieved in producing a convincing mix of post-hardcore, shoegaze, and alt-rock on\u00a0<em>&#8216;Vital Signs&#8217;<\/em>. It&#8217;s a textured, and often richly layered, venture that offers something new with each listen. For example, the lyrical themes of grief and isolation aren&#8217;t immediate, getting lost in the hazy mix. Nevertheless,\u00a0<strong>Oversize<\/strong> has planted an assured musical seed that they can expand on and explore down the line.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"list\">What is out on #NewMusicFriday?<\/h2>\n<p>Architects &#8211; The Sky, The Earth &amp; All Between<br \/>\nThe Five Hundred &#8211; Ghostwriter<br \/>\nAvantasia &#8211; Here Be Dragons<br \/>\nyou, infinite &#8211; you, infinite<br \/>\nOversize &#8211; Vital Signs<br \/>\nparadise fell. &#8211; Songs for ur Head<br \/>\nSplit Dogs &#8211; Here To Destroy<br \/>\nBalance and Composure &#8211; The Things We Think We&#8217;re Missing: Live At Studio 4<br \/>\nFree Throw &#8211; Those Days Are Gone (10 Year Anniversary Edition)<br \/>\nCheekface &#8211; Middle Spoon<br \/>\nEric Bass &#8211; I Had A Name<br \/>\nCloakroom &#8211; Last Leg Of The Human Table<br \/>\nDoves &#8211; Constellations For The Lonely<br \/>\nbdrmm &#8211; Microtonic<br \/>\n(hed) P.E. &#8211; Best Of Unauthorized<br \/>\nBrainstorm &#8211; Plague Of Rats<br \/>\nDark Chapel &#8211; Spirit In The Glass<br \/>\nEnemy Inside &#8211; Venom<br \/>\nVenamoris &#8211; To Cross Or To Burn<br \/>\nThe Grey &#8211; Kodok<br \/>\nTer Ziele &#8211; Embodiment of Death<br \/>\nArion &#8211; The Light That Burns The Sky<br \/>\nPale Epiphany &#8211; Pale Epiphany<br \/>\nchest. &#8211; All Good Things End<br \/>\nFanalo &#8211; Fanalo<br \/>\nKilling Daisies &#8211; Echoes of Tomorrow<br \/>\nSpoiled &#8211; Collapse<br \/>\nDemora &#8211; Torpor<\/p>\n<p><em id=\"playlist\">If you think I&#8217;ve missed something or have a new album\/EP\/song to tell us about, tell us about it <a href=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/already-heard-playlist-release-submission\/\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: #NewMusicFriday\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/5QJ3ivfXxJG8bc1CvaAjzy?si=a152801622704497&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re looking for the latest tracks focusing on rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, then check out our <em>&#8216;Newish Music&#8217;<\/em> playlist on <a href=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newishmusic\">Spotify<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/newishmusicAM\">Apple Music<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today sees new releases from Architects, Oversize, The Five Hundred, Avantasia, paradise fell., and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2329],"tags":[17572],"class_list":["post-98279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-newmusicfriday"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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