(U.S.) Cloud Rat-Do Not Let Me Off The Cliff EP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, Grindcore, Metal
Label: Artoaffect Records
Tracks: 7
Length: 24.20'
 
Cloud Rat is a four piece band from Mount Pleasant, Michigan who formed in December of 2009.  I've been a huge fan of Cloud Rat since hearing their self-titled LP back in 2010.  Cloud Rat has continued to grow and expand upon their sound, creating a truly unique take on modern hardcore, punk, and grindcore.  Since their inception in 2009, Cloud Rat have released an eleven track self-titled LP on IFB records in 2010, a split cassette with Xtra Vomit in 2010, a split 7" with Autarkeia in 2011, a 3-way split LP with Oily Menace and Wolbachia in 2011, a thirteen track LP titled Moksha on Halo Of Flies, IFB, React With Protest, 7 Degrees, and React With Protest in January of 2013, a split LP with Republic Of Dreams in 2012, s song for the Monomaniac Volume One 7" compilation in 2012, a song for the No Compromise (Earth First) compilation in 2013, and a split 7" with Orgullo Primitivo in 2014, a 17 track album titled Qliphoth in 2015, a split 7" with Drugs Of Faith in 2015, a split LP with Moloch in April of 2017,  a split 7" with Crevasse in April of 2017, a split with Disrotted in June of 2017,  a compilation of their songs from their splits with Crevasse, Test, Drugs Of Faith, and Disrotted called Clipped Beaks in October of 2018, a compilation of songs from their split LPs with The World Is A Vampire and their split LP with Moloch titled Silk Panic in October of 2018, and a fourteen song LP titled Pollinator in September of 2019.  Don't Let Me Off The Cliff is the band's latest EP, which was released via Artoaffect records on September 13th, 2019.  On Don't Let Me Off The Cliff, Cloud Rat offer up seven songs of ambient, experimental, electronic music that serves as a bonus companion EP to their recently released Pollinator LP.  Overall, Don't Let Me Off The Cliff makes for an amazing listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy! 

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Nooses-Grind AD EP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Metal, Crust, Grindcore
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 5
Length: 6.35'

Nooses is a band from Phoenix, Arizona who formed in 2017, from the looks of things.  Nooses play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, metal, crust, and grindcore within their sound.  Since forming in 2018, Nooses have released a six song EP titled No Eulogy in December of 2018.  Grind AD is the band's latest EP, which was released on August 1st, 2019.  On Grind AD, Nooses offer up five tracks of Misfits covers.  Overall, Grind AD makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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Nooses-No Eulogy EP (2018)

(U.S.) Meatwound & Thunderclap 7" (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Sludge, Noise Rock, Metal, Doom
Label: Financial Ruin
Tracks: 2
Length: 9.10'

Here's an awesome collaboration 7" by Florida based bands Meatwound and Thunderclap.  Meatwound is a four piece band from Tampa, Florida, who formed in early 2014, from the looks of things.  Meatwound features members of Combatwoundedveteran, The Holy Mountain, Headless Dogs, and Primate Research, so going on that alone, you know you're in for some amazing music.  Meatwound play a killer style of raw and dirty hardcore, punk, sludge, and noise rock.  Musically, Meatwound draws from their experience from their previous bands and add influences such as Fudge Tunnel, Godflesh, and Unsane to their sound.  Thunderclap is a three piece band from Gainsville, Florida who formed in 2014, from the looks of things.  Thunderclap play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of metal, doom, and sludge within their sound.  Musically, Thunderclap can be loosley compared to bands such as Cavity, Floor, Hollow Leg, Junior Bruce, and other like-minded bands.  On this killer collaborative 7", Meatwound and Thunderclap team up and offer up two tracks of killer hardcore, punk, noise rock, metal, doom, and sludge.  Overall, this is an amazing 7" and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy! This collaborative effort was released via Financial Ruin records on September 5th, 2019. 

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(U.S.) Bulls-Then We Die LP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Post Punk, Post Rock, Punk, Noise Rock
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 10
Length: 27.20'

Bulls is a three piece band from Fort Worth, Texas who formed in 2014, from the looks of things.  Bulls play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of post punk, post rock, punk, and noise rock within their sound.  Musically, Bulls can be loosely compared to bands such as Drive Like Jehu, Unwound, The Powder Room, Vincas, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2014, Bulls have released a self-titled EP in September of 2015 and a four song EP titled 14 Minutes in August of 2017.  The We Die is the band's latest LP, which was released on September 13th, 2019.  On Then We Die, Bulls offer up ten tracks of killer post punk, post rock, punk, and noise rock.  Overall, Then We Die makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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(U.S.) Eye Flys-Context 12" (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Metal, Noise Rock
Label: Thrill Jockey
Tracks: 6
Length: 13.05'

Eye Flys is four piece band from Philadelphia, PA who formed in 2018, from the looks of things.  Eye Flys features members of Backslider, Full Of Hell, and Triac, so going on that alone, you know you're in for something truly special.  Eye Flys play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of punk, metal, and noise rock within their sound.  Musically, Eye Flys csan be loosely compared to bands such as The Melvins, Unsane, Helmet, Fight Amp, and other like-minded bands.  Context is the band's debut EP, which was released via Thrill Jockey records on September 13th, 2019.  On Context, Eye Flys offer up six tracks of raw, ugly, and blown out sounding punk, metal, and noise rock.  Overall, Context makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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(U.S.) Woundvac-The Road Ahead EP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, Grindcore
Label: Corpse Flower Records
Tracks: 5
Length: 9.0'

Woundvac is a four piece band from Phoenix, Arizona who formed in 2014.  Woundvac play a caustic and brutal as fuck style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, crust, and grindcore within their sound.  Musically, Woundvac cab be loosely compared to bands such as Trap Them, WVRM, Moral Void, Torch Runner, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2014, Woundvac have released a self-titled seven song EP in February of 2014, a seven song 7" titled Disgraced Convert in September of 2015, a split 7" with Column III in January of 2016, a digital single titled Sentient Cancer in February of 2016, a split with Glitterbomb in October of 2016, a two song flexi titled They Eat Their Own/Rumination in October of 2017, a seven song 7" titled Infamy in February of 2017, and a thirteen song LP titled Terrorizing The Swarm in May of 2018.  The Road Ahead is the band's latest EP, which was released via Corpse Flower records on September 13th, 2019.  On The Road Ahead, Woundvac offer up five tracks of chaotic, volatile, and brutal as fuck sounding hardcore, punk, crust, and grindcore.  Overall, The Road Ahead makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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(U.S.) Cloud Rat-Pollinator LP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Crust, Grindcore, Metal
Label: Artoaffect Records
Tracks: 14
Length: 29.25'

Cloud Rat is a four piece band from Mount Pleasant, Michigan who formed in December of 2009.  I've been a huge fan of Cloud Rat since hearing their self-titled LP back in 2010.  Cloud Rat has continued to grow and expand upon their sound, creating a truly unique take on modern hardcore, punk, and grindcore.  Since their inception in 2009, Cloud Rat have released an eleven track self-titled LP on IFB records in 2010, a split cassette with Xtra Vomit in 2010, a split 7" with Autarkeia in 2011, a 3-way split LP with Oily Menace and Wolbachia in 2011, a thirteen track LP titled Moksha on Halo Of Flies, IFB, React With Protest, 7 Degrees, and React With Protest in January of 2013, a split LP with Republic Of Dreams in 2012, s song for the Monomaniac Volume One 7" compilation in 2012, a song for the No Compromise (Earth First) compilation in 2013, and a split 7" with Orgullo Primitivo in 2014, a 17 track album titled Qliphoth in 2015, a split 7" with Drugs Of Faith in 2015, a split LP with Moloch in April of 2017,  a split 7" with Crevasse in April of 2017, a split with Disrotted in June of 2017,  a compilation of their songs from their splits with Crevasse, Test, Drugs Of Faith, and Disrotted called Clipped Beaks in October of 2018, and a compilation of songs from their split LPs with The World Is A Vampire and their split LP with Moloch titled Silk Panic in October of 2018.  Pollinator is the band's latest LP, which was released via Artoaffect records on September 13th, 2019.  On Pollinator, Cloud Rat offer up fourteen tracks of brutal as fuck and devastating hardcore, punk, and grindcore, that will keep you guessing at every twist and turn.  Seriously, Pollinator is an amazing LP and will definitely be ending up on my best of lists for 2019.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy! 

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Dreamdecay- (2012-2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Punk, Shoegaze, Noise Rock
Label: Various
Tracks: A Lot
Length: Who Cares?

Dreamdecay is a four piece band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 2012. Dreamdecay play a raw, noisy, and blown-out style of music that incorporates elements of punk, shoegaze, and noise rock within their sound.  Dreamdecay's sound is tense, frenetic, angular, and driving.  Musically, Dreamdecay can be said to be influenced by bands such as Sonic Youth, Drive Like Jehu, Wire, The Wipers, and other like-minded bands.  Since forming in 2012, Dreamdecay have released a five song EP titled Fern in November of 2012,  an eight song LP titled NVNVNV in March of 2013, a nine song LP titled YU in March of 2017, and a two song 7" titled N/O on August 9th, 2019.  Here's the band's current discography to date for your enjoyment.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

                                                         Dreamdecay-Fern EP (2012)          

                                                         Dreamdecay-NVNVNV LP (2013)

                                                         Dreamdecay-YU LP (2017)

                                                         Dreamdecay-N/O 7" (2019)

                                                         Dreamdecay-Tour Cassette (2011)

Ore Miner-Onism EP (2019)

Country: USA
Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Metal, Sludge
Label: Self-Released
Tracks: 4
Length: 10.15'

Ore Miner is a band from New Haven, CT who formed in 2018, from the looks of things.  Ore Miner play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of hardcore, punk, metal, and sludge within their sound.  Musically, Ore Miner can be loosely compared to bands such as Breather Resist, Bone Dance, Kiss It Goodbye, Deadguy, and other like-minded bands.  Onism is the band's debut EP, which was released on July 13th, 2019.  On Onism, Ore Miner offer up four tracks of killer hardcore, punk, metal, and sludge.  Overall, Onism makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!

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(A.U.) HTRK-Venus In Leo LP (2019)

Country: Australia
Genre: Post Punk, Alt. Rock, Electronic, Experimental
Label: Ghostly International
Tracks: 9
Length: 40.35'

The fourth album from HTRK, the duo of Jonnine Standish and Nigel Yang, arrives five years on from 2014's Psychic 9-5 Club. While some much-loved HTRK hallmarks remain—the combination of space and intimacy, the unmistakable interplay between Yang's guitars and Standish's vocals—Venus in Leo differs markedly in its energy, returning to HTRK’s underground rock past with the stylistic playfulness and variety of a modern mixtape.

Over the soft strums of acoustic guitar, the album’s introduction, “Into the Drama,” posits a theory that “what was once considered self-sabotage could be revisited as being under the influence of Venus in Leo,” Standish explains. Fingerpicked guitar loops rise slowly and fall over a cold, brittle beat. Previously released lovesong “Mentions” finds Standish exploring the lack of physical intimacy in the social media age. Elsewhere, there are emotional highs, like on the kaleidoscopic single “You Know How to Make Me Happy,” which details a suspended state of ecstasy, Standish commending her partner’s conscious efforts to prop her up with compliments. “New Year’s Day” traces a flimsy resolution to get healthier, instantly busted by an evening of debauchery, recalling “the worst possible start to the year with bad friends and bad behavior.” The silver lining is the sunrise: “pink, red, orange, white, peach” Standish repeats as the track laps with a velvety, hypnotic refrain.

Archetypal themes emerge as the band explore the makings of personality. Standish revisits her childhood home in a recurring dream (“Dream Symbol”), a doomed first kiss (“New Year’s Eve”) and high drama (“Venus in Leo”). Recorded more or less live in HTRK’s home studio in the Dandenong Ranges outside of Melbourne, the album’s simple production reveals gorgeous, toned-back arrangements and an evolving, idiosyncratic songcraft.

It's been ten years since HTRK released their breakthrough first album, Marry Me Tonight. The band has undergone profound changes, with the first two albums released amid the deaths of close friend and collaborator Rowland S. Howard and HTRK co-founder Sean Stewart. Psychic 9-5 Club set them on a path of self-discovery, and Venus in Leo marks a spirited new chapter by one of the most distinctive bands of the past decade.  

(Press Note)

*Venus In Leo is HRTK's latest album and offers up nine tracks of chill, ambient, and hauntingly atmospheric sounding post punk, alt. rock, electronic, and experimental pop.  Overall, Venus In Leo makes for an awesome listen and is a definite must listen for fans of Drowse, Giles Corey, Have A Nice Life, and other-like minded bands.  Highly recommended!  Enjoy!  Leo In Venus was released via Ghostly International records on August 30th, 2019.

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