Spiritkiller "Self Titled"

12" EP - $17.25
STREET DATE: February 14, 2025
CAT#: PRO-101
LABEL: Protagonist Music

One-sided LP with B-side etching

Coming together in late 2022, Albany, NY based hardcore band Spiritkiller quickly became known locally for their infectious, groove laden riffs and energetic live performances. Weaving together the razor sharp aggression of bands like 108 and Unbroken with flourishes of post hardcore by way of acts like Quicksand and Orange 9mm, Spiritkiller updates this sound in a way that still preserves the passion and impact of that source material.

At the helm, SK guitarist and veteran NJ hardcore/screamo practitioner Tom Schlatter (ex You and I/The Assistant, current Saetia/Hundreds of AU) riffs his way through fresh takes on the sound that dominated hardcore throughout the latter half of the 1990s. The rhythm section of the band is rounded out by bassist Byron Wheeler and drummer Mike Putz who both did time in Albany based crust/dbeat unit Scavengers, which Schlatter had also played drums in after moving to upstate NY several years before. Thick, gritty baselines and agile, inventive drumming hold down the low end and provide the signature punch underpinning the band’s sound. The band’s frontperson Charles Cure (ex Endicott, current HUSH) completes the sound with a vocal style that brings to mind the recalcitrant urgency of Refused and Snapcase inflected with a hint of melody.

A little over a year after their debut, Spiritkiller completed writing and recording their 8 song self-titled LP, which will see the light of day via Protagonist Music and Immigrant Sun records. This release showcases the band’s signature sound with songs that harken back to the heyday of innovation and experimentation in the hardcore sound, while reifying the ethics and message of personal empowerment notable in the subculture of that era. For fans new and old, Spiritkiller is here to bridge the gap between past and present and add their voice to the chorus of others helping to redefine hardcore in the current moment.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Prana
02. Burning Wheel
03. No Interior
04. Falling Man
05. Animal Resistance
06. Epitaph
07. In The Red
08. Struggle To Exist

MARKETING POINTS:

• One-sided LP with special etched B-side
• Members of Endicott, Hundreds of AU, Saetia

FOR FANS OF:
One King Down, Snapcase, 108, Unbroken, Refused

Groundwork "Today We Will Not Be Invisible Nor Silent (30th Anniversary Special Edition)"

12" EP - $14.65
STREET DATE: January 17, 2025
CAT#: PRO-050
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Special 30th anniversary pressing of 250 copies on a limited vinyl colorway with reverse-board covers. Includes an exclusive patch, sticker, and extra booklet with writings by Damien from Culture, Kent from Ebullition, Neeraj from Hope Conspiracy, Jesse from Killswitch Engage, and many more!

The Arizona desert has produced its fair share of notable underground music over the years, and one of its early hardcore offerings was the emotional and political charge of Groundwork. Rising from the dust in the first half of the1990's and imploding in only about four years, Groundwork left behind a series of vinyl releases and live performances which still retain an impact on heavy music today. Sharing the stage with bands like Unbroken, Rorschacha, Swing Kids, Chokehold, Born Against, Outspoken, Downcast, 4 Walls Falling, Native Nod, and many more, their evolution in sound and approach culminated in their only full-length release in 1994. Today We Will Not Be Invisible Nor Silent is sometimes cited as a defining LP of that era in hardcore, despite the band remaining lesser known than many of its contemporaries. Sharing subtle melodic touches, bone-rattling heaviness, and an undercurrent of groove, the record uses quiet passes and wild crescendos to achieve a battering experience that leaves a lasting impression. It is a testament to everything the band stood for, explored, endured, and ultimately was destroyed by; an intense and emotional journey for a group of friends set to the soundtrack of catastrophe. Members went on to play in bands such as 400 Years and Absinthe. 

The recording was lovingly restored from the original reels and remixed by Steve Roche at Permanent Hearing Damage. It was then mastered for vinyl and digital by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks.

Track Listing:
01. A Prayer for the Dead
02. Question Me
03. Hungry
04. Willing Victim
05. Channel One
06. Token Man
07. Daily Bread
08. Birds of Passage
09. Epitaph
10. Control

MARKETING POINTS:

• Special 30th anniversary pressing of 250 copies on a limited vinyl colorway with reverse-board covers
• Includes an exclusive patch, sticker, and extra booklet with writings by Damien from Culture, Kent from Ebullition, Neeraj from Hope Conspiracy, Jesse from Killswitch Engage, and many more

Lockslip "Lockslip"

12" EP - $14.65
STREET DATE: November 29, 2024
CAT#: PRO-104
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Lockslip is the crushing self-titled debut EP from the Los Angeles metallic hardcore outfit. Forming in late 2022 and self-producing/self-releasing the EP in January 2024, the band turned heads quickly with this 14-minute display of chaos. With punishing breakdowns that any hardcore fan would enjoy, as well as plenty of complex mathy bits, this feels less like the debut release of a brand-new band, and more like an intentional and polished group looking ahead to the future. These 4 songs tell the story of being fed up with the status quo, and of expressing a deep inner turmoil through feedback-laden anguish. The EP was produced and mixed by drummer Noah Baxter at Dichotic Studios, mastered digitally by Brian Skipworth at Skipwave Sound, and remastered for vinyl by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering.

Featuring members of notable acts such as Entry, Auteur, Mom and the Mailman, and Decoybody. Pressed on 1-sided 12-inch vinyl with a screen-printed design on the B-side. Cover and screen-print artwork by James Hutton. Band logo art by Preston Weippert.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Guillotine Blueprint
02. Bend
03. Evildoer
04. Payment

MARKETING POINTS:

• Members of Entry, Auteur, Mom and the Mailman, and Decoybody.

FOR FANS OF:
Cult Leader, The Red Chord, Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge

Loose Choir "Shy Side"

LP - $15.30
STREET DATE: 11/1/24
CAT#: PRO-098
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Sacramento, California's Loose Choir bend the trends of indie/alt-rock with punchy punk flourishes and moody folk earholes, the result of which is a blast of nostalgia and new noise in equal measure. Formed in 2022 by Rae Boys (vocals), Tatton White (guitar, bass) and Noah G. Prado (drums), the band took their time fleshing out the songs that comprise Shy Side, their debut full-length. The patience paid off, as Loose Choir's collaborative strengths yielded a formidable collection of arresting tracks brimming with poise and urgency.

Thriving in the aural limbo between alt-folk and the often urgent sonic real estate of guitar-forward mid-'00s underground rock, Loose Choir vacillates its dynamism to startling results. Boys' affecting vocals slice like sunrise over a rough sea; the tandem of Prado and White's well-rounded chemistry--having performed for years in Northern California punk band The Red Robot--pushes and pulls the songs' bones apart to lay bare their emotive underbellies.

Recorded by Chris Keene (Surrogate, Saves the Day, Emery, live guitar for Loose Choir) at his Chico, CA studio, Shy Side embodies the saccharine sentiments of romantic misdirection and the language of longing into a fiery, guitar-forward maelstrom that will all but require repeated listens.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Sun On Sea
02. Path
03. Santiago
04. Waves + Existence
05. Patinadora
06. Wait On
07. Shadow Hum
08. Spell Of Self
09. Hope I'm Not Wrong

MARKETING POINTS:

• Featuring members of Saves the Day, The Velvet Teen, Hard Chiller, Emery
• Mastered for vinyl by James Plotkin (Botch, Cloud Nothings, Aimee Mann)

FOR FANS OF:
Land of Talk, The Cranberries, Swervedriver, The Anniversary

Common Wounds "All Night Blood"

LP - $15.95
STREET DATE: 10/18/24
CAT#: PRO-100
LABEL: Protagonist Music

All Night Blood is the anticipated debut full length album from Phoenix Arizona's thunderous quartet, Common Wounds. Expect an emotionally charged, down-tuned homage to the music that built the foundation of their youth, building through well-crafted and expertly recorded songs that were meant to be heard at high volume. Containing nine post-hardcore statements that draw heavy elements of noise rock, emocore, and grunge, All Night Blood is punctuated by driving riffs, heavy percussion, and forays into melody which are accentuated by passionate, gritty, and often anthemic vocals. The lyrical themes of the album examine hope and hopelessness, struggles with mental health, relationships, and the societal and economic systems that are constantly bleeding us dry. With meticulous attention to the sonic experience, All Night Blood was recorded and co-produced by Zachary Rippy (Gatecreeper, Cave In), mixed by Scott Evans (Great Falls, Sumac), and mastered by Carl Saff (Unsane, Sonic Youth).

TRACK LISTING:
01. Cognition
02. Broken Hands
03. Vainglory
04. Mile Marker
05. All Night Blood
06. Parochial
07. Lost Voices
08. So It Goes
09. The Diplomat

MARKETING POINTS:

• Packaged in beautiful Reverse-Board Covers, and includes a bonus Postcard Set.
• Three different vinyl colorways including 2 metallic options and a limited black w/color stripe.
• Members of Run With The Hunted, Suicide Nation, War Tongue, Landmine Marathon.
• Co-produced by Zachary Rippy (Gatecreeper, Cave In) at Sound Signal.
• Mixed by Scott Evans (Great Falls, Sumac).
• Mastered by Carl Saff (Unsane, Sonic Youth).

FOR FANS OF:
Unwound, Young Widows, Exhalants, Love Letter, Whores, Red Hare, Chat Pile

Resting on Pretty "Dragwave"

CASSETTE - $6.50
STREET DATE: 10/11/24
CAT#: PRO-102
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Jenn X and Emma Geddon initially met via social media in late 2022 and became instant sisters, bonding over their mutual love of drag and dark music. Only a few days into their budding friendship, Emma offhandedly tossed out the idea of starting a project together that would combine these two creative pursuits. And, as fate would have it, Jenn was already yearning for the exact same thing. Despite living at opposite ends of California, the two goth queens began writing songs in 2023. They quickly discovered they possessed a rare and highly coveted level of musical synergy. They’d already completed rough mixes of their first two songs before even having the chance to meet in person for the first time.

With the release of their debut EP, “Dragwave,” Resting on Pretty has set out to not only craft songs listeners can lose themselves to on the dance floor but also to serve as a lyrical haven for the beauty and unwavering power of drag and queerness. Anyone who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in with the normative world are invited to live and slay and sing with Resting on Pretty. And this is only the beginning of so much more to come...

TRACK LISTING:
01. Nightmares in Black Lace
02. Fierce Claws
03. (An)nihilist
04. V.A.M.P.
05. We Got Gutz
06. Here Comes the Rain Again

FOR FANS OF: Boy Harsher, Q Lazzarus, Drab Majesty, Skinny Puppy, Antarctica

Bleached Cross / The True Faith "Columns of Impenetrable Light"

LP - $17.25
STREET DATE: 8/9/2024
CAT#: PRO-096
LABEL: Protagonist Music

"Columns of Impenetrable Light" is the cold new split between oppressive post-punk/darkwave outfit Bleached Cross (Protagonist Music) and post-punk stalwarts The True Faith (A La Carte Records). After working together on the co-release of the Bleached Cross B-Side and demo compilation "Exhumed," which featured a remix by The True Faith, both bands and labels have converged to deliver a sonic exploration of two sides of the same coin. Ruminations on life and death, hope and despair flowing across 8 new propulsive and brooding tracks…this is music for contemplating the void between the earthly realm and the infinite blackness that awaits us after our last breath. Featuring two unique vinyl colorways with jackets printed on reverse stock and adorned with foil stamped lettering, the record also features art design by Coward's Way for a complete audio and visual experience. This is Columns of Impenetrable Light: step inside and see what lies beyond.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Bleached Cross "Grief's Eternal Wound"
02. Bleached Cross "Rain of Tears"
03. Bleached Cross "Litany"
04. Bleached Cross "The Weeping"
05. The True Faith "What If (I Could Tell You)"
06. The True Faith "The Means (ft. Dutch Experts)"
07. The True Faith "Life Awaits Us"
08. The True Faith "What Is Owed"

MARKETING POINTS:

• Bleached Cross tracks engineered and mixed by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording, and mastered by Brad Boatright.
• The True Faith tracks were recorded by The True Faith at the House of God, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Ryan Santos Phillips at Lux Perpetua NYC.
• Packaged in reverse board jackets with foil-stamped lettering. Album artwork and design by Coward's Way.

FOR FANS OF:
Soft Kill, Chameleons, Cold Cave, Night Sins, The Cure

demmers "Fears and Shadows"

CASSETTE - $6.50
STREET DATE: 7/19/24
CAT#: PRO-099
LABEL: Protagonist Music

The streets of northern New Jersey are paved with the dreams of people looking for an escape. Even driving to the beach means navigating a highway that cuts directly through a cemetery. Embracing this somewhat infamous Jersey gloom, Jerad Mione started writing the songs that would become demmers in the fall of 2023. Having an array of influences ranging from the early records of The Cure and The Chameleons to more modern fare like Bloc Party and Chain Cult, Jerad enlisted Tommy McGreevy and Matt Olsson to help perfect and record an EP worth of songs into existence. With years of hardcore songwriting and punk ethics (members share time in Kirby Kiss, Lesser Minds, Spell It Out, and more) under their belts, the trio behind demmers bring you six songs that detail the futility of dreams and the false promise of escape, all while diverging from their past musical leanings to bring listeners a fresh take on new wave and post punk.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Wooden Soldiers
02. Swedish Fish
03. Terribly Missed
04. Battle Plans
05. My Patience
06. Too Far

MARKETING POINTS:

• Members of bands such as Kirby Kiss, Lesser Minds, Spell It Out, Mercy Union.
• Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by John Naclerio (Senses Fail, My Chemical Romance) at Nada Recording Studio.

FOR FANS OF:
High Vis, Urban Heat, Soft Kill, Chain Cult, The Cure, Adorable

Gatecreeper "EP + Split Tracks: 10th Anniversary Edition"

LP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 5/17/24
CAT#: PRO-097
LABEL: Protagonist Music

After forming in Arizona in 2013, Gatecreeper amassed a significant, dedicated, and very diverse fanbase around the world pretty rapidly. Becoming known for their combination of creativity and brutality, as well as devastating live performances, these early songs cemented what would become the backbone of their undeniable sound. From there the legend has only grown as they have released several highly-regarded albums while touring the world playing alongside some of metal and hardcore's most notable acts. On this 10th anniversary release we find the 4 original tracks from their eponymous 2014 debut, plus songs from their out-of-print split 7"s with YAITW and TOAD, and their track from the 4-way split LP on Melotov. Completely remastered for vinyl by James Plotkin (Bongripper, Voivod, Khanate) and pressed at 45rpm for maximum punishment, the record also includes updated back cover artwork and poster insert.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Void Below
02. Force Fed
03. Overdose
04. Slave
05. Poisoned Mind
06. All Your Sins
07. Carved Into Stone

MARKETING POINTS:

• Remastered for vinyl by James Plotkin (Electric Wizard, Cave In, Bongripper, Khanate)

FOR FANS OF:
Bolt Thrower, Gorguts, Entombed, Grave

William Edward Thompson "Sleep Test"

LP - $13.35
STREET DATE: 5/17/24
CAT#: PRO-061
LABEL: Protagonist Music

William Edward Thompson, known better as Billy to his friends, is a multi-instrumentalist based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He plays in notable acts such as Heavy Mantle, Secret Smoker, and Spiritiste, banging out angular, melodic, emotional hardcore in all three bands. However, on his solo debut, Billy strips down to his acoustic guitar and vocals with minimal backing to bring us all a little closer via a more raw and simple approach. Each song here is a quick window into his thoughts and feelings from day to day, almost like a musical version of a journal or diary where some tracks are fully realized and others more like a snapshot of a moment in time. This translates into an honest journey through a songwriter's first experience bringing the more vulnerable aspect of solo work into his repertoire, forgoing the rush-hour noise of a full band in favor of the straightforward energy of bedroom jams. With heartfelt melodies and poetic lyrics, he creates a sonic atmosphere that is both authentic and relatable under the moniker of his full name, William Edward Thompson, unveiling the "Sleep Test" LP as a testament to the basics of songwriting as cathartic expression rather than overly polished product.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Sleep Test
02. Ethereal
03. Candles
04. Fall On My Sword
05. My Grip Slips (Steady Hand)
06. Tight Rope
07. Perfect Souvenir
08. Hungry Ghost
09. Eyes Wide Open
10. Theme Song
11. What Remains

MARKETING POINTS:

• Recorded and mixed by Connor Guiberteau and Brian Domingue at Studio Dudio
• Mastered for vinyl and digital by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air

FOR FANS OF:
Evan Dando, Saves the Day, Dashboard Confessional, Elliott Smith

Gemm "Spun Out"

12"EP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 4/5/24
CAT#: PRO-090
LABEL: Protagonist Music

There's something decidedly comforting about 90's music, namely its wellspring of memorable alternative rock. The seismic shift in artistry of those times aside, there is a warm-fuzzy feeling that albums like "Nevermind" and "Siamese Dream" elicit from listeners then and now. Gemm makes a show of that nostalgic evocation, crafting a tone and style that is just as reverent as it is refreshing. Stepping into the studio in Arizona with producer/engineer Zach Rippy (Defeater, Common Wounds, Fleshwater) they created their newest and most fully realized effort yet, "Spun Out." Marrying the tectonic melodicism of The Smashing Pumpkins with the esoteric songwriting of Title Fight or Nirvana, with added dashes of pop sensibility and Alice in Chains grit, their always evolving sound has an almost alchemic quality. Reverential songcraft meets youthful abandon across a group of tracks that will stick in your head for days. Akin to contemporaries such as Basement and Superheaven, the magic of Gemm is poised to twist alt-rock and grunge-pop into ever more eclectic, fuzzy, anthemic forms that are wholly unique to them.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Trying To Feel
2. Fever Dream
3. No Escape
4. Dizzy
5. World On Fire
6. Split

MARKETING POINTS:

• Produced by Zach Rippy (Defeater, Common Wounds, Fleshwater) at Sound Signal Audio

FOR FANS OF:
Superheaven, Title Fight, Basement, Militarie Gun, Silverchair

Leaving "Liminal"

LP - $14.65
STREET DATE: 3/29/24
CAT#: PRO-095
LABEL: Protagonist

Leaving, who hail from Oakland, CA, meld the heavy distortion of doom metal with the ethereal textures of shoegaze, forging an audio landscape that is devastatingly hypnotic and dripping with sorrow. Founded in 2021, they are a seasoned group of sonic architects who include members of Noothgrush, Amber Asylum, Graves at Sea, Lycus, and Funerary among them. Leaving weaves a musical tapestry that plunges listeners into the abyss with shadowy vocals adding emotional depth and somber undertones to their enormous sound. Lyrically they delve into themes of desolation, depression, loneliness, introspection, and the shadows that lurk within the human psyche. Leaving’s music paints a bleak but vivid, almost gossamer picture of a world consumed by decay. This interplay of light and shadow, coupled with an underlying heaviness, creates an atmosphere that is bound to envelop the listener in a shroud of mesmerizing gloom. With each note, the band invites you into the liminal space they’ve crafted – a space between worlds, emotions, and musical genres. Anticipate a profound sonic journey as Leaving sets the stage on their debut album, promising an immersive exploration of the thresholds of emotive heavy music. Are you ready to leave?

TRACK LISTING:

1. Slow Motion Collapse
2. Broken Flame
3. I’m Just Resting My Eyes (Interlude)
4. Downturn
5. Hollow Ache
6. Liminal

MARKETING POINTS:

• Featuring members of Graves at Sea, Noothgrush, Lycus, Funerary, Amber Asylum.
• Recorded by Greg Wilkinson (Deathgrave, Autopsy, Graves At Sea, Necrot) at Earhammer Studios.
• Mastered by Nick Basset (Whirr, Nothing)
• Cover painting by the late Mariusz Lewandowski.

FOR FANS OF:
Nothing, Holy Fawn, Windhand, Hum, Grivo, Whirr

Greed Worm "Ritual Onslaught"

LP - $13.35
STREET DATE: 3/15/24
CAT#: PRO-093
LABEL: Protagonist Music

At the violent intersection of tech noir and old-school metalcore is where we find Greed Worm, a Chicago-based quintet in the business of serving dank, mean-spirited riffs for the disenfranchised since 2021. With "Ritual Onslaught" they've fused outright ignorant doses of musical dissonance and noise with lyrics condemning the artificial constructs that create and perpetuate human suffering. This approach conjures an almost mechanized brutality across the album that sees fit to reflect, and in turn, destroy, our collective societal malaise. Featuring Mike Lundin from Sarin, Karly Soto from Snuffed, and Nick Ayala from Break the Cycle, this is Greed Worm's most anticipated and mature release yet.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Pirate Signal
2. Chaos Theory
3. Hand Over Your Flesh
4. Ritual Onslaught
5. Machine Learning ft.Nick Ayala
6. Crypto Fascist Arcology
7. Holographic Prison ft. Karly Soto
8. Broadcast Diaspora
9. Reap & Devour ft. Mike Lundin
10. Survive The City

MARKETING POINTS:

• Features members of Crowning, Snuffed, Shrivel Up, Modern Nun
• Recorded and Mastered by Pete Grossman (Frail Body, Mouth For War, Gates to Hell, Inclination) at Bricktop Studios

FOR FANS OF:
Disembodied, Slipknot, Cult Leader, Pig Destroyer, Nails

Graduation Speech "Arcane Feelings"

LP - $13.35
STREET DATE: 3/1/24
CAT#: PRO-094
LABEL: Protagonist Music

As musicians change, so does their music. It's an unavoidable truth that some fans hold against their favorite artists, but an artist's evolution also yields some of their most powerful music. Case in point: New Jersey's Graduation Speech was conceived when Kevin Day sought a quieter creative outlet separate from his band Aspiga. Though the intimate acoustic project differed dramatically from Aspiga's brand of blown-speaker pop-punk, it opened new doors for Day as a songwriter. Now, after six years of releases, Graduation Speech is ready with Arcane Feelings, an EP that noticeably features six full-band songs, building on 2021's Maintenance Required. On that EP, Day called on friends to add guitars, drums, keys, and percussion, showing what Graduation Speech could look like with more rhythm and layers. Where previous Graduation Speech releases were quiet, personal -- perfect for an acoustic house show living room -- the songs on Arcane Feelings are written for a small stage in the back of a bar, the crowd knocking shoulders, nodding to the beat as they nurse their beers. That's in no small part due to the addition of Billy Bollinger, Brandon Iacometta (both of Crucial Dudes), and Pat Pie rounding out this new lineup. It's different from what fans might initially expect, whether in the quieter moments which now seem to pack more weight, or in the resounding guitars and choirs of vocals, but the added instrumentation and layers transform these songs into something powerful in an entirely new way.

TRACK LISTING:

1. No Confidence
2. Henry
3. 09-12-20
4. Break The Curse
5. Get Lost
6. Follow

MARKETING POINTS:

• Featuring members of Aspiga, Crucial Dudes
• Engineered, Mixed, and Mastered by Dave Downham (Beach Slang, mewithoutYou, Into It Over It, Plow United)

FOR FANS OF:
The Weakerthans, The Get Up Kids, Jets to Brazil, The Menzingers

Bosses "Jokes"

CASSETTE - $6.00
STREET DATE: 12/29/23
CAT#: PRO-091
LABEL: Protagonist

Brooding rock melts into dreamy atmospherics on "Jokes," the first EP from Chicago area 5-piece, bosses. Originally led by Harlee Young, the full band lineup now includes members of Dead Sun, Highdiver, and Griefeater to flesh out their immense sound. Pulling inspiration from shoegaze and grunge, the hypnotic bosses approach can best be described as heavy, ethereal, and highly emotional.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Overkill
2. Windburn
3. Sick

MARKETING POINTS:

• Features members of Dead Sun, Highdiver, and Griefeater

FOR FANS OF:
Nothing, Balance & Composure, Superheaven, Still

Sexless Marriage "This Is Not Love"

LP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 11/3/23
CAT#: PRO-081
LABEL: Protagonist

Returning for their second album, Sexless Marriage burst forth with more of their frantic yet driving frustration and self-deprecating dirge. Crafting raw and unsettling hardcore that is unmistakably punk, they drag you through the shards of shattered convention as the story of "This Is Not Love" is told. The battering is delivered by the hands of players who've done service in Doomriders, Deafheaven, Umbra Vitae, Weak Flesh, The Red Chord, and Wear Your Wounds, across 15 grimy tracks including two with guest vocals by Jacob Bannon of Converge. Heavy doses of workaday grit and desperation are purged at every turn along the way, buoyed by tensely creative yet unforgiving musicianship that is guaranteed to make your ears bleed and your head bang. This Is Not Love...This Is Necessity.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Burnt Beginnings
2. Sundowning
3. Abstract Optimistic
4. Harsh Light
5. Enduring Love
6. Fortune Favors the Fortunate
7. Cardiac Arrest
8. Brainless Heart
9. Wet Room
10. Tethered
11. Arrogant Pessimist
12. Delicate Flesh
13. Flirting with Disease
14. Tapeworm
15. Tourist of Grief

MARKETING POINTS:

• Sexless Marriage features members of Doomriders, Deafheaven, Umbra Vitae, & The Red Chord
• Album features 2 tracks with guest vocals by Jacob Bannon (Converge, Umbra Vitae, Wear Your Wounds)
• Recorded by Chris Johnson (Cave In, Deafheaven, Cult Leader) at New Alliance.
• Mastered by Zach Weeks (Acid King, Into It. Over It.) at God City.

FOR FANS OF:
Filth Is Eternal, Black Flag, Pig City, Rabbit, Public Acid

The Suffering "Our Fathers Turn In Their Graves"

LP - $13.35
STREET DATE: 10/27/23
CAT#: PRO-088
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Delivering a thundering metal onslaught with a sturdy hardcore spine, The Suffering live up to their dour name on a debut album of unbridled aggression. Members of the band are hardly strangers to playing abrasive music with scene veterans from notable bands such as Bleeding Through, Light This City, Mean Season, First Blood, etc. And all respect to the past, of course, but when The Suffering divert somewhat from former paths, opting instead for a noisier, bleaker, and more earache inducing brand of metal, it definitely stands on its own throat-punching merits. Their insistence on a non-stop attack, along with a pointed lyrical approach can really only be described as utterly relentless, combining break-neck speed and jarring breakdowns into an all-out musical tempest. Add to that the searing guest vocal spot on "Preach" from Aaron Weseman of Disembodied fame, and the deed is certainly done. File under uneasy listening.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Reflection
2. Excommunicated
3. Preach (ft. Aaron Weseman)
4. Black
5. The Disconnect
6. Influencer

MARKETING POINTS:

• Featuring ex-members of Bleeding Through, Mean Season, Light This City, First Blood
• "Preach" features guest vocals from Aaron Weseman of Disembodied

FOR FANS OF:
Bleeding Through, Gatecreeper, Pig Destroyer, Entombed, Ringworm

Bleached Cross "Exhumed"

Cassette - $7.00
STREET DATE: 10/20/23
CAT#: PRO-087
LABEL: Protagonist Music

"Exhumed" is the final offering from the studio sessions that produced the self-titled debut from Chicago's Bleached Cross. Featuring a previously unheard B-Side entitled "Despise", as well as remixes by The True Faith and Meatman (Trevor Vaughan), and unearthed demos from the time leading up to that recording session, this is simultaneously a bookend to the beginning stages of the band while also signaling the start of the next chapter in their sonic journey. Cold, introspective, and haunting, Bleached Cross have been making it their business to convert the masses into believers of their oppressive post-punk sound. With the release of "Exhumed" and future touring plans on the horizon, it's not too late to join in their next ritual… LET IT BLEED.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Despise
2. Field of Souls (The True Faith remix)
3. Field of Souls (Meatman Remix)
4. Suffer (Demo)
5. Soul Bleed (Demo)

MARKETING POINTS:

• Features members of DW artist Frail Body & Crowning and Pains
• Remixes by The True Faith and Meatman (Trevor Vaughan of Wound Man, Internal)
• On tour with Black Magnet in January

FOR FANS OF:
Cold Cave, The True Faith, Chain Cult, Frail Body, Drab Majesty, Soft Kill

Wet The Rope / Icepield "Split"

LP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 10/6/23
CAT#: PRO-078
LABEL: Protagonist Music

On this split album we find California represented in two bands that are deeply connected to the experience of 90's emotional hardcore, while firmly establishing relevancy for the current times. Northern California's Wet The Rope approach their second vinyl release by quieting their angular, off-kilter hardcore just slightly and focusing their work on exploring aging, loss, and death. Their sound is plaintive, urgent, and melodic, bringing to mind acts such as Ignition, Pot Valiant, and Swiz. San Diego's Icepield follow up their cassette EP with tracks that bring to mind their hometown flavor a la Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, while a closer listen reveals touches of 80's dark post-punk and alternative rock as well. Their anxious and chaotic melody along with cryptic, introspective lyrics, combine for a driving and ultimately catchy result. Wet The Rope boast ex-members of Amber Inn and Downcast, while Icepield have ex-members of Stickfigurecarousel.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Wet The Rope - Let the Rain Fall Forever
2. Wet The Rope - Appalachian Dusk
3. Wet The Rope - Suffocation
4. Wet The Rope - Alarms are Obsolete
5. Wet The Rope - Bring Us Back
6. Icepield - Truth Decay
7. Icepield - The Glove
8. Icepield - Brutal Holiday
9. Icepield - Please Send Hell
10. Icepield - Open Presence

MARKETING POINTS:

• Wet The Rope is ex members of Amber Inn, Downcast
• Icepield is ex members of Stickfigurecarousel
• Album mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Graf Orlock, Joyce Manor) at Atomic Garden

FOR FANS OF:
Amber Inn, Ignition, Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Swiz

Academy Order "A New Kind of Fear"

LP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 9/29/23
CAT#: PRO-085
LABEL: Protagonist Music

Since 2021, Academy Order have been honing their sound through various releases and live incarnations, expertly showcasing elements of death rock, punk, new wave, and even hardcore in a sonic amalgamation that is uniquely their own, while remaining just familiar enough to keep heads nodding. Now they surge forth with a debut LP, unleashing "A New Kind of Fear" to solidify an approach that touches nerves both lyrically and musically via counterpoints of aggression and melody not so commonly coupled in the broad genre of post-punk. The deliciously cold attack of driving guitars and Matthew's demanding vocals weighed against synth lines straight from the 80's dance floor and Norelle's angelic vocal hooks bring the shadowy rhythm of the whole album to halting depths and infectious heights. Though far from derivative, fans of seminal acts such as 45 Grave, Clan of Xymox, and TSOL may find themselves moving just as readily as those who enjoy Danse Society, Bleached Cross, and Chain Cult.

TRACK LISTING:

1. A New Kind of Fear
2. The Devil Spoke
3. World Sent Spinning
4. Death in the Mid-Atlantic
5. Echelons Cave
6. Remember the Night
7. ...You Learn To Sleep
8. Perennial Sun
9. Death in the American South
10. Life in the Fog Bank

MARKETING POINTS:

• Recorded by Zach Miller (GEL, Sick Shit) at Landmine/Noisewar Studios
• Mastered by Phillip Odom (Code Orange, Portrayal of Guilt, Angel Dust) at Bad Wolf Recordings
• Full US tour Oct/Nov 2023

FOR FANS OF:
45 Grave, Clan of Xymox, TSOL, Chain Cult, Bleached Cross, Blitz