Racetraitor "Creation and the Timeless Order of Things"

LP - $17.25
LP UPC: 850048184039
STREET DATE: 11/24/23
CAT#: GFM103
LABEL: Good Fight Music

First formed in 1996, the band - Mani Mostofi (vocals), Dan Binaei (guitar), Andrea Black (guitar and backing vocals), R. Brent Decker (bass) and Andrew Hurley (drums) - continue to be at the forefront of experimental hardcore, as sonically and politically charged as ever. The 13 songs on Creation and the Timeless Order of Things focus on fighting for liberation from the oppressive systems that destroy humanity and the earth, while creating a geographic autobiography of Racetraitor.

The first single, "Eid," takes the listener to Iran. With singer Mani Mostofi and guitarist Dan Binaei both being the children of Iranian immigrants, "Eid" represents the band digging into their family stories after the 1979 Revolution. The track stretches the band's sound by blending their trademark metallic fury with heavy Persian classical music, contributed by renowned Persian classical musician, Fared Shafinury, as well as a guest feature from UK-Iranian vocalist, Patrick Hassan (xRepentancex). Making the video for "Eid" was a risky experience, as the cinematographer shot footage within public spaces of Iran, an act that could be criminalized in the country. The result is a blend of Iranian culture and history mixed with striking live performance shots, and can be watched HERE.

With the album originally set to be completed in 2020, as the for-profit medical infrastructure failed to protect the populations of earth, the band like many others, didn't finish the record as planned. Instead, this inspired Racetraitor to look at what they wanted to achieve sonically in a new light, creating a sound that is heavier, more psychedelic, and more worldly all at once. The band also took this time to have friends record additional vocals on the album, including contributions from Dennis Lyxzen (Refused), Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz), Stan Liszewaki (Terminal Nation), and Sanket Lama (Chepang) to name a few, plus Ethan Lee McCarthy (Primitive Man) contributing a noise track.

The record addresses specific places, events, visions, and people, that all tie to the band members histories. As Mani expands:

"In the past people seemed more interested in our story as a band than the themes we sing about. So I tried to create an album that bridges that. What have we seen and experienced that makes us the people and band we are. Places that our families are from, places that we have lived or worked. And through these geographies we address all sorts of socio-political issues from exploitation of migrant workers to domestic violence to indigenous rights. The end result is a much more personal record."

TRACK LISTING:

  1. Eid
  2. Chamelecón
  3. Cave of the Patriarchs
  4. Godspeed
  5. Land Acknowledgment
  6. Pastoral Monolith
  7. Black Creek / Red River
  8. Santa Apolonia
  9. Sarcophagus
  10. Subordinate Terror
  11. Cape Rerenga
  12. Sword
  13. Pangaea Proxima

MARKETING POINTS:

  • Features guest performances by Dennis Lyxzen (Refused), Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc, Cap'n Jazz), Stan Liszewaki (Terminal Nation), and Sanket Lama (Chepang)
  • Noise track by Ethan Lee McCarthy (Primitive Man)

FOR FANS OF:
Earth Crisis, Hatebreed, Integrity, Undying, Arkangel, Morning Again, Disembodied, Xibalba, Damnation AD

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Still "Doomed"

12"EP - Black
STREET DATE: 11/24/23
CAT#: SDR-109
LABEL: Sunday Drive

While still retaining the heaviness and waves of noise heard on their debut, "Faint", the St. Louis shoegaze band, Still returns on "Doomed" with a focus on melody--constantly drifting through the guitars and vocals. Reunited with longtime producer, Gabe Usery and mastered again with Zac Montez, they have clearly all approached "Doomed" a little differently. Vocals are more upfront, paired with the leading guitars and a background of fuzzy bass and crashing drums. Still seemed to have fully realized in these songs--dealing with dullness and yearning, yet delivered with abrasiveness and whispering vocals.

TRACK LISTING:

  1. Crushed
  2. Drift
  3. Phases
  4. Doomed
  5. Movements

MARKETING POINTS:

  • Follow up EP to the sold out record, "Faint"
  • Featuring members of Squint, Time and Pressure

FOR FANS OF:
My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride

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Underdark "Managed Decline"

LP - $19.40 / CD - $12.00
STREET DATE: 11/24/23
CAT#: CRR209
LABEL: Church Road

Underdark is a captivating and dynamic post-black metal band hailing from Nottingham, UK. Their highly anticipated sophomore album, 'Managed Decline' is set to release on November 24th, 2023, via Church Road Records.

Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences, Underdark has forged a unique sonic identity that blends elements of black metal, post-rock, and post-hardcore. Their music is characterized by ethereal melodies, atmospheric textures, and intense, emotive vocals. Fans of bands such as Deafheaven, Russian Circles, and Svalbard will find themselves drawn to the atmospheric landscapes that Underdark paints with their sound.

Underdark's music is a sonic journey that transports listeners through a range of emotions, from hauntingly beautiful passages to moments of intense catharsis. Their ability to seamlessly combine the ferocity of black metal with the expansiveness of post-rock sets them apart in the modern music landscape.

With 'Managed Decline,' Underdark continues to push the boundaries of their genre, delivering a deeply immersive and thought-provoking experience. This album is poised to be a significant milestone for the band, showcasing their growth as musicians and their dedication to crafting music that resonates on a profound level.

TRACK LISTING:

  1. The Past We Inherit, The Future We Build (28th February 1972)
  2. Managed Decline I (1st April 1988)
  3. Employment (16th June 1993)
  4. Matrimony (27th December 1997)
  5. Raised For A World That No Longer Exists
  6. Enterprise (1st November 2004)
  7. Managed Decline II (2nd November 2004)

FOR FANS OF:
Deafheaven, Russian Circles, Svalbard, Mol, Cult Of Luna

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MouthBreather "Self-Tape"

LP - $17.25 / CD - $7.00
LP UPC: 850048184084
CD UPC: 850048184053
STREET DATE: 11/24/23
CAT#: GFM104
LABEL: Good Fight Music

Massachusetts metal act MouthBreather have announced their fourth album, Self-Tape, set for release November 10th on Good Fight Music. Having shared the early single "You Try To Die" in June, today the band follow it up with the absolutely chaotic "Ethical Hunting." Creating their own genre - Gadget Metal - MouthBreather fuse together elements of metallic hardcore, technical metal, post-hardcore, and more into a frenzied swirl. "Ethical Hunting" is two minutes of pure rage, as scathing vocals meet monster sized riffs and more eccentric moments tie it all together. The song is inspired by a scene in the horror thriller The House That Jack Built, tying into the album's concept of each track being influenced by a different movie. The short film that accompanies "Ethical Hunting" follows its own psychological thriller path, creative and uncomfortable. The video was produced by vocalist Brett Cates and Sof Puchley, directed by Louie Chapman.

Self-Tape is unrelentingly heavy, crushing, and unforgiving. It's an album of mental decline captured through the influence of films that have inspired the band at key points in their lives, from horror to drama. In true MouthBreather fashion the record is totally original, but fans of 2021's I'm Sorry Mr. Salesman, 2018's Dollmeat, and 2017's Pig will all find connectivity. The album was produced by Nick Cates and Ryan Fosdick, and mixed by Nick Cates, at Burnout Labs, and mastered by Jay Maas (Defeater) at Getaway Recording.

TRACK LISTING:

  1. Ethical Hunting
  2. Imaginary Skin
  3. Wave to Me
  4. You Try to Die
  5. Shotgun Funeral
  6. iDoctor
  7. Rot Out
  8. I Know Best
  9. Solemate
  10. Self-Tape

MARKETING POINTS:

  • On tour in December w/ Left to Suffer, Tallah, Chamber, and Tractotomy

FOR FANS OF:
156/Silence, Wristmeetrazor, Frontierer, The Callous Dao Boys, See You Next Tuesday, Gaza, Chamber, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Portrayal of Guilt

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