Stress Positions "Harsh Reality"

LP - $17.25
STREET DATE: 12/8/23
CAT#: 31G136
LABEL: Three One G

Stress Positions is a band from Chicago, IL. The band is made up of three members from the now-defunct C.H.E.W. (Drummer Jonathan Giralt, guitarist Benyamin Rudolph, and bassist Russell Harrison) with new vocalist Stephanie Brooks. The band formed in 2020 during the Covid pandemic and plays forward-looking classic American hardcore punk. A new EP on Iron Lung records is due in September, as is an LP from Three One G. This is jungle D-Beats for clapping cheeks. Expect the unexpected in the kingdom of madness.

Harsh Reality was recorded by Seth Engel (Floatie, C.H.E.W, Nnamdi, Ratboys ), mixed by Matt Russell (Big Laugh, Oozing Wound, Rezen), and mastered by James Plotkin (Botch, Voivod, Cave In).

"Stress Positions barrel through most of these songs at such blistering speeds that they almost become airborne, leaving scorch marks on the ground. Giralt's dense, thundering drumming ignites the band's riffs and gives them their core character--they're relentless and frantic, though they can jump from pulverizing to swinging like flicking a light switch. Stress Positions are as loud as you'd expect--Rudolph's seesawing guitars alone can fill a room--but Brooks's voice is somehow even louder, so that her sharp holler punctures the avalanche of noise like a giant spike." --Chicago Reader

"...there's so much detail and nuance immediately found in the songwriting, creating tension and resolve, only to bludgeon it all into obscurity. This is not caveman hardcore, Stress Positions play with a sense of brilliance and a earthquaking dexterity. C.H.E.W. may be no more, but long live Stress Positions, perhaps your new favorite hardcore band."--Post-Trash

"...hardcore with lots of fun surprises thrown in… Vocalist Stephanie Brooks has a brutal vocal delivery that oscillates between shredding and shrieking, only slowing down to softer singing on an occasion or two… highly recommended."--Maximum RocknRoll

TRACK LISTING:

1. Harsh Reality
2. Hand to Mouth
3. How to Get Ahead
4. White Leech
5. No Sympathy (For the Police)
6. Flaming Sword
7. Performative Justice
8. Sunken Place
9. Ode to Aphrodite

MARKETING POINTS:

• The band is made up of three members from the now-defunct C.H.E.W. (Drummer Jonathan Giralt, guitarist Benyamin Rudolph, and bassist Russell Harrison) with new vocalist Stephanie Brooks
• Recorded by Seth Engel (Floatie, C.H.E.W, Nnamdi, Ratboys)
• Mixed by Matt Russell (Big Laugh, Oozing Wound, Rezen)
• Mastered by James Plotkin (Botch, Voivod, Cave In)

Boss Keloid "The Calming Influence Of Teeth"

LP - $19.40 / CD - $9.60
STREET DATE: 12/8/23
CAT#: CRR199
LABEL: Church Road

Hailed as one of the heavy music world’s most unbelievably stunning experiences, Boss Keloid are a band driven by a burning need to move forward.

Boss Keloid’s penchant for producing heavy and magnificently multi-layered music has generated huge support and massive expectations. Rising from the stoner/prog underground in the UK, they've produced some of the most mind-altering, genre-bending music while gaining a reputation for never standing still.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Winehorse
2. Locking Stumps
3. Skipper's Pipes
4. Manson Lamps
5. Muscular Grin
6. Bellow of Blackened Beasts
7. Hoof Conductor
8. One For The Floorboards
9. Firm Set of Hordes
10. Madam Palindrome

FOR FANS OF: Khemiss

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Full of Hell and Nothing "When No Birds Sang"

LP - $17.50 / CD - $7.00
LP UPC: 197189771071
CD UPC: 197189886133
STREET DATE: 12/1/23
CAT#: CLCR126
LABEL: Closed Casket Activities

Like wolves of the same pack separated at birth, outliers instinctually recognize one another. After twisting and turning through the underground on parallel trajectories, the separate paths of Full of Hell and Nothing collide on the collaborative LP, When No Birds Sang (out December 1st on Closed Casket Activities).

At this meeting point, Full of Hell—Dylan Walker [vocals], Spencer Hazard [guitar], Dave Bland [drums], and Sam DiGristine [bass]—and Nothing’s Domenic “Nicky” Palermo [vocals, guitar] and Doyle Martin [vocals, guitar] burst out of genre confines together with a sound that’s equally dangerous and dynamic.

“Both Full of Hell and Nothing deal with the same genre-phobia,” laughs Nicky. “We’ve been called any style you can think of, but we’re both simply intent on making soul crushers.” “We’re beyond limiting ourselves to a genre,” agrees Dylan. “There aren’t any rules, but there’s clearly an identity. No matter what Nothing does, I can tell it’s them. We’re meeting in the middle where it’s lush and beautiful, but also sad and ugly if you look closely at it. Out of mutual respect, we just decided to go for it.”

Nothing and Full of Hell initially crossed paths in the twenty-tens, sharing the bills of shows and festivals intermittently. Dylan and Nicky kept in touch over the years, and the collaboration naturally followed. Together, they built a new “wall of sound” in the middle out of Full of Hell’s abstract and harsh ambience and Nothing’s searing shoegaze tendencies—conjuring extreme peaks and valleys inspired by the likes of My Bloody Valentine and latter day Swans.

“We’ve never done anything like this,” Nicky goes on. “The contrast is huge as we’re putting two extremes together and making them work. We’re just bridging the gap.”

Ambitious in scope and concept, When No Birds Sang not only showcases the bands’ creative highs, but also some of humanity's woeful lows— and they introduce this body of work with “Spend The Grace.” An unnerving melody gives way to cathartic growls atop a sparse beat, and guitars buzz beneath gritty vocals only to spiral out into trudging distorted crescendo. “We put the song together as we went through this experience,” recalls Nicky. “The whole record built itself as it moved.”

"Spend The Grace" arrives today alongside a high-concept, allegorical cinematic feature. Directed by Mike Martinez and Tyler Way, the video is opaque in nature but tells a devastating story. The directors comment, “In our endless quest to navigate the profound intricacies of reality, we often encounter a significant challenge: the limitations of language. However in those decisive moments, when individuals are confronted with the choice of determining their own paths versus succumbing to external influences, a remarkable opportunity can unfold. Within a fleeting instant, liberation can arise and a being can exist in one world while inhaling the essence of another.”

Full Of Hell and Nothing notably wrote When No Birds Sang face-to-face in Ocean City, MD and collaborated in-person as much as possible. Eventually, they entered the studio with GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Will Putney. The atmosphere contributed to the energy of the record itself.

“I was super happy to be in a room and not just throwing shit back and forth online,” Nicky states. “I have such a hard time when I’m not staring down the barrel of a gun. Being in a room with these guys brought everything into reality.” “It’s way more productive,” Dylan continues. “This was the first time any of us had worked with Will. His resume speaks for itself, and he definitely added a great perspective.” “It’s an emotional record,” adds Dylan. “Once we decided on the concept, we followed a similar approach. We’re bringing you to this edge of an empty void.”

Yet it feels good because it’s undeniably real.

“When you hear it, I hope you feel devastated emotionally,” Dylan leaves off. “If we’re doing our job, it will freak you the f*ck out in the best way, because you’re staring at the precipice of oblivion with us.”

“‘Devastation’ is a good reaction for me,” Nicky concurs. “From top-to-bottom, this record is highly comprehensive and super detailed. For me, the process itself was humbling. Every once in a while— with doing music for the better part of my life —experiences like this sometimes erase the imposter syndrome I feel playing music, and for a moment I forget how big of a loser I am,” he grins.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Rose Tinted World
2. Like Stars in the Firmament
3. Forever Well
4. Wild Blue
5. When No Birds Sang
6. Spend The Grace

MARKETING POINTS:

• Deathwish Exclusive vinyl color limited to 300 copies
• First collaboration album between Full of Hell and Nothing
• Produced and Engineered by Will Putney

FOR FANS OF:
Swans, Boris, Converge, Neurosis

Juan Cordero "Songs About Ghosts"

LP - $17.25
STREET DATE: 12/1/23
CAT#: SDR-101
LABEL: Sunday Drive

Wandering, distance and sleeplessness creep through each song on the debut LP, "Songs About Ghosts" from Texas, indie-rock artist, Juan Cordero. Born over the years from songwriter, Jonathan Perez (Trauma Ray) as an output of solo expression, Juan Cordero succeeds in this; while drenched in fuzzy guitars and noisy melodies. With the help of friends & bandmates, Mario Cernadas and Uriel Avilia, with mixing/master engineer, Corey Coffman, "Songs About Ghosts" is crafted exactly as envisioned from Perez. Welding influences from Dinosaur Jr to Red House Painters and Duster, Juan Cordero creates these haunting, yet beautiful songs that manage to get stuck in your head from their catchy melodies and mysterious-like lyrics. The words, "I'll come around--I'll come around for you" are the last sung on "Songs About Ghosts"; perfectly ending and summarize the feeling of the record as a whole.

TRACK LISTING:

1. SWAT
2. Casiorock
3. Halfstep90
4. Blink
5. Trouble
6. DRIP
7. Transient Memories
8. Blood on the Afternoon
9. Pink Cloud

MARKETING POINTS:

• Written and performed by members of Trauma Ray
• Mixed and mastered by Corey Coffman

FOR FANS OF:
Dinosaur Jr, Red House Painter, Duster

Instagram

Chuck Ragan "The Blueprint Sessions"

2xLP - $27.50
SWAMP GREEN & BROWN IN ELECTRIC BLUE UPC: 4059251610359
CLEAR / BLUE & WHITE / BLUE UPC: 4059251610373
ECO BLUE / GREEN UPC: 4059251610366
STREET DATE: 12/1/23
CAT#: EH096
LABEL: End Hits

Hot Water Music singer Chuck Ragan and End Hits Records will collaborate to release the sought-after THE BLUEPRINT SESSIONS of the country/folk singer for the first time in a deluxe double vinyl version.

Originally, these recordings were only available through a monthly 7" subscription offered by Florida punk rock cult label NO IDEA. For over sixteen years, these singles have been out of print and have become sought-after collector's items. That's why Chuck Ragan and End Hits Records have decided to make these songs available again, combined on a double LP.

The 16-track collection is packaged in a deluxe gatefold sleeve and comes with printed inner sleeves. All versions of the sixteen songs included are ecxlusive to this release and have been specially remastered for vinyl. The double album will be released worldwide through End Hits Records and will be available in four extravagant vinyl configurations. Additionally, End Hits and Chuck Ragan are excited to offer eco-friendly, recycled vinyl for the first time. Each recycled record is unique and will have an individual look due to the recycling process.

TRACK LISTING:

1. The Boat
2. For Broken Ears
3. It's What You Will
4. Symmetry
5. Valentine
6. Do What You Do
7. Do You Pray?
8. Congratulations Joe
9. The Grove
10. Above The Flames
11. Open Up And Wail
12. Sound Of A Gun
13. Trenchfoot
14. Done And Done
15. Hearts Of Stone
16. Hold My Bed

MARKETING POINTS:

• Deluxe Double Vinyl in Gatefold Cover with printed inner sleeves
• Chuck Ragan is the vocalist of Hot Water Music

FOR FANS OF:
Hot Water Music

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

Instagram

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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Strange Joy "Power Pop"

7"EP - $7.50
STREET DATE: 11/17/23
CAT#: SDR-103
LABEL: Sunday Drive

Right when Strange Joy came out of the gates in Houston in 2021, it was obvious there was something unique and special about the band. A raw energy was always present at their live shows, always paired with a sense of melody, and sticking out from the lineup--in the best way possible. Over the past year, with continuous shows and newcomers, Strange Joy have naturally evolved and adapted into what we hear today. Their new record, Power Pop is their strongest display yet; showing a much more straight-forward, fast and angry hardcore sound. Not to say the band has abandoned their melody, but have incorporated it into these songs with a new approach. Ringing guitar strings are heard throughout the tracks, while other guitars have a fuzzy and driving sound, along with Castillo's vocal patterns that never fail to make Strange Joy's songs as catchy as they are. Power Pop is titled appropriately--this is Strange Joy at their most powerful sounding yet.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Heatwave
2. Power Pop
3. Brickwork
4. Fiending (Blank Out)

MARKETING POINTS:

• East coast tour planned for the winter
• First new music since their debut EP

FOR FANS OF:
Fucked Up, Deep Wound, My Luck, Jawbreaker

Instagram

Shelter "Eternal"

LP - $17.50
STREET DATE: 11/17/23
CAT#: EH091
LABEL: End Hits

Originally released in 2006, with the small initial vinyl edition out of print for years, SHELTER's "Eternal" has become a cherished gem and sought-after collector's item for fans worldwide. Now, End Hits Records and Ray "Ragunath" Cappo have joined forces once again to fill the gap in everyone's SHELTER and vinyl hardcore collection. After 17 long years, "Eternal" will finally be available again, fully remastered and beautifully repackaged.

The record features the legendary Ray Cappo on vocals, complemented by the extraordinary talents of Dave DiCenso (known for his work with Cro-Mags and as the drummer on SHELTER's "Mantra") and Ken Olden (the mastermind behind Damnation AD, Better Than A Thousand, Battery, and Worlds Collide) on guitar and bass. "Eternal" distinctly showcases SHELTER's poppier side with eleven hook-laden and anthemic hardcore songs.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Meant To Be
2. Built To Resist
3. Eternal
4. My First Priority
5. Back To Vrindavrin
6. My Chance To Live
7. Amend
8. Return To Eden
9. In Defense Of Reality
10. Lotus-like
11. Authenticity

MARKETING POINTS:

• After 17 long years, "Eternal" will finally be available again, fully remastered and beautifully repackaged

FOR FANS OF: Youth Of Today, Better Than A Thousand

Don't Sleep "Don't Sleep"

12"EP - $14.00
STREET DATE: 11/17/24
CAT#: EH089
LABEL: End Hits

End Hits Records is re-introducing DON'T SLEEP's same titled debut EP that put the East Coast Hardcore All-Star Group on the map back in 2017!

Originally released in 2017 by Unity World Wide Records and long sold out the debut 12" from DON'T SLEEP is finally available again for hardcore punk enthusiasts through End Hits Records.

This masterpiece features 7 hard-hitting, blistering hardcore punk rock songs featuring the unmistakable voice of punk rock legend Dave Smalley, known for his contributions to iconic bands like Down By Law, Dag Nasty, All, and DYS.

End Hits brought the EP back with updated artwork as one-sided 12" vinyl with a striking screen print on the B side, making it a must-have for vinyl collectors. This is your chance to own this piece of hardcore punk history and experience it in all its updated glory.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Bring The Light
2. Lazarus
3. Hypocrite
4. Arise
5. The Reckoning
6. Jetstream Days
7. All The Way To Nowhere

MARKETING POINTS:

• Features Dave Smalley (Down By Law, Dag Nasty, All, DYS)
• One-sided 12" with Silkscreen Cover on Side B

FOR FANS OF:
Dag Nasty, DYS, Down By Law

Deafheaven "Sunbather: 10th Anniversary Remix / Remaster"

2xLP - $19.40 / CASSETTE - $8.75 / CD - $8.00
2xLP UPC: 791689665757
2xLP INDIE UPC: 791689665863
CASSETTE UPC: 791689665771
CD UPC: 791689665764
STREET DATE: 11/17/23
CAT#: DW251
LABEL: Deathwish Inc.

Deafheaven's monolithic second LP Sunbather, was not only a massive success in 2013, it created a radical shift in heavy music culture, an acceptance of the genre by previous outsiders, and a trailblazing sound that heretofore hadn't been heard outside of learned circles. It was a reville introducing the changing of the guard in metal, featuring phenomenal reviews across the board, and breaking the mold used by buttoned-up indie types and false-flag musical dilettantes intent on keeping the status quo.

A maverick release in every facet, the cornerstone for the triumph that is Sunbather truly lies in its world class songwriting. From the opening anthem "Dream House,'' it's clear to see that Deafheaven was soaring triumphantly into the unknown, through the emotional highs and lows, the fire and rain, and onto the unseen road ahead. Lyrically, Sunbather examines themes of existentialism, diving headfirst into the abyss, and the pursuit of self-discovery. The album's title itself is similar in scope, representing the embrace of the light and movement out of the dark unknown.

Sunbather takes influence from the majesty of early Emperor and underground US heroes Weakling, the dark beauty of France's Alcest, the introspective nature of post-rock and shoegaze gods like Mogwai and Slowdive, as well as the DIY spirit of punk ranging from Fugazi to Man is the Bastard to create a new realm for their emotional and expansive epics. The result is the nihilism and icy darkness found in black metal melding perfectly with the pensive, ethereal nature of shoegaze and the expansive dramatics of post-rock to create a new landscape. By juxtaposing propulsive and harsh blast beats and riffs against soaring melody, Deafheaven had refocused the blind-hate nature found at the kernel of black metal into a melancholic and singular journey to explore the unknown.

Considering metal's staunchly negative relationship with the press, Deafheaven's Sunbather was nothing less than a true triumph. An immediate success at the time of it's release, Sunbather blasted through the glass ceiling that limited so many other heavy music bands before them. Lauded by virtually every major critical outlet, Sunbather is the picture perfect ideal of a music darling-- leading to sold out shows around the globe in increasing numbers. Sunbather would eventually become a year end favorite, repeatedly named one of the best albums of 2013 and landing on top 10 lists that were previously alien to heavy music-- outlets like Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, the New York Times and the like. And while the critics were dogpiling on the compliments, the conservative nature of heavy metal could not help but spin things in the opposite direction. As the saying goes, 'the first one through the door catches all the bullets.'

"The easy answer was it was totally positive and overwhelming," says founding guitarist Kerry McCoy with a bit of a chuckle when asked about his feelings about the response to Sunbather. "But in actuality it was also kind of frustrating. We were grateful for the positive notes, but there were people who thought we were the worst thing to ever happen to metal and others who thought that we claimed to invent the genre. Neither were true."

In addition to the game-changing musical approach, the band's aesthetics were nothing if not utterly controversial as well. Designer Nick Steinhardt's striking cover with use of a highly stylized font and a pale pink as the chosen color is not only a masterstroke in contemporary design, it was a true middle finger to the black metal establishment-- one that prided itself on a lo-fi black and white aesthetic. The bright and easily recognizable cover openly positioned the album as a true outsider unafraid to duck genre boundaries.

Formed in 2010 in San Francisco, California with the core duo of George Clarke and McCoy, the pair completed their debut demo with Jack Shirley, who would eventually helm Sunbather, releasing it on limited cassette. The cassette became an underground phenomenon, leading to a record deal with Deathwish Inc who released the cassette in limited numbers on seven-inch. After recruiting a live band, the five piece recorded their debut LP Roads to Judah and embarked on a series of shorter tours to promote the release. When the time came for the follow-up, the band slimmed back down to the original duo and added drummer Daniel Tracey-- creating what many believe to be one of the most important musical statements of the '10s. The release would be their third with Jack Shirley. "Honestly, Sunbather gave us a career," says McCoy with candor. "Before then we were working jobs and had these grandiose dreams, but that was the record that turned us into a real band. Because of that record, we ended up meeting a lot of people around the world that changed our lives and set us on the path we're on now."

Ten years later, Deafheaven is nothing less than a mammoth and live touring juggernaut, with fans across the far reaches of the earth and a flawless live lineup of Shiv Mehra on guitar (joined in 2013) and Chris Johnson on bass (2017) in addition to Clarke, McCoy and Tracey. One of the most important and original rock bands of the past fifteen years, the long-awaited reissue of this pivotal release celebrates its tenth anniversary with a fresh shine and coat of paint-- a newly remixed and remastered sound by original producer Jack Shirley with available spacial audio, an updated look to the packaging in all formats courtesy of the album's original designer Nick Steinhardt, and deluxe color vinyl that includes a gatefold jacket with spot UV printing and 2 full-color printed inner sleeves. Whether a newbie to this colossal record or a familiar party, the anniversary edition is a crucial addition to the collection of any erudite music fan.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Dream House
2. Irresistible
3. Sunbather
4. Please Remember
5. Vertigo
6. Windows
7. The Pecan Tree

MARKETING POINTS:

• Remixed and remastered by Jack Shirley and available in Spacial Audio
• Updated vinyl, CD, and cassette packaging by the album's original designer Nick Steinhardt
• Announcing 10 Year Anniversary shows in major markets w/ Touché Amoré
• Given "Best New Music" by Pitchfork in 2013
• Best-rated album on Metacritic in 2013

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Dan Darrah & The Rain "Rivers Bridges Trains"

LP - $17.25
STREET DATE: 11/17/23
CAT#: SDR-107
LABEL: Sunday Drive

Dan Darrah is a twenty-something Toronto-based songwriter and guitar player whose compositions embed themselves in listeners' memories via off-kilter Beatles-esque melodicism and impressionistic lyrics that come by their romanticism obliquely, ironically, almost aphoristically. Whereas Darrah has for years been recording songs off the cuff by himself in his bedroom, his new album, Rivers Bridges Trains, was recorded in a proper studio, over several months, with the help of players and singers he's known and collaborated with since his adolescence on Greater Toronto's eastern outskirts. The album, which collates and repurposes many of those old bedroom songs, is protean and rangy in the tradition of songcraft-oriented acts like Teenage Fanclub, Mojave 3, and Jets to Brazil. British Invasion harmony melds with country-rock languor as a somewhat bemused kitchen-sink realism emerges out of a swirl of half-recovered memories.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Charade
2. Look Away
3. Rule of Three
4. C.A.L. Jam
5. Blue
6. May Moon Interlude
7. I'll Be Surprised
8. Thorn
9. Rivers Without Swimmers
10. High Note

MARKETING POINTS:

• Featuring members of Mil-Spec
• Debut LP from Dan Darrah & The Rain

FOR FANS OF:
Mojave 3, Teenage Fanclub, Jets to Brazil

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Horsewhip "Consume and Burn"

LP - $17.25 / CASSETTE - $7.00
LP UPC: 724399772194
STREET DATE: 11/10/23
CAT#: IOD-46
LABEL: Iodine Recordings

Spawned in the dark swamp-scapes of Tampa Bay, Horsewhip has established itself as one of the most formidable and heaviest underground acts in hardcore. The environment that shaped them resonates in their sound -- dark, ugly and furious.

Their new full-length LP Consume and Burn is an uncompromising sonic odyssey. Horsewhip merges together the darkest corners of hardcore punk, screamo, and metal into their own vision of annihilation. Comprised of members of Reversal of Man, Combatwoundedveteran, Sutek Conspiracy and a myriad of other acts, it's an album that shows the band's pedigree in writing heavy music. But more than anything, there's a clear hunger to push the genre forward with each song.

Horsewhip shows moments of dissonance and unexpected beauty amid the oppressive weight of their sound. Songs like "Buried" offer brief respites of melody to create a forlorn sense of dread before redoubling their efforts. The aptly titled "Pain" shows its subject matter through multiple lenses, opening with a reflective riff before plummeting into breakneck speeds and full-throated chaos. Their strength lies in the raw, unadulterated fury that few can truly tap into.

The band's punishing new focus is thanks to a change in lineup, adding Dave Teten on guitar and allowing for a delta in riffage, as well as moving Shaun Drees to main vocals and Jeff Howe on back up vox. Consume and Burn calls to mind His Hero Is Gone and Disfear at their most disgusting, or Neurosis at a sped-up RPM. Each member is a master of their craft, drums guitar and bass all synchronizing into an aural mugging of heaviness. It's a testament to the depth and richness that can be found in anger, and why hardcore is at its best when it's mean.

Consume and Burn was tracked and mixed by John Howard at War House Recordings and Mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Album art by Christopher Norris at Steak MTN.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Cutting Through
2. Dissolve
3. Buried
4. Dark Matter
5. Pain
6. Plague Machine
7. Full of Fury
8. Circadian Rhythm

MARKETING POINTS:

• First full length since 2020's "Laid to Waste"
• Featuring members of: Reversal of Man and Combat Wounded Veteran
• Recent tours with: Jeromes Dream, SPY, City of Caterpillar, and Portrayal of Guilt
• Performing at The Fest in Gainesville, FL w/ Strike Anywhere
• Press handled by Atom Splitter PR (Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, Refused, etc)

FOR FANS OF:
His Hero Is Gone, Tragedy, Converge, Jeromes Dream, END

Official Site | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Ex Everything "Slow Change Will Pull Us Apart"

LP - $15.95 / CD - $9.60
CD UPC: 795154141227
STREET DATE: 11/10/23
CAT#: NR127
LABEL: Neurot Recordings

LP - $15.95 / CD - $9.60
CD UPC: 795154141227
STREET DATE: 11/10/23
CAT#: NR127
LABEL: Neurot Recordings

Our world has been gradually falling apart. This may seem like a bleak point of view, but the collapse we’re all witnessing inspired post-mathcore outfit Ex Everything as they created their eruptive debut Slow Change Will Pull Us Apart.

“Everything around us–politically, socially, environmentally–seems to be stretching and breaking,” says guitarist Jon Howell. “Our record sits in that terrifying place where you’ve been watching it happen.”

The Bay Area quartet boasts current and former members of Kowloon Walled City, Early Graves, Mercy Ties, Blowupnihilist, Less Art and others, but listeners shouldn’t mistake this for a short-term project or side band. This is a priority, every member focused and committed, and it only takes a few minutes with the album to understand how serious they are.

“This band is completely its own thing,” says Howell. “It addresses the part of us that wants to write fast, chaotic, knotty, messy, pissed off music.”

Started initially in 2018 between Howell and bassist Ben Thorne, drummer Dan Sneddon joined in 2019, solidifying the core of the band. After going through the usual growing pains, spiked with a global pandemic, they recruited vocalist Andre Sanabria who understood what the band needed and delivered it with a fierce dedication. Cut to the band heading into Sharkbite Studios with Scott Evans–whose engineering credits include Yautja, Town Portal and Ghoul–and the band was finally able to hear what they’d accomplished.

Slow Change Will Pull Us Apart is a near-perfect fusion of Dischord-influenced math rock and noisecore, a nuanced rage that refuses to accommodate the passive listener. Howell’s percussive, angular playing is as impressive as it is baffling, with malformed chords and abstract melodies that still burrow effortlessly into your brain.

Sneddon’s drumming is a stampede of frenetic time signatures, deceptively understated patterns and anthemic bashing, while Thorne’s bass roils underneath like a ship’s hull scraping the ocean floor.

The band’s true skill, though, lies in how their instruments interlock, the structuring of movements that grow songs from rotted dirges to triumphant war cries, rhythmic tension building until a riff explodes it into something unexpected and completely satisfying.

Sanabria screams like he’s trying to tear the songs apart, though he manages to find moments of almost zen-like contemplation. It’s a deft and mesmerizing performance, aided by his deeply thoughtful lyrics about, as Howell says, the steady dismembering of the things that bind us.

“I don’t know what we can do, except try and channel this terror into the music; add to the conversation by showing its face and saying how it makes us feel.”

First in the practice space, then at the studio, Ex Everything is now ready for Slow Change Will Pull Us Apart to be showcased at full volume on stage. “We want these songs to move people the way they move us,” Howell says. “Because this band is nothing without that.”

TRACK LISTING:

1. The Reduction of Human Life to an Economic Unit
2. Exiting the Vampire Castle
3. Detonation in the Public Sphere
4. A Sermon in Praise of Corruption
5. Slow Cancellation of the Future
6. Feral City
7. The Last Global Slaughter
8. Plunder, Cultivate, Fabricate

MARKETING POINTS:

• Features members of Kowloon Walled City, Early Graves, Mercy Ties, Blowupnihilist & Less Art

FOR FANS OF:
Kowloon Walled City, Converge, Neurosis

Melancholia "Book of Ruination"

LP - $16.60 / CD - $7.50 / CASSETTE - $7.00
LP UPC: 197189583865
STREET DATE: 11/3/23
CAT#: BPR-88
LABEL: Brutal Panda

True to its name, Bellingham WA's MELANCHOLIA explores dread and anguish in all of its malformed glory. Unified by bleak lyrical themes, suffocating atmosphere, dissonance and striking visual art, MELANCHOLIA exist to push the boundaries of extreme music. Formed in 2018, the duo has already released three EPs that have made waves through the underground. Book of Ruination, their most ambitious release to date, is a meditation into the void of sonic darkness and esoteric philosophy… an immense journey through life, death, and what lies beyond.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Ode to Ruination
2. Sunscathed
3. Circadian Throes
4. Yersinia in Bloom
5. No Place of Honor
6. Caught in Eternity's Jaws
7. Din of Gangrene Angels

MARKETING POINTS:

• Coverage and reviews confirmed with Revolver, Decibel, New Noise Magazine, Metal Injection, Metal Sucks, Stereogum, Invisible Oranges, Sick Drummer, etc.
• Debut full-length from Washington State black/doom/sludge duo. Featuring ex-members of Wild Throne (Roadrunner Records)
• Stunning artwork by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Gage

FOR FANS OF:
Leviathan, Mizmor, Deathspell Omega, Thou, Innumerable Forms, Worm, Tomb Mold, Aosoth

Instagram | Facebook

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

Birds In Row "You, Me & The Violence"

LP - $17.25
LP UPC: 791689665733
STREET DATE: 11/3/23
CAT#: DW137
LABEL: Deathwish Inc.

"You, Me, & The Violence" explodes out of the gates with "Pilori", a statement of personal independence among society's faults and fractures. Birds In Row continue down this road, expressing disdain in songs like "Cages", "Guillotine", and "Walter Freeman". All of them musically harboring a tangle of emotional vocals and rabid distortion. Just when it feels like the album is almost too overpowering, Birds In Row unfurl a moment of clarity in "Last Last Chance", a haunting guitar and vocal break. The control of their dynamics is masterful work. "You, Me, & The Violence" and "Grey Hair" are near perfect examples of this, shifting between searing and serene in tone. And if you weren't in awe of Birds In Row in the first eleven songs, the twelve minute closer "Lovers Have Their Say" will leave you floored.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Pilori
2. There Is Only One Chair In This Room
3. Cages
4. Guillotine
5. Walter Freeman
6. Last Last Chance
7. You, Me, & The Violence
8. Grey Hair
9. Cold War Everyday
10. The Illusionist
11. Police & Thieves
12. Lovers Have Their Say

MARKETING POINTS:

• Available again on new color vinyl
• Features the track "Pilori"
• EU Tour October 10th - November 4th

FOR FANS OF:
Touché Amoré, Loma Prieta, Modern Life Is War

Instagram | Facebook

Dead Bars "Regulars"

LP - $14.00
LP UPC: 724399772392
STREET DATE: 11/3/23
CAT#: IOD-54
LABEL: Iodine Recordings

The Seattle Punk quartette returns with "Regulars"! Produced by Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney). "11 Emotional singalong anthems - perfect for screaming along after you've had a beer, or five." -- KERRANG! Iodine Recordings is excited to present the second pressing of Dead Bars' 2019 sold out release on three new variants!

Dead Bars began in Seattle when punk drummer John Maiello ditched the sticks, picked up a guitar and started writing short blasts of no-bs-power-punk-rock in 2013. Soon after, NJ punk drummer C.J. Frederick joined to play drums and guitar. They quickly recorded and released five 7-inches, toured all over & made festival appearances, and eventually recorded their debut album, Dream Gig in C.J.'s home kitchen which saw a release in 2017. At the time, DIY punk zine Razorcake wrote of the album, "Dead Bars make something impossible to duplicate look so simple and attainable."

The next phase of the band introduced Jon Oddo from Kansas City on bass guitar. The three started making their next album Regulars which was released in 2019. Shortly after, Elliot Thordarson and Paul Davis came in to fill out the lineup on guitar and drums respectively. The group continues to consistently release new singles, mixtapes, live material, and most recently a new EP titled Sinkhole that is packed with "bruised romantic tunefulness," according to Stereogum.

2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the group and starts the next phase of the Dead Bars story. The future is unwritten. The family is growing, and the universe is vast. Dead Bars Forever.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Freaks
2. I'm a Regular
3. Pink Drink
4. Producto Toxico
5. Time Takes Away
6. Rain
7. Lucky
8. No Tattoos
9. I Need You
10. Another Day
11. You Never LeftMARKETING POINTS:

FOR FANS OF:
Bouncing Souls, Menzingers, Dillinger Four, Iron Chic, Off With Their Heads, Lucero

Official Site | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter