Metz "Cellophane" Track review

The first single off Metz’s forthcoming album, Strange Peace, is an absolute headbanger. The band never shy’s away from the noise and on “Cellophane” they bring it in by the truck full. 

Singer / guitarist Alex Edkins creates a bleak and helpless picture of being buried alive, wrapped in plastic. “How will I know it’s real,” sings Edkins within explosive drum hits and noise drenched, sharp guitar riffs. It’s complete and utter despair while remaining as defiant as ever. 

“Cellophane” is face melting, large, and noisy while managing to stay melodic at times, and more structured than some of the bands older works.

Strange Peace was recorded live to tape by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago and it will be out September 22 on Sub Pop.

Check out the track below!

City Of Caterpillar Reunion Shows and Record Repress

Perhaps one of the most exciting pieces of music news that I've heard in a while is that legendary screamo giants City Of Caterpillar are not only repressing their only and incredible self-titled LP, but that the band in its original lineup is getting back together for the first time in 13 years for a handful of live performances.

City of Caterpillar bridged the gap between hardcore, punk, and indie. Their influence can be seen in most modern hardcore and punk bands. In their short existence in the early 2000's the band managed to create something that still to this day seems fresh and which transcends genre's but also the constant changing musical landscape. This record is both beautiful and chaotic. It's progressive. It's an instant classic in so many tight knit circles. This is passion. This is beautiful.

Stream the record on bandcamp.
Order the repress through Repeater Records.

City of Caterpillar will play:
Friday, Jan 13, 2017 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Bermuda Triangles, Big No
Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brendas w/ HIRS, Pinkwash
Sunday, Jan 15, 2017 - Washington DC @ Black Cat Backstage w/ Pygmy Lush, Malady
Monday, Jan 16, 2017 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus w/ Big Hush, Ghastly City Sleep

Perennial "Early Sounds For Night Owls" Review

This is the second review request I have received. Again a humbling experience to have people dig whats going on over here.

Anyways,

Perennial are a post-hardcore, self described "art punk" band featuring members of early Topshelf Records bands Lion Cub and Aeroplane, 1929. I get a little hesitant when people use the term "art punk" because it's usually never what I want it to be. I love art. I love punk. The two go hand in hand a lot of the time, but... sometimes... not.

Perennial is not one of those art punk bands. In fact I get a really nice combination of Sinaloa and Daniel Striped Tiger. The fullness of Sinaloa's songs and the raw energy of Daniel Striped Tiger, especially Condition days and earlier, but with something new. While producing top notch post hardcore jams, the band adds the new element of keys and effects which really add something nice. What's refreshing is that the keys take an active role in the song and aren't just there to add filler parts.

We are introduced to the keys as soon as possible as the ep kicks in with the rocking groove of "La Fugue Pour Beton brut." Nothing like coming out of the gates swinging. Energetic, some cool time changes, and the keys and effects at the end add that arty-ness to the mix which is followed by the straight forward and soild "Massachusetts Scenic Byways."

The albums interlude type track, "Circle/Pivot/Circle" is really nice. I like when bands release an ep of a handful of songs where you get a good well rounded taste for what they are about and where they could go in the future with a full album. I;m really stoked on the fact that Perennial can do these interlude tracks that offer more than the normal interlude/noise/ambient track. Sometimes it gets annoying when a band does this interlude thing. I feel like it's an easy way to go when you want another tracks but the ideas just aren't flowing anymore. This is not the case. The track is deliberate and it sets the scene for the intro to the closer/title track, "Early Sounds For Night Owls." A short subtle quiet vocal part that leads into a great payoff when the tracks starts moving.

All around this is a great first effort. Very excited to see what the future holds for this band.

Grab the limited cassette off their bandcamp and listen to the ep over there.

You can see the band on 4/2 in Willimantic, CT and on 4/8 in Amherst, MA!

Frameworks "Time Spent" Review

This record is so damn good. Frameworks blasts out two songs of the most kick ass post-hardcore, punk... whatever you want to call it. It's just insane. If you read the piece by The Fader you will also know the the songs are deep as hell too. So not only are they flipping' hard as fuck, but they are heavy as fuck, like meaningful!

"Worn Out" has this great intro part and it's almost like a heavy pop song when the band and vocals kick in. There are some great soaring guitars throughout. I love the tone of the guitar. It's clean and clear while staying hard. There is great tom work in this jam too. The end has some cool synth work going on. It's really intricate and there is this overwhelming feeling of urgency. Put this on repeat.

The title track, "Time Spent," goes so hard. It has such a sweet groove to it in the beginning. The guitars shred so hard and the drums are bombarding. The songs slows den for a bit and there's time to take a short breath of air and then jump back in the pit, kid. The end has this quick punk part and then some twinkly beautiful guitar work with some heavy synth flow.

Shit. I'm a mess. This one got me all wrecked.

Grab this record from the mighty Topshelf Records.
Stream it here.
See them on tour with Donovan Wolfington next month!