Latest List (2/5/16) Diiv, Massive Attack, Say Anything, and more

Aksumite-Rubber Room
Genre: Black Metal, Hardcore Punk
FFO: A Pregnant Light, Sandworm

A Pregnant Light’s Damian Master has teamed up once again with drummer Tim Lenger under the Aksumite monkier for a rock hard LP that starts the month off right. Rubber Room channels the unique approach to the Black Metal genre Master has gained a reputation for but transfers the creativity to the shared realm of hardcore punk and rock n’ roll. The two piece fires out hard-hitting rock n’ roll anthems with the progressive “A Void, Love” serving as the album’s fulcrum creating a well-structured and unique release that illustrates the mastery behind the writing of Damian Master. 

Bandcamp: https://colloquialsoundrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/rubber-room
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Diiv-Is the Is Are 
Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk, Dream Pop, Kraut Rock 
FFO: Beach Fossils, The Cure

With each passing moment, 31-year-old New York Indie rocker Zachary Cole Smith comfortably slips more and more comfortably into the “tortured artist” archetype. His struggles with substance abuse are no secret, he has achieved quasi-celebrity status due to his public relationship with pop singer Sky Ferreira, and the pressure of his follow up to Oshin were seemingly self-inflicted due to promises of gargantuan proportions. Is the Is Are proves to be a fitting title for the abstract seventeen tracks of both dream pop and shoegaze influenced post punk comparable to the likes of The Cure. It goes without saying that seventeen tracks is intimidating and an overall risky move for an indie rock album in 2016, but Smith somehow manages to keep the filler to a minumum. Even the 17-second abrupt instrumental “(Fuck)” serves its purpose ushering the listener into the final act of the record. Ferrieira takes on vocal duties on “Blue Boredom” suprisingly channeling strong Sonic Youth vibes that work strongly in the context of the album, and serves as more than just a forced couple cross promotional tactic (I’m looking directly at you, Max Bemis). Is the Is Are isn’t the mangnom opus Smith promises, but it is a dazzling release filled with ethereal vocals and dreamy guitarwork backing the memoirs of a tortured soul.

Bandcamp: https://diivct.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diivnyc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealienzzz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DIIV
 

Ghostlimb-Difficult Loves 
Genre: Post Hardcore
FFO: Graf Orlock, Trap Them

Ghostlimb is a Californinan Post Hardcore trio fronted by Justin Smith of Dangers and Graf Orlockfame. Known for their ability to balance both abrasiveness and melody, Ghostlimb’s sound has a far more aggressive punch than most of their genre peers lyrically rooted in history and politics while still maintaining a melodic foundation comparable to acts such as Hot Water Music. Looking for some pissed off punk rock? Listen to Ghostlimb.

Bandcamp: http://vitriolrecords.bandcamp.com/album/difficult-loves
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Massive Attack-Ritual Spirit EP 
Genre: Trip Hop, Hip Hop
FFO: Portishead, Bjork

While Portishead may take credit for the popularity of “Trip Hop”, Massive Attack had a more piviotal role in pioneering the genre with their 1991 debut Blue Lines. Following up 2010′s Heligoland, Ritual Spirit serves as eighteen minutes of straightforward, dark production featuring verses from Roots Manuva, Azekel, Young Fathers, and a strong comeback from Tricky. This release will leave fans wanting more but serves as a beyond adequate musical snack to tithe fans over until the duo’s next LP.

Bandcamp: n/a
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/massiveattack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massiveattackofficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassiveAttackUK

 

Say Anything-I Don’t Think It Is 
Genre: Emo, Pop Punk
FFO: Motion City Soundtrack, mewithoutYou, Front Bottoms 

It seems over the years that the more mental and emotional stability Say Anything frontman Max Bemis maintains, the more unsastisfied fans become. We all thirst for a return to the glory days of “..Is A Real Boy” when Mr. Bemis reached rock bottom wallowing in depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and a diagonsed case of bipolar disorder. Since gaining an emotional footing and becoming a born-again family man, the only things Say Anything (or dare I say “The Max Bemis Show”) have managed to contribute to the music world have been empty promises and wasted hype. Suddenly on February 4th, 2016, Bemis decided to tweet: “You know what? We’re gonna stream our whole new record tonight and drop it on Friday. Enjoy.” The complete apathy displayed in both the album art and the previously mentioned tweet paints a vivid portrait of what I Don’t Think It Is truly encapsulates. The latest Say Anything album is a raw, fun, authentic, and all but accessible return to form showing Bemis at his most abrasive to date. If this record wasn’t what the fans wanted, I don’t know what is.

Bandcamp: n/a
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sayanything/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sayanything/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SayAnythingMuz

 

Seven Sisters of Sleep-  
Ezekial’s Hags 
Genre: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal
FFO: Early Graves, The Secret
 

You can always rely on Seven Sisters of Sleep to create a truly devasting sludge-influenced hardcore record and with Ezekial’s Hags they do just that. The evil-sounding riffs, the pummeling double-kick drumwork, thunderous bass lines, and the agonizingly brutal vocal performance serve as equally pivotal components to a full work of art encompassing the darkest aspects of humankind. Bang your head hard to this new, crushing, doom-ridden epic.

Bandcamp: https://sevensistersofsleep.bandcamp.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sevensistersofsleep
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevensistersofsleep/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sevensssisters