The Cry “Dangerous Game” promo

I was introduced to The Cry in early 2012 when I stumbled across the then-digital only release of their S/T debut album. Delivering twelve power pop tracks in the Exploding Hearts vein I was completely blown away by their songwriting skills and impeccable delivery. Well, two years have passed and the band have just finished up recording their second album and had the courtesy of sending me a promo, to which I’m much obliged.

Kicking off with the B.T.O.-esque Discotheque, the band launches into ten tracks of perfectly written power pop gems with a healthy dose of rock ‘n’ roll, garage and glam thrown in for good measure – and there’s even some shuffle to boot! Influences intact I still hear a band that’s matured and have taken their songwriting skills to a whole new level. Somehow this affair got me thinking of The Clash circa Give Them Enough Rope – not that they sound anything like it, but I can sense a similar development as touring, writing and gigging made them gel as a band that in a similar manner let their influences shine through without aping anyone.

The end result is a true party album with ten consecutive hits, a great sounding effort delivered with sweat and passion and every time it ends I find myself wanting to hear more – the tell-tale sign of a truly great record. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this made Best of 2014 lists towards the end of the year. A+. Get it.

Sample track: 

Bandcamp: http://thecry.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.thecrypdx.com/

Mothership

Fans of heavy metal should definitely check out Dallas power trio Mothership! Starting out in 2010 with their Dad filling in duties on the drums (how cool is that!) they blend fuzzed-out 70s blues rock with heavy stoner just perfectly. No-frills, no-bullshit desert rock ‘n’ roll as it was meant to sound, and if you want a comparison imagine a more blues-based Kyuss and you’re there.

It’s Black Sabbath meets ZZ Top on their debut self-titled album where they offer up eight great tracks sure to please stoners as well as metal-fans. Great, tight musicianship, nice punchy production, and – most importantly – great songs delivered live (the album was recorded over two weekends!) Add the fact that their guitar player Kells Juett got some great chops without ever getting masturbatory and you got yourself a kick-ass band delivering some kick-ass music. Check them out!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://mothershipusa.bandcamp.com/
Website: https://www.facebook.com/mothershipusa

White Lung

Well, there just have to be something in the damn water up in the Pacific northwest. For a good twenty years they’ve been giving the world amazing bands that delivers an excellent mix of gloom and punk – yes, again I’m gonna mention The Wipers – and the latest great outfit is Vancouver quartet White Lung! Their second full-length album Sorry released in May 2012 offers up ten tracks that perfectly blends the gloom with punk energy bringing to mind the best of the post-punk sounds of the 80s.

Great musiciansship, great, varied songs and great vocal delivery the band perfectly mixes youthful freshness with a retro, “arty” vibe with the occasional hardcore surprise popping up now and then. I hear tons of influences and even some Dead Kennedys in the guitars! Back in say 1984 these guys would’ve been signed to IRS Records and making zillions. I am not kidding. Check ’em out!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://whitelung.bandcamp.com/
Website: https://www.facebook.com/whitelung

Beyond Veronica

More emails, this time from Portland’s Beyond Veronica hepping me to their second album Hard Times For Dreamers released earlier this year on Fetish Pop Records. A dozen tracks are offered here, mostly of the mid-tempo variety with some nice hooks and a pretty retro 70s Power Pop feel – musically they actually kinda reminded me of Seattle legends The Heats!

The band is good and tight, vocalist Bonnie Veronica got a nice voice that kinda brings to mind early The Pandoras (especially on tracks like Fade Away where that 60s retro garage feel gets more evident) and unlike a lot of bands these guys offers up a wide variety when it comes to the song material, making it a pleasant experience for the listener. Check ’em out!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://beyondveronica.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.beyondveronica.com/

Divine Mother Recordings

I recently received an email from Clifton that runs the Divine Mother Recordings label in Georgia, USA hepping me to his page on Bandcamp and fans of extreme metal take note: there’s some pretty cool releases being offered! Mainly modern hardcore bordering on grindcore in the mid-90s Napalm Death vein, but there’s some nice sludge, screamo and black metal-esque sounds with the occasional surprise thrown in as well.

Four releases so far – including the DIVINE MOTHER RECORDINGS – Collective Sound Vol. 1 16-track compilation – with the latest being the Grievances/Quiet Hands split 3″ mini CD that offers seven tracks in total. Grievances got the screamo hardcore thing going – with a slight death metal influence here and there – while Quiet Hands got a more brutal vibe going that really reminded me of Swedish death metal outfit Grave. Kinda hard picking out one specific track from the releases so check ’em all out ’cause I guarantee you’ll find something cool!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://divinemotherrecordings.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://divinemotherrecordings.blogspot.se/

Buttress O’Kneel

Well, I gotta start this off with admitting that I pretty much know nothing about mashups or dubstep. I’m a fan of the classic dub sounds from Jamaica like King Tubby or The Scientist, but I am aware that they really don’t have that much in common and am completely clueless when it comes to the modern stuff. So apologies up front if I make no sense on this. That said, there’s something brilliant about what Australian Buttress O’Keefe creates that makes me laugh out loud from sheer surprise. Her remixes and cross-pollination of modern as well as forgotten hits are just jawdropping and truly creative pieces of insane art.

Listening to her latest album Avant Retro: Post-Tardcore I find myself being thrilled and gleefully anticipating what’s coming next. Mix Eurythmics with Joy Division? Consider it done. Add some DEVO, MC Hammer, Nirvana and the damn kitchen sink to the mix too while you’re at it. This is definitely not for everyone but I found it a true masterpiece creatively speaking and you should definitely give this a try. Brilliant!

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://buttressokneel.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://interwebmegalink.net/

The Rockin’ Preachers

Well, summer is finally here and I don’t know about you but for me that means lots of Beach Boys, Ramones and classic 60s Reggae/Ska/Rocksteady on the stereo. Now, like I stated in my review of Unitone HiFi/Jefferson Belt‘s split 7″ (read it here) I am fully aware that it’s a bit snobbish attitude but my main problem with modern reggae is the production. It’s just too clean-sounding and lack the grit and sheer oomph of let’s say Lloyd Charmers‘ outings. French group The Rockin’ Preachers might still sound a bit too polished but they thankfully avoid the modern dancehall sounds and sure have the vibe and songwriting down!

Four songs of upbeat, midtempo summer-esque reggae/ska vibes are served up on their debut (?) EP (the last one an instrumental version) – my favorite being Give Me Some Light. Great, great musicianship and some really good vocal delivery from the lead singer and his back-ups (sorry, no names as their site is low on info and no linked website) proving me once again wrong. Enjoy yourself (it’s later than you think)!

Sample track: 

Bandcamp: http://therockinpreachers.bandcamp.com/
Website: N/A

Grime

For some (un)healthy aural pummeling, check out Italian outfit Grime‘s self titled debut EP released in the summer of 2011! These guys offer up a nice varied blend of sludge, doom and metal with screechy black metal-esque vocals with such intense aggression you physically recoil upon the initial listen. After a much disturbing intro (sampled from the Cape Fear remake) the band goes for your throat and don’t let up for half an hour.

This is just pure brutality at insane levels. The production, the attitude – everything seems designed to ultimately destroy the listener. Sometimes at a crawl, occasionally picking up speed the band never lets up and succeeds in their quest of completely annihilating their surroundings. Eight songs that is nothing less than physically exhausting, check it out!

Sample track: 

Bandcamp: http://grime666.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Grime/209557405747608

Neon Piss

For a really nice slice of gloomy punk, check out Portland quartet Neon Piss‘ two-song sampler taken from their upcoming self-titled debut 12″ EP release. A nice blend of classic punk rock, early New Wave and a dark feel similar to their fellow compatriots The Wipers, they manage to offer up some really nice hooks amid the desperation without sounding the least bit commercial or pretentious.

Perfectly executed, the band is tight and their songwriting skills hold a really high level making me pretty damn sure these guys are gonna make some big waves in the future. Vinyl versions will be released in the US (Deranged Records) and Europe (Cut The Cord That…) soon and right now you can download a total of six tracks for free so check them out!

Sample track: 

Bandcamp: http://neonpiss.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://neonpiss.blogspot.se/

The Jimmy C (update!)

Well, I already wrote about this Australian musician back in January (you can read about it here), and recently had the fortune of interviewing him for the upcoming issue of German music magazine  CRKO (where you’ll find this blog in a column format from now on), and not only is he a talented multi-instrumentalist but such a sweet, down-to-earth kinda guy I’m making an extra effort to promote him (arrogant rockstar wannabees take note!) With about 30 new songs written and recorded – you wanna talk ‘prolific’? – there’s a 5-track rough-mix sample available on his Bandcamp starting today.

Being a big fan of his previous album Glamour & Fame (if you’re looking for great-sounding 60s styled pop make sure you check it out) I was pleasantly surprised to see his songwriting and arranging skills having matured, and as a fellow musician it was great to see him move away from genre and instead focusing on songs – style be damned. In it’s rough format this is still a great collection of tracks and it’s obvious Jamie has found his voice. Now all we can do is sit back and just enjoy the fruits of his labor. The songs are free to download so what are you waiting for?

Sample track:

Bandcamp: http://thejimmyc.bandcamp.com/
Website: http://www.thejimmyc.com/