From Metallica, Korn, & Planes Mistaken For Stars, to You Me At Six, Columbus, & Trophy Eyes, it seems that everyone decided to release new material this past week.
Instead of writing up a separate post for every single fucking band that released something this week, I've decided to just throw 'em all together in one big, grand post. In here you'll find most of the new releases that dropped over this past week, an arbitrary period of time that saw bands from all over the musical spectrum release new material. So here's my take on them all.
Every Time I Die - 'C++ (Love Will Get You Killed)'
While everyone and their dog seems to be already claiming this album to be THE album to beat in 2016, I must politely disagree. So far, 'Low Teens' is shaping up to be just another Every Time I Die record, perhaps with a lot more lyrical emotion and honesty. So yes, it'll be good, that I am sure of, but I doubt it will be as life-affirming as 'New Junk Aesthetic' was. (No points for guessing what my favourite ETID release is).
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American Football - 'I've Been So Lost For So Long'
What is essentially just an Owen song with twinklier sounding guitars, a new American Football song is here! Is it good? Is it bad? Well, it's s'alright on my own account. Take a listen below and let the great debate of the current emo music scene begin! Also, it needed way more tambourine and melancholy trumpet.
Green Day - 'Bang Bang'
Technically speaking, this song came out last Friday, which is still within the past week, so fuck it, I'm putting it in. I'm happy to see Green Day somewhat getting back to their faster, punk rock roots (a phrase that never gets old being when writing about bands, I assure). This song gives me hope that their upcoming album, 'Revolution Radio', will be able to wash clean my memory of '¡Uno!', '¡Dos!', & '¡Tré!'. Also, Green Day don't like video games, and old people are old. Huh, who would have thunk it? *Insert picture of Old Man Yells At Cloud here*.
Planes Mistaken For Stars - 'Fucking Tenderness'
Premiering over at The A.V. Club recently is the new single from Planes Mistaken For Stars, which comes from their first album in ten years, 'Prey' (out October 21st via Deathwish Inc.). It's a little bit rock n roll, a little bit sludge metal, and a whole lot discordant hardcore thrown into a blender. So yeah, it may be something a little different for most people's usual musical tastes but I'd strongly recommend it. I also love how direct and to the point this band is. In an interview with The A.V. Club for that premiere post, frontman Gared O’Donnell summed up the entire ethos of his band by saying, “You don’t sell something you love. You fucking own it.” No bullshit. I love it.
Korn - 'Insane'
Much like previous single, 'Rotting In Vain', Korn's new stuff is the groovy riff-centric, heavy sound of the 90's mixed in with the stellar production and tighter sonics of their later material. So really, it's the best of both words! There's not much else to say other than the visuals and narrative of this music video seem like a rejected pitch for a James Wan film (Saw, Dead Silence, Lights Out, among others). Anyway, press play below and bang your head like an angsty 14-year-old. 'The Serenity Of Suffering' is out October 21st.
Sum 41 - 'War'
I'm glad that Sum 41's Deryck Whibley hasn't become another rockstar obituary headline, and it's good to see the band continuing on with their front man alive and well. In a press release sent out regarding this song, Whibley stated "I feel that this song literally saved my life. I was at my absolute lowest point of what seemed like a never-ending recovery. When I was at a tipping point of falling back into drinking or staying the course of recovery, I grabbed a pencil and paper instead of a bottle and started writing". Admittedly, 'War' is a lot more low-key than their last single, 'Fake My Own Death', but nonetheless, this is a tell-all anthem from a band that's very well known for their catchy as fuck anthems. '13 Voices' drops on October 7th via Hopeless Records and let's hope it's a better pop-punk comeback than Blink-182's 'California'...
A Day To Remember - 'Naivety'
Like Green Day, this song just makes the cut for this weekly round-up list. But honestly, I wish it hadn't as good God, what an absolute fucking snoozefest this is! Much like 'Bullfight', this song just makes me yawn endlessly and I can already tell that 'Bad Vibrations' (out September 2nd via Epitaph Records) will bore me to absolute tears. But look, if you are excited about it, then hey, good for you and I'm happy that you're happy, but I cannot abide this band anymore.
Foxblood - 'No Heroes'
If you were on Killyourstereo.com last weekend (and if you weren't, just what were you doing?), you would have noticed that we premiered the second song from Melbourne newcomers, Foxblood. Foxblood, AKA Glorified 2: Electric Boogaloo, are a terrific local band that you should definitely keep on your radar, as 'No Heroes' proves exactly why you should be excited about the future of this band.
You Me At Six - 'Night People'
I don't know about you, but I get some very big Royal Blood vibes from the newest single from these U.K. lads. However, I also think that this song is as "Guitar Hero" as you can get. Furthermore, judging by the many online commenters (which is totally a great way to gauge consensus, isn't it?), people seem to be pretty disappointed and wondering just why the hell this dull, lifeless song even made it to the airwaves in the first place. But whatever, YMAS's new album, also called 'Night People', is out January 17th, 2017. Also, 'Take Off Your Colours' was and still is the best You Me At Six record. Cheers.
Candiria - Mereya
Metalcore and jazz rolled into one old-school chaotic mathcore sound can only mean pure musical bliss for yours truly! Candiria's new song is like Norma Jean mixed with Between The Buried & Me, which means that musical elitists are all over this one like flies on dog shit (which this song is anything but). I'll admit that I am relatively new to this band, but goddamn this track has made me very excited for their new album, 'While They Were Sleeping', which is out from October 7th via Metal Blade Records. Save the date and get jiggy with it below.
Columbus - Nervous Wreck
Today (Friday, August 26th), the debut album from Columbus, 'Spring Forever', was released into the world and yeah, it's pretty damn good. Now, while I have a lot of affection for this Brisbane trio I think that they're at their peak when they ditch the acoustic guitars and instead rely on pumping drums, melodic punk rock riffs, and Alex Moses's yelling about heartache. Like 'Daffodil', that song's rad.
In Flames - The End
Oh man, here's one that is really hot off the presses, a brand spanking new In Flames song. Just...just fuck, it's so damn good. Old or new In Flames, they always smash it out when they release anything. Hell, they could release an album that was filled with the ashes of dead family members and I'd still dig it! So bring on November and their new album, 'Battles'.
Trophy Eyes - Heaven Sent
Ooooh, goodie! Another Aussie band to add to this list. Trophy Eyes may very well be pop-punk jams with some really harsh, throatier screams over it, and new song 'Heaven Sent' is just that. But I'm glad that we're seeing singer John Floreani actually sing a lot more lately. While this song carries a darker, more brooding nature to it than 'Chlorine', the way it builds to a punchy, emotional climax was dope and I think we're about to see the pinnacle release from these Newcastle lads. Unless of course their new album 'Chemical Miracle' is literally the dog's bollocks.
Metallica - 'Hardwired'
Okay, since we didn't cover it last week, I'm gonna do it now. The new Metallica album, 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' will be available on November 18th and it's either going to be just another Metallica record, or another really good Metallica record. Man, remember those? Look, anything of Metallica's that doesn't make me have the war flashbacks of 'St. Anger', 'Lulu', 'Load' and 'Reload' is totally a-okay in my books. Basically, this song is like a mixture of the band's 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Death Magnetic' eras and is a pretty decent song all up, so have a listen below. However, that is "clickiest" kick drum I have ever heard, holy shit!
Phew, and I am done. Finally, on top of all of those new releases, Taking Back Sunday, He Danced Ivy, Diamond Construct, The Comfort, AND Meshuggah all released new singles and videos this week. But this post has been long enough, so check out those respective links if you missed any of those songs.
Goddamnit, this really is a case of too many songs and not enough time.