Regular readers stand a decent chance of knowing that I enjoy the post-hardcore stylings of bands like Dance Gavin Dance. That kind of thing might not be Metal enough for some, but I grew up on various forms of it, and it still does the job for me. So I'm usually pretty interested when I come across somebody doing something similar.
Wolf & Bear do something similar, in that they're also purveyors of energetic post-hardcore fronted by a twin-vocalist attack. Indeed, listening to their new single "Oil Cup" will likely make you think of DGD pretty readily, if DGD is something with which you're familiar. But Wolf & Bear is a bit of a different flavour, with the pop dialed back a notch and the post-hardcore up a smidge in its place.
Is it a world of difference? Not really. Is it different enough to warrant a place alongside Dance Gavin Dance in your collection? You decide!
Friday, 30 January 2015
Thursday: And So I Watch You From Afar - Think: Breathe: Destroy
Time for a little belated instrumental post-rock from Ireland for your Thursday. How's that for specific?
Belfast's And So I Watch You From Afar have been pretty prolific over the last few years, with three albums, an EP and a couple of remixes to their credit in the last four years or so, and another LP Heirs due out in May. And despite their being, as I tried to encapsulate above, an instrumental, post-whatevery kind of band (think vaguely Russian Circles or Mogwai-type stuff) they cover a fair amount of musical ground in some of their songs.
Songs like "Think: Breathe: Destroy" from the band's 2011 LP Gangs, which charts a course through a couple of different moods with some noodly, interwoven guitar parts back up by some big bass. The track even ends, appropriately enough given ASIWYFA's nationality, on a somewhat celtic feeling groove. If this kind of music is your jam, these guys will definitely give you a lot to chew on.
Belfast's And So I Watch You From Afar have been pretty prolific over the last few years, with three albums, an EP and a couple of remixes to their credit in the last four years or so, and another LP Heirs due out in May. And despite their being, as I tried to encapsulate above, an instrumental, post-whatevery kind of band (think vaguely Russian Circles or Mogwai-type stuff) they cover a fair amount of musical ground in some of their songs.
Songs like "Think: Breathe: Destroy" from the band's 2011 LP Gangs, which charts a course through a couple of different moods with some noodly, interwoven guitar parts back up by some big bass. The track even ends, appropriately enough given ASIWYFA's nationality, on a somewhat celtic feeling groove. If this kind of music is your jam, these guys will definitely give you a lot to chew on.
Wednesday, 28 January 2015
Periphery - Alpha
The wait is over, and Periphery's long-anticipated double album Juggernaut is upon us. So, what's your favourite track? Are you digging on Alpha or Omega more so far? Do you even give a shit that Periphery has a new record out?
While you sit and ponder those imponderables, why not check out Periphery's first video for a song from one of the Juggernaut discs, namely their treatment for "Alpha". It's a cool enough little video, though it's nothing really groundbreaking or anything. But even if it's not your cup of tea, the track itself is a good slice of Periphery in 2015: the drumming is bananas, the riffing is good and groovy, and there's crazy popped-out falsetto vocals over top of the whole thing. Oh, and there's some 8-bit, chip tune-style goodness in there just for good measure. Fire up the Contra.
While you sit and ponder those imponderables, why not check out Periphery's first video for a song from one of the Juggernaut discs, namely their treatment for "Alpha". It's a cool enough little video, though it's nothing really groundbreaking or anything. But even if it's not your cup of tea, the track itself is a good slice of Periphery in 2015: the drumming is bananas, the riffing is good and groovy, and there's crazy popped-out falsetto vocals over top of the whole thing. Oh, and there's some 8-bit, chip tune-style goodness in there just for good measure. Fire up the Contra.
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
The Helix Nebula - Crystal Plains
Heavy instrumental music is in a pretty awesome place right now, and these guys are one of the many reasons why.
Your quickie song tonight comes from Australia's The Helix Nebula and their 2014 EP Meridian. The guys have recently put out a playthrough video for shreddy progfest "Crystal Plains", so now is the perfect time to get acquainted, or reacquainted, with The Helix Nebula. With a debut EP like this one, a debut LP might prove to be fucking phenomenal.
Your quickie song tonight comes from Australia's The Helix Nebula and their 2014 EP Meridian. The guys have recently put out a playthrough video for shreddy progfest "Crystal Plains", so now is the perfect time to get acquainted, or reacquainted, with The Helix Nebula. With a debut EP like this one, a debut LP might prove to be fucking phenomenal.
Monday, 26 January 2015
Arcane - Keeping Stone: Sound on Fire
If you had to, I bet you could name at least a handful of bands that sound like Tool. Or maybe more than a handful. But are any of them any good? Sure, there's a ton of imitators, but can any of them even hold a candle to the originator?
Nobody's quite gotten Tool down pat just yet, but Australia's Arcane do a pretty good job of taking a Toolish kind of vibe and making it their own, filtering it through a more symphonic, epic lens. For a sample, have a listen to "Keeping Stone: Sound on Fire" from the band's latest double-album Known/Learned. It's more straight forward than a Tool song might be, but it's got at least enough grandiosity and brooding atmosphere to earn it a spot at the Tool table.
Nobody's quite gotten Tool down pat just yet, but Australia's Arcane do a pretty good job of taking a Toolish kind of vibe and making it their own, filtering it through a more symphonic, epic lens. For a sample, have a listen to "Keeping Stone: Sound on Fire" from the band's latest double-album Known/Learned. It's more straight forward than a Tool song might be, but it's got at least enough grandiosity and brooding atmosphere to earn it a spot at the Tool table.
Sunday, 25 January 2015
A Thousand Dead - Chasing Goats
Do you remember yesterday, when I posted about California's Raiju? Well you can thank them for today's dose of instrumental progaliciousness. Yes, that's a word.
Someone over at Raiju HQ recently made a Facebook post about fellow Californians A Thousand Dead and their latest single, the somewhat strangely titled "Chasing Goats". If you know Raiju at all, you should have at least a moderate level of trust in their recommendation, but just in case you're not familiar with their awesomeness, let me do my best to sell you on A Thousand Dead myself: "Chasing Goats" opens with some shreddy progressive metal that grooves its way to an atmospheric middle section reminiscent of Scale the Summit before wending its way back to its chunkier, noodlier beginnings.
If that sounds like a musical road trip you're at all into taking, I implore you to check out "Chasing Goats" and A Thousand Dead. The future could be very tasty for these guys.
Someone over at Raiju HQ recently made a Facebook post about fellow Californians A Thousand Dead and their latest single, the somewhat strangely titled "Chasing Goats". If you know Raiju at all, you should have at least a moderate level of trust in their recommendation, but just in case you're not familiar with their awesomeness, let me do my best to sell you on A Thousand Dead myself: "Chasing Goats" opens with some shreddy progressive metal that grooves its way to an atmospheric middle section reminiscent of Scale the Summit before wending its way back to its chunkier, noodlier beginnings.
If that sounds like a musical road trip you're at all into taking, I implore you to check out "Chasing Goats" and A Thousand Dead. The future could be very tasty for these guys.
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Raiju - Yetzer Hara
If "yesterday's" post of Crosses was meant to be a little more chill for a Friday evening of hanging out, then today's song is meant for a more... energetic Saturday evening. Prepare yourself for some progtastic out-rocking.
I've written about Berkeley's Raiju before, and if the strength of their debut LP Haunt is any indication, I'll most definitely be writing about them again. Haunt's chock full of a variety of proggy flavours, from shred-djent a la Periphery to speedy pop-metal riffing a la Protest the Hero, and all of them are present in generous-but-not-overindulgent amounts.
Check out "Yetzer Hara" for a slice of the kind of cocktail I'm talking about, and give Haunt a spin if you're looking for more where that came from.
I've written about Berkeley's Raiju before, and if the strength of their debut LP Haunt is any indication, I'll most definitely be writing about them again. Haunt's chock full of a variety of proggy flavours, from shred-djent a la Periphery to speedy pop-metal riffing a la Protest the Hero, and all of them are present in generous-but-not-overindulgent amounts.
Check out "Yetzer Hara" for a slice of the kind of cocktail I'm talking about, and give Haunt a spin if you're looking for more where that came from.
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