New Release: Converge (Blood Moon)- Coil

As they prepare for the release of their collaborative new album— featuring Chelsea Wolfe, Ben Chisholm and Stephen Brodsky, Converge have unveiled the second single from Bloodmoon: I, “Coil.” Speaking on the song, Jacob Bannon comments, “’Coil’ turned out to be one of my favorite songs I’ve ever been a part of. There is an infectious slow build that ends up becoming theatrical in tone. Lyrically it was a true collaboration, with all of us expanding on each other’s ideas as they came to be. I believe Chelsea’s vocal was the starting point in that for this one. Kurt really pushed vocal harmonies to a new level as well. Encouraging many of Steve’s ideas while we were in the studio tracking together. This one really has everyone of us firing on all cylinders creatively.” When you hear this song, you’ll get it. It’s such a tremendous track. I personally can’t wait for this album. Ever since they performed at Roadburn I’ve been waiting for this to finally come to fruition. Bloodmoon: I, out November 19th on CD/Digital and on Vinyl June 24th.

Converge- Coil:

Converge- Blood Moon:

Album Review: Every Time I Die- Radical

Radical is one hell of a way to describe the new Every Time I Die album of the same name. Throughout their career, Every Time I Die have continued to get better and better with each release. Like a fine wine or scotch, the older these guys get, the more ferocious and unrelenting they get. This being the band’s ninth studio album, the absolute urgency felt throughout the album is unparalleled. To top it all off too, there are 16 blistering tracks on this one and the moment it ends, you are compelled to start it over.

Tracks 1-16 are phenomenal. The riffs, beats, bass lines, vocals, lyrics, and melodies are some of the best ETID have come up with. There are moments throughout the album that hark back to previous albums like The Big Dirty and Hot Damn but, there is no denying that these new songs push through what they’ve done in the past. I could go through the album track by track but as I’ve said many times before, that would just ruin it for you, the listener. Instead what I will do is say that there isn’t one track on this album that doesn’t belong or feels out of place. The poetic nature and introspective lyrics of singer Keith Buckley are striking and vulnerable in a different way than on Low Teens. His ability to tell stories and make you think while at the same time rocking out is something that not many people can do. Then you put that together with the crushing riffs of Andy Williams and Jordan Buckley plus the pummeling rhythm section of Steve Micciche and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak and you have the recipe for one of the best bands of the century. Radical also features guest appearances by Josh Scogin from ’68 and Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra, adding another color to these songs. To top it all off is the stunning production from Will Putney (who also helmed Low Teens).

This album is one that will hold up for years to come. Their ability to expand their sound and take risks only make this album stronger. There is a polarizing sensibility to the record but also a delicate tinge that allows the listener to really soak it all in. You’d think that after over 20 years of being a band and all the miles on the road that they’d slow down but, you’re totally wrong. There is no stopping Every Time I Die and Radical proves that!

Overall Rating: A

Review By: Brian Lacy

Every Time I Die- Radical:

Live Review: Quicksand at The Troubadour

A couple weeks back I made a very bold statement that, “2021 is the year of Quicksand” and last night cemented that for me. I’ve long wanted to see Quicksand live since I first heard Slip way back when and now, that wish came true. Seeing Walter Schreifels, Sergio Vega, Alan Cage rock out was superb and the icing on the cake of them having Cave In/Mutoid Man/etc guitarist/vocalist Stephen Brodsky as their second guitarist just made it all something spectacular.

The moment the lights went down and the projections on the backdrop started, the frenzy of the crowd began to rev up and the second the first note of “Inversion” from their new and absolutely killer album, Distant Populations started, everyone knew, it was ON!!!. Plowing down the audience with the four songs off their new album immediately was tremendous. Just when you thought they were going to play the whole album (which they did) they burst into “Fazer” and there was no looking back. The setlist for the night was so good. Playing all of Distant Populations along with choice cuts from Slip, Manic Compression and Interiors, Quicksand could do no wrong. They even did a wonderful job covering My Bloody Valentine’s “Don’t Ask Why” and now I want to just listen to their version from now on. Hearing songs like the ones above along with “Colossus,” “Thorn In My Side,” “Dine Alone,” “Brown Gargantuan,” “Phase 90,” “Unfulfilled” and so many more was like being on cloud 9. There was no chance I could stand still. It’s a good thing I haven’t cut my hair in a while so I could head bang along like a crazy person. Watching Quicksand live is something everyone in a band should do. They had so much energy emitting from the stage it was contagious. You could tell these guys really enjoy playing. The chemistry of the four guys on stage was astounding. You can tell that Walter, Sergio and Alan are a tight unit. They play off each other so well. Adding Stephen Brodsky to the touring lineup was a perfect idea. His playing style and abilities really fit great in Quicksand. His mannerisms on stage too are so good. I really wish he could be a permanent member of Quicksand. I can only imagine how awesome the next album would be if he were a part of it.

Also playing this evening was Narrow Head and Creeps. Both bands had a very 90’s driven style with the latter sounding a bit more like Brand New. Both bands had solidly good sets and brought a lot of energy. The audience showed up early and that seemed to have a feeling that harked back to the days when people would show up to support all the bands on the bill. It’s always a nice thing to see bands like Quicksand bring out younger/up and coming bands on tour. It’s great to give them the opportunity to get their music out to as many people as possible.

Quicksand is the type of band that influences and inspires anyone that listens. Personally, I couldn’t even wind down when I got home from the show. That’s how good it was. Quicksand is a band that is essential listening and should be in your collection. I can’t wait for the next time Quicksand comes through Los Angeles. What a great show.

Quicksand Set List:

01) Inversion
02) Lightning Field
03) Colossus
04) Missle Command
05) Fazer
06) Thorn In My Side
07) Phase 90
08) Head To Wall
09) Don’t Ask Why (My Bloody Valentine Cover)
10) Under The Screw
11) Unfulfilled
12) Too Official
13) Illuminant
14) Warm And Low
15) The Philosopher
16) Compacted Infinity
17) Rodan
18) Omission
19) Brown Gargantuan
20) Katakana
21) Delusional
22) Dine Alone
23) Brushed

Review By: Brian Lacy

Quicksand- Distant Populations:

Anticipated Albums: Converge & Chelsea Wolfe- Bloodmoon I

Back in 2016 at Roadburn festival, Converge teamed up with Cave In/Mutoid Man’s Steven Brodsky along with Chelsea Wolfe and Ben Chisholm for a series of collaborative shows called Blood Moon. Ever since then, this collaborative effort has been beyond anticipated. Now, the wait is over, as Bloodmoon I will be released November 19th via Epitaph Records. The 11 song album is sure to be epic and chock full of all sorts of surprises. The first song released, “Blood Moon” is an astounding 8 minutes of pure bliss. I really don’t want to ruin it for you by describing anything else about it. Just know, this is FUCKING AWESOME!!!

Converge w/ Steven Brodsky, Chelsea Wolfe & Ben Chisholm- Blood Moon:

New Release: Every Time I Die- Post Boredom

Today is one of the days I’ve been waiting for all year. The NEW EVERY TIME I DIE album, Radical, will be finally be released on October 22nd via Epitaph Records!!! The band has already released a few songs from the album and today they unleashed the beast that is “Post-Boredom.” This album was once again produced by Will Putney who also did the absolute masterpiece that is Low Teens. Radical is 16 tracks of peak-ETID, and it’s a culmination of everything you love about Every Time I Die. Speaking on the album’s lyrical content, vocalist Keith Buckley said “I’m dealing with difficult matters this time that isn’t only personal for me but are also universal and more communal experiences,” Keith explains. “The songs are realistic in that they acknowledge that things require a lot of work. But it’s ultimately a very hopeful and uplifting record.” I personally, can’t wait for this album to be released. Every Time I Die have been one of my favorite bands for a long time and they only keep getting better with each record.

Every Time I Die- Post Boredom:

Other Songs Released So Far…

AWOL:

A Colossal Wreck:

Desperate Pleasures:

New Release: Thrice- Scavengers

On September 17th, Thrice will release their new album, Horizons/East via Epitaph Records. The new album was written and recorded by the band over the past couple years. The self produced album was mixed by Kowloon Walled City’s Scott Evans at his studio, Antisleep Audio and he did a killer job! The first single “Scavengers” has a vibe that fits in with their whole catalog. The song is deep and dark with a sense of hope, just as any Thrice song should. Live, this song is going to be huge, and I can’t wait to hear it! Pre-Orders are available HERE.

Thrice- Scavengers:

Anticipated Albums: Quicksand- Distant Populations

The mighty Quicksand are back with a new album and first since 2017’s Interiors. Distant Populations is the title of the upcoming album and it’s definitely shaping up to be one of the best of 2021. The album will be out digitally August 13 and on vinyl September 24 via Epitaph Records. Distant Populations was produced and engineered by Will Yip (The Menzingers, Code Orange, Nothing), and mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Megadeth, Trivium). Speaking on the album, “Everyone is on the one hand so connected with each other, and on the other hand, is so far apart.” says frontman Walter Schreifels.“We’re checking out each other’s social media and we know what everybody’s doing. But when we’re sitting in the same room together, we’re looking at our phones,” he adds point out the sad irony of it all. Throughout the album’s 11 tracks, Quicksand explores the duality of our simultaneous existence in individual relationships and as part of a mass society, while also examining the alienation and loneliness of it all. Pretty fitting for the times we are living in if you ask me. Today, the band shares “Missile Command,” a song that emerged from a Quicksand rehearsal jam, recalls Schreifels, “It really kind of focuses on Sergio’s (Vega) whole motif in a very simple way. He and Alan (Cage) just have this really kind of trademark groove, and I think that really sings on this one to me. I just felt like it’s a kind of song that is very us, but we hadn’t written it yet.”  Based on “Missile Command” and “Inversion” there is without a doubt the classic sound we’ve all loved since Slip all the while, a bit of a modern flair.

Quicksand- Missile Command:

Quicksand- Inversion:

New Release: Quicksand- Inversion

The legendary Quicksand are back with their first taste of new music since 2017’s Interiors. Speaking on the new single “Inversion” singer/guitarist Walter Schreifels had this to say “The music to ‘Inversion’ was very squatter punk at first.” “To get something going vocally I started singing in an English Niel Nausea kind of vibe (Nausea are a peace/squatter punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan). The lyrics reflect the push and pull of being very connected through technology while at the same time being the most emotionally isolated group of humans to ever walk the planet and fun stuff like that.” After listening to the track a few times already today, I can tell you that this one packs a lot of energy and sounds like something you might find on their classic albums Slip and Manic Compression.

Quicksand- Inversion:

New Release: Every Time I Die- AWOL

Every Time I Die have released a new song from their upcoming albums. “AWOL” is now out for all of our listening pleasures. This track is definitely going to be a live staple for years to come. There’s also a bit of an At The Drive- In vibe to the song. This new album, which still doesn’t have a release date yet, is sure shaping up to be one hell of a good one. If you missed out on the other two songs released (“A Colossal Wreck” and “Desperate Pleasures”), you can check those out below as well!

Every Time I Die- AWOL:

A Colossal Wreck:

Desperate Pleasures:

NEW EVERY TIME I DIE!!!!

Every Time I Die released not one but two new songs today and both are absolutely killer. For a band that’s been together for over 20 years, they’ve always been able to grow and evolve in such a way that shows maturity and depth on levels that most bands can only dream of. These two songs are just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come. “A Colossal Wreck” is classic Every Time I Die, while “Desperate Pleasures” is a more experimental turn but, still the same band you love through and through.

A Colossal Wreck:

Desperate Pleasures: