Horsewhip are a four-piece hardcore band from Saint Petersburg, Florida that started in 2017. Though the band's formation was recent, its members have been heavily active in the Florida extreme music scene for decades now. Horsewhip features alumni from incredible bands including Reversal Of Man, Combatwoundedveteran, Order Of Importance, Early Grace, and more. They fuse their road-worn expertise into dark, heavy and discordant hardcore that also pulls influence from crust punk and elements of prog metal (a la Mastadon). Both their self-titled and 2020 LP Laid to Waste are fantastic starting points, with neither one wasting anytime pulling their punches. They also put out an incredible split with Yashira back in January, with both bands contributing a single track each that collectively conjures up one of the most hellish landscapes crafted this year. Highly recommended, enjoy!
Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Horsewhip
Squid Pisser
Squid Pisser are a two-piece hardcore/noise rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 2022. They dropped their debut LP via Three One G and Sweatband Records earlier this year. If you're familiar with the former's roster, this band is a welcome addition to its distinct catalogue. It's harsh, chaotic, and noisy hardcore delivered at breakneck tempos with unpredictable rhythms. The band's turbulent, alien sound is rounded out by a laundry list of excellent features and collabortors, including members from bands as disparate as Melt-Banana, Punch, Tera Melos, The Locust,and Starcrawler. My Tadpole Legion is a fresh take on slimy noise rock, and makes for one of the most face-melting 20 minutes you'll probably hear this year. Highly recommended, enjoy!
Sunday, 25 June 2023
Crochet
Crochet are a five-piece screamo band from Las Vegas, Nevada that started in 2022. Earlier this year, they released their debut EP, Birth Piece. From the opening fingerpicked arpeggios and softly spoken vocals of "Centennial", its clear this build-up is to draw you into something spectacular, which is what they deliver in the opening blast-beat frenzy of "Unsex Pledge". Right out the gate, the band establishes what sets them apart, with some very trebly guitars incorporating elements of math rock in the mix, and an intense dual vocal delivery. They soften things up in the latter half of the track, with that clean, trebly arpeggio sound they hinted at on their opener.
The band plows their way through crescendos of intensity and atmospheric noodling absolutely flawless, which hits its peak at the tail end of "Friends Who Just Sit And Breathe", which closes out with a surprisingly crushing riff that that burns away leaving what can only be described as white sax noise. It left a major impression to say the less, so do yourself a favour and check this out. Enjoy.
Army Of Ponch
Jasemine
Cayetana
Cayetana were a three-piece indie/pop punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 2011 and have been on hiatus since 2019. They put out two full-lengths, three EP's, and a split with Camp Cope in their time together. This is one of many bands that have been criminally absent for being posted on here for years, so now is as good a time as any to share them. If you're not familiar with them, they played a lyrical and energetic brand of power pop, with prominent, melodic bass lines influenced by Joy Division and New Order and raw guitar chords, leaving the emphasis on some incredible songwriting. Enjoy.