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| Horns up for Annie Nightingale, who died earlier this month. |
New Horizons
Guiltless – Thorns
Claiming that your band “…creates apocalyptic soundscapes in their imaginings of the surreal return to proto-human civilisation, as well as what life might be like for the survivors of the next mass extinction event…” is some claim. Luckily, Guiltless step up to the plate in remarkable form with gigantic, doomy crushers like ‘Devour Collide’ and ‘Dead Eye’ that could function as much as soundtracks for modern living as well as cathartic headbangers.
The EP can be streamed and purchased here.
The Body & Dis Fig – Orchards of a Futile Heaven
Possibly the most important (and adventurous) American act of the last 20 years, The Body release another collaboration, this time with electronic artist (and Kevin Martin collaborator) Dis Fig. While not as imposing as 2014’s ‘I Shall Die Here’ (which also has a heavy electronic sound), it still offers up a foreboding atmosphere which is punctuated by Dis Fig’s haunted, ethereal and at times angry vocals which offer up hope and humanity amidst the chaos.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Orchard – ‘Till You Fall Down
Most indie rock these days is simply careerist bilge, so it’s refreshing to hear an act who lean back towards the shambling indie scene of the early 80’s with influence from the K Records catalogue. But the moments that really stand out are when Orchard leave the frantic power chords in favour of atmosphere, such as ‘Song for Rosie’ which has an underlying darkness that belies the laidback, aloof vocals and the moody ‘4000 Years Old’.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Sympathy Pain – Swan Dive
On the go in some shape or form since 2016, Sympathy Pain main man Skyler Hitchcox describes the sound of the band as “…what I felt was an honest representation of who I was and where I was in the world”. This entails epic sonic landscapes that double up as droney psych and industrial tinged post rock. ‘Swell’ is the perfect example of this duality which, depending on your mood, can be crushingly bleak or the sound of winter melting into spring.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
Paranoid Visions – Escape from the Austerity Complex
Their third album since reforming in 2005 bears the roots of Crass, Subhumans, PiL and Killing Joke in their sound. PA’s riffs are punky and angular (no mean feat, I can tell you) while Sarah Bellum and Aoife Destruction’s vocals are confrontational and haunting and singer Decko asks, “what have they done to our future…The lies of the past, a long shadow is cast/In the land of the green and the greed.”
Their third album since reforming in 2005 bears the roots of Crass, Subhumans, PiL and Killing Joke in their sound. PA’s riffs are punky and angular (no mean feat, I can tell you) while Sarah Bellum and Aoife Destruction’s vocals are confrontational and haunting and singer Decko asks, “what have they done to our future…The lies of the past, a long shadow is cast/In the land of the green and the greed.”
Crime and the City Solution – American Twilight
Their first record since 1990’s excellent ‘Paradise Discotheque’ could very well be the best thing that they’ve ever done. Tribal drumming and some southern rock gone post punk guitar licks make up opener ‘Goddess.’ But when it segways into ‘My Love Takes Me There’, you sit up and take notice due to a heavier guitar tone and the woozy, atmospheric number that sucks you in.
Aggressors BC – The Tone of the Times
Consisting of members from Runnin’ Riot and Pocket Billiards, this is a confident, well written and well produced LP. With the pedigree in the band, you weren’t going to get anything amateurish. ‘True Skin’ is about the futility of racism, alternating between ska and mid-tempo reggae with a very tasty wah pedal sound thrown in the mix. ‘What She Gets’ is a more light-hearted romp which has more than a hint of Hall & Oates in the chorus!
Autechre – L Event
Autechre are not easy listening. Don’t expect anything vaguely tangible to latch onto. Throwing in techno, hip hop, industrial, noise and ambient as well as a list of other elements, they create music that will batter your senses but have you coming back for more while you try to figure out where they’re coming from. ‘Osla For n’ is utterly impenetrable. This is techno that oozes tension and is utterly thrilling despite there being very little in the way of grandiose elements.
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist.
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