Categories
Features Music

Buzzbombs – 13 banging new tunes

buzzbombs_larry

Useless Eaters – ‘The Moves’ (Slovenly Records)

Useless Eaters is basically Seth Sutton, and much like the reverb-troubadour Jay Reatard (RIP), he’s been defecating droplets of punk distortion like loose stool, while making music hard like a bar-room stool to pick up in a saloon brawl. The album Singles: 2011 – 2014 contains rich pickings ranging from Devo-esque futuristic Cle-punk like ‘Bloody Ripper’ through to anthemic ‘I Hate The Kids’ featuring garage rock doyen Ty Segall, but my fav is ‘The Moves’, coming on like electrodes to the abdomen. – Nick Hutchings

Pinkwash – ‘Cancer Money’ (Sister Polygon Records)

Set to destroy London’s Power Lunches with their raucous two-man din on June 9th, Pinkwash are steaming with rage on their latest cut. And with good reason. “Long after acceptance comes extreme bitterness”, guitarist Joey Doubek recently told Pitchfork of the track’s deeply personal inspiration. It does’t take a genius to figure this one out, do not miss the chance to see them next month. – Dave Palmer

The Black Tambourines – ‘No Action’ (Self Released)

This Cornwall band stole the show back in 2013 with ‘Ghost At A Party’. A tune that was on repeat in here for what seems like forever. Well, they came back for a Record Store Day release with a new track that sounds like they’ve been up for weeks on end on speed and moonshine. Gone are the laid back sneers and melodic surf jangles, now replaced with ferociously snarling garage punk. We cannot wait for the new album in August as this band have so much to give – watch this space. – Zac

Ex-Cult – ‘Cigarette Machine’ (Castle Face Records)

Get in on this title track from Ex-Cult’s 2015 EP. Super dark, hypnotic and raging Death Punk from Memphis, Tennessee. Anyone got a light? – Pete Craven

Dirty Fences – ‘Judy (Don’t Go)’ (Slovenly Records)

Judy is a punk, and that’s why the Ramones enthralled scuzz bucket glam racketeers Dirty Fences don’t want her to go. Using ‘The Dirt’ as their how-to-guide, they will probably wind up making both friends and enemies, throwing windmills and nunchucks, punching bouncers and kissing groupies. It’s a helluva ride back into the 80s on the four DeLoreans of the apocalypse. – Nick Hutchings

Ceremony – ‘The Separation’ (Matador)

Ceremony are unable to make the same record twice. Every album they’ve released has been a step in a new direction and this one may be the boldest yet. Famously named after a New Order song, Ceremony’s new album, The L Shaped Man is the band fully embracing an influence from the classic Manc band. Vocalist Ross Farrar now croons, not roars. It’s bound to upset more than a few fans of the band’s visceral earlier material but it’s a step that feels natural for the band. Check out the first single, ‘The Separation’, now and embrace the synths. – Tim Lewis

The Magic Gang – ‘No Fun’ (S/R)

Only 2 weeks ago I found myself packed like a sardine in someone’s bedroom in Brighton where The Magic Gang had the entire place swinging from the light sockets – until the electricity blew. Their laid-back catchy pop tunes have become somewhat infectious since, and every time I hear this track in public I start bundling people. – Zac

Riddles – ‘Wizards Of War’ (Energy Snake Records)

Hailing from Hastings, this band of delinquents first pricked our ears with the crushing ‘Psyhedelic Power Engine Iron Claw Thunder Mistress’ single, dropped exclusively for Record Store day just gone. Reassuringly, they’re still burning up the road ahead with this anarchic video to match the single’s insane B-Side ‘Wizards Of War’. Turn this one up as far as it’ll go. – Dave Palmer

Long Knife – ‘Teenage Death Ceremony’ (Self Released)

Totally ballistic Poison Idea infatuated Punk Rock from Portland, Oregon. Here’s a crusher from their new album Meditations on Self Destruction. They’ve just torn up the UK. You snoozed, you loozed… – Pete Craven

Blazing Eye – ‘No Outside’ (LVEUM)

At long last, La Vida Es En Mus have made Blazing Eye’s eponymous debut EP available for us Eurotrash. This LA band seem to be picking up fans from all over the world, uniting punks with their blown out Japanese-style hardcore. This is the opening song and probably the one they’re most known for. I recently saw them in New York and the second this song started, it went loony. One of the most exciting bands in hardcore and fingers crossed, a Euro tour is planned for 2016! – Tim Lewis

Sheer Mag – ‘Fan The Flames’ (Wilsuns RC/Katorga Works)

Having wowed us all late last year with their infectious 7″, Sheer Mag delivered the goods in the live arena too, leaving audiences stunned and industry tongues wagging aplenty at SXSW this year. Taken form their new release II, ‘Fan the Flames’ delivers more of the same irresistible garage rock, and sees singer Christina Halladay on fierce form. – Dave Palmer

White Reaper – ‘I Don’t Think She Cares’ (Polyvinyl)

White Reaper’s sophomore record …Does It Again mixes lovelorn punk rock angst with almost Phil Spector-esque keyboard melodies, and ‘I Don’t Think She Cares’ is a fine example of what this young Kentucky trio can do. Two minutes, buzzsaw guitars, killer chorus…job done, and done well. – Alex Gosman

Gruesome – ‘Demonized’ (Relapse Records)

If you are of the opinion that much of extreme metal these days is riddled with pro-tools and over technical, depleting so much of the power and energy, then check out Gruesome – these guys know how to do it! This is pure, raw, high energy death metal, just like they used to do it in the old days. Total Death, early Sepultura and Obituary worship, this is a massive guttural energy rush. Old school but not old age.

Categories
Features Home Music

BUZZBOMBS: The best new bands from SXSW 2015

sxsw3

Yep, so we bought Joe Parry a ticket to Austin, sent him on his way across the Atlantic and awaited news that he was sober enough to check out some new music at the SXSW Festival. Alas, he managed to get away from the bar just enough to bring back his favourite top 10 bands, so dive into what went down and discover a bunch of great new music.

Sheer Mag

One of the most talked about garage-rock bands of the entire festival, Sheer Mag’s pop chops, Thin Lizzy-esque guitar licks and raucous energy helped them tower above the thousands of bands flocking to Austin. In singer Christina Halladay, Sheer Mag have a fierce and powerful voice that commands attention, whilst holding each track together with her astute knack for melody.

Sunflower Bean

Three teens from NYC, Sunflower Bean quickly got tongues wagging with their unpredictable take on psyche-rock. Guitarist Nick Kivlen and bassist Julia Cumming form the frontline of what could be one of the year’s most exciting new bands. Switching up their blissed out haze with stomping, heavy freak-outs, Sunflower Bean were impossible to ignore.

Mitski

One of the most talked about acts of the festival Mitski proved a vital voice over the course of the week. Her impassioned vocal flits between excited, empowered melodies and deep, introspective tales of young love and loss. With her ability to silence her crowd with her voice, as well as looking cool as fuck as she strums her low-slung, hot pink bass guitar, Mitski is no run of the mill singer/songwriter.

Adult Books

It’s no accident that Adult Books have garnered the approval of acclaimed labels Burger Records and Lollipop. As melodic as they are brash, their lo-fi garage-punk meets 60s pop is punctuated with some slick surf-rock guitars and attention to vocal melody that so many of their contemporaries neglect.

Ho99o9

Combining the hip-hop experimentalism of Death Grips, with a raw and dangerous punk energy, LA three-piece Ho9909 were a captivating as they were terrifying. An intoxicating mix of punk samples, low-slung beats and trap, Ho99o9’s music confounds and puzzles yet if their two shows at SXSW are anything to go by, their live performances will quickly become the stuff of legend.

Sales

Dreamy two-piece Sales kept the rain at bay on Saturday at The Liberty. The minimal approach of their sound wouldn’t have allowed for the energy exhibited by other acts, but they were by no means less captivating, with their washed out guitars, electronic beats and singer Lauren Morgan’s sweet vocal.

American Sharks

A heavy clash of Albini indebted sludge and T-Rex stomp, Austin’s own American Sharks powered their way through a sharp set at Hotel Vegas. With the drums pushed to the front of the stage, the three-piece had the local following out in force and quickly got fists pumping.

White Reaper

Signed to renowned label Polyvinyl, White Reaper’s raw take on garage-punk is equal parts fuzz, pop and sweat. Despite their ramshackle energy, the band never missed a beat and provided some much needed relief from the swathes of singer-songwriters and icy blog-pop that has become commonplace at SXSW.

Makthaverskan

If a hardcore band were forced to listen to Belle and Sebastian for a year, the result could be Sweden’s Makthaverskan. A perfect combination of Ramones cool and all out pop-punk fun, Makthaverskan clash their sickly sweet melodies with some powerful and cutting lyrics.

Institute

The perfect bridge between post-punk and hardcore, local band Institute’s dark and imposing sound complemented frontman Moses Brown’s presence as he stalked the stage throughout their set.