The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2024 (Part One)

We’re already into February and I haven’t cracked out this list yet. Let’s fix that, shall we?

In 2024, we’re getting several great albums some several great bands and artists, but out of all the albums that are coming out this year, these are the ones you need to keep your eyes on. Here are the most anticipated albums of 2024, in no particular order.

Brittany Howard

Album: What Now (Island)

Release Date: 2/2

Five years after dropping her solo debut, the former Alabama Shakes frontwoman is back. Howard’s sophomore follow-up — her first with major label Island Records (Demi Lovato, The Last Dinner Party, Sparks) — titled What Now has her returning with a “reinvigorated approach to her rich, rootsy, and emotionally perceptive songwriting,” as Pitchfork bluntly puts it. Co-produced by herself with help from six-time Grammy Award winner Shawn Everett (Alvvays, Miley Cyrus, Weezer), What Now will continue to show the world that Howard is a powerhouse. Just listen to that title track to see why.

Dead Years

Album: Night Thoughts (Dirt Cult)

Release Date: 2/2

German post-punk trio Dead Years were introduced to me via a press release last month. I’m not entirely sure what made me want to tap the link provided to me, and I am forever thankful that I did. The Bielefeld trio’s newest record Night Thoughts effortlessly creates a vibe that hypnotically attracts and embraces the listener. But it’s not just about the music: Dead Years’s lyrics reinforce the melancholy of their sound. They deal with self-doubt, social anxieties, and the daily struggle to find one’s way in an alientating world. Sounding like a combination of Hot Water Music, X, and The Wipers, Night Thoughts might be the album that goes under everyone’s radar this year. And for those that do check out this album, you’re welcome.

meth.

Album: SHAME (Prosthetic)

Release Date: 2/2

Chicago experimentalists meth. came across my radar through ads made by Prosthetic Records (ACxDC, gif from god, Wristmeetrazor) on my Facebook feed. And I was bewildered by the sound I heard. Thus I needed to hear more. Enter SHAME, the band’s second album. Tackling topics like bipolar disorder, addiction, and trauma, SHAME presents these themes over captivating melodies in the styles of grindcore, sludge, and noise. It might be too intense for some, but it’s definitely worth a listen.

The Chisel

Album: What A Fucking Nightmare (Pure Noise)

Releas Date: 2/9

2020 was a wild time. While some doors closed, others opened. For example, British hardcore act Arms Race called it a day at the end of 2019. Just a few months later, former Arms Race frontman turned drummer Nicholas Sarnella (who left the band in 2023) and Chisel’s frontman Callum Graham got tighter to discuss forming a band. From that came The Chisel, a punk act more akin to bands like the Ramones, Leatherface, and Angelic Upstarts. Fast forward to now and the band are set to drop album #2 What A Fucking Nightmare next week. Produced by Jonah Falco (Chubby And The Gang, Fucked Up, Lacquer), as a press release puts it, “the album is a high energy blend of Oi! hooks and hardcore stomp that’s sure to please fans of all things loud and catchy.”

Usher

Album: Coming Home (Mega/gamma.)

Release Date: 2/9

2024 is gonna be a big year for Usher. The R&B superstar will be playing the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, his residency at the Colosseum at Caesars’ Palace is still going on strong, and for the first time ever, he’s going independent. Coming Home, his first album in six years, has him collaborating with artists like 21 Savage, Burna Boy, Summer Walker, Latto, and Jungkook from BTS. ”We’ve put a lot of thought and creativity into this new album to tell a story that is open to interpretation and that will connect with people in different ways,” Usher said in a press release. “I know this has been a long time coming for my fans and what I’ll say is that all good things come to those who wait. I hope you enjoy it once you hear it.”

Laura Jane Grace

Album: Hole In My Head (Polyvinyl)

Release Date: 2/16

Ever since her band Against Me! went on hiatus back in 2020, frontwoman Laura Jane Grace has been working on her solo content. Since then, she’s dropped an EP, an album under her name, and one under the moniker Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers. And now, her second one under her name will come out later this month via Polyvinyl (American Football, The Get Up Kids, STRFKR). While we may not be getting an Against Me! reunion anytime soon, at least we can still get some amazing folk punk from Laura.

I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

Album: GLOOM DIVISION (Concord)

Release Date: 2/23

It’s been a long time since we heard from iDKHOW. Their last album dropped in 2020 with Fearless Records (Boys Like Girls, Flat Black, Movements) and everything pretty much went quiet during the pandemic. But in September 2023, iDKHOW finally broke the silence as to why nothing was coming out. First, iDKHOW cut ties with drummer Ryan Seaman, they left Fearless to sign with Concord Records (Elbow, The Offspring, Thirty Seconds To Mars), and that a new album was coming out in 2024. From what’s been unleashed so far, GLOOM DIVISION is gonna be a hit and worth the four year wait. Bring on the Dallon Weekes show, folks, it’s gonna be a proper good time.

Remo Drive

Album: Mercy (Epitaph)

Release Date: 2/23

Four years have passed since indie rock trio Remo Drive dropped their third album A Portrait Of An Ugly Man. During this time, frontman Erik Paulson decided to move from Minnesota to New York’s capital, while his brother/bassist Stephen stayed in Bloomington, which forms the basis for Mercy. This sense of finding your footing in a new place, as well as relationships and making art that others will see and critique make up their fourth album. In a press release from Epitaph Records (Architects, late night drive home, Royale Lynn), “the new album introduces a major sonic departure from records of Remo past. Less indebted to the emo and pop punk that foregrounded the duo’s career, instead Mercy is invested in thorny, baroque indie pop by way of Father John Misty and Fleet Foxes.” Produced by Phil Ek (Built To Spill, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Shins), the ten-track album has the band at their most vulnerable.

Chance The Rapper

Album: Star Line Gallery (Self-Released)

Release Date: TBA

Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Even Chance The Rapper. Since dropping his long-awaited and loathed debut The Big Day in 2019, CTR has pretty much backed away from music to focus on being a dad and a husband. But rumors have popped up over the years that a follow-up was in the works. Last December, he told his fans on Instagram Live that Star Line Gallery was “coming out next spring!” Guess we’ll have to wait and see if he was being legit. Because it would suck if he fell off.

Nails

Album: TBA (Nuclear Blast)

Releas Date: TBA

Eight years have passed since beloved 2010s powerviolence act Nails dropped an album. And it’s been four years since a new album was announced. Nails is down to its frontman Todd Jones, and things have been quiet ever since album #4 was announced in 2020. But that all changed last November when out of nowhere, news broke that LP4 was real and coming out in 2024. “New Nails LP coming Summer 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records engineered by @KurtBallou,” wrote Nails on Instagram. “Thanks for sticking with us. Info forthcoming. Love you all.” So yeah, LP4 is happening, and it will be produced by Converge’s Kurt Ballou (The Armed, Every Time I Die, Old Man Gloom) and that Nuclear Blast Records (Brand Of Sacrifice, Fuming Mouth, Hatebreed) will release it. Guess we’ll see what summer gives us, eh?

Part two will come out next week!

Dead Girls Academy Sign With Mission Two Entertainment

The Academy is back in session.

Hollywood rockers Dead Girls Academy announced that they have signed with hardcore punk label Mission Two Entertainment (Cro-Mags, Don’t Sleep, Insight). The group, who used to be signed to Mission Two founder Tony Brummel’s old label Victory Records, will be releasing their second album titled Doves In Glass Houses later this fall.

Frontman Michael Orlando spoke about the signing, “In the middle of this pandemic, I got the most amazing phone call. The first thing I heard was ‘The world needs rock ‘n’ roll now more than ever!’ I could not agree more, and that voice was (Mission Two Entertainment founder) Tony Brummel. It had been a long time since we talked and we’ve been on the same wavelength about the state of music since we first met. Tony brought the world some of my favorite bands like Taking Back Sunday, Thursday and Hatebreed. I knew I needed to follow my gut and sign with his new label Mission Two Entertainment!”

DGA are celebrating the news by dropping a music video for their track “This Is War”. The video is available now to watch on Mission Two’s YouTube channel. The single came out back in April.

Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 9)

Yeah yeah, it’s been some time. A thousand apologies. Got distracted with life, the fear of COVID-19, and Animal Crossing. But we got one more left after this!

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next 10 weeks, I’ll give you 100 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list will feature numerous acts from numerous genres.

This is part nine of ten. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Bilmuri

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Out Now: Muri And Friends (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Belmont, I The Mighty, Royal Coda

In the late 2000s, Johnny Franck and his band Attack Attack! made waves across the scene with their beloved debut album Someday Came Suddenly and their self-titled record in 2010. He then left the group that same year to focus on his relationship with God. And all that time with God caused him to create Bilmuri (yes, based on the actor’s name,) a funky post-hardcore band that will make you head bang while twerking. Soft yet funky, Bilmuri allows Franck to soar higher than ever before. He’s worked with acts and artists like No Dice, Tilian of Dance Gavin Dance (he would later appear on DGD’s new album Afterburner,) Surf Team, Dayseeker, and former Attack Attack! and current Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo (the feature is killer.) So if you like funky rhythms and shitposting, Bilmuri’s for you.

Song to Listen to: “BRUH.MP4”

DREGG

Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Out Now: Tu Track – Single (Epitaph)

For Fans Of: Hatebreed, Limp Bizkit, System Of A Down

“Imagine Eminem, fronting Mr. Bungle, while sipping absinthe, after an Oscar Wilde binge. Or Hatebreed, covering the Wu-Tang Clan, inside an art installation, curated by Andy Warhol’s ghost.” Just reading that gives you a clear look on what hardcore act DREGG are. The Australian fivesome have the swagger of a rapper, colorful clothes, and disturbing tones. As the band put it, “Privacy is becoming very rare in this modern world, and that drives people to hide who they really are. Each band member’s on-stage persona is an extension of their inner selves—the person the outside world doesn’t allow them to be.” Well that explains the masks and warpaint. They’ve done shows with Alpha Wolf, Hellions, Counterparts, Deez Nuts, and Knocked Loose. DREGG recently signed with American punk label Epitaph Records (The All-American Rejects, Fake Names, Smrtdeath) and dropped a two-track single titled Tu Track back in late April.

Song to Listen to: “HECTIC”

Lilac Queen

Hometown: Wakefield, MA

Out Now: If Only – EP (No Sleep)

For Fans Of: My Bloody Valentine, Swirlies, Title Fight

Named after a song by mewithoutYou, Massachusetts post-shoegaze quintet Lilac Queen might become the next big thing in the genre. Formed in late 2019, Lilac Queen —vocalist/guitarist Lily St. Germain, guitarist/vocalist Doug DeMars, lead guitarist Colin McGovern, bassist Billy Davis and drummer Jesse Porter — are slowly moving up in the music world, having signed to No Sleep Records (Best Ex, Gatherers, Worst Party Ever) in April. As Thisfunktional put it, Lilac Queen’s “wall-of-sound rhythm section juxtaposed with writhing guitar leadwork creates an atmospheric onslaught that does not beg but demands the listener’s attention.” They’ll be performing at The Fest in Gainesville, Fla., later this year alongside Hot Water Music, Broadway Calls, and current Prenatt’s Picks list band Mush.

Song to Listen to: “Ouch”

Wristmeetrazor

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

Out Now: Take Your Shot, Funboy – Single (Prosthetic)

For Fans Of: Ostraca, Portrayal Of Guilt, SeeYouSpaceCowboy

With a name like that they have to be heavy as fuck. D.C.’s Wristmeetrazor (named after the Usurp Synapse song) first began as a solo project for guitarist Jonah Thorne until he found bassist Justin Fornof and drummer Zach Wilbourn (who was replaced by SeeYouSpaceCowboy’s drummer Bryan Prosser in 2018) and added them in. The lineup soon became a quartet with the inclusion of second guitarist Tyler Norris a year later. As the group put it in their own words, “Bore of our own necessity. Wristmeetrazor exists as a monument to the space between sanity and self-destruction. Happiness. Sadness. Life. Death.” They’ve done shows with Terror, Dying Wish, Lowered A.D., Sharptooth, and Exit Strategy. Because of COVID-19, their tour with Trench and Stepping Stone will not be taking place. Support them and buy some merch.

Song to Listen to: “Loathsome”

I Met A Yeti

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Out Now: Camp Yeti – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Hail The Sun, A Lot Like Birds, Sianvar

Cool name. Orlando based swancore/post-hardcore quintet I Met A Yeti are as fun as their name sounds. And just like a yeti, they’re mysterious and way beyond powerful. They’re one of the most underrated groups in the swancore genre, and that’s a damn shame. Since we’re all under quarantine, check them out. The band have done shows with Strawberry Girls, Tiny Moving Parts, Eidola, I Set My Friends On Fire, and Being As An Ocean. They just wrapped up a tour in March, minus cancelling the final date due to corona.

Song to Listen to: “Blue-Eyes White Yeti”

Manuel The Band

Hometown: Long Beach, CA

Out Now: Room For Complication – EP (Monte Bre)

For Fans Of: Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Train

Hailing from Frank Ocean and Snoop Dogg’s hometown, rock-jazz-Americana group Manuel The Band are making waves in their corner of the country. The band started releasing music in 2018, and it’s been nothing but good vibes for the sextet. So far, they’ve played at the Music Tastes Good festival with New Order, Santigold, and Princess Nokia, dropped one EP and a new song written during quarantine, and were nominated for Best Album at the Independent Music Awards. Seems like it’s finally time for these West Coast boys to take flight and travel the country.

Song to Listen to: “Casual Love”

SadGirl

Hometown: Los Angeles CA

Out Now: Water (Suicide Squeeze)

For Fans Of: The Buttertones, Froth, Surf Curse

Inspired by rock ‘n’ roll from the ’50s and ’60s swing, LA’s surf punks SadGirl have a sound like no other. Their music sounds like the love child of David Bowie and Buddy Holly, which is odd since they first started off doing Nirvana and Sublime covers. Frontman Misha Lindes later shifted that grungy sound to the early rock music he grew up listening to. “For some reason, I always have had some fantasy about what my dad’s childhood was like growing up in early 60s America: big cars, guitar music, and The Beatles on the radio,” Misha told Vice back in 2016, stating that the Crybaby soundtrack “really changed my musical perspective in some way, too.” SadGirl have done shows with The Garden, Chicano Batman, and SWMRS.

Song to Listen to: “Chlorine”

Casa Loma

Hometown: Williamstown, NJ

Out Now: This Is Coping – EP (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Foxwarren, Nada Surf

Nik Bruzzese is no stranger to the music scene. He’s the frontman for one of the most beloved and influential pop punk bands of the past decade: Man Overboard. But with his solo project Casa Loma, Bruzzese steps into a new, softer, heavily emotional sound, reminiscing of Andy Shauf and Leif Vollebekk (well, Man Overboard had emotional songs, but Casa Loma goes harder than that.) When Transit/Cold Collective member Tim Landers passed away in early 2019, Bruzzese took the news hard. Going into recluse, he created the songs that would make up his debut EP This Is Coping, coming out June 5 on Pure Noise Records (The Amity Affliction, LURK, Same Side.) As a press release points out, “Despite the gravity of the subject matter, Nik is quick to point out that Casa Loma isn’t all doom and gloom. A hopeful optimism permeates the contemplative compositions, with a reassurance to keep going.”

Song to Listen to: “Famaglia”

Bamily

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: Family With A B – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Friendly Fires, Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club

Welcome to the Bamily. English indie darlings Bamily are all about that Bamily life, pun totally intended. Combining indie pop with the powers of EDM, disco, hip-hop, and soul, these lads are in a league of their own. They even DJ during their sets. As SubmitHub puts it, “Opening a world of sample heavy beats over luscious pad sounds and percussion, the band reimagine traditional pop song structures passing melodies between their two lead singers and a hefty backing vocal.” Currently they have over 90.8k monthly listeners on Spotify. Oh, and their cover of Tyler, The Creator’s “EARFQUAKE” slaps hard.

Song to Listen to: “Outro”

Dead Lakes

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Out Now: New Language – EP (SharpTone)

For Fans Of: Awaken I Am, Bring Me The Horizon, PVRIS

Formed in 2017, Seattle’s Dead Lakes blend the worlds of pop and screamo perfectly together. Their label SharpTone Records (Broadside, Kingdom Of Giants, The Wise Man’s Fear) says, “Dead Lakes make music for anyone who feels the sting of broken connections, failed relationships, and challenging circumstances, yet nevertheless will muster the strength and hope to carry onward.” They just might become the new Sleeping With Sirens. Definitely keep these guys on your radar.

Song to Listen to: “SMS Happiness”

Come back next week for the final artists of 2020!

Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 2)

Round two, folks.

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the next 10 weeks, I’ll give you 100 artists that you need to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list will feature numerous acts from numerous genres.

This is part two of ten. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Now that we got all of that out of the way, let the madness begin!

Stargazers Paradise

Hometown: Virginia/Temecula, CA/Clarksville, TN/Southern California

Out Now: Slut Boi Lyfe – Single (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Brojob, Eskimo Callboy, Upon A Burning Body

Yes, this is a real band. Lewd metalcore band Stargazers Paradise formed in 2019 when vocalist S3v3n, guitarist Zenith, bassist Jesse, and ex-drummer Djohn (replaced by new drummer Sulo) decided to get together to make music based on something they all love: sex. Fueled by their burning desires, the boys are ready to throw down while getting down. The band said that while their lyrics are mostly comical, they take themselves seriously as musicians, wanting to play shows with other bands instead of just the usual furry convention (not like there’s anything wrong with that.) New material should be coming out soon.

Song to Listen to: “Slut Boi Lyfe”

Frail Body

Hometown: Rockford, IL

Out Now: A Brief Memoriam (Deathwish Inc.)

For Fans Of: Envy, Frail Hands, State Faults

There is nothing frail about Frail Body, the screamo trio hailing from the Midwest. The only thing frail will be your body once you listen to their heavy-hitting Deathwish Inc. (Deafheaven, Gouge Away, Planes Mistaken For Stars) debut A Brief Memoriam. Frail Body are keeping the spirit of classic “screamo” alive, fueled by bands like Pg. 99 and Saetia. They’ve done shows with Ghost Key, meth., Remo Drive, Wristmeetrazor, and For Your Health. The trio even got a shout out by Tom Schlatter, vocalist/guitarist for the legendary screamo act You And I, in an interview with BrooklynVegan. Their next show is Saturday, February 29, at X-Ray Arcade in Cudahy, WI, with Dead To Fall.

Song to Listen to: “Your Death Makes Me Wish Heaven Was Real”

Une Misère

Hometown: Reykjavík, Iceland

Out Now: Sermon (Nuclear Blast)

For Fans Of: The Acacia Strain, Gojira, Slipknot

It’s lucky that the Icelandic metallic hardcore troupe Une Misère (French for “a misery”) are getting all the attention they could ever want. Because if vocalist Jón Már Ásbjörnsson didn’t quit drinking, none of it would’ve happened. “I can honestly say that I would not be a part of this band if I wasn’t sober,” Ásbjörnsson told Discovered Magazine. “That is a good driving force for me to actually stay sober because the guys know that they don’t wanna be in a band with not-sober me. I’m this close to my dream, and I can achieve that just by not drinking. It makes it kind of simple and achievable, like a day at a time. So as long as I don’t drink today, then I might not drink tomorrow, and that brings me one day closer to doing whatever I wanna do for the rest of my life. I wanna stand on stage, and do this.” Using this mindset, Ásbjörnsson and company — guitarist Gunnar Ingi Jones, guitarist/vocalist Fannar Már Oddsson, bassist Þorsteinn Gunnar Friðriksson, and drummer Benjamín Bent Árnason — have been able to accomplish many things, including performances with As I Lay Dying, Thy Art Is Murder, Darkest Hour, Arch Enemy, and Lamb Of God, signing with Nuclear Blast (The Damned Things, Hatebreed, Municipal Waste,) and having producer Sky van Hoff (Eskimo Callboy, Kreator, Rammstein) work on their debut record Sermon. With lyrics straight from the heart and riffs brutal as all hell, Une Misère are clearly worth checking out.

Song to Listen to: “Sermon”

Nascar Aloe

Hometown: Lexington, NC

Out Now: IRAQ (IWRECK) – Single (Epitaph)

For Fans Of: City Morgue, Ski Mask The Slump God, XXXTENTACION

Meet Nascar Aloe. He’s the self proclaimed new Sid Vicious who’s addicted to buying gas station knives and mixing hardcore punk with rap. The North Carolina rapper has been making music since 2013 when he was 14. Nascar Aloe has performed under different aliases such as Aloe!, Yung Aloe, and Colby Suoy. He signed with Epitaph Records (The All-American Rejects, HUNNY, Save Face) in early 2020, dropping his label debut single “IRAQ (IWRECK)” in mid-January. He’s currently wrapping up a tour with Kb3ach, Bob Vylan, KidsNextDoor, and Death Tour. Later this year he’ll play at festivals like Reading And Leeds (The Bronx, Gallows, Rex Orange County) and Epicenter (Bones UK, Metallica, Sick Of It All.)

Song to Listen to: “IRAQ (IWRECK)”

For Your Health

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Out Now: Death Of Spring split with Shin Guard (Middle-Man)

For Fans Of: .gif from god, Orchid, SeeYouSpaceCowboy

Hailing from the bowels of the Midwest are For Your Health, a emotional hardcore quartet consisting of frontperson Hayden Rodriguez, guitarist Damian Chacon, bassist Johnny Debord, and drummer Sandro Zambrano-Villa. The four have been going hard since August 2018, doing shows with Old Wounds, Drug Church, awakebutstillinbed, I AM, and The Number Twelve Looks Like You, and dropping three EPs, their latest being a split with Shin Guard. BrooklynVegan even listed Death Of Spring as one of the best screamo releases of 2019. They’re playing a show with Wounded Touch, TIFFY, and Dead Bird Theory later today at Trumbullplex in Detroit.

Song to Listen to: “Charlie Brown’s Gotta Be Damn Near Public Domain By Now”

Decayer

Hometown: Tucson, AZ

Out Now: End Note (We Are Triumphant)

For Fans Of: early Bring Me The Horizon, Despised Icon, Whitechapel

Brutal. That word can simply sum up what Arizonian deathcore quartet Decayer are. With only one album under their belt (2019’s End Note,) Decayer — vocalist Harrison Burkardt, guitarist David Scordato, bassist Keith Huffman, and drummer Devon Marr — are hear to throw down and only throw down. They even have some pretty heavy covers to their name. Decayer appeared on their label’s tribute to Bring Me The Horizon’s debut Count Your Blessings covering “Pray For Plagues” and were on Got You Covered, Vol. 4 with their rendition of Khalid’s “Talk.” Sleeping on Decayer would be an unwise mistake.

Song to Listen to: “Finding Purpose”

Thank You, I’m Sorry

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Out Now: The Malta House (Count Your Lucky Stars)

For Fans Of: Alvvays, Julien Baker, Snail Mail

Thank You, I’m Sorry started off solely with frontperson Collen Dow and their acoustic guitar. Now they’re joined with drummer Sage Livergood and bassist Bethany Schreiner. The trio craft songs that touch the soul of anyone listening with their relatable lyrics. Don’t believe me? Read my review of their debut album The Malta House then. They just wrapped up a tour with Tunnel Songs. I mean, if Count Your Lucky Stars signed them, you know, the label behind Kittyhawk, Into It. Over It., Snowing, Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate,) and Foxing, then Thank You, I’m Sorry must be doing something right.

Song to Listen to: “Manic Pixie Dream Hurl”

Wetter

Hometown: South Korea

Out Now: Love Is All Around – Single (POCLANOS)

For Fans Of: Arctic Monkeys, The Black Skirts, Hyukoh

Fuck K-Pop. It’s time for K-Indie. Wetter are a four-piece indie rock band who are finally setting their sights west. Influenced by Arctic Monkeys and Nirvana and having catchy as fuck hooks, vocalist Choi Wonbin, guitarist Jae Jiho, bassist Jung Jihoon, and drummer Heo Jinhyeok, have the skills to compete with what America has to offer. Even Alternative Press took notice of the group. They first bursted into the music world with their debut single “Who” and haven’t stopped rolling out hit after hit. They just dropped their new single “Love Is All Around” on February 18.

Song to Listen to: “GGONDAE”

Spiritbox

Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Out Now: Rule Of Nines – Single (Pale Chord)

For Fans Of: After The Burial, Northlane, Silent Planet

“In IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, we were the ‘replacement people’ for original members, and being that eventually wears you down.” That’s what Spiritbox and ex-IWABO frontwoman Courtney LaPlante told Loudwire in 2019. LaPlante and her now husband guitarist Michael Stringer (also a former member of IWABO) created Spiritbox as their way of stepping out of the shadows and making their own thing. Eventually recruiting bassist Bill Crook and Shreddy Krueger drummer Ryan Loerke, the art-metal quartet are ready to strike, eager to show the world what they’re made of. Since forming in 2017, the group have done shows with Enterprise Earth and Misery Signals, and are about to embark on a tour with After The Burial and Make Them Suffer. Welcome to the ghost zone.

Song to Listen to: “Rule Of Nines”

Lil Lotus

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Out Now: Never Get Away – Single (Epitaph)

For Fans Of: nothing,nowhere., Shinigami, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal

Texas based rapper Lil Lotus (real name John “Elias” Villagran) made history when he signed with Epitaph Records in late 2019, becoming the first emo rapper signed with the punk rock label. Since his signing, Epitaph added two more rappers; guccihighwaters just two days later, and Nascar Aloe in January, who you can read about in this exact list. He’s toured with Senses Fail and nothing,nowhere., and collaborated with former Epitaph signees I Set My Friends On Fire on their track “Don’t Take Me For Pomegranate.” The two even covered each other on the EP Online Now! with Lil Lotus doing an acoustic rendition of “Nothing Rhymes With Orange” and ISMFOF doing “Body Bag.” Looks like Epitaph are looking in the right direction for talent.

Song to Listen to: “Never Get Away”

Come back next week for more artists!