Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 6)

Only four more left.

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 six of ten. If you didn’t read the previous list, click here.

Destroy Boys

Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Out Now: Fences – Single (Uncool)

For Fans Of: FIDLAR, Skating Polly, Tacocat

If Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong is a huge fan of your work, then you’re doing everything right. Sacramento punk rockers Destroy Boys are carrying the riot girl banner that was raised back in the 90’s from bands like L7 and Bikini Kill. Influenced by everyone from Operation Ivy to Lady Gaga, the trio write “Tales of misanthropic school days, elitist parties and drunken frat boy shaming barely scratch the surface of the vision into their world.” The trio are signed to Uncool Records, the label created by the band SWMRS, and have done shows with Hobo Johnson & The LoveMakers, The Garden, and PUP. They’ll appearing on this year’s Sad Summer Fest alongside All Time Low, Movements, and The Story So Far.

Song to Listen to: “Fences”

Go For Gold

Hometown: Conway, AR

Out Now: Let Me Go – Single (InVogue)

For Fans Of: In Her Own Words, Like Pacific, Seaway

Who knew that Arkansas could give us something so good? Hailing from Conway, Go For Gold deliver you that classic early 2010’s pop-punk vibe that Warped Tour craved. Amy Albinson from Discovered Magazine said about the band, “Reminiscent of teenage years with a stream of consciousness lyrical style, their energy is infectious as they remain relentlessly hopeful, suggesting that maybe you can just dance all over your problems.” Last year they signed with InVogue Records (Assuming We Survive, Heart To Heart, Secret Eyes) and will drop their new EP Color Me on May 15.

Song to Listen to: “Let Me Go”

Sadfields

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico

Out Now: Sofocar – Single (Buen Dia)

For Fans Of: A Place To Bury Strangers, Ceremony, Ringo Deathstarr

Sadfields might be making noise in their city of Mexico City and beyond, but in the U.S., we aren’t listening. Let me change that. Influenced by Pornography-era The Cure and A Place To Bury Strangers (who they opened up for once,) alt-noise rock trio Sadgirls have a captivating tone while causing chaos on stage. The three lads — guitarist/vocalist Daniel Espinoza, bassist Miguel Flores and drummer Erick Román — got together in the fall of 2015 and have been rocking out since. Their lyrics are emotionally packed and their noise evokes discordance and beauty. If you like bands such as The Cure and Ride, you’ll love Sadfields.

Song to Listen to: “Sofocar”

Peach Pit

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Out Now: Shampoo Bottles – Single (Columbia)

For Fans Of: Beach Bunny, Declan McKenna, Slaughter Beach, Dog

This isn’t bubblegum pop, it’s chewed bubblegum pop. That’s what indie pop quartet Peach Pit call themselves. The Canadian band formed in 2014 when lead vocalist/guitarist Neil Smith and lead guitarist Chris Vanderkooy, who were friends in high school, decided to work on a musical project together. They then added bassist Peter Wilton and drummer Mikey Pascuzzi shortly afterwards. Peach Pit first got some recognition when their self-titled single went viral in 2016. Since then, they’ve released several singles, one EP, and two full-length records, their newest one You And Your Friends comes out April 16 via Columbia Records (645AR, Blink-182, Foster The People.) Speaking of You And Your Friends, the album was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton (Best Coast, Explosions In The Sky, Kimbra.) They’re embarking on a North American tour next month with Sun Seeker and Hailey Blais.

Song to Listen to: “Black Licorice”

Lyon Estates

Hometown: Selby, North Yorkshire, UK

Out Now: Welcome To The Family – EP (Side Mission)

For Fans Of: Man Overboard, The Starting Line, WSTR

Named after the subdivision that Marty McFly lives in in the Back To The Future series, Lyon Estates are a pop-punk band who love pop culture. With songs named after references from The Simpsons and Back To The Future, their loves knows no bounds. “Lyon Estates came together as a bunch of friends who all lived in the same dreary northern town,” bassist Rich Harrison told Discovered Magazine.  “We didn’t really have any sort of plans except to just jam out some songs and play a few hometown shows.” Not only do they love pop culture, they also love charity. In 2018, they raised money for Safe Gigs For Women and Independent Domestic Abuse Services by creating a tee with 100% of the profits split between the both of them. They’ve done shows with This Time Next Year, Calling All Captains, Room 94, Woes, and MxPx. Lyon Estates dropped their new EP Welcome To The Family last October.

Song to Listen to: “Hokitika”

Chamber

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Out Now: Ripping/Pulling/Tearing (Pure Noise)

For Fans Of: Disembodied, Sanction, Zao

Nashville’s Chamber are “one of the most technically pugnacious hardcore bands around.” That’s what Revolver called them. Formed in 2017, the quintet have been hitting hard, even with some roadblocks (the band parted ways with ex-vocalist Sam Fleming who now fronts Incendiary.) They dropped their debut Ripping/Pulling/Tearing last year on Pure Noise Records (The Amity Affliction, First Blood, Reggie And The Full Effect.) Chamber have toured with The Acacia Strain, Counterparts, Gideon, Old Wounds, and Year Of The Knife. If you’re looking for something heavy to get you out of your self-quarantine rut or just need a band that reminds you of Zao, listen to Chamber.

Song to Listen to: “Replacing Every Weakness”

Sleep Token

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: Sundowning (Spinefarm)

For Fans Of: The Contortionist, Thomas Giles, Hozier

It’s time for worship. Sleep Token are an anonymous band who’s names are not important for us to know of, except vocalist Vessel. His haunting, powerful voice helps spread the band’s message of reintroducing the world to the forgotten god known as “Sleep.” The god is crudely called that because modern tongues cannot pronounce his name. While they’re known in the UK, it’s time for us to be woke to their beauty and message. Worship with us. Later this summer they’ll appear at festivals like Mad Cool, Sunstroke, and Download.

Song to Listen to: “The Offering”

Fate’s Got A Driver

Hometown: Amityville, NY

Out Now: Fate’s Got A Driver – EP (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Glassjaw, Lifetime, Texas Is The Reason

Does Fate’s Got A Driver’s guitarist look familiar? That’s because it’s Taking Back Sunday’s former guitarist Eddie Reyes. Formed in 2018, FGAD sound like a darker TBS, heading towards a Deftones-ish style. They dropped their self-titled EP last November. Expect more from them later this year.

Song to Listen to: “Pennies”

guardin

Hometown: Hornell, NY

Out Now: creature, Pt. 2 (Photo Finish)

For Fans Of: guccihighwaters, Fats’e, Lil Peep

guardin is the genre-bending emo-rap project hailing from the mind of Western New Yorker Nicholas Kerr. Signed to Photo Finish Records, the label that once housed 3OH!3 and MisterWives, guardin creates music for everyone. He’s already gained success with touring with gnash and Mallrat and having his music appear on Alternative Press. Music was a major part of his life, starting music at an early age, picking up the guitar at 9. He then dabbled with piano and drums, wearing out the heads after owning a kit for two years. At 12, he began writing songs with his acoustic guitar, and it all spiraled right there. “I usually record a handful of freestyled melodies over a beat to figure out a base structure, and use that to help me craft sort of a walking stick for my writing,” guardin said in a press release. “I’ll usually write a hook and a verse, and then come back to it later once my mind is in a new place so my verses feel welldifferentiated. From there, I add in separate layers such as ad libs or backing vocals to really fill it out and bring the track to life.” He’s doing a show with guccihighwaters in May.

Song to Listen to: “i think you’re really cool”

Stepson

Hometown: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Out Now: Run – Single (SharpTone)

For Fans Of: Counterparts, Stick To Your Guns, early Trophy Eyes

Freshly signed to SharpTone Records (Broadside, Holding Absence, Miss May I) are these Aussies who pack quite a punch. Stepson began all the way back in 2014, showing their country how hard they can really go. Now it’s time for the world to know of Stepson. So far the band have dropped two EPs and several singles, their newest track “Run” came out on March 20. They’ve toured with Polaris, Stray Form The Path, Trash Talk, While She Sleeps, and The Brave. Look out world, here comes your favorite Stepson.

Song to Listen to: “Run”

Come back next week for more artists!

 

Go For Gold Sign With InVogue Records, Drop Music Video

Central Arkansas pop-punkers have signed with independent label InVogue Records (Boys Of Fall, He Is We, In Her Own Words.)

The quartet broke the news earlier today with the unveiling of their new music video for “Let Me Go.” Watch the video here.

“From first listen to the new single ‘Let Me Go’ I was hooked on Go For Gold,” InVogue Records owner Nick Moore said on signing GFG. “Their energy, work ethic and everything is what we want at IVR. All of the new music they’ve been delivering is perfection – 2020 is going to be a big year for them.”

Go For Gold formed in 2017 and have been working hard on making it big. Last year, British music magazine Discovered Magazine featured them in their Undiscovered section.

“Let Me Go” comes out to streaming services at midnight tonight.

He Is We Sign With InVogue Records, Announce New Song

Here’s a blast from the past.

Indie pop act He Is We have signed with InVogue Records (Chase Huglin, Heart To Heart, In Her Own Words.)

The Washington state based band announced the news earlier today along with a brand new song called “Amazing Grace,” which comes out February 14. It marks He Is We’s first new music since the 2018 EP Hold My Heart.

“Regardless of how far I’ve tried to run from this industry, the unconditional support has pulled me back in and reminded me of why it is I need music,” frontwoman Rachel Taylor said in a press release. “I’m blown away that I’d given up on myself and the heartbeat of He Is Wenever gave up on me. The fan base kept air in my lungs and brought me back to life. I just want to hug every person who held me together when falling apart became so easy.”

Nick Moore, owner of InVogue Records, said, “I’ve been a huge fan of He Is We for years so having the opportunity to release this new single, I couldn’t pass it up. I’m really excited to be working with Rachel on this new chapter of music she is creating.”

He Is We formed as a duo in 2008 and were originally signed with now defunct major label Universal Motown Records (Blue October, Drake, Four Year Strong.) The band toured with Lizzy Farrall, Vendetta Red, Jack’s Mannequin, We The Kings, and Deas Vail.

HIW also appeared on the compilation Rockin’ Romance II covering Iyaz’s “Replay.” The album also featured Plug In Stereo, You, Me, And Everyone We Know, Artist vs. Poet, City Lights, and Cady Groves.

Why Inner Outlines’s “Perspective.” Still Kicks Ass Half A Year Later

Six months ago, the Jacksonville, Ill., rock quintet Inner Outlines dropped their sophomore album Perspective. So you’re probably asking why I’m doing a review of this album half a year later, even thought I put the band on this year’s Prenatt’s Picks list.

Easy answer: I was asked to.

Since I hate to disappoint, I’m making an exception for this one. So now, let’s see why this album is still worth talking about nearly six months later.

On their second album, the alt-rock/pop-punk band who were influenced by everyone like Sevendust, The Color Morale, and Led Zeppelin, go further beyond. The ten tracks that make up Perspective. are just a treat. In my honest opinion? This might be the most underrated pop-punk album of 2018.

These boys are shining for the fences, creating stadium anthems just like Foo Fighters and A Day To Remember while still sounding like old school Fall Out Boy and In Her Own Words. That right there is an impossible feat, but Inner Outlines are able to make it work.

Each track on the album is incredibly flawless, with each one being a banger after banger. The opening track “Are You Really Happy Yet?” has a Carousel Kings-esque vibe yet is still heavy enough for you to do spin kicks in the pit. “Take Me” slows things down while still going hard, blending pop-punk with rock. “Halo” was meant for rock radio, and it is a damn shame that it’s not on there. The acoustic/electric “Build Me Up” is a slow jam that, for some reason, reminds me of Avenged Sevenfold’s “Dear God.” And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, folks.

With that out of the way, only one question remains. Is this album still solid? Uh…yeah. It’s honestly surprising that Inner Outlines haven’t broken out big time yet, but only time will tell. If you slept on Perspective., then oh man, you really need to listen to this ASAP.