The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2023 (Part Two)

This is part two of four. If you haven’t read part one yet, check it out here.

In 2023, 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 2023, in no particular order.

Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness

Album: Tilt At The Wind No More (Nettwerk)

Release Date: 3/31

Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness’s fourth album Tilt At The Wind No More spent years in the making. Releasing March 31 via Nettwerk Music Group (BANNERS, John Butler Trio, San Cisco,) and produced by McMahon, Tommy English (Carly Rae Jepsen, Poppy, Set It Off,) and Jeremy Hatchet (Florence + The Machine, Lizzo, Ricky Montgomery,) it will be McMahon’s first release under the Nettwerk label. His last record, 2018’s Upside Down Flowers came out on Fantasy Records (BAILEN, L.S. Dunes, Tedeschi Trucks Band). The album may be about “pure nostalgia,” as stated by McMahon when talking about the album’s debut single “Lying On The Hood Of Your Car.” He said in a statement, “I made a conscious decision when I was writing it to imagine a whole world of important figures in my life lying next to me on the hood of that imagined vehicle. In one breath it’s a song about young love and in another it’s about those nights out with friends. Nights that ended in parking lot conversations about lives you might lead one day and places you might escape to if you could. I rarely build imagined worlds when I write songs but something about this one feels very much like a memory to me.”

Blink-182

Album: TBA (Columbia)

Release Date: TBA

Reunited and it feels so good. After spending seven years absent from the band, original guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge has returned. 2023 is going to be a big year for Blink-182. A massive world tour alongside Turnstile, Rise Against, The Story So Far, and Wallows, is about to take place, they’re headlining When We Were Young with Green Day, and a new album is on the way. DeLonge promised us back in December that Blink’s ninth album is coming out “in a few months.” Specifically when is still up in the air. But a new Blink record with Tom back in the group is gonna be promising.

Metallica

Album: 72 Seasons (Blackened)

Release Date: 4/14

When Metallica announces a new record, everyone listens. The metal band are about to unleash their eleventh album 72 Seasons in two months. Produced by Greg Fidelman (Adele, High On Fire, Sick Of It All,) 72 Seasons is a concept album dwelling about the first 18 years of someone’s life. From what we’ve got from the album so far, it’s gonna kick ass.

Story Of The Year

Album: Tear Me To Pieces (SharpTone)

Release Date: 3/10

Making their debut with new label SharpTone Records (Broadside, Miss May I, We Came As Romans,) post-hardcore vets Story Of The Year are ready to give you an album packed with “heartache, desperation, motivation, toxic relationships, pain, loss, anger — all of the essential ingredients of the classic Story Of The Year sound…”Guitarist Ryan Phillips told Blabbermouth, “I think this album will be a defining moment in our career. When our fans hear it, they’ll be, like, ‘Oh, shit, these dudes are ready to go!’ This is the sound of a band putting everything into it. If a new band came out with this album, I’d be texting everyone in my band about it.”

Now More Than Ever

Album: Creatrix (Creatrix/Thirty Tigers)

Release Date: 3/17

Let’s get this out of the way before people panic. No, The All-American Rejects aren’t dead just because frontman Tyson Ritter is focusing on this new project: Now More Than Ever. In the 2023 edition of Prenatt’s Picks I’ll go into more detail about Now More Than Ever, but just know this for now; Now More Than Ever just wanna make you dance your ass off. That’s the goal of their upcoming debut record Creatrix. Consisting of nine tracks, Broadway World puts it best. “Now More Than Ever shimmers with a spirit of freedom, its nine tracks gracefully surfing the peaks of the past four decades of pop and rock. These are the kinds of songs that used to be on the radio and certainly still should be today – the ones that make you dance, shake your ass and forget about everything else for a while.”

The Bouncing Souls

Album: Ten Stories High (Pure Noise)

Release Date: 3/24

The last time The Bouncing Souls dropped an album was seven years ago, back when the legendary NJ punks were on Rise Records (Flogging Molly, Polyphia, You Me At Six.) Now on Pure Noise Records (Galactic Empire, Samiam, Year Of The Knife,) TBS’s 11th record Ten Stories High is as classic of a Bouncing Souls album as you can get. Produced by Will Yip (Balance And Composure, La Dispute, Quicksand,) TBS wanted to craft an album inspired by their fans’ very own stories. They used Patreon and Zoom calls to chat with their fans, using their conversations to shape Ten Stories High. “The technical side of doing the songwriting was pretty strict,” vocalist Greg Attonito said on the subject. “We’d do these 30-to-40-minute Zoom calls with the person and just try to get to know them. They were all massive Souls fans, but they were all so different. We’d just try to have a conversation and I would take notes…something would usually pop out and I could see it as something to focus on in a song, whether it was more literally or even just a kernel that would spin off into something totally different.”

My Chemical Romance

Album: TBA (Reprise)

Release Date: TBA

Nothing has been stated on whether or not a new MCR album in on the way, but no way they aren’t making a new album. The beloved rock band reunited back in 2019 and shocked the world with their first new song in over a decade last year called “The Foundations Of Decay.” All we can do is wait, and pray.

August Burns Red

Album: Death Below (SharpTone)

Release Date: 3/24

“It’s no secret that the past few years have been extremely dark and challenging,” guitarist JB Brubaker told Blabbermouth when discussing August Burns Red’s upcoming tenth album. “Death Below is here as a result of that time in each our lives and the emotions that came with it. We were motivated by uncertainty, fear, outrage, and triumph. I feel this is the darkest, most personal album we’ve ever written, and I couldn’t be more proud of what the five of us made together.” The album is the first ABR record to feature numerous guests, starring Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage, J.T. Casey of ERRA, and Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath.

See You Next Tuesday

Album: Distractions (Good Fight)

Release Date: 2/17

15 years ago, Midwestern death core/mathcore troupe See You Next Tuesday released their second album Intervals. That album ended with the sounds of a ticking clock, which originally was put there to push the record’s length past the 30-minute mark, as well as to have it lead into their third album. But that never happened as CUNT went on an indefinite hiatus in 2009. As of 2023, we can officially state that the clock has stopped ticking. Coming February 17 is CUNT’s long-awaited third album Distractions, being released by their new label Good Fight Music (’68, Boys Night Out, Eighteen Visions.) Will it be worth the wait? You’ll have to wait until the 17th to find out.

John-Allison Weiss

Album: The Long Way (Get Better)

Release Date: 2/17

Singer-songwriter John-Allison Weiss was doing pretty well for themselves a decade ago. They were on SideOneDummy Records (Big D And The Kids Table, CLIFFDIVER, Plasma Canvas,) played the Vans Warped Tour in 2013 alongside Citizen, William Beckett of The Academy Is…, and Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds, and was living in LA. But things changed in 2018 for the Georgian musician when SideOneDummy folded. Then they came out as non-binary and began exploring themselves, going through a “second puberty.” Weiss told Alternative Press, “Living in this scene and staying authentic is a battle, and over the last decade, a lot of my needs got clouded by this industry. You get caught up in it, and it colors the standards you hold yourself to. That’s when I made some of my favorite art. I wanted to work out how to get back to that shameless teenage feeling with the brain of an adult.” All these changes helped shape their long-awaited fourth album The Long Way, their first album since 2015’s New Love. It’s also their first album with new label Get Better Records (Alice Bag, Full On Mone’t, Noods.) With all these changes in Weiss’s life, The Long Way is going to be a very interesting follow-up.

Part three will come out next week!

Furnace Fest (Kinda) Releases Full Lineup For 2022

It’s finally here! Kinda.

Furnace Fest 2022 is already looking out to be the festival of the year. So far, Counterparts, The Ghost Inside, Bleeding Through, a recently reunited Elliott, and New Found Glory were some of the many bands announced. But on Friday, the Alabamian music festival kicked it up a notch by unveiling 99% of their full lineup (minus one secret headliner). Check out the roster below.

The newest acts announced for Furnace Fest 2022 include Mastodon, Hidden In Plain View, Belmont, Four Year Strong, Thrice, Manchester Orchestra, Close Your Eyes, Doll Skin, Midtown, and Sick Of It All, just to name few.

Tickets are still available at www.furnacefest.us.

Furnace Fest was held from 2000 until 2003, eventually going on hiatus until 2021. Last year’s festival featured Every Time I Die, Across Five Aprils, Underoath, Fit For A King, Turnstile, As Cities Burn, Mayday Parade, Walls Of Jericho, Glassjaw, and Motionless In White.

Prenatt’s Picks: 100 Artists To Check Out In 2020 (Part 10)

It’s here, the final one of 2020. After lack of motivation and Animal Crossing caused numerous delays, I can wrap up this series properly.

Here at Punk Goes Prenatt, for the past 10 weeks, I gave you 100 artists that you needed to tune your attention to throughout 2020. This list featured numerous acts from numerous genres.

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

Doja Cat

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Hot Pink (Kemosabe/RCA)

For Fans Of: Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Santigold

Meet the new Nicki Minaj. Doja Cat, real name Amalaratna Zandile Dlamini, first rose to popularity with her joke song “Mooo!” went viral in 2018. In the span of two years, she dropped her debut Amala in 2018 and her latest record Hot Pink back in November. The record is a major change in her style, trading in her dancehall vibes for pop and funk. She even appeared on the Birds Of Prey soundtrack with the killer track “Boss Bitch.” Oh, and to give her some scene cred, “Bottom Bitch” samples Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?”, so that’s something. She’s collaborated with acts like Tyga, Gucci Mane, and even  Nicki Minaj herself on the remix of her big hit “Say So.” Her Hot Pink tour was postponed due to COVID-19 and hopefully it’ll start later this year.

Song to Listen to: “Say So”

Off Road Minivan

Hometown: Red Hook, NY

Out Now: Swan Dive (Tooth & Nail)

For Fans Of: Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, Thrice

When he’s not busy kicking ass in the metalcore band Fit For A King, bassist Ryan Tuck O’Leary is throwing it old school with his other project Off Road Minivan. The alt rock quintet bounce between 90’s grunge and heartfelt emo vibes. Think Dashboard Confessional meets Thrice; that’s a good description of their sound. ORM formed in 2018 and have released one EP and one full-length album called Swan Dive which dropped earlier this month on Tooth & Nail Records (Alexander Fairchild, Hearts Like Lions, Mae.) The band have done shows with Chase Huglin, Blis., and Davey Muise & The Sons Of Zero. So if you’re a fan of FFAK, why not check out the glorious tunes of ORM.

Song to Listen to: “YOU”

NOT A TOY

Hometown: Denver, CO

Out Now: J Cash – Single (Fearless)

For Fans Of: AJR, grandson, twenty one pilots

The Denver-based collective NOT A TOY are quite mysterious. Formed from the ashes of the rock band Shatterproof, NOT A TOY are here to wow you with their charm. They don’t consider themselves a band, but as a collective of four creatives. They don’t just make music, they make their clothes, their videos, and even their artwork. Simply put, NOT A TOY are one of the most fascinating groups to appear in the scene in a very long time. You might’ve heard of them when they were announced as the newest act to join Fearless Records (Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, The Pretty Reckless, Underoath) during their Fearless At Home livestream earlier this month. As their label puts it, “If Kanye West and Pharrell joined forces to produce a rock group co-fronted by Jesse Rutherford and Lana Del Rey, it might sound something like Not a Toy.” NOT A TOY are not to be toyed with.

Song to Listen to: “J Cash”

Black Pumas 

Hometown: Austin, TX

Out Now: Black Pumas (ATO)

For Fans Of: Durand Jones & The Indications, Leon Bridges, St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Tears For Fears. The Black Keys. City Morgue. What do all of those bands have in common? They’re all duos, and so is this band: Black Pumas. The soulful R&B duo have only been around for three years and have already done so much. One of those accomplishments was being nominated for Best New Artist at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards back in January. While they didn’t win, one of them does have one under his belt. Guitarist/producer Adrian Quesada won a Grammy with his previous band Grupo Fantasma in 2010 for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. In 2019, the duo signed with Dave Matthews’s record label ATO Records (The Bronx, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Primus.) So far, they’ve done shows with Norah Jones, Toadies, and Anderson East. With COVID-19 hitting the country, the duo are using their spare time to help out various venues and record shops in their city with some fundraisers.

Song to Listen to: “Colors”

Alex Lahey

Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Out Now: Sucker For Punishment – Single (Nicky Boy/Dead Oceans)

For Fans Of: A.W., Courtney Barnett, Paramore

If Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance loves your stuff, that means you’re doing something right. He got chills when he heard her rendition of their classic hit “Welcome To The Black Parade” for Triple J’s recurring Like A Version series. That’s one of the many growing highlights in the musical career of 27-year-old singer-songwriter Alex Lahey. Influenced by The Killers and Dolly Parton, Lahey’s career skyrocketed with the success of the 2017 track “Every Day’s The Weekend,” which went gold in her native Australia. She’s even making some small waves in the pop-punk community when she appeared on a previous Prenatt’s Picks band Stand Atlantic’s reimagined song “Skinny Dipping.” She’s done shows with Liam Gallagher, The National, and Cyndi Lauper, and if COVID-19 lets up later this year, she’ll be touring with City And Colour in October. But for real, check out her MCR cover, it’s amazing.

Song to Listen to: “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself”

DRAIN

Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA

Out Now: California Cursed (Revelation)

For Fans Of: Absence Of Mine, No Option, Vamachara

“[DRAIN] could prove to be one of hardcore’s biggest names in the immediate future.” That’s what British music magazine Discovered said about the Cali hardcore punks when reviewing their new album California Cursed. Formed in 2014 and barely consisting of any original members (drummer Tim Flegal is the last one,) the quartet have hit several incredible milestones. For example, they achieved international press, did a photo shoot with Santa Cruz skateboards, and signed with the legendary hardcore label Revelation Records, the label behind Sick Of It All, Gorilla Biscuits, and Texas Is The Reason. They’ve done shows with Slapshot, Vein, Cruel Hand, Power Trip, and Gulch. Simply put, DRAIN is your friend.

Song to Listen to: “California Cursed”

Vaines

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Out Now: Summer’s Over – Single (Hopeless)

For Fans Of: gnash, Lauv, Troye Sivan

Meet the most overlooked artist on Hopeless Records (The Dangerous Summer, Lil Xtra, ROAM.) Jared Gaines, the man behind Vaines, had a horrible childhood and developed an over-the-top personality to cope, thus allowing his creativity to blossom into songwriting. That’s where Vaines was born. And while his music sounds poppy, he isn’t attached to labels. “I used to make metal music, then I made rock songs, then I made pop songs, and now I make whatever I want,” he told All Access Music. “I rapped as a kid so now if I feel like it, I’ll rap on a song. I’ve grown into the artist I’ve wanted to be for years and I fully expect my sound to continue to evolve as the years go by. If you hear too much of the same thing from me, I’ve failed myself as an artist and you should burn me at the stake.” He signed with Hopeless last year. Definitely check out Vaines when you can.

Song to Listen to: “Summer’s Over”

Bob Vylan

Hometown: London, UK

Out Now: We Live Here – Single (Venn)

For Fans Of: Bad Brains, Ho99o9, Scarlxrd

Meet Bobby and Bobb13, the incredible minds behind London’s heavy-hitting hardcore-rock-rap-grime act Bob Vylan (yes they’re named after Bob Dylan.) NME described them with, “Melding the attack of grime with the bite of punk, Bob Vylan couldn’t be further from their folksy namesake; instead, they take on gentrifying yuppies, gap-yah enthusiasts and amateur film photographers with paralysing lyrical venom.” They’ve done shows with Slaves (UK) and Gallows, and if COVID-19 wasn’t fucking up everyones’ plans, they were scheduled to play 2000trees this July with The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Creeper, and Lizzy Farrall. Bob Vylan might be playing next year for the makeup dates.

Song to Listen to: “We Live Here”

Dealer

Hometown: Springbrook, Queensland, Australia

Out Now: Saint – EP (Stay Sick)

For Fans Of: Bury Your Dead, Misery Signals, Vein

What happens when you combine the former and current members of Alpha Wolf, Capture The Crown, Northlane, Iconoclast and Codeine King? You get one of Australia’s greatest supergroup. Vocalist Aidan Holmes (ex-Alpha Wolf) and his merry group of men go hard every single time, and they’re not giving you a second to catch your breath. To be quite blunt, their shit hits hard. Dealer have played with Varials and Spite, and they just had to cut their US tour with Spite and UnityTX short due to…you know. New dates will be unveiled soon. Because one thing’s for sure: nothing fucks with Dealer.

Song to Listen to: “Tourniquet”

Ash Bricky

Hometown: San Joaquin, CA

Out Now: Rats, Mice, And More… (Self-Released)

For Fans Of: Jeff Rosenstock, Laura Stevenson, Neutral Milk Hotel

Sometimes you find an artist you like in the most peculiar way. I discovered singer-songwriter Ash Bricky from YouTuber Movieunleashers, well known for his Starters series, who animated his video for “Chowchilla Song.” Sounding like a crust punk version of Car Seat Headrest and Neutral Milk Hotel, Bricky might be young, but his songs sound like they were crafted from the soul of an old punk. He mixes in several genres with his style, adding in ambient, folk punk, indie, avant-garde, and emo. Give him some time before you see him at The Fest, he’ll fit in just fine.

Song to Listen to: “Chowchilla Song”

Well that’s it, 100 bands across the span of (nearly) 10 weeks. I hope you enjoyed this list as much as I did making it. If you want to read last year’s list, featuring Capstan, Year Of The Knife, Beach Bunny, shortly, and Spanish Love Songs, click the links provided underneath each band. Hope to see you all soon!

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!