Amusement
The latest three-song EP from Amusement out of Portland, OR continues to impress with their brand of alternatively rockin' punk. Once again, elements of these tunes remind me a bit of the now-defunct Sea Lilies, who I very much adored, so this remains a high compliment (even if it means nothing to anyone else). Absolutely fantastic songwriting with utterly impeccable choruses is the name of the game here. High-energy, constantly melodic, but with a certain edge of rugged aggression at times. Plus, there's a sincerity to the overall vibe that elevates the material and feels like something more to latch onto compared to many comparable acts. Amusement is really becoming one of my favorite active bands—every damn song's been a keeper thus far, and these three are their best yet!
Grab a 7" from Dirt Cult Records, or digital via Bandcamp. On streaming services, the songs somehow went out as individual singles, but you can still do some legwork on Spotify and Apple Music and all that. There's also a new compilation of all three Amusement EPs to date alongside a bonus Dinosaur Jr. cover: LPs from Brass Neck Records and Shield Recordings, cassettes from Summer Darling Tapes, and CDs at some point from Crew for Life Records.
Fleshspoil
Troy, NY trio Fleshspoil bears lineup ties to The Final Sleep (one of which is ex-Arsis drummer Michael Van Dyne), so The Beginning of the End is interesting in that it could also be classified as melodic death metal—thus audial similarities to The Final Sleep—but it's also a rather different entity. The melodic aspects are countered by a more intense degree of aggression, and while progressive and technical, everything is nuanced such that I wouldn't necessarily characterize the project as such. Over half of the songs top six or seven minutes, but they're not boring, the flow is always evolving and introducing different atmospheres along the way. It really took the wind out of me to learn that guitarist/vocalist Jeff Andrews passed away at just 51 years old mere days before this album was released. Just from my exposure to Fleshspoil and his prior work with The Final Sleep, it's so clear that he was an immensely talented musician and vocalist. His music will certainly carry on as a demonstration of that spirit. R.I.P.
The Beginning of the End is digital-only, so procure files through Bandcamp; or stream through Spotify, Apple Music, and the like.
Honey I'm Home
"Wishful Thinking" is the very first single from Dutch group Honey I'm Home—a promising introduction to their pop-inflected form of shoegaze-laced alt-rock with dual vocals and a little bit of that bent-up and swervy vibe to some of the chord phrasings. It's not entirely distinct given the popularity of all things 'gaze as of late, but certainly above average and does explore a take on this aesthetic that's not overly commonplace. Very nice, and I'll look forward to hearing more. In fact, based on the strengths of this tune, I'd already expect this band to start gaining some favorable attention sooner than later...
Find "Wishful Thinking" on Spotify, Apple Music, and likely any other resource for streaming audio.
Industrial Puke
Gothenburg, Sweden's Industrial Puke returned just last week with Alive to No Avail: just under a half-hour of absolutely raging, HM-2-scorched grind that leans more into the crusty hardcore/punk side of the genre, despite even some crispily blackened edges on occasion. Calling it "grind" is not inaccurate, but... I must admit that there are a lot of different influences happening within. Expect energetic and memorable tracks with intense vocals that have their own aesthetic. There are some truly killer riffs jammed into this thing—much catchier than one would tend to anticipate from this particular niche, and that counts for a lot in my book. I actually feel like I've been sleeping on this one a bit—at its best, it may well be worthy of year-end-favorite contender status.
I could've sworn there was a point at which Alive to No Avail was listed on CD, too, but it looks like only LP and digital now, which you can pick up through Bandcamp. Spotify, Apple Music, and all that mess will cover everyone else.
Karla Kvlt
I had somehow missed the boat on Karla Kvlt from Hamburg, Germany, but of course Rennie from Starkweather came through as the source of my introduction. This trio consists of Markus Lipka from the almighty Eisenvater alongside his son and daughter-in-law, unloading a dark 'n' droning configuration of sludge-a-rifically doomy metal fronted by generally lush singing vocals that layer in a contrasting aesthetic that still fits the overall tone very well. The dense and punishing rhythms at times decay toward swelling feedback and near-ambient snail's pacing, which can at times get a bit loose and experimental for my tastes, but the significant majority of the output is locked into the kind of hefty, oomph-filled riffing that I can get behind 100%. Pretty damn cool, and deserving of wider attention. I feel like this one might get missed by a number of listeners who'd flip for it, so... do your part and tell a friend!
Thunderhunter is out now as an LP that includes a CD by way of Exile on Mainstream (also on Bandcamp). Sadly, international shipping brutality will make U.S. purchases fall on the painful side, so make sure to grab it from A Thousand Arms in the U.S. Streamers can head to Spotify or Apple Music or something.
K L P S
It's been a few years since I've covered Helsingborg, Sweden's K L P S (formerly Kollaps\e), but the continually productive unit recently issued full-length #2, dishing out more high-level sludge/doom with assorted elements of post-genre atmospherics handled in a most tasteful manner. This style has been called "The Cult of NeurIsis," which I mention only as a reference point for potentially interested listeners, while pointing out that despite almost every song herein running six to eight minutes in length, K L P S holds interest and tends to focus on the darker, beefier aspects of such influences. There's certainly some contrast and breathing room, but the compositions generally stay away from any overly mundane ambient meanderings, and I appreciate that very much. Damn well done. I need to stop procrastinating and grab a disc!
The self-titled K L P S is out now on CD and LP through These Hands Melt, as well as alongside digital on Bandcamp. If you're the streaming type, find the album on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
