Psychic Teens - 2013 - COME

Psychic Teens is a three piece post-punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. COME is their new LP. Psychic Teens play a noisy brand of post-punk, layers of distortions and synths everywhere with an expressively droney vocalist. The singer does a talk singing thing not too far from Iggy Pop or Lou Reed. On songs like H#TE and RIP Psychic Teens conjure a electronic tinged garage punk noise storm hides it's surprises under layers of guitars. If Destruction Unit weren't focused on harshing your buzz they might sound like Psychic Teens. Highlights include LESS, COME and the aforementioned H#TE and RIP. If you like your post-punk with liberal doses of noise then Psychic Teen's COME will serve well.

Coke Bust - 2013 - Confined

Coke Bust is a four piece hardcore punk band from Washington, DC, USA. Confined is their sixth release. Coke Bust play a ragged straight edge brand of hardcore punk. They blast through these 9 songs in less than 9 minutes and it's a miracle they don't fall apart at any time. These songs are designed for maximum carnage and heaviness. Highlights include Identity Destruction, Confined, Red Line and Sent In Circles. If you like your hardcore a little lofi and a pissed the fuck off, Coke Bust's Confined will serve well.

Iron Chic - 2013 - The Constant One

Iron Chic is a five piece punk rock band from Long Island, New York, USA. The Constant One is their new LP.  Iron Chic play a brand of pop punk that has equal footing in pop punk and the other in emo.  Think along the lines of RVIVR or Make Do And Mend with  with gruff but still catchy vocals and you won't be far off.  Iron Chic also remind me of The Menzingers with the little indie rock thrown in occasionaly. There are multiple melodic guitar riffs go every which way and the whole album seems written as if to be shouted along with. A strong contender for album of the year on some lists. Here is where I would sometimes list my favourite songs but I'm not going to list almost every song on here. If you don't mind your emo wearing the clothes of pop punk, Iron Chic's The Constant One should serve well. Link and discography courtesy of Cut & Paste.

Peace Be Still - 2013 - EP

Peace Be Still is a four piece post-hardcore band from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Untitled is their new EP. Peace Be Still play a brand of post-hardcore heavenly influenced by the emo side of things. Their debut LP 64 had a more pop punk vibe to it while this new EP focuses on a more post-hardcore sound, even verging to hardcore at some point. Highly recommended. If you like your emo with some post-hardcore influences, Peace Be Still's new EP will serve well.

Foxing - 2013 - The Albatross

Foxing is a five piece emo band from Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. The Albatross is their fourth release, courtesy of Count Your Lucky Stars records. They play a melodic brand of midwest emo with a dash of twinkle and math. The Albatross is back loaded, it's not until Rory that things really start coming together. The guitars can have a little twinkle but it's never overwhelming, there are gang vocals for crowd shout a longs and the singer has a voice that some detractors will inevitably call whiny. The production only serves to fuzz everything into the nostalgia haze. Highlights include Inuit, Bit By A Dead Bee Pt 1 and Den Mother,   If you like your emo slow and brooding with only a sprinkle of twinkle Foxing's The Albatross will serve well.

Blare - 2013 - Blare

Blare is a hardcore punk band from Virginia, Maryland, USA. Blare is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of punk rock, heavy on the blaring distorted guitars and gang vocals. They barrel through  songs in 11 minutes and nearly all of them are excellent, speedy hardcore that sounds like they Blare is having a ton of fun. Highlights include I'm You, Reasons, Verbally Empty and Kids. If you like your hardcore blaring and to the point, Blare's Blare will serve well.

Big Eyes - 2013 - Almost Famous

Big Eyes is a three piece rock band from Seattle, Washington, USA. Almost Famous is their sixth release. Big Eyes play straight ahead brand of punk rock with a female lead singer. They sound like if The Demonics didn't play surf punk or if the Ramones played power pop and owed a debt of rock and roll styling to Joan Jett. At their best Big Eyes can crank out some high energy punked up rock and roll but at their worst the songs just sit there no matter how many times they hammer on the distortion peddle.  Highlights include Nothing You Could Say, Wanted Sometimes, The Sun Still Shines, Can't Catch A Break, I Think Of You and You Ain't The Only One. If you like your punk with some snot and straight ahead rock, Big Eyes' Almost Famous will serve well.

Rosetta - 2013 - The Anaesthete

Rosetta is a four piece from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America. The Anaesthete is their fourth LP. Rosetta play a brand of metal that while loosely based in metal stretches out to include elements of post-metal and space rock. These songs are anchored in heavy metal but Rosetta's use of melody, electronics and a piano blast these songs into experimental territory. If Pink Floyd had a child with Neurosis and had it raised by Explosions In The Sky it might sound something like this. If you like your metal both heavy and experimental, Rosetta's The Anaesthete will serve well.

Dragline Speedway - 2013 - Black Thunder

Dragline Speedway are a five piece noise rock band. Black Thunder is their debut LP. Dragline Speedway features members of Killdozer, Terminal Cheesecake, Head of David, GOD, Transitional, Slab! and Laika and their LP features covers from bands like Scratch Acid, Killdozer, The Bastards, Slab! and Unholy Swill. Instrumentaly Dragline Speedway play a noisy brand of rock that owes some debt to the stoner school as well. This doesn't do a whole lot for me as the band never reaches beyond a mid tempo drone, nothing reaches out and grabs me. But if you like stoner metal and have a soft spot for Killdozer then Dragline Speedway's Black Thunder should serve well. Link courtesy of The Elementary Revolt

The Walkervilles - 2012 - Live At Mackenzie Hall

The Walkervilles are a three piece rock band from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Live At Mackenzie Hall is their debut LP. They play a soul infused brand of rock and roll that owes an obvious debt to Motown. Detroit is right across the river from Windsor so it's only natural these boys would learn some lessons in soul and songwriting. At their best The Walkervilles are a catchy, soulful trio that will swing away the night. They opened for Tedeschi Trucks Band in Winnipeg last week and blew the crowd away. Highlights include No California, Please Baby Stay, Tell Me How You Want Me, Misunderstandings (Holding You), This Morning, and Get Myself Into It. If you like your rock and roll with old school soul, The Walkervilles' Live At Mackenzie Hall will serve well.

Apocalyptic Terror - 2013 - Apocalyptic Terror

Apocalyptic Terror is a five piece hardcore punk band from Spain. These are tracks from their debut LP Apocalyptic Terror. They play a driving brand of d-beat crusty hardcore that never lets up for a moment. Think in the vein of Severed Head Of State and you won't be far off. The singer has a sharp, desperate bark of a shout that he uses constantly and the only hint of melody comes in the form of chaotic guitar solos that vanish as quickly as they came. Highlights include No Hay Futuro, Secos, Lobotomizados and El Latigo Imperialista. If you find yourself in need of some crusty d-beat, Apocalyptic Terror's Apocalyptic Terror will serve well.

Black Bass - 2013 - Black Bass

Black Bass are a two piece heavy metal band from Spain. Black Bass is their debut EP. They play a sludgy, catchy brand of metal. Think stoner metal like Fu Manchu and melodic sludgy metal like Torche and you won't be far off. The guitars are thick and fuzzy and the vocals are somewhat melodic and catchy which only serves to highlight the sludgy guitars.  Highlights include Muertos and Diosa De Fuego If you like your metal sludgy, catchy and scrappy, Black Bass' Black Bass will serve well.

Dead In The Dirt - 2013 - The Blind Hole

Dead In The Dirt are a three piece grindcore band from Atlanta, Georgia, USA associated with Southern Lord Records. The Blind Hole is their debut LP. If you like grindcore you will probably like this.

Rainmaker - 2013 - Alienation

Rainmaker is a screamo band from Eslov, Sweden. Alienation is their debut LP.  They play an aggressive brand of post-hardcore, starting with a screamo base but stretching out with some melody and a little ambient noise. If you threw The Saddest Landscape, Loma Prieta and some ambient music into a blender, the result wouldn't be far from this. The singer has an excellent desperate shout that he can push into a high pitched scream in multiple languages while the guitars go from raging to melodic and back on a dime. Highlights include Rather Die Young, Than Die Young At Heart, Farewell Swallows and Falling Off The Sky. If you like your screamo with a little ambient, Rainmaker's Alienation will serve well. 

Boatrocker - 2013- Antagonize

Boatrocker are a four piece post-hardcore band from Wilmington, Delaware, America. Antagonize is their new LP. Their music is rooted in hardcore but they draw heavily from both post-hardcore and emo schools. The guitars bring the melody and chaos and the singer puts his gruff below to great use. If Locktender were more concise it might come out something like this. They garner comparisons to Small Brown Bike. Highlights include Blind Spot, In The Key Of Atheism, Still Coming Up Short, White Noise and Nothing To Say.  Highly recommended. If you like your hardcore with a dose of post-hardcore and emo, Boatrocker's Antagonize will serve well

football, etc - 2013 - Audible

football, etc is a three piece indie rock band from Houston, Texas, America signed to Count Your Lucky Stars and strictly no capital letters. Audible is their new LP. football, etc play a melodic, emo brand of indie rock. They cite Mineral and The Breeders as influences. Highlights include Fair, Hut 1, Forfeit and Red Zone. If you like the soft, melodic indie rock infused with emo that Count Your Lucky Stars seems to specialize in, football, etc's Audible will serve well.

Death Grips - 2013 - Government Plates

Death Grips is a three piece experimental hip hop group for Sacarmento, California. USA. Government Plates is their new LP. I'm still absorbing this so I don't have too much to say. Death Grips play an abrasive, experimental brand of hip hop. I tend to describe these songs as schizophrenic, the beats are hyper fast, the singer is rarely anything less than terrifyingly intense and the atmosphere of chaos and tension they create is in a universe unto itself. If you like experimental hip hop, Death Grip's Government Plates will serve well.

Curmudgeon - 2013 - Amygdala

Curmudgeon is a three piece hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. Amygdala is their third EP recorded by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Curmudgeon play a brand of hardcore that owes a debt to power violence. These songs burst out of the gate at top speed and only slow down to smash you over the head with sludgy riffs before exploding on a dime again. The production only serves to accent the crusty, sludgy nature of the guitars, Curmudgeon launch their thick sound directly at your vulnerable parts. Highlights include Tied Hands, Possess and Unchain.  If you like your hardcore punk with a little grind or a little power violence, Curmudgeon's Amygdala will serve well.

Helta Skelta - 2013 - Asbestos

Helta Skelta is a punk band from Perth, Australia. Asbestos is their new EP. The basis for these songs is still punk but Helta Skelta is injecting more melody into their tunes to broaden their songs a little. Face and Suedehead are more snotty hardcore while Rust and Smile on the a-side stretch out with some melody  but never moving much past punk. They are garnering comparisons to Violent Future, Chosen Few, Radio Birdman, Eddy Current and UV Race.   If you like a hint of melody in your punk, Helta Skelta's Asbestos will serve well.

Bug - 2013 - Atropos

Bug is a four piece hardcore punk band from Innsbruck, Austria. Atropos is their new LP. Bug plays an eclectic brand of hardcore punk bringing in sludge and noise rock to fuel their attack.  The guitar has a nice thick, distorted tone than can be pealed away for something approaching a melodic solo while the singer has a gruff shout that he puts to great use. Every song shows a different side of this band, a different facet they focus while still creating a coherent album that explodes at you from all directions. The Great Beast Speaks has an off kilter mathy rhythm while Jesus Wept tears everything apart before rebuilding a monstrous, sludgy beast and tearing it down again. If you like your hardcore chaotic and eclectic but still hard hitting, Bug's Atropos will serve well.

Celeste - 2013 - Animale(s)

Celeste is a four piece hardcore punk band from Lyons, France. Animale(s) is their fourth LP. It is a double album of blackened screamo which Celeste do well. These songs feel like hardcore or screamo songs that get stretched and morphed with black metal instrumentation into tools of darkness and doom. The screamo and hardcore influences keep the songs chaotic and bring an explosive energy. If you like your screamo blackened, Celeste's Animale(s) will serve well.

Dumah - 2013 - Caida Libre

Dumah is a hardcore punk band from San Jose, Costa Rica. Caida Libre is their debut EP. They play a straight forward brand of hardcore. The guitars are thick and distorted, the singer has desperate, angry shout and the songs come crashing down on you with no warning. If you like hardcore punk you will be served well by Dumah's Caida Libre.

Criminal Damage - 2013 - Call Of Death

Criminal Damage is a street punk band from Portland, Oregan, USA. Call Of Death is their new LP. Criminal Damage members have also played in  Deathreat, His Hero is Gone, Face Down, Rueben James, Call The Police and Well Away but this doesn't sound anything like those bands, instead playing an old school brand of street punk that would not be out of place in England in the late 70's. Reminds me of Kremlin in that old school hardcore and street punk vibe. Here's where I would list my favourite songs but this album is really solid. If you like your hardcore with an old school street punk vibe Criminal Damage's Call Of Death will serve well. Link via Subterranean Sedition

Chorygen - 2013 - Chorygen

Chorygen is a d-beat hardcore punk band from Lodz, Poland. Chorygen is their debut EP. Members have also played in ALERT! ALERT! & 45 Revolutions Per Minute. They play a vicious brand of crusty, sludgy d-beat, the lofi production only serves to create an atmosphere of fear and desperation whipped into a frenzy. These songs are a giant yet nimble beasts that will crush everything below them while simply walking around. If you like your hardcore with some crusty d-beat, Chorygen's Chorygen will serve well. Thanks to Dead Air At The Pulpit

CVNNT - 2013 - Charly Two-Shoes

CVNNT is a power violence band from the United Kingdom. Charly Two Shoes is their debut ep. They play a straight forward brand of grindcore liberally throwing in powerviolence and some hardcore by way of Converge. 10 Songs in under 7 minutes, you know what you're getting yourself into. Highlights include Your Mum, and Piss On Your Boots and The Moment Of Dying. If you like grindcore or powerviolence, CVNNT should serve well. Link courtesy of Dead At The Pulpit.

The Ground Is Lava - 2013- Bottle Rockets

The Ground Is Lava is a three piece emo band from Brunswick, Ohio, USA. Bottle Rockets is their second LP. They play a noodly, sloppy, melodic brand of emo. They pull influences from Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing and Cap'n Jazz creating a brand of emo that pulls energy from pop punk, twinkle from that side of emo and just a little math rock and post-punk in how they construct their songs. The singer has a desperate shout that can also be melodic and is accented by some shouted gang vocals while the guitars transition between twinkly and straight ahead emo. Highlights include Not Tonight, Jeff; Look, Babe, An Island (We Can Live On It); Nobody Likes You, Booster; If you like your emo with some twinkle and ramshackle feel The Ground Is Lava's Bottle Rockets will serve well.

Thumbsuckers - 2013 - Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker

Thumbsucker is a hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, USA. Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker is their debut EP. They play a thrashy, lofi brand of hardcore punk that pulls no punches. They would remind me of Off! if the production was any better. If you like your hardcore punk desperate and lofi, Thumbsucker's Baby I'm Just A...Thumbsucker will serve well.

Terrible Feelings - 2013 - Backwoods

Terrible Feelings is a three piece rock band from Malmo, Sweden. Backwoods is their new EP. Terrible Feelings play a brand of rock and roll that throws proto punk and power pop into a melting pot, adding a little surf for energy. These three songs conjure a dark, melodic sound scape in which we can wallow and play. If you like your rock and roll with a driving beat and a darkly cool sense of melody Terrible Feeling's Backwoods will serve well.

Night Birds - 2013 - Born To Die In Suburbia

Night Birds is a four piece punk band from New Jersey, USA. Born To Die In Suburbia is their new LP. Night Birds play a brand of hardcore punk that is tempered by a heavy helping of surf rock. The opening instrumental track Escape from New York set the up tempo, melodic pace which holds through the whole album. The intro is the most obviously surf influenced track here but these songs are infused with a spastic energy that keeps everything moving at a breakneck pace. Highlights include Domestic Dispute, Ads In My Eyes, New Cults, Silver Alert, and the aforementioned Escape From New York. If you like your hardcore punk with lots of jump straight up and down energy Night Bird's Born To Die In Suburbia will serve well.

Into it Over It - 2013 - Intersections

Into It Over It is a project founded by Evan Thomas Weiss from Chicago, Illinois. Intersection is his new LP. Previously Evan has played in bands like The Progress, Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, Map The Growth and Stay Ahead Of The Weather and put out splits with bands like CSTVT, Everyone Everywhere, Such Gold, Pswingset, Empire! Empire! and Bob Nanna / Lauren Lo and Koji. Link courtesy of A Whole Orchestra.