I think instrumental rock bands are flourishing right now as I have heard more of them in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Past the excesses of many post-rock bands, it seem that rocking out in a simpler manner is getting more popular. In the case of Samuel Jackson Five, they take familiar influences like Shellac and Don Caballero but infuse it with much more pop and indie sensibilities than any of the other instrumental bands I have heard lately. They sound almost like 70's prog-rock in many places. If there is one thing I don't particularly like is that the record is way overproduced.
- Simon Thibaudeau
Hey, look! New reviews posted today: [click here]
Swedish singer/songwriter Ed Greene will finally release his debut album on March 22 via I Made This. Check out the video for the first single "When the sky is about to fall": https://www.edgreene.net/video/edgreene.mov
A new month means a new "Acid test reel" from Kirlian Crossing: https://www.verdurarecords.com/kirliancrossing/acid.htm
The band's second album will be out in September on Verdura.
Norway's Loch Ness Mouse will have their most recent album "11-22" released in Japan on March 20 through Rosemary Records. It will be out in the US on Danielson Famile label Sounds Familyre in the near future.
Maryslim will be going into Abyss Studios with producer/engineer Peter Tägtgren beginning on May 5 to record their next album. Expect a fall release via Wild Kingdom.
Canadian label Cyclop Media has licensed the most recent Switchblade album for release in North America. It comes out May 9.
Listen to the brand new I'm from Barcelona song "Collection of stamps" at the Dolores Recordings jukebox: https://doloresrecordings.com/__mp3s/index_mp3.html
The Dead Frog Records website is updated with even more demo reviews: https://www.deadfrogrecords.com/demos-reviews/
Norwegian hardcore act Rhumble in Rhodos won "favorite new international act" at Canadian Music Week: https://www.cmw.net/
East Coast tourdates for Danish punkrockers Gorilla Angreb:
04/04 - as220, Providence, RI w/Out Cold, Conversions, Snake Apartment
04/05 - Valentines (downstairs), Albany, NY w/To Hell and Back, Permanent Trip
04/06 - 99 Custer St., Buffalo, NY w/The Bayonettes
04/07 - tba, Pittsburgh, PA
04/08 - Firehouse Bikes, Philadelphia, PA w/Witch Hunt, The Bayonettes
04/09 - tba, Richmond, VA w/Direct control, Fucked Up, Career Suicide
04/10 - tba, DC
04/11 - 120 Hamilton St., New Brunswick, NJ w/Clockcleaner, Splitting Headache
04/12 - Ottobar, Baltimore, MD w/Subhumans, Caustic Christ, 1905
04/13 - First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA w/Subhumans, Caustic Christ, Signal Lost
04/14 - Knitting Factory, NYC w/Subhumans, Caustic Christ, Mouth Sewn Shut
04/15 - Axis 13, Boston, MA w/Subhumans, Caustic Christ, Mouth Sewn Shut
If you're into classic 80s LA punk ala X, be sure to check these guys out. I'm not as fond of them as I am of the guitarist's other band No Hope for the Kids, but they're still definitely worth seeing.
It's been awhile, but Finland's Giant Robot are reactivating to play three shows in March in which they'll be providing the soundtrack to a Brazilian film from 1929. Read more: https://www.giantrobot.fi/
Finnish "elekctrofutubooogie monster" act Itäväylä will release their second album on March 18. Listen to some samples:
01. Hyperborea
02. Children of tomorrow
03. Good men goin' down