Merchandise–A Corpse Wired for Sound
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, Post Punk
FFO: The Smiths, The Cure, Eagulls
We all got to see the darker, edgier side of Florida artist Carson Cox via his Hardcore Punk/Goth Rock side project Death Index earlier in the year.
His Morrisey-worshipping pipes and aesthetic surprisingly fit comfortably with the agressive nature of the fast-paced genre, and pleasantly tithed fans over for the 5th LP of his mothership project Merchandise.
A Corpse Wired For Sound further separates the Post Punk trio from their Lo-Fi, Noisey origins and consists of nine tracks of squeaky clean, synth heavy production.
Earlier Merchandise entries pushed Cox’s vocals beneath the mix placing emphasis on the atmosphere and loud instrumentation but the group’s natural maturation utilized the unique performance of their frontman as their songwriting foundation.
Neurosis–Fire Within Fires
Genre: Post Metal, Sludge Metal
FFO: Crowbar, Inter Arma, Godflesh
Post Metal pioneers Neurosis return with an eleventh LP adorned with desire to push forward in terms of sonic progression and experimentation.
The California quintet’s thirty year career began as a gritty, hardcore punk outfit that all but stood out in the crowd. It took years to establish the formula that so many metal acts mimic to this day, but despite maintaining a recognized initation known to function well, Neurosis continues to boldy take steps forward into uncharted territory.
Trap Them–Crown Feral
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Crust Punk, Sludge Metal
FFO: Cursed, All Pigs Must Die, Young and in the Way
Boston’s own Trap Them strikes back with their fifth LP hosting some of the band’s most well written tracks to date.
Crown Feral is all but for the faint of heart featuring ten vicious track of darkened, sludgey, rapidly paced Crust Punk with trace elements of Doom.
True Widow–Avvolgere
Genre: Stoner Rock, Shoegazing, Doom Metal
FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Creepoid, Heavy Sins
The term “less is more” has never applied more fittingly than to Dallas self-dubbed “Stonergaze” trio True Widow.
Simplistic drum beats, pounding basslines laced with Doom, haunting riffs, and the beautiful dual vocal croons shared between Dan Phillips and Nicole Estill have served as the well-functioning cogs in the True Widow machine the past three albums.
Avvolgere takes a slight step away from the Shoegazing elements and dives head first into the Stoner Rock realm. Phillip‘s performance at times delves into the nostalgia of his Slowride days breathing youthful life into the True Widow formula but staying true to darkness, simplicity, and mood that has made them the stand out group they have come to be.