Philadelphia pop-punk act Big Nothing are currently streaming a new track titled “Cincinnati” and you can listen to it below.

“Cincinnati” is taken from the band’s upcoming, self-ttiled debut 7″ which will be released on July 28th via Asian Man Records. Pat Graham, former frontman for West Chester, PA pop-punk act Spraynard, is one member of the four piece band.

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Buenos Treehouse, the pop-rock/pop-punk 4 piece Nottingham, UK (featuring members of Gone & Lost It, The Rutherfords, The Atoms and The Sneaks) have released their debut album, “Capsized”. The album is available on CD/download now from the band’s Bandcamp.

You can listen to the album below.

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Nothing strikes fear into a fan’s heart more than an announcement that a band has decided to rip apart their sound and start again. Sure, we expect a band to grow, to develop and to experiment but all within the relative confines of their signature style. However, when a band decides to recast themselves altogether, results can be mixed to say the least. Not only are the band challenging themselves, but they also have to brace themselves for the inevitable backlash from their fans. Some people will never forgive AFI for changing from the punk roots of “Answer That And Stay Fashionable” or the way Yellowcard went in a more pop-punk direction on the “Still Standing” EP. Even more popular bands that just about fall under the punk remit like Fall Out Boy and Paramore are, now, totally unrecognizable to the bands they started out as, which has been ‘divisive’ to say the least. Therefore, it is not without some degree of trepidation to learn that Hundredth have embarked on a whole new direction on their fourth record “Rare”.

Understandably, the band felt they had taken their hardcore sound as far as they could after 2015’s “Free”. Rather than split up, the band sought to metamorphosis into something different altogether. “Rare” sees the band totally dismantle their hardcore sound, leaving only the faintest of residue behind. The result is a dark, shoegaze album replete with sheets of distorted guitars and echoing, often ghostly, vocals. It is an admirable attempt at transformation and one that is, on the whole, pulled off with aplomb.

This is not a toe dipped tentatively in the water either. Hundreth have climbed to the top diving board and hurled themselves wholeheartedly into their new sound. Nothing contrived or fake here. From the The Cure-esque bassline and the layers of distorted guitar on opening song “Vertigo”, it’s clear that the band have buried any remnants of the band they were. It’s still a hard-edged, heavy track but the way the band have adopted a dark, brooding tone creates a far darker, almost oppressive soundscape. The creeping, echoing vocals from frontman Chadwick Johnson add to the air of claustrophobia giving the whole thing it’s own definite, downbeat character. As on the majority of the album they float rather than howl, dripping with ominous menace.  This is something that continues throughout the album. “Neurotic” adds bruising drums and a heavier break-down but it’s hardcore seen through the prism of 80s post punk and 90s shoegaze rather than approaching anything as crushing as heard on previous albums. “White Squall” again wears it’s 80s goth influences on it’s sleeve, starting out as a mid-tempo rocker before soon giving way to a resounding, panoramic chorus.

Thankfully, the band still know how to write urgent, insistent, heavy songs with “Hole” and “Disarray” providing a bit more bone and muscle. “Disarray” in particular hits hard with the band whipping up a discordant wall of noise as Johnson’s haunting voice echoes the line “control is a delusion/the walls are gonna cave”. At other points on the album, the band lock into a more shoegazzy groove with songs such as “Grey” and “Shy Vein” mirroring Catherine Wheel’s ability to sound aggressive over woozy, shimmery shoegaze guitars. The mid-tempo songs give the album real depth and substance. Initially, they might lack presence but on repeat listens their buzzing volatility becomes ever more exhilarating.

Hundredth’s new direction isn’t going to be for everyone. This, their fourth album, could be by a different band entirely, however, the laudable focus, commitment and sheer guts on show has seen them craft a mesmerizing, darkly beautiful album. There are obvious similarities to bands like Turnover and Nothing but if anything Hundredth’s take on shoegaze is darker, more unsettling, more nightmarish. A challenging album from a band not afraid to challenge themselves.

4/5 Stars

Toronto psychobilly band The Creepshow have announced they will be releasing a new album titled Death At My Door on September 15th through Stomp Records and Concrete Jungle Records. They will be supporting the release by touring North America with Sammy Kay.

Check out the tracklist and tour dates below.

The Creepshow’s latest LP Life After Death was released in 2015 through Stomp Records, Sailor’s Grave Records, and People Like You Records.

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A few months ago, we did a Band Spotlight on an up-and-coming punk band from Boston called Cook Bag. Well, they’re back, and they just released a brand new 5-song EP.

If you enjoyed the band’s single “June 4th”, I recommend checking out EP II below. And be sure to head over to their bandcamp page to grab a copy if you like what you hear. [Read more…]

Details on the 2017 edition of A Day To Remember‘s Self Help Festival have been revealed. It will be stopping in Philadelphia, Detroit, Orlando, and San Bernardino. The lineup will vary each date, with some of the bands including ADTR, Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto, and Rise Against.

All tour dates and their associated lineups can be found below. Tickets are available here. [Read more…]

German melodic punks Shirley D. Pressed have been around since 2007, but it’s taken them a decade to release their first full-length album. Rust came out today, July 21st, through Thousand Islands Records. You can give the 15-song record a listen below.

If you like what you hear, support the band by grabbing a copy of the album. Head over to their bandcamp page to buy Rust digitally or on CD. [Read more…]

Boston punks Energy just released their new EP Under the Mask, and it’s now available to stream.

Give the EP a listen below, and head over to their bandcamp page to grab it digitally or on CD.

The band will be embarking on a UK tour with Miss Vincent later this month. [Read more…]

Israeli punk veterans Useless ID have released a music video for “How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb”, which appears on their latest album State is Burning. Check it out below.

Guitarist Ishay Berger had this to say about the song and video:

“The situation at home is sometimes so frustrating that it seems like a hotbed of conflict and anger for everyone involved. These things affect and change people’s lives, and we address these feelings in our song. We feel that the lyrics and the images of the video connect strongly.”

State is Burning was released in 2016 through Fat Wreck Chords. The band’s currently touring Europe and will be playing some Japanese shows immediately after that. [Read more…]

Goldfinger‘s new album The Knife was released today, July 21st, through Rise Records. The album is streaming is available to stream on Spotify. Head over here to give the record a listen.

The Knife is Goldfinger’s first LP in nearly a decade, following 2008’s Hello Destiny. The band will be touring in support of the record this summer. See if they’re playing near you below. [Read more…]