STATIC DRESS - "face."
Olli Appleyard really should be regarded as one of the most brilliant creative forces in contemporary heavy music at the moment. From his overall vision as a director, helming all videos for Static Dress, to his dynamic songwriting ability as evidence in his latest, "face." - his artistic breadth seems boundless. Comparing the tempo of the track to a car crash and the emotional depth to that of a turbulent relationship - Static Dress tap into that volatility perfectly on a song that is urgent and unrelenting.
VOLBEAT - "IN THE BARN OF THE GOAT GIVING BIRTH TO SATAN'S SPAWN IN A DYING WORLD OF DOOM" (Universal)
En route to the June release of God Of Angels Trust, Danish rock heavyweights Volbeat debut a second single and... WTF?! Are they trolling us with this title or what?!
Sinister, black metal references aside, the track is loaded with plenty of rock n roll swagger and healthybit of a honky tonk, two-step that toes the line between Danzig and Johnny Cash. Devilishly fun, Volbeat soundtrack rock revelry for an existential reckoning on a single that has a little something for everyone.
GHOST BATH - "WELL, I TRIED DROWNING" (Nuclear Blast Records)
Especially morbid with a kind of madcap quality, American black metal unit Ghost Bath's latest sample from Rose Thorn Necklace is pretty fucked in a very entertaining way. Aside from delving into the psychology of issuing a plea for death in song, the actual composition of "Well, I Tried Drowning" has some musical turns that are sharp as they are unexpected. Executing the requisite elements of the genre well, Ghost Bath also brave outside those black metal boundaries - and it pays off in spades.
KID BOOKIE - "GET OUT" (Marshall Records)
Continuing to assert a range that consistently keeps the listener guessing, Bookie taps into bedlam on his latest with banger. Metalcore breakdowns, slick wordplay and turn of phrase plus a maniacal chorus led by the Midwest fury of Griffin Taylor of Vended - "Get Out" is a savage, sonic assault and a clear notice to all opposition. Bookie and Taylor make for a potent combination on a track that never lets off the gas.
GRIDIRON - "STILL PLAYIN FOR KEEPS (Big Umbrella Remix)" (Blue Grape Music)
Tapping into the late 90's, early 2000's intersection of hard-lined hip hop and heavy-handed riffage, hardcore clobbering crew Gridiron revisit those glory days with stylistic mash-up that strikes swift and deadly. With verses from Daniel Son, Pro Dillinger and Jay Royale, the pace of the track is steady, but powerful - creating a perfect canvas for a trifecta of brazen lyrical bars. The brass tacks of hardcore with the style points and bravado of hip hop make for a helluva combination.
