NO CURE - I HOPE I DIE HERE (SharpTone Records)
Compiling their own personal testament to the legacy and linage of hardcofe from the South, specifically from Alabama, No Cure have offered proper tribute all while making their own mark with their latest EP, I Hope I Die Here. Every track on the release showcases a contribution from roster of guests, all of which have played a crucial role in moving Alabama hardcore culture forward. Among the guests featured on the release include Daniel McWhorter from Gideon and Matthew Hasting of MyChildren MyBride.
UNTIL I WAKE - RENOVATE (Fearless Records)
Buffalo rock unit Until I Wake have issued a confident statement with the drop of their sophomore full length, Renovate. The album cements the band's latest configuration which officially welcomes vocalist Justin Smith along with bassist Ryan Ridley, guitarists August Geitner and Niko Karras, and drummer Alex Curtin. Renovate showcases Until I Wake's charged brand a anthemic rock - anchored by big hooks, dynamic melody and a hard edge that has resulted in the band tallying millions of streams worldwide.
NECKBREAKKER - WITHIN THE VISCERA (Nuclear Blast Records)
The emerging Danish death metal unit in Neckbreakker are among the genre's new blood, showcasing a real reverence for the legends that have preceded them, all while making their own way. The band managed to secure a record deal before ever having released any recorded music - which speaks to their live intensity and showmanship. A combination of classic death metal sensibility and skill, Neckbreakker assert a death metal pedigree well beyond their years with a debut that suggests big things on the horizon.
GLEEMER - END OF THE NAIL (Other People Records)
Comprised entire of just Corey Coffman on vocals and guitar) along with Charlie O’Neil on guitar, bass and drums, it's hard to fathom the depth of the band can could from just two people. On their latest entry, entirely self-produced, the tandem craft a potent meld of sweeping shoegaze textured with alt rock sensibility in a way that translates to well-placed fits of heft. End of the Nail offers stylized gloom, brimming with potential given that the entirety of the project is just all from just two musicians.
HANABIE. - BUCCHIGIRI TOKYO (Sony Music Japan)
Tokyo's skyrocketing purveyors of Harajuku-core, Hanabie. have punctuated a career year with their latest EP, Bucchigiri Tokyo. The band's infectious brand of hypercolor heft embraces an anime aesthetic combined with crunchy guitars and big composition making for wildly entertaining entries. Fusing elements of J-Pop and progressive metal, Hanabie. assert they are far more than spectacle with the kind of entry that frames great tunes with dazzling presentation.
