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Easy Prey

Easy Prey | Unrest | 3hive.com
Easy Prey | Unrest | 3hive.com

I think it’s pretty safe to say that the members of Austin band Easy Prey are pissed off. At least that’s the vibe I get while listening to their debut LP Unrest (which I have been listening to almost non-stop for the past few days). If my frustrations and anxieties about all the BS going on around all of us – every day – were a band, I think it would sound a lot like Easy Prey.

Unrest was written during the lockdowns of 2020 and “heavily influenced by the circumstances of 2020 – experiencing mass unemployment and civil strife while the ruling class thrived.”

Unrest is a masterclass on what makes a great post-hardcore album — it’s heavy, it’s loud, it’s punishing and it doesn’t let up — ever — during its 10 song, 30 minute span. Check out “Other People” below for a taste.

For me listening to Unrest has been a bit of a cathartic experience, where for 30 minutes these guys are pissed off for me, which provides a small — but much needed — sense of relief. Thanks for that Easy Prey!

Unrest is out now via Hellminded Records. I highly, highly recommend it.

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CLAMM

CLAMM | Care | 3hive.com
CLAMM | Care | 3hive.com

Melbourne trio CLAMM, are taking no prisoners with their pummeling brand of heavy-ass punk rock on their new album Care. Just give “Scheme” and “Bit Much” a spin (below) to see what I mean.

From the album PR, CLAMM are “explore(ing) the confusion of what it is to be a young person trying to live an honourable life in this fucked up world. Their songs are about trying to navigate systems of power and oppression while retaining a healthy sense of self and mental health. Community, creativity, and catharsis are what they hope to achieve through their music.” Is there a better reason to make music in this stupid world than that?

Care is out now via Meat Machine (UK, Europe and Asia) and Chapter Music (everywhere else). Enjoy.

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Wombo

Wombo | Fairy Rust | 3hive.com
Wombo | Fairy Rust | 3hive.com

Fairy Rust is Louisville 3-piece, Wombo’s latest album. It’s a rhythm-heavy effort with the bass guitar pretty much running the show throughout – which to this listener’s ears is FANTASTIC!

The album was written over the past two years and draws inspiration from fairytales by The Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson. The group’s Bandcamp page states, “Fairy Rust… contemplates the spaces in-between, a meeting of the physicality of the land with the fluidity of the imagination….”.

On slow building “Below The House” (stream below), the vocals and guitar seem to chase the bass and drums around until the last minute or so when the guitar just erupts – this is a very solid way to write, record and mix a song. I love it.

There are several times during the album that Wombo reminds me of Primus. Don’t get it twisted, Wombo doesn’t sound anything like Primus, but their “each instrument shines on it’s own” (my statement, not their’s) without taking anything away from the cohesiveness of the song itself, and the amount of punch they produce as a trio just takes me to Primus. Listen to “Queens of Keesh” (below) for an example of what I’m rambling about. Maybe I am completely nuts? I don’t care, I am writing this post, not you.:)

Fairy Rust is an incredible album and up there as one of my favorite releases of the year. It is out now and available on wax and digitally via Fire Talk Records. Buy the record. Go see them live. ENJOY THE GOOD MUSIC.

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Worthitpurchase

Worthitpurchase | Truthtelling | 3hive.com
Worthitpurchase | Truthtelling | 3hive.com

Worthitpurchase are the trio of Nicole Rowe, Omar Akrouche and Eric Van Thyne. Their experimental electro-pop sound (think The Microphones, mingled with the smallest amount of Postal Service) is quite compelling throughout on their sophomore LP, Truthtelling. Give album standouts “Anne Hedonic” and “Deadbeat “ (below) a taste.

Truthtelling is a solid album that deserves your attention.

Truthtelling is out now and whichever format (analog or digital) you prefer via Anxiety Blanket and Citrus City. Enjoy.

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Wu-Lu

Wu-Lu/3hive.com

South London’s multi-talented Wu-Lu is about to release his debut album LOGGERHEAD with Warp Records. His newest single from it — “Scrambled Tricks” — is a grimy, beat-driven, post/punk rock-adjacent(?) track that has me stoked for the album drop.

Check out the fear of clowns inducing video for “Scrambled Tricks” below and be sure to mark your calendars for July 8 to get your hands on this bad boy. Enjoy

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Air Vent Dweller

Air Vent Dweller | Air Vent Dweller | 3hive.com
Air Vent Dweller | Air Vent Dweller | 3hive.com

SLC’s Air Vent Dweller is the solo project of one Charlie Pell. His new, self-titled EP is 6 tracks of synth-fried, punk rock goodness — kind of like a lo-fi Atom And His Package.

Check out the short and sweet “Fork and Spoon” below, then head to Charlie’s Bandcamp page and buy this EP. DO IT!

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UPHERE! Comp Vol. 2

UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com
UPHERE! Records | Compilation Vol. 2 | 3hive.com

Provo UT’s UPHERE! Records are releasing their new label comp filled with previously unreleased nuggets from bands like Backhand, Nicole Canaan, The Plastic Cherries and Homephone to name a few. All the profits go to help refugees in Ukraine, 50% to Save The Children and 50% to The Ukraine Humanitarian Fund. This is a KILLER compilation and it’s for a VERY good cause.

Preorders are going on now at UPHERE!’s Bandcamp page, the cassettes ship to you on April 20, 2022.

To wet your whistle and encourage you to buy, check out The Plastic Cherries’ “Aquafina (Tape Mix)” below. Now get out your wallets and buy this cassette and support this very important cause.

BUY THIS COMP!

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BODEGA

BODEGA | Broken Equipment | 3hive.com
BODEGA | Broken Equipment | 3hive.com

In an attempt to separate themselves a bit from the lazily used descriptor “post-punk”, New York’s BODEGA drew inspiration for their new album – Broken Equipment – from the likes of hip hop, indie-pop and classic rock. They achieved their goal, Broken Equipment is packed with thumping beats, jangly guitars and plenty of vocal melodies, along with the heavy punch to the gut BODEGA fans expect from a BODEGA record. Check out “Thrown”, “Doers” and “Pillar On The Bridge of You” below for a sample. Broken Equipment is solid from start to finish, I highly recommend it.

Broken Equipment is out on Friday, March 11 via What’s Your Rupture?. We have it available on vinyl at the 3hive Record Lounge and it’s available in most formats from BODEGA’s Bandcamp page as well. Enjoy.

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Howless

Howless | To Repel Ghosts | 3hive.com
Howless | To Repel Ghosts | 3hive.com

Mexico City’s Howless have unleashed their debut LP To Repel Ghosts today and its a dream/noise-pop gem filled with all the fuzz, dreamy vocals and shimmery guitars that one album can handle. Check out “Levels” and my favorite “Unlucky” below for a taste.

To Repel Ghosts is out now and available on Cassette, CD and digitally via Static Bloom Records. Enjoy.

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DATURA

DATURA | Arcano Chemical | 3hive.com
DATURA | Arcano Chemical | 3hive.com

Washington State’s Datura will remind any 80’s head of bands like Joy Division (a little New Order too) and The Cure (list any other great 80’s post-punk band here), but their wall of sound guitar and relentless pounding/chugging rhythm section really make them stand out on their own. Whether or not you classify them “post-punk” or “post-post-punk” or “dark wave” or “neu wave” or my new favorite (NOT) “post-punk revival” they smash the mark on their new album Arcano Chemical.

Check out “Phantasma” and “Dare You” below for a taste, they will hook you for sure. Arcano Chemical is available now all forms of media and digitally via Sell The Heart Records, I highly recommend it.