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FACS

FACS | Still Life In Decay | 3hive.com
FACS | Still Life In Decay | 3hive.com

Chicago’s FACS have unleashed their behemoth 5th long player Still Life In Decay upon the world. It’s another bludgeoning of noisy, shredding guitar work, over one of the tightest and heaviest rhythm sections out there. There’s an understated elegance to this album as well (which is quite lovely) as they ease you into said bludgeoning on several tracks, BUT the weight and dominance of Still Life In Decay never falls off.

If you’ve been sleeping on these guys over the years —WAKE UP!

Still Life In Decay is out tomorrow, April 7, via Trouble In Mind Records. It really is an amazing album and has rocketed to the top of my favorites of 2023. Enjoy.

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Leggy

Leggy | Dramatica | 3hive.com
Leggy | Dramatica | 3hive.com

First off, I’m a big fan of Leggy. I have enjoyed all their releases so far. I really tried going into their brand new release, Dramatica, as unbiased as I could, trying to convince myself to not just love it because it’s Leggy. About half way through the first track “Take It Back” I was hooked.

The tempo changes, Véronique’s powerful-as-ever vocals, incredible production, songwriting and an indescribable “oomph” throughout Dramatica make this Leggy’s most complex and strongest release yet.

Check out “Take It Back”, “Drama” and “Autumn” below for a taste.

Dramatica is out now and available on Leggy’s Bandcamp page. I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

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Dancer

Dancer | Dancer | 3hive.com
Dancer | Dancer | 3hive.com

Dancer is a new band out of Glasgow featuring members of Nightshift, Order of the Toad, Current Affairs and Robert Sotelo. Their sound is a bit of a hybrid, mixing elements of gazy jangle-pop, post-punk and some good old punk rock. Check out “Ferret Fancier and “The Split” below for an example.

Their debut self-titled EP is a very solid effort and well worth your time; it’s available now digitally and on cassette via Gold Mold. If cassettes are your thing you’d better spring into action; they are going fast. Enjoy.

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Oozing Wound

Oozing Wound | We Cater To Cowards | 3hive.com

Chicago trio Oozing Wound have been melting faces and shredding ear drums since 2012, and I’m happy to report that nothing has changed over these last 11 years.

Zack Weil’s “David Yow-like” vocals and sharp like a hacksaw blade guitar licks tear their way through the muck and sludge provided by Kevin Cribbin (bass) and Kyle Reynolds (drums) on their latest album We Cater To Cowards.

Speaking of muck and sludge, give “Old Sludge” and “Face Without Eyes” (below) a spin for a taste.

We Cater To Cowards is out now via Thrill Jockey. It’s a smasher. Oozing Wound still brings the heat. Enjoy.

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Teen Angst

Teen Angst | Barn Sour | 3hive.com

Perth Australia band Teen Angst’s latest album Barn Sour features 10 super-endearing, jangle-pop tunes about everyday life (unless I’m over-simplifying), including leaving home, watering the garden and leftovers to name a few.

They describe their sound as “dreamy antisocial pop”, which is a spot-on description and may be the reason why I love this album so much since I struggle in social situations . Check out “Water The Garden”, “Birthdays” and “Home In A Minute” below for a taste of their “antisocial pop” goodness.

Barn Sour is out now digitally and on cassette through Teen Angst’s Bandcamp page. Enjoy.

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PLRLS

PLRLS | CURSES | 3hive.com

5-piece Baltimore dance-punkers PLRLS are back with a brand new batch of synth-fried punk rock tunes presented to us, their loyal listeners, as Curses.

It’s been 6 years since the release of their last album, Have You Seen My Fancy Pony, and you may be wondering “after all that time do they still have the fire, the bounce, the energy to pull off 11 more zany, pop punk songs?” The answer to that, my friends is a resounding “HELLS YES!!!” Not only does Curses pick up where HYSMFP left off, but it has a sharper (dare I say slightly heavier) edge to it, like these songs have been clawing their way out of the band’s guts since 2017.

Check out “Curses”, “Miscellanea” and “Death To Maria” below for a taste of some killer vocal harmonies, chugging bass lines, razor-sharp guitar licks and more synths than you can shake a stick at.

Curses is out now via Ashtray Monument Records. You need this record in your life; you deserve this record in your life. Enjoy.

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Lauds

Lauds | Imitation Life | 3hive.com
Lauds | Imitation Life | 3hive.com

After a few EPs and singles, North Carolina’s Lauds have finally released their debut long player, Imitation Life, and let me tell you, it is some solid jangle/dream pop gold. It’s packed with lush, jangly guitars dancing around echoed vocals and a driving rhythm section. Lauds has set the bar high for all albums released in 2023 with Imitation Life.

Check out album opener “Paralell” and “24” (below) for a taste.

Imitation Life is out now via Fort Lowell Records. Get your ears on this one. Enjoy.

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Doom Flower

Doom Flower | Limestone Ritual | 3hive.com
Doom Flower | Limestone Ritual | 3hive.com

Chicago quartet Doom Flower’s new LP Limestone Ritual is 12 tracks of lo-fi, indie/bedroom-ish pop, mingled with a little gaze over the top of some seriously badass (hip hop-esque) drum and bass grooves and I can’t stop listening to it.

Check out “Telehealth” and “Blaze” (below) for a taste. I’ve had “Teleheath” on repeat.

Limestone Ritual is out now on cassette and digitally via Record Label. Listen to it. Buy it. See these guys live. Enjoy.

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Astragal

Astragal | Pure Cashmere | 3hive.com

Houston band Astragal’s debut LP Pure Cashmere came out back in April of ’22 and I am mad at myself for taking 10 months to finally listen to it. Pure Cashmere is solid from start to finish; if you enjoy Brit-pop, jangle-pop, shoegaze and post-punk, you are going to love this album as Astragal blends those genres masterfully together for its nearly 39 minute run time.

Pure Cashmere is out now via Astragal’s Bandcamp page. Go and buy it right now. Think of it as hopefully investing in a potential vinyl release of this album. Enjoy

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Bodywash

Montreal duo Bodywash just released their new single “Kind of Light” into the world. It’s a lush, throbbing, dream-pop track mingled with enough gaze to make any fans of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins take notice. “Kind of Light” is out now on all the streamers via Light Organ Records. Enjoy.