Thursday, December 28, 2017 0 Engineers

Streaming: Johnnytwentythree - The Bridge



Band: johnnytwentythree
Album: The Bridge
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Shipwreck
02. Night Of War
03. Dark Of The Sun
04. The Bridge
05. Keys To Freedom
06. To The Fortress
07. In The Master's Throne Room
08. After the End
09. A Good Childhood
10. Last Breath
11. Silent Lord Of Chaos
Streaming / Buy

It has been just over 5 years since Joe's death. Before that, we had been slowly chipping away at a new Johnnytwentythree album. That album is called The Bridge, and it is now done. 

I feel like Joe would be pretty happy with it. 

The beginnings of the album started out with a song that was written as a reaction to all of us watching a documentary called “The Bridge”. It was a song inspired by the idea of suicide, but also of finding reasons to hold on. 

The album instead has become a memorial to the reality of the life and suicide of our bassist/brother/husband/friend, and father of two little girls. 

It was released on December 23rd. 

You can order it on our bandcamp or iTunes/Amazon Music.

Stephen’s video for the first song of the album, Shipwreck, can be viewed here, with more to come.

Proceeds from the album will be going to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI - https://www.nami.org/). 

The Bridge is intended to be a candle lit for those who are gone, a light for those left. - Michael J23

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Thursday, December 21, 2017 0 Engineers

Recommendation: Teller - Strive Recess Echo



Band: Teller
Album: Strive Recess Echo
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Baton Rouge
02. The Wary And Watchful
03. Floods
04. Tell-tale White
05. Ridge And Furrow
06. Of, By And For
Streaming | Mirror

Teller is a five-piece band from Gothenburg, Sweden. Gustav K. used to play the drums in the Swedish indie band The Gentle Act Incident and pop rock band The Shiloh, Emanuel O. normally plays the bass guitar in the Swedish post-rock act EF and Erik B. used to hit the keys of The Shiloh. But all in all, Teller is a band of five friends who needed an outlet to create music and to socialize.

Each member is a keystone for a certain type of element: wavy ambient tones, strong melodies, and dynamic passages. Some parts of their songs have existed as ideas as far back as 15 years. For them, it has been a journey that was necessary before they could complete their ideas into songs. 

To mention some of their influences: Caspian, Sigur Rós, and Kashmir.

Strive Recess Echo is the result of hard work and devotion from all five members, and not only have they written the music but they also created the artwork, recorded it and self financed it without any label involved. 

All additional musicians that appear on the album, or people that were a part of the process, are all included in a network of friends inside of the Gothenburg music scene.

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Monday, December 18, 2017 0 Engineers

Recommendation: Pillars - Of Salt And Sea



Band: Pillars
Album: Of Salt And Sea
Label: In Storre Recordings
Year: 2017







Tracklist
01. Signal
02. Harbinger
03. Finalita
04. Of Salt And Sea
05. Subtract/Submerge
06. Revelation
07. Residuum
08. SEQII
09. Equinox
Streaming / Buy

Pillars is an American four piece, primarily instrumental, post-rock band from Indianapolis, Indiana formed in 2015. The band consists of Marc Ertel (guitar), Justin Williams (guitar), Nason Frizzell (bass), and Zach Frizzell (drums). Each member comes from various musical pasts and this diversity has fostered a unique sound that blends indie-rock and post-rock.

Pillars independently released their first self-titled collection of three songs on June 9, 2015 [Pillars EP] both in digital and CD formats. The CD's were limited to 100 copies and quickly sold out. The album jackets were screenprinted by Bob Peele at Long Live Design Labs and the songs were recorded, mixed, and mastered by Carl Byers at Clandestine Arts Recording.

The band was signed to Indianapolis indie label, In Store Recordings in February 2017 and released "The Great Divide" on March 31, 2017; A two song opus inspired by the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that plague many. "The Great Divide" is a journey that explores the current treacherous social landscape, using history as a light to guide us through the darkness. "The Great Divide" is available for digital download, in addition to a limited edition pressing on cassette and CD. "The Great Divide" was recorded at the Pop Machine and Clandestine Arts in Indianapolis. It was mixed and mastered by Carl Byers. The album cover and inserts were designed by Marc Ertel.

Pillars released their first full-length album through the In Store Recordings label, titled "Of Salt and Sea" on December 15th, 2017. “Of Salt and Sea" marks the band’s most complete release to date, while also marking their first entirely instrumental collection of songs. "Of Salt and Sea" exhibits a distinct mesh of musical colors on full display, as the band takes listeners on a aural voyage full of thoughtfully crafted peaks and plunges. From the towering movement, that shares the name of the album, “Of Salt and Sea” to the succinct yet stunning piece “Subtract/Submerge,” the album delivers a rejuvenated post-rock sound that pushes the boundaries of the genre to stratospheric new levels.
 
 "Of Salt and Sea" is available for digital download, in addition to a limited edition pressing on vinyl, which was mastered by Adam Gonsalves (has also mastered albums for Pelican, Elliott Smith, Neurot Recordings, Epitaph Records). "Of Salt and Sea" was recorded and mixed by Cortland Foxworth at Melt Audio Studio. Digital mastering was done by Gordan Wantuch. The album cover and inserts were designed by Marc Ertel.

Pillars has played alongside established instrumental bands such as Pelican, and indie juggernauts, The Appleseed Cast, The Get Up Kids, The World Is A Beautiful Place And I am No Longer Afraid to Die, We Are Scientists and more.

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Friday, December 15, 2017 0 Engineers

Album: Saligia - The New Innocence


Band: Saligia
Album: The New Innocence
Label: Zegema Beach Records
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. Loud Speaker
02. La Nausée
03. Ulcer
04. Obscuritas Aeterna
05. Metropolis
06. The War Is Over
Download | Mirror

Saligia is an emo violence, chaotic hardcore band from Münster, Germany.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2017 0 Engineers

Recommendation: In Lights - This is How We Exist


Band: In Lights
Album: This is How We Exist
Label: Self Released
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. Forward 06:00
02. Search 05:34
03. Before 06:21
04. Memory 06:08
05. Dream 07:58
06. Spring 04:28
07. Om Namah Shivaya
Streaming / Buy

In Lights is a five-piece post-rock / instrumental band based out of San Jose, CA, started playing together during the summer of 2014.

 I cannot express how much I liked this album! Its structure with a strong opening and closing track and of course the melodies give the listeners a great musical experience and atmosphere. Also the use of violin , pipa and a choir gives a different touch that stands this album out!

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Tuesday, December 12, 2017 0 Engineers

The Inquisition: 093.Spook The Horses (answered by Callum Gay)

1. How did you came up with the name of the band?

Ben and I grew up playing in metal bands together, and when we started Spook we wanted a name that didn't suggest anything too specific or aggressive like a lot of the bands we were used to. Spook The Horses was the name was hated the least, in the end we just chose it because it sounded like a band name.

2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?

There's a general process we have, but usually each record is very different. Most of the time one or more people will work on the bulk of a song at home or together, and then we'll digest and reshape and mould it as a band. About half of People Used to Live Here started as an improvised piece. Lurch, Crude Shrines and Blessed Veins all just kind of fell out of us in one go.

3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home?

For me personally its a lot of extreme metal. Ugly, dissonant aggressive music. The rest of the band have really varied tastes, anything from Jon Hopkins to Neil Young to Protomartyr. I don't think we especially sound like anything we listen to, really. Maybe a bizarre mix of all of it. Lately I've had the new Arkhon Infaustus EP on repeat. Evil as fuck.

4. Which is the one album you can't live without?

Most of us have agreed that Cult of Luna's 'Somewhere Along the Highway' was a bit of turning point in our musical thinking. The production is unique, real, powerful and the songs blow open so much wider than their earlier stuff. It's also the last Luna record before they started getting really conceptual so I think it covers a bit more ground without feeling unfocused. Donnie got an original pressing not long ago- no small feat when you live on the wrong side of the planet.

5. What's the first record you've ever bought?

Black Boned Angel- Eternal Love / Eternal Hunger. BBA are a now defunct transcendent drone band from Campbell Kneale (Birchville Cat Motel, Our Love Will Destroy The World). You're doing yourself a massive disservice if you haven't checked out his music and paintings.

6. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with?

The Drones. Gareth Liddiard makes me need to take my headphones off and bang my head against the desk. Fuck that guy, what a songwriter.

7. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were surprised to know your music has reached to?

Oh absolutely. Our first album Brighter was a super limited release, we just printed a few jewel cases and sold them at the release show. Within two days it was up on several dicey looking Russian torrent sites. A few days later we mailed a CD to Lithuania. I have no idea how it was up so quickly, but it's crazy to see how your music kind of gets a global release whether you want it to or not.

8. Do you support the idea of bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like Spotify?

In general, putting more power in the hands of the artist is a good thing. Spotify is a bit dark, as an artist the revenue is so small as to be effectively pointless. In saying that however it's still my primary way of listening to music. I'll always preferentially buy merch and vinyl from Bandcamp where possible because there's no screwing around with Paypal or those diabolical labels that make you sign up for a specific account for their page. PLEASE don't make me verify a fucking email address just to buy your record.

9. Where do you see yourselves in 10 years?

Hopefully with another three albums or so under our belt having toured extensively around Europe and North America. By that stage we'll probably sound like Kraftwerk or something.

10. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?

In niche and independent music, definitely. In pop and mainstream, I have no idea. It's not in my wheelhouse. The art is a huge focus for us and we spend a huge amount of time and conversation on it. It's especially important when you play visually evocative music. You're robbing yourself of a lot of creative fulfilment if you don't take it seriously.

11. What is your favorite album cover?

Fuck, so many. Abyssal's "Antikatastaesis" stands out from recent memory. More album covers that look like the album sounds, please.

12. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?

Vinyl is the only format that doesn't seem like cheap, throwaway garbage in my view. CDs get scuffed and broken in the footwells of cars, digital is nothing, cassettes are small and unimpressive. Vinyl is huge, heavy, sounds unique and gives you more options to be creative with the art, inserts, etchings and colour. My daily music listening is of course digital. When it's time for ritual and worship its vinyl.

13. What's the most vivid story or moment as a band?

Zach accidentally killed a hawk with the van on tour one time. It was eating roadkill and took off too late. The price you pay for living without honour, bird. There's also countless blown amps, cracked cymbals and busted drum heads at the most inopportune times possible. My least favourite memory is Zach's kick pedal beater coming off while we were playing this festival showcase and I tried to fix it with him still playing, my head under his snare drum just eating rimshots. I wince just thinking about it.

Spook The Horses' latest album "People Used To Live Here" out now on Pelagic Records.

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Monday, December 11, 2017 0 Engineers

Recommendation: Stereocilia - Hive Mind


Band: Stereocilia
Album: Hive Mind
Label: Drone Rock Records
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. The Water Has No Darkness
02. Static
03. Aurora Borealis
04. Another Sleepless Dream
Streaming / Buy

'Hive Mind' is the 3rd full length album from Stereocilia, and heaviest to date. This 4 track album spanning over 40 minutes takes you on a journey exploring the boundaries of drone and psych. ‘Hive Mind’ also sees Stereocilia collaborating with another musician for the first time, with a guest appearance from Thought Forms drummer, Guy Metcalfe. Guy brings his unique drumming style to the 20+ minute sonic exploration, ‘Another Sleepless Dream’ and adds a new dimension to ever evolving project that is Stereocilia.

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Sunday, December 10, 2017 0 Engineers

Video: Harakiri For The Sky - You Are The Scars (Official Lyric Video)

Thursday, December 07, 2017 0 Engineers

Recommendation: Jack Maniak - Code 403


Band: Jack Maniak
Album: Code 403
Label: JST Records
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. Stripe Is Back
02. No Fate
03. Code 403
04. Final Departure
05. Tribal Mob
06. The Guardian
07. Space Invaders
08. Dangerous Night
09. Sky Demons
10. Glory
Streaming / Buy

Jack Maniak is a new one-man project created in 2016 by French musician Jean-Philippe. Living in Paris and also playing in a number of bands, Jean-Philippe felt the need to delve deeper in the electronic music sounds. Born in the 70’s and having experienced the 80’s as a teenager his love of that era didn’t take long to manifest in his music giving birth to his synthwave alter ego, Jack Maniak.

For a melodist, exploring this genre is a great opportunity and for Jean-Philippe the idea of writing music inspired by the 80’s but with a modern approach and twist soon turned out to be irresistible. Combining melodic synth leads, hard-rock/heavy rhythm guitars, guitar solos (when needed), big distorted basslines and groovy drum/bass patterns Jack Maniak debuts on JST with “Code 403”.

Filled with hidden references to the decade Jack Maniak grew up into (“Stripe Is Back” – Gremlins, “No Fate” – Terminator 2 and so on) “Code 403” is the story of a human teenager with special abilities who is called to face an alien invasion. Will he emerge victorious? 

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Monday, December 04, 2017 0 Engineers

Video: Meniscus - Head Rush

Sunday, December 03, 2017 0 Engineers

Album: Necrodancer - Void


Band: Necrodancer
Album: Void
Label: Throatruiner Records
Year: 2017








Tracklist
01. The Necrodancer
02. The Seizure
03. The Hunter
04. The Turning
05. The Crusade
06. The Divide
07. The Inquisition
08. The Calling
09. The Trial
10. The Battlefield
Download | Mirror

Franco-belgian squad Necrodancer doesn't waste time with warning shots and directly introduce themselves to the world with "Void", their debut album. Formed in 2016 between Paris and Liège by members hailing from various corners of the heavy music realm (Verdun, Daggers, Death Mercedes, Radio Maquis…) the band establishes with "Void" an already personal, hard-to pin sound. Drawing as much from swampy noise rock as from the punkier edge of later-era Darkthrone, these self-proclaimed funeral grungers are as comfortable with surprisingly catchy melodic hooks as with remorseless crust assaults. Recorded and mixed by Amaury Sauvé (Birds In Row, Plebeian Grandstand, Death Engine) then mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Okkultokrati, Nails, Full Of Hell) for maximum damages, Necrodancer's firepower will be hard to ignore.

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