Category: Blog

The first month of 2018 is almost out the door already, so it’s time to do a recap of some of the coolest releases of the new year! From the looks of it, 2018 is going to be a great year for some fresh sounds and unique styles. There are also some releases from December 2017, but they were just too good to leave behind. There’s quite a bit of diversity of sound in this list, so hopefully there will be something for everybody. Let’s discover some great music, shall we?

1. Cheetah Tongue – The Wombats

On January 17, The Wombats graciously gave us their third song release and opening track from their upcoming album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (out February 9th). I may be a little biased since The Wombats are one of my favorite bands…but nonetheless, this alternative rock band definitely delivers with the catchy lyrics and upbeat tempo paired with soothing vocals and a dreamy sound. If you like this song be sure to look out for their new album!

Listen here! 

       2. Second Guess (feat. Anuka) – Khamsin

Moving on to some electronic music, artist Khamsin released this single on January 11, hopefully teasing a second album. The track stays true to Khamsin’s genius combinations of simpler instruments such as the electric guitar and piano with a powerful electronic chorus. The vocals are smooth but strong, and partner beautifully with the verses and pre-chorus. If you like this song, you should definitely check out Khamsin’s first album, Leaving (2016).

Listen here! 

       3. Lovespell – Ben Rosett, Eternity Forever

If you’re looking for a new addition to your Math Rock playlist, this track is definitely a winner. The song stays true to its name, incorporating two guitars to carry the song’s sweet and uplifting sound. It was released on January 1st as a single, but from the looks of their past work, there’s a lot more to come. Ben Rosett/Eternity Forever make some great Math Rock, so give them a listen if you enjoy this song!

Listen here! 

       4. Myrmidon – Ark Patrol

When I first heard this song, I was blown away by how strange but good it was! It’s a slow electronic melody, but the mixed verbal and nonverbal vocals are what really dominate the song. The various background notes/effects with psychedelic tunes really make it one of a kind. The track was released as a single on January 4th. If you’re looking to expand the horizons of your music experience, you should give this song a shot. 

Listen here! 

        5. Upside Down – Oliver Tree  Single – Jan. 5, 2018

Fast-paced and full of energy, this track is a lot of fun to listen to. With an indie sound and electric twist, this could be a great pump up/party song. There’s so many sounds and beats that work really well together and are great to dance to.  The single came out on January 5th as his eighth released track. This song put me in a great mood after listening, so hopefully it will do the same for you!

Listen here!

         6. Lights Go Down – Zeds Dead, Jauz

Zeds Dead, the kings of late night driving music, have done it again along with Jauz in creating a track still faithful to the Zeds Dead sound we love. The bass is out of control and the light saber sounds are on point. Every segment of the song sounds great in my opinion, the drop lead up being my favorite. This single was released on December 26, but it’s definitely worthy of making it into 2018.

Listen here!

          7. Rude. – Kaleidoscope – EP Love and Sorrow – December 28, 2017

It’s amazing how true to its name this song is. It’s very hard to describe or categorize, but I would say it borders Lo-fi and electronic music. The melody is somber and beautiful, and the steady beat echoes softly into the music, creating a very peaceful and (may I say) introspective experience. Artist Rude. released this track along with their EP Love & Sorrow on December 28, so there’s more where this came from!

 Listen here!

           8. Coexist – Me(:)i

Need a new addition to your Lo-fi playlist? Here you go! It follows the usual Lo-fi formula, except this song draws from the experience of relaxing at the beach. The light seagull sounds, water drops, and the sound of the waves in the background make the track really enjoyable. This is definitely a song for relaxing, studying or falling asleep. It was released on December 28, and is Me(:)i’s second single.  

 Listen here!

           9. No Surrender Playing With Fire – Hyper

Progressive electronic music is embodied within this track, bringing such fresh sound that I got really confused about exactly where to categorize this song in my brain. Thinking about it, I feel like the electronic sound could be easily replaced with electric guitar and sound great as well. My point is that if you’re into rock music, this might be a good song to try out. The track is included on Hyper’s EP called The Adventures of the Android Kid – Part 2, released on Christmas Eve.

 Listen here!

           10. Flute Loop (ft. Ouici) – Keys N Krates, Ouici

The song took a few times of listening before it grew on me, but now I really appreciate the music along with the clever name. It’s great for expanding your music horizons, since it keeps most of the elements of trap music but adds some really innovative effects. It was released as a single on Christmas.

 Listen here!

Honorable Mentions:

1. All Your Love – Max Styler  – Single – Released Jan. 5, 2018

Listen here! 

       2. Lift – Oblyx – Single – Released Jan. 1, 2018

 Listen here! 

I’m really looking forward to 2018 and all the new sounds, bands, and sub-genres it will bring. Discovering those hidden gems is what I am aim to do so I can share them all with you! If you enjoyed at least a couple of the songs on this list, then my goal has been achieved! Make sure to look out for next month’s new releases…The Wombats album will be out so it should be good. 🙂

Written by Angela Fluett

The life of a metalhead can be difficult sometimes. There are some things that we just struggle with, such as finding fellow metalheads, figuring out which band is your favorite, when you rust in the shower because you’re so metal, and clothing attire. Nothing bothers my OCD more than wearing all black but different shades of black (trust me, it happens often). I am going to give a few problems that the majority of metalheads go through. You will be able to relate to these things; trust me.

1. Getting dirty looks in public because of your band shirt.

This is the look I get all the time when I’m wearing a band shirt (which is almost all the time). I don’t know, what is the big deal, if I’m wearing a shirt that has a bloody torso on it out in public? It’s my casual wear!!! Some of the shirts that I have you can’t even read the name of the band. I like those looks because people try so hard to read my shirt. Jokes on them because I can’t even read my shirt either, so please don’t ask me what it says. If I’m at a metal show we bond over our metal shirts and it is a form of mating call for me. When I see someone wearing a band shirt, I automatically go up to them and tell them I like their band shirt. So don’t worry, if you see me out in public and you’re wearing a band shirt, you will get a very excited look, instead of a dirty one.

2. People who think metal and screamo are the same thing.

DO NOT COME UP TO ME AND SAY I LISTEN TO SCREAMO BECAUSE I WILL LITERALLY LOSE MY MIND!!!!!! Yes, there is a genre called screamo, but what I listen to is not screamo. There is all types of metal that cross cultures and different styles. For example, Metalcore isn’t the same as Deathcore, Nu Metal isn’t the same as Djent Metal, Stoner Metal isn’t the same as Groove Metal, and Heavy Metal isn’t the same as Death Metal. I understand that some people don’t understand the different types of metal, and that’s fine. But don’t quantify everything as “screamo” and then agrue with me that metal is all the same. Because it isn’t.

3. When people think you don’t qualify as a metalhead because you don’t look like the average metalhead.

Before I got tattoos, I didn’t look like a metalhead at all. But now, I kinda fit “the look” of a metalhead. You know… long hair, band shirts, ripped jeans, black finger nails, combat boots, leather jacket, and tattoos. When I was in high school, I wore band shirts but I didn’t really “look” like a metalhead. Here’s the thing with metal and music in general, you can be anything you want to be and look like anybody you want. Music doesn’t judge. Every once in a while, I get the “you listen to metal? But you look so sweet!” * Insert eye roll here * Since I’m a girl, some people don’t believe that I am a true metalhead. But they can all think what they want. I have met and seen more bands than they ever have. * flips hair *

4. Having no one to go to metal shows with because none of your friends listen to metal.

I have never related to anything so much in my life. None of my friends in high school or college listen to metal so when I fan girl about my favorite bands coming to town they just look at me like I’m crazy. They also don’t understand the band names like Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse, Analepsy, and Upon A Burning Body, etc. BUT I have met some friends at shows (what up Nate, Jake, Josh, Justin, Eric, Amie, and Savannah?!) Every time I go to a show, one of them is always there. I have met some of my best friends at metal shows and I am grateful for every single one of them. Have no fear my fellow metalheads, if none of your friends from school/work listen to metal, just make some friends at shows. They are literally the best.

5. People mistaking you as a “Satanist.”

Yes, because I listen to metal, I want to burn down churches and draw pentagrams on everything. NO I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT!!! Just because I listen to “darker music” doesn’t mean I worship the devil. Yes, some metal bands do talk about satanic stuff but that doesn’t mean I believe in it. Believe it or not, some metal is positive and talks about personal problems. Metal is an outlet and it really helps people get through things in their lives. I haven’t listened to any other type of music that I relate to as much as metal.

6. Being a girl and seeing male metalheads that have nicer hair than you. 

Okay, this just isn’t fair. Like why do y’all have to have better hair than me? It always looks good and luxurious; how does this happen? It is rare that I see guys with nice hair, and if you are a guy with nice hair and tattoos (like the one pictured above), WHERE DO I FIND YOU?!

7. Dreaming of only dating a metalhead because they are the only ones that understand your love for the music.  

This picture describes me perfectly when trying to talk to a guy. I honestly believe that my husband has to be a metalhead (or be open to the idea of listening to metal) because I’m in too deep with the music. The first question I ask a guy is “what type of music do you like?” I’m usually shocked if they do say metal. I only meet metal guys at shows, if I randomly meet one not at a metal show I am ~~~SHOOK~~~ It would be weird to not date a metalhead because I will drop everything to go to a show. I’m always at shows and I will never give that up.

8. When you can’t find your black band shirt in the pile of black shirts.

Do you know how difficult it is to find a specific band shirt when every shirt in your wardrobe is black and/or is full of other band shirts? IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT!!!! Like I will be looking for my Whitechapel shirt and I will pull out my Suicide Silence shirt. Yeah, I like my Suicide Silence shirt, BUT I WANTED MY WHITECHAPEL SHIRT AND IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND WHEN EVERYTHING IS BLACK. I have a struggle every day because of this. It will never get easier.

9. When your friends invite you to a party but you don’t want to go because you know you will hate the music.

This is me during any social interactions at anything other than a metal show. I will go to parties with my friends and I see everyone dancing and I just stand there confused. I can’t headbang to this. I can’t even mosh to this. How is this fun? I just don’t understand. Someone please explain this to me… looking for a friend.

10. When none of your nonmetal friends understand metal memes.

This should be self-explanatory. Metal memes are great and I can only send them to certain people because the majority of the people I know will be so confused. I think metal memes are the best and some are the dankest. If you have any metal memes, send them my way. I love memes.

THE SAW  

10. Chelsea Grin Self Inflicted Tour  

I was super excited about this sow because I have been wanting to see Chelsea Grin for so long! I got a VIP ticket so I could meet the band before the show. They are really nice guys and hilarious. The show was one of my favorites because the crowd was insane!! All of the bands were great and they all put on one helluva show. 

9. Born of Osiris The New Reign Tour Part II 

This was my third time seeing Born of Osiris and I am really impressed by them. They have improved on their stage show over the years. This was a very exciting show because I reunited with my Carolina Rebellion squad and we all had a great time. I got to meet the singer for Born of Osiris and I got to hang out with Myke Terry from Volumes again! I also met the singer and one of the guitarist for Betraying the Martrys. During Betraying the Martyrs’ set, the guitarist gave me a guitar pick and I also caught the drum stick! I had a great time seeing some of my favorite bands and catching up with some friends.

8. Attila Let’s Get Abducted Tour

If you haven’t seen Attila live, you are missing out!! The first time I saw Attila was at Warped Tour of 2015 and they were even better at their own headlining tour. They have an incredible live show. The whole entire band is interactive with the crowd and there was never a dull moment at all! All of the other bands put on a great show, the crowd was moshing the entire time! I met Attila and it was my first time getting VIP for any show. The band are super chill and really nice guys. Any time Attila is in North Carolina, I will always go and see them.

7.  After The Burial Carry The Flame Tour

This was my third time seeing After The Burial and they are one of my favorite bands. Their songs are bangers and they put on a great show. I also got VIP for this show and met After The Burial and Emmure. Both bands were nice and really cool. I talked to After The Burial’s lead singer for a good 20 minutes. We talked about bands and just random things. The show was AWESOME!! All the bands were insane and I got a guitar pick during After The Burial’s set. Fit For a King become one of my favorite bands when I saw them at this show and I caught a drum stick. Fit For an Autopsy also became one of my favorites after seeing them. This was a great show and I’m glad I bought tickets on a short notice.

6.  Suicide Silence The Cleansing 10 Year Tour

This show really surprised me!! I was mainly there to see Upon A Burning Body and Slaughter To Prevail. But… Slaughter To Prevail couldn’t make it because their visa’s were messed up. I met Upon A Burning Body and hung out with them during the show. The local band was great and Prison was impressive. Suicide Silence also impressed me. I have a new respect for Suicide Silence now. I will never forget this night. I did an entire show review for this show, go check it out!

5. Wage War Deadweight Part 2 Tour  

I went to this show out of nowhere!! I had an exam the next day but I knew if I didn’t go that I would regret it. Varials and Gideon were really good, and the crowd was rowdy for these two bands. When Wage War came on, the crowd exploded!!! This was a sold-out show and the entire crowd was a mosh pit. I had so many bruises after this show, but it was worth it. This was my fourth time seeing Wage War and they never disappoint me. I met some of the members after the show too! Go to my show reviews to check out the entire review.

4. Whitechapel Decade of Defilement Tour

For those of you who don’t know, Whitechapel is one of my favorite bands of all time. I got my DJ name (The Saw) from my favorite song, The Saw is the Law. I got a video of Whitechapel saying they loved me and I caught a guitar pick from their guitarist Zach. The show was crazy, it was a brutal night filled with deathcore bands. I was really impressed with Carnifex. The crowd went crazy for them and they really do know how to put on a show. Whitechapel was amazing, like always, and I loved every moment of it. Phil can still do his gutturals like a pro and it was great. For more information about the show, go check out my show reviews.

3. Miss May I Shadows Inside Tour

Miss May I is also one of my favorite bands and they also put on a great show. I got VIP for this show too and I got to meet them for the second time! They are such nice guys and I love catching up with them! They put on a great show. I was singing and jamming out the entire time! The crowd was really rowdy during this show, too! Their drummer, Jerod, gave me their set list and I have it in my book of shows. Upon A Burning Body was also here, and we already know how I feel about them. We should all know by now that I love Upon A Burning Body so I don’t need to go into how much I was jamming to their set. I did meet their bass player, Joe, who is now one of my good friends. I also met the band, Currents and they are really nice guys. I was really impressed by them and I would love to see them again soon! This show was really special to me because it was my first after I graduated high school.

2.  Carolina Rebellion 

Now, the Carolina Rebellion has a special place in my heart. I love the Rebellion so much. Going in 2014 helped me fall in love with metal all over again. So I am really grateful for this festival. I reunited with my Carolina Rebellion squad and we had a blast!! I made some new friends and had a great time. The bands were also really good. I am happy that I got to see Chris Cornell live before he passed away. All of the bands that I saw put on a great show and I had a blast all three days. If you haven’t been to the Carolina Rebellion, you are really missing out on a great time. I met the host of Sirius XM Liquid Metal Jose Mangin, Myke Terry from Volumes, and Machine Gun Kelly. Just the experience of going to the Rebellion and hanging out with old friends, making new friends, and just being surrounded by people who love the music makes the weekend worth it.

1. Metallica Worldwired Tour

It’s Metallica. Enough said. I have always wanted to see Metallica and they didn’t disappoint me at all! Me and my mom went to Atlanta to see them and it was a great mother-daughter road trip! Metallica played some of my favorite songs such as For Whom The Bells Toll, Seek and Destroy, and One. They were jamming!! There were so many mosh pits and I’m glad I bought pit tickets! I saw Avenged Sevenfold and Volbeat at the Carolina Rebellion and they really impressed me! So, seeing them again with Metallica was great! I made some friends that I still talk to today. This was the best show that I have been to this year and I am so happy that I got to see Metallica for the first time! 

The SAW