Adrienne – Summer’s Beginning EP

We’re starting things off hard and heavy this week with a release on hardcore powerhouse label Ephyra. You can always trust that anything coming out of Silver Bullet Studios (Greg Thomas & Chris Teti) is going to be good, and Adrienne knows how to do hardcore. With some melodic metalcore influence and impressive lyricism to boot, I had to include this even if only for that nasty opening bassline in “Rebirth” alone.

Key Track: “Rebirth”

Birds for Scale – Two on a Wire Debut LP

Birds for Scale is a collaborative project between New Haven’s own Jonathan Siemasko (Schemawound) and Greenville, SC’s Kirk Wilson (Kiggler). They dub this release “a journey through soundtracks for half remembered films and themes for video games that do not exist,” and it delivers with driving, cerebral, and cinematic electronic soundscapes. I want to play whatever cyberpunk 8-bit game these songs are the backdrop for, so someone please make it.

Key Track: “Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly”

Empty Country – “Pearl” Single

This catchy indie release needs to start with an honorable mention for the strange, avant-garde hour of sound it comes accompanied with in a separate release with the same cover art, as well as the experimental short story tucked away in the liner notes. Regardless of whether experimental sonic meandering, literature, or indie rock jams are your flavor, Empty Country has something here for you.

Aforementioned accompanying tracks and pdf here.

FaFa – FAFA DEMO EP

Harkening back to the days of riot grrrl, FaFa is a newer punk act that I can’t wait to hear more from in someone’s basement. With a frenetic, raunchy attitude, this angry little demo EP is a middle finger and a sneer with a promising future.

Key Track: “Red Knuckles”

JEALOUS MIND – JEALOUS MIND II EP

JEALOUS MIND, the hardcore alter-ego of emo band Arms Like Roses (the two bands share a drummer, bassist, and vocalist), has blown up fast after opening for Pinkshift — and they’ve released yet another EP before their huge upcoming tour, showing no signs of cooling off while they’re already hot. Before they head off for the summer with both bands, give this quick and heavy, rage-filled EP a listen.

Key Track: “PRIZE”

Rushing Spring – “Your Touch” Music Video

Indie/emo group Rushing Spring dropped a new, haunting music video today for their moody anthemic earworm “Your Touch.” I’ll be giving this one a more in-depth review, which will be posted tomorrow (7/1/23).

SammerJammer – Ill-Assortment Debut LP

SammerJammer is a brand new hip-hop artist from Milford, who put together these songs originally as a mixtape, but then as a full-fledged album. With featured artists like Quinfinity, Buccky, and BluJayReal joining in throughout the album, this is a fun debut from a young artist with potential in his beat-making and a lot of heart in his rapping.

Key Track: “Do It! (Ft. Buccky)”

Skavs – “Wizard Battle” Single

Skavs has been around for a while, as “Connecticut’s [self proclaimed] worst gamer-punk, spell-castin, sheet-metal-eatin, son-of-a-guns.” This raucous, noisy single of garage indie punk promotes the band’s upcoming LP Polymer Forest, due out in September. While you wait, jam out and cast fireball to “Wizard Battle.”

Zion’s Blood – “Who’s to Blame” Single

Riding the success of their self-titled February EP, classic New York hardcore influenced Zion’s Blood have dropped a new single. This cover of Leeway’s song from their 1991 record Desperate Measures benefits the GoFundMe fundraiser for Eddie Leeway’s cancer treatments. This is an excellent tribute to 90’s hardcore punk for a good cause.