US / THEM

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Chicago DIY post-punks Staring Problem's forthcoming album streaming early exclusively via PunkNews

"There is a gloomy kind of warmth to these songs that draws you in. They have created a world all their own here, and it’s a fascinating one to take a trip through." -- Maximum RockandRoll

"Draws heavily from 80s goth and postpunk, though their deft melodies give even their coldest songs a therapeutic warmth—and they sometimes break from the genre’s obvious reference points with infusions of classic girl-group sweetness." -- Chicago Reader

"With a haunting melody reminiscent of Wise-era Cure and an echoing, distant-yet-powerful vocal performance from Owen, this is post-punk that harkens back to the greats of the genre while still putting a stamp of Staring Problem’s distinctive personality on it.” — New Noise Magazine

Chicago DIY gloomgaze band Staring Problem are streaming their forthcoming album a day early today exclusively via PunkNews. Hear & share Equinox HERE.

The band hosts a Bandcamp Listening Party tonight at 5:30pm Pacific/8:30pm Eastern. RSVP HERE.

New Noise Magazine recently launched the official video for first single "The Void" HERE (Direct YouTube.) Hear/share the single on all DSPs HERE. Side-Line shared "Don't Tell a Soul" HERE. (Direct via Bandcamp.)

The idea for Staring Problem was simple: a post-punk, no-wave project. For over 15 years, the band has existed in one form or another as an amalgamation of ethereal pop and goth with a dash of noise sprinkled throughout.

The current lineup is Lauren Owen, Michael Erickson and Andrew Jarosh. With the exception of “Don’t Tell A Soul” — an old song that was never properly released — all material on Equinox is new and collaboratively written by Owen, Erickson and Jarosh. Lyrics were penned by Owen and Erickson alongside two close friends of the band, Robert Komen and Jessica Beaty, the subjects touching on shifts in awareness for mental health, sociopolitical issues, environmental concerns and technology. The album was recorded in 2023 by Matt Russell at Altered States Studio in Chicago.

Equinox will follow in the footsteps of prior Staring Problem records and release via Modern Tapes on December 20th, 2024. The album is a full-circle moment for Staring Problem: giving way to the band’s strongest lineup and output to date, the past and present joining hands to create an Equinox. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: Staring Problem

Album: Equinox

Record Label: Modern Tapes

Release Date: December 20, 2024

01. Fortitude

02. The Void

03. Don't Tell a Soul

04. Branches II

05. Neon

06. Programmed

07. Waves

moderntapes.com

linktr.ee/staringproblem

instagram.com/mdrntps

Pleasure Forever (Sub Pop, Red Sparowes, The VSS) streaming 25th Anniversary album reissue early w/ interview

"They don't sound like much you've heard before... This is not rote, predictable stuff." 8.4 -- Pitchfork

“Soliloquy meets psychedelia as the SF semi-goths ‘timely rip’ us a new album, Distal, genre-blended and aged like a fine Zinfandel. Solid gold via Solid Brass.” — Echoes & Dust

“[Taps] into the haunted atmosphere of their early recordings while imbuing them with a hypnotic, psychedelic glow… A thrilling return that marks a new era of creativity for the group.” — Treble

Former Bay Area trio Pleasure Forever are streaming their forthcoming 25th Anniversary reissue of their 1999 album The Devil's Pleasures early today alongside an interview with Psychedelic Baby Magazine. This release concludes the band's reissues of their early catalog and rarities, all of which is for the first time on streaming services. Hear/share The Devil's Pleasures HERE. (Direct Bandcamp)

Hear/share singles "Chemical Priest" and "An Exact Seance" on all DSPs HERE.

The band’s two debut 12” EPs (1997 and 1999 respectively) were originally released in 1999 as The Devil’s Pleasures on CD via Troubleman Unlimited. On December 20th, 2024, the band releases those 11 tracks, remastered and with reconfigured artwork, for the first time on streaming services.

In 2007, the band released an LP & CD called Bodies Need Rest, which compiled rare and unreleased tracks via Conspiracy Records. Those tracks have never been available on streaming services, until now. Bodies Need Rest has an updated master and hit streaming services on November 8th, 2024. Hear/share on all DSPs.

in 2023, 20 years after the band’s last proper album Alter was released on Sub Pop — with the catalog number Sub Pop #666, no less — Pleasure Forever released a new mini-album titled Distal via Solid Brass Records.

Pleasure Forever remains as hard to characterize as they’ve always been. Moments of heavy hitting rock tendencies tie together their continuing exploration of spooky 60s psychedelia and their peculiarly warped feel of classic rock from an alternate universe, dashed with hypnotic and minimal rhythms reminiscent of heady Krautrock. Distal will appeal to fans of Roxy Music, The Doors, The VSS, CAN, Amon Düül II, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds…

Pleasure Forever is vocalist/keyboardist Andrew Rothbard, drummer Dave Clifford and guitarist Joshua Hughes. The band is not currently active or playing any live shows.

In the two decades between proper albums, Rothbard has released multiple solo albums under his full name Andrew Douglas Rothbard, Clifford played drums in instrumental post-metal band Red Sparowes, as well as Emma Ruth Rundle vehicle Marriages, Jail Weddings and more, Hughes sang and played guitar in Relapse Records sludge metal trio Rabbits and currently in Ssold. The three members formerly played together in synth-punk pioneers The VSS in the mid-90s.

The Devil's Pleasures will be available for download and streaming on December 20, 2024. Bodies Need Rest is available for download and streaming, released on November 8th, 2024 via Permanent Teeth Records. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: Pleasure Forever

Album: The Devil's Pleasures

Label: Permanent Teeth Records

Release Date: December 20th, 2024

01. Osculum Infame

02. An Exact Seance

03. On Your Belly You Shall Crawl

04. Honeycomb Communique

05. Name of Man

06. Untitled

07. Chemical Priest

08. Slender Spires

09. Kill a Pony

10. Calling the Loa

11. Penumbra Hadabra

Artist: Pleasure Forever

Album: Bodies Need Rest

Label: Permanent Teeth Records

Release Date: November 8th, 2024

01. King Cobra in the Guts of Valhalla

02. Miles Underneath

03. Capricorn Blue

04. Right Back Down in the Middle

05. Black Juju

06. The Bars

07. Our Way

08. Honey Honey

On The Web:

pleasureforever.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/pleasureforevermusic

linktr.ee/PleasureForever

Artist: Pleasure Forever

Album: Distal

Label: Solid Brass Records

Release Date: August 25th, 2023

01. Neolith Nonce

02. Sigil Pathos

03. To The Last Recorded Syllable of Time

04. A Heavy Involvement in Unreality

05. Lexicorpus Grimoire

06. Sunshine Super Hits

07. Traipsing Elegiac

On The Web:

solidbrassrecords.com

instagram.com/solidbrassrecs

pleasureforever.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/pleasureforevermusic

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

NORMANS share "Pure Evil" single (Solid Brass Recs) mixed by Brad Wood, play Belasco in LA 12/20

“Ironically uplifting… This song is fast garage punk with a classic rock punch, and it’s addictively upbeat and danceably dire at the same time.” — CvltNation

“At turns dark, menacing, ear-splitting and chaotic, or all of that at once, and fully lives up to its claim to be a dissection of ‘the terrified animal caged within us all.’ It should just come with an all-purpose DANGER sign.” — Buzzbands.LA

Southern California noise-punk band NORMANS share a new single today following up on their auspicious debut self-titled album from January this year on Solid Brass Records. Hear/share "Pure Evil" on all DSPs HERE.

CvltNation recently launched the official video for "Murder Rich" HERE & on YouTube.

Los Angeles noise rock band NORMANS are back with a new single that continues to push their unique sound forward. In "Pure Evil" extreme dynamics and lo-fi samples create a punishing blend of industrial-infused rock that marches into a middle eastern style bridge and ends with an epic guitar driven melody. Mixed by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Touché Amoré, The Jesus Lizard, Tortoise) and mastered by Greg Obis at Chicago Mastering.

In 2021, in the lingering haze of the global pandemic and several nautical miles off the coast of Los Angeles in a broken down boat, Southern California natives and stalwarts of the local DIY music scene Matthew Reid (Blonde Summer) and Michael Perry Rudes (FEELS) decided it was time to embark on a new musical odyssey together; one that championed fearlessness, rawness, and above all, freedom.

NORMANS was born on the dirty streets of L.A. and baptized in the punk rich waters of Hermosa Beach; the city that gave us Black Flag, Redd Kross, Minutemen and more. Years of exposure and participation in the myriad of genres and sounds that make up the vibrant music scene resulted in a multi-genre-bending, bass and synth fueled cacophony that pays homage to the ghosts of Killing Joke, The Jesus Lizard, GVSB and The Birthday Party.

NORMANS have managed to stitch together elements of surf, post punk, noise rock and Wax Trax era electro-industrial music for a sound that is urgent, angry, and simultaneously danceable. Oozing with satire and shrouded in bizarre visual art and imagery, bassist and vocalist Matthew Reid explores issues of violence, drug use, and the terrified animal caged within us all. Where their musical journey takes them will keep us wondering. What is certain is the band’s willingness to propel themselves into uncharted waters, unlike the boat they started on just a few short years ago.

NORMANS is available on LP and digital, released on January 12th, 2024 via Solid Brass Records.

NORMANS LIVE 2024:

12/20 Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco