Nag – Nag
[ Scavenger of Death ]
Nag’s (pronounced NOG) self-titled debut is a 12-minute snot rocket of stripped-down lo-fi bruisers and angular leads. Anxious rhythms build momentum like a wheelchair speeding down a hill before spilling out into a busy intersection of power chords and buzzsawing weirdo riffs. It’s abrasive, obtuse, panic-inducing stuff that should only be played at ear-splitting volume.
Remember your friend from high school that only ate Cheetos? The one who called in a bomb threat to get out of a test? Yeah, him. Look that guy up and send him this tape. Put some money on his books while you’re at it. – Tyler Findlay
[ Full Review ]
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Bandcamp: werenag.bandcamp.com
Nurse – EP
[ Scavenger of Death ]
Each of these four tracks build upon a unique framework, challenging the skeletal nature of hardcore and pushing tone and structure to the limit with a methodology so natural it feels almost unintentional. “Pressure,” for example, initially feels like a typical ’80s inspired hardcore track, but after the first few bars the guitars break into scattered rhythms more avant-garde than punk. It’s miniscule moments like these that plant seeds of life throughout what might otherwise feel like an impenetrable wall of dread, making the cascading darkness of the album satisfyingly visceral. – RR
[ Full Review ]
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Bandcamp: nurseatl.bandcamp.com
Omni – Deluxe
[ Trouble in Mind Records ]
Deluxe spins with an unintended sheen, the kind that attracts and entertains but rarely disrupts. Still, while Omni present themselves with the same monochrome hue as many concurrent post-punk bands (hello, Viet Cong — oh, I’m sorry, Preoccupations), they at least know how to relax and crack grins. The one-note piano solo at the end of “Eyes on the Floor” is a delight; “Plane” bounces and canters at odd angles, like a playful argument between friends that enjoy arguing; “Afterlife” suggests garbing the corpse in fine digs so they’ll pass on with the soul. It’s not the same generous honesty that the Postcard lot offered, but apathy suits Omni well. Style this hip can’t be sullied with compassion. – Lee Adcock
[ Full Review ]
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Facebook: @omniatl
Bandcamp: omniatl.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @omnideluxe
SoundCloud: @omni-band
Twitter: @omniatl
Order of the Owl – We are Here to Collect Our Crown
[ DG Records ]
When it came time for Order of the Owl to record their new LP, they turned to Josh Lamar (KR’RTH), whose production sounds sharper, crisper, and more nuanced than anything the band has done in the past. Songs like “Brought Below,” “Wolves of True Diamond Hate,” and “Wood Valley” seethe with demonic menace as malevolent riffs rain down from above. It’s nothing stoner metal fans haven’t encountered before, but the band’s newfound compactness allows them to pummel their listeners mercilessly without hitting them repeatedly over the head, so to speak. Guitarist Juan Montoya (Killer Be Killed, ex-Torche) also appears regularly throughout the record, contributing mind-bending leads and ethereal acoustic guitars that help clear space for the band’s otherwise primordial assault. The result is a haunted, hypnotic collection of songs that would seem to make good on the album’s assertive title. – GC
More Info
Bandcamp: orderoftheowl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @orderoftheowl
Instagram: @orderoftheowl
Twitter: @orderoftheowl
Shampoo – Terrible Heat
[ Bear Kids Recordings ]
Shampoo’s debut LP is just as jaw-droppingly luxurious as everyone (read: me) expected. The 10-track record is a showcase of sensitive and sexy music that transports the listener to a twilight dance floor. It’s easy to think of day-glo hooks and vintage beats when considering the trio’s aesthetic, but Terrible Heat almost feels like an exhibition of the more delicate, under-appreciated elements of the band, especially Catherine Quesenberry’s celestial vocals and subtle synth work. – RR
[ Full Review ]
More Info
Bandcamp: shampoo.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @shampooatl
SoundCloud: @burthday-pony