Mutual Jerk
Since releasing a demo cassette in 2015, Mutual Jerk have thrown all their energy into ferocious live shows. The four-piece is a mix of scene veterans Bobby Michaud (Uniform, Wymyns Prysyn) and Rob Sarabia (Strategic Warheads), as well as newcomers Sam Camirand and Tyler Roberts. Between side-stepping expectations and excoriating social hierarchy, the band has morphed into one of Atlanta’s more consistent punk outfits. The band has plans to play out with Art School Jocks and Arbor Labor Union at some point in the coming year, but before hitting the road, Mutual Jerk will release a three-song 7″ on State Laughter. According to Michaud, the new record is like “Heather meets Rugrats, all while listening to the more annoying Saccharine Trust songs. Adult punk by and for shitty babies.” – RR
More Info
Bandcamp: mutualjerk.bandcamp.com
NAARC
If it seems presumptuous to include a group who has yet to release any music or even perform live on this list, at least consider some of logic behind the decision. Both Michael Patrick Keenan Jr. (Hawks) and Matt McCalvin (Zoners, Paralyzer, Saint Pé) have a long track record of quality output, and Ian Cone’s skills as an experimental noise composer only adds further intrigue behind the project. So what exactly is NAARC? They’re likely best filed under some subset of industrial and noise, or as they like to call it “unconscionable industrial-disco.” Abrasive dance beats. Semi-tuneful synths. Guitars that writhe and churn. You get the picture. Their debut LP, LOAM, is a dual cassette release that offers up a staggering 1 hour and 14 minutes of music including a 4-song noise collage that makes up the entirety of the second tape. Fair warning: If you’re searching for melody and structure, you should probably look elsewhere. – AS
More Info
Bandcamp: naarc.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @NAARCNOISE
Art by Quinn Edgar and Jasmine Casimir
Nag
Nag’s entrance to the Atlanta punk scene was largely unheralded despite a savage debut EP released last May. Yet if the cassette flew under the radar, there was no way to ignore the trio’s frequent live shows (it almost felt like the band played a show every weekend of 2016). Though the group began as the mind-sick brainchild of Brannon Greene (Predator, GHB), the trio’s collaborative energy is embodied by Ryan Fetter’s intricate, yet melodic drumming. If the genius of Nag lies in the complexity of their most abrupt tracks, it’s compounded by a marauding energy which seeps through their angular excursions. The band has a busy year ahead of them, beginning with the release of a 7″ on Total Punk in February and another 7″ this spring on Pelican Wow Wow Records. As if that wasn’t enough, the band will drop another 7″ later in the year on Chunklet. Additionally, Nag will tour the Midwest with Rubbermate this summer, and despite the overload, they plan to finish writing an LP by the end of the year. – RR
More Info
Bandcamp: werenag.bandcamp.com
Newark Wilder
If we think back to this time a year ago, Newark Wilder seemed destined to be included among the numerous punks and abrasive artists we’re heralding today. The brainchild of songwriter Benjamin Kinzer, the band’s debut LP, Vanessa Atalanta, took its cues from the likes of Can and early Interpol, utilizing gnarled guitars, propulsive rhythms, and new wave cool to create songs that were both catchy and visceral. But as we head into the new year and the group begin promoting their upcoming sophomore LP, A Winter and Spring, it’s clear Kinzer and company have done something of an about face. Their recent single “Concert By the Sea,” reveals a songwriter and group far less interested in guitar-driven riffs and rhythms, and more concerned with ambient beats, electronic textures, and deep grooves. It’s a startling transformation, but one that Newark Wilder pull off convincingly. Look for A Winter and Spring to hit the internet on March 17. -GC
More Info
Bandcamp: newarkwilder.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @newarkwildermusic
Instagram: @newark_wilder
Nihilist Cheerleader
The Immersive team has been singing the praises of Nihilist Cheerleader since their first single, but the Athens band continues to impress with each new release. Though the group wears their Riot grrrl influence on their sleeve, the foursome’s focused attacks on gender roles and misogyny still hit hard in 2017. Their 2016 EP Truth or Dare proved the band’s musical abilities outstripped those of most young punks, but apart from a few shows throughout the Southeast, the four-piece was quiet the rest of the year. Nihilist Cheerleader has big plans for 2017, however. Although there isn’t a specific release date yet, the band will drop their long-awaited LP, Riot, Right?, in early spring, followed by a tour throughout the East Coast. -RR
More Info
Bandcamp: nihilistcheerleader.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @NihilistCheerleader