I feel like 2016 has been a little odd in that we’ve had some weeks where releases have been stacked on top of one another and others that have been relatively empty. On a couple of occasions I’ve talked about remembering specific dates as being particularly critical to the local music narrative, and there have been times where our staff has had to scramble and stretch ourselves thing in order to cover everything we’ve wanted.
But if January through April were jagged graphs with high peaks and low valleys, May is a smooth gradual curve. There are releases sprinkled throughout the month and, strangely enough, there is only a single day — at least for now — where multiple releases overlap. This isn’t to say that we’ve approached some kind of lull. On the contrary, looking at what’s ahead of us, May is full of both heavyweight releases and promising debuts, with first efforts from Brother Mary and Man Up, Yancey landing high on our list.
If I had to pick some other highlights to listen for, I would have to begin with the Sub Pop Records debut of Arbor Labor Union. It’s not often one of our own gets picked up by one of the indie powerhouses, so I’m really excited to see what the band make of this opportunity. Elsewhere, we have the long-awaited new LP from Brother Hawk, who’s upcoming record will consist largely of re-recorded versions of previously released songs. If that sounds disappointing or anti-climatic, I can assure you Big Medicine will very much worth the long wait.
Speaking of long waits, it’s been six years since Withered pummeled us with a new music, but finally the death metal destroyers have emerged from the darkness and they’ve brought a new lineup and record to go with their brutal assortment of punishing riffs. Grief Relic drops May 27 via Season of Mist, just a few days ahead of Heavy Petting, the forthcoming LP from glam punk outfit StarBenders. The Atlanta foursome’s sharp rise has been intriguing to watch, and their new LP carries all the weight of a potential breakthrough release.
For more in-depth analysis of this month’s upcoming releases, check out my recent discussion with producer Myke Johns on WABE.
Dead Neighbors – Pity Party Presents: Dead Neighbors
Release Date: May 2
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Recorded in a single day at the Pity Party in Athens, the new single from high-energy indie rockers Dead Neighbors appeared on their Bandcamp page early this morning.
Tracklist
01. Longeviy
02. Indifference
More Info
Bandcamp: deadneighbors.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @DeadNeighbors
Universal Sigh – Atoms & Void
Release Date: May 3
Label: Self-released
Tracklist
01. If Time Allows
02. Hopsecutioner
03. Golden Lotus
04. Partials
05. Atoms & Void
06. Marcus Mayhem
07. Just Peachy
08. Threshold
Universal Sigh will celebrate the release of Atoms & Void on Friday, May 6 at Nowhere Bar. Supporting them will be Nifty Earth. Doors open at 10 p.m. $5 gets you in.
More Info
Web: universalsighmusic.com
Bandcamp: universalsigh.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @universalsighmusic
SoundCloud: @universalsigh
Hyperspace – Delusions of Grandeur
Release Date: May 4
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Self-described geek rock band Hyperspace will bring their raucous mix of slacker rock and pop-punk to their upcoming full length, Delusions of Grandeur. The 13-track effort will be available on May 4.
Tracklist
01. Darth Vader
02. Screeching Weasel
03. The Borg
04. Chewbacca
05. Barbara Gordon
06. Goonies
07. Paula Abdul
08. Untitled
09. Rave Girl
10. Avril Lavigne
11. Carrie Fisher
12. Episode 7
13. School
Hyperspace will perform on Tuesday, May 17 when they play in support of the Stoplight Roses and Banana Blonde at Smith’s Olde Bar. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $8.
More Info
Web: hyperspaceband.com
Bandcamp: hyperspaceband.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @hyperspaceband
Instagram: @hyperspaceband
SoundCloud: @/hyperspaceband
Twitter: @hyperspaceband
Brother Mary – Immolate!
Release Date: May 6
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Songwriter Ivano Milo, aka Brother Mary, crafts lush, dreamy electropop that manages to pack significant depth and detail in a minimalist package. His debut EP, Immolate!, is out May 6.
Tracklist
01. Mescaline
02. Ashes
03. Spencer’s Birthday
04. Kintsugi
05. Silhouettes
Brother Mary will celebrate the release of Immolate! on Friday, May 6 at 818 Virgil Street in Atlanta. Supporting him will be French Mistake, New Money, and Jarrod Milton. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is FREE.
More Info
Facebook: @brothermary
SoundCloud: @brother-mary
Dead Register – Fiber
Release Date: May 6
Label: AVR Records
Release Info
Gothic metal trio Dead Register’s three-song demo, TRVNS BLVK, turned a lot of heads in Atlanta and now they are looking to follow up that success with their first official EP, Fiber. The six-song effort will be available on cassette, CD, and digital on May 6.
Tracklist
01. Alone
02. Fiber
03. Drawing Room
04. Grave
05. Entwined
06. Incendiary
Dead Register will celebrate the release of Fiber on Saturday, May 7 at the EARL. Supporting them will be Pleasures (FL) and Spirits and the Melchizedek Children. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8.
More Info
Bandcamp: deadregister.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @deadregister
Wieuca – “Canadaian Tuxedo”
Release Date: May 12
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Athens rockers Wieuca can be tough to pin down as they can shift from effervescent indie pop to more exploratory pysch rock without skipping beat. Their upcoming single, “Canadian Tuxedo,” is out May 12.
Tracklist
01. Canadian Tuxedo
More Info
Web: wieucamusic.com
Bandcamp: wieuca.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @wieucaband
Instagram: @wieucaath
Twitter: @wieucaath
Arbor Labor Union – I Hear You
Release Date: May 13
Label: Sub Pop Records
Release Info
Formerly known as Pinecones, Arbor Labor Union captured the attention of indie heavyweight Sub Pop by crafting hard-charging psych jams that tie into the grimy early late ’80s/early ’90s alt-rock that made the label famous. The band’s Sub Pop debut, I Hear You, is out May 13.
Tracklist
01. Mr. Birdsong
02. Hello Transmission
03. Radiant Mountain Road
04. I Am You
05. Volume Peaks
06. Babel
07. Belief’d
08. Silent Oath
09. IHU
More Info
Bandcamp: arborlaborunion.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @Arbor-Labor-Union-1656683511216436
Instagram: @arborlaborunion
Twitter: @ArborLaborUnion
Man Up, Yancey – Blue Fuzz
Release Date: May 14
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Atlanta’s Man Up, Yancey have built a considerable audience through their sincere songwriting and tireless work ethic. The group’s long-awaited debut, Blue Fuzz, drops May 14.
Tracklist
01. Bestfriend
02. Limestone.
03. Opinion
04. Oversensitive
Man Up, Yancey will celebrate the release of Blue Fuzz on Saturday, May 14 when they play as part of Flaky Niece 2 at the Drunken Unicorn alongside Slang, Sea Ghost, Yani Mo, Femignome, and Mad Ace. Doors open at 8 p.m. Donations of $5-10 are strongly encouraged.
More Info
Bandcamp: manup-yancey.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @manupyancey
Instagram: @manupyancey
SoundCloud: @man-up-yancey
Twitter: @manupyancey
Warm Deltas – Rex Virginem
Release Date: May 20
Label: Psych Army Intergalactic
Release Info
Warm Deltas is the solo project of the N.E.C. mastermind Cyrus Shahmir who is prepping the release of his third EP, Rex Virginem. The five-song effort will be available on cassette and digital on May 20 via Psych Army Intergalactic.
Tracklist
01. Labyrinth Man
02. Hiding
03. Paranomal After Birth
04. The Shamans Say
05. M.agno S.ilentio F.acto
More Info
Bandcamp: warmdeltas.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @warmdeltas
Little Rituals – Little Rituals
Release Date: May 22
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Recorded over two days at Sun Pavilion Studios in Bloomington, Indiana and mastered at Chase Park Transduction in Athens, the self-titled debut from psychedelic alt-country outfit Little Rituals is out May 22.
Tracklist
01. Speaking Spanish In Brazil
02. County Line
03. How It Started
04. Bug’s Lullaby
05. Patterns
06. Reality
More Info
Bandcamp: littlerituals.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @littleritualsband
SoundCloud: @littleritualsmusic
The Howling Tongues – Boo Hiss
Release Date: May 24
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Rock and roll lifers the Howling Tongues are preparing the release of their third record, Boo Hiss. The nine-track effort will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital on May 24.
Tracklist
01. Raw Power in a Red Dress
02. The Shakes
03. Vivian
04. Alone
05. Belladonna
06. Greatest Lover Around
07. Crooked Eyes
08. Space
09. S.O.S.
The Howling Tongues will celebrate the release of Boo Hiss on Friday, May 20 at Vinyl. Supporting them will be Mansell and Righteous Love. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 DOS.
More Info
Web: thehowlingtongues.com
Facebook: @TheHowlingTongues
Instagram: @howlingtongues
SoundCloud: @the-howling-tongues
Twitter: @howlingtongues
Withered – Grief Relic
Release Date: May 27
Label: Season of Mist
Release Info
Led by guitarist and vocalist Mike Thompson, blackened death metal destroyers Withered return from a six-year hiatus with a revamped lineup and a ferocious new album. Grief Relic will be available on vinyl, CD, and digital on May 27 via Season of Mist.
Tracklist
01. Leathery Rind
02. A Realm of Suffering
03. Withdraw
04. Feeble Gasp
05. Husk
06. Downward
07. Distort, Engulf
08. To Glimpse Godliness
More Info
Web: withered.net
Bandcamp: withered.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @witheredmetal
Twitter: @witheredmetal
Brother Hawk – Big Medicine
Release Date: May 28
Label: Self-released
Release Info
Brother Hawk’s rugged alt-blues and fiery rock and roll has been winning over audiences for years. Their long-awaited new LP, Big Medicine, will be available on CD and digital on May 28.
Tracklist
01. Have Love Will Travel
02. Half Empty
03. At Long Last
04. Midnight in Tifton
05. Big Medicine
06. No Room to Rust
07. L5P
08. Ghosts
09. Haywood Heartache
10. Scarlett
Brother Hawk will celebrate the release of Big Medicine on Saturday, May 28 at the EARL. Playing in support are StoneRider, who also celebrate the release of their new LP, Hologram. Athens rocker Tedo Stone opens the show. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 DOS.
More Info:
Web: brotherhawkatl.com
Bandcamp: brotherhawk.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @BrotherHawkATL
Instagram: @brotherhawkatl
Twitter: @BrotherHawkATL
StarBenders – Heavy Petting
Release Date: May 31
Label: Institution Records
Release Info
Atlanta four-piece StarBenders have been causing major waves with their stylish, androgynous glam punk. The group’s highly anticipated new LP, Heavy Petting, is out May 31 on vinyl, CD, and digital.
Tracklist
01. Blood
02. Detroit
03. Downtown
04. Time Stops
05. Public Transit
06. Brake
07. Powder
08. Paper Beats Rock
09. Diet Soda
10. U Like Me Now
More Info
Web: starbenders.band
Facebook: @starbenders
SoundCloud: @StarBenders
Twitter: @STARBENDERS
10th Letter – Escape From ATL
Release Date: TBD
Label: Self-released
Release Info
One of Atlanta’s most prodigious and forward-thinking artist and producers, Jeremi Johnson, aka 10th Letter, will release his latest collection of mind-expanding soundscapes sometime this month. Entitled Escape From ATL, the upcoming record is still without a tracklist or official release date.
More Info
Web: 10thlettermusic.com
Bandcamp: 10thletter.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @10thLetterMusic
SoundCloud: @10th-letter
Twitter: @10thxletter