Coming off the traumatic year we just had, it’s hard to simply wipe the slate clean. But sometimes letting go of the past is the only way towards progress. Yes, local music remains on a calamitous precipice and we’ve lost too much (R.I.P. Mammal Gallery, Music Room, Caledonia Lounge, Sound Table, and more), but with the passage of the much-needed Save Our Stages Act and the vaccine rollout underway, relief appears to be on the horizon for an industry decimated by the pandemic. Still, let’s not kid ourselves; it’s going to be a long, difficult road forward.
For the moment, however, let’s set aside any grand designs and focus on what’s in front of us. Judging from all the Bandcamp alerts and promo emails popping into our inbox lately, I’d say local artists are eager to break out of isolation and connect with their communities again. To that end, Immersive Atlanta is excited to continue our TRIPLE THREAT feature. While the premise has always been simple—a spotlight on three new songs that have captivated our attention—over the years it’s helped guide our coverage and keep tabs on the local scene. We hope it’s helped you keep up, too. So here you go: Three tracks that topped our local playlist this week. Press play and enjoy. – Guillermo Castro
Predator – “Never Anything Before”
From the upcoming Spiral Unfolds LP
Predator are back with a new offering from Total Punk, their home label of the past few years. The surprise release is the band’s first since 2018, and serves as a teaser for their upcoming LP, Spiral Unfolds. Despite the brevity of the two songs, however, Predator find new ways to deconstruct typical rock structures as they draw the listener into the malaise of existence. The A-side, “Never Anything Before,” finds Brannon Greene slowing down his acerbic vocals in favor of a slower, halting style which accentuates the darkness of the track. The winding 3 minutes affords the group ample time to let the drip drip drip of biting hooks corrode their way into even the healthiest human mind. While misanthropic as anything the band has ever written, the pacing finds the punk crew closer to Wipers’ college rock territory than their typical skate-adjacent punk output as they plummet headfirst into the dissociative abyss. – Russell Rockwell
Spiral Unfolds will be out this spring via Total Punk.
More Info
Bandcamp: predatoratl.bandcamp.com
Sarah Rae – “Dancing Sun”
From the standalone single
The new single from Sarah Rae pulses and glows with refracted rays of light. Flush with shimmering guitars and airy textures, the track glides through the stratosphere with a kind of sun-kissed persistence; the longer you listen, the more its enveloping warmth sinks into your bones. According to a note on Bandcamp, the song was written “to promote a state of euphoria and acceptance,” and you can sense that yearning for bliss in each undulating dream-pop groove that Rae unfurls. Meanwhile, murky, muted vocals float beneath the surface, the aural equivalent of a fading photograph surrendering its once sharp features. Sparkling and pink-hued, “Dancing Sun” is, above all, a mood, a resplendent reminder that this life is all we have and dancing is always an option. – Avery Shepherd
More Info
Web: sarahraesings.com
Bandcamp: sarahraesings.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @sarahraesings
Instagram: @sarahraesmiles
Twitter: @sarahraesmiles
The MLTYS – “Valley of the Shadow”
From the standalone single
Formerly known as Satisfiers of Alpha Blue, psych-rock trio the MLTYS have resurfaced as a more ambitious and mercurial group. The band’s latest single retains their allegiance to mind-bending guitars and sprawling structures while interjecting sharper hooks and distinctly Western vibes. Come to think of it, the cover art is spot-on: a dab of open-range splendor, a splash of cinematic nostalgia, and a whole lot of cosmic exploration. The mix of meandering melodies and spoken word narration place the listener in the center of the action like a riveting yarn told over a roaring campfire. So slip on your spurs and saddle up, the “Valley of the Shadow” is calling and it’s going to be a long ride home. – GC
More Info
Web: themltys.com
Bandcamp: themltys.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @theMLTYS
Instagram: @mltys_atl
SoundCloud: @themltys