In this week’s New Records Round Up, we bring you teasers for 10 recently announced albums and EPs.
Boys From Heaven – The Wanderer
Credit: Mads Noye
Boys From Heaven will release new album The Wanderer on May 22 through Frontiers.
The band said: “Recording the last record ourselves and having Erik Martensson take care of mixing and mastering was a winning combination, so we had no doubt that we wanted to do the same thing with The Wanderer.
“With the new album we’ve leaned even harder into that 1980’s synthesizer-driven power rock sound, and our fans can definitely look forward to an album which is high-energy right from the first chord is struck, all the way to when the last note has rung out.
“We can’t wait to share it with you all!”
Tracklist:
I’ll Wait
Hotline
Hold Your Heart
Street Life
Say Goodbye
How Long
Eileen
I Will Never Let You Down
Time Is On Our Side
Till The Bitter End
Chief State – Keep Your Friends Closer
Credit: Brandynn Leigh
Chief State will release new album Keep Your Friends Closer on April 17 through Mutant League Records.
The band said: “The album that very nearly didn’t happen! In 2023/24 we embarked on a game of musical chairs with band members. Such is life, friends move on and pursue other projects or choose to focus on a long neglected career. When Joe and I were the last two standing we were faced with the prospect of continuing or calling it a day, we did the one thing we know – wrote a song.
“All it takes is one song to get excited again, to convince your longest friend to rejoin, to persuade excellent musicians to join. Keep Your Friends Closer is the amalgamation of 10 years of grit and determination, it’s about getting back up when you’re knocked down, it’s the pursuit of a dream, it’s us, it’s Chief State. The album explores friendship, hardship, betrayal, love, anger, isolation – life.
“The fundamental lesson being that we should keep our loved ones closer, not just relate on the surface level but learn all there is to know about those we choose to spend time with. Letting true colours show, for better or for worse in the short term, will always be for the better in the long run. The writing process felt natural and effortless, crafting as true friends and brothers.
“When recording with our long term producer Tim Creviston, it felt like we were witnessing the full potential of Chief State coming together. Keep Your Friends Closer is our most authentic work to date, our most collaborative work to date and our best work to date! The album that very nearly didn’t happen, did happen and we can’t wait to share it with you.”-
Jared James Nichols – Louder Than Fate
Credit: Eric Ahlgrim
Jared James Nichols will release new album Louder Than Fate on June 5 through Frontiers.
Jared said: “I’m beyond excited for this record. I’ve been counting down the days until its release like it’s a personal holiday. If the singles are any hint for you, there are plenty of riffs ripping through the speakers like a buzz saw. But going deeper into the record, there are tons of different emotions and sounds that I have yet to explore as a singer/songwriter. I am personally thrilled to share different shades of myself on this record, giving so much more depth and insight to the listener. Get ready for ‘Louder than Fate’. “
Tracklist:
Let’s Go
Ghost
Way Back
Bending Or Breaking
Killing Time *
Dust N’ Bones
Show Me *
Looks Like That Felt Good *
Runnin’ Hot
Pretend
Mothica – Somewhere in Between
Mothica will release new EP Somewhere in Between on February 20 through SharpTone Records.
McKenzie Ellis, the brains behind Mothica, said: “Like a moth to a flame, I’ve been attracted to drugs, alcohol, and self-destruction.
“As Mothica grows, I’ve asked, ‘How can I make the darkness I’m attracted to be positive and utilize it as a vessel for sharing my story?’ It’s hard not to get lost in the dark sides of life and the music industry; it’s easy to compare yourself to others and feel ‘not good enough,’ but I’ve decided to take everything I’ve been through and to use it in order to inspire.
“I made the terrifying decision to cancel my first-ever headline tour and went to rehab.
“A lot of intense emotions I had been numbing came up. I thought about quitting music because the anxieties around traveling and the industry is what lead me back to substance abuse. I was mad at myself for letting it go that far. Finally, I thought, ‘Why don’t I channel these feelings into some angry music?’ I’ve always wanted to combine pop songwriting with grittier, heavier guitars.
“Due to my depression and being a recovering addict, I’m so ‘all or nothing.’ Everything seems fatalistic to me.
“How do I exist in the middle? While making the EP, I had just gotten out of rehab, and I was able to be vulnerable. A lot of the words were initially written as poetry on my phone, and the lyrics are the most vulnerable and poetic I’ve ever written. I’m dealing with my struggle to get sober again, my first major breakup, and other significant life events. For so long, I had been numbing out my emotions. I was finally able to process them, and it was freeing.”
Tracklist:
WEAPON
BULLET
Somewhere In Between
SILO – Haze
Credit: David Lovelady
SILO will release debut album Haze on May 1 through Easy Life Records.
Tracklist:
Static Screen
Spin
Crawl In A Bottle
Ill Intent
Split My Mind
Forget It
What’s Left Of Me
Low Sun
Jaw Wire
Bai Lan
Imposter
Lucid
Times Change
Marc Valentine – Uncommon Side Effects
Marc Valentine will release new album Uncommon Side Effects on April 10 through Wicked Cool Records.
Held. – Grey
Credit: Nick Karp
Held. will release debut album Grey on May 15 through MNRK Heavy!
Tracklist:
DEFENDING THE EARTH
NEW YOU ANTHEM (FT. FRANK IERO)
CONSTANT TENSION
KNIFEPOINT (FT. HIGH VIS)
WAVES OF FIRE
GREY
I AND I AGAINST YOU ALL
THROUGH THE CRACKS
BROKEN SPACESUIT (DECAY AND SAND)
EMPTINESS: A SIDE EFFECT
Nervosa – Slave Machine
Credit: Akis Zaralis
Nervosa will release new album Slave Machine on April 3 through Napalm Records.
Tracklist:
Impending Doom
Ghost Notes
Beast Of Burden
You Are Not A Hero
Hate
The New Empire
30 Seconds
Crawling For Your Pride
Learn Or Repeat
The Call
Speak In Fire
Bodysnatcher – Hell is Here, Hell is Home
Credit: Alyssa Moreau
Bodysnatcher will release new album Hell is Here, Hell is Home on April 10 through MNRK Heavy.
The band said: “We’re extremely excited to finally start sharing this album with everyone. We think it’s the bands strongest work. We finally accomplished the sound we’ve been aiming for from the start.”
Tracklist:
The Maker
Writhe And Coil
Plague Of Flies
May Your Memory Rot
Violent Obsession
No Savior
Blade Between The Teeth
Two Empty Caskets
Survive Or Die
Hell Is Home
Love Rarely – Pain Travels
Love Rarely will release new album Pain Travels on April 10 through Big Scary Monsters.
“Pain Travels takes you on a journey of attempting to cope with life when you might not have been dealt the best hand,” guitarist Dan Dewsnap explains.
“It ended up being a deeper and darker record than we initially thought it would be, but that speaks to the authenticity on show. There’s a lot of positivity too. We’re basically saying things have been tough, but it’s going to be okay.
“We all create best on our own and then it all comes together. I don’t think we’ll ever be a ‘write in the practice room together’ band. We’re all too fussy and particular I think. The process was challenging, it’s not necessarily normal to have to worry about whether the kids playing in the street are in the latest vocal take.
“Lew has an amazing setup but Courtney and I have very basic recording equipment which comes with its own challenges. We spent a long time in our spare room which we have decided we’re not going in now for a long time. It’s getting cobwebs and gathering dust. Until the next.”
