It’s been a few years since Kyle Andrews has released anything new but I have a sneaking suspicion that there are new things afoot in his camp. Not only did he recently play a show with Pale Houses but he’s started to post his back catalog of albums over on his Bandcamp.

So, while anticipation brews for something new emerging from him, take a moment to revisit some of those previous records, such as Robot Learn Love, a record that manages to mash big guitars and small accents perfectly. For instance, the first track “Make Me Feel Human”, explodes with guitars but treats you with the most perfect twinkling keyboard. It’s a combination that Andrews pulls off with great aplomb throughout the duration of the record.

Consider this a public service announcement, just because it wasn’t released in 2018, doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable listen.

We posted about the last Makeup and Vanity Set EP, PRIS, fairly recently but it’s worth pointing out that he’s already released a follow-up that continues to world build on the previous. If you’re a sci-fi fan, the name Pris should ring a bell as a reference to Pris Stratton from Blade Runner. The prior EP is, thematically, built around a musical ideology geared towards that character.

With Run, MAVS is shifting his gaze to Zhora Salome, another replicant from the Blade Runner world. Musically, it’s a far cry from PRIS and much of the rest of the synthwave style catalog he’s known for. While it’s true that he’s keeping with a familiar subject matter within the genre, he’s stretching way outside of the standard sounds and styles. Speaking on an emotional level, the overtly doom-and-gloom vibe has been exchanged for something more mysterious.

I suspect there may be more of these releases coming in the future and I hope they continue to explore new territory.

Cookeville’s Pumpkinseed is closing in fast on the release of their third full-length album, Big Believin’ Sky, and have posted two tracks to tease you to the full offering. The latest is “Dumbass Day“, a gently rolling track that builds into a cathartic release with plenty of horns, piano and the occasional yelp. Lyrically, it’s a straightforward tale with plenty of vulnerability, an undertaking many artists tend to shy away from.

If you want to hear more, give “Victoria” a whirl. It’s a bit more straight ahead in its upbeat appeal and confirms Pumpkinseed has more than one trick up their sleeve.

While the entire experience won’t be available until July 13th of 2018, the new full-length record from Murfreesboro’s metal outfit Oubilette can be previewed over on their Bandcamp, complete with snippets of each song and a deep dive into the closing (and titular) track, “The Passage.”

The six-minute track is a cathartic release of screamed and growled vocals mixed with hammering drums and some pleasantly intricate guitar work. It’s definitely metal but it’s not trying to murder you. I’m likely in the minority on this but I find it somewhat calming to be enveloped in a wall of sound and guttural vocal explosions. They exude a confidence in their execution that is refreshing. Looking forward to the full record when it comes out mid-July.

Looking for some thick riffs to keep your Tuesday going? Look no further than the new batch of free songs up on the Hurts to Laugh Bandcamp in the form of the Ninteen Eighty More EP. The three songs were recorded over at County Q Productions with Mike Purcell and feature a “roomier” recording style for the band and more political lyrics.

Honestly, I’ve always felt like Hurts to Laugh succeeded most when it leaned more politically. Even their name, Hurts to Laugh, is an knowing nod towards the pains of political laugh. This may indicate a new era for the band wherein they are more open to comment on the world around us.

One way to verify that theory is to check them out at their upcoming June residency at The Springwater where they will be playing every Thursday. Look to see them with Sheep Shifter, Dead Deads and Gimme the Bad News.

With a title like “When David Bowie Passed Away”, you’d think you were in for a forelorn ballad about the passing of the Earth’s finest Starman but Commander Keen‘s latest isn’t about delivering on expectations. This burst of a song – clocking in at 1:15 – is an outburst of manic energy shouting at the travesty’s of the world. It has all the markings of a punk song but, again, Keen is defining expectations here by delivering a wall of affected guitars and doubled-up vocals that, magically, maintain a harmonious quality without losing a moment of bile.

Commander Keen will release their full-length Dying in the South on July 4th and, if this track is any indication, it’s going to be a rousing good time.

Quichenight, aka Brett Rosenberg, will be releasing their sixth official full-length album (not counting lost albums, EP’s and mixtapes) Cooler Heads on June 1st, 2018. In lead up to that unveiling, he teamed up with Helen Gilley – of Butthole – to create a wonderfully absurd Ode to the Road, or, rather, an ode to leaving the road.

It may be a forelorn love song at the core but the video injects it into green screen madness, ridiculous special effects and delightfully absurd stock footage insertions. Watching Rosenberg and video companion Ellen Pelerossi (also of Butthole) force pizza into each others faces while emoji’s and neon signs swirl around is an undeniable treat.

Cooler Heads is out June 1st on all the streaming networks and vinyl. There’s a listening party tonight, May 31st, at the Bowery Vault to hear the record a tiny bit early.