Blood Menace – “Texas A&M”
Jake Yencik, former bassist of local screamo legends Shin Guard (and former vocalist of Shin Guard’s heavier offshoot, Hazing Over), now records solo as the more experimental Blood Menace. “Texas A&M,” a deathcore-adjacent track from Blood Menace’s new self-titled release, claws at itself while digital boils break out across its flesh, threatening to degrade its very fabric into a sizzling pile of goop.
Black Moth Super Rainbow – “The Dripping Royalty”
A blurry, psychedelic love song that sounds like something the Pied Piper would make if he were to be resurrected as an ice cream truck. A highlight from the beloved synth oddballs’ eighth full-length album, Soft New Magic Dream, which will be supported by a show at Spirit (assisted by electro outfit Good Sport and eco-folkies Vireo) on Thursday, August 7th .
Coke Belda – “Starstruck”
Originally hailing from Valencia, Spain, Coke Belda is a man in search of the perfect power-pop song. He’s honed his craft over the course of decades, and recently released his eighth solo album, C8ke. “Starstruck” is a ray of retro sunshine, full of twinkling guitars and swooning melodies; listen and watch the world around you transform into heart-eyed animation.
eyewash – “Clouds of Sils Maria”
Elevated anguish, turbocharged by thrumming synths and adrenaline-shot drums, that simultaneously chugs and soars. One of three tracks from the heavy shoegaze band’s Dividing Line EP, the latest in a string of strong releases dating back to 2023. They recently signed with Ohio label The Caller Is In The House, so expect more to come.
Jack Swing – “Give It To You”
The first follow-up single to the band’s excellent January debut LP, Like Water, is a slice of sweaty space cadet funk that makes far-flung locales like the moon and the stars sound as sultry as a candlelit bedroom. Hear it live at the newly reopening Club Café on Friday, July 18th, when Jack Swing (along with producer pvkvsv) open for Warren Commission’s EP release show.
Colatura – “Every Time I Think About You (It’s About Me)”
Thoughtful self-interrogation that picks up steam as it goes, building from quiet strum to cathartic sing-along; it’s the third single released in advance of the Brooklyn-to-Pittsburgh transplants’ upcoming August EP, If I’m Being Honest. They’ll be opening for Los Angeles’ Blondshell on Friday, November 21st at Mr. Smalls.
THAT LIKE THIS – “Passenger Watching Silhouette”
THAT LIKE THIS, an improvised music collective featuring members of such esteemed experimental acts as Watererer, How Things Are Made, Skeletonized, and prepare thyself, released its debut, This is the Grip, in mid-June. The closer is a sixteen-minute improvisational piece that evokes images of a thatch-roofed jazz club populated by aliens.
Century III – “Bloomfield Beach”
Ecstatic, sky-scraping harmonies buoy the garage/surf quartet’s third single of the year, a Motown-y ode to long days and chlorine-burned eyes. Catch the band At the Northside Musical Festival on Friday, July 18th at Allegheny City Brewing stage.
