Rock & Indie 139 Items

Osamu Okuno's first album "Osamu Okuno", which was independently produced by Himico Record in 1972 in a limited edition of 100 copies, is now available on LP for the first time in 52 years, cut from 6mm open tapes owned by Mr.Okuno! This album vividly captures the impact of cutting-edge and unique alternative rock unique to Kyoto in the early 70's. It was released on CD in 2000, and was hailed around the world as a masterpiece of psychedelic folk music.

1973 Meeting OF Santana AND John Mclaughlin Yields Spiritual Transcendence: Love Devotion Surrender IS Inspired BY John Coltrane AND A Quest FOR Enlightenment

Sourced from the Original Master Tapes: Tones, Textures, and Notes Float Amid a Large, Open Soundstage on Mobile Fidelity's Numbered-Edition 180g LP 1/4" / 15 IPS analogue master to DSD 64 to analogue console to lathe Two guitar giants. A band comprised of virtuosic instrumentalists. One shared goal. And one tremendous album. The only meeting of Santana and John McLaughlin on record, Love Devotion Surrender more than lives up to the promise offered by its principal creators. Based in divine faith, religious toleration, meditative intent, and the forward-thinking philosophy that music can take us closer to the truth, it is a spiritual journey. These enlightening concepts are reflected in the inspired playing of Santana and McLaughlin, who repeatedly hit a higher plane on this 1973 set.

Sourced from the original analogue master tapes and pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180g LP of Love Devotion Surrender benefits from the reissue label’s painstaking engineering efforts. The windows on the record’s give-and-take passages, sustained notes, and varied textures are thrown open with palpable transparency and detail. Laden with delicate acoustic touches and gentle piano touches, as well as powerful staccato bursts and fast-paced percussion, Love Devotion Surrender contains a dynamic mix of tempos, tones, and contrasts crucial to its optimal enjoyment. This collectible edition brings those aspects to the fore with extraordinary realism.

In addition, the pinpoint imaging — Santana primarily on the left, McLaughlin on the right — invites you to picture the musicians in the act. You’ll sense a newfound freedom and naturalism to the playback, as well as black backgrounds and an openness that allow the widespread array of textures, atmospherics, echoes, and neo-psychedelic shapes to float in the air. Call it jamming guided by a higher power or surreal art brought together by time, circumstance, and purpose; there really is no other album completely like it.

Having each become a follower of Indian guru Sri Chinmoy, who wrote the album’s extensive liner-note essay and is seen in several jacket photos, Santana and McLaughlin began playing together in 1972. Both legends found themselves in the midst of personal and creative transition. Santana was moving away from rock-based songs in favour of exploratory jazz-rock. A contemporary of Miles Davis, McLaughlin had already achieved fame with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, then on the brink of collapse due to internal disagreements.

On Love Devotion Surrender, the duo pools its interests in discovery and transcendence into gorgeous music steeped in improvisational lines, ecstatic chords, and sensitive organ accompaniment courtesy of the record’s best-kept secret, Larry Young. The former Blue Note recording artist had already connected with McLaughlin in the Tony Williams Lifeline, which began as a power trio and turned jazz on its head with its groundbreaking 1969 debut. Young’s ear for melody and fearless penchant for chasing down adventurous fusion leads — not to mention keeping pace with the headliners, no small feat — make him an ideal foil for the proto post-rock happening throughout.

Credited under his Muslim name, Khalid Yasin, Young isn’t the only standout. Several Santana contemporaries — bassist Doug Rauch, drummers Mike Shrieve and Billy Cobham, percussionists Mingo Lewis and Armando Peraza — play alongside Mahavishnu Orchestra member Jan Hammer and Tony Williams Lifeline drummer Don Alias, who already had credits on Davis’ seminal Bitches Brew and On the Corner. Complemented by Santana and McLaughlin, the ensemble sounds and feels unstoppable. In addition to the band’s search for sacred soulfulness, the common denominator throughout is John Coltrane, who engaged in similar pursuits during the 1960s. Two of the five compositions — “A Love Supreme,” “Naima” — are interpretations of Coltrane standards while the lynchpin, a nearly 16-minute investigation into the traditional “Let Us Go Into the House of the Lord,” integrates free-form structure, jazz phrasing, gospel mysticism, cross-cut dynamics, and tonal shaping into one of the most uplifting pieces of music you’ll ever hear. The same can be said for the entirety of Love Devotion Surrender. Bow down.

After the release of their world debut Catch A Fire, Bob Marley & The Wailers would embark on a U.S. tour supporting the legendary Sly And The Family Stone. Yet after five dates, they were fired from the tour, supposedly for upstaging the main acts! Left with no money and nowhere to go, they performed one legendary show at San Francisco's The Matrix! These recordings, taken from a studio session before their legendary performance, find Bob Marley and The Wailers at their best. Featuring the classic lineup of Bob Marley (vo/gt.), Peter Tosh (vo/gt), Joe Higgs (per.), Earl Lindo (pf.), Family Man Barrett (b.), and Carlton Barrett (ds.), the Wailers are imbued with the kind of Rock and Roll energy that could only come from outshining Sly Stone! Even sweet rocksteady ballads such as “Stir It Up” take on the form of a rock and roll anthem in this session. Discovered and released on CD by P-vine in 2005, these mythical studio recordings are finally getting a long deserved analog release! The double LP on black vinyl comes complete with an obi-strip! Don’t miss this reggae gem from Bob Marley and The Wailers!

Nausea's sole full length offering 'Extinction' finally available on wax again after more than two decades via Svart Records in December

After releasing the Cybergod/Lie Cycle 12” EP, Svart Records is set to continue reissuing the work of New York’s most legendary crust thrashers, Nausea. The band’s only full-length album, Extinction, was originally released in 1990 by Profane Existence in the US and Meantime Records in the UK. Now, Svart Records is proud to present this cult album with remastered sound, gatefold covers, booklet, and new album artwork taken from the poster included with the original pressing of the Extinction vinyl.

While Nausea’s timeline may not have been the longest, their influence on hardcore, punk, and crust is massive. Nausea elevated the game with the raging dueling vocals of Amy and Al, blending classic UK crust and anarcho-punk elements. Their sound echoes the rock’n’roll spirit of Discharge and Motörhead, alongside the epic metal-punk fusion reminiscent of Sacrilege and Slayer, all infused with a sociopolitical message and the experimental flair of Crass. Their lyrics depict a post-apocalyptic world akin to Amebix, with bleak themes, such as, "The world is growing weaker, with the passing of each day. Riding the west winds. The fetid stench of decay. Resources dwindle into the consumerist machine. As mechanical vultures pick the carcass of our world clean."

Nausea's sole full length offering 'Extinction' finally available on wax again after more than two decades via Svart Records in December

After releasing the Cybergod/Lie Cycle 12” EP, Svart Records is set to continue reissuing the work of New York’s most legendary crust thrashers, Nausea. The band’s only full-length album, Extinction, was originally released in 1990 by Profane Existence in the US and Meantime Records in the UK. Now, Svart Records is proud to present this cult album with remastered sound, gatefold covers, booklet, and new album artwork taken from the poster included with the original pressing of the Extinction vinyl.

While Nausea’s timeline may not have been the longest, their influence on hardcore, punk, and crust is massive. Nausea elevated the game with the raging dueling vocals of Amy and Al, blending classic UK crust and anarcho-punk elements. Their sound echoes the rock’n’roll spirit of Discharge and Motörhead, alongside the epic metal-punk fusion reminiscent of Sacrilege and Slayer, all infused with a sociopolitical message and the experimental flair of Crass. Their lyrics depict a post-apocalyptic world akin to Amebix, with bleak themes, such as, "The world is growing weaker, with the passing of each day. Riding the west winds. The fetid stench of decay. Resources dwindle into the consumerist machine. As mechanical vultures pick the carcass of our world clean."

Nausea's sole full length offering 'Extinction' finally available on wax again after more than two decades via Svart Records in December

After releasing the Cybergod/Lie Cycle 12” EP, Svart Records is set to continue reissuing the work of New York’s most legendary crust thrashers, Nausea. The band’s only full-length album, Extinction, was originally released in 1990 by Profane Existence in the US and Meantime Records in the UK. Now, Svart Records is proud to present this cult album with remastered sound, gatefold covers, booklet, and new album artwork taken from the poster included with the original pressing of the Extinction vinyl.

While Nausea’s timeline may not have been the longest, their influence on hardcore, punk, and crust is massive. Nausea elevated the game with the raging dueling vocals of Amy and Al, blending classic UK crust and anarcho-punk elements. Their sound echoes the rock’n’roll spirit of Discharge and Motörhead, alongside the epic metal-punk fusion reminiscent of Sacrilege and Slayer, all infused with a sociopolitical message and the experimental flair of Crass. Their lyrics depict a post-apocalyptic world akin to Amebix, with bleak themes, such as, "The world is growing weaker, with the passing of each day. Riding the west winds. The fetid stench of decay. Resources dwindle into the consumerist machine. As mechanical vultures pick the carcass of our world clean."

"Kaerou", a collection of gems and masterpieces by Osamu Okuno released in 2000, is now available on LP for the first time! This is a beautiful acoustic-only album with fresh songs and good support from Yasuo Nishiyama and Hiroshi Funato, created when he was playing guitar by himself in his coffee-roasting hut more often than not, and his band activities had decreased.

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2010 EP Re-Traced available on 12" vinyl for the first time ever, including a memorial tribute track to the late Sean Malone.

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their debut album Focus was released in 1993, after which they disbanded in 1994. The comeback in 2006 resulted in the sophomore album Traced in Air (2008), of which the four first songs on Re-Traced are re-interpretations of. Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present Re-Traced reborn on a 12" vinyl, including three alternative versions of the songs and liner notes by Martin Popoff.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Seeing Re-Traced pressed on a legit 12” vinyl is an exciting first, especially with the inclusion of bonus tracks like Sean Malone’s beautiful, never-before-released bass rendition of Wheels Within Wheels and his magical performance on Integral, which I initially released digitally as a memorial tribute to him. The electronic renditions of Traced in Air tracks like Space, Evolutionary and King take the songs into entirely new realms. It’s also synchronistic that I’m now playing these songs in my solo acoustic ambient shows, finally bringing them into a live format. Altogether, it feels quite special to see these two records reborn.”

"Fans of Traced in Air and Cynic in general should buy this. It’s not even a question of whether or not this is worth your time and money. The sheer talent of this band turns me into a blithering fanboy and this EP just gets me excited for more new Cynic." -Angry Metal Guy, 2010

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2010 EP Re-Traced available on 12" vinyl for the first time ever, including a memorial tribute track to the late Sean Malone.

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their debut album Focus was released in 1993, after which they disbanded in 1994. The comeback in 2006 resulted in the sophomore album Traced in Air (2008), of which the four first songs on Re-Traced are re-interpretations of. Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present Re-Traced reborn on a 12" vinyl, including three alternative versions of the songs and liner notes by Martin Popoff.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Seeing Re-Traced pressed on a legit 12” vinyl is an exciting first, especially with the inclusion of bonus tracks like Sean Malone’s beautiful, never-before-released bass rendition of Wheels Within Wheels and his magical performance on Integral, which I initially released digitally as a memorial tribute to him. The electronic renditions of Traced in Air tracks like Space, Evolutionary and King take the songs into entirely new realms. It’s also synchronistic that I’m now playing these songs in my solo acoustic ambient shows, finally bringing them into a live format. Altogether, it feels quite special to see these two records reborn.”

"Fans of Traced in Air and Cynic in general should buy this. It’s not even a question of whether or not this is worth your time and money. The sheer talent of this band turns me into a blithering fanboy and this EP just gets me excited for more new Cynic." -Angry Metal Guy, 2010

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2014 album Kindly Bent to Free Us 10 year anniversary edition out in February!

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their third full length offering Kindly Bent to Free Us is the final Cynic album to feature original drummer Sean Reinert and long time member Sean Malone on bass, who both passed away in 2020. Originally released on a 2LP version and mastered at 45rpm, Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present the single LP edition of the album including a bonus track Earth Is My Witness for the first time on vinyl and a booklet with linter notes by Martin Popoff, lyrics, notation to the song Kindly Bent to Free Us, and more.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Kindly Bent to Free Us is reborn on vinyl for its 10th anniversary. This record holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. First, the songs and the journey they take, exploring inner realms as represented by the cover art. Then, there are the arrangements—raw and explosive—which R. Walt Vincent was so good at capturing the live energy we shared as a trio in the rehearsal room when these ideas were developed. There’s also something poignant about this being the last record the three of us would make together. It’s exciting to finally see The Earth is My Witness, which was previously only a bonus track on the box set, brought into this format for the first time.”

"If I'm giving anyone a heart-shaped box this year, that thing will have a copy of the freshly purchased Cynic album, Kindly Bent to Free Us in it. I personally feel like this is a much more grand gesture of love than any other." -Daniel Cordova, Metal Injection, 2014

Cynic's vinyl reissues including bonus material to be released via Svart Records in February 2025

American progressive metal band Cynic's 2014 album Kindly Bent to Free Us 10 year anniversary edition out in February!

Cynic was formed in Miami, Florida by Paul Masvidal in 1987, incorporating elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal. Their third full length offering Kindly Bent to Free Us is the final Cynic album to feature original drummer Sean Reinert and long time member Sean Malone on bass, who both passed away in 2020. Originally released on a 2LP version and mastered at 45rpm, Svart Records in co-operation with Cynic now proudly present the single LP edition of the album including a bonus track Earth Is My Witness for the first time on vinyl and a booklet with linter notes by Martin Popoff, lyrics, notation to the song Kindly Bent to Free Us, and more.

Paul Masvidal comments the reissue: “Kindly Bent to Free Us is reborn on vinyl for its 10th anniversary. This record holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. First, the songs and the journey they take, exploring inner realms as represented by the cover art. Then, there are the arrangements—raw and explosive—which R. Walt Vincent was so good at capturing the live energy we shared as a trio in the rehearsal room when these ideas were developed. There’s also something poignant about this being the last record the three of us would make together. It’s exciting to finally see The Earth is My Witness, which was previously only a bonus track on the box set, brought into this format for the first time.”

"If I'm giving anyone a heart-shaped box this year, that thing will have a copy of the freshly purchased Cynic album, Kindly Bent to Free Us in it. I personally feel like this is a much more grand gesture of love than any other." -Daniel Cordova, Metal Injection, 2014

"Lemuria" is a project led by Kirk Thompson, an original member of the band Kalapana, which is iconic in the Hawaiian AOR scene. Kirk is not only a player but also as a producer, he has left behind numerous classic albums. The only album released in 1978 features high-quality sound production and songwriting filled with an island vibe, leading many artists to cover their songs. P-vine is reissuing this album's representative hits, "All I've Got To Give" and "Hunk Of Heaven," on a 7-inch vinyl for the first time in a long while.

Lui had captured the essence of Contemporary Hawaiian, a new wave of music that Hawaiian musicians in the 1970s created under the influence of the US West Coast sound. From the classic album, a gem of Hawaiian AOR and Contemporary Hawaiian music, the songs "Oh, Oh (I Think I’m Fallin’ In Love)" and "My Lover" are being reissued on a 7-inch single. In addition to their mellow and groovy sound,The album is memorable for its cover which features the Maui Surf Hotel, where the band regularly performed, and the beautiful nature of Hawaii.

180g 2LP 45rpm

Sacd

2xSACD

First LP release of Osamu Okuno's 2003 masterpiece "Utauhito," featuring Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroshi Funato, Ren Takada, Kanji Nakao, and Takero Sekijima. Kyoto singer-songwriter Osamu Okuno was rediscovered by the younger generation during the rock boom of the time with the first CD release of "Osamu Okuno" in 2000 and his first new album in 10 years, "Kaerou." Made in 2003, this is a miraculous album, with deep shadows and youthful songs riding on the ambience-filled playing of Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroshi Funato, Ren Takada, Kanji Nakao, and Takero Sekijima.

Random coloured re-vinyl. Limited to 300 copies.Everything was better in the old the days. Everything but CHRISTMAS, whom became more unstoppable from year to year. While other bands pop up and quickly burn again, CHRISTMAS have decided to simply survive all assholes.The band has not let up over the last 14 year with other 20 releases, 550 gigs across 18 countries and 21 worn-out former band members. The hardcore train rolls, armored with tons of bottle caps, powered by all-burning insane idealism (with emphasis on insane). Always demonically grinning in the face of the seemingly dead spirit of Rock-n-Roll, just on the abyss of post-punk history and CHRISTMAS looks still damn good!

The two-piece rock band Taika’s (帯化) 3rd album ‘On Chitou Jichi’ (御池塘自治), originally released in 2023, is now available on vinyl. The album’s folkloric vocals and krautrock-inspired repetition swirl together with environmental sounds, creating an immersive atmosphere. The interplay between the post-Fourth World Revival soundscapes and the raw, earthy physicality rooted deep within the music blurs the line between the nostalgic and the novel, each reflecting echoes of the other.

In this album, Taika explores the residual sense of "foreignness" within the now-commonplace rock band format in Japan, re-examining it and injecting new possibilities for "translation" and reinterpretation into those gaps.

This release includes a large poster-style lyric sheet. Additionally, it comes with a download code for the digital version of ‘On Chitou Jichi,’ as well as a code for a destructive remix of Taika’s track “Kouraku Biyori” by the up-and-coming dub techno artist Yo, who is signed to Taika’s independent label, Zōen Keikaku.

Former yonawo member Shota Aratani, Motomu Kawabe (from Mitsume), and Goemon Tsujimura (from Kicell) contributed songwriting and composition to yomm's debut EP, now being released on vinyl!

The debut EP by "yomm," the solo project of Korean model and singer-songwriter Choi Jung Yoon, is steadily gaining recognition in Japan. The EP includes songs written and composed by former yonawo member Shota Aratani, Mitsume's Motomu Kawabe, and YeYe. In addition to these tracks, it features "Hon de Yonda Dake" (written, composed, and arranged by Goemon Tsujimura from Kicell) and "Scramble - Tokyo," a song written and composed by Choi Jung Yoon herself. The EP, which contains a total of 6 tracks, is set to be released on vinyl!

En Esch's corrosive new album decimates both standards and dance floors alike. Anyone familiar with industrial luminary En Esch and his essential work in groups like Kmfdm and PIG knows he is no stranger to political statements through his art. Now, on his first LP in eight years, Dance Hall Putsch, Esch decimates your standards and dance floors with vitriol. With carefully-sown and complimenting features from fellow Kmfdm alumnus Raymond Watts, Guenter Schulz and Mark Durante, plus Vas Kallas (Hanzel und Gretyl), Mea Fisher and Erica Dilanjian (Lords of Acid), Hope Nicholls (Pigface) and more, Dance Hall Putsch delivers everything an industrial fan could want. From opener "Get Lost," with its categorically punishing industrial-metal riffs to the slicing EBM electronics of "Yum Yum Beauty & The Nasty Thief," it's all here and in no less than four languages throughout. En Esch's signature rasp is often contrasted by the sparkling vocals of his female counterparts, and the album is lush with brutal honesty, humor, and even a bonus En Esch-lullaby. "I began work on Dance Hall Putsch in the early days of Covid-19. I was trying to create an upbeat, rather positive and very danceable album to leave the pandemic days behind us. Then it happened that a war began near where I live with tens of thousands of civilians killed and wounded so far. Everyone was caught by surprise and it influenced me, especially lyrically. "This current conflict is just 500 miles away from Berlin, and while that does not make it more horrific than other wars, it is very close to home. From living with this 'war next door,' the album turned out much more sinister than originally planned. It became a rather political album that reflects on the senselessness and nastiness of all the current wars around us. It's always the innocent and those who hold no power that suffer the most. Their fate isn't always death, but many times indescribable and long-term suffering. We must not forget them or turn a blind eye. "I’m very pleased that I had the opportunity to collaborate with different and interesting colleagues here. Thanx everybody for your interest in my musical works and for your love and support." -En Esch

San Jose slowcore/space rock outfit Dusterreturns with surprise album "In Dreams,"continuing their of inclination of sonicallycapturing an open-ended question. Thesethirteen tracks hone in on their trademarkdark, droning guitar tones, dialed back percussion, and alluring hard-panned vocalswhile expanding and exploring synth-heavyand drum machine avenues.it's the fifth duster album, ok

Aqua Tofana Colourless Vinyl.San Jose slowcore/space rock outfit Dusterreturns with surprise album "In Dreams,"continuing their of inclination of sonicallycapturing an open-ended question. Thesethirteen tracks hone in on their trademarkdark, droning guitar tones, dialed back percussion, and alluring hard-panned vocalswhile expanding and exploring synth-heavyand drum machine avenues.it's the fifth duster album, ok.

San Jose slowcore/space rock outfit Dusterreturns with surprise album "In Dreams,"continuing their of inclination of sonicallycapturing an open-ended question. Thesethirteen tracks hone in on their trademarkdark, droning guitar tones, dialed back percussion, and alluring hard-panned vocalswhile expanding and exploring synth-heavyand drum machine avenues.it's the fifth duster album, ok

Yuyakeshiwasu, a New Neet, lost even what he had to lose, and what changes happened to them? Disappointment and exhaustion with modern society have made Yuyakeshiwasu into a New Neet, and he has rebelled against it. Currently, Yuyakeshiwasu has established a religious organization called “Rock ‘n’ Roll Kyodan” and is engaged in missionary activities in the hope of the revival and prosperity of rock 'n' roll. Here is the story of how Yuyakeshiwasu transformed themselves from an invincible band to a missionary.

Kraus, a solo project led by Will Kraus, gained attention with the debut album "Path" in 2018 as he makes roaring shoegaze sounds in the form of various layered sounds without an electric guitar. Although the latest album "View No Country" was only released on digital format, it's now available on vinyl for the first time by P-vine.

In the past, Pitchfork did a feature article on Kraus Makes Noise Rock for Anxious People, and his whispery voice coming through the roar is as if a ray of light in the corner of the room.

Today there are many different types of solo shoegaze artists, such as Wisp, Asian Glow and flyingfish, but it all started when Will Kraus decided to make pure noise without a guitar.

The second pressing of the cassette tapes for Ging Nang Boyz's two albums, 'Kimi to Boku no Daisanji Sekai Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei' and 'DOOR'!"

The second pressing of the cassette tapes for Ging Nang Boyz's two albums, 'Kimi to Boku no Daisanji Sekai Taisen-teki Renai Kakumei' and 'DOOR'!"

First Time / Alone, Greg Mendez's new EP and first release withDead Oceans, came together in late summer and early fall of2023; the songs here appear in the order in which they werewritten, recorded straight to four-track in the small spare roomof his West Philadelphia apartment. It's a four song arc, aspectral passageway, one brief and fluid body of work thathangs together from the mournful opening of "Mountain DewHell" to the pitched-up vocals on "Pain Meds," a tiny songfloundering in the enormity of grief. The experience of listeningthrough is like waking up from a half-remembered dream, ashadow in the corner of the room, a strange solitude, a temporalNew York autumn with gray skies and naked trees. But whilethe release is sparse and spontaneous, it's tactile andconsuming, a glimpse into the beautiful, lonely worlds that livein the core of a Greg Mendez song.First Time / Alone is the inverse of his 2023 self-titled album, ameticulous and labored-over collection of songs that went on tobecome a surprise slowburn success. Mendez has releasedmusic in various capacities across 15 years living in Philadelphiaand New York, but the self-titled was what propelled him to awider attention, a critical breakthrough on best-of lists fromRolling Stone, Pitchfork, Paste, and more. That forwardmomentum came to a quick halt following an intensive surgeryon his right wrist in the summer of 2023 - a four-monthpurgatory of bad TV, canceled touring, and physical therapyensued, a painful stretch of boredom leaving Mendez unable toplay guitar. "Mountain Dew Hell" and "First Time," the funerealA-side of the EP, are time capsules of that fever-dream; "Alone"was the first song Mendez wrote once he was able to play guitaragain. Likely none of the songs would have existed as-is ifMendez's right hand hadn't been out of commission, but they'reartful in their directness and simplicity. He initially thought hewould need to refine them, building them out to the same scaleas...

For Greg Mendez, reflection doesnüft mean a static imagein a mirror, or even a face he recognizes. Itüfs more akaleidoscopic mirage, where paths taken shapeshift withthe prospect of paths untread, and the subconsciousmerges with the intentional. On his self-titled new album,the Philadelphia-based songwriter andmulti-instrumentalist investigates the shaky camera ofmemory, striving to carve out a collage that points to atruth. But there isnüft a regimented actuality here; instead,Mendez highlights the merit in many truths, and manylives, and how even the hardest truths can still containsome humor.While this is technically Mendezüfs third full-length album,his back catalog boasts an extensive range of EPs and liverecordings. Heüfs a prolific and thoughtful songwriter,understanding the joy in impulse, and shying away fromthe clinical sheen of overproduction. 2017üfs ügüP/ _(c)_ /üPüh and2020üfs Cherry Hell garnered acclaim for their quiet, lo-fiurgency, exploring themes of addiction and heartbreakwith an intentional, authentic haze, and itüfs this approachthat has solidified Mendez as a staple in the DIYcommunity for years.Greg Mendez was written in fragments, some stretchingacross more than a decade, with Mendez reworking oldideas and arrangements, and others blossoming muchmore recently. The weight of time..and perhaps theanxiety in running out of it..clouds the album, as Mendezprods at some painful experiences from his childhood andearly adulthood. The common thread connecting thecharacters is their evident imperfections, and the variousdegrees of damage they cause, both knowingly andunknowingly. But where do we draw the line between agood person and a bad person? For Mendez, itüfs neverbeen that easy.Greg Mendez is an intimate dialogue between thechapters weüfve experienced, and how they can inform thereality we perceive. Itüfs a reminder that we are constantlyshifting, ever-changing selves and that if we ruminate toolong, we may find...

The Darkness's upcoming album Dreams On Toast, set for a March 2025 release, marks a bold new chapter for the band. With their signature blend of flamboyant rock anthems and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, this album cements their place at the pinnacle of British rock. Expect soaring guitar riffs, infectious hooks, and a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genre that will resonate with longtime fans and new listeners alike.

Fabiano de Nascimento, a popular Brazilian guitarist in Japan, and Shin Sasakubo, a guitarist from Chichibu, Japan, who has been linked with South American music and other parts of the world, are releasing on LP a guitar duo recording that started when they performed together live in Japan. The three-day recording began four days after Fabiano do Nascimento and Shin Sasakubo's first concert together. Sharing the same space and time, the two guitarists, with their different styles and origins, explored sounds, let them resonate and repel, and engaged in a dialogue and exchange of ideas that shaped this music.

Original member and bassist GUY has taken on vocal duties, with former Outo member Tank joining as the new bassist. Naoki, who shares the same hometown as Tank and Oumi, has joined as a new guitarist. Additionally, Gucci, the guitarist from Hiroshima rock band "red in Blue" and a support member for "YOASOBI," has also joined the lineup. With the return of second-generation drummer Oumi, the newly reformed Gudon is now a five-member band, releasing their first new material!

The single opens with a re-recording of "Twin Tail" from their 1984 debut cassette "Fushuu," followed by a powerful new version of "stoice Violence" from their 1986 first single "Hige Shibou." The new song "Against Stupid Law," a speed thrash number by new member Tank, recalls the glory days of Outo while proving that Gudon is still evolving. Gucci’s new track "shame ON YOU!" updates Gudon for the Reiwa era, showcasing the potential of a new hardcore sound.

GUY, now on vocals instead of bass, channels his rage against issues like the Gaza massacre and the revised Japanese Immigration Control Act. GUY's furious roars are backed by Naoki and Gucci’s skillful and aggressive twin guitars, Tank's machine-gun bass, and Oumi's extraordinary drumming, making it clear that the new Gudon is a force to be reckoned with.

The first press comes with a bonus "TO Future Zine Winter 2024," featuring an interview with Gudon.

" What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?' is the eighth studio album by British post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnymen, released on April 16, 1999. The album saw the band continue a trajectory set with 1997's 'Evergreen', embracing more introspective themes and melodic approach to its arrangements.

Horrible Occurrences is the title of the new Advance Base album,and there is truth in advertising. In these songs_all centeredaround a fictional town called Richmond and featuring an interlinkedcast of characters_you will hear stories of death and disappearance,climactic confrontations and unsolved mysteries. "Richmondis just this place where all the bad memories live," Owen Ashworthexplains, and nearly 30 years into his songwriting career, none ofhis records have packed quite the emotional intensity of this one.And yet something alchemical happens in the telling of these tales.Like a masterful short story collection, Horrible Occurrences isinspiring and alive, idiosyncratic and electric, pulling you closer witheach word.In the six years since his last full-length collection of originals,2018's Animal Companionship, Ashworth gathered ideas fromperforming live and traveling around the country, returning to citiesthat he once called home and revisiting old ghosts, memories,and fragments of unfinished ideas. Blending truth and fiction into adreamlike composite, the songs convey the winding path our memorytakes as the years go by, giving voice to a subconscious that isstill unpacking old memories for new wisdom.Drawing inspiration from the otherworldly loneliness depicted on'80s masterpieces like Arthur Russell's World of Echo and BruceSpringsteen's Nebraska, the music never crowds Ashworth's detailedstorytelling but it also never feels auxiliary. These are beautifulsongs, but they stick with you for their ability to strike dissonant,unforgettable emotional chords. It is this pervasive empathy inAshworth's songwriting_along with his writerly gift for clear settingsand complex characters_that has made him a guiding light for somany independent artists.The things that happen throughout Horrible Occurrences are whatwe tend to call "unspeakable"_events that draw gut-level responsesjust from acknowledging that they could happen. But part of thetriumph of t...