Showing posts with label Ken Sears. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken Sears. Show all posts

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Twat Union - "UTI"


Most of the seven members of Twat Union were living together in South East London and joked about forming a punk band. A year later, they were asked if they knew any punk bands for an event and decided to form a band. Now they're releasing their debut single, "UTI," a song about urinary tract infections. This might just be the most fun song about UTIs ever recorded. The song opens with the line "I had sex now I'm on antibiotics," and just goes from there. "UTI" is going to get them compared to Wet Leg, mostly because of their home country, sense of humor, and insanely catchiness, but Twat Union have much more of a punk edge to their sound. Even if you'd typically bristle from the subject matter, "UTI" is going to end up as one of your favorite songs of the year.

Front woman Kate Mac says of her band's new single:

"... people don’t talk about UTIs very much, but most of us have had them, and most of us hate them (no kink-shaming if you like them but we would love to hear from you if you’re actually a fan). And if you don’t get them, we guarantee you know someone that does. This song is for everyone to shout, laugh, cry, and generally express your anger about female and non-binary medical problems (we know some men get them too) and maybe we can change the narrative around when and how it’s ok to talk about issues down there.”

You can listen to "UTI" below. For more on Twat Union, check out the band's website.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - "ramcod"

Photo by Mel Butler

I associate The Jesus and Mary Chain with the 90's so strongly that I always forget Jim and William Reid started the band in the 1980's. Next year marks their fortieth anniversary of their debut single, so they've announced a new album, an autobiography, and a UK and European tour. The first single off the album, "ramcod," is out now, and despite being around for forty years, we're happy to report that The Jesus and Mary Chain haven't slowed down at all. The song mixes the classic shoegaze sound of the band with the 90's electronic music they dabble in, and it sounds like vintage Jesus and Mary Chain, just a classic song that sounds modern at the same time. It's rare to get excited about a band's upcoming album four decades into a career, but most bands aren't The Jesus and Mary Chain.

You can watch the video for "ramcod" below. Glasgow Eyes is due out March 8 on Fuzz Club and can be pre-ordered here. For more on The Jesus and Mary Chain, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.


March 22 - Manchester, UK @ Albert HallMarch 25 - Dublin, IE @ OlympiaMarch 26 - Belfast, UK @ Limelight 1March 27 - Edinburgh, UK @ Usher HallMarch 30 - London, UK @ RoundhouseApril 2 - Copenhagen, DK @ Amager BioApril 3 - Gothenburg, SE @ PustervikApril 5 - Oslo, NO @ RockefellerApril 6 - Stockholm, SE @ Munich BreweryApril 7 - Malmo, SE @ Plan BApril 9 - Hamburg, DE @ MarkthalleApril 11 - Berlin, DE @ HuxleysApril 12 - Cologne, DE @ Live Music HallApril 13 - Paris, FR @ Elysée MontmartreApril 15 - Geneva, CH @ L’UsineApril 16 - Winterthur, CH @ SalzhausApril 17 - Milan, IT @ AlcatrazApril 19 - Krems, AT @ DonaufestivalApril 20 - Heidelberg, DE @ Halle O2April 21 - Tilburg, NL @ Roadburn FestivalApril 23 - Brussels, BE @ ABApril 24 - The Hague, NL @ Paard

Live Shows: Lydia Loveless, Reese McHenry, and Megan Tracy & The Missed Connections, The Middle East, Cambridge, MA 11/28/23

Photo by Jillian Clark

I'm a bit of a Lydia Loveless superfan, so I'm always thrilled when she plays up in Boston. I was lucky enough to see her two nights in a row way back in 2015, but then her dates just didn't work for me, and... you know... the pandemic. I saw her opening for Drive-By Truckers last year solo, and back in May I saw her play down in Providence with her band on a day off from a DBT tour. Once I saw she was playing The Middle East, I knew I had to go. Seeing that Reese McHenry was opening, who we haven't heard from since 2019 and I've never seen live just sweetened the deal.

Lydia Loveless has been avoiding the "alt-country" label for almost ten years. The last time she could have been considered alt-country was 2014's Somewhere Else. Since then she's been dabbling more in the worlds of pop and indie rock, and if anyone was looking forward to an evening of alt-country songs, Loveless and her band dispelled that with the opening song. "Out on Love" opened the show with a Sonic Youth level of noise. And I don't mean a standard Sonic Youth show, I mean those weird one off ones in Northampton back when Kim and Thurston lived there that were more jam session than concert performance. At one point guitarist Todd May was grinding the head of his guitar into the wall of the stage. This just helped set the tone of the show.

The mixture of indie rock and pop dominated the set, with Loveless playing a majority of her excellent new album, Nothing's Gonna Stand in My Way Again. (Although "Sex and Money," arguably the most popular song on the album, wasn't played.) In fact, they were looking forward so much a song newer than her two month old album was played. This was only the third show with her new band, but it was barely noticeable. They played that perfect level of loose that kept the show fresh and fun. A song like "Feel" really allowed Loveless to display their vocal chops, which I hadn't truly noticed in previous performances. This new album is an example of an artist truly leveling up, and Tuesday night at The Middle East showed a leveling up as a live artist, as well. Loveless did throw the audience a couple of bones at the end of the main set and encore with "Wine Lips" and "Head" respectively, but with new songs as great as she has, those won't be needed much longer.

Reese McHenry played a short, solo acoustic set made up of mostly new songs. She did play "Fever," which is rare for her especially solo, per audience request. Her set was mostly informal with her charm making even her banter as great as her songs. I got the impression the majority of the crowd wasn't familiar with her before she took the stage based on in crowd talking, but by the end of her first song that quickly ended. Let's hope making it up to Boston becomes a regular event for her.

Apologies to Magen Tracy & The Missed Connections. I left the house later than I meant to, and the show started earlier than I thought. I only caught three songs of theirs, which was a massive bummer for me. But their blend of blues rock was superb live, and I'll do my best to make it to another show earlier next time.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Pet Needs - "Separation Anxiety"

Photo by Vanessa Sollner

Essex based Pet Needs have released a new song that is fast and abrasive punk wrapped around a gushy love song. "Separation Anxiety" is a melodic punk song that speeds through the verses and gets even faster for the guitar solo, but slows down a bit for the chorus. It's a fun, breakneck speed love song that reminds me of the Buzzcocks. Punk love songs are nothing new, but they are rarely this hard or fast. Even the legends get at least a little softer for a love song, but apparently no one sent Pet Needs the memo.

Frontman Johnny Marriott says of the new song:

“‘Separation Anxiety’ is an unconventional, subverted love song about my wife Lorna. We have been together almost 15 years and had never spent more than two weeks apart until last year. I know Lorna would absolutely cringe at anything too over-sincere, so shouting that I love her more than anyone else does is more her style!”

You can watch the video for "Separation Anxiety" below. Intermittent Fast Living is due out February 16 on Xtra Mile Recordings. For more on Pet Needs, check out the band's website.

UTO - "Zombie"


When a band is compared to both Sonic Youth and The Chemical Brothers in their press release, I'm going to be intrigued. It sounds impossible to pull off, but France's UTO somehow do it. Their latest single, "Zombie," has that giant 90's electronica heyday sound to it, but in a smaller, DIY package. There's also a sense of foreboding, as well as a darkness, that The Chemical Brothers just didn't have. It might not have the all out noise and aggression of Sonic Youth, but that is where they get the darkness from. It's an interesting and unique sound that is sure to make you want to groove once you get past the initial confusion.

You can watch the video for "Zombie" below. The single is out now via InFine. For more on UTO, check out the artist on Instagram.

Lime Garden - "I Want to Be You"

Photo by Jono White

A lot of bands have been creating this new world that includes indie rock and pop music lately, and we've been fully on board with the sound. Our latest discovery in the genre is Lime Garden. The Brighton based quartet recently released "I Want to Be You," which is an upbeat and dreamy new song. The song seems to swirl around the listener. It's an undeniably poppy and catchy song, but there's just the slightest edge to it to keep the song from dipping too far into pop. Lime Garden get compared to artists like Wet Leg and Dry Cleaning, but I'm also hearing the lighter side of Mannequin Pussy, too. Right now, Lime Garden are poised to be the next big thing of 2024, but we'll have to wait a little bit to find that out.

Vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chloe Howard says of her band's upcoming album:

“A lot of the songs are about just being kind of miserable. We all have this double life. There’s this incredible journey that we're going on together with the band, but there is also this other side to it that a lot of people don't know about, which is that really boring day-to-day life."

You can watch the video for "I Want to Be You" below. One More Thing is due out February 16 on So Young Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Lime Garden, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Hot Garbage - "Mystery"

Photo by 1upcloud

Back in October we brought you "Snooze You Lose," the latest single from Toronto psych-goth band Hot Garbage. Now they're back with "Mystery." I described the previous single as a cross between early Sonic Youth, A Place to Bury Strangers, and The Jesus & Mary Chain. "Mystery" still has the dark shoegaze sound of The Jesus & Mary Chain, but has more of the psychobilly and punk sound of The Cramps. It's a great mixture of sounds perfect for fans of shoegaze, punk, or just dark music in general. I hesitate to call this song fun, but it is in its own way.

You can watch the video for "Mystery" below. Precious Dream is due out January 19 on Mothland and Exag' Records, and is available for pre-ordered here. For more on Hot Garbage, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.. 

The Dogmatics - "I Can't Get Over You"


Boston garage/punk legends The Dogmatics are having a bit of a revival lately, at least in part due to the film The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary. They've recently released a new single, "I Can't Get Over You." This one is more vintage garage rock and early rock and roll than punk. It has a little bit of the punk edge you'd expect from The Dogmatics, but it could easily be a song from a Nuggets compilation. "I Can't Get Over You" just has that timeless quality to it that the best garage rock/power pop has. It's catchy and fun, and while it might not be a punk rager, it's hardly the easy listening style song that many middle aged punk veterans release these days.

You can watch the lyric video for "I Can't Get Over You" below. The song is available now as a single via Rum Bar Records, and can be downloaded through Bandcamp. For more on The Dogmatics, check out the band's website.

Live Shows: The Sheila Divine and Orbit, Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA 11/22/23


The Sheila Divine and Orbit are bands I've been a fan of for roughly a quarter of a century. They're not fully active bands, so seeing them can be spotty. The Sheila Divine seem to be playing annual shows around Thanksgiving at this point, and while Orbit has played live somewhat recently, I believe the last time I saw them might have been at The Sheila Divine's very first farewell shows at the Paradise many, many years ago. When I saw the pair were playing together the night before Thanksgiving this year, it became a can't miss show.

Orbit came out to a clip of them on 120 Minutes where Matt Pinfield introduced their video for "Come Inside." It's kind of easy to remember that Orbit were a pretty big deal and quite buzzworthy in 1995, and this was a great reminder. Opening with "Come Inside" and following that with "Bicycle Song" made me feel like Orbit was frontloading their set a bit too much, but it's easy to forget just how many truly great songs they have. They had a little bit of rust throughout their set, but it's been about a decade since they've played, so it's to be expected. Plus, the crowd was thrilled to just be seeing Orbit play again, so we were all more than forgiving. That's one of the truly great thing about a local band like Orbit playing a show again. The crowd is just thrilled to be seeing them, and any mistakes are appreciated more than a perfect show would be. A song like "Medicine" is just a perfect snapshot of the Boston music scene in the mid and late 90's that it's impossible to not associate it with fantastic memories. The band promised to play more shows soon, so keep an eye out for those! (They were one of the first wave bands announced for The Town & the City Festival in Lowell in April, so we definitely won't need to wait ten years to see them again!)

The Sheila Divine came out to "Beautiful Midnight," a song from 2015's The Morbs, which set the tone for their set. The band played the big singles you'd expect ("Hum," "Like a Criminal," and "Automatic Buffalo"), but they leaned into a lot more B-sides and rarities than I would have expected. This was definitely a show for diehards, but I don't think The Sheila Divine have casual fans. They even broke out the B-side for the "Like a Criminal" single back when it was on Cherry Disc, which is a song I'm fairly certain I haven't heard in my decades of fandom. One highlight of every set is the cover song medley that comes during "Hum." This year, they only included one cover: Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield." As always, it was a bit trainwrecky, but that's part of the charm of the Sheila Divine cover break. They also played an impromptu version of Sisqo's "Thong Song," which worked out better than anyone could have expected. Skipping the traditional encore, The Sheila Divine decided to forgo leaving the stage and went straight into what would have been their three song encore: "Wanting is Wasted," "Like a Criminal," and "Back to the Cradle." As always, it was a perfect ending for a unique night of music.

Monday, November 27, 2023

Argonaut - "The Vulnerables"


According to their press release, Argonaut "... are a London indie band with a love for DIY fuzzy pop and wonky analog synths." Their latest single, "The Vulnerables," is a joyful pop song that would have fit right at home with the music of the mid 90's. It's not quite standard Britpop, but lives more in the middle of the Britpop bands of the day and the American alt-power pop that existed at the same time. I'm hearing a blend of Elastica, Sleeper, The Rentals, and Fountains of Wayne. It's an undeniably charming and compelling song that is going to suck you in, whether you want it to or not.

Nathan of Argonaut explains the band's current writing process:

At band practices we each write song titles on slips of paper & put them in the hat. One is then picked at random. We jam around that title & see what alchemy occurs. Most times the magic flows & the combined band chemistry creates something we are really pleased with.”

You can watch the video for "The Vulnerables" below. The single is available now via Criminal Records, and is part of the open ended album Songs from the Black Hat. For more on Argonaut, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Czarface - "Czarchimedes' Death Ray"


Czarface, the hip hop supergroup comprised of Inspectah Deck, Esoteric, and 7L, have a new album due out Friday, but for those of us who can't wait that long, there's a new single out now. "Czarchimedes' Death Ray" isn't just one of the best song titles in recent memory. Czarface has always explored the worlds where hip hop and nerd culture meet, and this song is no exception. They're one of the few groups that truly doesn't sound quite like anyone else. This is a fun and clever hip hop song that proves hip hop with skills can exist, and not just be a novelty act. Czarface are going to be blowing up a lot of journalists' pre-made year end lists this week.

Esoteric says of the new single:

“We’re back with that off-kilter no filter. Czar never resorts to conventional weaponry, thus the illustrious Death Ray – a sonic homage to the Greek mathematician Archimedes.” 

You can watch the lyric video for "Czarchimedes' Death Ray" below. Czartificial Intelligence is due out December 1 on Virgin Records. For more on Czarface, check out the group Esoteric on Instagram and Twitter.

Bronson Arm - "One with the Floor"


Hailing from Michigan, Bronson Arm are a two-piece noise punk band that makes more noise than you thought two people could ever make. Their latest single, "One with the Floor," is a loud, sludgy mess of a song (and we mean that as a compliment!) It has a thunderous and in your face sound, and instead of loud/quiet/loud it's more heavy/softer/heavy since even the softer parts are loud and plod along menacingly. If I'm going to compare it to any existing artists, I'm going to go with The Jesus Lizard meets The Melvins. "One with the Floor" just grabs you and refuses to let go.

You can listen to "One with the Floor" below. Bronson Arm's debut self-titled album is due out January 12 on Learning Curve Records, and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. For more on Bronson Arm, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.



White Flamingo - Kulumbia EP


White Flamingo has one of the coolest sounds in modern electronic music. His new two song EP, Kulumbia EP, is a mixture of modern American electronic music with cumbia rhythms. The song "Kulumbia" is relatively laid back, but it's still sure to inspire movement. That's followed up with "Yuca," which "... poignantly evokes African life and influence in the music of America." Both tracks are fun and highly dance-friendly without being overpowering. White Flamingo is taking multiple styles and genres of music and blending them so expertly that it's nearly impossible to tell how much is being melded together.

You can listen to Kulumbia EP below. It is out now on Mamboz Records, and can be downloaded through Bandcamp. For more on White Flamingo, check out the artist on Facebook.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Wisp - "Your face"


One thing we music writers love is a good story, and sometimes that comes in the form of a mystery. Wisp is a nineteen year old artist making shoegaze in San Francisco, and that's just about all we know about them. Their latest single, "Your face," is a little more pop based than we typically get with the genre, but aside from that it's just a pure shoegaze track. The pop sound might be the vocals, since they're more of a whispered pop sound than what you typically get with shoegaze or indie rock. The song is also a little more aggressive than you get with this musical style, so it's kind of like Deftones teaming up with Mazzy Star.

You can watch the video for "Your face" below. For more on Wisp, check out the artist on Instagram and TikTok.

Fast Eddy - "Spirit Commander"

Image via Facebook

Sometimes you just want some punk rock and roll. If you're in that kind of mood, you should check out the latest from Fast Eddy. "Spirit Commander" is just fast paced, fist pumping rock music. It lands somewhere in the world between garage and punk rock, with just a tiny bit of glam shine on it. This is the kind of song that just belongs in a dive bar. Fast Eddy are no nonsense rock and rollers, and "Spirit Commander" is just going to latch itself to your lizard brain and refuse to let go.

You can listen to "Spirit Commander" below. To the Stars is due out February 2024 on Spaghetty Town Records. For more on Fast Eddy, check out the band's website.

Ni - "Chicot"

Photo by Oozfos

Hailing from France, Ni are not going to be for everyone. The press release for their latest single, "Chicot," describes them as math rock, and that may be true but the song is a bit more. It's this burst of bizarre noise rock that comes bursting into your life, and may not be able to leave right away. "Chicot" reminds me of Lightning Bolt meets The Minutemen, but maybe with some classic rock guitar in there at times. It's a weird indie rock meets noise rock meets math rock meets experimental song that can just be a killer rock tune if you stop getting hung up on it.

Guitarist Francois Mignot says of the new song:

"The beginning of the track is super tense and nervous, using only dissonances, successions and superimpositions of notes close together, drawing a sort of grating melody. To accentuate this incisive edge, the guitar sounds remain clear, and saturation doesn't arrive until later in the track. The rhythm, which is omnipresent throughout the track, is based on figures which, although broken in math rock style, are intended to retain a danceable feel. At the beginning of the track, 3 of the 4 musicians play the same rhythmic motif in unison, to give it a certain foundation and a wobbly groove. The second guitar sits on top like a clever little buffoon, whose aim is to disrupt and add an extra dose of madness to the whole. This first passage is punctuated by short sounds often found in electronic music (glitch and other typical breakcore effects), which introduce a second technoid array. It consists of a rhythmic ostinato hammered out by the 4 musicians, always accentuated by the bass drum, then coloured and textured by the guitars and bass in the manner of an electronic track. This part takes the form of a great climb towards an explosion of energy, bringing back the shaggy, squeaky elements of the beginning, while transforming them into a more rock and massive energy. This transition, like an echo of the beginning, leads the track into a final tableau where the tempo and rhythm collapse, like a sudden drop from the heights of energy reached previously. The listener is then invited, by a surge of rock, noise and metal energy, to land and end up buried under the rubble of the track."

You can listen to "Chicot" below. Fol Nais is due out December 1 on Dur et Doux, and is available for pre-order via Bandcamp. For more on Ni, check out the band's website.

Matilde Heckler - "Pretty"


We just wrote about Matilde Heckler last week when they opened for Razor Braids, but considering they just released a brand new single last Friday, you get to hear about them again. "Pretty" is the last from the Berklee graduate and electric violin player. It's a stunning song that leans into the world of alt-pop. It's a song about a rather unhealthy relationship, so as beautiful as it can be, it's a difficult listen. "Pretty" is just pure, raw emotion in the form of a violin heavy pop-rock song. Heckler has released a truly powerful song that a lot of people should hear.

You can listen to "Pretty" below. For more on Matilde Heckler, check out the artist's website.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Victoria Bigelow Covers Mazzy Star

Photo by Devan Skaggs

Victoria Bigelow has been compared to Mazzy Star quite a bit in her career. She decided to lean into it with a cover of their immortal track "Fade Into You." Covering such an iconic song can be tricky, but Bigelow pulls it off perfectly. Her love of the song is obvious, but she does change it up slightly. It's a little less dream pop or shoegaze, and instead has more of a rootsy/Americana feel. That's not to say this is a folk version of "Fade Into You," but she does inject a little bit of twang into the song. As someone who considers the original an example of a perfect song, Victoria Bigelow delivers a fantastic rendition.

Victoria Bigelow says of 

“I’m a huge Mazzy Star fan and Hope Sandoval is one of my most important musical influences. The decision to cover this song was a last minute thing but it feels all too serendipitous with this year being the 30th anniversary of So Tonight That I Might See. It was produced by my husband, Devan Skaggs, and we recorded it at our home studio in the desert. We really wanted to remain true to the original while making it as much of an expression of me as possible. I only hope I was able to do such a perfect, timeless song justice.”

You can watch the video for Victoria Bigelow's version of "Fade Into You" below. It is available now via Immortal Records. For more on Victoria Bigelow, check out the artist's website.

Live Shows: The Pharcyde and STL GLD, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 11/19/23

Photo by Ken Sears

I have been a huge fan of The Pharcyde for thirty years now. I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Bizarre Ride II, and it was one of those albums I bought less than an hour after hearing it. Back in the 90's, Boston wasn't exactly a live hip hop destination with many venues reluctant to book rap artists. The only way I got to see The Pharcyde live was back in 1996 when they opened for Korn, which was not exactly the ideal way to see them. The closest I came after that was twelve (?) years ago when Slimkid3 and Fatlip toured as Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde with J-Swift and LA Jay. (The Pharcyde at that point was Bootie Brown and Imani.) Last year, Slimkid3, Fatlip, and Imani reunited as The Far Side (formerly of The Pharcyde), but didn't make it to anywhere in New England. As soon as they announced a run of New England shows, I knew I had to go.

As excited as I was to see a reunited The Pharcyde, I was more than a little hesitant. Were the three of them getting along? Was this just going to be an obvious cash grab? Within a minute of them starting, all concerns were gone. Slimkid3, Fatlip, and Imani all sound great and had more energy than I could have predicted from three guys in their fifties. They opened with "Ya Mama" and played songs mostly from Bizarre Ride II, with a handful from Labcabincalifornia like "Drop" and "Runnin.'" Mostly, though, they seemed like they were having a fantastic time. The crowd (which was far younger than I expected) met and exceeded their energy, thrilled to finally be seeing these classic songs live. 

I was curious how they were going to deal with the absence of Bootie Brown, the one member not taking part in the reunion. Instead of ignoring it, they let his verses play pre-recorded off the record. For his verse of "Passin' Me By," the crowd mostly took over vocals and loudly shouted/sang along. One of the coolest parts of the performance of "Passin' Me By" was the DJ showing how they used the Quincy Jones sample before the song started. That was followed immediately by "Otha Fish" which let Slimkid3 shine. A large section of the song was done a capella, with Slimkid3 crooning most of it. "4 Better or 4 Worse" was another highlight with Fatlip subbing the last time of his imitated phone call verse with "I don't want to get cancelled." If you know the song... you know.

If you love The Pharcyde, get out there are see them. The show far exceeded anything I hoped for, and might be the show of the year for me. The only regret I had was that I didn't also see them in Hampton Beach on Friday and Greenfield on Saturday.

Even though there were two other options to see The Pharcyde in New England this weekend, I knew I chose correctly once STL GLD was announced as the opener for The Sinclair. The Boston hip hop group are one of the best live shows in the city, and they brought it Sunday night. Despite the success of GLD FST over the summer, most of the crowd was not familiar with them and seemed confused when the show started with a drummer and guitarist on stage, joined shortly by Christopher Talken screaming into a microphone metal style. Once Moe Pope joined, the crowd got it and got into the show. Songs like "Wild Style" and "Resisting" won the crowd over. It seemed like STL GLD purposefully put their louder and more energetic songs up front to grab everyone, and then chilled things out towards the end of their set. They even played "Again," which I don't think I've ever seen them do live. I've only ever seen them as an opening band or as part of a festival, so I really need to make it to a STL GLD headlining show one of these days.

Death and Rough Francis - Split 7"


For those unaware, Death are the Detroit protopunk band from the 1970's formed by three brothers, and the subject of the 2012 documentary A Band Called Death. Rough Francis are a Burlington, VT based garage rock band formed by the sons and nephews of Death. The two bands have been teasing working together on social media recently, and the first phase of that is a split single. Death's contribution is "World In Disguise," a blistering protopunk sound with just a bit of psychedelia mixed in. This is a band that was at the forefront of the genre, and continues to be with a single like this. Their peers have slowed down, but "World In Disguise" could have been released fifty years ago, if it wasn't for the production being a little more slick. Rough Francis' contribution is "Haunted," which is just pure Rough Francis. It's the mixture of skate punk meets garage rock that we love about these guys. They're one of the bands on my personal "How are these guys not huge?" list, and once you hear "Haunted," you'll understand why.

You can listen to "World In Disguise" and "Haunted" below. The 7" is available now via Bandcamp. For more on Death and Rough Francis' future endeavors together, check out Death's website.