If It's Too Loud...

Ever since Aaron Perrino announced that he would be releasing and performing music under the sole moniker The Sheila Divine from now on, I was wondering what The Sheila Divine would sound like. He had been exploring a darker, more moody sound lately, and "I Know There is Happiness," released last month, continued in that direction. Yesterday he released a new single, "Satan Got My Soul," that is distinctly more rock. The song recalls vintage 90's The Sheila Divine, albeit with a slightly more metal edge... but you kind of have to be at least a tiny bit metal with a title like "Satan Got My Soul." As much as I've loved Perrino's recent releases, it's pretty great to hear him get back to the rock. It also has us even more curious which direction The Sheila Divine are headed in next. You can listen to "Satan Got My Soul" below. There is a new album from The Sheila Divine expected in October. For more on the band, check them out on Fa...

Aaron and the Lord have been eschewing the world of indie rock lately for a much darker sound. That sound has reached it's pinnacle (so far!) with their latest single. "Vampires in Outer Space" is much more synth heavy and New Wave than we're used to from any of Aaron Perrino's projects. It may be a dark and moody song, but it is called "Vampires in Outer Space" so there is a sense of fun there. Plus, I don't think I've ever added a song to our Halloween playlist so quickly. Aaron and the Lord have gifted us a dark and heavy track just begging to be played at a goth night. At least, the fun kind of goth night. You can listen to "Vampires in Outer Space" below. Aaron and the Lord are teasing that they have a new album ready to go, so hopefully we'll be hearing more soon. For more on Aaron and the Lord, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .

We're running the risk of becoming an Aaron & the Lord fanpage at this point, but how are we supposed to not bring you their version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" It's not quite as dark as their previous holiday song, but it's still pretty dark for a version of this Christmas standard. It has that dark New Wave synth sound mixed with noisy 90's indie rock thing going for it, but the joy of the Christmas spirit still comes bubbling through despite of Aaron Perrino's attempts to stifle it. This is a good one to take a break from "All I Want for Christmas is You" or "Wonderful Christmastime," and it's even better if you have any relatives that demand you play carols at your get together. You can listen to Aaron & the Lord's version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on the artist, check them out on Facebook and Instagram . Do You Hear What I Hear? by Aaron...

Last month we brought you "Lilydale" from Aaron and the Lord and commented that it was goth adjacent. Their latest, "The Darkness," keeps that theme going. This new track is a bit heavier than the previous single, but it's just as brooding. What really what sticks out the most about "The Darkness" is just how heavy and moody the song is. It lands somewhere between grunge and industrial, but quickly lurches away into its own territory. Aaron Perrino may have started off in the 90's with The Sheila Divine, but this is his heaviest song to date. If "Lilydale" had us curious where Aaron and the Lord were headed, "The Darkness" has us rabidly waiting. You can listen to "The Darkness" below. We are the Darkness. We are the Light  is due out in the future. For more on Aaron and the Lord, check out the band on Facebook .

Photo via Faebook I've been a fan of Aaron Perrino's musical projects for decades now, from The Sheila Divine to Dear Leader to his latest, Aaron & the Lord. I can definitely say that he's never quite sounded like he does on Aaron & the Lord's latest. "Lilydale" is a dark and foreboding alt-rock sound. It might not get fully goth, but this new song rubs right against that level of brooding. The only thing stopping it from becoming a goth anthem is there's just enough of a 90's alt-rock vibe. It's an absolutely gorgeous song that can be downright uncomfortable at times. "Lilydale" is a great song that has us curious what Aaron & the Lord have planned for us next. You can watch the video for "Lilydale" below. The song will be included on the forthcoming album We are the Darkness. We are the Light. For more on Aaron & the Lord, check out the band on Facebook .

This is an absolute dream project for me in just about every way. Aaron & The Lord is the new musical project from Aaron Perrino (The Sheila Divine, Dear Leader) and is a collaboration with Steven Lord (Dirty Bangs). The band's new single features Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Belly, The Breeders) on vocals. The song was initially pitched to Donelly as a Lee Hazelwood/Nancy Sinatra style duet but quickly morphed. A post on The Sheila Divine's Facebook page compares it to the Cocteau Twins and Phil Spector's production, and that really nails it. It's two of my 90's Boston favorites singing a duet that combines New Wave and the Wall of Sound? I don't think I could be more in. You can listen to "This Love Ain't Dead" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . Aaron & The Lord don't seem to have a social media presence yet, so for now keep an eye on The Sheila Divine's Facebook . This Love Ain't Dead by Aaron & The L...

Aaron Perrino has been releasing a ridiculous amount of music during quarantine. The current (former?) Sheila Divine frontman was releasing a song a day for a while, usually as an homage to another artist. He was doing it so much, it was impossible for us to even know where to start bringing it to you. Now that he's slowed down, he's released a new Christmas song. I'm sure there are going to be a bunch of COVID-19 themed Christmas songs and merchandise this year, and I'm already sick of just thinking about it. But The Sheila Divine's "Corona Christmas" might be the only acceptable one. "Cornona Christmas" has one of the darkest senses of humor I've heard in decades. It's so dark that I'm not completely sure that it is meant to be taken as humorous. It's a bleak, bleak song, about a bleak, bleak topic. In a Facebook post, Aaron Perrino explains the song: " It's almost time for Christmas music so I figured I'd write on...

In the wake of the end of The Sheila Divine (although maybe not, since Aaron Perrino announced he will still use the name and the band was listed for this year's obviously cancelled Boston Calling), Aaron Perrino has finally released some music as a solo artist. Dystopian Demos doesn't sound like The Sheila Divine at all. Some of the songs on the EP have more of a pop sound and less of a guitar. "The Sun Will Grow" and "Dylan the Villain" have a lo-fi New Wave feel to them. "A Love Uncertain" sounds a little more like newer Sheila Divine, but still not quite exactly the same. "Virus Got Me Doing Vaporwave" is nearly an 80's style electronic ballad.  You can listen to "A Love Uncertain" below. Dystopian Demos  is now available on The Sheila Divine's Bandcamp . For more on Aaron Perrino, check out The Sheila Divine on Facebook and Twitter . Dystopian Demos by The Sheila Divine

I've been going to see The Sheila Divine for twenty years now. Back when they were signed to Roadrunner Records, it seemed like they were always playing somewhere in Boston. Between the night they won the WBCN Rock n Roll Rumble until the end of the year when my time in college radio was over, I think I saw them monthly. In the past few years they've played a few local shows per year, and it seemed like I'd be able to check out one of my favorite Boston bands live twice a year or so. However, with Jim Gilbert deciding to leave the band, it appears that The Sheila Divine might be calling it a career. Obviously I had to head out to see them one last time. Friday night it seemed that The Sheila Divine "possibly" breaking up has been elevated to The Sheila Divine "is" breaking up. The band had a sense of finality in their performance, and as melancholy as a Sheila Divine show can be, what is most likely going to be their final Boston show was truly a mel...

Last time we saw The Sheila Divine, they were p erforming an all improvised experimental rock set at Lilypad Inman . In case you thought they might be going in the art rock direction, they're back to the poppy alt rock that we've come to love for 20 years now with their latest single. "Time To Set It Off" has a slightly different sound than vintage Sheila Divine, maybe a little funkier than we're used to? It's still a Sheila Divine song with loud, driving and swirling guitars and Aaron Perrino's trademark just short of emo vocals, though, so we're 100% on board.  You can listen to "Time To Set It Off" below, and get your own copy of the song at The Sheila Divine's Bandcamp . If you happen to be in Belgium, you're in luck since they'll be touring your country in May. For all things The Sheila Divine, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter . Time To Set It Off by The Sheila Divine

When I first heard Aaron Perrino's latest project, no hope/no harm, I wasn't as into it as I expected to be. I've always preferred his work when he's a bit louder and more rockin', and the first no hope/no harm songs were a little too mellow for my taste, and almost crooners. With their new EP, no hope/no harm have married both sounds perfectly.  What's interesting is that these songs have a feel like a crooner decided to take on emo inflected 90's alt rock. The fact that you get an anthem like "I Know That You Don't Care" next to the almost country tinged "Punch a Nazi in the Face" and they both flow together in a completely seamless way is magical. Plus, "Punch a Nazi in the Face" might be the angriest power ballad of all time. While the EP is very ballad heavy, it's by no means a quiet or mellow release. The ballads have the most intensity on Swimming in the Charles EP.  You can listen to "I Know That You D...

The same week that Aaron Perrino played an experimental improvised show with his most well known band, his newest band released a new single. no hope/no harm have mostly released some fairly mellow alternative rock. "Toxic Baby" is their liveliest release yet. Complete with "Valentine, your blood turns quick / You love me like a jihadist" it steers dangerously close to emo, but doesn't quite go there. Ok... sure... it does, but in the best possible way. It's a great pop song with catchy guitar riffs, vocals that almost fall into abrasive but keep you sucked in, and shouting background vocals nearly hidden, it's the perfect song for those of us ashamed to admit to our guilty emo pleasures. You can listen to "Toxic Baby" below. For your own copy of the song, head over to Bandcamp . For more on no hope/no harm, check them out on Facebook . Toxic Baby by no hope / no harm

Ten years ago, Boston rapper/producer/ex-WFNX dj D-Tension had a conversation with Aaron Perrino of The Sheila Divine and Dear Leader , and came up with the idea for Secret Project. Secret Project  is an album produced by D-Tension featuring vocals from many Boston area indie rockers. The idea is about to become a reality, with the video for the first single, "Can You Stand It," being released. With vocals by Ad Frank, it's a synth and keytar heavy song with a cool, fun groove. It definitely makes me want to hear more, especially since the rest of the album includes tracks featuring Aaron Perrino, Alex Stern of Big D & the Kids Table , Kevin Stevenson of The Shods , Stephie Coplan , and more. There's also a Kickstarter to help finish the album which also contributes to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Definitely check it out!