If It's Too Loud...

Boston darkwave duo Ex-Hyena are back with a new single. "Dark Lights" is a little more restrained than we're used to from the band, but still totally dance worthy. It's a complete vibe of a song, with keys straight from the 80's, and a danceability that's more than a little stealthy. If dark, vintage style dance music is your thing, this one is going to be a lot of fun. (Of course, with this genre, fun is quite relative...) "Dark Lights" has the darkness of Depeche Mode mixed with the groove of Pet Shop Boys, and if that sounds great to you, you're going to adore this one.  You can watch the video for "Dark Lights" below. The EP for "Dark Lights" is out now on Re:Mission Entertainment, and is available via Bandcamp . For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook . They'll be playing an absolutely stacked bill at Ralph's Rock Diner in Worcester with Proles, Lipsmear, and Gossip Collar.

Boston darkwave duo Ex-Hyena are back with a new single. As you can probably guess from the fact that they're a darkwave band, Ex-Hyena's songs tend to be dark. While "This is Your Love" is dark, compared to their previous releases, this one is downright cheery. It's reminding me a lot of early Depeche Mode and Pet Shop Boys. It's quite dance friendly, and while I personally consider all of their music fun, this one would be considered fun by everyone, not just those of us whose taste runs to the more depressing or darker. "This is Your Love" has such a classic darkwave and New Wave feel to it that we're finding it completely irresistible.  You can listen to "This is Your Love" below. The single is out now on Re:Mission Entertainment along with a remix by Club Drugs via Bandcamp . For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the band on Instagram . This Is Your Love by Ex-Hyena

I'm the kind of person that will take any excuse to go visit Salem, MA. I love everything about the city, from the history to the kitsch factor to the macabre tourism aspect. Luckily, Witch City has been growing its live music scene, so Saturday night I had a perfect excuse to head in to see Gossip Collar and Ex-Hyena at Koto, and got to discover Identical Palms. Ex-Hyena opened the show with their darkwave style. Seeing electronic music live isn't always my favorite since so much of it can be pre-programmed, but Ex-Hyena always put on a great show since it's actually done live. They were also the most mellow of the three artists performing, so it helped ease the crowd from finishing up their crab rangoons to watching live music, and Koto slowly filled up during their set. Their new single "Vanishing Edge" was a highlight of their set and helped get the crowd more into dancing at a show mode. Plus, seeing darkwave in Salem just feels right. I was unfamiliar with I...

I've been loving the darkwave music coming from Boston's Ex-Hyena ever since we discovered them in 2022. The duo have sounded like no one else in the city for the past three years, and while their music is typically dark and brooding, their latest single sees them moving in a different direction. "Vanishing Edge" is the fastest and most dance friendly song they've released so far. As dark as it is, it's still a club friendly dance song, and a banger, as the kids say. This one is reminding me of late 80's club tracks, especially from an artist like Depeche Mode or Pet Shop Boys. "Vanishing Edge" is making me look forward to getting out to see Ex-Hyena again, hopefully sooner than later. You can listen to "Vanishing Edge" below. XX YOUR LOVE is due out this summer on Re:Mission Entertainment. For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram . Vanishing Edge by Ex-Hyena

Boston darkwave duo Ex-Hyena have released a new single/EP that you're going to want to check out. Shapeshifter consists of two songs ("Shapeshifter" and "Reptile," which were both included on last year's A Kiss of the Mind ) and remixes of those songs. "Shapeshifter" is a wonderfully minimalistic darkwave song that is instantly mesmerizing. The true joy of darkwave is how dark and foreboding the music can be, but it will still compel you to dance. That is the specialty of Ex-Hyena. "Reptile" is just as minimalist, but this song is more brooding than dance friendly. Both of these new tracks fit perfectly into the world of Ex-Hyena. The three remixes are by Big Time Kill, Slighter, and Dread Risks, and up the dance factor a bit while still keeping the originals' brooding qualities. You can watch the video for "Shapeshifter" below. Shapeshifter is out now via Re:Mission Entertainment, and is available through Bandcamp . For mo...

Emerald Comets is a project featuring Reuben Bettsak of Ex-Hyena that has been releasing music since 2014. Their latest single, "Stuck on the Moment," also features Spenser Gralla, who is the touring drummer of Sweeping Promises. If you aren't familiar with Emerald Comets and only know of Ex-Hyena and Sweeping Promises, "Stuck on the Moment" will surprise you. There are some electronic elements, but none of the darkwave of Ex-Hyena, and definitely none of the dance friendly post-punk of Sweeping Promises. This new song is straight up alt-rock. There's a laid back element, and the song reminds me of the mid to late 90's when alternative rock started having a more melodic and groovy feel to it. "Stuck on the Moment" may not be as dark as Ex-Hyena, but it's more of a goths relaxing at the beach sound. You can listen to "Stuck on the Moment" below. Dreamnight will be due out sometime in the future. For more on Emerald Comets, check ou...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday August 30 The Sheila Divine, Arto Vaun, and Dyr Faser at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Cakeswagg and DJ Whysham at Sonia, Cambridge, MA The Rock Dwellers, Modern Fools, and Noble Dust at Auspicious Brew, Dover, NH Highwater Haulers, Brightwire, and Wyn & The White Light at Askew, Providence, RI Coral Moons, Talk Chalk, and Lady Pills at The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA Smif-N-Wesson, STL GLD, and Tem Blessed & Blessed Energy at Off the Common, Greenfield, MA Burp, SuckerPunch, ...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: August 9 Tysk Tysk Task, Grub Lord, Hell Beach, and 2000s at The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH The Devil's Twins, The Anti Queens, and Oh the Humanity! at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA The Wolff Sisters and Ali McGuirk at The Cut, Gloucester, MA Barrence Whitfield and Sal Baglio's Giant Rock and Roll Show at The Bull Run, Shirley, MA Annabel and Perennial at Faces Brewing Co., Medford, MA Snowbeasts, Ex-Hyena, and SWRM at Myrtle, East Providence, RI The Promised End, In the Meantime...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday June 28 Emily Grogan Band, Crow Follow, CATWOLF, and Galaxy Cake at The Jungle Community Music Club, Somerville, MA Dry Cleaning and Frog at The Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA Buffalo Nichols and The Glass Hours at Askew, Providence, RI Cathedral Bells, Video Days, Middle Part, and Ex-Hyena at O'Brien's Pub, Allston, MA TELL, The Daylillies, and Church & Puppets at Warp and Weft, Lowell, MA Saturday June 29 Wes' Rib House Block Party with Sage Francis, Provi...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: March 29 Kate Clover and Brad Marino at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA CLAMB, Talk Chalk, and Honey Cassette at Faces Brewing, Malden, MA Bella's Bartok at The Word Barn, Exeter, NH Will Dailey, Aubrey Haddard, and Bethany Killian at Askew, Providence, RI March 30 Circus Trees, Pray for Sound, Sleep Jumper, and Vallory Falls at Taffeta, Lowell, MA Ex-Hyena, The Shallows, and CMB at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Sexcoffee, Heather Rose In Clover, and Planet Bog at Askew, Providence, RI Lincoln Durham, The Devil's Twins, and Sophia Carreras at The Rockwell, Some...

Doing Anything Fun this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday, February 9 Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Looking Glass War, and Ex-Hyena at Faces Brewing Co., Malden, MA Follow Thru, One Fall, Sour Punch, and Jaimee Danger & The Dynamite at AS220, Providence, RI TELL, D-Tension and the Secrets, The Daylilies, and Charming Arson at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA Colleen Green, Kremlin Bats, and Kathy Snax at Myrtle, East Providence, RI JVK, hifi, and Rat Palace at The Rockwell, Somerville, MA Saturday, February 10 Motel Black, C.E. Skidmore, and Matt Charette at Thirsty First, Lowell, MA Lemmyfest V w...

Photo via Facebook Our favorite dark electronic music artists out of Boston just released a new single. "Spiral Down" is the latest from Ex-Hyena, and it's exactly what we listen to them for. It's an intense and dark single that harkens back to the glory days of Depeche Mode and the very early days of Ministry. I'm sure most people are going to find "Spiral Down" to be a depressing song, but this is one of the styles of music I just enjoy too much to ever not be delighted by it. If you love your synth music to be dark, and are looking for a modern day update of your favorites from the 80's, Ex-Hyena will never do you wrong. You can listen to "Spiral Down" below. The single is out now via Re:Mission Entertainment. For more on Ex-Hyena, check them out on Facebook and Instagram . Spiral Down by Ex-Hyena

Photo via Facebook We've known that no one else in Boston quite sounds like the dark electronic music of Ex-Hyena, but with their latest single that's even more true. "Reptile" is both more experimental and more mainstream than their typical releases. It starts off with this strange and uncomfortable intro, and then the vocals kick in, making it even weirder. It reminds me a little of Lead Into Gold. "Reptile" then makes an even stranger twist by going in a mainstream direction. It starts to sound like an 80's mainstream synth hit before going back and forth a few times. Ex-Hyena have always stood on their own in this city, and this sees them moving even more in their own direction. You can listen to "Reptile" below. The song is available on the Back from the Grave - Vol. 2 compilation out now via Darkness Calling. You can get a copy through Bandcamp by naming your own price. For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram ...

Dark electronic Boston based duo Ex-Hyena recently released a new single that encapsulates everything we enjoy about them. "In Slow Motion" has that perfect goth sound we expect from Ex-Hyena. It's that perfect mid-tempo song that just revels in how moody it is. "In Slow Motion" is not a cheery song at all. It's dark, and a little disturbing, but you're still going to want to dance to it. Maybe I just have Drab Majesty on the mind after seeing them a few nights ago, but this one is giving me Drab Majesty meets early Depeche Mode and Ministry vibes. It's an endlessly compelling song that just gets more and more addicting the longer you listen. You can listen to "In Slow Motion" below. The song is currently available via Re:Mission Entertainment, and can be downloaded through Bandcamp . For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook . In Slow Motion by Ex-Hyena

Boston dark electronic duo Ex-Hyena just released "Fractured," a song that amplifies the dark side of their sound. It's a slow song that is just dripping with a sense of dread. If this was being played in the chill out room of a rave back in the day, it would be an ominous hint that it was time to leave. That's not to say that "Fractured" is a negative listen. What truly keeps the song sounding unique is how often the song morphs into a completely different sound while keeping it a cohesive unit. It builds by adding layers and removing layers with the listener hardly noticing. Ex-Hyena have their own sound, especially in the realm of the Boston music scene. You can listen to "Fractured" below. Moon Reflections is due out June 24 on Hush Club Ltd. and Brutal Resonance Records. For more on Ex-Hyena, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram . Fractured by Ex-Hyena

I don't cover a lot of electronic music here at If It's Too Loud..., so when I do you know it's something special. The latest from Boston's Ex-Hyena is "Sight Unseen," and it's one of the more intriguing songs coming out of the city for a while. The song comes across like a dark and moody and very off kilter version of trip hop. While trip hop tends to be chill, "Sight Unseen" is anything but. Sure, it's a slow song, but this could never get played in the chill room of a rave. This song is almost orchestral in an anxiety inducing way. It's what would play in a dream where nothing was specifically coming to get you, but you knew something could at any moment. And I mean this all in the best possible way. Reuben Bettsak of Ex-Hyena says of the new song: “‘Sight Unseen’ is about how we fill our headspace with beautiful noise and music to combat thoughts of loneliness. The line ‘From our beds into the waves’ conjures up stormy dreams and memo...

Boston based electronic duo Ex-Hyena are not a party band. Their latest single, "Capture the Stills," is not something you're going to put on to get the dance floor filled. The song is dark and moody. It's more like a melancholy and disjointed version of trip hop. It may not inspire you to dance, but it will grab your attention and make you want to listen. There is a lot to unpack in this song. Instrumentation seems to wander in and out, almost as if its lost and trying to figure out where it belongs within the song. And, as you're listening, you'll start to notice a groove in the song that is going to make you want to move, even if it's just a little. Reuben Bettsak of Ex-Hyena says of the new song: “‘Capture the Stills’ is dark and menacing. Bo [Barringer] wrote the lyrics to this one… It certainly fits the vibe, and themes that Ex-Hyena often covers. To me, it's like falling into a David Lynch movie void, and witnessing two characters in a volatile ...