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The Mic Recommends...

Despite many of us at The Mic slowing down at the moment, both recovering from the academic year and enjoying the sunshine, this week a few of our writers recommend some hot new tracks from the likes of Nova Twins, Parkway Drive, and Jockstrap.


Nevermore – Lamb of God

Lamb of God are back and they mean business. With riffs aplenty, hefty drum lines and morbid poetry references, this is no standard affair. Lamb Of God have returned with a vengeance after their self-titled record, and I for one couldn’t be more excited. The aggression with which they have written this new song is more than apparent, and the vehemence in every word spat out of Randy Blythe’s mouth is clear to hear for all listeners. With plenty of references to Edgar Allan Poe, this song is both intellectual and very simplistic in how very powerful it is, with literary references being combined with masterful guitar work to create a song both heavy and layered. This is the first single ahead of their latest record, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us as fans. Jake Longhurst


A Dark Place For Somewhere Beautiful - Nova Twins

Released on the 17th of June within their beautifully and futuristically crafted album, Supernova, this track showcases what Nova Twins are best at, as well as what we wouldn’t usually expect from them. The beginning reminds me a lot of Cleopatra in that there’s a cultural element to the instruments that seem to teleport me to Cairo or New Delhi. This has become a theme in the duo’s new album: pride in their culture and heritage, and a general revaluation of the limits of culture-heavy music and its creators. This song definitely touches on breaking down barriers, with Amy and Georgia literally “looking for a way to survive” expectations of them as black women in the industry. Of course, this track demonstrates the ridiculous and iconic skill of Georgia South and the way she uses the bass to create mystery, energy, and futuristic sound, all of which bodes perfectly with a track that fuses traditional noise and the future. Lyrically, this song, in particular, discusses the temporariness of life, and how important both the past and future are in sustaining culture and society. For more of my thoughts on the entire album, I will soon be posting an album review which discusses how inventive and unique this project is to the world. Roxann Yus



Glitch – Parkway Drive

With a more electronic-sounding song than ever before, one of Australia's largest bands has returned with a defiant sound. The song is about sleep paralysis and sleep demons, and talks about issues with the cortex, where the titular glitch comes from. The song isn’t a massively complex structure, but it feels suitably loud and anthemic to more than fit in for the stadium-sized show that Parkway Drive are capable of. The band have come up with a song that is both clever and very simple, allowing hopefully for massive crowd singalongs as well as making for brilliant viewing, and I’m sure they will not struggle to create an incredible atmosphere when they play this live. Jake Longhurst


Rob The Supermarket – Kid Kapichi

A supremely catchy punk song, Rob The Supermarket is a rebuttal against the capitalist ways of Britain. Featuring easily learnt vocals and basic guitar, this song will stick in your head for days after you first hear it, slandering the system of our country and making light of the serious situation we’ve gotten ourselves into economically. The drums and guitars are almost syncopated, making for a tight and strong sound, whilst the solo runs around briefly, feeling free, fun, and sarcastic. The band feel like they are poking fun at anyone and everyone, and yet make you feel invited too, bringing a sense of togetherness against the upper class even though they may also be singing about you. This makes for an excellent song, with both serious and ironic layers to it, and ultimately a brilliant sounding set of lyrics and instruments. Jake Longhurst


Glasgow - Jockstrap

Having garnered well-earned critical attention in recent years, London duo Jockstrap have released Glasgow, the third single from their upcoming debut album. When I pressed play on this song, I was expecting some trademark-Jockstrap unhinged, electronic breakdowns, but there aren’t any glitchy synthesizers, like in 50/50, or even pensive, James-Blake-esque piano chords, like in Concrete Over Water. Instead, Glasgow is driven by some laidback acoustic guitar chords. It’s a sonic left-turn for the duo that caught me off-guard. However, when I listened closer, I realised that the producer, Taylor Skye, and singer, Georgia Ellery, haven’t lost their taste for the surreal and absurd. Glittery, manipulated harps and swirling synths appear when you least expect them, disrupting the pleasantness of the guitar. Meanwhile, Ellery’s cryptic lyrics have themes of geography and sensuality: “I’m not coming to Glasgow, I’ll just see you at the shore…I trust myself, I’m a woman she believes in, I touch myself every time I see what’s missing from my life.” If this single is anything to go by, we’re in for a genre-challenging experience when Jockstrap releases their debut in September. Caradoc Gayer



All Alone Again – Trashed

The second single ahead of their upcoming debut album, Trashed have released a bouncy song with an incredibly energetic melody, albeit quite melancholic lyrics. Jimmy Embleton-Smith provides excellent vocals on top of some very deft drumming and powerful guitar work, allowing his vocals to shine through whilst still having the space for the guitar and drums to really shine and spread through the rest of the song. The band have previously stated that this record will be something of a concept record, and this song fits the rough theme I had expected ahead of release, which is a melancholic to upbeat record that gets more and more self-believing. This track alone is very upbeat in terms of pure sound, yet lyrically is quite melancholic, giving it a duality of sound that is beyond the years of the band, and more mature than expected. This is a band to watch, and you would be foolish to ignore them. Jake Longhurst

 

Edited by: Roxann Yus


Featured image courtesy of Kid Kapichi via Facebook

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