Bass Drum of Death (Mississippi):

The garage punk band Bass Drum Of Death from Mississippi, USA have released their fifth album “Say I Won’t”. This is their first album since resigning to hometown independent record label Fat Possum Records. “Say I Won’t” is an album all about change and reflection as Bass Drum of Death moved from New York back to hometown Mississippi during the pandemic.

“Say I Won’t” is the album that shows who Bass Drum Of Death is and how lockdown affected the band. It speaks the truth as well as being fun and a rush of energy. You really go on this journey with Bass Drum Of Death; A relatable one. The new album is a mix mash of garage punk and blues where we can see where the band is currently musically. It’s a great era to be a Bass Drum Of Death fan.

Dearly Beloved (Toronto):

Dearly Beloved emerge from lockdown with the vivid, bracing Walker Park (Jan 24, 2023 Sonic Unyon Records). A bioluminescent 10-song set, the album is the band’s follow-up to Times Square Discount, which was released just before the world closed in on itself. Where TSD was conceived on the road, by a band that had logged hundreds of thousands of miles of touring, the songs of Walker Park were spawned in the first year of the pandemic at Phoebe Street, the home studio of DB frontman Rob Higgins.

The band’s self-described “barrage rock” is both a clever bit of wordplay and a pithy statement of intent rooted in bedrock truth. For the past 16 years, the Beloveds’ collision and fusion of pop and hardcore sensibilities, melody and menace, has offered up unabashed stoner rock sensibilities coiled like smoke around a magma core of psychedelic post-grunge. Walker Park anchors itself in the lessons learned over a 16-year career and launches the band on an exciting new trajectory.

Basement Revolver (Toronto):

Basement Revolver have been crafting both noisy and graceful shoegaze-esque tracks out of their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario since releasing their 2016 breakout hit ‘Johnny’. Their affinity for blending ’90s-infused indie rock with fuzzy, dreamy pop and poignant, yearning lyrics has earned them a devoted following throughout their native Canada, the US and UK.

Following a pair of buzz-worthy EPs, Basement Revolver released debut album Heavy Eyes to critical acclaim in 2018. Adding a second guitarist in 2019, the now expanded possibilities of sound and colour were captured on the infectious Wax and Digital EP, recorded at Toronto’s Union Sound Co with producer Ian Gomes.

Their sophomore album ‘Embody’ evolves beyond the bedroomy sound of previous releases while losing none of its trademark intimacy. Guitars oscillate between soaring riffs and shimmering shoegaze ambience while the rhythm section propels like a well-oiled machine, and Hurn’s vocals ring out with crystal clarity.