Hidden Gems - January 2019
Every month, the Lockjaw Crew will be sharing our hidden gems from the depths of the Lockjaw distro. Whether you’re discovering a new band or rekindling an old flame, give them a listen and let us know what you think.
In January we’re listening to Acid Snot, From The Tracks, Laughing In The Face Of, Anchord and Gnarwolves.
[gap] [title text="Joelle" tag_name="h2"] [ux_image id="8718"] [gap] [row] [col span="8" span__sm="12"]Acid Snot - Attitudes (2016)
Top Song: Hit & Sunk
I remember the first time I met Acid Snot: El Topo Goes Loco 2017. I remember thinking: “Wow, they're young,” as people under 25 are a rare sight in skate-punk these days. That thought was was soon replaced with, “Wow, they're good!”
Attitudes had come out the year before and, after a few listens, the genius of it became clear to me. It includes everything that drew me to this genre in the first place: fast, techy, melodic music with thought-provoking lyrics.
Their live performance is nothing short of amazing and includes the occasional dancing taco. Throughout summer and their Hollyweed Tour they stole my heart, both as musicians and people.
They've been writing a new album for a while now, and we might have to wait a bit longer but I just know it's going to be phenomenal. If there's one band that should be on your ‘watch out for’ list, it's Acid Snot. I picked Hit And Sunk as my top song, mainly because of its eco political content. Whoever said punk and politics don't mix needs to reevaluate his life.
[/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_products columns="1" ids="1146"] [/col] [/row] [ux_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J2IaEyG_4I"] [title text="Cedric" tag_name="h2"] [ux_image id="8717"] [gap] [row] [col span="8" span__sm="12"]From The Tracks - Get Worse
Top Song: Get Worse
I know this might sound biased, as Sean and I play together in The Affect Heuristic, but From The Tracks was one of my favorite bands some years ago. I first met Sean and the other Trackers at a show in Ostend, while he was performing in his underwear, singing through a sock. I bought the shirt, loved the music... then they went on hiatus. It’s a beautiful record, you should have it too. Also, the shirt is starting to get too small by now.
[/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_products columns="1" ids="5993"] [/col] [/row] [ux_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AtSwNqsrJU"] [gap] [title text="Rob" tag_name="h2"] [ux_image id="8764"] [gap] [row] [col span="8" span__sm="12"]Laughing In The Face Of - Lubrication Of Social Anxiety
Top Song: Green T
This band got me into Lockjaw Records. Yeah, I was late to the party, the label had been releasing bangers.
Laughing In The Face Of took Darko on our first UK tour. They had just released The Lubrication Of Social Anxiety and I watched them every night rocking it. We called out Green T, to Andy Powell's disgust, before he tore the tune a new one with his incendiary beats.
Since then, we toured Spain with the new line-up, and they are now back on the circuit with exciting new songs. I imagine that, as skate-punk aficionados, a lot of you may have heard this album already, but if you haven't then get it on and enjoy.
Don’t miss LITFO when they gig near you. Listen to the album and The Governor EP, they’re both in store.
[/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_products columns="1" ids="829"] [/col] [/row] [gap] [title text="Lesley" tag_name="h2"] [ux_image id="8843"] [gap] [row] [col span="8" span__sm="12"]Anchord - As A Real Return (2017)
Top Song: BD/CP aka Bad Cop
This album reminds me of the chaotic emo-tinged punk rock bands from the mid 2000’s like Open Hand, Hundred Reasons, Hopesfall, etc. Where bands were moving away from screamo and hardcore, in search of a more rocking sound that didn’t compromise on energy and excitement, but didn’t tip towards metal.
So in As A Real Return, you’re getting a lot of fun guitar work and memorable melody lines which means each of the songs on this CD has got a great character. Plus, everything’s carried off with a 90’s hardcore vibe, giving it the perfect amount of impact and energy. It ticks all the boxes!
Plus this is a band that’s great live! The lads put on awesome performances when they came to the UK to tour the album in 2017 and blew my socks off. These guys are tight and well-practised musicians.
Sit down and stick this in your ears, you won’t be disappointed!
[/col] [col span="4" span__sm="12"] [ux_products type="row" columns="1" ids="1176"] [/col] [/row] [ux_video url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2H1NmGNBwE"] [title text="Sarah" tag_name="h2"] [ux_image id="8844"] [gap] [row] [col span="8" span__sm="12"]Gnarwolves - Outsiders (2017)
Top Song: Shut Up
Once fairly revered in the UK scene, Gnarwolves have been extremely quiet in the last year, to the point that one wonders whether they’ve quietly broken up. There was some controversy around the band about 18 months ago, and singer/guitarist Thom Weeks has been focussing on other projects (such as Shit Present), but Outsiders remains a brilliant album.
As the band have been a bit less public lately, I sometimes forget how influential they’ve been on my music taste in the last decade. Their early EPs and their self-titled album were on repeat for me for many years and, although Outsiders represents a more mature direction for them, it’s still full of evocative songwriting and memorable riffs.
The album cascades through equally dark and uplifting tracks like Wires and Paint Me A Martyr, culminating in Shut Up. It’s one of the darkest songs they have ever produced, beginning with slow waves of disappointment that build into a bitter torrent of anger and distortion. The album closes on the final line torn from Thom’s throat: ‘Fuck this, fuck you, I’m gone.'
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