New Stuff in the Distro!

I don't mention my distro as much as I think maybe I should, but this past week or so has been really good with new stuff and I thought it would be cool to bring up some of the new releases in there that you can get your hands on RIGHT NOW. So without further ado, here are some of the highlights of the new Japanese stuff I've got:

Madpress / In the Unknown split CD - $8.00

Two of the best epic screamo bands in Japan today. Madpress has a very strong Forget me not vibe, but are a little more aggressive with it. In the Unknown plays similar, but have a different feel to their melodies. Overall, this has really been one of my favorite releases of 2012 (even though it came out in 2011). When I was able to get this in the distro, I literally girl-screamed with joy. Do yourself a huge favor and get this now.

Midnight Parade / Kitten split CD - $8.00

You may remember Midnight Parade from when I wrote about them a few weeks ago. This is their newest release and offers up two more of their post-rock influenced emo songs. Kitten shares members with Document Not Found and Stereo Type, and play some very angular and frenetic screamo. This CD just comes together so well with both bands contributing stellar songs and blowing away my expectations.

 Tetola93 / Visyaaa split CD - $8.00

I don't think I hide my love of Tetola93, but if I didn't mention it yet today: I love Tetola93. They're just so extreme, playing with so much passion and originality, it's everything that is right about music. This is their newest output and arguably their best songs to date. I usually call them a mashup of Killie and Louise Cyphre, but I feel like there's more to it (there is). Regardless, if you like loudish music, Tetola93 could be your next favorite band. They split the disc with Visyaaa, who play some wild thrash done really well.

 Breaking Concept Vol. 01 - 5 way split CD - $9.00

5 amazing bands playing in 5 distinct styles. This disc is great not only because of the quality of each band, but because it totally mixes it up. Sort of like a compilation, but more tracks from each band so they really sink in. FLEX play have a sort of DC-style emotional hardcore, but updated to 2011 (when this was release). Nothing, nothing, nothing have former members of Next Style & Dignity For All and play a more Ebullition influenced late-90's emotional hardcore style. Blue Ray Dance play that San Diego wild screamo sound, ala Swing Kids. TG.Atlas play angular post-hardcore, influenced by The Jesus Lizard. And finally, Threadyarn remind me of that Sapporo screamo sound, ala The Carnival of Dark-Split. Overall, really good stuff here for everybody.

And that's not all the new stuff, I just didn't want to make this post too long. Here are some more things I've stocked recently:

• Phone / Tetola93 / Ao Split CD - $8.00
• VA - It's All Really There Compilation CD - $6.00
• Dying In Motion / Years Passing / Fair Root / S-Explode split LP - $8.00
• Malegoat - To Face The Music Cassette - $4.00
• Midnight Parade / Unripe Split CD - $8.00
• VA - Hate Yourself And Love The Fate Compilation CD - $8.00
• Detrytus - Blind Fields CD - $8.00
• Low-Pass - Trimurti Cassette - $4.00

VA - Here Comes The Bottom Line... Vol. 3 [2008]

And so the week ends with Volume 3. This actually isn't the last of the compilation series, but I don't have Vol. 4, so that'll be it for this anyways. I really hope Aki continues with this series, as there isn't really any other compilations in Japan collecting this stuff.

As with the others, this one has a different style than the one's before. This one is mainly emo and screamo bands. Some of the stand outs are Bed, What Ever Film, and The Sunset Boulevard, although almost every track is really good.

I still have a copy of this in my distro, so pick it up if you like the tracks: Buy it Here!

Here Comes The Bottom Line... Vol. 3 Compilation

1. Herpiano - I Wonder

2. Piece Pix - 真夜中の歌

3. Bed - 70000000000人間

4. TG.Atlas - 神or魔神

5. What Ever Film - イツワリ

6. The Sunset Boulevard - Return From Ruin

7. Nenem - 三階裏からの追憶

8. Curve - Rather Forgiven

9. Malegoat - Expression

10. Fragments - Such Days

11. Mod Lung - 昨日みた夢

12. Sheba - Rainbow On You

[Bandcamp] Malegoat - To Face the Music [2011]

The beginnings of albums are like all first impressions. That's why another long intro or some spoken word shit is going to make me lose it. Luckily, I can just pop in Malegoat and forget everything. A smile on my face within 5 seconds always speaks highly of a band, in my opinion, and I think Malegoat got a smile in 3. That's gotta mean something, right?

So, I'm going to organize this little talk-about (I don't want to call it a review, cause that requires me to write a certain way) into maybe three main points, the first already being said. The second point is about Japanese bands singing in English. It can ruin a band sometimes. I usually just tune it out when Husking Bee or Staple start trying to pronounce some sort of mangled lyric. I believe in singing in your own language (even though I totally break that and try to do vocals in different languages myself). But Malegoat may pass my silly barrier keeping the non-English speakers from singing in English. It just wouldn't be the same if they didn't. The pronunciation is almost perfect, but the phrasing IS perfect. The vocals are really one of the best things about this. So often with jangly emo bands like this, the vocals are not quite on key, and it just ruins the experience for me. Malegoat's vocals are always on point and go with the music perfectly. You have my permission.

Finally, nothing will stop me in my tracks like a trumpet in an emo song. Halfway through this album, they throw in an instrumental track and lace it with soothing trumpet. It just feels so American Football that they get a free pass to finish the album with some white-boy juggalo trash. For a period of two years, I went to bed with American Football every single night. Their sound has totally brainwashed me. I remember when I was listening to this album for the first time. I was paying attention to something else, but when that trumpet sounded, it was like a dinner bell. It totally soothed me, reminding me of high school. And that's what this music is about for me. It's the sound that I remember from high school, updated to be fresh and awesome.

That's about it. I love this. Keep It Together Records released the cassette in the States, so frickin' get it!

Malegoat - To Face the Music

1. Matured Sense

2. Change With Our Time

3. Expression

4. Your Lie

5. Ignore

6. Time Passes

7. Tidying

8. My Blues