Saturday, 15 August 2026

*** VALATIE exclusive song premiere ***

VALATIE
"Deafinitely"
exclusive song premiere
For fans of: Ambretta, Burial Etiquette and Aspertame


     I was quite taken with the debut VALATIE album 'Dragged Through the Garden' that released back in 2025. The Chicago, Illinois six-piece is comprised of members have spent time in Indisposed, Excrucis, Sawamura No Hitter, Antillion, and Mira Corpora, so it's obvious this will be quite the treat. Their sophomore album 'echolalia' hits the streets on August 21st via Oliver Glenn Records by way of 70 cassettes. Today I'm premiering the 6th of 8 tracks titled 'Deafinitely' and Dylan from the band had the following to say about it:

"'Deafinitely' is a song we put together toward the end of the writing cycle. It was kind of pieced together out of a few separate ideas. It’s one of the more ‘high contrast’ songs we put together for this record, with the zany sass intro that leads into the waltzy, melodic second half. The lyrics mostly examine this metaphor of authoritarian American politicians ‘driving the country’ recklessly like a car. We fooled around with a few different arrangements for the opening section and eventually settled on the big, all screaming format that definitely feels like one of the punchiest moments on the album, in my opinion."


(2026) VALATIE "Deafinitely" (from 'echolalia')

     The song opens going full speed with a dirty and pummeling intro that boasts multiple vocalists, breakdowns, and some quirky guitar progressions. Just before the one-minute mark the song shifts its weight and settles on back-and-forth post-hardcore with some gorgeous clean vocals that lead it to a tipping point between melody and math that begins to resolve around 1:50 as it fades out and creeps back in with a dark groove. Love those harmonics and spoken word.


The band is going on tour next week so check it out if you're in the area!!!



Thursday, 23 July 2026

*** HORSE FUNERAL exclusive song premiere ***

HORSE FUNERAL
"Sazerac Drinker"
exclusive album/song premiere
For fans of: Usurp Synapse, Missouri Executive Order 44, Aim Of Conrad and Lower Automation

Bandcamp
(becomes active upon its July 31st release)


     HORSE FUNERAL are a math/sass band operating out Little Rock, Arkansas. Their email was the first I've heard of them but when they cited: Usurp Synapse, Febuary, .GIF From God, Terry Green, Euclid C Finder, Nerver, Antioch Arrow, The Locust, and generally from the 90's San Diego scene, Gravity Records, and 31G as influences I immediately dug in whilst salivating.

     I was tempted to premiere "Casket City" because it's the best track, but as it is partially already out there in various promo videos I'll stick with penultimate track "Sazerac Drinker", which leans a bit more to the screamo side while the former mixed in a lot of noise rock ala fellow Illinoisians Lower Automation. This track is fire and the mixture of drunken sassy rambling alongside piercing screams is awesome. They 've already booked a two day run in August, and are planning on touring further afteward. The debut record release show is planned for July 31st with tapes coming from texasheartusa and cds from Vamonos Records.


(2026) HORSE FUNERAL "Sazerac Drinker" (from 'Horse Funeral')

Monday, 20 July 2026

*** PODCAST #199 Paul (Persistent Vision, Perpetual Motion Machine) ***


    I was always a huge fan of Perpetual Motion Machine, so when I found out that the new incarnation Persistent Vision was doing great things I began following them closely. They've released a ton of awesome stuff since 2023 and with an upcoming...thing happening with Paul and the label I figured it was high time to have him on. A few choice things discussed: skate punk, everything after page 98, band t-shirts are the best introductions, Paul makes me upset, creating/running Perpetual Motion Machine and playing in Operation Latte Thunder, Sweat Lodge and Wilderness Medicine, the screamo dead years, a top five best word, Dark Days Bright Nights festival, etc. Bands played in this podcast: Assfactor 4, Ecorche, Heiße, Planesmistakenforstars, and Torches To Rome. Listen to podcast #199 which is available to stream and/or download for free via this link.


PERSISTENT VISION RECORDS


1 You Need to Stop Talking
~ no music

2 Everyone DOESN'T Get Their Money Back
TORCHES TO ROME "Young Arsenal" (Paul)
ECORCHE "Song # 6" (Dave)

3  Dark Days Bright Nights and future Persistent releases
ASSFACTOR 4 "I reckon" (Paul)
HEIßE "Tensusaiga" (Dave)
PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS "End Me in Richmond" (Paul)


~Dave

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