THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS

Band: THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS
For fans of: Senza, Youth Novel, Heavenly Blue, Brahm, Letters To Catalonia, Olth, and In Loving Memory.
Genres: Punk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Metallic Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Emo-violence

Related artists: Senza, Tolls, Southtowne Lanes, Elephant Walk, Fenotype, 3amwonderlanddd, State Violence, Masque, Grip, P L U M E, Kind!, Mother Wound, Mild Cats, and Marionette.
Country: Portland, Oregon U.S.A.
Years Active: 2023-present

Label(s): Middle Man Records

     I was told about this band back when I did this podcast with Hellena, but the band had no recordings back then and I kinda just forgot about it. Then they dropped they debut 8-song release and my brain turned into curly fries. Like holy shit this is fucking unreal.

     Opener "Lavender" puts the new band's writing and performance chops on display immediately with perfectly executed bird-shrieks, chugs, and melody...like good god that melodic shift at 1:40 is incredible. "Integrated Pest Management" falls into the same category as the opener, that is to say it equally balances melody with aggression, while lead single and fourth track "The Sparrow" leans to the heavier, darker side of things. Motioning the other way are tracks like "No Longer My Blood" and "Stained Glass Eyelids" which inject a healthy dose of rhythm and bounce. Regarding the album closer "Idol", this damned thing is like 30 seconds long but fucking rips like an atom bomb explosion contained within a marble and is the perfect end to a staggering debut and guaranteed best of 2024 list honors.

     God fuckin' damn.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2024 - Should We Know Better Than to Wonder cassette LP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2024) THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS - "Idol" (from 'Should We Know Better Than to Wonder')

https://youtu.be/MgUANpHCZAw

(2024) THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS - "Stained Glass Eyelids" (from 'Should We Know Better Than to Wonder')

https://youtu.be/VYOUgoeUjxY

(2024) THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS - "Lavender" (from 'Should We Know Better Than to Wonder')

https://youtu.be/aDEoV59gWBo

(2024) THE NAMES OF OUR FRIENDS - full live set (from The Snake Farm / December 2023)

https://youtu.be/YPF3e7PXRlM

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*** SMUSH release show review w/Piss + Lilex & The Apocalips ***

SMUSH Release Show

w/ PISS / LILEX AND THE APOCALIPS

@Green Auto Body in Vancouver on June 15th, 2024

Live Show Review

After falling head over heels in love with SMUSH (and somehow landing the 12"LP release with my Softseed Music label) I made the trek to Vancouver to see their release show. Not only were they amazing, but the entire bill kicked serious ass.

They have another show tomorrow Friday July 26th that I will be attending with my Softseed distro including pre-orders for SMUSH. Please come say hi!

Lastly, the band did both an interview with Idioteq.com and a podcast with (((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))) should see the light of day in the next few weeks!

LILEX AND THE APOCALIPS

I'm not sure if a set has ever pumped serotonin and smiles like this opener did. I arrived during their first song and got a face-full of sunny sounds and vocals that tickle the brain. Their banter in between songs was also great, with the members switching instruments numerous times. Honestly this was awesome and I hope I can catch them again.

(2024) LILEX AND THE APOCALIPS (live in Vancouver)

https://youtu.be/-jE_JsjkxCA

Spotify

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PISS

I had heard this band was good, but as per usual I purposefully didn't listen to the openers before the show. So after the first band I was expecting something soft still, maybe with crunchier guitars or the occasional wail...but what I got was a fucking explosion of emotion, screaming, ranting, feedback, and movement. Look the fuck out this band is gonna turn heads so fast they might twist off. That's some visceral shit.

(2024) PISS (live in Vancouver)

https://youtu.be/bZ5vNg5FzJU

Bandcamp

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SMUSH

Oh my god this band is the fucking best. Playing all of 'If you were here I'd be home now' in a staggering balancing act of beauty and crushing, their heavy shoegaze/alternative sound permeated the space and had everyone nodding along...except for that one part (maybe it was during "heartless"?) when people started moshing to a shoegaze band. That was nuts. The band's 12"s are at the plant now and should be in hand early September. 150 copies on transparent pink! Links to buy the record are at the bottom of this (click here).

(2024) SMUSH "horse drawing" (live in Vancouver)

https://youtu.be/3Y9YNKukyvs

EXTRA VIDEOS:
"goodnight moon"
"sweetheart"
"loafofyarn"
"fivefivefive"

Bandcamp

order 12"LP from Softseed Music in:
U.S.A. here
Rest of World here

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~

next SMUSH show:

July 26th in Vancouver

*** PODCAST #157 Febuary ***

    Ahhhh FEBUARY. They came, they conquered, they peaced. Somehow I scored this podcast with them less than a month before they disbanded. It pains me, especially upon listening to the interview, knowing that they will not be able to play ZBR Fest 2025 and grace us with the new material that they talk about on this podcast. CDs coming from real son cuz their single, self-titled album is truly something special and deserves a release on all formats. Some other things discussed: Deep cut lore, the emo-trifecta, dadspo, the first-band effect, Abby's unique style, full circle moments, joining the boxing ring club, humping things back into place, songs that make you want to crash cars, wow to pow factor, the soundtrack of being 20, etc. Bands played in this podcast: Converge, D'Amore, Excrucis, Kind Of Like Spitting, The Lazarus Plot, and Poison The Well. Listen to podcast #157 which is available to stream and/or download for free via this link.

FEBUARY

Bandcamp

1 Her Dad Is So Cool

CONVERGE "The Saddest Day" (Airon)

2 The Craig Woods Surprise

THE LAZURUS PLOT "Friday the 13th" (Abby)

D'AMORE "Allergy Season" (Dave)

3 I'm Dating All These Muthafuckas

POISON THE WELL "A Wish For Things That Were" (Dylan)

4 Running Vocals

KIND OF LIKE SPITTING "Birds of a Feather" (Rila)

EXCRUCIS "Ceasefire" (Dave)

~Dave

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PODCAST #157 linked here

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Watch their final show below:

https://youtu.be/jmtukpE7lds

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*** MOURN RECIF + COUP D'ETAT + ALL THAT DECAYS + CHOPPING BLOCK + BATHTUB AUTOPSY live show review ***

MOURN RECIF / COUP D'ETAT / ALL THAT DECAYS / CHOPPING BLOCK / BATHTUB AUTOPSY

@Big Fernwood in Victoria on June 29th, 2024

Live Show Review

As I went to bed on June 28th I got a message in my band chat for MOURN RECIF asking if we would hop on this Victoria show as a band needed to bow out. We were recording some songs that day, and decided to head out early so we could play this, thus leaving four of six songs unfinished. At first I didn't think we made the right call (cuz we left recording early), but by the end of the night I was smitten with the bands and show in general. Shout out Troy!

ALL THAT DECAYS

I actually missed this opening band as I came into the venue as they were finishing up, luckily local sweetheart Drue filmed part of their song so that's what I've used in the video below. Very promising emo-soaked screamo from Victoria.

(2024) ALL THAT DECAYS (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/MNyD31RUdkc

Instagram

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COUP D'ETAT

What the fuck? I heard this band was good, so we checked out their soundcloud which was cool but I didn't hear any vocals. Seeing them live was a completely different story, as despite being a three-piece they go full beast-mode. All members contribute vocals and play a darker, emo-violence akin to Senza and A Paramount A Love Supreme, and I know they're recording a buncha songs soon that'll hopefully see the light of day well before the end of the year. Definitely check this out as they were the highlight of the show for me.

(2024) COUP D'ETAT (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/jVWB6k42uV8

*Extra video: "Kids these days don't know the meaning of survelliance state" (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/CCyzr_JL5fc

Instagram

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MOURN RECIF

This was definitely our best show. I think the bill helped push us to play more intensely and the crowd was generally more receptive to screamo. We'll be back in Victoria on August 24th on a ridiculous yet-to-be-released show, but play this Thursday July 18th in Vancouver, info at bottom.

(2024) MOURN RECIF "Slow Reign" (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/ZWGXRMPqRjo

Instagram

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BATHTUB AUTOPSY

I spoke with this duo after the show and it sounds like this was only their third show, but wowza were they sick. A brutal combination of death metal and grind repeatedly stabbed at the eardrums of all in the gymnasium's attendance.

(2024) BATHTUB AUTOPSY (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/Jqd5NlGKfo8

Instagram

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CHOPPING BLOCK

This band came from the U.S. (Seattle, I believe) to kick some hardcore asses. They were super chill and put on a great live set.

(2024) CHOPPING BLOCK (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/j6hxfa0AsQA

Bandcamp

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~

next MOURN RECIF show:

July 18th in Vancouver

*** PODCAST #156 Andrew Schwartz (.gif from god) ***

Photo by: Bret Backus

    Anyone who has followed this blog knows my love .GIF FROM GOD knows no end. Therefore I extended another arm to the band and vocalist (and the original bassist) Shorts agreed to let me run through their musical history. The band ruined me at ZBR Fest 2024 and hanging out with Shorts and listening to his favourite mosh calls in the alley was a personal highlight for me. In this podcast he added to that mosh call list and we also discussed: motocross'n'music, Offspring and Green Day memories, almost an Iwrotehaikus... inspired band, extreme metal vs. screamo, LP3!, chunky sass, war metal, teenage revival and the wall of death, Swamp Fest memories and Weak Wrists shoutout, favorite recent albums, Kate Bush and Prince give Shorts a call, lotsa love, etc. Bands played in this podcast: Antichrist Seige Machine, Crowbar, Fallingwithscissors, Old Man Gloom, and Suicide Silence. Listen to podcast #156 which is available to stream and/or download for free via this link.

.GIF FROM GOD

Bandcamp

1 The reason why I am this nightmare of a person

CROWBAR "Nothing" (Andrew)

OLD MAN GLOOM "Gift" (Dave)

2 Erase the Past

ANTICHRIST SEIGE MACHINE "Only Evil" (Andrew)

FALLINGWITHSCISSORS "blissful" (Dave)

3 It Feels Like They're Bleeding Into Your Ears

SUICIDE SILENCE "Unanswered" (Andrew) [music video]

~Dave

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PODCAST #156 linked here

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*** EXCRUCIS exclusive song premiere ***

EXCRUCIS

"Parasite"
exclusive song premiere

For fans of: Blind Girls, Dianacrawls, The Love And Terror Cult, Piper Maru, Kill Sadie, Piss and Crochet

Bandcamp

     Aight, you ain't ready. I wasn't ready. And I released the first EXCRUCIS album last year! When I was sent the new full length by Chicago's four-piece blew me the fuck away...and I still haven't landed. Sassy as fuck, mad screamy, danceable, playful, heavy and super dark, the band features members of Nouveau, Yail, Wrestle Crow and Not For You. 'There are Collectivities that Devour Souls' releases July 22nd on Zegema Beach Records via 100 cassettes. 11 tracks for fans of Dianacrawls, Indisposed, Blood Brothers, Leer, Blind Girls, etc. The band had this to say about the theme behind the album which stems from a Simone Weil quote...

DYLAN "yeah the basic context is that there are collectivities that nurture souls, and collectivities that devour souls. she's talking about this in relation to a distinction between 'rights' and 'obligations', rights being what you are 'granted' in a state which coerces your participation, vs 'obligations' that exist due to people just being social and having needs. In a nurturing society, you are still constrained, but it's by fundamental social contracts like, you still have to respect yr neighbor, whatever."

LINDA: "But I kind of attribute it to living in a fascist state, as in they are devouring our souls through capitalism. That’s the meaning I primarily pull from it, but I guess above is what the quote’s context was."

(2024) EXCRUCIS "Parasite" (from 'There are Collectivities that Devour Souls')

https://youtu.be/dX9WsMa5mJ8

     Oooo baby let's go. "Parasite" is the sixth track off this record and is exactly halfway through the album. It helps bridge the sassier/more playful first half with the staggering weight/darkness of the second, all in just a 1:21 runtime. Linda's frenzied singy yell permeates the opening 20 seconds, giving the song a simultaneous burst of melody and uneasiness. The yells turn into full blowns screams afterward as the song builds much like European screamo until they go apeshit just before the minute mark with double-speed, abrasive riffing, and stop/start drums. It's during the last 30 seconds that EXCRUCIS hit the "holy fuck" button, decimating the listener with a phenomenal breakdown laced with striking three-note bombs and poisonous screaming. Fuck to the yes, my friends. Fucking to the fucking yes.

ADDITIONAL LINKS & WHATNOT

(2024) EXCRUCIS "Ceasefire" (from 'Zampler 23 + There are Collectivities that Devour Souls')

https://youtu.be/ANidT9K35SU

'Excrucis' debut album

FOXGLOVE

Band: FOXGLOVE
For fans of: Crowning, Othiel, Youth Funeral, Iwan, Votive, To Forget, Sear, and Leveless.
Genres: Punk / Post-Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz

Related artists: Kerosene Heights, Fenris, and Profane Command.
Country: Asheville, North Carolina U.S.A.
Years Active: 2024-present

Label(s): Self-Released

     Props to Brando! My other guitar player in Mourn Recif showed me this band one night at band practice and it's the only time anyone has mentioned them to me, and holy smokes is that a travesty. Releasing four songs on their debut, self-titled EP 'Foxglove', the jams are equally dark and intense, bringing to mind Crowning and Leveless above others. The tracks are short (generally churning for around a minute-and-a-half), interesting, powerful, and screamy. That checks a lotta boxes. Opening jam "firefly pt 1" hits hard all the way through but shines brightest at the end of the track with a super playful outro. Very sick. The sequel and longest track on the release is "firefly pt 2" which spends nearly 40% of the track building to the absolute beast that is the midsection of the song. Love those call-and-response screams. "somewhere in between" is aptly titled, and includes some very sweet singing that transforms to and from screams, making it the most varied and arguably best song. "ithoughttheworldofyou" is a wild closer with tons going on to help convince the listener to give the entire EP another go, it's that good.

     Why are you still here? Go!

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DISCOGRAPHY

2024 - Foxglove digital EP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2024) FOXGLOVE - "ithoughttheworldofyou" (from 'Foxglove')

https://youtu.be/ml5OXqW9NCA

(2024) FOXGLOVE - "firefly pt.2" (from 'Foxglove')

https://youtu.be/h8Dc8hGN0CM

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*** MOURN RECIF + HILLSBORO + BOK SUNA live show review ***

MOURN RECIF / HILLSBORO / BOK SUNA

x2

@Botched Vintage + Apparel in Victoria on May 24th, 2024

+

@Time and Space Continuum in Duncan on May 25th, 2024

Live Show Reviews

Upon starting MOURN RECIF, I immediately told Yuri aka BOK SUNA that I wanted them to come up and play with us. So we did. And as HILLSBORO is on Softseed Music along with BOK SUNA, it was a no-brainer to ask them to join us for the two shows. Oh, and aaaaaaalso, Oliver from HILLSBORO drums for BOK SUNA now...so there's that. I literally got the BOK SUNA masters for their sophomore album today, and HILLSBORO has that new EP dropping in late August. Woooo baby what a time to be alive!!!

MOURN RECIF

These were our second and third shows, so we were stoked to finally get to the initial plan we had when we first started discussing playing shows and trying to play with Bok Suna. The Victoria show was very cool, and included a giant grate falling on Dave during "Slow Reign". Our set the next night on our home turf felt a bit better than the previous, so you've got an embedded song from that show, with another link underneath for the Vic show.

(2024) MOURN RECIF "Harmonics Harm Onix's" (live in Duncan)

https://youtu.be/OYKReo15X3E

*Extra video: "Pink Lemonade" (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/PLbA66LWC9E

Instagram

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HILLSBORO

On the cusp of their new EP release we got our friends from Victoria to 1) help us out with said Vic show, and 2) play with us in Duncan. These guys play indie/shoegaze/alternative rock and are super chill, with additional hangs being had...there might even be a new band in the works! Shout out screamo.

(2024) HILLSBORO "HotGirlTM" (live in Duncan)

https://youtu.be/x-iElPUD9HU

*Extra video: "Coming Down" (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/hdfPjZLkOtY

Bandcamp

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BOK SUNA

Yuri is magnificent. BOK SUNA's recent EP + LP release on my label quickly became one of my favourites releases of 2023, and now she's back with a new album later this summer - this time on vinyl! Check out some new jams below, her live performance has a beautiful gravitational pull. I've even included the entire Victoria set a few embeds down.

(2024) BOK SUNA "gtfo" (live in Duncan)

https://youtu.be/HZ-2YoUQfAw

*Extra video: new song (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/FZanbU8dqXk

*Extra video: Full Set (live in Victoria)

https://youtu.be/uaFq-3p4qFQ

Instagram

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~

next MOURN RECIF show:

July 18th in Vancouver