Words: Ryan Getz

Contact – “Never Stop”: Out of the ashes of And Then There Were None, and later Young London, we have a darker, more polished electropop collective that is releasing a new single with their (hopefully) permanent lineup. We hope the constantly shifting group remains static for awhile because I happen to love everything Matt Rhoades gets his hands on (Who Speaks For Planet Earth? remains one of my most played records of all time). These guys have been quietly releasing this music in this genre years ahead of their time, and hopefully this song makes folks finally wake up.

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KiND – “Body Heat”: This song is the perfect follow up to the album Eunoia and might as well be a B-Side to that record. Heavy on the grooves and a little lighter on the experimentation. The vocoder effects are a nice touch. If you’ve followed this band for awhile you won’t be surprised by this song at all but you’ll enjoy it nonetheless. The chorus is infectious but not indulgent. And my favorite element, the sax, definitely shines in the proper moment.

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Hello Luna – “Stitching Holes”: Leading off with a guitar riff that subtly reminds me of Jimmy Eat World’s “Evidence,” the new alternative group from central Ohio rocks us gently with a sound that simultaneous recalls Eisley and the indie rock/shoegaze of Starflyer 59. The song takes us on the journey of feebly self-medicating or trying to cover our flaws, with an attitude that meaders between obvious angst and quiet acceptance.

Deathsong – “Cry On the Record”: Deathsong is here to fill the void in your life that The Chariot left behind, maybe. Maybe you didn’t know there was a void. Now you do. It will be awhile before these guys are as chaotic as Scogin and Company, but you probably don’t want them to copy them outright anyway. Thrash to this, and enter future Deathsong shows at your own risk.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH0RZKqM85Q[/youtube]

Headrush – “II: Reality”: Headrush questions where reality ends and dreamland begins in perhaps the loudest most adrenaline inducing way you can do so. This band is no frills melodic hardcore here to melt your face off and practically force you unapologetically into the pit. No topic is out of bounds for loud expression. If I can attend one of their shows still dressed in my business casual garb, so can you.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P_NYs4On28[/youtube]