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Blood Cannery

Blood Cannery | VI.XXX | 3hive.com
Blood Cannery | VI.XXX | 3hive.com

Blood Cannery is the solo project of Idaho Falls’ Cole Foster. He also plays guitar with his partner in crime, Tabitha, in Zap Pack (a fantastic band everyone needs to experience live). Cole has been quite prolific with his output as Blood Cannery, releasing twenty-nine singles, EPs, and albums over the past six years. Blood Cannery’s latest release, VI.XXX is, in his words, “…an exercise in trying to use synth in different genres like: Krautrock, Punk, Techno, Dub and Garage Rock.” Which he pulls off. Masterfully.

VI.XXX may have been an exercise in Blood Cannery’s eyes, but to this listener and his many fans it is just another fine example of Cole’s talent and understanding of how to craft great music. Music that needs to be heard.

Check out the groove-filled, psych track “Uncanny In G Major” (below) and tell me it doesn’t remind you of some of Dwyer’s best work as Damaged Bug.

VI.XXX is out now via Blood Cannery’s Bandcamp page. Go get it.

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Olympic Deth

Olympic Deth | Peace Album | 3hive.com
Olympic Deth | Peace Album | 3hive.com

I’m going to begin by addressing some biases that I have coming into this review: 

  1. As a Utah native, I’ll advocate for damn near anyone/anything coming out of the Beehive State (within reason, of course, because fuck Mike Lee),
  2. The sounds that this record reminded me of upon first listen have been some of my favorite tracks, records, and bands in recent times, and
  3. Anything that’s locally released that SOUNDS like it’s not locally released makes me unreasonably excited because Utah genuinely has a really diverse and talented music scene if you’re willing to look, participate and support it. And that’s what it’s all about y’all.

Now, with all of that said, let me tell you why Olympic Deth’s newest record Peace Album is not only one of my most anticipated local releases this year but one that I’m sure will stand among the best of what Utah offers this year, musically speaking. 

Peace Album clocks in at 36 minutes across 16 tracks and doesn’t waste any time grabbing listeners attention. The album’s opener “Rehab For Weed” is a vaporwave-esc opener with layered synths, looping electronics and water sounds? It’s a super diverse instrumental that’s engaging for the active listening experience while also being something that could be on in the background. The album transitions expertly from track to track, again making either the active or passive listening experience both rewarding and pleasant as you move through the track list. Standout songs such as lead single “Oklahoma PEACE”. Full of moody, looping electronics and strong guitars from the best slacker-rock or post-punk records you could name, this track is just one of many personal highlights for me that’ve found their way onto playlists of mine. I’ll shout out “Diamond Dozen”, “Ada County” and the album’s closing track “Trout Mask Replica on Accident” as well.

If you took the best parts of Geordie Greep’s solo debut“The New Sound”, King Krule’s 2017 record “The OOZ” and added Geese and some Death Grips – Olympic Deth is the emulsifier that combines all of it together into something new that I encourage damn near anyone to give a listen.

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GMO

GMO | Doble Sided Gemini | 3hive.com
GMO | Doble Sided Gemini | 3hive.com

The latest single from Los Angeles band GMO, “Double Headed Gemini,” is a dingy, electro-pop gem that is sure to delight any fans of Broadcast. Hopefully there will be more from these guys, including a full-length LP, which would be rad! Check it out below.

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Constant Follower

Constant Follower | The Smile You Send Out Returns To You | 3hive.com
Constant Follower is the recording moniker of Stephen McAll (and a revolving group of friends) from Glasgow, Scotland.

McCall barely survived a violent attack in his late teens and struggled with addiction in his path to recovery. His melancholic, understated ambient folk has mirrored this journey, as his body and mind relearned to play guitar and observe the small, intimate details of life.

His third album, The Smile You Send Out Returns To You, delivers more of the same, only now he is a father, partner, and further along in his recovery. You can hear hope and optimism amidst the minor keys – and it’s an utterly gorgeous and cathartic listen.

The Smile You Send Out Returns To You was released by Last Night From Glasgow.

You can buy Constant Follower vinyl at 3hive’s online shop.

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Cutouts

Alex MacKay, the bassist for Nation of Language, has released a new album under his solo project, Cutouts. The album, titled Snakeskin, is a captivating blend of shimmering synths and vocals layered over pulsating beats and bass lines. It defies easy categorization, occupying a space between synth-pop and darkwave with its unique fusion of dark and heavy elements. From the opening track “Narc” with its growling bass and driving beat, Snakeskin immediately commands attention and refuses to let go. I highly recommend it.

Check out “Narc” and “Paw of the Monkey” below for a taste.

Snakeskin is self-released and out now. It’s available digitally via Cutouts’ Bandcamp and on vinyl from Cutouts’ website. Alex only pressed 500 so don’t sleep! Enjoy.

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The Serfs

The Serfs | Paid In Full b?/?w Regen | 3hive.com
The Serfs | Paid In Full b?/?w Regen | 3hive.com

Cincinnati band The Serfs are about to head out on a European/UK tour, but before they do, they decided to drop a steamy new 7″ with two incredible, dark wave, dance-club-days-of-yore bangers, “Paid In Full” and “Regen” (spin them below).

The 7-incher is available now on Trouble In Mind’s Bandcamp page; get it before it’s gone or get the digital files; either way, put these super-rad songs in your earholes. PS: Grab a hold of something when you press play because you’re going to want to start shaking stuff. Enjoy.

2024 EU/UK TOUR DATES:

29.10.2024 CZ Prague @ Underdogs
30.10.2024 DE Dresden @ Heartbreak
31.10.2024 AT Wien @ Das Lot
01.11.2024 AT Linz @ Kapu
03.11.2024 IT Bologna @ Freakout
04.11.2024 CH Biel @ Gurzelen Club Social
05.11.2024 CH Geneve @ L’Usine
06.11.2024 FR Lyon @ Sonic
08.11.2024 ES Barcelona @ Upload
09.11.2024 FR Toulouse @ Skatepark Le Petit
10.11.2024 FR Bordeaux @ La Maison d’Allez les filles
12.11.2024 FR Paris @ L’Olympic Café
13.11.2024 UK London @ Boston Music Room
14.11.2024 UK Bristol @ Dust
15.11.2024 UK Liverpool @ Rough Trade
16.11.2024 UK Glasgow @ Stereo
17.11.2024 UK Manchester @ The Peer Hat
19.11.2024 BE Antwerp @ JC Bouckenborgh
20.11.2024 BE Kortrijk @ Wilde Westen
21.11.2024 DE Koln @ Privat
22.11.2024 DE Frankfurt @ Mousonturm
23.11.2024 DE Berlin @ Neu Zukunft

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What’s Important

What's Important | bloodsoaked castle | 3hive.com
What's Important | bloodsoaked castle | 3hive.com

Oakland band What’s Important are releasing their latest album, bloodsoaked castle, today. Their PR refers to their sound as “mutant pop,” and their Bandcamp page calls it “castle pop.” I don’t know what either of those genres / sub-genres mean. What I do know is that bloodsoaked castle contains some glitchy, pop punk meets electro pop goodness. Check out “i think about it a lot” (below) for a taste.

bloodsoaked castle is out now via Cherub Dream Records. Get it. Enjoy.

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Prefuse 73

Prefuse 73 | Vast Wildlife Poison | 3hive.com
Prefuse 73 | Vast Wildlife Poison | 3hive.com

Pioneering electronic musician and producer Prefuse 73 — aka Guillermo Scott Herren — is following up his latest album, New Strategies for Modern Crime Vol. 1 (released in March), with New Strategies for Modern Crime Vol. 2, which is set to be released at the end of June via Lex Records.

His latest single, “Vast Wildlife Poison,” (below) is a groovy, bass-heavy, jazz-tinged three-and-a-half minutes that could be plugged into any 1960’s French spy movie. Enjoy.

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Houses of Heaven

Houses of Heaven | Within/Without | 3hive.com
Houses of Heaven | Within/Without | 3hive.com

Oakland’s Houses of Heaven are back with their sophomore LP, Within/Without. It’s 10 solid tracks of grimy, pulsating, dark wave, mingled with early industrial elements à la Nitzer Ebb and 80s-era Ministry. Think about your scariest nightmare, this album could soundtrack that nightmare.

Check out “Within/Without” and the album standout (IMO) “Deserve” featuring Ms. Boan Mariana Saldaña on vocals (below) for a tasting.

Within/Without is out on Friday (04/26/2024) via Felte Records. Cop it. Enjoy.

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billy woods & Kenny Segal

billy woods & Kenny Segal | Maps | 3hive.com
billy woods & Kenny Segal | Maps | 3hive.com

billy woods, half of Armand Hammer, dropped his 13th studio album, Maps. This is his second  album with producer Kenny Segal following their critically acclaimed 2019 album, Hiding Places. The duo keep building on their early 2010s underground, experimental hip-hop sound – giving vulnerable, eerie, and tense vibes throughout.

The sounds and emotions of Maps remind the listener of the self-reflection and wisdom you get while traveling. Maps leans into the honest – and sometimes frustrating – feeling of travel as well. woods and Segal brought in more featured artists this time around – including indie hip-hop heavies like Quelle Chris and Aesop Rock. And teamwork makes the dream work: the eighth track, “Year Zero,” has some of the hardest bars we have heard all year with Danny Brown bringing his heavy hitter sound of the underground hip-hop.

Maps is available now on vinyl and digitally via BackwoodzStudioz.