Chain Cult - Harm Reduction

 

1. Who are Harm Reduction?

Harm Reduction are a Greek post-punk band from Athens, Greece. They have been playing together since 2017. Harm Reduction (Sept,2024) is a single from their second album of the same name.

2. What kind of song is Harm Reduction? 

Harm Reduction is an average modern post-punk song without any of the obvious tropes that run riot in British or American mainstream punk. Except for the Joy Division and Cure comparisons. They are hard-core punk musicians trying to be a bit more melodic and moving towards the centre and it works out okay.

3. Who do Chain Cult sound like? 

MESS, The Cure, and The Sound.

4. Which bands have influenced Chain Cult? 

The bands that have influenced Chain Cult include Misfits, Ramones, Offspring, Youth Avoiders.

5. What have the press said about Chain Cult? 

"Combining gothic atmosphere with basement punk urgency" - Stereogum. 

"Clearly interwoven guitar work frames catchy anthems" - Sorry State Records.

"Fucking solid tune and you are welcome in China anytime" - YouTube Comments.

CROWS - Is It Better?

 

1. Who are CROWS? 

CROWS are a post-punk band from North London, England. They have been making music since 2013. Their debut single Pray (2015) was a blistering belter; dark and menacing, faintly redolent of the Jesus and Mary Chain and The Stooges while exuding more violence than they ever possessed. It remains one of my favorite songs to this day.

CROWS have recorded two albums and Is It Better? (Sept, 2024) is the third single from their third album Reason Enough (Sept, 2024).

2. What kind of song is Is It Better? 

Is It Better? is a completely different beast to Pray. The sound is British indie pop/post-punk both the old (The Courteeners, Bloc Party, and Interpol - yes, I know) and the older (Suede, Pulp, and Blur). Is it Better? is a catchy song with a melancholic heart that sounds like middle England. It's nice. It throws a few feeble punches out of habit more than maliciousness and is the sound of a man getting older and less rough around the edges. The sound of a band evolving. The bass is catchy, bouncing along faster than an Eskimo's bum making love in the snow, while the guitar hints at internal anguish. Is It Better? isn't better than the ferocious bangers that CROWS have in their back catalogue but it isn't worse either.

3. Who do CROWS sound like? 

Interpol, Fontaines D.C., and The Horrors. 

4. Which bands have influenced CROWS?

Joy Division, Public Image Limited, and IDLES.  

5. What have the cut and paste bandits said about CROWS music?

"The most melodic, hook-filled and accessible sounding record of their career" - Louder Sound. 

"CROWS have always been a band who do things differently" - N.M.E. 

"Exemplary modern punk" - Far Out Magazine. 

"Well, I need a break from my overcrowded mind,

I've been leading myself down a dark and silent line,

Well there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, 

Nowhere to turn, nothing to find, underneath these stars"

 

Interpol - The Rover

1. Who?

Interpol are a popular and influential post-punk/indie rock band from New York. They started in 1997 and The Rover (June'18) is the lead single from their sixth album Marauder(Aug'18). 


2. What?

The Rover is more of Interpol's same old schtick. Humorless, post-punk, with no big hooks or a standout chorus. The Rover is atmospheric but the melodies slowly bubble to the surface and entrance after a few repeated listens. A song with moreish qualities. 


3. Who do Interpol sound like? 

The National, Bloc Party, and The Strokes. 


4. What have the press said about The Rover?

“More perfunctory than visceral” – Spin. 

“Digs a pleasing groove in your brain” – Pitchfork. 

“A rush of dark rock’n’roll from returning masters” – NME.

5. Which bands influenced Interpol? 

The Violent Femmes, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Leonard Cohen, and Janes Addiction. 

7. What are Interpol's biggest bangers? 

Evil, Everything Is Wrong and All The Rage Back Home. 

8. Anything else?

Marauder was produced by Dave Fridmann (Spoon, Weezer, The Cribs). 

Arcade Fire are a popular art rock/indie rock band from Montreal, Canada. Arcade Fire are similar to Bloc Party, Interpol and Vampire Weekend. Their influences are New Order, Talking Heads and David Bowie. Chemistry is an album track from Arcade Fire's fifth album Everything Now (July'17). SPIN magazine said Chemistry is “the worst Arcade Fire song ever” and The Guardian thought it “sounds almost willfully horrible.” Suffice to say Chemistry is a reggae song, a laugh, and the best Arcade Fire song in years.

Bear Hands - Boss

1.    Who are these jovial lads? 

Bear Hands are a post-punk band from Brooklyn, New York. They started playing in 2006. Boss (Oct'16) is the third single from their third album You'll Pay For This (April'16).  

2. What is Boss like? 

Boss is a quirky indie rock song that works it's soft/loud dynamic to the maximum. Soft cooing vocals and acoustic contrast with some stout riffs that build to to an all in. It's an innocuous song that grows on you.

3. Who do Bear Hands sound like? 

Foals, Modest Mouse and Weezer. 

4. What have the boo boys in the press said about Boss?

“An awkward yet undeniably catchy rock song” – Substream Magazine.

“It further demonstrates their impressive eclecticism” – Pod Cart.

“Starts put whimsically before launching into a torrent of angular riffs” – Voodoo Festival.

5. Who are Bear Hands influences?

Some of their influences are The Talking Heads, The Clash, Nirvana, Wu-Tang Clan and Paul Simon.

6. Why should I give Boss a listen? 

If the idea of Paul Simon playing with Nirvana takes your fancy, have at it.

7. What are Bear Hands best songs?

Agora is a diamond, the best Bear Hands tune hands down and don't let any cunt tell you otherwise. That shits tight. Marathon Man is very good and so is 2.A.M. 

8. Any more words mate? 

You'll Pay For This was co-produced by James Brown who has mixed and engineered for U2, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys and The Killers. 

“You’re good with cops,

I think I could learn a lot”

Augustines were an indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. They played from 2010 - 2016. The Augustines have been compared to Frightened Rabbit, U2, Kings Of Leon and The National. Their main influences were Modest Mouse and Elliot Smith. Cruel City was the lead single from the Augustines' second album Augustines (2014). It was the last song the band ever played live and a song Spin said is “scrappy vitality meets gruff yet sophisticated rafter-raising.”

“I still reach for you in the dark”

La Sera - Queens

1.    Who are these slicksters?

La Sera are an indie pop duo from Los Angeles, California. They have released four albums. Queens (Sept’16) slides off their E.P. of the same name Queens (Sept’16).

2. What kind of song is Queens? 

Queens has an 80's post-punk sound and Katy Goodman and Todd Wisenbaker swapping vocal parts creates a magical juxtaposition of sound and mood. 

3. Who do Le Sera sound like?

Best Coast, Ezra Furman and The Bangles. Maybe. 

4. What is the word from the mutts in the press corps? 

“A breezy and upbeat rocker” – Consequence Of Sound.

“A propulsive guitar-rocker” – Stereogum.

“Holy shit – such a charming post-punk ride” – Punk News.

5. Which bands influenced La Sera? 

The main influences are The Smiths, Morrissey, The Pretenders, The Cars and 80's punk.

6. Why should I listen to Queens?

For the vocal swap between the high, sweet, 60's harmony and the earthy, post-punk, gravelly tones.

7. Do La Sera have any more good tunes? 

Please Be My Third Eye isn't too vile. 

8. Any more words?

Ryan Adams produced Le Sera's last album Music for Listening to Music to.

“It was a typical day I think you’d have to agree”

Pony The Pirate are an indie rock band from Norway that sprung to prominence in 2009 and released one album in 2010, Psychopedia. The song that propelled Pony The Pirate was Walk The Shame (2008). It's a rock pop song with a complex composition and a radio friendly chorus.

“You were my heart, you were my soul”

Weaves - One More

 

1.    Who is this force of nature?

Weaves are a genre hopping indie rock band that come bounding out of Toronto, Canada. One More (March’16) is the lead song from Weaves debut long player Weaves (June’16).


2. What are Weaves pitching?

One More is an angry post-punk serve at the random mongrels you meet in life with an honest-as-a-rusty-nail garage band in furious accompaniment.


3. Who do Weaves sound like?

PUP and Cloud Nothings come to mind.


4. What have our pals in the press said about One More?

“Bursts with fierce intensity” – NPR.

“Blistering, exhilirating single” – Stereogum.

“Brings a no-frills punk sensibility to the table” – Pop Matters.
 

 

 

5. Who put the bang in Weaves’ buck?

 



Weaves guitarist Morgan Waters says Led Zeppelin, Prince, The B52’s and The Pixies are the big influences. There has been talk from singer Jasmyn Burke for collective love for Ween, Bjork and The Staple Singers.


6. Why should I give One More a whip past?

One More has noisy bubble surrounding an up the guts lyrical serve. Sound as a pound. Dude got done told.


7. Do Weaves have any more monster tracks?

One More showcases the band at their best.


8. Any more words fool?

The new album Weaves was mixed by Alex Newport who has done same for Death Cab For Cuties and mastered by John Greenham who has gone to the bank for Sky Ferreira.

Weaves are touring this month with indie favorites Sunflower Bean and went on tour fluffing for Marilyn Manson.

 

“Something tells me under the boardwalk there'll be more casualties”

 

 

 

Slow Riot are a post-punk band from Limerick, Ireland. Started in 2013 and with a short player in the bank, Trophy Wife (March’16) is a stand alone single at the minute. Sonic Abuse reckon Trophy Wife is as an “amazing, troubled, post-punk knockout.” Trophy Wife is having a word about being in a relationship for the wrong reasons.

“Nice to meet you in the morning,

When you greet me with a fist”