New Music Drops: March 2023

​New Music Drops is a monthly series on T&E where we share some of our favorite new releases from this year in rock, pop, metal, punk, hip-hop, and global. In the March installment, you'll find some aggressive J-core, instrumental Houston hip hop, experimental Creole free jazz, and so much more.

New Music Drops is intentionally published every Bandcamp Friday, so if you enjoy any of these tunes, be sure to support the artists directly via Bandcamp!

Punk and Metal
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​​Primitive Man and Full of Hell - Suffocating Hallucination
Genre: Doom
​In my opinion, the best kind of collaboration is when the two bands merge as one new, unique group rather than bringing two different sounds to play side-by-side, and that’s exactly what happened in this split LP. This split fuses the existential, doomy dread of Primitive Man with the furious grind and blastbeats from Full of Hell for a sound that’s completely novel than what either groups have put out previously. While it’s still obviously true to their respective sounds in that it’s bleak, dismal and heavy as all hell, this album experiments more with space and tension for a cohesive, conceptual journey. - Parisa

Kruelty - Unknown Nightmare
Genre: Death metal, hardcore
Some disgusting tunes from Japan’s Kruelty, finding inspiration in both death/doom and ‘90s East Coast-style hardcore. Guttural vocals and tight death metal riffage lead themselves into hardcore breakdowns, overall great variation and a solid sophomore release. Singles are out now, full release comes out March 17th. - Parisa
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Degraved - Whispered Morbidity
Genre:  Death metal
Pure, brutal, old school.  Untainted by anything nu.  – A. Iwasa

​CYSTGURGLE - Exquisite Macerated Tissue Slippage and Full​-​Body Degloving Under Extreme Circumstances of Accelerated Putrefaction
Genre: Goregrind
You know when goregrind sounds wet? Like it sounds like they’re sloshing around human remains in a blender and then gurgling it up in a hot boiling stew? Well this is the most “wet” goregrind album I’ve heard in awhile and it’s pretty fucking disgusting. The album art and tracklist are just a cherry on top of it all, like an extra pinch of vomit on your fleshy human stew *chefs kiss* - Parisa

Tithe - Inverse Rapture 
Genre: Death metal
Depraved death metal with a heavy influence of dissonant black metal. While the album maintains a fierce tempo, the overall atmosphere feels thick and almost sludgey at times. Lyrically centered around mental illness and the human condition, ebbing and flowing between heightened anxiousness and abysmal dread. - Parisa
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Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - Land of Sleeper
Genre: Stoner, doom
Some seriously solid riff-driven stoner doom metal. Heavy, spacey and vastly open atmospheres with vocals that lean on the psychedelic side. Man, this album rips. 
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Sleep Token - Aqua Regia
Genre: Alternative Metal
I was hesitant at first, but after a bunch of recommendations, I finally listened, and I was not disappointed. Sleep Token takes traditional metal instrumentation and mixes it with soulful, almost calming vocals. I don’t know how they do it, but it just sounds right. The addition of piano is something you wouldn’t expect from a metal band, but paired with Vessel’s bluesy vocals, it works. So far, there are 5 singles released from their upcoming record, Take Me Back to Eden, and they are a perfect tease. The record comes out May 19. - Chelsea
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Electronic

サイケアウツ Cycheouts - Counterattack: Best Cuts 1995-2000 
Genre: J-core
I’m already calling that this is gonna be one of my favorite reissue of the year. Extremely aggressive J-core techno from the Osaka underground legends themselves that went onto inspire the entire nerdcore movement. This compilation not only provides a first physical release for many of these deep Cycheouts cuts, but provides a look into the influence of drum ‘n bass, jungle and other experimental EDM styles in the early Japanese club scenes. - Parisa

Django Django - Off Planet Part 1 EP
Genre: Electropop, art pop
British quintet Django Django released part one of the four part Off Plant series, with each installment representing a separate “planet” of music. This first installment shows a complete reinvention of the band's sound, while still staying grounded in their signature neo-psychedelic electropop stylings. This EP explores acid rave, 90s breakbeat, indie pop, and much more. I’m totally surprised by this release and am so impressed by how this band experimented with their music this far into their career. For fans of Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Sonic Boom, but with way stronger dancefloor rhythms. Favorite track: “Hands High (feat. Refound)” - Parisa

Digital Negative - S/T
Genre: Industrial
The second EP from Digital Negative, comprised of Richard Johnson (Drugs Of Faith, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, ex-Enemy Soil) and Daniel Euphrat (Person918x, Timmy Sells His Soul). A true reflection on the dynamics of industrial music, featuring the brutal metal side, the hardcore techno club side, and a trippy, glitchy side that wouldn’t be out of place in a Tipper set. - Parisa

Sara Persico - Boundary
Genre: Experimental 
Debut release from the Berlin producer Sara Persico, who uses analog electronics, field recordings and samples for an avant-garde EP that somehow manages to make experimental noise sound sexy. Deconstructed beats pair with bass-heavy club music for an introspective dance journey. - Parisa

Moggi - Tra Scienza e Fantascienza
Genre: Italian cinema
Originally released in 1976 but reissued for the first time this past January on Forced Exposure, Tra Scienza e Fantascienza is one of the more peculiar and avant-garde items in Italian composer Piero Umiliani's discography. Mostly known for his film scores for Italian sexploitation and Mondo films, Umiliani created an alter ego, Moggi, to create this one-off science-fiction, dystopian soundtrack for a movie that doesn’t exist. Lots of fun bleep bloops and shiny synth chords. - Parisa

Wax Tailor - Fishing For Accidents
Genre: Trip hop, turntablism 
One of my favorite Wax Tailor releases in years! Always sourcing the most textured, obscure and unique vinyl samples to build groovy trip hop beats. Featuring a stellar cast of vocal contributors, including Mr. Lif, Mick Jenkins, and more. - Parisa

Hip-Hop and R&B
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Santa Muerte - Eslab​ó​n 
Genre: Instrumental hip hop
Damn, this is one hell of a debut EP. Santa Muerte is a producer that incorporates the mythology of indigenous Mexican culture with the chopped ‘n screwed, bass heavy sound of the Houston hip hop scene. Brings a lot of textured and emotional synths that are reminiscent of other IDM and Hyperdub artists, i.e. Burial. - Parisa
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Qveen Herby - The Muse
Genre: R&B / Hip-hop
Bleeding spirituality, self-love, and confidence, Qveen Herby drops her EP, The Muse. This record simultaneously gives Slim Shady flow, Janelle Monae grooves, and original flare. She marries singing and rapping so seamlessly, encouraging anyone to jump to their feet and start dancing. “Chucky Cheese” feels like old school R&B presented in a refreshing beat. When I was listening to “5D” for the first time, I could’ve sworn Marshall Mathers himself wrote that flow. Wrapping up the record is “Dress Code”, with 80s synth beats. Ever since I discovered Qveen Herby, I haven’t been able to stop listening. Then I discovered her podcast, House of Herby, and started following her on Instagram. Her vibes are contagious, sharing energy cleanses regularly on her page. Listening to Qveen Herby is quite literally a spiritual experience. - Chelsea
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Pop/Rock/Etc.
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Black Belt Eagle Scout - The Land, The Water, The Sky
Genre: Indie
A gentle and swooning release from singer-songwriter Black Belt Eagle Scout that professes a “love letter to Indigenous strength and healing, and a story of hope, as it details the joy of returning. There are moments of frustration over a world wrought with colonial violence and pain, and the presence of joy, a fierce blissfulness that comes with walking the trails along the river, feeling the sand and the stones beneath her feet.” While this album does get a little too sleepy for me personally, I still recommend for fans of this style. RIYL: Mazzy Star, Jay Som - Parisa
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Model/Actriz - Dogsbody
Genre: No wave
A no wave/post-punk debut release from the Brooklyn four-piece Model/Actriz that has been growing on me with each listen. Leaving behind all of the non affected attitudes that normally come with post-punk, Model/Actriz spills out emotional and enraged vocals, kind of borderlining industrial territory. Wears strong influences of Xiu Xiu and Perfume Genius. Favorite song: “Slate” - Parisa
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Shame - Food for Worms
Genre: Alternative, post-punk
As a reviewer on AllMusic said, “On Food for Worms, Shame don't so much discard everything that came before as they strip away what doesn't fit anymore.” While this album is a surprising departure from their more aggressive post-punk edge, Food for Worms presents a more reflective side to the band. Stronger and more cohesive songwriting, and a vulnerability and tenderness that definitely had to come to these boys with age and experience. Super solid all around, for fans of Fontaines D.C., Sorry, Iceage, etc.

Ak'chamel, The Giver of Illness - A Mournful Kingdom of Sand
Genre: Psychedelic, dark folk
A mysterious and anonymous collective known as Ak'chamel, The Giver of Illness, self-proclaimed "cabalistic, fourth world post-colonial cultural cannibalists" creating some global fusion, dark psychedelic folk music. Deeply ritualistic sounds for a very heady experience that bypasses a lot of the new-age gimmicks that many global fusion bands fall into. - Parisa

Paramore - This is Why
Genre: Alternative Rock
Paramore is back with a powerhouse of a record that demonstrates exactly what it looks like when emo grows up. After 5.5 years without new music, the band comes together to create something brand new, showcasing the skills they’ve gained in that time. It’s clear that Hayley Williams vocals from her solo records have heavily influenced her vocal stylings in this record. (If you haven’t listened to Petals for Armor or Flowers for Vases / Descansos, yet, I highly recommend doing so as soon as possible.) The sound is very different from their old stuff, but still distinctly Paramore. 

The moment I finished watching the video for “The News”, I knew this record would launch the Nashville natives to the next level. The video felt like an old school horror flick, and I was eager for more! The lyrics clearly point at the Ukraine / Russia conflict, opening with the word “war”, Williams says things that I think a lot of us have been feeling in the past few years. Even the video for the title track, “This Is Why”, feels a little off, in the best way possible. It all made sense when I learned that Williams had been watching American Psycho throughout the writing process. This record contains a beautiful blend of dancy tunes, provocative stances, and dreamy ballads. I am obsessed with this record, and I’ve been spinning the vinyl non-stop. Each time I listen, my favorite song changes. 

I love to listen back to older Paramore, like “Pressure” and “Hallelujah” comparing the changes and growth in their sound and message. I’ve never been mad about a band changing their sound. Humans change constantly, it only makes sense that music does, too. - Chelsea
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Quinn XCII - The People’s Champ
Genre: Pop
This album is going to be the album of the summer, for sure. It’s upbeat, dancy, and positive. All the things you want from a summer anthem, but it’s the whole damn record. There are some impressive features on this record, too, with Big Sean, AJR, Adrian Cota, and Chelsea Cutler all listed. For a guy who sings about never doing drugs, he sure seems to sing about doing a lot of drugs. “Backpack” is a favorite for just that reason. Every song just flows, showcasing the Michigan native’s expert lyricism. “Bartender” opens the record with catchy beats, but when you listen to the lyrics, they’re the same issues we’re all dealing with. The whole record is about the daily struggles we all deal with, even the pop stars we admire, hence the title The People’s Champ. Lyrics like “But I try, I don’t know if I’m a good or bad guy,” in “Black Porsche” remind us that we’re all human, and we’re all going through it. Closing the record is “All That You Need”, a piano ballad of self-love. “Cause all that you need is what you can’t see, but you’ve always had it,” reminds us that anxiety can hit all of us, and we can make it through. - Chelsea

Lana del Rey - “A&W”
Genre: Pop
Okayokayokay, I know what you’re thinking, “I didn’t come to a small indie music blog to find out about a massive single release from one of the biggest pop stars that’s already being talked about.” And I hear ya. But if you’re someone who has never listened to Lana del Rey because you may have dismissed her as some fad or typical manufactured pop star, take it from an indie music blogger that you are sorely mistaken! I think even the most pretentious of music snobs (and I say that lovingly) can hear this and appreciate the artistry and uniqueness of Lana’s music. This new single may be one of my favorite pop singles of the year thus far, as it showcases every bit of Lana’s evolution from hyper-glam pop princess to a dark and experimental seductress. There’s no one making pop music quite like her right now. - Parisa
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Global
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Polobi & the Gwo Ka Masters - Abri Cyclonique
Genre: Experimental, Creole music
My favorite album of the year so far. An experimental take on the traditional Gwo Ka music of the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.  The Gwo Ka musical practice  emerged in the 17th century during the transatlantic slave trade, but later spread throughout the island as an act of anti-assimilation and anti-colonialization. This album observes, honors and recontextualizes these traditions with an electro-acoustic palette and free jazz stylings. 


I also share dozens of new global releases here on T&E on the Global Rhythm Radio show! Select the “DJ Mix” or “Global” tab on the right sidebar to stream. New episodes every month. - Parisa

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