Song titling: some bands do it, but it’s kinda blah. Some bands do it and the title represents the song, but maybe doesn’t quite pop. Other bands seem to hit just the right note in terms of pulling the human psyche in unexpected ways, conjuring up nostalgia, or just making you chuckle. Brooklyn post-punk trio HYPEMOM seems to fall into that last camp.

So here I am, preparing to write up a premiere for two songs from their upcoming EP, Concessions, the latest in a series of releases the band has put out since forming in 2013. As I’m reading through their press release, I get to the titles of tracks they’re premiering. First, “Pog Merch.” Suddenly, I have nostalgic visions of doing a magazine sale back in middle school where, if you sold enough magazines, you could choose a prize. I (somehow, probably exclusively to family members) sold enough magazines to qualify for a prize, and chose a pog set featuring a milk cap from every NHL team. I was pretty proud of that damn pog set… until it rather quickly eventually was moved to a storage space where it still sits today.

Second track premiering from Concessions: “Sports Music.” Here, my brain goes into overdrive: HYPEMOM => “Sports Music” => Yellow Magic Orchestra member Haruomi Hosono’s ridiculously catchy “Sports Men.” And at this point, I’m inserting HYPEMOM into the song: “I’ll be a good mom / Be a good mom / I’ll be a HYPEMOM.” Sigh. My brain works in mysterious ways.

As if interesting song titles weren’t enough (Duck Metal? Duck metal!), HYPEMOM describes their sound as causing a listener's feet to misbehave, and I found this to indeed be the case while checking out their back catalog.  The band is playing both tomorrow night (January 15th) and on March 19^th for the Concessions release at ALPHAVILLE in NYC. 

Dig the pair of tracks from the new EP via Bandcamp below.

After releasing Pollinator last year to acclaim (Artoffact Records), Cloud Rat is now making plans to return to Europe alongside Leechfeast.

The tour includes a stop at Roadburn Festival and encompasses the latter half of April.

While you've got Cloud Rat on the brain, head over to our annual Pass The Mic feature to read drummer Brandon Hill's thoughts on the passing year.

The lineup for Manchester Punk Festival 2020, or MPF2020 in shorthand, continues to grow. The latest (and final) announcement of additional artists includes Off With Their Heads, Bar Stool Preachers, Guns 'N' Wankers, Preachers, Stand Out Riot, Cocaine Piss, Milloy, and Shit Present, in addition to previously announced bands.

The full line-up is listed below.

The lead track and first single from Minneapolis, MN trio Human Impulse is online now. "Behind Your Back" is a punk/metal/noise jam embedded below, one of six songs on the new EP set to release on Feb. 14.

Featuring former members of Ambassador Gun, Path Of Destruction, Tinnitus, and more, the self-titled debut takes multiple loud and fast influences, compiling them into efficient, angry and furious compositions.

Listen to "Behind Your Back" here:

Germany's Gunner Records has announced an impressive start to 2020, with new records from Guerilla Poubelle, Wolf Face, and Arterials set for the coming months. Many of those records will be co-released by other labels in the bands' respective countries.

• Guerilla Poubelle - L'Ennui Release date: 28 February 2020
• Wolf Face - Still Golden Release: March 13, 2020
• Arterials - The Spaces In Between Release: tba April/May 2020

Radiohead has curated their own collection, and is now hosting it online via the "Radiohead Public Library."

For its opening week, band members Colin and Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Philip Selway, and Thom Yorke will each serve as librarian for a day beginning January 20 and ending January 24, with each member curating material from the band's expansive collection.

Rarities such as their 1992 debut, the Drill EP, "I Want None of This” from the 2005 charity compilation Help!: A Day in the Life, and the 2011 TKOL RMX 8 remix EP are included.

As the band explains, via press release:

From today, visitors at Radiohead.com will be able to create their own library card and membership number, and access a highly curated and organized archive of the band’s catalogue and corresponding visuals and various artifacts associated with each album: Detailed artwork, official videos, and ad-free HD live and TV performances, B-Sides and compilation tracks, previously out-of-print merchandise to be custom made on demand, band members’ "office chart” playlists from around the time of In Rainbows, The King of Limbs and A Moon Shaped Pool recording sessions, and more.

The debut from Thank You, I'm Sorry -- titled The Malta House -- will release on Feb. 7 on Count Your Lucky Stars label.

Thank You, I'm Sorry is the solo project of Colleen Dow, featuring Dow's vocals and guitar with a confessional. tone. The lead single, "How Many Slugs Can We Throw Against the Wall Until We Question Our Own Mortality" recently premiered at New Noise.

Dow explains the song (and album)'s inspiration:

I wrote "How Many Slugs..." the fall after moving home from my first attempt at independent adulthood. I was living alone in a town of 1,200 people (Malta, which the album is named after). I had just been writing songs in an attempt to cope with the emotions I was experiencing. This was one of the first songs I wrote that garnered reactions from my friends due to how relatable they found it.

I spent the remainder of my time at the Malta house writing more songs about my collective negative feelings, and decided to start Thank You, I'm Sorry shortly after moving out of that house and to Chicago. The name of the song comes from a 3 am conversation with my then roommate when they said the phrase. I remember telling them right after them saying it that I was going to name a song that, to which they simply replied "do it."

The Pixies have released the three track Beneath The Eyrie Demos: Pt. 1 today on streaming and download services. The 3-track demo features recordings from the December 2018 Beneath The Eyrie album sessions; the record Beneath The Eyrie, released last Septermber (BMG/Infectious).

The band will soon head to Japan, China, New Zealand and Australia, with plans to visit Europe this summer.

Francis of Delirium have released a new video for the song "Quit Fucking Around."

Speaking of the new song, Jana explains:

To me the song is about breaking out of negative thinking habits and how we can fall into a pattern of despair especially in today's climate. For awhile I felt so weighed down by comparing myself to others on social media, or looking at how it seems like no one cared about the climate. I got lost on the way, I kept chasing a superficial happiness over trying to find meaning and purpose in my life. I wrote this song as a reminder to myself and hopefully others that that isn't the only way we have to lead our lives.

The band will release a new EP later this year. Watch the video after the bump.