Pallette Knife
Keyframe
Take This To Heart Records (2026)
There’s a fine line between being a quirky emo band with scene references and something that actually sticks. On Keyframe, Columbus trio Palette Knife don’t just flirt with that line but sharpen it, name it after a Final Fantasy item, and build ten huge choruses around it. The band’s self-described “Nerd-Core-Mid-West-Emo” tag could easily read like a gimmick, but this release works because the hooks land first and the references follow. The album opens with “Phoenix Down,” and it’s a bold move. The track is nearly ninety seconds of instrumental build before the vocals even enter. Guitars stack into a buzzing wall of sound, drums push forward with a mathy urgency, and then right when it feels like it might tip into indulgence, the song detonates into an avalanche of hooks. It’s decisive songwriting with just enough chaos to keep it from feeling safe. Mixed by Billy Mannino (Oso Oso, Macseal, Ben Quad), the record has that modern Midwest clarity with bright guitars, punchy low end, and vocals pushed right where they need to be. But what separates Palette Knife from the pack is how confidently they swing for the fences. These choruses aren’t polite. They’re the kind that beg … Read more
The Downstrokes
The Furious Hours
Independent (2026)
There is a specific kind of sultry, salty sweat that only happens in a room with low ceilings and a … Read more
The Arrivals
Payload
Recess (2026)
It's been a short lifetime since the last Arrivals record, Volatile Molotov, but in many ways the new Payload picks … Read more
Various Artists
Louder Than You Think: A Lo-Fi History of Gary Young & Pavement (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Independent (2026)
Gary Young wasn’t just a drummer; he was a beautiful, unpredictable glitch poking a hole in the sky where other … Read more
Mrs. Magician
High Resolution b/w Dead Alive
Swami (2026)
Mrs. Magician is back! For those unfamiliar, Mrs. Magician is a garage punk band based in San Diego, CA. They … Read more
