Signals Midwest
Dent
Lauren Records (2022)
Signals Midwest play punk with a lot of words. Words arranged in actual sentences, telling stories instead of using the lyrics for purely rhythmic and singalong purposes. Dent is their fifth album, and it’s the first I’ve personally reviewed even though I’ve followed the band from afar over the years. The lyrics are personal, but consistently positive in tone, which separates the band from others who dabble in emotional, self-reflective punk. It’s serious, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. As whole, Signals Midwest play indie inspired punk rock. It’s midtempo but always moving forward. There’s no chugging. Instead, structures move in linear fashion, as if following a plot. Think of both Jawbreaker and Jets To Brazil at different times, with the core sound leaning more Jawbreaker of those two. Take “Gold in the Grey” as an example, which I feel showcases the sound they’ve honed over time. It starts like a ballad with simple strumming, then vocalist Maxwell Stern shifts his tone from remorseful to positive and the drums kick in. It builds from gray to gold, if you will. Dent isn’t a collection of songs, it’s an album. There are singles here, but each song flows together cohesively … Read more
Carthiefschool
Kenjimiyazawa
Transduction Records (2021)
Japanese based Carthiefschool formed in high school in 2016 and over these last 6 years or so have thrived in … Read more
Mad Brother Ward
Ugly Life
Ruined Records (2022)
Snarling, savage, sneering rabid dog on a thick chain lunging towards your soft neck in the area of your throbbing … Read more
