SUMMER 2025: frog eyes, hacked apart, pup, shn shn
Frog Eyes - The Open Up
(Paper Bag)
Release Date: March 7th, 2025
This is Frog Eyes 20th Anniversary since their debut album. Vancouver based (originating from Victoria) musicians putting their own blend of art deco post punk alt rock indie jams. Carey Mercer's very unique horror movie narrator vocals combined with the bands rhythm guitars and sly drums and space echo makes for a silly combination. "I'm a Little at a Loss" sounds like SNL's Dana Carvey "Chopping Broccoli " skit while "Trash Crab" (named after a pixel video game) is an homage to all who want to fix our planet.
- Martin
Hacked Apart - Hacked Apart
(Self-Released)
Release Date: May 2nd, 2025
It begins with a microphone distortion that characterizes the entire album, making it somewhat messy but heavy, with the speedy and violent characteristic of grindcore. Dry, metallic drums accompany the guitar riff, and with that characteristic "yelling" that reminds one of a rabid dog eager to attack, somewhat revolutionary. Imposing, brave.
- Amaya
PUP — Who Will Look After The Dogs?
(Rise)
Release Date: May 2nd, 2025
PUP the band is still swinging sluggers with their fifth studio album 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?", accomplishing what can only be described as their most intimate and meaningful album yet. Departing from their typical sound, Dogs is raw and unforgiving. Clearly experimenting with sound and effect, PUP takes a new tone with songs like "Olive Garden" and "Get Dumber", which features Jeff Rosenstock, in which you hear a raw outtake decidedly kept in that producer John Congelton describes as, "fucking up is what this band does best, play to your strengths". In typical PUP fashion, the lyrics are some of the best parts of this album, songs like "Needed To Hear It", "Cruel", and "Best Revenge" remind every PUP fan exactly where they came from, being reminiscent of their first two albums in passion and in relatability. The melodic aspects of this album are uniquely PUP, in somehow a slow melodic tune tears you apart more than their rage-fueled faster rippers do. This album is full of life, and full of all the beauty's that make getting out of bed in the morning worthwhile. Because after all, the best revenge is living well.
- Mackenzie
shn shn - Serpent's Skin
(shn shn)
Release Date: March 28th, 2025
Producing all their own music, shn shn has put out their first album with the same bearing as a message broadcasted through vast, empty outer-space.
The electronic base is used masterfully, and the repetition of spoken lyrics creates a beautiful, dynamic trance. Their melodies are calming and introspective, and the album as a whole asks "Where did we come from, how did we get here, and who am I when I create my own narrative?”
- Charles