Hey Gigantic Gang,

#NewMusicFriday blog and playlist is back, treating you to all the latest pure fire tracks that have just dropped! Plus, because we have THE best selection of gig and festival tickets, you can check out the tunes and then hear them being played live!

Stay safe and socially distanced this weekend, and had a good one xx

ALBUMS

METZ – ‘Atlas Vending’

Sub Pop stalwarts Metz are back with their fourth full-length album ‘Atlas Vending’ which they promise to be their most far reaching and experimental yet! Delving deep in themes of anxiety, addiction and the psychological fallout of both; making for a tense yet thrilling listen.

“Change is inevitable if you’re lucky. Our goal is to remain in flux, to grow in a natural and gradual way. We’ve always been wary to not overthink or intellectualise the music we love but also not satisfied until we’ve accomplished something that pushes us forward.” – Alex Edkins

But don’t worry Metz fans; the Toronto trio haven’t strayed too far from the relentless walls of obnoxious noise that made you fall in love with them in the first place – they’ve just perfected it!

If you like it hard and heavy, then make sure you see Metz when they play their newly announced gigs at Yes (The Pink Room) in Manchester plus O2 Academy2 Leicester during September.

Metz tickets are currently available.

SLOW PULP – ‘Moveys’

Many bands find it a struggle to gain attention and simply continue to exist in an environment that is so hostile to anyone other than acts with mainstream appeal and huge commercial backing. Indie rock quartet from Chicago Slow Pulp were facing these familiar problems when singer Emily Massey began to experience health problems. Diagnosed with Lyme disease and chronic Mono, the adjustments in her life led to a radical change in direction for the band and the sound of what has become their debut album ‘Moveys’.

Vulnerable yet defiant, ‘Moveys’ is ten moving tracks that are guitar driven with a real anthemic quality. Included is the powerful single ‘Idaho’ which is Massey’s account of overcoming her health struggles and finding self-acceptance when being constantly rejected by others:

“The diagnosis validated a lot of what I was feeling. I got tools for how to take care of myself better. The way that I internalize trauma is I will hold it in and not process it for a very long time, but writing songs is the one place where I can’t hide from myself. It just comes out whether or not I want it to or if I’m ready for it to. Figuring out how to write together, as a band, was like me learning how to take care of myself and learning how to communicate better.”

Catch Slow Pulp playing UK shows during February 2021!

Slow Pulp tickets are currently available.