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Joker’s Hand shift gears with “War Profiteer”

Known for their modern alt rock sound, Torrance, CA, based duo Joker’s Hand have something new up their sleeves…

Their latest single, “War Profiteer”, is entirely out of left field as it’s a ska song rather than alt rock. But, that doesn’t change my opinion – I think it’s their best track yet! Joker’s Hand have really found their niche here, everything from the tight vocals to the danceable upstrokes fit together like a perfect jigsaw puzzle.

Don’t let the incredibly catchy choruses fool you, the song has a serious message: it’s about people who profit off of the suffering of others.

The May release date is just in time for this song to hit summer playlists, so don’t miss out, take a listen now!

Find Joker’s Hand on: their website | Instagram | Facebook

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Spice things up with “I Can’t Sleep”

Columbus, OH, rock duo Spice Jar have a clear sense of direction for their music.

While their influences can be heard in the track, it bursts with originality and their own unique twist on indie punk.

Somewhat ironically, the track’s most familiar sound is not from other bands of the genre, but the vocal melody of Mumford and Sons’ “Little Lion Man”. Hearing that melody over a punk song instantly piqued my interest, and I hope you will enjoy the juxtaposition as much as I do.

The band will be releasing their debut EP Rom-Com soon, so stay tuned!

You can find Spice Jar on: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

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Proper Care for Your Vinyl: It’s Not That Difficult!

Have you recently gotten into collecting vinyl records? Maybe you’ve always been a collector of albums but have recently noticed some records aren’t in the best of shape anymore.

Whatever the case, you’ll want to make sure your vinyl records are properly cared for so that they can last a long time. In this blog post, we’ll provide five tips on how to store your vinyl records in order to preserve them!

A vinyl record on a turntable, spinning

Tip #1: Pick a good location for your music collection

Where you store your records is just as important as how they’re stored. Make sure that the area where you keep them has stable temperatures and low humidity levels, which can be done by storing vinyl in an enclosed cabinet or a climate-controlled room. It’s best to avoid storing vinyl in your basement or attic.

Vinyl records stored horizontally – an example of how not to store vinyl
How not to store vinyl records

Tip #2: Store records vertically

Vinyl records should always be stored vertically, with the label side up. Storing them horizontally or at an angle can cause warping and stretching of the record sleeve over time.

When you store your vinyl upright in a cabinet, make sure that they’re not tightly packed so that air is able to circulate around each album cover for optimal circulation and mildew prevention.

A man placing a vinyl record into his collection

Tip #3: Clean your vinyl records

A clean record is a happy record. To prevent dust buildup, it’s recommended that you dust off the album cover with a cloth before placing it back inside its sleeve every few months. The sleeves should also be dusted periodically to prevent any static build-up as well!

If possible, try to remove the dust before taking your records out of their sleeves to prevent the dust from sticking to the record due to static electricity.

A closeup of the sun, orange with several solar flares

Tip #4: Keep your vinyl records out of direct sunlight

Sunlight can cause the vinyl surface to warp, so make sure that you keep your records out of direct sunlight. Additionally, over time sunlight will also cause the album covers to yellow and age prematurely. Be sure to select a location where your records won’t be exposed to direct sunlight!

A cardboard box with tape and scissors

Tip #5: Use vinyl record storage boxes

If you don’t have shelf or cabinet space, use vinyl storage boxes to store your records in a cool, dry place. These sturdy cardboard or plastic containers will keep the dust off of your albums and sleeves while also being easy to stack on top of one another!

Parting thoughts

To sum things up, acquiring vinyl records is an easy hobby. However, you need to take proper care of your records to make them last a lifetime. We hope these tips have been useful!

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Remember the best of season(ing)s with Good Thyme

Sweden might not be the first place you think of when you think of pop punk… Realistically, it probably isn’t even in the top ten.

But that’s about to change – Those Without are poised to take the scene by storm, having already received from Altpress, and music so catchy that plenty more is sure to follow.

The band’s first full length, Bittersweet, is set to drop in September, so be sure to stay tuned!

Find Those Without on: their website | Facebook | Instagram

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Danish act H.E.R.O. drop “Made To Be Broken”

As the first single for their upcoming third album, H.E.R.O. have gone all out. The song features a massive wall of sound that would sound at home on a modern Bring Me The Horizon record, as well as a catchy arrangement and powerful vocals.

For those who enjoy riffs and head banging, don’t worry; you won’t notice anything missing with this track!

If you aren’t familiar with H.E.R.O. yet, I suggest taking a listen to their most recent album, Bad Blood – and look forward to album #3 soon!

Find H.E.R.O. on: their website | Facebook | Instagram

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Gathering of Strangers shares “Antidote”

Indie rock has been pouring out of the UK for decades, with bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, and Catfish and the Bottlemen showcasing their country’s talent.

But, there’s always the next band brewing in the UK that has a shot to reach international success like the bands mentioned above. My money’s on Gathering of Strangers, a five piece formed in Manchester, but consisting of members from all over the country.

The band have just released “Antidote”, a powerful and anthemic song reminding the listener that they can get out of the struggles they face in life.

Take a listen to the track below and let us know what you think!

Future Agency Β· Antidote – Gathering of Strangers

Find Gathering of Strangers on: Facebook | Instagram

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Vibe with the gritty pop rock of Halflives

A pop rock song really has to hit me just the right way to pique my interest – a combination of catchy hooks, distorted guitars, and a gritty attitude.

French act Halflives have managed to do just that with their latest track, “Vibe”. Co-producer Elliot Polokoff, of the band Cemetary Sun, skillfully blended rock riffs and a massive beat with electronic elements to help push the song forward.

The passionate, fed up lyrics blend so perfectly with the song to create a cohesive journey that ends far too soon.

Listen to the song below, and make sure to watch the video for the song which premieres on YouTube at 3PM EDT on April 15th!

You can find Halflives on: their website | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

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Omaha could be the next city known for their post hardcore

When music fans think of Omaha, NE, they might think of bands like Bright Eyes or 311… Bands who while extremely talented, aren’t on the cutting edge of music.

But Immunizer may just change that – the post-hardcore band would fit right in on a modern rock tour, such as Warped Tour. In fact, I can’t help but imagine that the band has been influenced by Pierce the Veil and Circa Survive – particularly the massive, enveloping bass tone and vocals are reminiscent of those two bands.

That said, Immunizer still brings their own, original, sound to the table so while their influences seem clear, the band’s strength comes from their combination of sounds.

Take a listen to “Corpseflower” now and let us know what you think!

You can find Immunizer on: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify

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Will this band Breakthrough to the mainstream?

Typically when we hear of artists from Atlanta, we think of rap – after all, Atlanta is the unofficial rap capitol of the US.

But, that doesn’t mean rock and metal bands don’t exist in the Big A, and up and coming metal act Breakthrough Even proves it!

The band’s latest track, Phoenix Down, is out now and features carefully thought out riffs that creative a wall of sound that punches you right in the face.

One of the best parts of the song is that the guitars take a backseat when the vocals come in, giving the vocals their space to shine until it’s time to hand things back over to the guitars.

This juxtaposition creates an enveloping feel to the song, and is quite a highlight for me. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Find Breakthrough Even on: Instagram | Bandcamp

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These Old Wounds won’t fade

Tulsa, OK, based hard rock band Fight The Fade have released the massive new track “Old Wounds” (not to be confused with the band of the same name).

The song takes the listener on a journey by beginning with an ominous, building intro. As the song progresses seamlessly to the first verse, things seem to reach a plateau until the chorus hits – and it hits hard.

The track continues on to provide great dynamic highs and lows between the verses and choruses, and later in the song an anvil replaces the snare drum to achieve a unique and powerful sound.

Considering the band has been around for over a decade, I’m surprised I haven’t heard of them before – but I’ll absolutely be keeping my eye out for their next release!

Find Fight The Fade on: their website | Facebook | Instagram