HUM
RECORD: You’d Prefer An Astronaut
RELEASED: 12|08|2023
LABEL: Earth Analog Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Green Translucent , 2LP, 45rpm
FAVORITE TRACKS: Stars, Suicide Machine, Why I Like The Robins, I Hate It Too
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
BAND DISCOVERED
The first time I discovered HUM was probably around 1995 during their original release of You’d Be An Astronaut and their presence at several MTV shows, mostly at 120 Minutes. The song Stars is, up to today, a hit. Until now, I had never owned a physical release. After an album hiatus of over 20 years, HUM released in 2020 the album Inlet, which catapulted the band back on my map.
BESIDES THAT
Because they aired at night, I recorded some MTV shows on VHS, like 120 Minutes or Headbangers Ball. Since I was still going to school, it was often impossible to fit into my daily schedule. Next day, I rewatched the videos, hooked up the video recorder to my tape deck, and made some mixtapes for my Walkman. HUM was one of the bands which I copied over.
TURNSTILE
RECORD: Never Enough
RELEASED: 06|06|2025
LABEL: Roadrunner Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Orange Clay, Limited Edition Gatefold Cover
FAVORITE TRACKS: Never Enough, I Care, Look Out For Me, Seein‘ Stars
PURCHASED: Turnstile Official Webstore
BAND DISCOVERED
It was back in 2015 when a friend of mine suggested a Turnstile gig in Cologne. After checking out their long-play debut, Nonstop Feeling, it was clear to me that this is not my type of thing. A few years later, in 2018, the HC band Fury came to the Rhine area, and I freaked out that this really happened. They played with two or three other bands, some local support, and another US band. That band was Turnstile. I didn’t care because all I wanted to see were these songs from Paramount, the glorious Fury debut record. Nearly 100 people were at this tiny location, and after the Turnstile set in promotion of their record Time & Space, my inner music nerd became (another) Turnstile fan. It was f****** awesome.
BESIDES THAT
I’ve also followed the musical work of the bands Big Cheese and Chubby & The Gang here and there and was super happy for Meg Mills that she found her place in Turnstile. It’s all become incredibly huge. Music remains a matter of taste, but this band is doing a few things the right way.
WISH
Stay focused on the good ones.
HOTLINE TNT
RECORD: Raspberry Moon
RELEASED: 06|20|2025
LABEL: Third Man records
COLOUR | EDITION: Black, LP
FAVORITE TRACKS: Was I Wrong?, Julia’s war, Letter To Heaven, Break Right, Candle
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
BAND/ARTIST DISCOVERED
I’m pretty sure that I noticed Hotline TNT via an instagram post by the New York City club and bar Baby’s All Right. I follow that channel since a Coughy gig back in 2018 I went to. Hotline TNT played there in 2022. I checked out their profile and saw the many similarities in shared followers – so it was pretty clear that this is a match.
BESIDES THAT
The classic distorted independent sound of Hotline TNT is full of nostalgia, DIY and melancholy.
WISH
Hopefully they will play Europe in the near future to catch them live.
HEATMISER
RECORD: Mic City Sons
RELEASED: 07|25|2025
LABEL: Third Man Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Sunset Pink Transparent / Starry Night Blue Glitter, 2x LP, 30th Anniversary Edition
FAVORITE TRACKS: Get Lucky, Plainclothes Man, Rest My Head Against The Wall, You Gotta Move, See You Later, Half Right
PURCHASED: Third Man Records
BAND DISCOVERED
Before I knew Elliott Smith’s solo work, I never paid attention to Heatmiser. I didn’t know them. As a young boy in a small village, the opportunities to access independent music were simply limited. I was glad that the grunge wave somehow reached me. But that was probably only because grunge became so incredibly popular. Music magazines and MTV did the rest. The internet wouldn’t exist for another 10 years or more. Once I got into the music of Elliott Smith and the history of this charismatic and broken singer in the late 1990s, I fell in love with Heatmiser too. Not with all songs, but with some of them. Heatmiser was often just a note in Smith’s history. But that was always unfair, and I am glad I can now re-experience this great record on vinyl.
DEFTONES
RECORD: Private Music
RELEASED: 08|22|2025
LABEL: Reprise Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Grey (Fog), Alt. (Purple) Cover, Limited Edition
FAVORITE TRACKS: Infinite Source, Souvenir, I Think About You All the Time, Milk of the Madonna, Cut Hands, ~Metal Dream
PURCHASED: JPC
BAND DISCOVERED
It was around 1995 when Deftones released their debut record, Adrenaline. Nu metal was fresh and on its way to reach a top place in the 90s rock circus besides grunge, alternative, and crossover. I remember getting enthusiastic when I spotted their videos for Bored and 7 Words on MTV. With their following records, Around The Fur, the masterpiece White Pony, and their self-titled record, Deftones define a constant role in my music cosmos. With Ohms released in 2020, Deftones were suddenly back on my map, but just for a few weeks. With their new album, Private Music, they offered themselves a top place on this year’s poll for best record. What a fantastic work in its whole. This record is, from start to finish line, a complete one. No filler and on a constant high level. Powerful, emotional, melodic, stylish.
FOXING
RECORD: Foxing
RELEASED: 09|13|2024
LABEL: Grand Paradise
COLOUR | EDITION: Ice Blue With Black Splatter, 2x 12″ Vinyl, 45 RPM
FAVORITE TRACKS: Secret History, Hell 99, Spit, Greyhound, Barking, Kentucky McDonald’s, Gratitude
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
BAND DISCOVERED
Maybe I was a bit late, because I only got to know Foxing with their third album Nearer My God. Benjamin from Fleet Union had sent me the promo back then and I was immediately impressed. I know that die-hard Foxing fans praise their debut album The Albatross to the skies, and word is out that they’ve been waiting until last year for a Foxing record that’s on the same level. For me, Nearer My God was/is that record at a high level. The title track plays a huge role in my life. But after 2018, it took 7 years for me to finally be blown away by this band when Foxing played their set at Outbreak Festival 2025 in Manchester. Nothing is more beautiful and powerful right now than Foxing’s songs. Heartfelt, warm, raw, complex, versatile.
BESIDES THAT
I promise I will complete the whole Foxing LP-back-catalogue this year.
WISH
Numerous other Foxing shows.
SLAUGHTERHOUSE
BAND DISCOVERED
Every once in a while I save IG posts about music content. This time it was a reminder to read some music advice from Punknews.org’s music editor, Em Moore. Upon clicking and listening to a variety of new bands and artists, I stumbled upon the review of the Sick And Tired EP by the Californian band Slaughterhouse. After some more listens and watching a few videos, I’m really enjoying what the band‘ output is. The EP has been ordered, and the songs will be on my playlists from now on.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
raw | rebellious | fast | directly | punky
NIHILISTIC EASYRIDER
BAND DISCOVERED
It was a Run For Cover announcement through their social media platforms when I took notice of Nihilistic Easyrider – not so long ago in May 2025. Some days or weeks later I recognized that Nihilistic Easyrider is a sideproject of Narrow Head frontguy Jacob Duarte. I’ve never paid much attention to Narrow Head to be honest. My playlists featured a few singles, but they quickly vanished. However, this project has a very relaxed, laid-back, and enjoyable vibe. It reminds of bands and artists like Disheveled Cuss, Chastity or Phony.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
easy listening | entertaining | alternative | laid-back
BESIDES THAT
I might be checking out a local record store to buy this one on vinyl.
