MYVERONICA
BAND DISCOVERED
I’m part of Generation X, and growing up as a teenager in the early ’90s – right in the middle of the grunge and post-grunge explosion – left a lasting mark on me. So whenever I discover new bands like MyVeronica, thanks to Sunday Drive Records, I’m instantly hit with a warm sense of nostalgia. This is exactly the kind of music I want to sink into and lose myself in. Sick Sad World is the first taste of their upcoming album, I Hope There’s Music In Heaven, out on October 18, 2026.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The song’s tempo and dynamic shift around the 1:30 mark works beautifully.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE
Search for something I know / I won’t ever find / I would like to believe / I will find a way / To keep you by my side
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
melancholic | cathartic | introspective
BESIDES THAT
I pre-ordered the album without hearing it first. Here’s the pre-order link: MyVeronica – I Hope There’s Music In Heaven
WISH
Of course, seeing them live.
PILEUP
BAND DISCOVERED
After discovering Flesh And Bone Records through Greet Death and Seth Beck, I decided to dive into the label’s back catalog and give some of its releases a listen. I have to admit, not many of them were familiar to me. But that’s hardly surprising when you’re based in Cologne and exploring the output of a small do-it-together independent label from Chicago.
So I started clicking my way through the catalog, initially making the admittedly superficial decision of judging records by their cover art. That’s how I ended up with Pileup and their second full-length, Leave The Light On, released on cassette in collaboration with Pleasure Tapes Ltd.
From the opening moments of „Chain“ and the follow-up „Lightning,“ I was completely hooked. This is exactly my kind of record. Even though the second half slows things down a bit and occasionally drifts into more sentimental territory, I thoroughly enjoy what this Portland-based band brings to the table. It’s straightforward indie (slow)rock with a handful of unexpected twists, delivered with complete confidence and an effortless sense of ease. Pacific Northwest at its finest.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
raw | introspective | unpretentious
BESIDES THAT
The instrumental outpouring in No Pyre, No Remembrance which sets a poem by vocalist Nathan Urbach to music before flowing seamlessly into the minimalistic Lying In The Road is a defining moment. Plus the haunting Omen On the Rail with its hypnotically monotone vocal delivery, draws me in deeper with every listen.
WISH
Maybe someday there will be a vinyl available.
SETH BECK
ARTIST DISCOVERED
As a huge fan of Greet Death, I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I only recently discovered bassist Seth Beck’s solo work. How did I miss this? Soft Heaven is already his third album, released in 2025, though so far it’s only been available digitally or on cassette via Flesh and Bone Records. Songs like CRV, MATMTU, and Passenger Seat had me completely captivated from the very first listen. Such beautiful, understated music that found its way straight to my heart.
KILLER SONG MOMENTS
The calmness that runs through most of these songs is incredibly moving. The entire album feels remarkably cohesive and perfectly captures a reflective mood – one you have to be willing to embrace.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
introspective | melancholic | understated
BESIDES THAT
His 2023 album Entertainment Center is another outstanding release – and thankfully, it’s available on vinyl. I still have to dive into his debut, June, from 2019.
TRUCK VIOLENCE
RECORD: The Weathervane Is My Body
RELEASED: 06|26|2026
LABEL: The Flenser
COLOUR | EDITION: Sea Blue | First pressing
FAVORITE TRACKS: Jaundiced And Reaching For A Mother / New Jesus / Your Name, It’s walking / Kindly, Wash Yourself
PURCHASED: Merch table at Outbreak Fest 2026
BAND. DISCOVERED
As the lineup for the 15th edition of Outbreak Fest in Manchester was gradually unveiled, I started making my way through the bands and artists I wasn’t familiar with. That’s when I stumbled upon Truck Violence. Their debut album completely won me over with its raw, idiosyncratic, and utterly captivating songs. The next thing that caught my attention was the fact that they’re signed to The Flenser. A label that has already won me over with several of its releases. I immediately ordered Truck Violence’s debut album, and just in time for Outbreak Fest in June, their new record was released. Destructive, unconventional, impossible to pigeonhole, furious, and powerful. If you like Chat Pile and Henry Rollins, do yourself a favor and give Truck Violence a shot.
BESIDES THAT
Truck Violence were an absolute force live. Their performance left a lasting impression on me. Unlike so many other bands, there was an unmistakable artistic edge to what they were doing on stage. And thanks for the brief chat at the merch table, Chris and Karsyn.
WISH
I’d love to experience them live again.
HOLDER
RECORD: Ruin The Best Of Me 7inch
RELEASED: 01|23|2026
LABEL: DAZE
COLOUR | EDITION: Clear | 1000
FAVORITE TRACKS: Inconsolable | Ruin The Best Of Me
PURCHASED: Evil Greed
BAND DISCOVERED
It was a combination of posts from their label, DAZE, and the announcement of several shows with Contention that first caught my attention. I missed their self-titled debut EP when it came out in 2025, but managed to pick up a copy from the second pressing. In February 2026, they followed it up with the 7-inch at hand. What an absolutely crushing collection of songs. I’m eager to hear what comes next.
BESIDES THAT
They’ll be playing Club Volta in Cologne at the end of October, supporting Static Dress alongside Soul Blind. I can’t wait.
$LAYYYTER
RECORD: WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA
RELEASED: 03|27|2026
LABEL: Columbia | RECORDS | Sony Music
COLOUR | EDITION: Coke Bottle Clear, Gatefold Cover
FAVORITE TRACKS: CRANK | GAS STATION | YES GOOD | UNKNOWN LOVERZ | I’M ACTUALLY FAMOUS | $T.LOSER
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
ARTIST DISCOVERED
Every now and then, I find myself getting lost in pop music. As a child of the ’80s, that’s hardly surprising. In this case, though, it happened almost by accident. I first came across $LAYYYTER through an Instagram post by one of my favorite record stores, Easy Street Records in Seattle. Until then, Catherine Slater’s pop project had completely escaped my attention. The hard-hitting beats paired with clever, infectious melodies immediately caught my ear. After going back and forth on it for a while, I came to the conclusion that the overall package is genuinely impressive, and I wasn’t going to let the massive streaming numbers put me off. Sometimes success can be a turn-off in itself. Not here, though. I thought $LAYYYTER was cool then, and I still do.
BESIDES THAT
Most impressive in my opinion, however, are the tracks GAS STATION, I’M ACTUALLY KINDA FAMOUS and $T.LOSER – three songs that perfectly showcase $LAYYYTER’s knack for combining infectious pop hooks with an undeniable edge.
