CRIPPLING ALCOHOLISM
BAND DISCOVERED
I discovered the Boston-based band through The Flenser’s Instagram account. The independent label reissued their debut LP CAMGIRL back in April after the first pressing, released by Portrail of Guilt Records in September 2025, quickly sold out. CAMGIRL is a haunted-house ride of the highest order. Think Leonard Cohen meeting HEALTH. Crippling Alcoholism craft a dark, nihilistic blend of post-punk, metal, goth, noise, and – above all – synth-pop. Absolutely stunning.
WISH
Needless to say, I’m hoping to catch them live sooner rather than later.
OAKWOOD
RECORD: Blurred Away
RELEASED: 05|29|2026
LABEL: Memory Music
COLOUR | EDITION: Evergreen Opaque
FAVORITE TRACKS: A Tangled Mess / Footnote / Fall Apart / Blurred Away / The Deepest Green / Fields Behind The House
PURCHASED: Evil Greed
BAND DISCOVERED
Although it wasn’t actually that long ago, I can’t remember exactly how the band Oakwood first appeared on my radar. Option A: through social media. Option B: through streaming services. It turns out the algorithms do work after all – and apparently small miracles also work. Oakwood formed in 2013 and disappeared again shortly after 2015. Then, in 2024, songs from their early releases started making the rounds online. Now, an album produced by Grammy Award winner Will Yip (Turnstile, Title Fight) has found its way into record stores. Oakwood hit the mark perfectly. It’s a deeply atmospheric record whose greatest strengths lie in its first five tracks in particular.
BESIDES THAT
You can get a few more insider stories in Jeremy Bolm’s The First Ever Podcast. In episode #298, Oakwood’s Mat Dwyer joins Bolm for a conversation that offers some additional background on the band’s history.
HORSE
BAND DISCOVERED
When I discovered the Australian band Stirr at the beginning of the year, the internet also served up another band for my playlists: horse. Their debut EP Ask Me Again Next Year will be released digitally on July 10. Drawing heavily from UK-inspired post-punk, all of the singles released so far sound remarkably sophisticated and genuinely impressive. The older tracks Blight, The Gap and Headlights, along with the latest single Under Your Sun, have all found a regular spot in my listening rotation.
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
post-punk driven | substantive | raw
WISH
Of course, I’d love to catch this band live at some point. We’ll see if it ever happens.
MIL-SPEC
RECORD: Marathon
RELEASED: 10|06|2023
LABEL: Lockin‘ Out Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Black | 600
FAVORITE TRACKS: Secret Passage / The Days Don’t End / Too Long At The Fair / Memento / Marathon / Belle Époque
PURCHASED: Lockin‘ Out Records
BAND DISCOVERED
After my personally curated hardcore playlist came to an end and the streaming service’s algorithm happily kept feeding me more gems, Mil-Spec caught my attention. I quickly set about filling that gap in my knowledge. I even managed to track down a vinyl copy from the Toronto hardcore outfit through Australia’s Lockin’ Out Records. What a complete and cohesive album it is. The band followed it up with a self-titled EP in 2025. Anyone who enjoys High Vis should definitely give this a shot.
WISH
Unfortunately, I discovered them too late and ended up missing their last European tour. Let’s hope the Canadians make it back over here soon.
TEEN SUICIDE
RECORD: Nude Descending Staircase, Headless
RELEASED: 04|17|2026
LABEL: Run For Cover Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Distant Clouds | 1000
FAVORITE TRACKS: Idiot / Spiders / Everything In My Life Is Perfect / Keeping Her Keys / Hypnotic Poison / Not Born To Run
PURCHASED: Underdog Recordstore
BAND DISCOVERED
Teen Suicide were just sort of always there for me. I never had a big discovery moment with them – whether through their early connection to Topshelf Records or the first wave of success they found after signing with Run For Cover. When I started digging through their catalog, I was honestly blown away by the streaming numbers on the major platforms. In any case, their new songs showed up in my release radar, and after hearing tracks like Idiot, Spiders, and the phenomenal Everything In My Life Is Perfect, I couldn’t help but buy the record. The songs are impeccably produced, powerful, clear, and polished – yet they never lose their indie character for a second. Moreover, the album is incredibly diverse from start to finish.
WISH
This is a band I’d absolutely love to see in a small, intimate venue – and the sound would have to be top-notch.
RILEY!
RECORD: Keep Your Cool
RELEASED: 04|19|2024
LABEL: Counter Intuitive Records
COLOUR | EDITION: Beer Glitter | 500
FAVORITE TRACKS: 777 / Keep Your Cool, Man / Kill Yr Boss / Ego Peek Mid / Die Mad
PURCHASED: Counter Intuitive Records
BAND DISCOVERED
Riley! has been popping up on my radar for quite some time now—while shopping for records online, in recommended playlists, and just about everywhere else. I’m not sure why I never fully jumped on the bandwagon, especially since the artwork always managed to lure me into giving it a quick click and a brief listen. But eventually, the moment came: their smart, catchy blend of Midwest emo and pop-punk finally found its way to my ears. Now their third album, Keep Your Cool, Man, is spinning on my turntable in the Beer Glitter variant. A wonderful record.
BESIDES THAT
At the end of May, the band announced their move from Counter Intuitive Records to Pure Noise Records. A new EP titled To Live and Die in the American South is set for release at the end of July.
