MILITARIE GUN
RECORD: God Save The Gun
RELEASED: 10|17|2025
LABEL: Loma Vista Recordings
COLOUR | EDITION: Blue & Black Smoke (EG Exclusive)
FAVORITE TRACKS: Fill Me With Paint, God Owes Me Money, Kick, Wake Up And Smile, I Won’t Murder Your Friend
PURCHASED: Evil Greed
BAND DISCOVERED
During the Covid-19 time, I recognized this new band with members from different bands I already followed. The drummer from Regional Justice Center, one guy from the band Modern Colour, and the other guy from Drug Church. The first EP, My Life Is Over, and the following EPs, All Roads Lead To The Gun I & II, were phenomenal. Partly, I ordered them overseas in the U.S. Militarie Gun was in about a year on every hardcore stage and platform. I loved the energy from the live shots from Philadelphia, which Hate5Six delivered, or the Sound & Fury Festival performance. In 2022, after several lockdowns, I had the chance to see the band in Cologne. In a venue for nearly 400 people with an attendance of perhaps 50. The development from hardcore to a more alternative sound is, perhaps, for most HC fans, difficult to handle. But for me, the sound of Ian Shelton and the guys fits my ears nearly perfectly. The new album is extremely personal, fragile, and angry at the same time.
BESIDES THAT
I can’t wait for the next European Tour in January and a great venue in Cologne. Much smaller, much sweatier, more energetic. Also: Ian Shelton’s social media presence is filled with recommendations for cool music. Keep an eye on his music taste.
AVERY FRIEDMAN
RECORD: New Thing
RELEASED: 04|18|2025
LABEL: Audio Antihero | Softseed Music
COLOUR | EDITION: Clear Sky Blue, Limited Edition
FAVORITE TRACKS: New Thing, Flowers Fell, Photo Booth, Biking Standing, Nervous
PURCHASED: Bandcamp
ARTIST DISCOVERED
I cannot remember exactly where I became a fan. This spring of 2025, it was a mix of reposts and mentions by various individuals and publications. The Line Of Best Fit posted an interview, mp3hugger featured the song Photo Booth, and musician Richard Orofino as well as former Z-Tapes and now Start Track owner Filip Zemcik posted something about Avery Friedman on Instagram. My emotions and nerves were being directly affected by the songs on New Thing. And as Avery announced the vinyl edition for New Thing, I decided to buy the record, even though the shipping costs and customs fees made it hard. Through social media I got in contact with her digital label, Audio Antihero, and Avery herself. This record will always be something special.
WISH
Seeing the songs live in Europe.
DEAFHEAVEN
Deafheaven live at Pitchfork Music Festival 2014
01:47 Dream House
10:40 Irresistible
11:55 Sunbather
23:03 From the Kettle Onto the Coil
29:37 Please Remember
31:26 Unrequited
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.
FIN DEL MUNDO
BAND DISCOVERED
I had been tuning in to a few live showcases and radio appearances on Audiotree and KEXP when YouTube recommended a video by Fin del Mundo. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, I clicked on it anyway. What I heard was very emotional, well-structured, and harmonious. No big breaks, no hustle and bustle, sometimes even a little monotonous. Post-punk meets shoegaze and dreamgaze. No frills, straightforward, and simply beautifully melodic. If I’m not mistaken, Fin del Mundo is the first Argentine band I’ve ever heard of. I’m pretty sure that this album and the previous one from 2023, Todo Va Hacia El Mar, will find their way into my record collection.
FAVORITE LYRIC LINE from Vivimos lejos
Todos buscan su lugar bajo la tormenta
No quiero arrastrarte más a mi marea
CHARACTERISTICS THAT APPLY
dreamy | decelerating | harmonious | heartfelt
BESIDES THAT
Fin del Mundo were on their third European tour last month, stopping off in Spain, Portugal and France. Maybe they’ll extend their next tour to other countries too. I’d love to see them live.
SHELTER
RECORD: Beyond Planet Earth
RELEASED: 08|08|2025
LABEL: Music On Vinyl | Roadrunner Records | Supersoul Recordings
COLOUR | EDITION: Purple, 180g Music On Vinyl Reissue, Limited to 1000
FAVORITE TRACKS: Revealed In Reflection, I Know So Little (So Well), Hated To Love, Whole Wide World, Beyond Planet Earth
PURCHASED: JPC
BAND DISCOVERED
It was a long time ago. Original released in 1997. Probably it was the same group of friends who hang out when I first discovered Helmet. On one side there was noise and metal, and on the other side there was hardcore, punk and skate-punk. With all those bands like 59 Times The Pain, Gorilla Biscuits, CIV, Refused, Pennywise, Lag Wagon, Satanic Surfers and so on. When Shelter’s biggest hit, Here We Go, received a lot of MTV airplay and became a party classic in 1995, I joined the mainstream wave, bypassing their first three albums and their background from bands like Youth Of Today and Judge. I always liked the melodic pop-punk. Ray Cappo and John Procelly transported an atmosphere way much cooler than some other mainstream punk acts. I was never into Krishnacore or Straight Edge. I just liked the melodies and the message.
