Krill - "Torturer"

https://soundcloud.com/krillband/torturer/ Melding elements of punk rock, loads of both metal and garage rock influences and a dash of poppy, melodic lyrics and undertones, Krill's "Torturer" from the forthcoming album A Distant Fist Unclenching is rousing and bludgeoning, yet focused in its wild need to be experimental. The songs explodes with a spirit of desire and longing in the words and in the music in specific spots, leaving open a wide array of interpretation of the songs' central meaning. At around 3:30 in, a grating, shredding guitar takes center stage and brings "Torturer" to a whole new level, and then the music drops down again for a more subversive ending to the tune than we were probably expecting. "Torturer" is the sound of a band with a few years under their collective belts, but still striving to find that signature sound. It's a spirited outing for this Boston trio and should get more people talking about and sharing their music.

A Distant Fist Unclenching is due out 17 February via Exploding in Sound.

- Ron Grant

Guerilla Toss - Smack the Brick EP

https://soundcloud.com/nnatapes/sets/guerilla-toss-smack-the-brick-cassette Everybody's favorite funked-out, rock-out-with-your-pud-out, no-wave five-piece Guerilla Toss is back and funkier than ever with this new four track EP, Smack the Brick. The project finds the Allston act continuing to tighten their compositions, evoking something like a primeval Talking Heads with their now rather danceable grooves. It's a far cry from the improvised punk stylings of, say, the band's self-titled Tzadik debut, but I think they're doing a nice balancing act of loose and tight at the moment, so I can't really complain. Besides, they apparently have a split thing with B L A C K I E coming up, which may well see the return of their more free-improvised side. Until then, check out Smack the Brick above and enjoy!

My Fictions - "Mt. Misery" & "Stubborn"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqgeV1s6-o&feature=youtu.be My Fictions is a loud rock four-piece from Lowell, Massachusetts apparently hellbent on pushing hardcore to its limit. They'll be making their full-length studio debut next month with Stranger Songs. Above, you can check out the opening track "Mt. Misery," which gives the illusion of a slow-burner with a tension-mounting intro before bursting into a bout of the band's fast and furious hardcore magic. And below you can hear the thoroughly breakneck and angsty "Stubborn." These guys sound manic! Looking forward to this LP dropping July 1 (via Topshelf Records).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XINDS3VB48

MUTOID MAN - Helium Head

Stream: MUTOID MAN - Helium Head Massachusetts metalcore titans Stephen Brodsky (of Cave In) and Ben Koller (of Converge) have teamed up under the name MUTOID MAN and have just dropped their debut project Helium Head. The people at Earsplit PR describes the sound of this expectedly whirlwind release as "classic rock on bath salts and a case of energy bars." Well, nothing to add here. Click on that widget above for an earful of Brodsky's head-spinning leads and Koller's break-neck drumming and commence freaking out!

Helium Head is out now via Magic Bullet Records.

Blessed State- 2012 Demo

Some catchy, energetic, and melodic hardcore punk coming from this new demo from Western Massachusetts' Blessed State. It's rough around the edges, but surely worth a listen. Some great guitar leads manage to shine through the grit of this recording, and some spots like the lone guitar introduction of the last track do come off as legitimately down in the dumps for music of this level of aggression. Enjoy!

I Kill Giants- We Can Live In The Exact Same Place

I Kill Giants is a young band from Boston, Massachusetts that doesn't like to waste anybody's time. At least, that's the impression I got from listening to their new album ("full length"? EP? single?) We Can Live In The Exact Same Place, released in May of this year. Although this album features eight tracks, its total runtime doesn't even scrape the 6 minute mark. If you're looking for well developed songs with good lyrics and refined instrumentation, I Kill Giants probably won't do much for you; however, if blisteringly fast, youthful math rock with an emo-informed punk twist is your thing, this album is worth checking out. The highlight for me is the opening track "Life Instead Of Sleep," which doesn't even really start until halfway through its 44 second duration, but then suddenly explodes into an intensely emotive burst of gang shouted vocals and mathy guitars that lasts only 20 seconds. You won't even know what hit you.

Give We Can Live In The Exact Place a listen or two. If you don't like it, it's no big deal--at worst, you wasted 6 minutes. Stream the album above and download it for whatever you want to pay over at bandcamp.