Good morning Freeloaders! Let’s hang out and enjoy our last August Freeloader Friday with some music. And because we want you to fully enjoy this upcoming 3-day weekend (if you’re in the U.S.!), we’ve stocked up on some goodies. If you’re not about to dive into a long Labor Day weekend, that’s ok, we love you too and hope these tracks will still cheer you up.
In our treat stash this week, we’ve got some brand new Benjamin Gibbard, some rad and cult Black Moth Super Rainbow (but no mask folks, sorry!), the latest music video from Yellow Ostrich, a Talk Talk cover from Richard Reed Parry, a double audio/video bonus from Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang and a metal video that will leave you feeling ‘hammered’ (take that as you will!) by progressive metal rockers ENSLAVED.
Hurrah for the weekend!
Benjamin Gibbard: “Teardrop Windows” via Soundcloud
Former Lives out October 16th on Barsuk Records
Yellow Ostrich: “The Shakedown” video via YouTube
Strange Land out now on Barsuk Records
Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire): “I Believe in You” via Pitchfork
Spirit of Talk Talk out September 3rd on Fierce Panda Records
Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang: “Feba” via Pitchfork and “Somebody” video via The FADER
En Yay Sah out now on Luaka Bop
ENSLAVED: “Thoughts Like Hammers” video via YouTube
RIITIIR out September 28th in Europe and October 9th in North America on Nuclear Blast
Freeloaders, I hope you’re excited today, because we’ve got a boatload full of treats for you! From live streams to a killer Janet Jackson cover, this one’s going to keep you entertained all weekend and more. First up, if you missed the three Bloc Party performances at Terminal 5 this week, catch the live stream courtesy of The Bowery Presents on YouTube — only available for 24 HOURS! So start watching…. NOW! Other clips will be available for longer, including “Helicopter,” “Octopus,” “Real Talk” and “Hunting for Witches.”
For the rest, we’ve got a mix of streams and free downloads from newly signed partner Lonestar, Levek, Naytronix, Enslaved and PAWS.
Enjoy!
Bloc Party: Live from Terminal 5 via YouTube, courtesy of The Bowery Presents: LIVE
Four out August 21 on Frenchkiss Records
Lonestar: “The Countdown” via SoundCloud
The Countdown out now on 4 Star Records
Levek: “French Lessons” via Pitchfork
Look A Little Closer out September 25 on Lefse Records
Naytronix: “What Have You Done For Me Lately” via GOOD
Dirty Glow out on October 9 on Plug Research Music
Enslaved: “Thoughts Like Hammers” via NPR Music
RIITIIR out September 28 in Europe and October 9 in North America on Nuclear Blast
PAWS: “Miss American Bookworm” via SoundCloud
Jellyfish (Single) out now on FatCat Records
After two successful album releases through Nuclear Blast US, Norwegian progressive metal rockers Enslaved have now signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast!
In response to being added to their new label’s global roster, the band said:
“We’re very, very (yes, very) pleased and proud to sign this deal with Nuclear Blast worldwide. We’ve already worked with Nuclear Blast US through our two latest albums and our personal friendships with NB guys and gals on both sides of the Atlantic are even older. There’s no drama – we take great pride in the fact that there seldom is with us; it is simply a matter of one contract ending and us going for what seems to be our best option at this point in time and space. This time, the best choice for ENSLAVED is changing things up somewhat. We’re excited to see what the mixture of passion and professionalism at Nuclear Blast can do with the ENSLAVED name in the years to come. There is no doubt that the level of ambition, the experience and seriousness about what we do form perfect common ground for ENSLAVED and Nuclear Blast.”
What’s coming up next, you ask?
“We’re in the process of making a new album that will initiate our new partnership. Watch out for the approaching wave of news about that. For now, let’s just say that the album will be an absolute (Nuclear) blast!”
Expect to see their new album this fall in the US and Europe!
Pitchfork’s Brandon Stosuy published his Top Twenty Metal Albums last month in his Show No Mercy column, and three of our favorite face-melters of the year made the cut! Weighing in at number six is Enslaved‘s Vertebrae on Nuclear Blast, brilliantly described as, “a smeary, tightly composed collection of progressive psychedelic post-black metal.”
At number ten we have Florida’s tech-minded prog metal elder statesmen, Cynic, with their first album in fifteen years, Traced In Air. Released via French powerhouse Season of Mist, this reunion album is “a jam-packed, carefully orchestrated King Crimson-style tone poem.”
Darkthrone‘s fourteenth long-player Dark Thrones and Black Flags is sitting pretty at lucky number thirteen. Stosuy calls the Peaceville release “one hell of a strange and compelling blackened punk collection.”
Check out the full list, along with many of the artists’ own picks, right here.
