The sounds, songs, and passages within Power Sucker are the very reason that Young Widows are still a band after an 11-year creative pause; they remain masters at making music with equal parts sonic and emotional weight. Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound – or more accurately, the Young Widows feel – is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album. The heaviness of Power Sucker isn’t mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career. Historical accomplishments aside, Power Sucker has the shock and wonder of a new band’s debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.
In the world of heavy music, few bands embrace dynamics and negative space like Kowloon Walled City. Since forming 15 years ago, the band has increasingly refined its deconstructed approach to noise rock, math rock, and doom.
On a foundation of danceable, battle hymn drum machines and layered synths, Fotocrime is known for their transcendent electronic-meets-organic post-punk with driving bass, chiming guitars, and an unmistakable baritone voice. Fotocrime is led by Louisville-based singer/guitarist/producer Ryan Patterson. Patterson is also the singer/guitarist of Coliseum, owns and operates Shirt Killer and Cat Magic Punks, is a sought-after album cover and t-shirt artist, and a producer/recording engineer at his House of Foto studio.
Formed in early 2017, Fotocrime released two EPs that year, Always Hell and Always Night, followed by their first full-length album Principle Of Pain on Auxiliary/Golden Antenna in 2018. Their second and third albums, South Of Heaven (2020) and Heart Of Crime (2021), were released by Profound Lore Records and in 2022 Fotocrime self-released Alcoves, a collection of cover songs from Leonard Cohen, Portishead, Discharge, and others.
In 2023, Fotocrime released Accelerated, their highly-acclaimed fourth album and first for new label home Artoffact Records. Accelerated found the band leaping forward from their signature darkwave-leaning post-punk into new territory. The album includes electronic rock anthems, soulful sophisti-pop, minimal synth punk, hints of Italo Disco, and dreamy art rock.