Writing about things that do and don't exist
The band gets raucous on its latest album, Flower to the Mind. Flower to the Mind finds Watererer collaborating with MIRAKLER guitarist and vocalist Daniel Gene, and the result is the harshest music the group has ever created. Ever the experimenters, they've produced plenty of dissonance over the years, but, thanks to Gene's ragged hardcore … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Watererer – Putteth Forth
The hip-hop artist's latest release is a riotous, DJ Banger-produced single. "HVAC" begins with Shum growling, attack dog style, over bells that sound like they could be the backdrop for a funeral, and it stays lean and mean from there. Other than those dead bells, it's pretty much creeping percussion, gut-punch bass, some horror movie … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Shum Koachella – HVAC
The first single from the great golden gloom, due out mid-November. vireo's music overflows with an unforced sense of joy, the feeling of logging off for a weekend (or, even better, a week) and driving out into the woods; streams over screens, white-tails over emails. It's exuberant, awestruck, and a bit messy, because the natural … Continue reading Daily Yinz – vireo – catching minnows
A few words about a few more local tracks that hit the spot over the past few weeks ### Switch Hitter - Batting for Both Teams Ragged, snarling hardcore punk that scalds from both sides of the plate. Eddie Murray, Mickey Mantle, and Chipper Jones would be proud. More from Switch Hitter Artwork by Buggsy … Continue reading Multi-Weekly Wrap-Up 10.17.25
The "brainrotcore" group's full-length debut is a live album recorded at Gooski's. Scrum Force fascinate me. I caught their set at the Millvale Music Festival this summer, and not only was it one of the loudest things I've ever heard, it also featured spoken word poetry, absurdist banter, a mannequin head, a blindfolded bass player, … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Scrum Force – Squidward Walking
In August, the trio released (through Belgian label Isengard) a split EP with Birmingham, UK polymath Tony Bontana. The two artists make for an unlikely, yet inspired, match. Tony Bontana's four tracks delve into moody hip-hop, kinetic punk, and floaty ambience, while Gina Gory's two turn up the shoegaze knob to maximum; it may sound … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Gina Gory – This Is My Truck
The crust quintet's debut LP is Reapers Call (Profane Existence). The album is full of drums that lash viciously, guitars that roil like hot dirty petroleum, and roared lyrics that take aim at war, genocide, tech supremacy, and government corruption, themes that the band treats not as separate issues, but as nodes linked together in … Continue reading Daily Yinz – DEADSKY – Kleptocracy
The artist follows up his 2024 debut, Dusting Off, with a knockout new single. Not only is the song titled after a collage; it sounds like one. Trickling acoustic finger picks bump up against crushing distorted riffs, augured by nothing more than a subtle and shuddering hitch in Adam Smith's voice as he sings, "Juggle … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Adam’s Purse – Fool’s Collage
A few words about a few more local tracks that hit the spot over the past few weeks ### Sewn Tight - Keep Lying To Yourself Convulsive hardcore beatdown that ratchets up the heaviness as it goes, ending at a barbarous lurch. More from Sewn Tight Follow on Instagram and Facebook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPLahdg9_GI ### UPRISING - … Continue reading Multi-Weekly Wrap-Up 09.19.25
The family trio's latest album is Compressor//Sustainer. For a band with such an intimate dynamic (vocalist/guitarist RJ Dietrich and drummer Karen Dietrich are married, and keyboardist/bassist/vocalist Robert Dietrich is their son), Essential Machine make big songs, ones built around wide-open instrumentals and soaring melodies that stretch to arena size. "Walking Pi (In A Daze)" pitches … Continue reading Daily Yinz – Essential Machine – Walking Pi (In a Daze)
Bored In Pittsburgh 