We are reporting to you live from a beautiful day here at the Old Caustic Factory, where Fridays start our work week. Our machines are burning red from all of these fresh releases, but not to fret, our technicians are here to ensure that yet another jam-packed New Music Friday goes off without a hitch. This week, we have a long list of freshly picked LPs from familiar faces of cult heroes, fresh returns from beloved, well-established acts, and a list of singles that preview some albums that might end up on a Caustic of their own. The weekend is about to begin, so peruse some new albums to find the perfect one to soundtrack yours.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music below, and head over to our Caustic Spotify playlist so you don’t miss a single song during this busy year.
The Melvins & Napalm Death – “Nine Days of Rain”
Savage Imperial Death March
A collaboration for the ages, two titans of industry collide on Savage Imperial Death March, the collaborative album between iconic Melvins and long-standing metal outfit Napalm Death, is everything you asked it to be and more. The eight-song project features members of both bands coming together to create an experimental exploration of the limits of rock, venturing into unknown lands and returning with raw prowess and electronic undertones. “Nine Days of Rain” is an early favorite from the anticipated release, with chanting vocals cascading around crashing percussion and sturdy, searing guitar riffs, a perfect metal storm.
Joe Jackson – “End Of The Pier”
Hope and Fury
Unpredictable genre-hopper Joe Jackson has enjoyed the longevity most musicians dream of, and he’s returning to his roots on Hope and Fury, his new rock-focused record. The 9-song project finds the legendary multi-hyphenate combining subtle hints of nostalgia with the lofty visions that pushed his career into new chapters since his late 70’s debut. “End Of The Pier” features quaint percussion and sparse guitar riffs, allowing Jackson’s storytelling to become cathartic.
Tenille Townes – “what’s meant for you”
the acrobat
Wistful and raw, immersive and palpable, the new record from singer/songwriter Tenille Townes is a lot of things, but most of all, it is a daring example of self-analysis through melody. The nine-song The Acrobat is a soulful, vulnerable look into Townes’ current state of mind, employing acoustic minimalism so every word hits directly in the soul. The early favorite, “what’s meant for you,” captures the album’s stripped-down aesthetic and features Townes’ gentle vocals in a captivating, emotional performance.
Sounding Arrow – “Do You Mean It?”
SKYMAN
On his long-awaited return to his Sounding Arrow solo project, Scott Kinnebrew welcomes all to relax and enjoy the beauty of the simple things in life. SKYMAN, his first album under the Sounding Arrow banner since its 2017 debut, is centered around the present moment and appreciating it for what it is, as Kinnebrew crafts psychedelic Americana with bright tones. Do You Mean It?” opens the album with breezy melodies and welcoming tones, as Kinnebrew’s vocals paint vivid imagery.
Fantastic Cat – “No Goddamn Way”
Cat Out of Hell
The songwriting supergroup of Brian Dunne, Anthony D’Amato, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali returns under their Fantastic Cat collaborative project with the release of Cat Out of Hell. The 12-song album is brimming with anthemic roots rock that showcases the band’s sonic range while keeping their unforgettable songwriting at the core. “No Goddamn Way” is an ode to the end of the night and to keeping a promise, delivered with swinging melodies and an explosive chorus.
Drivin N Cryin – “Keep The Change”
Crushing Flowers
The Southern rockers Drivin N Cryin have enjoyed a fruitful and storied career, and they add another page in their historic book with the release of Crushing Flowers, their first album in six years. The 10-song outing finds the band on familiar footing, creating firework-style Southern rock with plenty of attitude and even more nuances to fall in love with. “Keep The Change” features blistering tempos that collide with a cacophony of cascading percussion.
Wu Lyf – “WAVE”
A Wave That Will Never Break
Wu Lyf has always dabbled with the unconventional, and for their new LP, A Wave That Will Never Break, that approach bleeds even into the release method. Exclusively available through the band’s website, the cinematic 7-song project elevates the band to an otherworldly level, combining lush orchestrations with their heavy pop tendencies. “WAVE,” the unofficial title track, marks the band’s return with a dramatic performance of twisting vocals and romantic swells.
Rachel Lime – “Jangdan”
STORIES
It has been five years since Rachel Lime introduced her atmospheric art-pop, but on her latest LP, those ambient experimentations become even more daring and robust. STORIES features eight tiny sonic universes to explore, some built on the back of furthering Lime’s singularity. In contrast, others prove she can insert her left-field tendencies into radio-ready anthems, all bleeding into each other to create a refreshing electro-pop listen. “Jangdan” leans towards the bolder side of the album, with mesmerizing percussion colliding with Lime’s soft vocals and whimsical songwriting.
Cactus Lee – “Baltimore”
Lee’s Dream
The prolific solo project of Austin, Texas’ Kevin Dehan returns with yet another new, charming, warm album for his cult following to take with them through their day-to-day. The fresh Cactus Lee album, Lee’s Dream, is an inviting, toe-tapping 10-song listen that highlights Dehan’s traditional yet personal songwriting as he opts for a more spacious terrain. “Baltimore” opens the album with a lighthearted story about your problems following you wherever you go, as Dehan paints a bleak yet vibrant portrait of someone trying to make sense of it all.
Kurt Vile – “Chance to Bleed”
Philadelphia’s been good to me
The incomparable Kurt Vile returns with an ode to his hometown, announcing his new album and the release of its stellar lead single. Vile’s Philadelphia’s been good to me is set to arrive on May 29, and the distorted “Chance to Bleed” is our first preview of the LP. The lead single combines heady guitar riffs with a relaxed disposition, creating a sonic conflict that is undeniably enticing and infectious.
The Strokes – “Going Shopping”
Reality Awaits
One of the more beloved and long-standing members of New York’s early aughts indie boom, The Strokes, has finally announced the latest chapter of their discography. Reality Awaits will be released on June 26, and the auto-tune-tinted ripper “Going Shopping” is our first single from the long-awaited release. “Going Shopping” is a nimble, catchy tune with soaring guitar riffs that dance around toe-tapping tempos.
Pond – “Two Hands”
Terrestrials
Experimental rock mainstays Pond have announced Terrestrials, their new album and first LP since 2024’s Stung!. Terrestrials, whose title track was released back in early March, is set to arrive on June 19, and the news comes with the complex, intricate “Two Hands.” The new single is a twisted anthem with punchy guitars that navigate lush vocals and blaring synths.
Iceage – “Ember”
For Love of Grace & the Hereafter
It is not every day the alt-rock provocateurs Iceage release new music, making the announcement of their upcoming album all the more exciting. For Love of Grace & the Hereafter, the band’s sixth studio LP, will arrive on May 29, and the ever-evolving “Ember” is our latest preview of the project. This single dips into acoustic bliss, only to build itself back up into a cacophony of pounding percussion and acrobatic vocals.
The Lemon Twigs – “2 or 3”
Look For Your Mind!
Nostalgia-fueled psych-folk outfit The Lemon Twigs is preparing to release its new album, Look For Your Mind!, on May 8. Before the full LP arrives, the acclaimed duo of brothers releases “2 or 3,” a playful pop preview of the album with jangly excellence intertwined with a palpable longing.
Isaiah Rashad – “SAME SH!T”
It’s Been Awful
The elusive yet consistently evolving Isaiah Rashad began hinting at a new LP earlier this week with the release of a bloody trailer on his YouTube titled “It’s Been Awful.” Now, the Chattanooga vocalist has cemented a May 1 release date for It’s Been Awful, and released the moody yet bouncy “SAME SH!T” as the lead single, a dark tune about facing life cycles.
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