This album is some serious boxing entrance music. Synth brass, synth strings, and synth choir over 808s combined magnificently with copious Dragonball Z references set the stage for an epic confrontation between Hunit Stackz and his arch nemesis: mumblecore rappers. By about a minute through the album’s opening track, you almost feel sorry for the rappers who Hunit Stackz is eviscerating. As Hunit Stackz told the Manhattan Digest, “mumble rap is garbage…Overall it’s a disgrace to the greats. I decided to step up as the anti-mumble rap spokesman in hip-hop.” As for his own tracks, Hunit Stackz is not modest saying, “I feel I deserve unprecedented superstardom.” And after listening for a while, I think I’m ready to live in a Hunit Stackz dominated rap market.

-Mike Dranove

In March, you can pick up Amen Dunes‘ fifth album, Freedom. However, right now, you can watch the music video for "Miki Dora", the first single from the album. Damon McMahon, the brains behind Amen Dunes, reflects on his youth and upbringing in the eleven tracks on Freedom; in "Miki Dora", he connects the life of the legendary surfer to his own, touching on the surfer’s criminality and distorted personality. Tastes of the early-80s post-punk and late-80s no-wave scene come through in the track. The music video for the first single stars seventeen-year-old Boomer Feith running through New York City in slowed-down scenes to fit the bass-heavy moody music; scenes of McMahon singing and lyrics from the song cut in between.

To celebrate the release, Amen Dunes will perform at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 31st with a brand new live band. Get a taste for what’s to come by watching the video for "Miki Dora" below. – Will Sisskind

Wild Americans’ 2016 EP lighten up is a psychedelic experiment in Americana, the result of which is their vision of "relaxed funk" – and theior music carries a certain groove, indeed. The band, however, keeps you from getting too comfortable for too long, however. Guitar-driven nostalgia is kept on its toes with groovy hooks and an unexpected vocal range (especially in “Loser Freaks”).  The artists’ music reflects their name: a celebration of youth and freedom as well as a connection to the past. Check out Wild Americans’ single release at the Brooklyn Bowl on 01.29. –Amanda Ogea 

Robert Earl Thomas, lead guitarist of Brooklyn dream pop duo Widowspeak, has released a video for the track "What Am I Gonna Do" off of his upcoming solo debut Another Age. The video for the introspective song showcases intimate close-up shots of Thomas somberly walking through New York City beneath a grainy black and white filter reminiscent of film noir that emits a melancholic, yet atmospherically romantic moodiness. Another Age releases February 16th on Captured Tracks. – Alexander Beebe

Brooklyn darlings Kino Kimino‘s debut LP "Bait is for Sissies," featuring Sonic Youth Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley serving as session men, will throw you off-guard, just like the band’s bizarre, at time nonsensical videos. The brainchild of Kim Talon, the power trio offers deadpan vocals, gritty guitars, and 90’s-cool-kid vibes embedded in an ever-shifting sonic soundscape. The final result fully justifies Kim’s recent move from LA to the edgier NYC scene. Don’t miss their uipcoming show at Elsewhere on January 30th, and those of you into guear and guitar pedals should check out the Kino Kimino’s Q&A with Delicious Audio!

"My head spins like Earth itself," sings Anna McClellan on her newest single "Flailing Orbits." She shows a wonderful, healthy amount of self-awareness, admitting to deep-rooted pessimism and a complicated, flailing relationship. An almost dreary-sounding vocal performance works surprisingly well in this song, but McClellan confidently admits towards the end of the track: "for the first time in a while / I’m not dying to see your smile." Who needs optimism, anyway? Anna McClellan shows that feeling a little bit of existential dread is just fine, too. -Geena Kloeppel

Youtube memetrash aesthetic goes live this Friday with KNOWER‘s first Los Angeles show of the year featuring live backing band at the Lodge Room Highland Park. Louis Cole and Genevieve Artadi, the project’s only constants, mix electrofunk and jazz with more than a touch of net humor that makes anyone wonder when they’ll do a collaboration with Bill Wurtz. The duo will embark on several festival appearances before taking off in the spring to tour through Europe. Friday’s show will kick off with performances from Thumpasaurus, The Unending Thread, and Plexus. – Ryan Mo

Listening to The Royal They can feel like teetering on the brink of chaos. The trio seems captivatingly in control of impromptu bursts of sound, explosions of cymbals and fuzzy guitar. At some moments you wonder if the band is about to lose control, but they never do. The dynamic intensity has visible roots in ‘90s grunge but The Royal They abandons lethargic delivery in favor of ferocity. The band’s thunderous sound will strike again on February 1st when they open for Big Ups (our Best NYC Band of 2014, featured on our cover that year) at Silent Barn. – Cameron Carr

Listening to the slippery, psychedelic folk rock of Sacramento’s four-piece Honyock is like looking at an old picture of the city that they hail from. Their Demo E.P., which begins on the explosive track “Heather” (streaming below), is a fully-fleshed ode to folk with stoner-rock sensibilities heavy enough for them to accurately brand themselves as “Peyote-Tonk.” The surreality with which they paint their music – audible in the classic, and surprisingly dynamic, psychedelic guitar distortions – is combined with an unexpected edge that is impossible to get enough of. They recently joined indie veterans Surfer Blood at the Blue Lamp for a show. Keep an eye out for their next live show announcement here at The Deli. – Lilly Milman 

Nation of Language’s vision of the New Wave aesthetic feels seamlessly natural, a continuation of 1980’s synthpop instead of just an experiment in nostalgia. The band has an advantage of hindsight that their musical inspirations did not, a position that allows Nation of Language to freely experiment in the nuanced area between New Wave and post-punk. Yet, the real delight that sets apart this group are Ian Devaney’s vocals. Devaney’s wistful crooning comes with a romantic dark side that cannot be ignored. Check out Nation of Language at Elsewhere (Zone One), 02.06. —Amanda Ogea

In August, The Deli wrote about Freezing Cold‘s debut EP, a three-track untitled demo which introduced the world to their post-hardcore sound. Just last week, the band released the music video — their first ever — for "Shape of Escape", the EP’s second track. The song builds and falls in the post-rock style of This Will Destroy You; Jeff Cunningham’s and Angie Boylan’s raw voices harmonize over the sparse yet powerful guitar-bass-drums arrangement. The color swirls and exterior shots move in time to the music, creating a subtle piece of art that feels massive. You’ll have to wait until March to see Freezing Cold at Silent Barn, so for now, watch the video for "Shape of Escape" below. – Will Sisskind

Brooklyn-based electronic producer Max Schieble, also known as Elbows, blends a handful of genres into his work, creating his signature, rich hip hop and jazz-infused backing tracks. He’ll release more of that sound on his upcoming Sycamore EP, his sophomore record, which he compiled from recording sessions in both New York and San Francisco. The songs on Sycamore chronicle Schieble’s Bay Area roots, shifting genres with the moods of the songs, going from old-school hip-hop to smooth synth-heavy jazz to lounge music. The EP drops on January 26th, but Schieble will mark the release with a show at Baby’s All Right on January 31st; Space Captain and Zenizen will open. 

Schieble has released the most recent single from Sycamore, a harmony-laden chill track of wistful nostalgia called "Windowpane". Stream it below. – Will Sisskind