The indie rock and black metal worlds don’t come together often, but Imaginary Hockey League have proven that when they do, it can be a wonderfully weird combination. On their album We’ll Get Better One Day, the outspoken transgender punks ambitiously mix pop-punk, emo, black metal, and hardcore. I Promise. Most of the songs are over the four minute mark and are packed with tonal shifts that feel extremely natural even when they shouldn’t. The opening track, and shortest track, starts off with an instrumental post-rock vibe similar to Explosions in the sky before spiraling into a poppy punk track that examines vocalist Chaz Monroe Atkinson’s desire to watch anime in bed instead of growing up and build their resume. The most interesting track on the album “Six Feet Under Frost” begins as strict black metal track with harsh vocals and speedy drums until it slows down the tempo with clean vocals and guitar tones. Imaginary Hockey League experiment with many different genres on the record, and they make it work in a natural way that never feels forced. They will be playing Braceface House in Laurel, MD on September 19th. – John Honan, photo by Daniel Cannistra.

Punks have always been the misfits and outcasts of society screaming for change, so it’s no surprise that in 2016 some of the best punk bands are writing about gender, race, and sexual identity. Brooklyn’s Aye Nako tackle these issues on their latest EP The Blackest Eye through the pop punk lens, which has been long dominated by white males. Released on Don Giovanni Records, the four-piece’s new EP features subtly catchy punk songs while addressing deeply personal and important themes about society’s views on the LGBTQ community, sexaul abuse, and the white dominated society. Instrumentally, the band pulls from 90’s grunge and lo-fi acts such as Sebadoh, making use of off kilter melodies on the track “Kill Switch” and “Human Shield” to create a jumbled disorienting effect while still employing melodic hooks. Aye Nako will be playing Market Hotel on September 15th, and will be appearing at the New Alternative Music Festival in Asbury, NJ on September 16th! – John Honan

 DMV staple Wylder has released a new video from their debut album, Rain and Laura. The track, Bitter, is a lighthearted and sweet song that evokes optimism in the face of adversity, conveying a feeling like getting over a somewhat messy break-up. Smooth vocals, steady guitars, and buoyant keys meld into a delightful song masking pain and sharing hope. The video calls upon the song’s lyrical content to tell its story of a man trying to recover a part of himself lost in a recent uncoupling, at times resembling Pee Wee Herman’s Big Adventure and others recalling every rom-com where the ex-boyfriend goes crazy. It’s fun, refreshing, and should be loved by any fan of Wylder’s persona. Give it a watch and check out their next show at Picker’s Supply in Fredericksburg. -Jonathan Goodwin

Arc Iris was started by Jocie Adams (formerly of The Low Anthem) as a solo project in 2012 before enlisting the help of Zach Tenorio-Miller on keyboards and Ray Belli on drums, and in 2014 they released their genre bending debut that was influenced by everything from folk and country to jazz and cabaret. Their upcoming album Moon Saloon takes on a darker and more mysterious atmosphere, while continuing to use bold classical arrangements that make their sound unique. Their complexly composed songs feature a wide array of instruments and tender vocal harmonies that shape the band’s ethereal sound. The band is about to leave for an over a month long tour in the US and Europe. In anticipation of Moon Saloon’s release on August 19th via Bella Union, our friends at Delicious Audio asked the band’s keyboardist, Zach, about the band’s gear and creative process – see link below.

Delicious Audio interview with Arc Iris.

Regulars of the Bedford L stop in Williamsburg will recognize Royal as the cello-wielding busker whose sweet sound floats wistfully over the cavernous train station. His debut, self titled LP captures the live set’s melange of quarter-note triplets and mellow tenor vocals. Opener “G Major Suite” finds Royal crooning manifesto couplets like, “Let’s just make one thing this clear.” “Say It’s Right” and “Past the Flowers” continue the dulcet pace with aplomb; only “Morning Baby” and “So Glad to See You” depart from the baroque-soul formula, marrying delicate balladry to angst-driven lyrics like “I’m about to lose my mind” and a dropping of the F-bomb. (Brian Chidester)

Pete Curry is a Richmond-based lo-fi pop artist whose latest EP Doin’ Nothin’ delivers six jangly pop tracks to set the mood for the summer. Curry makes use of acoustic guitars and keyboards on the record to capture the fun summer vibe, which serves as a departure from the garage-pop featured on his debut Advice on Love. The album’s title track takes a cheerfully goofy approach to Curry’s songwriting as he sings about sneaking into pools, doobies, and summer BBQ’s. Final track “Summer’s In My Head,” instead, slows down the pace with its dream folk sound. finding the singer reflecting on a summer love that he can’t get out of his head. Pete Curry will be playing Strange Matter on September 1st in support of Buffalo Rodeo! – John Honan

If music could be comfort food, then early 90s punk rock is my chicken and biscuits. There’s something about fast power chords, distorted guitar and raspy vocals singing to me about things that suck that pierces straight through the most tender parts of my crusty little heart, and lights me up like a tree on Christmas. Brooklyn-based punk trio Fat Heaven happens to be one of those bands that hits me right in the soft spots. Their recently released track "Nowhere" is a ballad for kids in ripped jeans and no place to go, and is just as hard hitting as its late 20th century predecessors. Clean, but not poppy, "Nowhere" is anthemic in tone, high energy in rhythm, and could easily be a closer at your local DIY basement show while dodging bodies and bottles. Check them out at Aviv on Sept 1 with Last Minet, Red Arkade and Learning Curve, and be sure to listen to the track below. – Olivia Sisinni 

The brainchild of musician Nicole Mercedes (who released this album under her own name in 2012), Flocke is feel-good chamber pop for the soul. Amidst a gentle orchestration involving acoustic guitars, droney orchestral elements, light percussions, ukuleles and xylophones, in her only single currently available online entitled “Venice” (streaming below) Nicole adopts stream of consciousness lyrics, taking us along with her on this mental journey, and occasionally declaring “Venice is a state of mind.” You can catch her at Union Pool with Gingerlys, Wilder Maker, and Friend Roulette tonight (August 31st) where she’ll be sure to play more than just one single. – Madeleine Grossman

Richmond’s Camp Howard was formed through Virginia Commonwealth University’s art community in 2014, and released their debut self-titled album in March of 2016. Their breezy rock ‘n’ roll pairs frontman Nic Perea’s laid back vocals over melodic, distorted guitars and sluggish drums. While the album draws heavily on relaxed vibes of indie rock acts like Mac Demarco, it features darker, grungier moments that take influence from acts such as Alice in Chains. The record’s lead single “Veins” creates a dreamy atmosphere driven by its fuzzed out guitars and washed out vocals. The haziness from these moodier tracks is carried over onto tracks like “You’ve Been Misled” and “Anybody”, which have a more upbeat tone. Camp Howard will be playing Strange Matter on September 1st! – John Honan

Capturing the excitable nature of live performances on recordings can be a difficult task, but Brooklyn’s ¡Vamanos! have nailed this, letting their undeniable energy radiate throughout their recorded material. Their latest, release ¡Vamanos! Presents…A Ten Inch at 45 RMPs captures the duo’s raucous fuzzy punk that blends elements from psych rock to blues. The brief instrumental track “Chicken & Waffles” puts Tyler Bower’s clamorous drumming, while Alex Knoche’s guitar wails with psychedelic swirls and bluesy stabs. However, the song “Necktie” (streaming) is pure garage rock soaked with lo-fi buzzing and yelping vocals. ¡Vamanos! will be playing Shea Stadium on September 1st! – John Honan

In his past efforts, Warwick’s Gus Dapperton has mostly paired his RnB vocals with standard instrumental arrangements, whether it be the guitar-driven "Moodna, One With Grace" or jazzy "These Foolish Things." Synths have been present on previous tracks, but usually only to provide textures or atmospheric effects. On his latest "Ditch" however, retro ’80s synths, the kind you might find on a SNES game, are the driving force of the track. Providing a nice touch of nostalgia, the synths are woozy, cerebral but ultimately rendered stable by GD’s smooth vocals and a nice snare beat. It’s great to see Gus change up his sound, and in a way that’s imaginative and effective. You can check out his new vid below, and catch him at Baby’s All Right on 9/15. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber 

Save Ends have been playing their energetic brand of pop punk and emo since 2010, and earlier this year the band signed with Black Numbers to release their latest EP Hug Your Friends. The album takes a more melodic approach to their songwriting than their previous efforts, while guitarist Christine Atturio and keyboardist Brendan Cahill maintain their dual vocal style reminiscent of The Anniversary. While the tracks are not as rowdy as their earlier work, they maintain an upbeat and poppy sound. Check them out live at the Middle East in support of The Ataris on August 30th! – John Honan