First Impressions is a collection of whiz-bang reviews, primarily of shorter albums (EPs and singles) which are given a review after a single listen. This is a great way for TGEFM to showcase some of the releases which wouldn't get a full review on their own.
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Grim Deeds – “It's Not Enough”
Self-released, 26 April 2021
“It's Not Enough” is the newest offering from he who goes by Grim Deeds. It's another pop punk ripper with a deadly riff and lots of angst in the vocals that all hang over a galloping quick beat. As Deeds does, his lyrical craft is spot on. Singing about a strange and harsh reality and the want to cloak it in some sort of hope or evasiveness, he deftly uses lines like “your days are hindered by frustration / you just can't reckon with the truth” to dig into the escapist phenomenon.
Favorite song: “It's Not Enough”
Red Fang – “Funeral Coach”
Relapse Records, 26 April 2021
I've got a real soft spot for heavy sludge. Red Fang tends to do this so well. “Funeral Coach” from their upcoming Arrows full-length is sludge-drenched. The rhythmic hooks hit just right and the sounds coming from the guitars range from hypnotic space beeps to cold-found-sound-real-life-clanking metal. And when it rages out of the pulsing verses, the song really takes on an edge. This is the sort of stuff I listen to Red Fang for.
Favorite song: “Funeral Coach”
Four Get Me A Nots – “RPG”
Koga Records, 24 April 2021
Four Get Me A Nots are pretty frickin' good. “RPG” is expertly played with melodies that are impeccable. As the song goes along, the vocal crooning (sort of reminds me of Smoking Popes in a way) and harmonizing is some of the best I've heard in a while. It's kind of gorgeous. This song has all the energy and buzz I like with all the pop hooks that will get you humming along before the first listen through ends. Makes me wanna listen to the rest of the since-released Dear EP from which this comes.
Favorite song: “RPG”
Totally Slow – “Found Factions”
Refresh Records, 20 April 2021
Totally Slow's “Found Factions” has one of the most hit-you-over-the-head relentless guitar hooks I've heard in a while. The song is a takes-no-prisoners straight ahead punk rock ‘n roll monster, with drums that pulverize and shouted vocals that have an urgency that's palpable. It never slows, it never waivers, it just destroys for almost three minutes and then comes to a halt. For some reason, I keep thinking this sounds like a punk rock Queens of the Stone Age song. Maybe I'm way off base on that, but whatever it is, it's good.
Favorite song: “Found Factions”
BSÍ – “Vesturbæjar Beach”
Tomaten Platten, 22 April 2021
Iceland's BSÍ's new song “Vesturbæjar Beach” comes from their upcoming album Sometimes Depressed…But Always Antifascist. Honestly, I feel like this shouldn't be my sort of thing. But that's the thing about assumptions and preconceived notions: they're often way off base (at least for me). This song is a sort of upbeat but atmospheric pop song with an incessant vocal hook that I can't get out of my head. It's airy and fun and lovely and sort of feels like it drifts along with a summer breeze, if that makes sense. Check it out for sure.
Favorite song: “Vesturbæjar Beach”
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He's very secretive, he might be an alien.