Public Disco Porch - Agriculture

Public Disco Porch was formed about ten years ago by York, Pennsylvania's Spencer McCreary when he lived in Chicago.  Initially a collaborative project that at times showed glimmers of what the band sounds like today, it has evolved into a stellar four-piece band (guitarist David Portelles, bassist Caleb Miller and drummer Robby Everly), and that sound has become more defined as evidenced by their latest album Agriculture. The release shows great depth both lyrically and musically and meshes power with textured layers as they create a mesmerizing soundscape on every song that is rootsy, atmospheric and at times heavy (think Black Sabbath and Radiohead having a campfire recording session with the late Chris Whitley).  The lyrics are very intelligent and often delve into the rural life, working the land and the history and culture of Pennsylvania.  Opening track “Agronomy” is hypnotic at first with thick, heavy fuzz guitars, driving percussion and McCreary’s deep, raw and rugged vocals, but as the song progresses it builds with intensity and shifting tempos that will keep you on your toes.  The beautiful “Rogation” is a haunting, stripped down, dark goth folk cut with a powerful, emotional vocal from McCreary, and while “Tobacco + Deer” still has folk elements, it is a little lighter and easygoing with a lazy, gently swirling psychedelic groove.  “Sickle” starts off as very sparse and quiet acoustic track, but with an underlying tension that builds before exploding into a dark and heavy bluesy stoner metal climax.  The epic “Horse Skull” clocks in at almost seven minutes and is atmospheric, slow burning and heavy.  It has a raw ambient intro that leads into a folk-tinged metal wall of sound that is dark and dirty with thick, distorted guitar riffs and a throbbing bass that later in the song is fleshed out with stabbing violin, before shifting towards a lighter, more upbeat finish.  The album ends with the warmer, cinematic “The Veteran.”  The lyrics here are very reflective and McCready’s vocals are not as raw, while the guitars still have a little dirt, but are cleaner and shinier, accompanied by washes of synths and violin.  It makes for a perfect ending to an outstanding album (and band) that is quickly becoming my latest musical obsession.  

(Public Disco Porch / Bandcamp)

Tokyo Blade - Hoist The Colours High

Tokyo Blade formed in 1982 and were considered part of the original NWOBHM movement.  Over the years they have gone through numerous lineup changes and even disbanded twice, but their latest release Hoist The Colours High features original members Alan Marsh on vocals and Andy Boulton on guitars.  This latest chapter in the band’s history has seen them consistently releasing solid albums and this is no exception.  “Screaming Evil” is a strong opener that sets the tone for the album with classic old school metal, but with modern day production.  With a killer vocal performance from Marsh “Too Wired To Sleep” is a hard charging NWOBHM flavored track.  On “Get Me Outa This” the band does a great job of channeling Thin Lizzy, which is especially notable in the vocals and guitars, while the title track is a big sounding, six minute plus Iron Maiden-like epic.  Powerhouse “I’m Gonna Rise” is a slower track with thick, heavy guitars and a more 2026 metal edge, that is quite possibly the standout track here.  “Sweet Desolation” is straight-up melodic rock that really hearkens back to the band’s early days.  Following the revving car engines in the intro, “When The Hammer Falls” is a gritty, straight-ahead, high energy rocker.  Full of sweeping guitars, “Last Man Standing” is an anthemic NWOBHM track that also has a bit of a rawer, less polished edge to it.  After slowing things down on the darker, midtempo “This Time” they show a bit of attitude and swagger, but with a more technical metal side on “Mr. Nobody” (another favorite of mine).  Up next is “Don’t Need No Enemies,” a plain old, good, no frills, hard driving classic metal track.  The Iron Maiden influence is back on the high octane “Devil In The Red Dress” with its galloping beat and twin guitars, while “She Was A Soldier” does a great job of meshing classic metal with storytelling lyrics about determination and resilience dealing with things like abuse and trauma.  They close the album perfectly with the softer, reflective, atmospheric “Wasting My Time.”  While so many bands from the early eighties are long gone or showing they are way beyond their glory days, Hoist The Colours High shows that Tokyo Blade are still going strong  

(Dissonance Productions)

Sheetcake - Sheetcake EP

The four-piece Sheetcake got their start after meeting at an open mic night at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, and have now released their the eponymous six-cut EP.  This debut is an outstanding collection of indie pop and rock twith lush, textured instrumentation and catchy melodies.  “Butterflies” kicks the EP off and after a summery sounding intro with acoustic guitar and the sounds of birds, it shifts into a breezy indie pop gem with slight jazzy flourishes.  More of an indie pop tune, but with an underlying sense of tension, “Hands Tied” has a strong vocal performance from Kate Villiger and some great harmonies from her and Ryan Crothers.  With a swaying groove and some nice back and forth vocals, “I Don’t Mind” is a catchy, more laid-back track followed by the upbeat indie rock of “Before It’s Better,” which has some really nice textures in the guitar work and reflective lyrics.  “Mean It” is somewhat of a midtempo song but has more intensity and a guitar heavy rock edge.  Closing the EP is “Thinking Twice,” a beautiful, stripped down and introspective cut that also makes nice use of strings.  A very promising start from a band I hope to hear a lot more from.  

(Sheetcake - Instagram)