Photo credit / Frazer McGoldrick

Irish-based four-piece Bleech 9:3 today announce their hotly anticipated self-titled debut EP, which is set for release May 15th on Polydor Records. Coinciding with the news the band have shared the sprawling Underrated, a snarling guitar anthem that's packed with their grungy explosive edge. On the new single, Baz says - "I wrote it at the end of 2024, it was one of the first Bleech songs that we jammed back then. Bad worship is a theme that runs through the EP. I felt driven to write about how it twists love into something else. How the twisting becomes the thing that you end up wanting.". Take a listen below. 

Tour Dates 
20th April - MTC, Cologne, DE (supporting Keo)
21st April - EKKO, Utrecht, NL (supporting Keo)
22nd April – Supersonic, Paris, FR (supporting Keo)
23rd April – Trix, Antwerp, BE (supporting Keo)
29th April – Voodoo, Belfast, UK
1st May – Whelan’s, Dublin, IE
2nd May – Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool, UK
3rd May – Gold Sounds Festival, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
4th May – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow, UK
6th May – Waterfront Studio, Norwich, UK
7th May – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham, UK
9th May – Projekts Skate Park, Manchester, UK (supporting Deadletter)
11th May – Camden Assembly, London, UK
12th May – Camden Assembly, London, UK
14th May – The Great Escape, Brighton, UK
15th May - The Great Escape, Brighton, UK
16th May – Scala, London, UK
18th May – Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield, UK
19th May – YES, Manchester, UK
21st May – Heartbreakers, Southampton, UK
23rd May – Dot To Dot Festival, Bristol, UK
24th May – Dot To Dot Festival, Nottingham, UK
28th May – Big Next, Trefpunt, Ghent, BE
29th May - Dauwpop Festival, NL
30th May - Vestrock Festival, NL
6th June - This Is Not A Love Song Festival, FR
10th June - Malahide Castle, Dublin, IE (supporting Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
10th July - Les Nuits Secretes, Aulnoye Aimeries, FR
24th July - Latitude Festival, UK
25th July - Truck Festival, UK
26th July - Tramlines Festival, UK
30th July - Wilderness Festival, UK
2nd August - Kendal Calling, UK
6th August - Haldern Pop Festival, DE
7th August - AFF Festival, NL
13th August - Winterthurer Musikfestwochen, Steinberggasse, CH
14th August - Syd For Solen, DK
25th August - Custom House Square, Belfast, UK (supporting Wunderhorse)
26th August - City Hall, Cork, IE (supporting Wunderhorse)
28th, 29th August - Reading + Leeds, UK
29th August - Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield, UK
4th September - Brighton Psych Fest, Brighton, UK
5th September - Manchester Psych Fest, Manchester, UK
6th September - Edinburgh Psych Fest, Edinburgh, UK
5th-7th September - Iceland Airwaves, Reyjkavik, IS
12th September - Misty Fields, NL

i: https://www.instagram.com/bleech_9.3

Photo credit: The Buffacow

Nearing the release of their second album Resistance, due out 22nd May, CQ Wrestling have returned this week with their expansive new single Finish Line. Ebbing in to life, the track wastes no time in picking up pace as its towering instrumentation rushes forth. The band comments on the new single:  "'Finish Line' is a song about living fully and not being afraid. It draws on philosophy, loss, and resilience. There’s a steadiness in old ideas: live well, seek joy, and don’t fear what you can’t control. After losing Jake’s father, someone very close to this band, we’ve been working hard to stay true to why we do this. We hope this song is a celebration of life and those we’ve lost." Take a listen below. 

Live Dates
April 25 – Beautiful Ones Festival, Concorde 2, Brighton, UK
May 27 – The Crescent, York, UK
May 28 – Boileroom, Guildford, UK 
May 29 – Waterfront Studio, Norwich, UK
May 30 – Cavern, Exeter, UK
June 2 – Rough Trade, Bristol, UK
June 5 – Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield, UK
June 6 – Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, UK
June 10 – Cluny 2, Newcastle, UK
June 11 – Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, UK
June 12 – Polar Bear, Hull, UK
June 13 – Rough Trade, Liverpool, UK
Oct 21 – The Dome, London, UK
Oct 22 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, UK
Oct 26 – G2, Glasgow, UK
Oct 27 – Yes (Pink Room), Manchester, UK
Oct 29 - Bodega, Nottingham, UK

i: https://www.instagram.com/cqwrestling 

Photo Credit: Louise Mason

Following on from last months new single, Heaven, Preston-based duo White Flowers have returned with their euphoric new effort, Heart Breaks. Arriving ahead of their new album Dreams For Somebody Else, out May 1st via The state51 Conspiracy, the track pairs buoyant melodies with infectious synth lines offering up another exhiliarating taste of what's to come. The album will be supported by an instore tour, with headline dates coming later in the year - full schedule beneath. 

Live Dates
29.04 Rough Trade, Nottingham
01.05 Action Records, Preston
02.05 Rough Trade, Liverpool
04.05 Jumbo Records, Leeds
06.05 Banquet Records, Kingston
07.05 Rough Trade, Bristol

30.09 The Croft, Bristol
01.10 Alphabet, Brighton
02.10 The ICA, London
08.10 Stereo, Glasgow
09.10 The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
10.10 Yes (Pink Room), Manchester

i: https://www.instagram.com/whiteflowersssss 

Following on from last month's single Still Around, Chicago's Friko have today returned with their brilliant new effort Something Worth Waiting For, the title track from their new album out April 24th via ATO Records. Accompanied by a live performance video, the track’s restless energy is vividly conveyed through driving guitars and raucous vocals that race headlong into an explosive finale. Kapetan comments, “Referencing lyrics from our first record, ‘Something Worth Waiting For’ became the band's mission statement for our second LP. Later taking on the album name as well, this song pedals, drives, runs, bolts, and barrels forward without ever looking back over its shoulder. Ending with the only big distorted guitar build on the record, just like its title, it never quite reaches that climax. Leaning into the idea that the pace is everlasting, and the destination just seconds away, always.” Take a listen:

This week, fans are welcome to join Friko for the 32nd edition of the Album Runs series to celebrate the release of the new album. On April 23rd at 6PM at Gracie O’Malley’s in Chicago, fans can run, walk, or jog to an early preview of Something Worth Waiting For on the eve of its release and ahead of their nearly sold-out headline show at Chicago’s Metro on April 25th.

TOUR DATES
Sat. April 25 – Chicago, IL @ Metro [Release Show]
Tue. April 28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Electric Fetus [in-store]
Wed. April 29 – Madison, WI @ Strictly Discs [in-store]
Thu. April 30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Lilliput Records [in-store]
Thu. May 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ WXPN NON-COMMvention
Sun. July 26 – Tokyo, JP @ Fuji Rock Festival
Thu. Aug. 6 – Haldern-Rees, DE @ Haldern Pop Festival 
Fri. Aug. 7 – Genk, BE @ AFF
Sat. Aug. 8 - Sicily, IT @ Ypsigrock Festival
Mon. Aug. 10 – San Sebastian, ES @ Dabadaba (w/ Horsegirl)
Thu. Aug. 13 – Parades De Coura, PT @ Parades De Coura Festival
Sat. Aug. 15 – St. Malo, FR @ La Route du Rock
Wed. Aug. 19 – London, UK @ Village Underground (w/ Nation of Language)
Sat. Aug. 22 – Trondheim, NO @ PSTEREO
Sun. Aug. 23 – Liverpool, UK @ Camp and Furnace (w/ Nation of Language)
Tue. Aug. 25 – Leeds, UK @ Irish Centre (w/ Nation of Language)
Wed. Aug. 26 – Bristol, UK @ Electric Bristol (w/ Nation of Language)
Sat. Aug. 29 – The Hague, NL @ Paard van Stal
Tue. Sep. 8 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Thu. Sep. 10 - Houston, TX @ Womh - Upstairs
Sat. Sep. 12 - Dallas, TX @ Rubber Gloves Patio
Mon. Sep. 14 - Denver, CO @ Marquis
Wed. Sep. 16 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Fri. Sep. 18 - Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
Sat. Sep. 19 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Sun. Sep. 20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sid The Cat Auditorium
Mon. Sep. 21 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
Thu. Sep. 24 - Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
Fri. Sep. 25 - Seattle, WA @ Baba Yaga
Sat. Sep. 26 - Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret
Thu. Oct. 15 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
Fri. Oct. 16 - Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
Sat. Oct. 17 - Detroit, MI @ The Loving Touch
Mon. Oct. 19 - Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
Tue. Oct. 20 - Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz
Thu. Oct. 22 - Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
Fri. Oct. 23 - New York, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Sat. Oct. 24 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry
Mon. Oct. 26 - Washington, DC @ Atlantis
Tue. Oct. 27 - Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall
Wed. Oct. 28 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Fri. Oct. 30 - Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room
Sat. Oct. 31 - Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar

i: https://www.instagram.com/friko4u/ 

Modest Mouse have today announced An Eraser And A Maze, the band's first new album in five years, and after over two decades on Epic Records, their first album on Glacial Pace Recordings, the longtime imprint of lead singer Isaac Brock. Set to be released on Friday 5th June 2026, the band have also shared the record's latest single Picking Dragons' Pockets that's streaming below. Speaking about the album's process, Brock explained: “For this one, I turned off my filter and just let it all happen. Even though every goddamn musician says that when they put out a record. I mean, go ahead and listen to the three-minute mark of any interview between a musician and Terry Gross…. Thoughts, emotions, feelings, all that stuff … you're like the soup, and it’s not always easy to pick out the ingredients. I don't dwell on things much. I don't grieve much. I'm not sure I'm a person. I feel like I should have more feelings than I do. But then, you know, I'll sing stuff. And I'm like, Oh, there it is. Oh — it's in there.”

The track listing of An Eraser And A Maze is as follows:

1. Picking Dragon’s Pockets
2. Remember Yourself
3. Life’s A Dream
4. Third Side Of The Moon
5. Dogbed in Heaven/Give It A Skeleton
6. Interlude
7. I Can’t Talk Right Now
8. Speak ‘N Spell (Or Not)
9. Rotten Fruit (feat. Justin Raisin)
10. Knocked Down By Waves
11. Absolutely Necessary Never
12. Song About Nothing
13. Stoner Party
14. Look How Far
15. Impossible Somedays 

i: https://www.instagram.com/modestmouse

Photo Credit: Reece Owen

Rising alt-pop wunderkind, Au/Ra has announced the details of her debut album entitled heartcore, due out on June 26th via Polydor records. Talking about the record, Au/Ra says, “heartcore is a concept album where I open the dungeon of my mind for listeners to climb inside. I created a character to help me process the real-life trauma of my girlhood, and how I healed from putting all my self-worth into being an artist. I had no idea who I was without Au/Ra”. Coinciding with the news, the multifarious artist has unveiled her new single KILLSWITCH - a jolting burst of synth-pop, brimming with her signature energy. “KILLSWITCH is about a conscious decision I made at some point to make the pain and anger stop,” Au/Ra explains. Take a listen below. 

Live Dates
9/5/26 Manchester — Club Academy
10/5/26 Birmingham — Hare & Hounds
12/5/26 Bristol — The Exchange
13/5/26 London — Electrowerkz
14/5/26 Brighton — Club Revenge (The Great Escape)
15/5/26 Brighton — The Beach, Streamliner Stage (The Great Escape)
19/5/26 Paris — Supersonic Records
21/5/26 Amsterdam — Bitterzoet
22/5/26 Copenhagen — Ideal Bar
25/5/26 Cologne — Yuca
26/5/26 Hamburg — Bahnhof Pauli
27/5/26 Berlin — Mikropol

i: https://www.instagram.com/heyitsau_ra

Photo Credit: James J. Robinson

Pain Gain, a new collaborative project featuring Chloe Kaul (Kllo), Hamish Lefevre (SWIM), and Samuel Cooke (CRUSH3d), have today shared their debut single ‘Turning Point’, released via Play It Again Sam. The icy offering brings a gentle introduction to the trio, with celestial synths accompanying shimmering vocals that drift over its spacious, open beat. The band explain: “‘Turning Point’ is about facing a moment where everything shifts. For us it was a discovery of a new way of working, a new sound and a new feeling. When we first made this song, the three of us listened to it for hours and hours on repeat. We always knew we wanted it to be our first offering to the world.” Take a listen below. 

i: https://www.instagram.com/paingainband

Photo credit Lewis Vorn

Scottish singer-songwriter ALEX AMOR signs to VERO Music and shares new single 'Meet On The Moon'. Arriving ahead of upcoming performances at Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape, the track drifts between glistening guitar lines and blurred, dreamlike synth textures as it settles into a woozy alt-pop atmosphere. At its core, the song is a tribute to a close friend Amor lost, imagining her watching back from the moon, as she explains: "I wrote 'Meet On The Moon' a few years ago, at a time when I was aching to create something different, to step into a new sonic world entirely. I went back to Glasgow for a month, put fate in my own hands, and started producing myself. It felt like reclaiming something. Meet On The Moon was the second song I wrote there.  The song is about a friend who completely embodied the mystical, magical woman archetype I sing about in the lyrics. A few months before I wrote it, she passed away. I found myself thinking about her magnetism - the magnitude of her spirit, the force of her nature - and how, in some strange way, Earth felt too small to contain her.  For many reasons, this song had to come first in this body of work. It’s an homage to the divine feminine, which the moon - in her glowing, milky fullness - has always symbolised. Women are cyclically tied to the lunar rhythm, and that beautiful, elusive pull of the moon became the heartbeat of the song’s ephemeral sound.” 

Take a listen below. 

LIVE DATES 
03 May - Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool
15 May - The Great Escape, Brighton

i: https://www.instagram.com/iamalexamor

Two years on from her debut single Toothache, Manchester's Westislonely continues to push out some of the most forward-thinking pop of recent times. Here, her full force comes into view, as soaring melodies swell around a head-rushing chorus and a jolt of electrifying energy. On the release, West said: "Show Me a God’ is a drug-fuelled sex ballad, written from the perspective of the euphoria before the morning after - disgusting with a dash of pleasure." Take a listen for yourselves below. 

i: https://www.instagram.com/westisl0nely 

Photo credit: Maysa Askar

Ahead of their forthcoming album, Nude descending staircase headless, due April 17th via Run For Cover Records, Teen Suicide have unveiled the record's final taster sharing Suffering (Mike's Way). Guitarist and vocalist Sam Ray discussed the new song, saying: "‘Suffering (Mike’s Way)’ was one of the first songs we started writing for this new record. I started working on it in 2022, not long after we started performing live again. I wanted to write something with the same propulsive energy of The Feelies, The Thermals, Wire. Jonathan Richman. That was our jumping off point, and it just sort of evolved from there. The song earned its parenthetical because Mike (Sapone, our producer) was adamant we amend the vocal melody in the chorus by a single note, and though I fought him on it at first, we tried it both ways and he was undoubtedly correct.  Lyrically, it’s harder to pinpoint – despite the name, I consider it one of our more optimistic songs. It’s a sort of love song. It’s a song about the world. About living life. About getting clean from opiates. How much better it is to feel everything than nothing. It’s really just a song about movement – forward momentum. All the times you think you can’t go on and then you just do, somehow, and suddenly you’re looking back at it all. And even then, you’re still moving." Taker a listen below. 

 

i: https://www.instagram.com/teensuicideofficial