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When a band lists its influences as “sun, moon, air, water,” you can be sure you’re dealing with either a group of New Age healers or heavy, heavy rockers. In this case, we’re dealing with the latter. This Connecticut trio pounds out primordial sludge of the highest order. “Slow and low, that is the tempo,” as another trio once put it. Low-slung bass dirges, grooving but barely moving Black Sabbath riffs of epic proportions, and Joey Maddalena’s wastrel-like vocals combine into one monstrous package that will make you want to get in the van, pack up your BMX bikes, and drive straight into the sun. If you like the track, check out the album.

Though they’re from the West Coast, Gran Ronde sounds as if they’d fit right in playing alongside Bloc Party or Interpol. The band’s debut album, Secret Rooms, shows off a melodic, post-punk sound with 11 tightly produced songs (including bonus track “Control”). “Wisdom” is one of the more upbeat singles, with its jangly guitars, catchy hooks, and sentimental lyrics about love lost.

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The dub-reggae-rock feel of “Give Me Love” is one of the standout tracks on the debut from the Los Angeles group Monte Negro. On an album that is such a successful melange of ideas - from Latin pop, sugary alt-rock to mature synth-pop (to name just a few of the genres they touch on), we feel that’s saying something.

Scars on Broadway is the group started up by System of a Down members Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan who insist this is more of a side-project than proof that System of a Down is no more. Either way, it’s a good thing as Scars on Broadway rule in their own particular way. “They Say” is driven by some knuckle-dragging riffs and Malakian’s sneering, Johnny Rotten-esque vocals and crazed guitar lines. It’s a blazing track and we hope you enjoy it.

Steve Reynolds is a name we’ve been hearing a bit lately. The talented guitar player/songwriter hails from Southern California (Canada, originally) and has unearthed a heavy amount of mellow gold on his new album
The Carnival Papers. “Save Your Best” shows off his stellar, finger-picking style and layers that with one of his most emotional, whispering melodies.

This video kicks off R.E.M.’s storming new album Accelerate with a rousing combination of churning guitars and lyrical ire, with the kind of high and low harmonies that make it so defiantly a R.E.M. tune.

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This single of the week is worth downloading! Black Tide debuts on iTunes to rave reviews!