Epitaph Records has re-issued The Blood Brothers’ classic albums Burn, Piano Island, Burn, Crimes, Young Machetes and March On Electric Children. The CD and digital re-issues include rare previously unavailable live tracks and videos, music videos and B-sides for the ultimate collectors’ edition.
From 1997 to 2007, The Blood Brothers’ “molotov mixture of suburb surrealism and sonic extremity” (Alternative Press, 2003) rocked and riveted critics and fans around the world. Formed in the suburbs of Seattle, the dueling singers Johnny Whitney and Jordan Blilie along with Cody Votolato (guitar), Morgan Henderson (bass) and Mark Gajadhar (drums) crafted a unique style of convulsive, ground breaking hardcore that was quickly embraced by critics and fans of punk, hardcore and indie rock.
Over their ten years in existence the quintet released five critically acclaimed studio albums (four of which Epitaph has re-issued), including Burn, Piano Island, Burn, “the most prolific, beautiful, and vital statement of rock since the Stooges’ Raw Power” (PopMatters, 2003), Crimes, the sturdiest bridge between the hardcore underground and indie-rock elitists” (Alternative Press, 2004) and “one of the best of 2006” (PopMatters, 2006), Young Machetes.
Having moved on to other projects, Whitney and Votolato with indie-rockers Jaguar Love and Blilie, Gajadhar and Henderson with post-punk outfit Past Lives, The Blood Brothers called it quits at their creative peak, leaving behind a catalog the helped define a genre and continues to influence bands around the world.
‘Access To The Lonely’ is the sophomore LP from RID OF ME, the heavy melodic noise punk outfit hailing from Philadelphia. Written on the heels of the band’s first LP ‘Traveling’ and carefully crafted throughout the strange times of 2021 & 2022, the album sees the band grow in every way possible. From the production, to the songwriting twist and turns, to maintaining the best of what makes them unique, the band has reached a heightened level of maturity. ‘Access To The Lonely’ is like a prolonged sigh followed by a rushed scream after a weekend you’d rather forget.
Recorded at Gradwell House Studios with Matt Weber (Sweet Pill), mixed at Antisleep Audio by Scott Evans (Thrice, Kowloon Walled City, Yautja) and mastered at Chicago Mastering Services by Matt Barnhart (Metz, Pissed Jeans, Bob Mould), the 37 minute album sees significant sonic development beyond anything the band has done to date. The once-core trio (Itarya Rosenberg, Mike McGinnis & Mike Howard) added longtime friend, co-conspirator and fellow musician from previous bands, Jon DeHart on second guitar and his addition shines. This is a two-guitar album through and through. McGinnis and Dehart’s melodies dance around the steady buzz-saw bass, Howard’s drums switch between immovable calming repetition to rapid changes from dance beats to blast beats and back again. The band’s previous foray into bludgeoning noise punk peaks with dynamic and moody post punk bummer valleys is pushed to a new limit on ‘Access To The Lonely’. All capped by Rosenberg’s brand of self-admonishing-yet-righteous personal storytelling that is frighteningly relatable to us all.
If these words weren’t enough for you to take a peek, let Kevin Whitley of iconic Austin psych noise rock progenitors CHERUBS reel you in a little further:
“Rid of Me is a rock band, perhaps a noise rock band, from Philly. You might guess they’re from Philly in a few tries… but when Mike Howard (drums) opens his mouth, you know. McGinnis and DeHart (guitars) can get you close, but with Howard you know. Philly is like an older brother (in this toddler of a country) protecting the younger siblings from the bullies – with a weary efficiency born of having slogged through all the bullshit first. Their Brotherly Love thing is real… as real as the Brotherly Punch In The Mouth. Their rock thing is very direct – not much mincing about. The song ‘Rid of Me’ starts… waltzing unadorned. The care is raw, and makes you feel a bit exposed… it’s a relief to be hit in the face when the chorus rolls up (when Itarya (vocals, bass) eats your heart). Thank you for hitting us in the face, because the sweet stuff was harder to deal with… and on it goes through ‘Access To The Lonely’ – Rid of Me’s second full length release. These songs know they’re not letting you off the hook, because Rid of Me doesn’t let itself off the hook. Cut, Hell Of It and Libertarian Noise Rock are certainly not letting anybody catch a break… and by the time The Weekend rolls around, you’ll be thankful for any salve you can get. Just like in real life. Someone in the audience said, ‘Damn, this is straight-the-fuck-up ROCK… where you been, friend?’. Every song is fed, watered, and cared for as if hard rock were still a real thing – and it’s nice to know it still is. Thx Rid of Me. Thx Philly.”
