Author: Casey Gallenberger

WI-based Matt Peters (former frontman of Page 2) has announced a new solo project, Matt Peters and the Nerdweasels, and has debuted his first single which you can check out below! It’s a classic pop punk sound that many fans of IVM should enjoy.   … Continued →

Before American Arson and Speak Low If You Speak Love, Good Luck Varsity was paving the way with their unique take on pop-punk. What most fans don’t know is that there are a couple releases prior to the eponymous Thrones EP, and now you can listen to them all on Spotify. It’s not exactly certain when they were added, and they’re admittedly a bit more rough around the edges, but you’ll see new dimensions of the band you likely haven’t before (like synth rock and mid-2000s emo).… Continued →

Evan Maines, formerly of StateBirds, has resurfaced with a solo track for you to enjoy. It’s bluesy, relaxed, and soulful. Check it out below. … Continued →

Mo(u)rning is a very middle-of-the-road release. Its pop sensibilities give it a bit of a vanilla flavor - you probably won't dislike it, but it won't be your first pick, either. It's inoffensive; its subject matter is commonplace.

It'd be an understatement to say A Line in the Sand is highly-anticipated. Many IVM readers have supported the band since their inception, and our vicarious connection here has culminated to something truly exciting. This is the kind of album we deserve from American Arson - one that balances the best of their catalog with a insatiable hunger for growth. It's a lyrically-bold album which never obfuscates what it's trying to say. And while it takes a few listens to take everything in, A Line in the Sand is an ambitious debut LP that will not disappoint. 

RIYL: Attalus, The Classic Crime, Cool Hand Luke, classic Emery

The much-beloved punk rock duo American Arson is back and set to bring their Facedown Records debut LP to the world. A Line In The Sand officially hits shelves 7/3, but the band has dropped their lead single, “Unbreakable”, to help whet your appetite in the meantime. Check it out below. This LP is set to be the most ambitious and lyrically-bold work the band has done so far and sees the band crossing even more genre lines to make music that is undeniably authentic. Track List: 1.… Continued →

DENS have released a behemoth of a concept album that solidifies them as one of the hottest upcoming bands on the Facedown roster.

Facedown alumni and post-metal juggernauts A Hope For Home are teasing new material (about time), but in the meantime, they’ve made their independently-released debut available on Bandcamp. This is a band that personally has been hugely influential and Realis is one of my favorite albums of all time, so I’m very excited to see what’s to come. … Continued →

Second to Safety's second album presents an intricate narrative in the form of nine genre-defying tracks.

Second to Safety will release "Esther" on 2/28 - check out the lead single here!

Minneapolis-based Author have been a bit quiet since the release of IIFOIIC but they’ve resurfaced with a slightly different lineup and a consequent change in sound. “Blur” deviates from the art-pop stylings of its predecessor, as well as the ambient-styled indie flavor of earlier releases. Instead, it is a juggernaut, urgent and dynamic, glistening with power. It’s the sort of track that would fit well on a sports game soundtrack. There’s no apparent hook, but instead listeners are graced with interwoven passages of drum and bass styled electronic mixed with perhaps a bit of Radiohead-esque prog rock.… Continued →

Here are my top 10 releases for 2019.

Glass Age's debut EP is an exciting resurgence for the gentlemen of Abandon Kansas.

Although bands like My Epic, Abel, The Ember Days, and Ascend the Hill have been incorporating elements of post-rock, ambient, and experimental pedal usage into their sound for ages, it’s the sort of thing that was bound to cross into the mainstream eventually. There’s something about the emotional experience of cinematic passages and insurmountable crescendos that made this style perfect for charismatic and mega church worship. Such has been the trend for modern worship for the past few years – pathos preceding ethos. There are naturally many exceptions, but suffice to say, there is something very marketable about this type of music.… Continued →

Abandon Kansas has been around the block a time or two, but they really seemed to reach a new high on Alligator a few years back. And while frontman Jeremy Spring has had a host of other projects he’s been working on, the band itself has been largely silent (well, apart from their cover band alter ego, A Band in Kansas). The band has broken their silence by rebranding to Glass Age. It’s the same Facebook page as before thankfully, so if you’re already following them, you’ll likely see ads promoting the change.… Continued →

For fans of: As Cities Burn, Tiny Moving Parts, Mansions

For fans of Jon Bellion, Cubbage, Lawrence, and motown classics

LEDGES' returns in full-force with a new lineup on "Convenience".

Josh Garrels has been making a name for himself for quite some time now, even as far back as 2011’s Love & War & the Sea in Between. Despite your opinion on his music, it’s certainly evident he consistently aims big and doesn’t take shortcuts. His catalog consists largely of long-form albums with layers and layers of instrumentation, harmony, and production nuance. Nonetheless, it’s also not unreasonable to find his music perhaps a bit too sleepy. When an album is over an hour long, it can get tiresome – and the risk only increases when it’s acoustic instrumentation paired off with falsetto.… Continued →

No one really knows what happened to We Are Voices apart from their 2017 take on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. Prior to that, the band was set to release a series of smaller releases over the course of the year. Sadly, this plan didn’t make it past the first iteration, titled Year I. The band’s site is still active which seems promising, but maybe if we make enough noise they’ll put out some new songs? … Continued →

Salt Creek's sophomore EP leans heavily on alt-rock for a catchy blend of radio-friendly songs.

Today’s featured song comes from Nashville’s own Lacquer, a gritty band that could best be described as what Johnny Cash may have sounded like if he had grown up listening to punk. “Abaddon’s Mouth” is fresh off their 2018 debut LP Good Gracious Alive. Check it out if you’re a fan of gritty southern rock with a modern twist. … Continued →

Adjy return from three years of silence to debut a stunning set of tracks.

My Epic returns with their long-awaited follow up to Ultraviolet, and it's aimed to be one of their most provocative releases to date.

Spoken word maven Chris Bernstorf is set to release his latest project, It’s All Joy, next Friday (4/17). You can check out his latest single here. We had the pleasure talking through the new album, the importance of community, and much more. IVM: Thanks for taking some time to talk. We’re about a month out from your new album, It’s All Joy. Would you mind going into some of the reason behind the title – and what joy means to you? Chris: Yeah! I’ve had a lot of heavy stuff happen over the last two or three years.… Continued →

The Chairman Dances isn’t exactly known for convention when it comes to videography (case and point: this grocery store panic attack). This time around, their video takes the form of an oversaturated, film-style adventure akin to old home movies. Its plot is simplistic yet whimsical; it was also filmed on one of the coldest days of the year so the depicted antics certainly are not beyond the realm of reason. “No Compass, No Map” is off 2018’s Child of My Sorrows. … Continued →

It'd be remiss to think Fair was simply Aaron Sprinkle's backing band. Subways on the Sun is fronted by Fair alumni and offer listeners an eclectic blend of grungey alt-indie that demonstrates their songwriting prowess.

Second to Safety has released a new song, "Signs of Life", which you can check out here.

Kings Kaleidoscope has shifted gears a bit on ZEAL, incorporating a heavy focus on production and hip-hop elements.