Rambling about PMToday & Recent Releases

because I haven't posted anything on here in August, oopsies

If you haven’t listened to PMToday yet, respectfully, what are you doing? They put out only two albums and one EP, get on that.

I’ve been an occasional listener of PMToday for a couple of years now, each song has related to me in a different capacity, and for so long several tracks just never stuck, but the cool thing about growing up is relating to art and music in a new capacity. Honestly, there have been several songs I listened to a few years ago and only understood at surface level. I didn’t understand the feeling, and yeah, I won’t relate to every experience because I haven’t lived every experience, I can’t, but I’m usually really good at seeing things from a different perspective so those songs frustrated my enjoyment. PMToday is probably the artist with most such songs to me (Anthony Green’s solo work as well, but that’s another story). Their lyrics content is uniquely revelatory for me, even within post-hardcore. I’ve had to grow into some songs. I’ve been told nearly my whole life that I’m mature for my age but honestly, ever since “becoming and adult” I feel awfully inexperienced in so many ways because I am. I haven’t had a lot of the same experiences as my peers. I often feel inferior in some way, like I’ve missed out on something. As I observe the world around me and my relationship with it, I better understand whatever the heck PMToday is on about.

“i used to be a man of certainty and confidence but now every word that i spit out tastes of insecurity and doubt. now as the years go by and you go up in age, you contemplate the things you never had before... you think too much due to lack of life experience, you need something to fill the gap. you're floundering in thoughts that kept you thinking you were right when you were wrong. you should've quit while you were still a kid.” - Composing A Commercial Product

Like honestly. What the heck man. I am a somewhat dramatic person, but mostly internally, and this just really hit for me as I was driving back home recently. I try to be a positive person but it ends up more that I act like a positive person should rather than having the mindset of one and I DO NOT CARE. This song in particular hits hard for me because it captures the fears I have in publicizing my creativity. Composing these blog posts as somewhat of a commercial product. I’ve been writing songs for more than half my life and I’ve put very little out because I don’t want to get tired of creating. I know I cannot rely on my creative output to be consistent enough to sustain me.

“when did this band become a chore? and all the songs you wrote kept you from being everything but broke. your life is a joke. nothing lasts forever. dreams will last until you wake up so i'll just stay up.” - Composing A Commercial Product

“But here's the worst part I abandoned all my feelings
Got excuses? well everybody's waiting” - Farewell The Ultimatum

There’s much more I could go on and on about with them, but I’m understanding more and more their fears and their hopes and opinions as reflected in their music as I grow up and that’s pretty cool I think.I love how much they talk about dreams and nightmares, that’s a reason I’m drawn to Armor for Sleep as well. I used to dream a lot to escape from whatever. It was honestly to maybe an unhealthy level, but my imagination is still pretty strong although my dreams are not as alluring as they once were. Also PMToday is insanely catchy.

“Wait, won't you stay here for me? I haven't seen you since Christmas morning,
We can speak in dreams, I dream to believe,
Hey, you weren't so quick to grow up,
Your laughter and love lit this whole town up,
Here's my postcard, wish you were here.

Oh how I wish you were here,
And when I awoke I kept myself from hysterics,
But I couldn't dam the flood of memories,” - To Sleep Perchance

There’s something so magical about their melodic composition both for voice and for guitar paired with the occasional chugging and the double pedal. Man I love this genre.

“We can speak in dreams, I dream to believe” – To Sleep Perchance to Dream

Hey look, an Armor for Sleep reference (it’s probably not but don’t burst my bubble).

“As long as I’m your handicap, you’ll always be my pawn” - Progress is a Lemon

Huge red flag right there, but thanks for the warning!

Also the way the track Dreams of America is totally a different sound than everything else they have on their albums is so cool. A little flirt with metalcore is a basically requirement for every post-hardcore band.

Anyways that’s it for that part. Thanks for reading my rambling.

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New releases

Checkpoint Charlie debut single - FFO: screaming, emotional bassline, high guitar loops

The track entitled “The Autopsy of Cole Jackson” is has a quite cathartic sound, as most screaming does. But as a woman… femme screaming is even more cathartic. Like yeah, me too. Checkpoint Charlie is one of those bands that’s come up in the time I’ve been away from the SoCal scene and as much as I love to see things keep moving, it hurts being away as I cannot participate in person. Hence this blog post mention.

Finn Killed Jake final EP - Cybergrind

I’m not sure how many times this project has ended but I think it’s over for good now. I hope not.

I Kidnapped the Princess - Deathcore/Nintendocore

I don’t recall if I’ve talked about this band on here yet but like, this stuff is epic every time.

Ivory Daze - Alternative/Grunge/Shoegaze or something idk man, they get heavy they get sad

They’re solid and just got signed, their sticker is still on my waterbottle from when I saw them last year but I missed them this year because I got my dates/days of the week mixed up and I’m mad about that but now I’m trynna figure out which cassette to get because their CD was certified PLATINUM in my car last summer.

Meet on Sunrise - Easycore/Pop-Punk/Post-Hardcore

I love music that sounds familiar yet is new. Each track is lowkey a different genre, but

Seven Ate Nine - Mathcore i guess

art by the incredible @/gnarled.folds.in.my.ribs on ig

I first saw this band at Fret’s and loved their energy and have been patiently waiting on an official release by them and I’m so happy it’s here and translates faithfully when recorded. It’s been so long since I’ve heard these tracks but they’re still so familiar (either the track title or the song itself) because THEY STUCK WITH ME SINCE LAST NOVEMBER. I didn’t even record stuff dude.

Six Shots in Dallas - Deathcore

Yeah I’ve talked about them before, yes they’re on my mind at least 3 days a week because I can’t go to their shows because they’re all in TEXAS and I’m not. I’ve started doing a 30-ish second plank every time I see a poster for a show they’re on I cannot attend. Been waiting on more from them for a while, happy to finally have it.

Taja - FFO: ping snares, high pitched screaming idk man I like it

They Shot Kennedy - Deathcore

Solid deathcore, solid name, solid logo and art done by the spectacular @/surgical.designs on ig.

Wocket Launcher Presents - Deathcore

Long-anticipated compilation with a long name. Album art by the ever-talented @/razors.not.scissors on ig.

TBL (to-be listened)

Crowd Control EP - “Void of Decay” (hardcore)

Stellas/The Ritornello Form Split (idk but ik there’s probably screaming)

SexEd/Placeholder Split EP - “Sexholder” (electronic screamo and whatever fusionviolence is, I haven’t listened to placeholder yet sorry guys I’m slow)

Caer Mal - “Dos abrazos inifinitos” (I’m actually listening to track 1 as I write, for those who like that midwest emo vibe, this is for YOU)

catch these and more on the next online radio episode! (TBA)