Super Thief is one of the four artists up for our most recent edition of The Deli Austin's Artist of the Month Poll, and they are without question the loudest, grittiest band in consideration this go around. They also just put out a 7 song eponymous EP in January that's not just good and heavy as fuck, it's also smart, and from the first thudding, gut-shaking bass line on intro track "On the Internet," you know you're not about to hear another Austin indie-pop or psych-rock group. No, this is music that remembers 80s hardcore and no wave, music that scratches that guttural screaming and crunching guitar itch and which does so while speaking about the modern condition without pretension. There's not a boring spot on this whole EP, and it's been on heavy rotation in the Austin Deli offices since we came across it. That's partly because Super Thief's use of chaos and dissonance and confusion turned into tight, complex songs is refreshing as fuck to hear coming out of Austin, where bands so often focus on the pretty and the peaceful. Sometimes you just want to thrash and wreck shit and work out some fucking frustration about this weird goddamn world, and Super Thief gives the listener the chance to do just that for a bit. Listen to standout track "Needle Fix" below, the rest of the EP here and vote to the right if Super Thief is hitting your shit-wrecking nerve nice and good, like it is ours.

Hark ye youngin's, and listen to a tale of ancient musical glory from yer fast-fading elders. Believe it or not, once there was a day when indie was primarily a genre that was less of a particular sound and more of a feeling. Really, it was just a term you used to refer to the weird, maybe rock-ish shit made by people that felt a little different and who didn’t fit into the regular music industry mold. It was weird, and it was kinda awkward and raw, and Growl is a band from Austin that is that weird, kinda awkward raw indie sound done right, and done right now. The record they put out late last December has been entrenched in my daily playlist since I first heard it, and while it's worth any Austinite's ear time, those who are into that old sound from the 90s and early 2000s will paritcularly love the Growl. They're a return to where this shit all came from, and their whole album is available for listening at their Bandcamp link right damn here. Listen, and bathe yourself in the echoes of the memories of late 90s youths.

We showed you a bit about Austin art garage group Pollen back in June 2014, and Pollen is back early this year with a new release, mostly about products and how we in the world deal with them. It's raw as fuck music, both in terms of its no frills, no bullshit approach and for its true garage band sound, and single "Supply Chain" is one that'll get pounding around in your head for a while. It's a little bit old NYC dancepunk with a bit of D.C.'s The Evens, plus some Austin awareness and DIY that work pretty well together, with that "Coca cola, co-coca cola," "Motorola, Mo-motorola" hook just refusing to leave the brain once it gets in there. See what we mean below, and keep these guys on your radar if you like your music to say something about society while also givin' you a beat to move your feet to.

There’s something oddly comforting about dirty guitars, fast drums and shouting, which probably points to some hidden emotional issues on my part, but whatever--that’s why punk music was invented. Chips in the Moonlight, the newest release from Nice Guys, has everything you could want in lo-fi punk recordings--distorted, almost tortured guitars and vocals that sound like they’re being pushed through a PA on the brink of explosion.
 

If you dig these tunes as much as I do, go see Nice Guys release this EP at Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge, downstairs) in Central Sq., Cambridge, MA tomorrow night. $8, 21+, doors at 8PM, presented by Illegally Blind. More details about the show can be found here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

You Destroy Yourself, the first full-length record from Sweet Jesus, was released on February 3 and from the sounds of their first single, this record is ready to punch you straight in the mouth. “The Light of Sun” has great intensity--I particularly liked the intro to the song--drums alone, followed by vocals and drums, then the whole band bursts-in with violent power chords and heavy bass--what’s not to like about that?

You Destroy Yourself was released through Atomic Action Records. For more information about the record, check out Atomic Action’s Facebook page. For more info about Sweet Jesus, click here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Photo credit: Reid Haithcock