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Skies of Terra Explore the Intricacies of Despair and Hope in New Single “Trinity”
Skies of Terra is a post-hardcore/prog rock band hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thus far, they have released a full-length album entitled Lunar and two EPs: The Party is Over and its successor of remixes called The Party Isn’t Over. The band is gearing up to drop its second full-length record later this year, and the first single, “Trinity,” will be available to stream on January 11th.
“Trinity” is an emotional journey from the depths of despair to the hope of finding someone, or something, to lift you out of that black hole. “Watching the sun as it shines/It burns this hole in my eyes,” sings vocalist/instrumentalist Euclides Polanco. “Meteors crashing/Becoming one with the end of the times.” Lyrics that seem to be acceptance of overwhelming darkness quickly switch to a heartfelt desire for the help to rise above it.
“Will you be the one whose hands intertwine with mine?/Whose heart feels the same type of fire as mine?” Polanco questions, a lost soul seeking that which will guide him from his misery. “…I’m looking for the one to catch me as I’m falling away/Catch me now before I break…”
With the play of Polanco’s raging growls and melodic singing, interspersed with vocalist Justin Townsend’s raw screams, Skies of Terra carries the listener from an opening of bleakness and defeat, through cries for help and the longing to meet someone who can save you, or even just battle the demons by your side. The climax comes towards the end of the second verse, when the recurring theme of being thrown a lifeline reaches its most desperate moment. “Save me from myself, I’m falling!” roars Justin, the vulnerable words tinged with frustration and a heart-wrenching need for connection.
The track ends with a final query – “Will you be the one?” – leaving the listener with the aching hope that deliverance will be given, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
If “Trinity” is a sign of things to come, then y’all better hold on tight because 2024 with Skies of Terra is going to be a wild ride! Be sure to presave the song and follow Skies of Terra on their various socials so you never miss an update!
My Top 50 Songs of 2023
I tried to trim my list down to 30, the way I did last year, but it was impossible. For one thing, I started compiling singles for 2023 in January – last year, I got a late start. And for another thing, there have been way too many good songs released over the past twelve months!
So here are my top 50 songs of 2023 (in no particular order). And here is a link to the full playlist!
- Alive in Stone: “Fatboy”
- Katatonia: “Birds”
- Riverside: “Friend or Foe?”
- Animals as Leaders: “Red Miso”
- The Banishment: “Got What You Wanted”
- Lions at the Gate: “The Ledge”
- Fire Follows: “Say Words”
- Deadly Vices: “Notice Me”
- Kissing Candice: “Inveterate”
- Citizen Soldier + Royal Bliss: “Through Hell”
- Black Water Rising: “Hail Mary”
- Welcome Eternity: “Slave to the Crown”
- Moonfall: “Eyelids Closing Shut” (ft. Crystal Joilena)
- DK-Zero: “Nightmare”
- ANOXIA: “Earthbound” (ft. Corey James of Carbonstone)
- Saint Tragedy: “Limbo”
- City and Colour: “F**ked It Up”
- Kamelot: “Eventide”
- Band of Wolves: “On the Wagon”
- Carbonstone: “Damaged Like You”
- Linx: “Crystal Jellyfish”
- Breathing Theory: “The Cure”
- New Medicine: “Past the Past”
- Is MAN KIND: “25 to Life”
- Dark Remedy: “Haunted”
- Seven Year Witch: “Mark Cuban”
- Matt James: “Wait It Out”
- Bent Self: “Sunshine”
- Death Valley Dreams: “Ships in the Night”
- 3 Pill Morning: “Ethereal”
- Of Limbo: “California Demon”
- Stain the Canvas: “friXion”
- Patient Sixty-Seven, VRSTY: “Bad Habit”
- Rose Devika: “slow burn”
- Heartsick, Sapphire Noel: “Sadness”
- Amerakin Overdose: “Disconnect”
- Any Given Sin: “Cold Bones”
- Storm Kingdom: “Empires”
- The Props: “Target Practice”
- The BRKN: “FANGS”
- The Funeral Portrait: “Dark Thoughts”
- Lethal Injektion, Waylon Reavis: “Never Free”
- Divine Shade, Steve Fox-Harris: “Oublier”
- Rikets: “Infected and Controlled”
- Doom Groove Orchestra: “Why”
- Anaria: “Freakshow”
- The Thing With Feathers: “Ready to Burn”
- Silver Bullet Smile: “Man in the Moon”
- 2 Shadows: “Fading From Misery”
- Gears: “My Curse (Mi Maldición)”
Song of the Day – EverFelt: “Reach”
Song of the Day – The Midsummers: “Paper Boy”
Song of the Day – JamSteak: “Humans Are Canceled”
The Mostly Music 2023 Playlist, Pt. 3 (Updated 12/31/23)
And so we’ve come to the end of 2023 and the final update to my playlist. Don’t forget: my top tracks of the year will be posted soon!
You can visit all three parts of The Mostly Music 2023 Playlist – one. two. three.
Below are the songs I’ve added since 12/17. There haven’t been many, but I still wanted to bring them to your attention!
2023 Albums/EPs You May Have Missed
Here’s a list of albums/EPs released by indie artists in 2023 that may have flown under your radar! It’s far from comprehensive, but this is a good start for anyone seeking new underground music.
- The Obstacles – Fish in the Blue (Released 1/16/23)
- Blaine the Mono – Virago (Released 2/11/23)
- Gravehuffer – Depart From So Much Evil (Released 2/17/23)
- AGBAT – Darkest Parts (Released 2/24/23)
- Call of Sirens – Gaia EP (Released 2/24/23)
- When Hearts Wither – This Is Where It Ends (Released 2/25/23)
- god.i.am – Hanc Aeternum, Infinitum Nihil…23.23 EP (Released 3/2/23)
- Lifting Curses – Pistanthrophobia (Released 3/3/23)
- Tops of Trees – Treehouse Sessions: The Coolside EP (Released 3/4/23)
- Feral Housecats – Fall in Love With Trash (Released 3/5/23)
- Shadows Calling – Spirit Shifter EP (Released 3/6/23)
- Pebble Bra – Change & Get Better EP (Released 3/17/23)
- Steam Slicer – Echoes of Infinity EP (Released 3/24/23)
- Dillynn Salazar Band – There’s Nothing Left for Me to Lose EP (Released 3/27/23)
- Jim Daniels & the Mayhem Brothers – Moonshine (Released 3/30/23)
- Tops of Trees – Treehouse Sessions: The Hotside EP (Released 4/5/23)
- Seethe – Psalms of the Dead Better Left Unsung and Unread (Released 4/14/23)
- Burial Extraction – A Shadow of Things to Come (Released 4/28/23)
- The One Divided – The Spark (Released 5/6/23)
- Electric Tardigrade – New Start (Released 6/8/23)
- Freaky Things – Nightweaver: Magic Songs, Vol. 1 EP (Released 6/23/23)
- Effing and Blinding – Just Another Rock Band EP (Released 6/29/23)
- Bone Locker – The Road (Released 6/29/23)
- Six Hours For A Lifetime – 360 (Released 6/30/23)
- Electric Tardigrade – Electric Tardigrade (Released 7/3/23)
- Showdown – Showdown EP (Released 8/4/23)
- The Immaculate Crows – Zombie World (Released 8/16/23)
- Seethe – Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph (Released 8/18/23)
- East Second – Some of That EP (Released 8/28/23)
- East Texas Adrenaline – 1000 Miles EP (Released 9/1/23)
- RedPrint – The Plan EP (Released 10/11/23)
- The Midsummers – Sincerely Yours EP (Released 10/20/23)
- Revolution Rabbit Deluxe – Control Freaks (Released 10/28/23)
- Steam Slicer – devenir (Released 11/3/23)
- RONAN – Better Before You (Released 11/3/23)
- River City Rejects – River City Rejects EP (Released 11/10/23)
- Feral Housecats – The Unherdable EP (Released 11/19/23)
- Ghidora – Spirit of Vengeance (Released 11/28/23)
- Beyst – Skin Walker EP (Released 12/1/23)
- Son of a Gun – Timeline (Released 12/7/23)
- Freaky Things – Tales of the Lovesick Sleepwalkers EP (Released 12/8/23)
- neuroshock – The Reactance Bias (Released 12/11/23)
- Neanderthal – Relentless Aggression: The Bassment Tapes EP (Released 12/24/23)
Mostly Music 