music
Song of the Day – Dark Divine: “Circles”
Static-X Shares Official Video For “Otsego Placebo”
“Otsego Placebo” is the tenth track from Static-X’s 2020 release, Project Regeneration: Vol. 1.
Song of the Day – ANOXIA: “Relinquish the Quiet”
Song of the Day – The Immaculate Crows: “Zombie World”
Song of the Day – Breathing Theory: “Replicas”
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)”