Some Kind of Hate: Five fresh and local underground rock tracks

Five punk, metal, and hardcore tracks to start your year off right, including the reemergence of a former Black Lips member.

This new bi-monthly feature will share unheard demos and choice cuts from forthcoming releases by the many punk, hardcore, metal, and garage artists and labels honing their craft in Atlanta. Submissions for future lists are accepted via email.

Dropout
Turn Away From The Light by DROPOUT

Forming at the intersection of crust punk and breakneck Southern metal, Dropout’s rancorous debut LP, Turn Away From the Light, launches the year in Atlanta metal and hardcore. Virulent soundscape “Wade Into Wolves” sums up the album’s strengths — screams of righteous indignation, backed by blasting drums and Entombed-style riffs.

Eli Pop


Marietta-based garage-psych recording project Eli Pop has parlayed a few years’ worth of Soundcloud postings and CDRs into a Burger Records cassette. Digital single “Step into the Dream” achieves a chill vibe, usually captured in electronic bedroom recordings, constructed instead with traditional rock instrumentation.


Evaporated Brain
DEMO CS by EVAPORATED BRAIN

The Scavenger of Death guys’ love of Swedish metal, Japanese hardcore, and domestic punk deep cuts is on full display yet again on Evaporated Brain’s demo cassette. Helmed by vocalist and guitarist Ryan Bell (Ryan Dinosaur, G.G. King, Bukkake Boys), drummer Corey Long (Bukkake Boys) and bassist Kelly Stroup (Manic), this project is more metal than punk, in both inspiration and execution.

Richie Hayes


Richie Hayes, who briefly played guitar with the Black Lips in 2004, breathes new life into Southern rock with “Warcry.” The track starts as a harmonica-driven blues stomper, before turning into King Louie inspired swamp music. Hopefully, this is a preview of things to come from the group featuring Hayes, bassist Bryant McDaniel, and drummer Mike Grasso.

Waste Layer
Janus the 15th by Waste Layer

On Jan. 8, Veteran hardcore ensemble Waste Layer added to its online presence, unveiling a two-song digital demo called Janus the 15th. It’s a fitting title for these raw cuts from early in the recording process, since Janus is the Roman god of beginnings. Both are swift gut punches in the style of Chicago’s Weekend Nachos or even Infest’s 1987 demo, with the added dynamic of three vocalists alternating lead and backup duties.

Dropout plays an album release party with Get Damned, Cryptic Hymn, and Waste Layer at the Union EAV on Sat., Jan. 24. $7. 9 p.m. 485 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-556-5267.