F*ck the Algorithm - Issue 002
Once, in my early thirties, I was invited to a party full of kids in their very early twenties. 10-ish years isn’t much of an age difference when you’re talking 80-90, 60-70 or even 30-40, but the decade between 20 and 30 may as well be a century.
I remember the playlist threw up Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit (maybe ironically? It’s hard to tell) and someone proudly proclaimed that they preferred the band’s more niche tracks like Take a Look Around. They were blissfully unaware, of course, that the song partially covers the Mission: Impossible theme — because it was written for the soundtrack to the global Tom Cruise mega-smash of the same name. Or what Mission: Impossible even is. I found this utterly inconceivable until I realised that the song and therefore the film came out five years before they were born.
It only got worse when someone else said they were going to play some ‘classic’ Green Day and then proceeded to play American Idiot. I had never felt so old.
This week’s playlist is full of bands who sound instantly familiar to older listeners, despite having band members younger than some of your band tees.
F*ck the Algorithm - Issue 002
Eight tracks in just over 25mins, crank it up in some headphones.
Track notes
1. Scowl – Special
This sounds like fairly straightforward alt rock with squeaky clean production, huge drums and the expected instrumentation. So far, so predictable. But there’s more to it than that, with a clever melding of major and minor keys in the melody and a great scream section in the middle.
Bridge back: There’s something in the vocal melody of the chorus that reminds me of Seether by Veruca Salt.
2. HotWax – Tell Me Everything’s Alright
I love how many different layers of fuzz there are going on in this. I can’t quite differentiate between bass and synth but I’m pretty sure there are both in there. Then there’s a quite heavily distorted guitar and an almost clean one over the top of the lot. This could be the soundtrack to my summer.
Bridge back: Despite sounding sonically very different, shouted octave vocals like these turn up in all kinds of punk, hardcore and emo settings.
3. Volatile Ways – God Will Be Cut
This is pure, unadulterated filth. Enormous, heavily distorted guitars, a jangly bass that sounds like the strings are falling off, machine gun kick drum and a highly tuned snare being absolutely battered. One for former circle pit regulars.
Bridge back: Take your pick, there’s all sorts in there: Korn, Sepultura, Slayer, Hatebreed… the list goes on.
4. Artio (feat. kahal) – Seven Suns
This sounds so clean and inoffensive after the crushing brutality of Volatile Ways but is actually quite heavy. There’s a big electronic element to this with some drum ‘n’ bass or dubstep style synth work but it’s pretty much built on a rock foundation.
Bridge back: That electronic edge makes me think of Pendulum but with a Hayley Williams style lead vocal.
5. White Reaper – Blink
A much simpler formula for this from White Reaper; bass tone to die for, distorted guitar, drums and catchy melodies. I love that multitracked vocal sound, too, and the odd simple harmony thrown in here and there. It’s reassuring to me that I can understand how this was made in a studio.
Bridge back: This sounds a bit left field but bear with me. The chord progression is the same as Rainbow in the Dark. Go and listen then tell me I’m wrong. There are many more obvious bridges you can hear for yourself.
6. South Arcade – Supermodels
This is an assault on the senses with far more going on than I could ever capture here – but at its heart, it’s just a really solid pop song. It also makes me think of 90s Saturday morning kids’ TV and there’s a countdown straight out of Robot Wars. It won’t be for everyone.
Bridge back: The genre is called Y2K-core so this speaks for itself.
7. Tiny Moving Parts – Before I Go
I’ve been listening to these guys for a while now and love their sound that blends elements of math rock with emo and fourth wave punk. This is from their latest release but you won’t regret exploring their back catalogue.
Bridge back: Those clean and technical guitar runs could easily be from old Dilute or Cap’n Jazz songs.
8. TeethOut – Here We Go
I feel like I’ve known this all my life but the band only formed in 2024. Admittedly they’re not a bunch of youngsters but this perfectly captures the 90s/00s skate punk sound I loved at the time without feeling like a pastiche or a rip-off. It makes me want to go to the late night show with them.
Bridge back: If you need it explaining for this one I don’t know how you got this far! You could tell me it’s from the Tony Hawk soundtrack and I’d believe you.
That’s it for Issue 002. Have you heard anything lately that’s given you the right kind of nostalgic buzz? Good music deserves a conversation.
