In Rotation: UGLYBoNES - Sunshine

The second full-length album from Chicago hardcore punks UGLYBoNES delivers on their standing threat to knock you down. Fans of the band know what to expect - searing, abrasive songs that end as quickly and crushingly as they begin. This is the perfect album for that moment when you're ready to blow off some steam but instead have to get in the car and drive through rush hour traffic. Sunshine addresses the day-to-day mundanities that contribute to an already escalating tension. This is cathartic hardcore.

"Bottom Feeder" stands out as the most punishing track in this new set of songs, with a heavy riff, a complementary high-pitched guitar solo and fast, wide-eyed vocal delivery. "Rope" ties the album's themes together with the line "Just another day of hanging on a rope". Vocals have always been a strong point for this band. Lev's delivery makes that repeated line hit with force each time. "Animal" employs a stomping, deliberate conclusion that sets the listener up to get sideswiped by the white-knuckle ride that is "Disguise". Lead single "Headcase" is another ripper, finishing with a big riff.

Sunshine follows 2016's excellent full-length, Growing Concerns. Preorder the new album through our brother organization, Don't Panic Records & Distro. It's out on a run of 100 red cassettes and 50 CDs with a fold out sleeve. You can also get a preorder package of the cassette or CD, shirt, patch and pin. Sunshine will be released online tomorrow. Until then, you can stream "Bottom Feeder" and "Headcase" below. Listen to "Pliers" over at New Noise Magazine. UGLYBoNES' album release show is this Friday at Galaxie 2.0 with Burdened, XEUTHANIZEDX, The Kreutzer Sonata and Death of Self. More info on that show here.