Today, we are featuring some bands from the excellent Chicago-based label HoZac Records. HoZac emerged in 2006 from the zine “Horizontal Action”, and for the first couple of years solely put out 7” singles from undiscovered, hard-to-define acts such as Volt, Spider, Wax Museums, Wizard Sleeve, and Static Static, to name a few. The folks at HoZac have a real knack for finding interesting bands before anyone else, and their past roster includes well-known indie acts such as the Dum Dum Girls and Smith Westerns, bands that cut their teeth musically at HoZac before moving on to bigger independent labels. In addition, HoZac’s annual “Blackout Fest”, at Chicago’s Empty Bottle, serves as a real continuation of their aesthetic philosophy, and dedication to emerging, as well as under-appreciated artists. Spanning a long weekend this past May, 2013’s installment of the fest pulled together lable mates like the Make-Overs and Cop City/Chill Pillars, as well as older, luminary acts from the underground rock scene like Chrome, and power-pop pioneer Dwight Twilly. Whether your tastes lean towards punk, post-punk, garage, psychedelic, or power-pop, HoZac Records is one of the best places to find bands unabashedly exploring the sonic boundries. Have a listen to a handful of new releases from the label, as well as a few of their earliest 7″‘s.
First up, the French-based, dark overlords of minimal synth, Black Bug. These guys have a new album out entitled Reflecting The Light. In the title track below, the music oozes and throbs with bleak, sinister synths, scuzz-punk riffs, and a cold, robotic atmosphere.
Next up, Chicago’s Rainbow Gun Show , with the title track from their debut 7“, Cinderella Sizzle. This is top-notch, melodic noise-pop with sophisticated melodies and hooks!
Shocked Minds’ new S/T LP is out now, and if the killer riffs on “Confusion” are any indication, these Atlanta punk veterans have unleashed a scortching, tight set of raw punk that brings to mind awesome past acts like The Dead Boys and The Heartbreakers.
You won’t want to miss Mil Mascaras, as they are one of the best post-punk bands from the French Glue Wave scene, of the early 2000’s. Check out, “FUZZ”, which just happens to be a third of the band’s total recorded output, and get ready to be knocked out by their primitive stabs of raw guitar, catchy, ragged melodies, and detached sneering vocal delivery. Mil Mascaras will definitely leave you needing more!
Lastly, have listen to HoZac’s first 7″ inch, released in 2007 by the band Volt. Man On The Ground is an electronic, fuzz-driven affair that displays many of sonic elements HoZac bands have come to be known for….strong melodies with a hint of un-ease, and the ability to underlie all that with just the right amount of scuzz!
