Good news! Big Takeover Issue #94 Spring 2024 with The Damned on the cover has been completed and will be out shortly! But hurry to order—pre-orders and subscriptions are best/crucial! And they are much cheaper than ordering after we have to turn in our mailing list to the printer.

And it’s just in time for the perfect Father’s Day, birthday, or other gift, even to yourself: Big Takeover Magazine subscriptions and back issues (like the big enchilada, complete set 1980-2023)! Plus Children’s sizes for our T-Shirts (to go with several Men’s and Women’s sizes) in three colors, as well as our Big Takeover Beer Cozies and (signed if you like) Color 30th Anniversary Festival Posters, or our CDs!

Chicago indie-rock band Madame Reaper & the Gentleman’s Club combines synth-pop with a healthy heaping of gothic theatricality. The Big Takeover is happy to premiere their newest song “Satanic Tango (Is)”, which takes on a more literal interpretation of a Madame Reaper and features a Spanish-inspired sound.

Today, LA space rock quartet Les Biches (lay-beesh) release the fourth video from their acclaimed LP The Mysteries—the mysterious and epic “Shikotsuko.” Conjuring elements of wall-of-sound alt-gazers such as Spiritualized or The Church with perhaps a touch of the reserved elegance of David Sylvian’s Japan, the track is a singular experience where night sounds give way to a deconstructed lullaby before descending into a crush of horns and guitars.

There’s a palpable excitement surrounding New Jersey’s The Tide Bends. Their latest single “Glass Jaw” feels like the calm before the storm, hinting at something seismic on the horizon.

Dark Ice Balloons, the latest LP by Brooklyn indie/punk trio, Nihiloceros, premieres today exclusively on Big Takeover Magazine and available everywhere tomorrow via Totally Real Records. The follow up to their 2021 EP, Self Destroy, which garnered the band attention from fans and critics for its bleak take on the human condition, Dark Ice Balloons explores the places between the worlds of living and the dead. Both lyrically and sonically its a touch more hopeful than its predecessor, leaning away from standard pop elements in lieu of rich guitar textures and an intentionally uglier palette of sound.

Palm Ghosts shares two new releases, “Pulse,” from their forthcoming Escape EP, and a The Chameleons cover, with sales to benefit To Write Love On Her Arms.

Today’s premiere is a dreamy, melody-drenched number that pleasantly reminds us of Animal Collective.

An experimental pop collective led by Andrew Grossman, Washington, D.C.’s The North Country has become synonymous with catchy indie-pop earworms and electrifying live performances. Their music delves into themes of digital fatigue, heartbreak, and socio-political critique aimed at the elite. With each song, The North Country challenges listeners to think critically while keeping them moving on the dance floor.

“Shake What They Gave You” is breezy indie rock that nods its hat to
groups like Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Stereolab and Steely Dan. The song is one of
Chick’s most beloved on More Thrills, Less Hills, as it features random things like
shuffleboard, shakers and seasonings.

Denver-based rockers Riot For Romance follow 2022’s self-titled debut with Learning to Unburden Myself: Step One. The trio’s sound is a glorious racket formed from post-punk and shoegaze roots.

Led by the magnetic Ellie Linden, Odd-Pop Quartet Das Body make a triumphant return with their eagerly anticipated sophomore album, True Vulture.

Magnet School, the Austin Texas Alternative / Indie Rock legends & sonic sound manipulators are back with their new release The Raven – a 5 track mini opus of sonic tapestry.

After a 5 year hiatus Mythological Horses returns with a proper 3rd album out February 2nd on Godless America Records taking the band to new musical heights of pure rock n roll balanced with the band’s early Anti-Folk beginnings.

Branching out from what Jack Rabid has referred to as the “coffee and adderall” energy of the band’s last two albums, “June Meets Tulip” sees Janus 4-14 coming off as some kind of 90’s-tinged Elvis Costello fronting late-era Guided by Voices.

Big Takeover is excited to host the premiere of “Dang Cold” by Mike Chick.

Gaviota is an excellent collection of sun-drenched and introspective surf pop tracks from the brain of Scott Claassen, formerly of The Broken West.

Joh Chase’s explosive new single is the perfect introduction to their new full-length, SOLO, which will be out on Kill Rock Stars in April.

Big Takeover is excited tohost the premiere of “Draconist” by Satyasena.

Montreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone return today with “Pilgrimage,” the latest single from their upcoming album, Back Into the Dream, due out February 23rd, 2024.

My best bets on another great year for music, old and new. Hope this list inspires you to find, or give a second look to, a few great releases you might miss otherwise that you end up truly loving. (It’s tied with last year for my longest list ever!)

“Estuary of Dreams” is the softest, folksiest song we’ve recorded yet…”

Big Takeover is excited to host the premiere of “Got Me All Wrong” by KillerStar.

“It’s a genuine love song, but there is an element of self doubt and a desire to feed off of someone else’s power – flirting with masochistic undertones.”

Zoon has partnered with artist and producer Yonatan Gat on a remix of their track “Astum” (ft. Leanne Betasomosake Simpson), taken from their record released last year, Bekka Ma’iingan.

Big Takeover is stoked to host the premiere of “You’re a Star” by The Extensions.

Big Takeover is excited to host the premiere of “Everybody Learning To Fly” by Rebecca Pidgeon.

The Glass Hours are American songwriters Brad Armstrong and Megan Barbera. Their music blurs between Sunday afternoon country-folk and the golden age of the 1970s. Their self-titled nine-song debut album will be released by Cornelius Chapel Records in early 2024.

“Willows” is a dreamy, melodic ballad drenched in emotional vulnerability with an added sense of clarity atop plucked strings, glimmering chords, and a head-bobbing hand-clapped time signature.

Self-proclaimed Philly hillbilly Bug Martin has crept out from the shadows of the last four years to delight us with his four-song collection What Remains, and we are stoked to be your supplier.

Representative of the power and noise Trash Fiasco is known for, the 70-second track feels like a fist-fight.

Big Takeover is excited to share the video for “Lorain” the lead single from the new Hugh J. Noble album, Here In The Smoke, coming December 8th on Jigsaw Records.

Lions of the Interstate will release Strange Empires, the group’s first full-length, on Braxeling Records this Friday. The LP, available on vinyl and CD, was produced and engineered by Michael Deresh (Risley, Tea for Julie) at his Lamplight Studio in Portland.

Described by Kevin Rutmanis as ‘tasty, tasteful, and undeniably sexy,’ Gaswar’s self-titled debut album is set to ignite the music scene. Comprising the formidable talents of Apollo Liftoff and Jeff Mooridian, both members of the notorious Minneapolis band, Hammerhead, Gaswar kicks off an exciting inception in their musical venture.

“Lyrically, there’s significance to the title. It is sort of a crazy quilt nostalgia letter to his radio show on one level, but on a deeper level it is a love letter to a specific time period, that late ‘90s window – before 9/11, before the Patriot Act, before so many of us in America seemingly lost the ability to interact with and conceive of each other as humans instead of members of one of two particular thought tribes.” – Justin Keane

‘Sympathy For Your God’ is my take on the dangers of letting outside stimuli define who we see ourselves as. Our inner voices are not who we are, it is just a self protection mechanism meant to keep us safe in an increasingly confusing world and I have a lot of sympathy for those who can’t see past their own opinions. – Jasno Swarez

Hoboken-based rock/Americana singer-songwriter-guitarist James Mastro (The Bongos, Health & Happiness Show) has just shared a brilliant video for “Right Words, Wrong Song”, the rocking lead track on his forthcoming debut solo album, Dawn of a New Error (due Feb. 21,2024) via MPress Records. The song and video feature guest vocals/appearances by the inimitable Ian Hunter.

Bad Veins Return with a Bang: Exclusive Premiere of Imposter on The Big Takeover

“One Glove” listens like a reverse strip-tease: totally bare with just a single vocal track and syncopated drum beat. Slowly, layers are added on, culminating in a three-part round.

Today, We Owe (Chris Pravdica) shares a final single off his forthcoming LP, a sprawling post-rock odyssey entitled “Slight Inconvenience” that comes alongside a music video directed by Jim Larson.

“This song was inspired by people I care about having a difficult time during lockdown. Their self-worth was so tightly bound to social interactivity that without constant contact with others, they began to doubt themselves and question their own self-worth. They would fall into a really dark place and grab on to anything, anyone, or any circumstance that promised escape, regardless whether or not it was a good idea.” – Valerie Forgione of Lovina Falls

The International Treasures has a new album titled: Together, We Are The International Treasures which is out now and Big Takeover is excited to present the new music video for their hit single “Nice to Know Ya”.

Rebel Kicks Unveil “The Girl In Barcelona,” A Vivid Musical Journey in New Single and Video. An exclusive first look at the New York duo’s enchanting single, capturing the thrill of serendipitous adventure and ethereal connections. “The Girl In Barcelona” is a sonic embodiment of freedom and joy, wrapped in the allure of the mysterious.

Pioneering Boston rockers Nervous Eaters — contemporaries of bands like The Ramones, The Police, Iggy Pop, and The Pretenders— have released a new single “Talkk” which comes on the heels of the band’s critically-lauded 2022 return full-length, Monsters + Angels, on Stevie Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records.

Over hazy instrumentals lie a dark storyline, waiting to mystify listeners; Spunsugar’s unique fusion of electronic, post-punk, and pop components provide a modern touch to their shoegaze/new wave concoction.

“Shady Little Lady is my own compulsion personified. I imagine she crawled through my ear one day, when I was just twelve years old. I believe neurodivergence to be sorely underrepresented in pop music, so, I tried to craft the song I wish I’d had when I was a kid, and first met Shady.”



Spaghetti Eastern Music Pivots to Singer-Songwriter Mode with New Single, “Sweet Home Anywhere”.

Good news! Big Takeover Issue #93 Fall 2023 with Slowdive on the cover has nearly been completed and will be out shortly! But hurry to order—pre-orders and subscriptions are best/crucial! And they are much cheaper than ordering after we have to turn in our mailing list to the printer.

And it’s just in time for the perfect Christmas, Chanukah, other holidays, birthday, or other gift, even to yourself: Big Takeover Magazine subscriptions and back issues (like the big enchilada, complete set 1980-2023)! Plus Children’s sizes for our T-Shirts (to go with several Men’s and Women’s sizes) in three colors, as well as our Big Takeover Beer Cozies and (signed if you like) Color 30th Anniversary Festival Posters, or our CDs!

Big Takeover is excited to host the premiere of “Mr. Moon” by the Cucumbers.

The The Blips struck lightning when Little Steven’s Underground Garage declared “Inside Out” The Coolest Song In The World in the spring of 2021. Now they are back with a new song and upcoming album, and Big Takeover is pleased to host the premiere of “Good Lookin’ Liars”!

“I’ve worked with video director Brian Powers for years on a range of arts projects. He hosts the podcast American Esoterica and he’s also a talented animator and editor. We decided to take a little smashed car (from the painting “Smashed Afternoon” by Lori Larusso) on an adventure, using all kinds of images and backgrounds, as a way to try and highlight the song’s lyrics.” – Scott Whiddon