Playlist: June 2019

4 min readJun 28, 2019

Here’s what I listened to this month, mostly new music, with some new-to-me stuff thrown in.

“Oh Brother” — John Floreani

This song technically came out as a single for the album last month, but the album, sin was released at the beginning of this month, and I missed this track on my list last month, so I thought it’d be a great addition. A chilling track seemingly about the relationship between John and his brother, most songs about complicated family dynamics are bound to get me. This song is like the antithesis of Aviccii’s “Hey Brother.”

“Death Squad Anthem” — Thy Art Is Murder

Taking an immediate sharp turn from the heart-wrenching pop of John Floreani is this track from Australian death metallers Thy Art Is Murder. A brutal track built around the repetition of the growled line “21st Century Death Squad Anthem,” the track includes lyrics like “Riot, resist // Tyrants cease to exist,” that complement its pummeling nature and make it a worthwhile soundtrack for the times.

“Tyrannotophia” — Distant

“Tyrannotophia,” like “Oh Brother,” technically came out last month, but again, I missed it, and the album was released earlier this month. Plus Distant, like John Floreani, is brand new to me as well!

“Quarter Past Midnight” — Bastille

This Bastille track helps continue the growing trend. It was released on Youtube on May 23, Doom Days was released on June 14. A song about driving, running, trying to escape and going fast, the track ultimately encourages the listener to slow down: “It’s a quarter past midnight // And the secrets are flowing // Our lips are getting looser // I don’t know what I’m saying // We never knew what we had // I never know what I’ve had.” It’s good pop fare for the summer, and for those who find themselves longing more often than not.

“Burn” — Upon A Burning Body

“Burn” is an amazing deathy groove metal track. With lyrics like, “Fear all around // Violent surrounding // Kicked while I’m down but you still won’t break me,” listening to this track prepares me to take on the world. Also check out from UABB “Soul Searcher” and “King of Diamonds.”

“Sorcery and Sanctity” — All Hell

This track was posted on YouTube at the beginning of May, so maybe I’m just a month behind, but its well worth including!

“Keep Me Down” — Crobot

The folks in Crobot seem to be having fun in their new music video for “Keep Me Down.” Sort of a more fun version of what Slipknot tried to do with “All Out Life” and what Five Finger Death Punch basically does with every other song. The song responds to critics without seeming to take itself too seriously, and while delivering that good, good message of perseverance.

“Seeing It Through” — Wildheart

Wildheart’s indie-pop style mixes the bombast of pop punk with pop sensibilities. The song is fun and inspiring at the same time. The music video makes it clear that Wildheart hopes that this will be your summer anthem, but it’s never a bad time to get a message of encouragement to see it through.

“God Damn (Northport Sessions)” — All Get Out

Technically just an acoustic version of a 2018 song, this version of this song caught my interest all the same, and was released on Youtube on June 14. And now I can go back and listen to the 2018 album No Bouquet.

“River Take Me” — Montgomery Gentry

Seems too often this case comes about. Last month’s list had a HELLYEAH song, in light of Vinnie Paul’s recent passing. This song was released earlier this month, after Troy Gentry’s passing in 2017. It’s a fantastic country song about a man out of work and down on his luck, who’s praying for an overflowing river to take him away. The track starts out with a few lines that hit like a brick: “ It’s been rainy and windy for seven days straight // I’ve been goin’ to bed early and gettin’ up late // I look out my window and it’s one shade of gray.”

“Thoughts & Prayers” — Motionless In White

This song is badass and honestly, is a perfect anthem for raising a middle finger to the “thoughts and prayers” crowd. It can be summarized in the one line: “Don’t pray for me when you’re the one to blame.”

“Just My Record Player” — Jennifer Nettles

This is a heavily relatable song. Not so much because of the “Well, it’s hard for a lady always waitin’ on a man,” part as much as the part of sitting around feeling sad and listening to music. “I’ve counted sheep, but I want the floor // Played solitaire and I’m bored // But another hand and it won’t take long // With just my record player on”

“Cemetery’s Garden” — The Menzingers

Last on the list this month, The Menzingers’ “Cemetery’s Garden.” Since After The Party and “Tellin’ Lies,” I’ve gotten really into The Menzingers, and I’m glad that I’m continuing to enjoy their music.