Headroom: New Heaven 12” (Ever/Never Records) After an earlier LP on Trouble in Mind, New Heaven is a new EP-length (about 20 minutes) release from Connecticut’s Headroom. I don’t know this scene well, but I love zoned out, Krautrock-influenced sounds and trust Ever/Never Records, whose endorsement is more than enough to get something on my radar. Indeed, New Heaven is already one of my favorite things that the label has released. Headroom reminds me of a lot of things I already like: their deep, dub-influenced basslines recall my favorite post-punk bands; the way they ride a spacey groove brings to mind Bitches Brew-era Miles Davis; the trance-like rhythms and slowly evolving compositions sound like Ash Ra Tempel or early Tangerine Dream; and the sparse, effects-drenched vocals pop up just often enough to keep you from drifting into a different realm. New Heaven serves well as late night, stoned-on-the-couch music or as the gentle throb of background noise you need to propel you into getting work done in the afternoon. I know neither of those things are "on brand" for Sorry State, but if you like to travel in those worlds, I recommend checking out New Heaven.

Geiger Counter / Zudas Krust: split cassette (Desolate) Split tape from these two metallic crust bands. Geiger Counter is from Minneapolis and you may remember them from their previous releases while Zudas Krust is a long-running Indonesian band I’m hearing for the first time. It’s a good pairing since both bands sound like they’re influenced by Japanese hardcore, but infuse the sound with a distinct death metal influence, particularly in the guttural vocal sound the two bands share. The first two tracks on Geiger Counter’s side have a Death Side gallop, an epic feel, and even a few melodic, Chelsea-esque lead guitar breaks, while the last track speeds things up to more of a Bastard tempo. As for Zudas Krust, their recording is rawer and their sound is even more metal. While some of it still sounds like Japanese hardcore, Axegrinder’s Rise of the Serpent Men would be a closer reference point. Good stuff for the dreadlocks and denim crowd.

Austerity: demo cassette (Clacker Recordings) I don’t know anything about Austerity, but I’ll assume they hail from somewhere near their label’s headquarters in Massachusetts. Musically, they do that SOA/Last Rights-type “hardcore with a touch of oi!” thing that was super popular a few years ago, but they sound more straightforward and punk rock than the pure hardcore bands who attempt the style. Tracks like “Modernity” and “Means Test” have the same catchy, Blitz-influenced riffing style as SOA, and the former even has a simple, melodic guitar solo. Sometimes hardcore’s shouts can sound perfunctory, but not here. The vocalist sounds like Choke and/or Steve from 86 Mentality, and like them Austerity’s vocalist has a lot of energy and charisma. The final track, “Modern Slavery,” mixes things up with more off-kilter riffs and rhythms, ending the demo on a high note. While the music is tough and aggressive, this has the same youthful, fun feel of Teen Idles or (for the old SSR heads) the Pure Scum demo tape.

Sap: I cassette (Clacker Recordings) Another Massachusetts punk demo from the new label Clacker Recordings. While their labelmates Austerity are a straightforward hardcore band, Sap have a more varied sound. They can lurch like Flipper, glide like Uranium Club, and rip like Career Suicide, all of which they do capably. The vocals are snotty and raw, reminding me of Chris Thomson of Skull Kontrol and the Monorchid… unfortunately my brain is not bringing a comparison to mind that someone under the age of 35 might understand. I like that Sap doesn’t stick to one particular style. They sound like people full of energy and open to the wide musical possibilities for DIY punk. If you like your punk loose, raw, and progressive this may well catch your ear.