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Alternative Press Magazine •

Mothica says resilience lies at the heart of her music

Alt-pop newcomer Mothica has taken TikTok by storm with her emo-reminiscent anthems. This is no trend-setting movement for 15 seconds of fame, however: Mothica is the emotional outlet of artist McKenzie Ellis to express and explore personal trauma and insecurities through her intense songwriting. Confronting subjects such as domestic abuse, suicide attempts and assault, Mothica’s tracks contradict their contagious instrumentals with gut-wrenching lyricism that reach far beyond the TikTok experie
Alternative Press Magazine •

State Champs are cementing their legacy with ‘Kings Of The New Age’—interview

Pop punk is well and truly back in fashion, with a brand-new face and a fresh perspective on the legacy of the generations that came before it. While it may not look or sound like the same scene that regenerated a decade ago and mysteriously lost favor in recent years, there is one simple message for the bands from the genre’s past iterations: adapt or perish.

State Champs took that ultimatum personally. Now, armed with the upbeat optimism of their aptly named fourth full-length, Kings Of The N
Alternative Press Magazine •

Lzzy Hale on how a pandemic couldn’t stop Halestorm from creating their fifth album

Halestorm’s fifth album, Back From The Dead, bursts from its COVID-19-inflicted crypt this week (May 6), a deeply personal effort depicting the band’s personal struggles through the last few years of uncertainty through the power of their anthemic hard rock.

In celebration of the rock legends’ glittering next era, Halestorm mastermind Lzzy Hale delves into the inspirations behind the songs, rediscovering their love for music and the importance of finding a producer who brings out the best in yo
Alternative Press Magazine •

20 greatest Epitaph Records bands, from Pennywise to Architects

Established by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz in 1981, Epitaph Records set out to bring together the California punk scene under one umbrella. It soon outgrew that original mission statement and went on to become a certified authority in other genres as well. From the springboard on which From First To Last received their launch into fame to the stepping stone for Architects’ new era, Epitaph’s acts and landmark albums have cemented the label’s legacy.

The versatile Epitaph roster reads
Alternative Press Magazine •

Greg Puciato and Rou Reynolds on balancing self-care with perfectionism—interview

The arrival of the Dillinger Escape Plan on the metal scene in the late ’90s brought a welcome change to the status quo. Unpredictable time signatures and vibrant influences from neighboring genres gave the New Jersey exports an edge to push the genre out of its restrictive box. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, the outfit that later became Enter Shikari were gearing up to sow the seeds of their own nonconforming electronic chaos in the quiet town of St. Albans, 20 miles to the north of
Alternative Press Magazine •

15 Korean rock and metal artists you need to know, from DAY6 to Madmans Esprit

In recent years, the eyes of the world have gradually turned toward South Korea thanks to its pop culture exports, Netflix K-drama Squid Game, K-pop idols BTS and Oscar-winning movie Parasite, to name a few. Meanwhile, the K-rock and metal scene has rock and rolled along, waiting for its time to shine on the global stage.

In the world of K-rock, language barriers are a thing of the past. While most bands produce Korean songs, it’s likely you’ll hear an occasional line in English to conjure more
Alternative Press Magazine •

20 greatest Fearless Records bands, from Underoath to iDKHOW

Established in 1994, Fearless Records has progressed into a label renowned for its influence, innovation and Punk Goes… cover compilations. Kick-starting the careers of Mayday Parade, Motionless In White and As It Is, the label soon became synonymous with launching successful scene-setters and bolstering the progression of established bands, including the reunion of Underoath and the reinvention of Ice Nine Kills.

From the label’s brief dalliance with At The Drive-In to its long-standing relati
Alternative Press Magazine •

HO99O9 on new album ‘SKIN’: “The world’s going to burn regardless of what we sing”

Crafting mind-bending sonic onslaughts since 2012, this year New Jersey rebel duo Ho99o9 have reached their decade milestone together. After a five-year wait since their first album, United States Of Horror, established their genre-smashing template, sophomore release SKIN is ready to burst on the scene. Packed with guest spots, their trademark blend of contagious hip-hop and corrosive punk dominates.

The world, however, has changed a lot since their debut album, and not necessarily for the bet
Alternative Press Magazine •

At 17, pop-punk newcomer Sophie Powers is already establishing her identity

A 17-year-old so richly invested in her emotional lyrics and keenly focused on her future is a music industry rarity. Toronto’s newest export Sophie Powers has a bright-eyed view of the path ahead, having already collaborated with Kellin Quinn and DE’WAYNE on her fast ascension up the career ladder. From designing her own photo shoot and stage costumes to penning songs about mental health and equality from a teenage perspective, this rising artist is a breath of fresh pop-punk air. Playing her f
Alternative Press Magazine •

Jack Kays talks working with Travis Barker on his latest EP—interview

Closing his 2021 chapter with a gut-wrenching collaborative EP with Travis Barker, Jack Kays has morphed into a very different artist — peeling back layers of bleach-blond aesthetics to expose the artist beneath. Tackling difficult topics of depression, anxiety and addiction through devastating emotional serenades and pop-punk tinges, MY FAVORITE NIGHTMARES commences a new chapter for the rising star. With a bright future ahead of him, Kays ruminates on what this sonic progression means for his