Smalltown America

2015 saw the band make their 400th live appearance and perform at some of Europe’s most respected venues while supporting My Chemical Romance star Frank Iero. Touring 'The Mid Brae Inn' throughout the past year has allowed the band to truly experience a deep connection to their following as their loyal 'Companions' enthusiastically chant the lyrics of the album's opening track "All My Bones". The title of this live album was soon seen written on jackets and t-shirts and eventually tattoos began surfacing across the country and beyond.

As tribute to this powerful display of togetherness, Axis Of bring you their first live album, 'Companions' featuring a selection of recordings from various shows throughout 'The Mid Brae Inn' live tour. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrew Coles (www.beardnoise.com) this digital album is available to download via Independent Music along with the bands exclusive two track lathe cut single which features “All My Bones” (Studio version) and "All My Bones (Live)" with guest vocals from Frnk Iero and the Cellabration and The Homeless Gospel Choir.

2015 saw the band make their 400th live appearance and perform at some of Europe’s most respected venues while supporting My Chemical Romance star Frank Iero. Touring 'The Mid Brae Inn' throughout the past year has allowed the band to truly experience a deep connection to their following as their loyal 'Companions' enthusiastically chant the lyrics of the album's opening track "All My Bones". The title of this live album was soon seen written on jackets and t-shirts and eventually tattoos began surfacing across the country and beyond.

As tribute to this powerful display of togetherness, Axis Of bring you their first live album, 'Companions' featuring a selection of recordings from various shows throughout 'The Mid Brae Inn' live tour. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Andrew Coles (www.beardnoise.com) this digital album is available to download via Independent Music along with the bands exclusive two track lathe cut single which features “All My Bones” (Studio version) and "All My Bones (Live)" with guest vocals from Frnk Iero and the Cellabration and The Homeless Gospel Choir.

Here are some of our favouites this winter. To download this sampler for free, simply apply discount code "WINTERSAMPLER" upon check out.

Exclusive lathe cut single features American Clay's first single, “Talk”. The Track demonstrates the quartets love for guitar shackled dissonant pop, thundering drums and distant yet hooky vocals.

Each of these, specially created 7" records, are made by hand using Japanese lathes from 1970. Due to the delicacy of the pressing process stock is extremely limited. "Talk" is available as an instant download (lossless format) after purchase.

Exclusive lathe cut versions of Robocobra Quartet single "Iwazaru / Mizaru". Available in two variants (select which song you would like to own). Each of these, specially created 7" records, are made by hand using Japanese lathes from 1970. Due to the delicacy of the pressing process stock is extremely limited. Both "Iwazaru" and the b-side "Mizaru" are available as an instant download (lossless format) after purchase.

Iwazaru / Mizaru finds Robocobra Quartet's ever-present pleading lead vocal cradled by an effect-heavy instrumental, morphed in sympathy to each word spoken. Both tracks excellently offer up saxophone stabs, latin drum patterns and distorted bass when and where appropriate.

Just under a year since the release of their first LP ‘Sonic Moist’, the band return with their latest instalment of brash noise-rock-punk-psych: 'No Pleasure'. The album features 11 furious tracks that see the band expanding on noise-rock and punk, as well as exploring new territories in post-punk and kraut-rock.

Carnivores are a Paisley based three-piece who released their debut album 'Let's Get Metaphysical' just under a year ago. On tour in Ireland for the first time - the band came into the studio at Smalltown America in Derry to play in front of a noise-hungry, expectant and racous audience.

Their sound distills the best parts of classic Helmet, Fugazi and Weezer and merges it with a unique vocal style and socially-aware lyrics. Vocalist Kenny Leckie is one of the strongest front men on the post-hardcore club circuit and drummer Martin Johnson is quite simply one of the most breathtaking percussionists working right now in the UK.

In short, this is a record best played loud and with good friends. It is a glimpse of three men lost in a primal blur of musical electricity, swimming in seas of violent noise.

Blacklisters are a band who’re an impending tour-de-force and this album is more visceral, ferocious and relentless than anything they’ve put out there before. They’ve managed to push their live shows and their ability to make your speakers burn in intensity into this record and I dare you to argue against the hype surrounding them after listening to this.

The album kicks off with Clubfoot by Kasabian (a cover or not? You decide.). You’re welcomed by a skewed, pinched, nasty guitar that pushes you under its waves and holds you there until you drown, while the furious, cruel screams of the vocalist, Billy Mason-Wood, ensures your attention is well and truly nailed into this track as he bursts blood vessels while snapping his vocal cords, all in the name of making quality alternative, heavy, hardcore music. The marauding bass-line bounces and crushes against the smashed drums, making it almost impossible not to move your head along to this ugly monster of a sound which swells its body around you, squeezing every drop of energy from you while all the time telling you to wake the fuck up.

The Leeds quartet's follow up to 2012's eponymous debut album is a snarling, riff-punch to the solar plexus. Cut snares, and snaking guitars form an acerbic backdrop for Billy's uncompromising vocal snarl. Fans of The Birthday Party, The Jesus Lizard, Fugazi and Shellac will revel in Blacklisters update of the form. This first-pressing, is available on two coloured vinyl variants and CD.

The fabled Smalltown America All Dayer, the sixth of it's kind, was held on 31st July 2015. Eight bands took to the stage throughout the night almost leaving STA HQ with a hole in the studio floor.

Previous all-dayers have seen performances by the likes of And So I Watch You From Afar, 65 Days Of Static, Frank Turner, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Seafood, Soak and Polysics. It has always been a great night out and most importantly a snapshot of the live scene locally on any given year.

This year the show has been fully documented to be enjoyed by an increasing strong community of DIY gig-goers in the comfort of their own homes.

'This song, Shirts, is a song about shirts, about wearing them, about needing them, about loving them. I didn't wear a shirt once and this is what my world looked like. Always wear at least one shirt.’ - Billy Mason-Wood

The track is the first single from their second studio album 'Adult'. 'Adult' was recorded at Suburban Home Studios in Leeds with producer Matt Johnson, aka MJ of Hookworms. The album is a clear progression for the band, and demonstrates a growing confidence in their song writing and performance, from the abstract art-noise to the unrelenting, brutally minimalist riffs that first put them on the radar.

This sampler was put together by our label manager. Crack open the bees, get the BBQ on and enjoy some awesome rocking tracks from past present and future releases.

Recorded live at our studio on April 10th, this six song EP showcases the depth of talent of the Ryan Vail and Ciaran Lavery collective.

Their collaborative project 'Sea Legs' [Quiet Arch] has been hailed as 'one of the best releases on Irish shores so far this year.' [Hot Press] and is quietly building an audience all of its own.

Across the short set, Lavery's folk nestles delicately in Vale's glitchy, electro soundscapes.