METZ 'Atlas Vending'

The music made by Edkins and his compatriots Hayden Menzies (drums) and Chris Slorach (bass) has always been difficult to pin down. Their earliest recordings nodded to the teeming energy of early ’90s DIY hardcore, the aggravated angularities of This Heat, and the noisy riffing of AmRep’s quintessential guitar manglers, but METZ never sounded like they were merely paying tribute. Over time, their albums have charted the evolution of a band stripping away influences to uncover their core: propulsive drums, chest-thumping bass, bloody-fingered guitar riffs, and howling angst.

With 'Atlas Vending', METZ pushes further into dynamic, melodic, and rhythmic territories, exploring themes like paternity, social anxiety, addiction, isolation, and media-induced paranoia. This time, the trio aimed for a more patient and honest record—one that invites repeated listens rather than relying on sheer abrasiveness. Co-produced by Ben Greenberg (Uniform) and engineered by Seth Manchester (Daughters, Lingua Ignota), the album delivers a massive, articulate, and earnest sound, marking the most compelling work of their career.