Release Roundup: Beastwars, Irth, Half/Time, Hemi Hemingway, CUT 989 + More

An overdose of heavy-hitting Aotearoa releases grace our Friday roundup section as we wave bye to July. Revisit our past week's coverage of K M T P, Hannah Everingham, Thee Golden Geese, Clementine Valentine, Solo Ono, Julian Temple Band and KITA, then dive into even more fresh local drops from Beastwars, Irth, Half/Time, Hemi Hemingway, CUT 989, After The Flesh, Haz & Miloux, SKY SPORTS and Kraus.

Rocketing onto the Billboard Compilation charts for their contribution to new Soundgarden covers compilation Superunknown (Redux), crank up Beastwars' thundering rendition of 'The Day I Tried to Live' and don't miss their Tyranny of Distance spring album launch tour (tickets HERE). "Never ever thought we'd be part of an album that made it onto the billboard charts but here we are. We contributed a version of Day I Tried To Live which kicked off the idea for our upcoming NZ covers album".

The heavy psych / prog / motorik project of famed Tāmaki Makaurau illustrator Callum Rooney (Ounce) and Antony Pike, Irth reemerge with four mind-scorching 'scapes on EP II.

Launching his new album Strangers Again on 18th August, Hemi Hemingway revealed a third heart-melting single from his forthcoming ten song opus 'It's So Cruel (Lovin' You)'. Preorder a snazzy limited blue / white galaxy vinyl LP edition before they all run out via the Bandcamp link.

Now officially the post-punk trio of Wairehu Grant (Ngāti Maniapoto), Ciara Bernstein and Cee (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa), Half/Time's blistering seven track Black Union Jack (The Vault Sessions) is "a collection of waiata recorded during Matariki at The Vault".

The new collaborative project of Ōtautahi-based techno producer Keepsakes (Haven) and multi-instrumentalist Henry Nicol (DOG Power, Loghorn Breed), 'TPOTT' is a slamming opening salvo from CUT 989's forthcoming debut Opinions EP — preorder the 12" vinyl edition via the Bandcamp link.

Capital city darkwavers After The Flesh joined forces with director Martin Sagadin on a visually intoxicating gothic clip for 'Changeling', from their recent four song self-titled EP — just the ticket for wallowing in Aotearoa's shadowy mid-winter gloom.

The Tūī award-winning project of Haz Beats and Rebecca Melrose, Haz & Miloux today shared their soul-infused six track Brunette EP plus a majestic video for new single 'March 12'. "We've been sitting on this EP for a very long time. It feels good to finally send it out into the world. We're in a new phase of creating and are ready to share and perform this collection of songs with an extra level of introspection".

Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, enigmatic signalwave slice 'n' dicer / audio appropriator SKY SPORTS pays a visit to Old Blighty, once again delivering the goods on new 14 track collection skysports.co.uk.

Recorded at Bar Open during a visit to Naarm earlier this year, Tāmaki Makaurau electronic artist Kraus' resplendent new Petals on the Wind (a live album) documents "one of those shows that feels so good, it reminds you why you make music. I'm very happy it was recorded, and I hope you enjoy listening to it".