Many bands do not recover from changing their name, but Calgary outfit Preoccupations — formerly Viet Cong — have done just that with their fantastic third release, New Material.

New Material is haunting and powerful. The vocals of lead singer Matt Flegel blend well with the dirty and gritty soundscapes that are created around him.

With vibes similar to Joy Division and Fugazi, New Material is dark, eery and weirdly comforting, all bound together into a tight eight-track album that leaves you hungry for more. The go-to track on this release is “Espionage,” and its chorus will sink its teeth into the innards of your ears.

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Jordan Stovra