So without further ado, here are our favorite releases by local artists this month:
Borne of Execration
“Decadence”
Grand Junction is an underrated bastion for metal music. Other than being a regular I-70 stop for touring bands heading west, the Western Slope city is home to its own dedicated scene. Borne of Execration is one example of the heavy-hitting music that’s coming out of Mesa County.
The melo-death troupe of guitarist-vocalist Josiah Vogel, guitarist Barrett Madden, bassist Wyatt Rollins and drummer Brandon Alvelais (he also sings for up-and-coming GJ hardcore act Diced) put out latest single, “Decadence,” on July 17 independently — a crushingly catchy shred fest that’s sure to put Grand Junction further on the Colorado metal map.
Celestial Wizard
Regenesis
Denver’s Celestial Wizard is known in certain circles as one of the city’s best power-metal bands, and the quartet showcases why on its new album, Regenesis, released on July 11 via Italian label Scarlet Records. The group’s third full-length is a Cormac McCarthy-meets-Old West tale full of triumphs and tribulations.
Vocalist Amethyst Noir, guitarist-vocalist Nick Daggers, drummer Tim Gillman and bassist Soren Bay even flirt with death-thrash at times, including on the title track, “Into The Abyss” and “Shores of Eternity.” But also make sure to show off those well-oiled chops throughout, particularly with such songs as “Fangbearer,” “She Is The Blade” and “Pale Horse.”
Chew Thru
“Hunter Hunter”
Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the newest Chew Thru single, “Hunter Hunter,” released on July 11 via Fort Collins indie champion Braeburn Records. At just over two minutes, the lean-and-mean rager is a caustic teaser of the Denver crew’s upcoming EP, Curb Cuts, also courtesy of Braeburn (release date TBD). And a middle finger to big-game hunters, as the accompanying visuals indicate. Shouting “You’re a piece of shit” certainly punctuates the point.
Vocalist Matthew Lamoureaux, guitarist Tom Di Cosolam, drummer Jackson Lynn and bassist Matt Rinehart aren’t ones to hold back with their whirlwind of punk, post-hardcore and metalcore. So “Hunter Hunter” may leave you a little stunned, but also itching for more.
Cronos Compulsion
Lawgiver
We’re a little over halfway through 2025 now, but we’re confident in saying we found the heaviest record of the year locally, courtesy of Cronos Compulsion.
The Denver death-dealers morphed into a four-piece with the addition of guitarist Raye Mokarry before recording proper debut, Lawgiver, released on July 11 via Italian underground label Avantgarde Music. Mokarry only beefs up what guitarist-vocalist Wil Wilson, bassist-vocalist Addison Herron-Wheeler and drummer Zach Johnson were already doing, which is skull-crushing caveman metal.
Lawgiver starts with a club to the head in opener “Obligate Condition” and doesn’t relent (“Maladapt” and “Sun Devouring Wound” are equally punishing), culminating in final deathblow “Incursion of Deific Chaos.”
Daisyhead
“Lost in the Comfort”
Denver-by-way-of-Nashville emo outfit Daisyhead is settling in nicely to its Colorado digs, especially if the band keeps putting out heaters like latest single “Lost in the Comfort,” released on July 11 by local label Mean World Records.
With over a decade of experience at this point, Daisyhead has perfected that emo/pop-punk balance, and “Lost in the Comfort” is no different.
Gentleman Deluxe
Way High
Aaron Howell is most known as the madman vocalist of local rockers MF Ruckus, but his latest release, Way High, put out by Cali label Glory or Death Records on July 8, is a bit of a change-up.
A solo record fifteen years in the making, Howell, armed with an acoustic guitar, croons over everything from alt-country to power pop on Gentleman Deluxe. “Good Ol’ Days,” “Trash People” and “Every Wizard Needs a Witch” are standouts, in that sense.
“These songs are the story of my life,” he says. “This album is made of real people, real places, and real pain — with a little humor to survive it.”
In the Company of Serpents
A Crack in Everything
In the Company of Serpents shared its first album in five years this month with A Crack in Everything, released independently on July 11.
The Denver sludge trio of vocalist-guitarist Grant Netzorg, bassist Ben Pitts (also of local death-prog band NightWraith) and drummer Andy Thomas teased the full-length with singles “Endless Well” and “A Patchwork Art” during June, which proved to be indicative of the record’s range.
But Serpents had a couple more surprises in store, mainly a pair of doom tomes — “Buzzard Logic” and “Ghosts on the Periphery.” Both are standouts in their own right, so putting two monoliths in one full-length really pushes A Crack in Everything over the top.
Miniluv
“Brand New Shapes”
We don’t often cover poets in the monthly roundup, but Denver’s Miniluv is an exception. That’s because the Denver indie outfit plays what it likes to call “really loud poetry,” and new single, “Brand New Shapes,” released independently on July 25, slams.
Vocalist-guitarist Eli Livingood, bassist Greg Forti, guitarist Izzy Livingood and drummer Jane Jensen aren’t full-on math rock, but not quiet polished pop-punk either on “Brand New Shapes.” Then they go as far to throw a post-hardcore breakdown in there. It’s a little confusing to fully dissect, but as a listener, it works so well there’s no need to really question it.
Mood Swing Misery
“Moth” and “Spiderlily”
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating every time a new act springs up, Fort Collins is an alt-rock oasis.
This month we’re highlighting Mood Swing Misery, which put out double-single “Moth” and “Spiderlily” on July 25 via Braeburn.
The young FoCo trio of vocalist-guitarist Trent Nicklay, bassist Jordan Smith and drummer Max Hendrickson talk through heartbreak on “Moth” — a sonically somber, acoustically inclined grunge ballad. “Spiderlily” may address the same subject, more so the pain of pining over a crush, but does so with gusto and reverb. The dual drop shows there’s more than one way to mourn love loss.
myriadD.F.
“Don’t Sleep”
The Denver alt-rock scene is well-established, but there’s still room for newcomers such as rookie trio myriadD.F.
Guitarist-vocalist Mario Martinez, drummer Colin Hill, and bassist Josiah Martinez introduced themselves this month with debut single, “Don’t Sleep,” released independently on July 2.
The band meets at “the intersection of self-loathing and self-reflection,” as the group sees it, and “Don’t Sleep” makes its presence felt by perfectly employing a soft-loud duality that swings and swoons seamlessly over the three-minute runtime.
While myriad.D.F is a blossoming project, the three players cut their teeth the past six years in other local outfits, so they know what they’re doing.
Pink Lady Monster
Ponk
Pink Lady Monster celebrated the Fourth of July by unleashing bonkers second record, Ponk.
A zany collection of instrumentation, the Denver conglomerate doesn’t fit nicely into one particular genre. If anything, it’s no-wave — an avant-garde 1970s callback that threw out traditional rock structures in favor of jazzy noise.
Whatever you want to call it, what Simone Fohrman (vocals), Drew Smith (guitar), Savanna Johnson (bass), Kane Pascarelli (synth, xylophone and auxiliary percussion, Bridget Hartman (saxophone) and drummer Travis Hatley do on Ponk is definitely unique.
“Responsible,” “Puppies” and “Lately” are good places to start, but Ponk is best experienced in its off-the-wall entirety.
Richard Becker
Cedar Forks
Richard Becker initially moved to Denver in an effort to establish his longtime band Walden. But the vocalist-guitarist found himself working on his first solo album, Cedar Forks, released independently on July 25.
The singer-songwriter pulled from a cache of songs he’s kept in the cupboard over the years that mostly dealt with growing up in Georgia and coming of age as a musician.
Cedar Forks, the name is an homage to his childhood neighborhood, leans on that nostalgia, which everyone can relate to. “Ripples,” “Between the Minds” and “Rooftops” hit right in the feels, while also feeling comforting at the same time.
Supreme Joy
410,757,864,530 Dead Carps
The title of Supreme Joy’s sophomore effort, 410,757,864,530 Dead Carps, is a numerical nightmare, but encompasses how many different sounds the Denver four-piece packed into the nine new tracks, released via fresh Denver label VOD Records on July 11.
From punk to jangle pop to new wave, the album covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time, 26 minutes.
Vocalist-guitarist Ryan Wong, guitarist Josh Colpitts, bassist Cyrena Rosario and drummer Stephen Riffert switch from synthy soundscapes, courtesy of Colpitts and Rosario, to acoustic interludes throughout. “Dead Mice” is a straight-out-the-gate burst of punk, while “Ottawa” veers more into college radio rock. It’s a trip with about 410 billion twists and turns.
Talking Point
“One Day”
Talking Point, another Fort Collins breakout band right now, treated us to a short-and-sweet sample of DIY emo on latest track, “One Day,” released on July 18.
Vocalist Jaren Samples, guitarist Matt Kennedy, drummer Ryan Hullibarger and bassist Billy Fabrocini are ramping up to release their first official LP sometime this year, but the single will have to hold you over for now.
Worst Worry
Worst Worry
One-witch project Worst Worry is the brainchild of Lafayette musician Lisa Lynn Wallace, who released her first self-titled record independently on July 22.
Wallace is no stranger to strange sound, however, as she played in London vamp-rock band Black Time (as Janie Too Bad) and “reject” riot grrrl two-piece Sexaphone.
Now as Worst Worry she’s spinning incantations through art rock and lo-fi protopunk. “Wild Boar,” “There’s A Fire, There’s A Storm” and “Moving Backwards” are fit for the coven.
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