Music Mailbag January 2025 

• @photosbymorgannn
• Acacia Ridge

We're about done with our first month of 2025—how is everyone feeling? No matter what your answer to that question is, it's never bad to listen to some new local music; it can only make things better. Here are some new must-listen releases to round out the first month of the year.

Casyn, "CHEMICAL": Casyn, or A Band Called Casyn, is starting the year out great with their newest single "CHEMICAL." The pop/rock group boasts high energy with a knack for cheerful tunes—and this new single is that and more. It's dripping with charm, good vibes and a full sound that will have you coming back for more. "CHEMICAL" sounds very honest and sincere, making it easy to hear the love and care that were put into the song. "CHEMICAL" has a replayability factor of a million and is perfect for any playlist.
Listen here

Frick. featured on Now That's What I Call Treason 47: Infomercials for the That's What I Call... albums have firmly cemented themselves into millennials' minds. Late at night, after our favorite shows were over and we were half asleep, we'd wake up to one of these commercials blasting at full volume. Now, hearing an album title that plays off of that nostalgia is instantly intriguing. Then, when you hear it's about the disastrous state of today's politics, it has an even greater appeal. New Jersey based label A Few Good Records has a few compilation records that comment on the political affairs of the last few years, including the precursor to their latest compilation, Now That's What I Call Treason 45.
Listen here

This new compilation switches the 45 out for 47 (unfortunately for all of us) and offers a number of scathing tracks aimed at the likes of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, as depicted on the album cover. "I can't believe I have to make another one of these," is the tagline for the album on BandCamp—and we all feel that pain.

SLC garage punk band Frick. makes an appearance on Now That's What I Call Treason 47 called "We Should All Be Afraid." It's everything you'd want from a punk song: a hard-and-fast rhythm, screaming vocals and a general "fuck you" attitude. It's a short one, clocking in at under two minutes, but that makes it easy to go back and listen to it on a loop. You can always count on Frick. to deliver the greatest punk sounds on a silver platter. The next four years are going to be rough, but at least we'll get some good music out of it (I guess?).

The Glitter Bombs, Alchemy: The Glitter Bombs exploded onto the local scene back in 2022 with their first single, before releasing their debut album Bombs Away the next year. Now in 2025, the Bombs are back with their newest album, Alchemy. "Our adventure is highlighted in this true story of a wild encounter with a real-life witch," the band says of the title track. "This punchy track channels rock-a-billy vibes that will have you hearing the Tel-Ray delay and British Analogue equalizers. With a gritty edge and catchy hooks, this song is all about the unexpected and the stories they spark. Driving rhythmic grooves, guitar to swing your hips to, and a female voice that will make you tingle—give it a listen!" If there's anything you can count on The Glitter Bombs for, it's a good time. You can have a great time with Bombs Away, and you can have an even better time with Alchemy. It's fun to follow bands as they release new music to see how they grow and change. With the Bombs, you get all of their trademark fun sprinkled in with a polish that's hard to beat. Here, they really hone in on their power-pop sound with crispy and crunchy guitar tracks, big drums that are in your face without being overwhelming, and excellent vocals. The title track is the perfect opener, starting strong with fun, witchy vibes and setting up an exciting mood for the rest of the album. Don't skip out on Alchemy, which is streaming everywhere now.
Listen here

Acacia Ridge, The Deviant Era: Sometimes all you need is some good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. There are plenty of fantastic rock bands in SLC, and Acacia Ridge makes that list. In 2019 they taught themselves how to record, and released their debut album Watch Your Monarchs Fall. Songs from that album have raked in millions of streams, and they can probably expect more of the same from their new album, The Deviant Era. Their hard rock/metalcore sounds are full and pack a punch; it's nearly impossible to not headbang to their tracks. This new album is packed to the brim with ripping guitar solos, in-your-face vocals and intense, heartfelt lyrics. Acacia Ridge also teamed up with local pop singer/songwriter Cera Gibson on a new track called "Negative Space." It's always fun to see artists genre hop and collaborate with others in the local scene. Gibson's vocals are gorgeous, and her sound lends itself well to that of Acacia Ridge. If you're in need of some heavy tunes, look no further than The Deviant Era, streaming everywhere now.
Listen here