The first listen of Haus of Sound’s new single, “Mirage,” is like walking into a room where a beautifully ornate vase has just been shattered against a wall. There's a jagged, crystalline energy here, a collision of theatrical drama and raw, modern discontent. Evolving from their 2000s tribute roots, the Everett band has synthesized the best of that era’s angst—the coiled tension of early...

You can practically smell the stale beer and sweat radiating off the opening chords. Some records ask politely for your time, but 'Talon Dance' kicks the door off its hinges and demands you listen. Decay Chain has arrived with a debut single that captures the exact feeling of being young, angry, and entirely fed up with the polished state of modern alternative music. It is a...