Video: HEALTH – “Stonefist”

HEALTH have released a video for a radio edit of "Stonefist" off their new album Death Magic. I already shared the audio stream multiple times so you know how I feel about the song and band but just in case you missed it, or still need some convincing, maybe this clip will push you over the edge. Directed by NAKED FACES, “Stonefist” sees the band undergoing plastic surgery to both humorous and disastrous effect.

Listen: HEALTH – “DEATH MAGIC” LP

I’ve been praising HEALTH for years and come next week when the LA band releases their new LP, Death Magic, I’m fairly certain many others will finally take notice. Death Magic follows in stride with the direction the band has been moving towards for the better part of the last five years. The collection of songs is infinitely more poppy and the electronics are more prominent then on Get Color. This version of HEALTH probably has most in common with “USA Boys” or “Tears” and for better or worse tones down on the noise elements found on earlier works. I’ve heard the record a whole lot in the last five days and love it but my personal tastes wish a little bit more of the noise was retained or even sustained in the songs that do go down that road and from past recordings. The record is well sequenced with songs, not directly flowing into the next per say, but more so rhythmically or sonically. If you don’t like what you hear in the first four songs then this record isn’t for as it’s a killer lead-in as far as these things go and offers a good blend of poppy HEALTH vs. noisy HEALTH.

Studio engineering comes from the Haxan Cloak, Mars Volta engineer Lars Stalfors, and longtime Kanye West engineer Andrew Dawson which only adds list of things that will make the record more high profile then anything the band has done before. It’s well deserved, the record is great and they are always amazing live so do yourself a favor, if you like what you hear, make sure to catch them next time they are in your town.

On a final note I hope the band continue with their tradition of releasing a remix album for this record as well, they always have really interesting people tinkering with their songs, often to great results and possibly even acting as inspiration or a stepping stone for where the band sonically finds themselves today. DEATH MAGIC is out August 7th.

DEATH MAGIC Tracklist: 01. VICTIM 02. STONEFIST 03. MEN TODAY 04. FLESH WORLD (UK) 05. COURTSHIP II 06. DARK ENOUGH 07. LIFE 08. SALIVA 09. NEW COKE 11. L.A. LOOKS 11. HURT YOURSELF 12. DRUGS EXIST
 

Listen: HEALTH - "Stonefist"

Back in April I mentioned that HEALTH would be releasing a new LP on August 7th titled Death Magic. First single, “New Coke,” pushed forward with the LA noise group’s more dance oriented sound, but that should come as no surprise as they’ve been aggressively going that direction for quite some time now. “Stonefist” follows in those same footsteps with its immediately catchy pulsating rhythms and sharp sterile stabs that really has become something that defines the band’s sound. Whatever the case it’s another awesome tune from the group who I’ll be checking out again this Thursday when they roll into town to preview the new material live.

As a reminder Death Magic will see some studio engineering from the Haxan Cloak, Mars Volta engineer Lars Stalfors, and longtime Kanye West engineer Andrew Dawson and is coming out via Loma Vista.

Video: HEALTH - “New Coke”

Fuck yeah! I love me some HEALTH and the L.A. band have finally announced Death Magic, their first studio album since 2009's Get Color. The record will be released on August 7 via Loma Vista and with the announcement comes a new song and video for "New Coke.” As with most things HEALTH the experience can be a tense one, the clip was directed by the bands own John Famiglietti and the song checks off all those boxes that make HEALTH one of my favorite bands, ghostly vocals, interesting rhythms, thoughtful breakdowns and more. 

Death Magic will see some studio engineering from the Haxan Cloak, Mars Volta engineer Lars Stalfors, and longtime Kanye West engineer Andrew Dawson, I’ve started counting down the days till this drops already.