New album from Nihiloceros

Guitarist and singer Mike Borchardt and singer-bass player Alex Hoffman first met over a decade ago, playing in different bands between Chicago and Alaska. After they both ended up in Brooklyn, the pair formed a new sonic partnership and founded the rock outfit Nihiloceros. Inspired by late 80s and early 90s punk rock and alternative rock, the band draws influences from iconic artists such as The Replacements, Jawbreaker, Husker Du, The Violent Femmes, Fugazi and Placebo to craft their own original sound.

With the recent departure of their dear friend and longtime drummer, the trio now includes New York City punk musician Glenn Gentzke, who now powers the band’s sound on the drums. Their sonic output is built on their their shared passion for loud guitars, gripping rhythms and pop melodies, writing music that explores the imminent evolutionary unraveling of the human condition and the absurdity of the end of the world. Bringing their music alive on stage, the band has become a staple of the New York live music scene, winning over audiences with their magnetic performances.

Capturing their sound in the studio, in 2017 they shared their sound with the world via their eponymous debut record. Followed up by a string of well-received singles and EPs, they’ve also linked up with multiple other artists on collaborative tracks along the way.

Now they bring us their latest release with their new album titled Dark Ice Balloons, featuring eight tracks that present the perfect snapshot of the latest chapter in their thrilling musical story. While their 2021 EP Self Destroy addressed heavy topics during a challenging time, thematically revolving around the futility and insignificance of existence amid a global pandemic and a rapidly dying planet, Dark Ice Balloons instead glances at the places between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Venturing further towards the fringes of what they’ve sonically explored before while still maintaining their trademark style of crafting a heavy sound stitched with pop-tinged writing, the new album sees the band eschew guitar solos altogether. Opened by “Penguin Wings,” the record launches with an uptempo energy of lively guitar riffs riding splashy drums before settling into a bouncy verse capped by softly delivered vocals. Erupting into an explosive chorus, driving guitars and catchy vocal hooks collide above the punching strike of drums to craft an exciting dose of pop-focused alternative rock music.

“Killing Ghost” follows with a burst of crunching rock fervour that gives way to a more mellow vibe of clean guitar tones, shuffling drums and buoyant pop punk inflected vocals. With dynamic ebb and flow, the charging guitars return to create exhilarating moments for the choruses where instantly memorable vocal leads create an anthemic sound.

With “Krong,” intricate guitar plucks are met with pulsing bass notes and the patter of drums as commanding vocal leads serve up an infectious sound cut with slick lead guitar flutters. Other highlights on the record include songs like “Martian Wisconsin” with immediately jumps with crashing drums and gritty guitar lines before flowing into an epic jam full of energising rhythm and a superb overlapping vocal arrangement to provide a stellar showcase of the band’s knack for filtering catchy writing through a raucous rock lens.

“Halo” slows things down with a subtly melancholic scene that pairs emotionally-charged vocals with the biting aesthetic of distorted guitars, rapidly rolling drums and expressive vocal performance. Closing the album with “Purgatory (Summer Swim),” the bright twang of guitar notes and spirited drums underpin compelling vocal hooks to deliver one final display of the Nihiloceros sound to conclude their new album with an incredible finale.

Listen to Dark Ice Balloons below