Weird Nightmare, Sham Family, Only God Forgives

If you're looking for a raw, sugary blast of distorted pop, look no further than Weird Nightmare. The debut album from METZ guitarist and vocalist Alex Edkins contains all of his main band’s bite with an unexpected, yet totally satisfying, sweetness. Imagine The Amps covering Big Star, or the gloriously hissy miniature epics of classic-era GBV combined with the bombast of Copper Blue-era Sugar—tons of red-line distortion cut with the type of tunecraft that thrills the moment it hits your ears. 

These 10 songs showcase a new side of Edkins’ songwriting. Weird Nightmare is, in its own way, a study in extremes: Edkins’ melodic instincts and penchant for dissonance are both turned up to the max throughout, reflecting not only the barn-burning tendencies of METZ, but Alex’s own melodic and sonic predilections. A few guests pitch in on the album: Canadian alt-pop genius Chad VanGaalen adds his unmistakable touch to the ever-escalating “Oh No,” while Alicia Bognanno of Bully lends her distinctive pipes to the thrashing “Wrecked.” 

Taking risks and reaching out of Edkins’ comfort zone was the name of the game when it came to making Weird Nightmare. “I found myself doing new things I didn’t have the guts to do before, recording everything by myself and trusting all of my musical instincts,” he states. “When it’s a purely instinctual creation, there’s no opportunity to obscure the truth.”