Weird Nightmare

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 has all of Metz’s bite with an unexpected, yet satisfying, sweetness. Imagine The Breeders covering Big Star, or the hissy miniature epics of classic-era Guided By Voices combined with the bombast of Sugar—tons of red-line distortion cut with tunecraft that instantly thrills.

Edkins has been a mainstay of Canadian punk since the early 2010s. Metz joined the Sub Pop roster in 2012 and built an international following for their angular, hard-hitting noise punk. During the pandemic, Edkins began recording solo songs that combined Metz’s muscular sonic attack with sugary hooks and the melodic leanings of ‘90s-inspired indie rock. Using new material and older songs that didn’t fit Metz’s mold, he completed a full-length under the name Weird Nightmare, released by Sub Pop in 2022.

A few guests pitch in: Canadian alt-pop genius Chad VanGaalen adds his touch to the escalating “Oh No,” while Alicia Bognanno of Bully lends her pipes to the thrashing “Wrecked,” a song Edkins almost cut. “I sent it to Alicia and she lifted it way up,” he says.

“It doesn’t sound right to my ears until it’s pushed over the edge,” Edkins explains, citing Kim Deal and Scout Niblett as influences. “I’ve never been attracted to virtuosity or technicality. Certain songs lift your spirits like nothing else can. I wanted to create that type of song.”