Belmont

Belmont pulls from an unconventional array of metal, grunge, and jazz sources. Candid lyrics and a lightly dissonant texture define their 2018 self-titled debut, positioning imprints such as Jade Tree and Deep Elm as clear reference points. The determined Chicago trio ventured deeper into the fringes of pop-punk, metal, jazz fusion, hip-hop, and math rock with 2022’s Aftermath.

Vocalist Taz Johnson launched Belmont during high school alongside alumni from his earlier group. Multiple roster adjustments later gave way to a stable configuration once drummer Brian Lada, guitarist Sam Patt, and bassist Alex Wieringa joined. Months of tracking their first EP coincided with deliberate online promotion, culminating in a sell-out of the opening night on their inaugural tour inside a 250-capacity room. Vicissitude appeared as a January 2015 digital self-release and attracted Mutant League Records, the fledgling local label that signed the band and issued the follow-up EP Between You and Me the subsequent year. After heavy touring the members devoted most of 2017 to their debut album. Jason Inguagiato, a college acquaintance of Lada, engineered the sessions, participated extensively in songwriting, and was asked to stay on as second guitarist. The self-titled album arrived in August 2018 behind the advance singles “Hollowed Out” and “Albert,” reflecting an expanded stylistic range that embraced prog, hip-hop, jazz fusion, alternative rock, and metal. Those ingredients broadened further on the dynamic, forward-looking Aftermath. Andrew Wade, whose credits include A Day to Remember and Neck Deep, produced the set, marking Belmont’s first release for Pure Noise.