Mutants Records is the new label wing launched by some of the folks behind Arkansas’ Mutants Fest, or Mutants of the Monster, as you might know it. The fest is set for the first weekend in June — Suplecs are playing, along with Deadbird, Intercourse, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, and so on — and by then the imprint will have its first two releases out.

Between the two, Coachlight‘s Emerge will probably be more of a stylistic surprise to anyone going in knowing the label and fest’s association with Rwake, whose guitarist Austin Sublett also features in Coachlight. It’s a sharp, melodic and modern-in-its-expanse heavy metal, proggy in its chug, and fun in the breakdowns which by now are classic metal but still sound like ‘newer’ bands to my old ass. The band released it digitally last year, and it streams in full below.

For The Body, there’s just a snippet to go on, but if I told you it was noisy-as-fuck crimescene doom, would you be surprised? Less and Less Meaning was recorded in 2014 at Wolfman Studios in Little Rock. I saw them that Spring in Boston (review here) and they hit with eardrum-bursting force. Based on that personal experience, I sincerely doubt the LP to come will do anything to dull their reputation for extremity.

Both releases are set for Good Friday, April 10, and I’ve been treated to a few other names Mutants Records will be working with and what I’ll say is the stylistic divergence between these two isn’t a coincidence and that the mind expansion will continue until morale improves, and perhaps even then. So much the better.

From social media and the Mutants Records store linked below:

Over the past year our team (JP, CT, and Sammy) decided we wanted to start making records. We put a lot of love and hard work into this, and hope that y’all enjoy it as much as we do. More records to come!

http://Mutantsrecords.bigcartel.com

Coachlight – Emerge
RELEASED 4/10/26.

With punishing riffs and otherworldly soundscapes, Coachlight’s album Emerge unleashes a maelstrom of sonic forces that takes the listener on a journey through the dark side of progressive metal.

Emerge marks the debut of vocalist Jillian Carter who lures the listener in with ethereal singing before delivering fierce, unrelenting and guttural roars. Coachlight is a well-oiled machine, powered by driving rhythms and infectious grooves.

Coachlight guitarist Austin Sublett also plays with Rwake.

Metallic Vinyl – Limited to 300

The Body – Less and Less Meaning
RELEASED 4/10/26.

This is sound of being in a room with The Body, as the walls close in and the aural nightmare begins. Recorded live in front of a small audience in Little Rock, AR in 2014.

Lee Buford’s pummeling drums crash through a wall of noise and samples as Chip King’s punishing guitar and blood-curdling screams blow your mind to the back of your skull. This is as close as it gets to the experience of a live The Body show. This is a vinyl-only release.

Magenta Variant – limited to 200
Black Vinyl – limited to 300

https://mutantsrecords.bigcartel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mutantsfest/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057305925445

Coachlight, Emerge (2025)

The Body, Less and Less Meaning snippet