When I was a teenager, I was always a proponent of local music. When local bands put out music, I always made sure I got a copy.

Being a part of a local music scene now made me realize why I acted that way as a youth: local music creates and identifies what it is like to live in a certain town at a certain time.

That being said, DeKalb is a beacon of local music from as far west as the state goes all the way to the collar counties and Chicago. Luckily for us, this boom in local music is going to deliver us a handful of releases within the upcoming months. Here are a few albums that will be dropping hopefully before the year closes.

The prolific powerviolence act Sick/Tired have a split seven-inch record coming out with Oxbaker from Ontario, Canada. Titled “Death Amuses Me,” it should be out in November. They will also be putting out their own seven-inch on Cowabunga records, entitled “Busted Outlook” around the same time. Expect each release to feature some insane grind/powerviolence like only Sick/Tired can provide.

Sick/Tired’s guitar player Ben “Gonzo” Gonzales will also be releasing a split cassette tape (under his Gonzo Violence moniker) with Deterioration from Minneapolis. Recorded at Apothica Studios in Batavia, this self-released split should be out before the end of the year. Expect your ears to fall off.

DeKalb’s local troublemakers Hasta Lumbago are putting out a three-song EP by the end of November. Tentatively titled “Racecar,” it was recorded at “Bastard Studios” in DeKalb by Leo and Brad. Guitarist Hayden Hallgren tells us to expect three “fairly different feeling songs,” and knowing these guys it could be anything from drone rock to funk.

Local dudes Danger Boy have an EP coming out as well in November or December of this year. Still untitled as of now, it was recorded by Daniel Good at Chrome Attic in Crystal Lake. Songwriter Alex Beach tells us to expect “3 ska songs, and 3 not-so-ska songs. Also, expect a fun release show!”

Last but not least, MZRCDXVL will be putting more of their demos to tape and giving them a proper release this year. All of it was recorded at the Seventh Street practice space in DeKalb by frontman Mike Miller. Titled “Murder He Wrote,” expect some loud, brutal noise metal. Also, expect some of the coolest cover art possible.

So, all of these releases should be coming out around the same time, so get out there, support your local bands and become a part of something bigger than yourself.