In this episode of the Books of Some Substance podcast, Nick chats with Alex Edkins of the Toronto punk band METZ on the day that their latest record, Atlas Vending, came out. Alex highlighted J.G. Ballard’s High-Rise as a favorite, so we talk through the psychological, inner-space prophecies of the book and relate it back to our current technology-saturated landscape.  Spoiler alert: we are all animals and the internet isn’t exactly helping.

METZ’s latest full-length, Atlas Vending, is available now via Sub Pop Records. Listening to it might just provide enough cathartic release to prevent you and your fellow trendsetting urban condo-owners from sliding back into a lawless, primitive existence and reveling in constant acts of hedonism and violence. No promises, though — results may vary.