A pretty stacked week of New Music Mondays this week. Featuring everything from prog metal to hard rock to country, and everything in between. Check it out with us!
Corey Taylor: CMF2
Corey Mother Fucking Two-Lor is an interesting release. Controversially, I quite enjoyed his first solo album. Sure, it wasn’t without its flaws and swing-and-misses. However, it took risks and was interesting, never lingering on one sound or even genre for too long. It was damn ambitious, whether it payed off or not. This, however, might as well be the next Stone Sour release. Actually no, it’s half Hydrograd, half retreads of the previous album. Tracks like ‘Post Traumatic Blues’ and ‘Beyond’ are straight up new-school Stone Sour songs. There are a few with a punky edge much like ‘Samantha’s Gone’.
Having said all of that, there is a lot of good on this album still. While the vocal melodies and darker, slower theme is ripped straight from multiple HOGAB tracks, it’s a sick song! The one-two punch of the opening two heavier tracks is awesome and a definite highlight. The surprisingly country ballad ‘Breath of Fresh Smoke’ is one of my favourite tracks he’s ever done. However, there isn’t the rap metal of ‘CMFT Must Be Stopped’ or the smoky jazz of ‘The Maria Fire’. While there are good tracks on the album, none are standout. The fun seems to have been lost a little. Unfortunately, outside of those four tracks, ‘forgettable’ springs to mind. Good music, but very similar to Hydrograd in the meh category. 6.5/10
P.S. gotta be a contender for worst album art of the year.
Barenaked Ladies: In Flight
Even slower, older Barenaked Ladies is still damn good Barenaked Ladies. This is definitely not the same sort of band that wrote ‘One Week’ or everyone’s favourite TV theme. However, if anything, it brings out the bands wide variety of influences and sounds more. Whether it’s country, folk, blues or soul, there is so much more to this acoustic rock than on the surface.
There are so many highlights too, from ‘One Night’ to ‘Fifty for a While’ to ‘What Do We Need?’. Really, isn’t a bad track on the album. And the dynamic of the three vocalists and double bass just injects everything with so much fun. My only slight issue is that it’s maybe a tad too long for it all being a similar slowish tempo and stripped-back sound. Still though, it’s hard to complain about it when it’s all this high quality! 8/10
Thirty Seconds to Mars: It’s the End of the World but it’s a Beautiful Day
I’m sorry, but what the hell is this crap? Other than hilarious, of course. I was a BIG fan of the first two 30STM albums as a kid, you know, back when they still made something that resembled rock music. This is a pop album through and through. It’s honestly like Jared Leto saw what Adam Levine did in Maroon 5 and went ‘I can do a worse version of that!’. The closest thing to ‘rock’ is when the band blatantly rip off Imagine Dragons on tracks like ‘Life is Beautiful’ . There is no redeeming value in this album at all, and it was honestly a struggle to listen to. Leto’s god complex has finally gotten too much, and it’s starting to tarnish his early, great legacy. 1.5/10
Brothers Osborne: Self-Titled
One of my favourite country artists is finally back with their first new album since 2020. I’ve been a fan of the band since their debut album, and four albums on they are still knocking it out of the park. The musicianship and songwriting talents of the two is off the charts, with the guitar-playing in particular being incredible, a rare sight in todays country music outside of Zac Brown. And the harmonies the two produce are incredible too, adding even more to the big choruses.
It’s another album chocked full of amazing tracks, but songs like ‘Who Says you Can’t Have Everything’, ‘Might as Well be Me’, ‘Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That’ and the emotional piano closer are all amazing. The band have refined their sound down to a tee with this release, and with single ‘Nobody’s Nobody’ pushing to be one of the biggest they’ve done, the band are about to be pushed into the upper echelons of country bands! 9/10
Baroness: STONE
I don’t think I get Baroness. I don’t know why I thought the band were more doom/stonery than they are, not a more Dance Gavin Dance-like Mastadon, with an indie/folk tinge. Musically they’re fine, the playing is great. However, something about the vocals, be it the sound or the Lour Reed/punk style delivery, really didn’t capture me. Sure, tracks like ‘Beneath the Rose’ and ‘Shine’ shine through (yes, that was intentional) despite it, but as an album it didn’t hold my attention for long. I completely understand why this band has a big fanbase, but I’m sadly not among it. 4/10
Danko Jones: Electric Sounds
This is a fucking awesome album. I LOVE Danko, his straight-to-the-point nature and songwriting is awesome. Everything is a foot-stomping rock anthem drenched in sweat, booze and punk, and somehow the lyrics come off fun and engaging when he sings them, when under almost anyone else they could boarder into cringe. That’s very much the point of not only this album, but his entire discography: it’s fun. Right from the first few seconds of the album, his voice rings through with ‘Guess who’s back, me mother fucker!’ and sets up the tone for the rest of the album perfectly.
It’s almost impossible to pick out highlights of the album, as there isn’t a bad track on it. The singles were a perfect selection, as I love all three so much. However, tracks like ‘I Like It’ and ‘Shake Your City’ are awesome as well. Plus, if ‘She’s My Baby’ doesn’t become a meme at this point, it’ll be a travesty. It’s one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve heard in a while, just feel-good, straight-up rock music. I can’t give it any less than 10/10
Otep: The God Slayer
I find myself uttering a familiar question again… What the hell is this? I’m quite a fan of a good few Otep tracks, but I’ve never had the chance to listen to a full album. Are they always like this? Over half covers and the rest 2edgy4u gothic NIN-style industrial ‘metal’ that leans heavily on bad hip-hop?
It’s a shame too, as the album actually starts pretty well. The creepy intro leading into the awesome ‘Ostracized’ is pretty terrible rendition of Olivia Rodrigo’s hit ‘Good 4 U’ and the awful trap-style ‘Exit Wounds’. Heck, her cover of Billie Eilish’s ‘You Should See Me in a Crown’ is actually amazing, adding a new interesting and dynamic take on an already well written track. Following it, however, are terrible covers of Eminem, Nirvana and Slipknot. All emotion is lost from the line delivery of ‘Way I Am’, while the slightly slower pace from the drums on the other two takes all intensity and fun out of them. Oh, and ‘California Girls’, ‘Pet’ and the closing poem are all also pretty bad.
One good track to start the album that got me hyped up and then let down by the entire rest of the album. It’s a shame, as at least the other albums I’m a fan of two or three tracks. Oh well, 2.5/10 from me.
Dan + Shay: Bigger Houses
If you’re into the modern, stadium-pop-country style that has become prominent in recent years, you’ll love this. However, even if you don’t, it’s hard not to really like this album. The duo’s fifth album continues right where Good Things left off, providing listeners with chilled-out tracks, stadium-filling choruses, and some of the best harmonies in music as a whole today. I feel like I’d be typing up every track name on the album if I tried to talk highlights, as once again there isn’t really a bad track on it. It won’t be for everyone, certainly not in terms of our readers, but I personally loved this. I’ll definitely be listening to it a lot in the coming weeks and months. 8.5/10
Hyro The Hero: Bound for Glory
The rap metaller is back with his first album in half a decade. After working with some of the biggest and best names in rock and metal for singles over the last few years, his stock has risen pretty massively, so there’s a lot of hype around this album. Heck, if you’ve been keeping up with the releases over the last few years, you’ll have heard a good chunk of this album already. His last five singles, featuring the likes of David Drainman, Chad Grey and Spencer Charnas, are all on the album. On top of that, A further three were released prior to the album. I have to say, I’ve never been the biggest of fans of hearing most of the album before it’s dropped, especially over the last three years.
Having said that, it’s still a damn good album. I’ve been a big fan of ‘FU2’, ‘Retaliation Generation’ and ‘Fight’ for a while now, and the new songs add to them perfectly. Tracks like ‘I’m So Sick’, ‘Sho Nuff’ and the RATM tribute ‘Renegade of Punk’ are all amazing additions. There are a LOT of guests on this album, which odes sometimes feel a bit overshadowing of Hyro himself. However, some of his bars are incredible, his lyric writing is better than ever and when he goes full Fever333 or Stray From the Path, it’s fucking awesome. 8/10 a great album that will surely push him to being an even bigger name in the scene!
TesseracT: War of Being
A band that I haven’t really had time to check out until now, and am currently sat here kicking myself because of that fact. The prog metal mainstays are very clearly masters of their craft. Opening track ‘Natural Disaster’ is perfect as it introduces each element of the bands sound and style, condensed into a rather surprising six minutes. Big riffs, technical playing, huge clean choruses and brutally crushing screams and heaviness is all here and all dialled up to 11. And that’s just the first song!
The highlight of the album is the prog masterpiece of the title track, for me. At 11 minutes, it’s the longest song on the album, and all the parts and dynamics of it are so good. From the heavy, Gojira-like opening riff to the slow build of quieter stuff back into the chuggahs to some of the most interesting riff-to-drum playing I’ve heard in years, it’s amazing. Everything from the vocal delivery to the drums to the guitaring and bass is amazing, and it’s all produced together masterfully.
There are another seven tracks on the album outside of the two I’ve mentioned, and all are good. In fact, ‘Echos’ and the funky ‘Burden’ are also big album highlights. If you’re into the prog side of metal, you’ll love this. It arguably blows the latest Periphery album out of the water, it’s that good. 8.5/10, great stuff!
Pretenders: Relentless
Charlotte: Rock royalty Chrissie Hynde drew new attention after a surprise performance at Glastonbury this year alongside Dave Grohl and Johnny Marr, and the release of ‘Relentless’ by Pretenders adds 12 songs to their roster of classics. Challenging the modern sound and taste of today’s charts, the album fights the status quo and explores chord progressions, melodic ballads, and gritty rock. 7/10
Electric Boys: Grand Explosivos
A band that should be much bigger than they are, the Swedish funky rock band are back with their eighth studio album. I’ve been a big fan of the band since seeing them at a HRH a few of years ago, so have been excited for this one. And honestly, it’s more of the typical awesomeness. Right from the amazing opening track, ‘When Life Treats You Funky’, I was hooked in right until the final note of the album. The bluesy riffs are a massive highlight as always, but as is the great songwriting and the somehow both fun-loving yet swaggering attitude throughout. Other highlight tracks include ‘Domestic Blitz’, ‘The Great Believer’ and ‘Learjet’. This album is a boatload of fun and if anyone is into rock or funk at all you’ll love this. 9/10