A pretty huge week for new music this week, and the surprise debut of another author for y’all! My fiance, Jade, has wanted to contribute for months now, and has finally found the courage and time to do so! So, join us as we check out everything from country to hard rock to death metal!

Jason Aldean: Highway Desperado

My wonderful fiancé Jade even helped out this week with the reviews. She isn’t a writer but you can check out her semi-coherent ramblings of her review of this album here!

Bad Wolves: Die About It

Joe: The Californian metal band are back with their fourth album and second with DL fronting the band instead of Tommy Vext. Thankfully the mess surround Vext seems to have calmed down the last couple of years, and the band are much better off without him. However, in terms of the music, much like their last album, it’s kinda meh. There are definite highlights, like the heavy, hip-hop inspired title track and ‘Move On’. However, the mid-tempo Godsmack ripoffs ‘Legends Never Die’ and ballad ‘It’s You’ come across as more cringy than empowering, and never quite hit that high gear that I feel the band and songs have in them.

I have the same criticism of this album as I did the last, and honestly it has become more evident and more of an issue since. There really isn’t much to this album and the vast majority fades into the background; generic radio-rock white-noise with little of intrigue outside of the odd big chorus or scream. And at 13 full tracks, it’s long, too. It’s harmless radio music, and if you like it awesome. But for me, it’s a big meh. 4/10

Gypsy Pistoleros: Duende A Go Go Loco

We’ve already reviewed this awesome album! Check it out here!

The Struts: Pretty Vicious

Joe: Time for some local boys now! I’ve known The Struts years now, having played with them with my old band back in the day, so to see them rise to such hights is truly amazing. That being said, I somehow missed out on their last album, and haven’t listened to YOUNG&DANGEROUS all too much. Still, I would still call myself a fan, and am excited to check this album out with all of you!

It’s alright! ‘Too Good at Raising Hell’ is a great track and the perfect opener. ‘I Won’t Run’ is a good ballad. Single ‘Rockstar’ is a fun track that would go down well. However, overall, it’s a slow album. I get that they are a softer/classic rock band, but there isn’t really anything on here that reminiscent of ‘Kiss This’ or ‘Could have Been Me’. That energy, passion and fire doesn’t quite feel as present as it is in their earlier work. I get that that’s typically what happens, and that bands change their sound over time generally. However, that doesn’t mean I have to be a fan of it.

It’s not a bad album, by any stretch. There will be plenty who like this. But it’s not their best work and I personally got kinda bored after ‘Rockstar’/’Remember the Name’. It will hopefully grow on me going forward, because I doubt this will be my last listen. But I’m not going out of my way to check this out again outside of a couple of songs. 5/10

Jimmy Buffett: Equal Strain on All Parts

Joe: Another devastating post-humorous review of another country legend, now. It feels like only the other day that I was doing Kenny Rodgers’ last, awesome album, and now another legend has departed us and left a final release in the pipeline ready.

Jimmy Buffett’s final album is a fantastic, easy listening/country/blues release. Opening on the New Orleans-inspired ‘University of Bourbon Street’ was a great call, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band add so much awesomeness to the track. It almost had an air of Randy Newman to it. Quicker, bouncier tracks like ‘My Gummie Just Kicked in’ and ‘Fish Porn’ are so much fun, and showed that Buffett was still at the top of his game after all these years. Meanwhile, slower songs like single ‘Bubbles Up’ and ‘Equal Strain on Both Parts’ are beautiful and incredibly well crafted. Every single guest on the tracks does amazingly too, complimenting Jimmy’s playing, vocals and writing perfectly.

If anyone’s a fan of the old-school country style, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! What a phenomenal send-off for a true legend. 9/10

Green Lung: This Heathan Land

Jade: ‘Prologue’ feel like the kind of introduction you get before going on a rollercoaster. It transitions straight into the second track ‘The Forest Church’ which straight away reminds me of Ghost, but with a doom feel. ‘Mountain Throne’ has slightly heavier vocals some cool guitar solos. I really love the use of keys in ‘Maxine (witch queen)’. ‘One for Sorrow’ goes from absolute filth to the most bewitching beauty back to an almost breakdown towards the end. Their next track, ‘Song of Stones’ has an almost Celtic feel, or even something performed by a bard. Next goes straight into ‘The Ancient Ways’ which is very power metal with the lingering doom. ‘Hunters in the Sky’ has a very similar feel, but with some very impressive vocals. Finally, ‘Oceans of Time’ closes the album on a more synthy, futuristic feel, which is very fitting for the track title.

Overall, I have very much enjoyed this Album. I haven actually heard of this band before this release so as first reaction I am very much in love. The band’s claims to doom is definitely there, but maybe more as a base layer to this album. I found that each track was hitting more power metal or even more of a melodic folk feel. One or two of the tracks felt a bit too dragged out and samey, though. I started to feel like if I skipped half way through I wouldn’t miss anything. But, if you enjoy long instrumentals in every song then it’s definitely for you! All in all I’m really impressed, I can’t wait to see what they do next. 9/10

Suffocation: Hymns From the Apocrypha

Joe: The New York-based death metal band returned with their ninth album this last week. The first new music the band have put out in over six years, the band prove they have not lost a step; going just as hard and heavy as they always have. Right from the opening notes of the title track, this album has you by the balls and doesn’t let go for its full 40+ minute runtime. It’s fucking awesome. If you’re into the heavy stuff, you’ll love this. Tracks like ‘Perpetual Deception’ and ‘Descendants’ are personal highlights, but honestly the whole album is pretty killer. 7.5/10

Dirty Honey: Can’t Find the Brakes

Joe: The LA hard rock band have found a hell of a lot of success in recent years, a lot of it off the back of their debut album in 2021. Now, having just release their oft-difficult second album, will it live up to the lofty expectations set by their previous release? I’m a fan of the band so let’s take a look and find out!

It’s exactly what you’d expect from the band, and it’s fantastic. Swaggering blues rock with plenty of catchy, awesome vocals. They fit in so well with the ever growing classic rock renaissance, be it in the US with the aforementioned Struts or LA Maybe, or the UK’s burgeoning NWOCR scene.

‘Don’t Put Out the Fire’ is the perfect opening track, building slowly though its five minute runtime. The lower verses lead to HUGE, full choruses, and the vocal harmonies throughout are a huge highlight. Meanwhile single ‘Won’t Take Me Alive’ has a higher pace throughout. The main riff is an awesome, stomping blues one that the vocals fit perfectly over the top. And the chorus is another stadium-filling, massive one. Marc LaBelle almost has a bit of Robert Plant/Joshua Kiszka about his vocal delivery. Tracks like ‘Get a Little High’ and ‘Can’t Find the Breaks’ are also massive highlights of the album.

Overall, as said before, it’s a very good album. If you are into any of the genres I’ve mentioned already, I’d highly recommend checking this band out. I honestly believe they are the future of the scene, they’re that good. 8.5/10

Escape From Wonderland: Pieces

Another awesome album we’ve already reviewed in full! Check it out, here.

Serenity: Nemesis AD

Joe: some great power/heavy metal up next. The whole album has a real grandiose, epic feel to it, lead by the heavy use of strings and synths. However, there are plenty of big guitar riffs and impressive drumming and awesome soloing to keep metalheads happy, too. They remind me of anything from Nightwish to Alestorm to Beast in Black. Tracks like ‘Ritter, Tod und Teufel’, ‘Sun of Justice’ and ‘Crowned by an Angel’ are all huge highlights of a really stellar album. Plus, ‘Soldiers Under the Cross’ is one of the most beautiful, emotional ballads I’ve ever heard. It has a folk element to it which I loved, and it alone has made me a massive fan of this band.

If you’re into the more epic side of rock and metal, I highly recommend you checking this album and band out. I’d never heard of them before but they have certainly won me over with this release. Hopefully they play near me soon, as I have to hear this live! 8.5/10

Silent Planet: SUPERBLOOM

Joe: In my review of the band’s last album, 2021’s Iridescent, I wrote “It was okay, I guess. I wouldn’t say it was anything special either, though. All the tracks were just kind of there, and very little (if anything) stood out to me”. (You can check it out here). Honestly, I kinda feel the exact same about this new release. I really wanted to like it, because I like metalcore and the heavier side of it. But nothing really caught my ear throughout the whole album. It just felt like a dull wall of noise. ‘Collider’ was the best of a bad batch.

I simply do not get this band. I completely understand there are lots out there that do, and if you like the album then more power to you! But it’s not for me. 3.5/10

Jaime Wyatt: Feel Good

Joe: A nice, chilled out country album to finish things this week. The outlaw country/Americana artist is on her third album now, and it may be her most impressive, expansive release yet. ‘World Worth Keeping’ is the perfect tone-setter, having elements of all of her sounds and influences, as well as a slight tinge of that New Orleans jazz/blues again. It’s an easy album highlight. The same could be said for fun, upbeat tracks like ‘Back to the Country’ and ‘Fugitive’. It’s a style I don’t hear too often, especially pulled off this well. Meanwhile slower tracks like ‘Hold me One Last Time’ are beautiful and as much an album highlight as the other songs.

Honestly, I’ve listened to this album a lot since I first got it sent through a week or two ago. It’s such an easy listen, 11 songs at 45 minutes and just fun, beautiful, chilled out country-Americana. What’s not to love? This is an awesome album and Jaime deserves every bit of fame and praise that she gets, and then some! 9/10