As we approach the end of the year we’ll have less and less new music. However, this is still a pretty stacked week that I can’t wait to check out!
Neil Young: Before and After
So, this was already a difficult review for me. After Young’s Spotify boycott nearly two years ago, he is about the only one from it that has still kept his music off the streaming giant. Because of that I have had to resort to YouTube and near constant ads. So, this review will probably be half-assed, like Neil’s approach to bringing his music to his fans is.
If you are a fan of Neil, I’m sure you’ll like this. His distinctive vocal style and folky/Americana playing are not for everyone, but it’s definitely a good listen. It’s a solo acoustic album, so if you aren’t into his vocals or style, this certainly won’t change your mind! I have to admit, as good as it was, it didn’t take me long to get bored of it. It’s 16 tracks long, and while most are short, ‘Before and After’ is split into two 11-minute parts. Having said that, they were probably my favourite tracks on the album, given how well they were written lyrically.
It’s a lot of the same thing. If you’re into that and enjoy this, awesome. It’s not particularly my thing, though. I prefer at least a bit of the album to be somewhat upbeat, not all slower country/folk ballads. 4/10
Bernie Marsden: Working Man
I’ve done too many posthumous reviews this year, but sadly here is another. The Whitesnake legend sadly passed earlier this year, but had recorded an album before then. Let’s check it out.
Honestly, I’ll let it off for being long. Being his final release, I feel like this is everything he had, laid out bare for his fans. It’s pretty glorious. An hour and a half of stomping, fun blues rock spread across 22 great tracks. Honestly, there isn’t a bad one across the release, but songs like ‘Being Famous’, ‘Bad Reputation’ and the very 80s glam ‘Look at me Now’ are all personal highlights. Also, Jamie Kyle does an incredible job on ‘Invisible’, it having a very Whitesnake vibe to it!
I have to admit, I do prefer the more upbeat tracks on the album, as I’m sure you can tell from my highlights. And there was certainly a lot of slower stuff on here. However, I found myself enjoying them a lot too. They range from anything from easy listening to straight up, Cats in Space-like AOR ballads. It’s a fantastic, rather chilled-out album for the most part, and it’s such a shame that it wasn’t released until after his passing. 8/10
Bad Touch: Bittersweet Satisfaction
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Find our full review of it here!
Swarf Damage: Self-Titled
It feels like it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been sent some thrash metal, so this was a lot of fun to listen to. Plus, the crossover elements never hurt! It’s got a real old-school 80s vibe to it that a think a lot of modern thrash is honestly lacking a little in these days. The riffing is awesome and the vocals even have a bit of young Hetfield to them, though a tad more harsh and hardcore. The whole sound is definitely the perfect blend of early Metallica, Slayer and Suicidal Tendancies.
If you’re a thrash fan or just a heavy metal fan at all, this is definitely an album for you! Tracks like ‘Sin Eater’, ‘Father’ and the ‘Whiplash’-like ‘Batten Down the Hatches’ are all awesome and massive highlights. My only wish is that it had just a touch of variety. I know that’s not really what thrash does, and there were definitely some different tempos throughout. However, Evile’s album earlier this year showed just how fantastic getting slower and darker can be for the genre. Still though, it’s an amazing album, even more-so as a debut! These guys are going to go far in the heavy scene if this is any indication. It’s easily an 8.5/10 from me!
Uncle Lucius: It’s the Last One Left
The funky/blues/soul/roots/country band are back after their five-year hiatus with a brand new album for the world! Honestly, I’ve gotten into this music a lot recently, and I LOVED this release. It’s a chilled out, fun, fantastic release. I love the swaggering, attitude-filled New Orleans blues-jazz feel it has to it all, especially when it’s got so many different components to the band. Between the typical rock band instruments, the organ and piano, fiddle and plenty of backing vocals, it fills out the sound and makes it all sound massive.
Tracks like ‘Civilized Anxiety’, ‘Holy Roller’ and the beautiful, epic closer ‘Heart Over Mind’ are all huge personal highlights of mine. However, the whole album is solid and packed full of amazing songs. I am so glad the band are back, their music is too good to be without. And honestly, they picked up right where they left off. For anyone into any of the genres I mentioned up above, you NEED to check out this album, it’s phenomenal. 9/10
Atreyu: The Beautiful Dark of Life
This album has been a long time coming. We’ve had three EPs released by them, starting from April, all building up and being featured on this one album. Because of this, I have somehow managed to avoid all of the tracks until now. But, with 15 tracks spanning 50 minutes, we’re in for another big review!
What stands out immediately is that the order is all mixed up. I feel like a lot of bands would just put the EPs down on the album one by one and then add the extra tracks at the front or the end. However, these are all spread out between, keeping it more interesting. I also love that they’ve taken a colour and element from each EP to make up the album artwork. Stuff like that is so insanely creative and honestly makes the work that much better, in my opinion.
As for the music itself, a lot of it is very typical modern Atreyu. It’s very similar to the ultra-polished radio-metalcore of their last album. That isn’t an issue at all, though. Tracks like ‘Capital F’, ‘Watch Me Burn’, ‘Immortal’ and ‘Gone’ are all great metalcore songs. And while there isn’t a bad track on the album, it’s all just a little samey. Even the more ballad tracks channelled a similar energy and sound. And none of it quite hits the heights of ‘Underrated’, ‘Catastrophe’ or even something like ‘Congregation of the Damned’. Still, it’s a damn good album, and I’ll certainly be listening to it again! 8/10