It’s gonna be a tough week for any album on this list, releasing on the same day as the musical megastar Taylor Swift. I won’t be reviewing that album but I have checked it out. It’s the same boring, slow, atmospheric nothingness that her last few albums have been. I’m a fan of her first few albums, but this lowest-common-denominator ’pop’ music is not for me. But hell, here are a few albums that hopefully will be!
Pearl Jam: Dark Matter
While the band’s insane pricing for their 2024 UK tour still leaves a sour taste in my mouth regarding the band, I’m still a fan of their music, and this album is no exception. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve always been the most boring of the ‘Grunge Big 4’ to me, and this is no different. It’s straight-forward rock music with a bit more fuzz and heavy blues to it. But it certainly isn’t bad. I’d heard the single and title track before the album was released and it remains a firm highlight of it. Other highlights include ‘Waiting for Stevie’, the punky ‘Running’ and the chilled ballad ‘Something Special’. It’s nothing new from the band, however, and while I certainly wouldn’t put it up against their early albums, I wouldn’t say it’s above their previous one or Lightening Bolt, either. It’s not a bad album, and is a fun, relaxed rock listen. However, it does feel a tad like the band are going through the motions, releasing an album for the sake of it. I’d honestly put it up there with Vedder’s last solo album, so this gets an easy 7/10 from me!
The Ghost Inside: Searching for Solace
These always seem like the lost modern metalcore band to me. I see their name everywhere, know they’re getting big and are supposed to be great, but I’ve never found the time to check them out. That changes today, given that this is their first album since 2020 so the first one I’ve been able to review!
Honestly, it’s pretty good. However, at the same time, I’m kinda okay with the fact that I’ve not listened to them really until now. They are parts of an incredibly popular, rather saturated genre these days, and I wouldn’t say it did anything out of the ordinary or all that interesting. As I said, I’m not particularly familiar with the band, so they may have pioneered the sound that has since been made hugely popular by the likes of Bad Omens and even BMTH to an extend. However, as most likely a new listener to the band with this album, it’s good, often-times great, metalcore that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. I found myself, like usual recently, gravitating to the all-out heavy tracks like ‘Death Grip’, ‘Wrath’ and ‘Split’. That’s not to say the cleaner, lighter, poppier parts and songs aren’t good, and I’d argue they are done much better by Ghost Inside than by Bad Omens, but the style is done so much recently that it kinda bores me now.
I completely see the appeal of this band. They are playing a very ‘in’ style of metal these days and they do it incredibly well. There are a few tracks that I love on here and I certainly wouldn’t turn off the album if it came on again. But it does feel more like a collection of a few songs I love mixed with a few I’d happily never listen to again. If you are a fan of modern metalcore, I’m sure you’ll love this. I’ve seen plenty of love for it already on social media, in fact. It’s not bad at all and is objectively great. But for me, it’s no I Prevail; it doesn’t quite reach that upper echelon of modern metalcore for me. 8/10
My Dying Bride: A Mortal Binding
Yorkshire’s own premier doom metal band are back with their first new album in four years. I’m a relatively new fan of the band, but really loved this album! ‘Her Dominion’ is such a perfect opener, setting up the heaviness of the album. Meanwhile follow-up ‘Thornwyck Hymn’ has a more theatrical, clean-vocalled sound and even some beautiful strings, giving it a truly epic feel. However, with each passing track, I loved them more and more. There are only seven of them, but they clock in at a total of 54-minutes. Each track feels like its own epic journey, while it all combines together to form one incredible piece. It’s certainly an album that’s designed to listen to in full. However, the highlight for me is the truly epic, 11+ minute ‘The Apocalyptist’. If you listen to anything off the album, let it be that one, it demonstrates everything the band do so amazingly on the release.
Having gone back and listened through a number of their previous releases, I have to say that this is certainly up there with some of their best. There isn’t a bad song on it and they all fit together perfectly. I don’t understand how this band aren’t towards the top of the metal world, they’re so good. If you like doom metal or just the heavy stuff in general, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! 9.5/10
Elvie Shane: Damascus
Taking a leaf from Jelly Roll on his sophomore album, Elvie combines country, soul, rock and hip-hop together masterfully. And, just like Whitsitt Creak last year, I can’t get enough of this. From the rocky opener, ‘Jonesin’’ and the Bon Jovi-like ‘Forgotten Man’ to the slower stuff like ‘Baptized’, ‘Pill’ and ‘Winning Horse’, all the styles Elvie does he nails. Also, massive shoutout to the Little Big Town featuring ‘First Place’, as it may be my favourite track on the album. And, at only 13-tracks, for an album like this it isn’t even that long! There isn’t a bad song on it, either. It’s just a fun listen from start to finish and there is never once a dull moment; it’s put together and arranged perfectly. There really isn’t much else to say, if you’re a country fan you’ll love this one! I’ll sure be listening to it a lot moving forward! 9/10
High on Fire: Cometh the Storm
I’ve heard the name floating around for years at this point and haven’t had the chance to check them out outside of a song or two. I had it in my head that they were more of a NWOBHM band, so to hear an album heavily inspired by early-Roots era Sepultura was a very nice surprise! It’s got elements of thrash, stoner and doom in there too, but the almost tribal riffs are very Sepultura-like. Tracks like the opener, ‘Sol’s Golden Curse’ and ‘Hunting Shadows’ are all big highlights for me. However, if you’re into the epic stoner metal style like me, you’ll probably love the whole album. Honestly there isn’t much more to say about this. It’s a solid metal album that didn’t at all feel like it lasted nearly an hour. Heck, the closing track on its own is 10-minutes of doomy goodness. I’ll certainly be listening to the band a lot moving forward, and this album will be at the forefront of that. 8/10
Anne Wilson: REBEL
Okay, so yes, I know that generally speaking, country as a genre has a lot of roots in Christianity. I get that the religion is a much bigger thing still in the US, especially in the areas where country is biggest. But damn, this album is God-bothery as fuck. I have no issue with people believing and living by whatever religion they want to, but I’m not a fan of being near-endlessly preached to for nearly an hour. And I know that she is an overtly Christian musician releasing music through a Christian record label. But bands like Skillet, Demon Hunter and P.O.D are also self-identifying Christian bands, yet have found that they can sing about other topics as well, not just their religious beliefs. I am far from Anne’s target audience, I know that, but musically and vocally she’s amazing, and I do think she’s limiting herself with how she writes her lyrics and how the label markets her.
It’s a shame too, as the opener/title track starts things off so strongly. ‘REBEL’ is certainly a highlight. Of course Lainey Wilson’s magical touch continues too, as ‘Praying Woman’ is a banger despite the lyrics. The same can be said for ‘Songs About Whiskey’. The Jordan Davis-featuring ‘Country Gold’ is also great, reigning in the bible-bashing to a minimum. But yeah, overall it was lot, and I struggled to get into a few of tracks when they were so constantly heavy-handed.
As I’ve said previously, I’m not against religion, and musically it’s pretty good; standard country stuff. She’s a fantastic vocalist and really isn’t a bad songwriter. But this personally isn’t for me as a whole. I’m sure it will appeal to plenty of people though and they’ll love it. But please don’t @ me as I give this a 4/10
Folterkahmmer: Weibermacht
The symphonic black metal band are back with their sophomoric album, and I have to say it’s pretty fucking great. I’m not sure how a German band ended up starting in New York, but when we get music this good I couldn’t care! Also, thought it would be a bit of a laugh putting them here on the list, given their general lyrical content, contrasting with Anne Wilson prior.
Those who check out a lot of our NMM series know that I struggle getting into straight-up black metal. It usually has to be cut with something else in order to keep me interested. Honestly, the various styles this band have added to it is the real perfect combination. I was hooked right from the epic opener, and tracks like ‘Küss Mir Die Füsse!’ and ‘Algolagnia’ certainly helped! Heck, their cover of ‘Venus in Fur’ is awesome and a really interesting take on Velvet Underground. The atmosphere and darkness the band create is fascinating, and the fact that they put out such a solid release in only seven original songs is a testament to the band’s writing. It’s certainly not for everyone, and even I won’t be listening to it constantly. However, it is incredibly well written and performed, and if you’re into black metal with a folky, operatic twist, you’ll surely dig this. It’s an album worth listening to in full to appreciate fully, and after doing so I can safely give this a 7.5/10
Praying Mantis: Defiance
the NWOBHM/AOR legends are back with their 13th studio album. the band have been insanely consistent with their output and quality this millennium, and this release is no different. I’m a pretty big AOR fan, and this is really the template in which that genre was built. From the soaring, powerful vocals to the solid guitars and drums to the heavy synth focus to the catchy, stadium-filling choruses, it does it all perfectly. There isn’t a bad song on the album, but personal highlights include the title track and ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’. Heck, we even get a really good cover of Rainbow’s ‘I Surrender’, a hard feat to accomplish to live up to Joe Lynn Turner! If you’re into the more epic, glam/sleezed-tinged side of rock music, this album is definitely for you. I’ll certainly be spinning this again a fair bit in the coming weeks! 8/10
Wyatt Flores: Half Life
So, I ummed and arred about whether to feature this here or not. Apparently it’s an EP. However, eight full tracks spanning nearly half an hour sounds like an album to me. Especially when my other option was Craig Campbell (whose release was also great) at just six full tracks and an intro & outro. apparently that one is an album but this one isn’t. Bollocks. I’m calling this an album, just like the Castellows one, and am reviewing it.
It’s fucking awesome. I’m really enjoying this resurgence of chilled-out, stripped-back country music into the mainstream thanks to the likes of Zach Bryan, and this is up there with his last release, for me. It’s all not much more than a couple of guitars and some simple drums backing his vocals, but it all fits so perfectly. ‘Wish I Could Stay’ is not only the perfect example of how well the instrumentation boosts Wyatt’s vocals and lyrics to epic levels, but is also an incredible song and one of the most beautifully bittersweet tracks I’ve ever heard. It literally gave me goosebumps. However, every track on this release is excellent, honestly. He’s a phenomenal lyricist and the delivery and instrumentation around them are both impeccable. He’s one of the ones I’m most excited to see at The Long Road this year, and even more so now after this release. I’d recommend this album to anyone, not just country fans, that’s how good it is. 10/10, it couldn’t be anything else!