A bit of a quieter week this week, giving us time to recover from last week and get ready for next. However, there is still plenty of great new music for us to check out!
Zach Bryan: The Great American Bar Scene
Not only is he one of the biggest names in country right now, but he has a LOT to live up to thanks to his self-titled release last year. Heck, we gave it a perfect 10/10, and a high spot on our top albums of the year list. So, how does this one compare?
Honestly, it took a bit to get started, but by the end I seriously feel like we have another masterpiece on our hands. Songs like ‘American Nights’, ‘The Way Back’, ‘Bass Boat’ or ‘Towers’ are brimming with emotion. Heck, even the opening poem gave me goosebumps. I have to admit, though, that ‘Mechanical Bull’ and the title track didn’t grip me all that much, for some reason. It certainly gets strong as it goes on, as the final eight tracks are an incredible run. Then again, there is a lot of good before that, too. However, that is one of the glaring issues with Zach, and popular country overall. This is a 19-track collection spanning over an hour. It’s an incredible release, but it is damn long and, as a result, comes with some less-than-highs songs, in my opinion. In trimming the fat even slightly, it could have been a little tighter an album.
Having said all of that, it’s still an incredible release. He is easily one of the best lyricist of our time, putting so much emotion and feeling into every line. And the simplistic, neo-traditional country-Americana instrumentation fits it all so well, somehow adding even more emotion. There is plenty to love here, from heart-wrenching solo tracks to incredible duets with the likes of John Moreland, Bruce Springsteen and Noeline Hofmann. I’ve already listened to it twice this weekend, and will have a lot of it on a lot more in the months to come, I’m sure. BUT, I wouldn’t say it’s quite as strong as his last release. It really is splitting hairs at this point, but I feel the last was slightly more memorable and groundbreaking, though that may be because it was the first album of his I got into. For now, it gets a 9.5/10 from me!
Kasabian: Happenings
The British indie rock legends are back with album number eight. I have to admit, they were one of the few bands from this era/scene that I didn’t quite ‘get’. That same feeling follows on to this release. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad album, and if anyone’s a fan of the style or the band, I’m sure it boarders on a great album. But it’s not something I’d choose to listen to; it was kinda boring honestly. I have to admit, the more interesting tracks like ‘Call’ or ‘Passengers’ are certainly better and highlights of the album. But generally, I just couldn’t get into it. Plus, at only 10 tracks and under half an hour, it’s pretty forgettable for how short it is. I don’t want to sound mean, as it is very Kasabian, and I can’t stress enough that I am likely in the minority of people who listen to this album that feel this way. There is okay stuff on here, but overall it’s not for me. 4/10, sorry guys!
Vulvodynia: Entabeni
Gross band names aside, this album from the South African tech-death-core band is brutal. The intro track into the crushing ‘Devil Tree’ gives you everything you need to know about this band, and it’s pretty awesome. It’s certainly not something I’d throw on myself often, but I can appreciate the hell out of the musicianship and writing talent that went into creating it. Plus, it would go down live and be awesome. Songs like ‘The Rand Lord’ and ‘Adamaster’ (with the awesome Bodysnatcher) were big personal highlights. However, there are only 10 tracks, and all are pretty good. If you are into the heaviest end of metal, this is certainly the album for you. It gets a solid 7/10 from me!
Filthy Hippies: Share the Pill
More alt/indie rock/shoegaze, this time the third album from the South African trio. It’s certainly an interesting release, and I’m sure that those into the genre will love it. Again, much like with Kasabian, it’s not really my sort of thing. I love the punky grunge edge to it all, and it’s certainly an easy listen. But it all drones on and on a little too long for me, the album being a solid hour of pretty similar riffs and sounds. It’s pretty perfect background music, but I struggled to sit down and focus on it for too long without getting bored/distracted. As I said, it is certainly someone’s cup of tea, and it is very good shoegaze music. But it’s not for me. 4/10
Kryptos: Decimator
The Indian NWOBHM inspired metallers are back with their first album in three years. I had somehow not listened to them before, knowing them only by name. I don’t know how either, because teenage Joe would have loved this. It’s like a heavier, thrash/deathier version of Iron Maiden’s debut album, like if that had a baby with the original Bonded By Blood recording and 90s Judas Priest. The production is raw, a very good touch to make it fit in more with the sound it’s taking inspiration from. Tracks like ‘Fall to the Spectre’s Gaze’, ‘Pathfinder’ and the title track are big highlights on an album honestly full of them. It’s arranged pretty perfectly too, and at only half an hour, it is over in a flash. Arguably too soon, honestly. If you’re into any of the bands or genres I’ve mentioned previously check this out, you won’t be disappointed. The band certainly have a new fan in me too, and I’ll be checking out their older stuff immediately! 8/10
Visions of Atlantis: Pirates II – Armada
The Austrian symphonic metal band offered up a sequel to their 2022 album last week (which we loved, by the way). It continues right from where the previous release left off, and is a very worthy successor. ‘To Those Who Choose to Fight’ is such a damn good opener, and leads perfectly into album highlight ‘The Land of The Free’. Honestly, it’s so hard to pick highlights from this album as every single track is just as good as the last. From the heavier stuff like ‘Monsters’ to epic ballads like ‘The Dead of the Sea’ and ‘Ashes to the Sea’, they do it all so well. While I don’t think there is a single track on the album quite as good as ‘Master the Hurricane’, overall I’d say it’s a stronger release. They’ve built on everything they did well a couple of years ago and have come away with nothing short of a power-metal masterpiece. I was not expecting them to top Pirates but damn, this is incredible. 9.5/10