A surprisingly stacked week of short releases this time, with six awesome EPs.(and a lot of country) for us to check out! Let’s dive right in!
Nebula Nine: The Last Sky Piercer
This epic prog rock offering is a damn good EP, introducing the listener perfectly to their sound and style. Outside of the obvious interesting, epic prog elements, the riffing throughout is another big highlight for me. That is no more obvious than in the awesome ‘Terminal’, a personal highlight track of me on the release. However, all four songs on this collection are awesome, and all fit together rather perfectly. It takes you on a real journey, and is a lot of fun to be on it! I still don’t know what the term ‘sublime’ at the start of progressive rock is that it was described to me as, but that’s certainly a word that I’d use to describe the EP, for sure! It does feel different to a lot of other releases in the prog spectrum too, so maybe that’s it. It’s even pretty easily digestible prog, so I’d recommend this to anyone reading this who’s into rock at all. It’s an excellent debut release, and the band certainly have a big new fan in me! 9/10
Zach Top & Billy Strings: Me & Billy
This trio of traditional country tracks from two legends of the genre is honestly awesome, and a lot of fun to listen to. Both me are of course insanely talented, and their vocals work phenomenally well together. Heck, their styles and writing in general fit together like two jigsaw pieces. It definitely won’t be for everyone, but I loved all three songs. It called back to a bygone age of country but done well enough that it held my attention for all of it’s just over 10 minute runtime. It’s the perfect little country collection, and shows why they are both such huge names, especially for their insanely young ages. And the fact that this is a live recording makes it even more impressive! Both their vocals are incredible, and the fact that it’s just them, their guitars and some simple drumming but still sounds so good is insane.
If you like country in any stretch actually, check this out, it’s well worth it! It brought a huge smile to my face throughout, and I can’t give it any less than 10/10. Honestly, if it was any longer it may have gotten a lower score, it really is perfect!
Redferrin: Some City, Somewhere
The second EP from the pop-country breakout star is just as good as his debut. I originally had this in my album list, but apparent country considers seven tracks over 20-minutes as an EP these days. Shhh, don’t tell the hardcore bands. But either way, this is another incredible addition to his discography. ‘Ruin my Night’ is an amazing opener, and it just carries on with the same awesome sound and quality after that. Also, it’s really cool to hear ‘As Long as There’s a Bar’ finally all this time after he first mentioned it in our interview! My favourite track on it is probably ‘Mornin’ Montana’, but it’s honestly closely followed by all the rest! Every track is a fantastic listen, and they all flow together perfectly. It’s a very good, chilled out modern country album, and definitely worth a listen if you’re a fan of Red or the style he plays. It’s another solid 8.5/10 from me, excellent stuff!
Refiner: Return to Dust
Now, if you told me that two tracks is hardly an EP, I’d agree with you. However, both these tracks are awesome, and the fact that it was produced by just one Canadian guy is absolutely insane. Plus, we are also getting both tracks as instrumental versions on the full release, which is a cool little bonus. It is disgustingly heavy in all the best ways, the dirty guitar tone, low riffs and awesome screams being so good. And yet, we still have some catchy clean, melodic parts in both songs too. They really are the best of both worlds. Also, given that it’s only two songs, they are both clearly highlights and both will certainly be making our playlist! If you’re into the metalcore stuff at all, I cannot recommend this enough, and even if not, it’s heavy enough to keep most metalheads loving it. As a follow-up to his 2022 EP, it’s awesome, and I look forward to hearing where he goes with Rottweiler Records. Christopher Adam has the potential to be a massive name in the metal scene, if these tracks are anything to go by. It’s another solid 9/10!
In terms of where Christopher is headed with Rottweiler, rumours has it we’re getting another EP soon and then an album by the end of the year. That has made this writer very happy and excited, and I shall certainly be reviewing them all!
Charles Wesley Godwin: Lonely Mountain Town
Another long-ass country EP of seven songs spanning nearly 30-minutes, it’s a fantastic release whatever it is. Charles has garnered a pretty big fanbase over the last few years because of his old-school country-folk sound, his hauntingly beautiful voice and his fantastic lyric writing, and all of that is on full display here! The title track opens the EP and sets the tone perfectly. Then you have tracks like single ‘It’s the Little Things’, ‘It’s Her Move’ and the truly phenomenal ‘When I’m Gone’ that are all huge highlights. Every song on this is incredible though, honestly. It gives me Zach Bryan vibes with how raw and emotional the writing is, but way more folk in its sound. There’s a lot of this old-school sound making a resurgence in country at the minute, but this is one of the best artists I’ve heard do it. It’s a solid 8.5/10!
Craig Morgan: American Soundtrack
The last offering of the week is another country one, but at least it’s sub-20-minutes so makes me feel a little less agro about it. I’d also never heard of the guy before but damn, this is fucking awesome! It’s got a bit more of a rock edge to it than the other country releases on this list, and his voice feels ripped straight from the mid 2000s sound. It’s Luke Bryan and Randy Houser in the best possible ways! The title track is awesome, as is the Darius Rucker-like ‘Roots’ and the beautiful (if religious) ballad ‘God’s Problems’. And that’s just the first half! The other three songs are just as amazing, I assure you. Craig has another huge fan in me as this is another excellent country EP on a list full of them! I’ma be listening to this a lot moving forward, and I can’t give it any less than another 10/10. It’s everything I want out of my country music, and it’s the perfect length. I’d recommend this to anyone!