An absolutely massive week for new albums this week, with the very best in metal, rock and country all putting out bangers. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Those Damn Crows: God Shaped Hole
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our review of it here!
Jon Pardi: Honkytonk Hollywood
The neo-traditional country legend is finally back with the highly anticipated followup to 2022’s Mr Saturday Night. Being one of the first country artists I got heavily into, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this for a while, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint! It’s nearly a full hour of catchy vocal lines, typically-country lyrics and great instrumentation, mainly including the incredible string work throughout. It’s awesome! Songs like the opener, ‘Gamblin’ Man’, ‘Rush’, ‘Last Call Thing’ and ‘Love the Lights Out’ are all incredible songs and huge personal highlights. However, so much of this album is excellent, and a lot of it ended up on my personal playlist. Whether it’s two-steppin’, boot stompin’ uptempo numbers or the more emotion-filled ballad tracks, it’s all written and performed so well and Pardi does it in such a way that few can even replicate, never mind do better.
It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or anything, but certainly continues and refines the sound that he’s worked on now for five albums, and may actually be his most solid album front-to-back. Yes, it’s long, but the quality is spread throughout the album and it’s honestly one of the few country albums that genuinely didn’t feel it’s length. It’s a great, fun listen that I’ll certainly be revisiting a lot in the coming weeks and months, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of my favourite country albums of the year. It’s rare we get this style of country in 2025, so I’m so glad it’s this good! Mr Saturday Night is back, and gets a solid 9/10 from us!
Spin Doctors: Face Full of Cake
This was an interesting, weird release. Being raised on 90s and early 2000s culture, I like countless others couldn’t escape ‘Two Princes’, and came to love it alongside that album as a whole. However, I never really dug into the band much beyond that, so I was quite excited to be finally checking out something new from this band.
It had a lot more RHCP, Terrorvision and Quireboys than I was expecting. I’m not sure if was a gradual evolution or not, but this was not the album I was expecting heading in. However, it wasn’t a bad release, by any stretch. It took a bit of getting going; outside of ‘Rock n Roll Heaven’ the first few weren’t really my thing. However, by the time we reached ‘I Liked you Better When Your Butt was Big’, I really started to get into things, and the rest of the album from there was pretty solid. It’s quirky in a Barenaked Ladies kinda way, and is a pretty chilled out 44-minutes of poppy alt rock. It still has some of that 90s charm, but definitely has more of a modern spin on it. Is it as good as Pocket Full of Kryponite? No. But for a band that ‘peaked’ nearly three and a half decades ago, it’s a solid-ass release, and well worth checking out for anyone into the band or 90s rock in general. It’s a solid 7.5/10 from us!
Epica: Aspiral
The ninth album from the symphonic metal legends follows up their stellar 2022 ‘EP’ fantastically. I’ve always loved this band, and honestly this may be up there with some of their best work. Opening on their fantastic lead single and then the equally awesome title track is amazing. However, then we get not one, not two, but another THREE parts of the bands epic A New Ages of Dawns saga, the first mainline entries since 2009s Design Your Universe. It has made me go back and listen to all of them through and DAMN. It’s insane that songs released 20 years apart can still fit perfectly together. All three songs are huge highlights of the release, but honestly every track on this thing is amazing.
We’ve covered a lot of symphonic metal on this site over the years, and I’d say this measures up with the very best of them, be it Nightwish or Within Temptation or Evanescence or otherwise. Every single track is heavy, epic and masterfully performed by the entire band; it’s impossible to pick highlights. It’s an hour long and doesn’t feel like a slog in any stretch. And Simone’s vocals are as strong and impressive as ever. I went into this album expecting it to be good, but nowhere near this good. I loved every second of it, and will be spinning it a lot in the coming weeks and months. I can’t give it anything less than 9.5/10, amazing stuff! It’s a must listen for any metal fans reading!
Kaschalot: Anemoia
It’s pretty rare we get to cover much instrumental stuff on here, so when we do I kinda love it. Especially when it’s on the experimental math rock side of things; easily the best style of instrumental music (fight me). The band’s sophomore album comes out a full six and a half years after their debut, and the band have clearly put their all into the release. This is 36-minutes of stellar musicianship from front to back, and surprisingly manages to keep it interesting and captivating despite not a single word being said/sung. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but I loved this and found myself getting lost in the sheer talent of the quartet throughout. If you are into math rock or the quirkier side of rock in general, I can’t recommend this enough. Even if you aren’t typically into instrumental stuff it’s well worth checking this out, as they are so creative you may easily love it as much as I did. The band have a new fan in me, and this is an easy 8/10 from me!
Magnolia Park: VAMP
The fast-rising alt rock stars are back with their highly anticipated fourth studio album. I remember checking out Baku’s Revenge back when it released and thinking it was alright. This is at least better than that album, that’s for sure. It’s still your average radio metalcore, but at least now it borrows from Sempiternal era BMTH or 2021-2024 Architects or I Prevail, which is an improvement at least. Then again, there’s some older/newer school Architects in the heavier parts too, which is more than welcome. And there is an ever so slight industrial edge at times which does add some interesting moments to it. The opener is great and sets the tone perfectly. Then you have tracks like ‘CULT’ and ‘OMEN’ that are also big personal highlights. However, the rest of it was rather slower and pop/alt rock oriented. As I said, it is certainly better than the last album we checked out by them, but outside of a few shining lights it all felt pretty samey and honestly just made me want to listen to For Those That Wish to Exist again. It may grow on me still, but for now it gets a 7/10
OK GO: And the Adjacent Possible
The first studio album from the Chicagoan alt rock band in 11 years, safe to say this has had a fair amount of hype behind it! After listening, I’d say it lives up to at least most of said hype, too! It’s quirky, poppy and a lot of fun, reminding me of a combination of Mother Mother, Marianas Trench and even Mika. As you can tell from the other reviews, I love all three artists, so of course I loved this too. From the opener to the funk-rock ‘A Good, Good Day at Last’ to ‘Better Than This’ to the beautiful closing track, this is packed full of amazing songs and highlights. There truly isn’t a bad track on it. If you’re into the more chilled-out, pop/alt side of rock music, I’d certainly recommend checking this out, you certainly won’t be disappointed. OK Go are finally back, and what an album to be making their return with! It’s an incredibly solid 8/10 from us, and I’ll certainly be listening to this again soon.
Ye Banished Privateers: ‘Til the Sea Shall Give up Her Dead
Goddamn I love piratey folk music, and this is honestly one of the best examples as to why. Taking inspiration from traditional Irish and Scandinavian folk, the band do the sound so well and bring it perfectly to a modern mix and audience. The opening track is a huge highlight and sets the tone of the album fantastically well, and songs like the fun ‘Raise Your Glass’ and ‘Here’s To The Royal Navy’ are also big highlights. It’s a fun, lighthearted release that knows exactly what it is and does it to perfection. My issue is that it’s nearly an hour long and is pretty similar throughout. It was a little much for my by the end, but if you’re big into this sort of thing I’m sure that is much less of an issue. And live, I can imagine it being incredible. I won’t listen to it particularly often, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy it whenever I do. 6.5/10
Muscadine Bloodline: …And What Was Left Behind
The Alabaman country duo followed up last year’s The Coastal Plain with what I assume to be a ‘b-sides and leftovers’ follow-up to last year’s Coastal Plain album and its sessions. I really thought I’d reviewed it at the time, but apparently not. I’ve definitely checked it out somewhere and, wildly, I think I prefer this release to their previous one! ‘Ain’t For Sale’ is my favourite song the band have ever done (shoutout to the awesome Josh Meloy on said track too), and songs like ‘Deer in the Headlights’, ‘Hittin’ my Stride’ and ‘Ballad of the Blanton Brothers’ are massive other highlights. However, every single track on this thing is awesome, and I think I’ve very quickly become addicted. I’m so glad the duo have finally blown up and got the recognition they so sorely deserve, and putting out this incredible release to top it all off is a testament to how incredible they are as musicians and writers. If you’re in an way a country fan, or even a fan of southern stuff or that side of rock music, check this out, I’m sure you’ll love this just as much as I do. I loved their last couple of albums, but this may be my favourite release from them, and it gets a very solid 9.5/10 from me!
Nightblade: 5
Strangely the seventh album it seems from the punk-infused hard rockers, this is a damn solid release! It reminded me of a lower energy Pennywise at times, especially with the riffing, which I really liked. Songs like ‘Grave Mistake’, ‘I’ll be Home Tonight’ and ‘Left at the Lights’ are all personal highlights. It gives a real old-school rock’n’roll and punk vibe, almost a DIY sorta thing, throughout which is almost impossible not to love. I’m honestly shocked the band haven’t gotten more of a following, especially with how long they’ve been going. They deserve to be bigger, and I feel like in doing so their production would improve massively, too. It’s a touch rough around the edges, but is a lot of fun to listen to and is something I’d love to go see live at a dark dingy dive bar somewhere! The band are damn talented songwriters and it’s certainly made me want to go back and check out their older stuff. It’s another solid 7/10 from us!
Ledher Blue: Fait Divers
I had no idea what to expect heading into this release, yet somehow it still wasn’t this. Described to me as a ‘Portuguese meets Irish indie duo’, it’s so much more than that. It doesn’t feel like a lot of indie-rock out there these days; it has plenty of shoegaze, psychedelic and even folk elements throughout. Heck, the opening track gave me faint Tool vibes, which was enough to blow me away a little. While it’s not something I’d typically listen to, I found myself having a great time checking this out, and have spun it a couple of times since it’s release back on Tuesday. It’s definitely got elements of old-school, like The Strokes or Iggy Pop, but also has a distinct modern edge; especially in the excellent production. Tracks like ‘Sorrows of Ammended Hearts’, ‘Rollerblades’, and ‘Longing’ are all huge highlights. However, the whole album is pretty solid and a good one to just sit back and chill to. It will probably be a big hit among indie fans, but even if you’re not into the genre it might be worth checking it out, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised like I was. It’s a solid 7/10 from us, and it may get even higher with subsequent listens!
Once Awake: Far Out and Beyond
Goddamn, WHAT AN ALBUM. I went into this completely blind no was blown away. I’ve definitely gained a soft spot for music in that grey area between melodeath and metalcore, and this album is the perfect example of that done SO WELL. The fifth album from the Norwegian band shows how it’s done in terms of heaviness, melody, epicness and technicality, as well as great songwriting. And all nine tracks do it amazingly; there isn’t a bad song on this release. How have I never heard this band before? They definitely have a huge new fan in me! It’s honestly impossible for me to pick highlight tracks as every single song is incredible, almost all of it making it onto my personal playlist. The band are incredibly talented players and songwriters, and fingers crossed this is the album to finally break them out into the next level, as they so very deserve it! They feel like a combination of Lamb of God, In Flames and early All that Remains, yet also have something about them that makes them feel pretty unique. I cannot recommend this album enough to any fans of the heavier end of metal out there, and I desperately need to go back and check out the rest of their back catalogue. For the second time this week, I can’t give this any less than 10/10, incredible stuff!
Turnpike Troubadours: The Price of Admission
The country legends are back with their seventh album, and second since their reunion. As fans of the band would surely be expecting, it’s a chilled-out, neo-traditional release packed full of some great instrumentation, catchy choruses and vocal harmonies, and plenty of emotion. Songs like ‘Searching for a Light’, the Celtic/Americana ‘Be Here’ and ‘The Devil Plies his Trade’ are all huge highlights. However, the album is perfect to sit back and relax to, and there isn’t a bad track on it. The band do their style better than few others, so if you are into them or the old-school, Americana/blues infused country music, I’d most certainly recommend checking this out! Honestly, I’d put it up there against any of the rest of their discography, that’s how damn good this is. I’ll definitely be listening to it more in the coming weeks and months, and would absolutely love to see them live, especially at some open-air festival, it feels like the perfect setting. It’s a very easy 8/10 from us!