Another stacked week of new albums, this time featuring some epic returns in the rock and metal world. Let’s check them all out!
Volbeat: God of Angels Trust
The legendary Danish hard rock/metal titans are back following a few years much-needed rest. Between losing their guitarist and Michael having some vocal issues, I was starting to worry about if we’d ever get the band back, especially after 2021’s return to form. However, the band have had a run of amazing singles this year, and brought them together into one hell of an album. It really feels like an amalgamation of all their previous stuff, too. Whether it’s the more old-school, Beyond Hell opening couple to the more Seal the Deal-esque ‘Acid Rain’ and ‘Time Heal’ to the Servent of the Mind-like ‘Demonic Depression’, it really feels like a culmination of their sound, in a sense. And of course they return to the punky, almost Dead Kennedys vibe with ‘Better be Fueled Than Tamed’, for good measure. Honestly, I fucking love it all! Every song I’ve mentioned already is a big highlight, but honestly there isn’t a bad track throughout thus entire release. It’s 44-minutes of epic riffing and catchy, massive melodies like truly only Volbeat can do. The boys are very much back, and I’ve listened to this a LOT over the weekend, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. Expect it to end up high on our list of albums of the year come December, that’s for sure. A very solid 9/10!
Turnstile: NEVER ENOUGH
I have seen a lot of people super hyped for this release. However, even after seeing them live, they are simply just not a band I seem to ‘get’. And, though I do prefer it on track, it’s still not really my sort of thing. The hardcore punk elements are good, but don’t quite have the edge and grit of their contemporaries due to the crisp production, massive sound and alt rock electronic elements. It’s like they’ve tried to smash together Twenty-One Pilots and Black Flag to… interesting… results. I didn’t mind ‘SOLE’, ‘DULL’ and ‘SLOWDIVE’, but there was also a handful of the more atmospheric, more ambient tracks that I could leave. The riffing was the biggest highlight of the album; I think if it wasn’t for the fuzzy guitars I’d have been fully out. I also kept thinking I’d heard them before but I hadn’t, which is arguably a bad thing as it means a good few of them sound samey.
I completely get this band have a lot of fans and why that is. This will be loved by a lot of people. They are a damn talented collection of musicians. But this really wasn’t my sort of thing. Outside of a couple of songs that I’ve mentioned already, I won’t be revisiting this album. So, for that, it sadly gets a 4/10. Please don’t come at me, I’m sorry…!
Mother Mother: Nostalgia
Just a year removed from their incredible last release, the indie rock Canadians are back with their 10th studio album. As much as I loved that album, I’m struggling to get into this one a bit. Don’t get me wrong, it took me a little to appreciate The Grief Chapter fully, but this is taking even more. It’s a lot more indie than their previous release; where are the RIFFS?! Stuff like ‘ON AND ON’ made me feel that same love for the band, but it was fewer and further between than I’d have liked. Songs like ‘Make Believe’ and ‘FINGER’ are also good, but not in the same ways. Maybe this is what the band always sound like and I just jumped in at a time that did it best for me with their last album? Either way, it’s not a bad release by any stretch, but it’s certainly not what I hoped for heading into this. If you are a fan of the band or genre, it’s worth checking out, and it may grow on me. However, for now, I can’t give it any more than a 5/10
Crowe Boys: Made to Wander
The debut album from the Americana/country brothers is honestly incredible, especially for a first release. The pair are plenty experienced, living on the road with their family in a gospel band. However, that shouldn’t necessarily translate across to writing music, especially music THIS GOOD. ‘Bootstraps’ is an absolutely amazing song, and sets the tone for the rest of the release perfectly. Then you have songs like ‘Debris’, ‘Bonfire in my Soul’ and ‘Lucky to Be Alive’ that are also absolutely massive highlights. It’s like Mumford and Sons meets the likes of Wyatt Flores and Zach Bryan, making for an interesting, epic sound. My only issue is that it does feel like it loses momentum a little in the middle. However, at only 10 tracks and 37-minutes, it’s a fantastically easy listen, especially in one sitting. It’s certainly worth checking out if you are at all curious or into the style, you’ll surely love it as much as I do! I already cannot wait to hear where the band go from here, but for now I’m going to be listening to this album a lot, I’m sure. It gets another very solid 9/10 from us!
Katatonia: Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State
We’ve already checked out this awesome album. Find our review of it here!
The Ting Tings: Home
A band that I’ve loved since my childhood, and another that have returned in a massive way, popping back up out of nowhere after years with that song that has popped off on TikTok. The rest of the album very much follows the same Fleetwood Mac-esque vibe too, having that acoustic/folk/pop/rock blend that the band coined so well back in the day. Of course ‘Dreaming’ is a banger, but so are the likes of ‘Home’, ‘Danced on the Wire’ and ‘Mind Thunder’. It’s a great album to just stick on in the background and just sit back and relax to. We don’t have enough folk like this, or at least not in the mainstream, so if a band like this are going to take a dip into this sound hopefully others follow suit. It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but I enjoyed this and will certainly have a few tracks in my rotation moving forward. If you are into folk in any way, check this out, you may end up loving it! It gets a 7.5/10 from us!
Inglorious: V
The returns continue this week! Over four years after their last album and subsequent hiatus, Nathan James and his classic rock machine returned with a vengeance back in March with single ‘Testify’. Y’all know I liked that one, and anticipation for this album has been high not just from me, but across the whole scene.
I’m happy to say that I think it lives up to the hype! Of course the singles are bangers, but then you have the likes of the beautiful, epic ‘Believe’ and the faster, sleazier ‘End of the Road’. And, of course, you can’t forget ‘In Your Eyes’, a sound more like something Nathan would have been doing on the musical circuit the last few years. However, the whole album is great; a solid, tight 10 tracks and 40 minutes without a bad one in the batch! It feels very much back to the bands roots, pulling a lot of sound and inspiration from I, while also adding in elements from the albums that proceeded them too. Rich does some incredible work on guitar, a far cry from his other projects in Cradle of Filth and Emperor Chung. Meanwhile, other newcomer Henry Rodgers does great on the drums. And, the writing pairing of Nathan with former-and-current bassist Colin has very much reinvigorated the band, producing something that feels truly special and exciting. The band were once one of the shining leading lights of the NWOCR scene, and this album puts them right back in that conversation again! I’ll most certainly be listening to this again, and it gets a solid 8.5/10 from us!
Pulp: More
The first studio album from the legendary Britpop band in a LONG 24 years is finally here! It’s been a long time coming, with the bands second reunion coming a couple of years ago and them debuting live music at their shows. I haven’t heard any of them so far, going into this completely blind, so let’s see if it lives up tp the hype!
Honestly, it very much lives up to their 90s peak! I was never the biggest fan of the band to begin with, but love the odd song here and there. This is the same. I probably won’t listen to the album front-to-back much, but I love some of the songs throughout and there is no denying it’s all very well written and performed! Songs like the opener, ‘Grown Ups’, and ‘Got to Have Love’ I’d honestly put up there with their greatest hits, they’re that good. It’s another album that’s just damn fun to listen to, and if you’re into the band and somehow haven’t already checked this out, I can’t recommend this enough. There is no one in the business like Jarvis, and it’s so nice to hear him back with the others, making music again! Despite me not being the hugest fan, I really enjoyed this, and it gets a solid 7.5/10!
Tooth Gore: For Losers, By Losers.
The sophomore album from the surf punk Brits follows up Halloween just over a year ago, and arguably builds and improves on the sound perfectly. Opener ‘Uncomfortable’ is a fantastic opener and is going to be stuck in my head for days to come. Then you have the likes of ‘Fungus, Actually’, ‘Black Cat’, ‘No Fighting in Doo-Wop’ and the more ska-punk ‘So?’ that are all also fantastic songs and big highlights. However, there really isn’t a bad song on here! It has as much British indie in the sound as the punk elements, making for a really interesting and referencing sound. Between that and the band clearly not taking themselves all too seriously and having a lot of fun with the music, it makes for a damn enjoyable experience to listen to! We sadly didn’t get the chance to review their debut but I have checked it out since and really enjoyed it, so believe me when I say that this is somehow even better! The band are building a great name for themselves in the underground scene, and this very well could be the release to push them easily up a couple of levels. If you are in any way a punk fan, check this out immediately! I can’t give this any less than 9/10!
Jesse Daniel: Son of the San Lorenzo
The fifth album from the neo-traditional country star dropped last Friday. We checked out his last album almost a year to the day ago and enjoyed it, and this very much feels like a good follow-up with plenty more of the same. Songs like the title track, the more upbeat ‘One’s Too Many’ and ‘Crankster’ are all awesome and big personal highlights. Then you have the duet with Charles Wesley Godwin which couldn’t be a better fit if it tried! However, while a couple may be a bit on the slower side (a few too many in a row, I mean), there really isn’t a bad song on the whole album! As I said, I enjoyed the last album, but honestly I think Jesse tops it with this release! It’s a damn fine country release that goes by in a flash, not feeling like 45-minutes at all. And with it only being 12 months between releases too, it’s a real testament to just how incredible a songwriter Daniel is! If you’re into more of an old-school country sound, I cannot recommend this release enough, check it out as soon as you have the chance. And, in a year so far of amazing country releases, this somehow stands out among some of the best! It gets a very solid 8.5/10 from us!
Pylon Poets: Demise of the Divine
The 80s synth-rock tinged alternative band put out their highly anticipated debut album last Friday and, spoiler alert, it’s a bit good! It honestly reminds me of a heavier version of the Pulp album up above, which isn’t a bad thing at all! Songs like ‘In the End’, ‘Temptation’ and ‘Saviour’ are awesome and going to be stuck in my head for days to come, easy album highlights. However, the whole release is packed full of awesome songs, not a bad one in the bunch. The band are hugely talented songwriters and players, blending together a variety of styles seamlessly and creating something pretty unique with this release. And, for a debut, it’s an incredible high standard! The band have been going a few years now and built their sound and this release pretty perfectly, making this surely an album to take them to the next level. The band certainly have a new fan in me, and this is a solid 8/10 from us!
Passengers In Panic: Amnesia
The sophomore studio album from the heavy/folk metal Greeks builds on everything great about their debut and turns it up to 11. The whole thing is epic, heavy and melodic all in perfect measure, and is really something you have to listen to front-to-back at least once. The opener sets the tone perfectly, and the likes of ‘Echos of Death’, the title track and ‘Erase Me’ are all big highlights, but the whole thing is most certainly worth a listen! I love the folk elements, and while they are done quite a lot in the European scene these days, this still feels pretty unique and stands out among the others, maybe because it has a bit more of a modern metal edge to it too. The band most certainly have a new fan in me, and it’s insane to me that they are already a much bigger name in the scene. It’s a must for any fans of power or folk metal out there, and gets a very solid 8/10 from me!