An absolutely stacked week of New Music Mondays, featuring some massive names in the metal, rock and country world for us to check out!

Slaughter to Prevail: GRIZZLY

The highly anticipated third album from the Russian deathcore band finally dropped this last Friday and, spoiler alert, it’s a bit good! It’s 50 minutes of brutal deathcore goodness, and is a lot of fun to listen to! It’s was also well worth the wait. From the crushing riffs and breakdowns to Alex’s brutal screams and Evgeny being one of the most underrated modern drummers, the musicality is off the charts. Like that breakdown at the end of ‘Banditos’ should say it all really… DAMN. It’s a massive early highlight track, as are the likes of the stomping ‘Babayka’, ‘Lift that Shit’ and the epic ‘Behelit’. However, there is hardly a bad song on this thing. The closest thing to ‘bad’ is the track featuring BABYMETAL, but that’s mainly because I sadly just don’t think the two bands fit together all that well. However, they rectify the guest issue by having an absolute blinder of a song with Ronnie Radke, ‘Imdead’.

My only real issue with the album is that we’ve heard over half of it before its release, with the first single having released nearly three years ago. Still, unlike the pitfall Falling in Reverse had, the album tracks around the older sings are still pretty fantastic, sometimes actually outshining some of the bigger songs. It somehow lives up to the lofty expectations that it had been set, and solidifies the band up to be one of the biggest in the heavy scene. If you are a fan of anything death or core-y, this is most certainly the album for you, and it will certainly be high on our albums of the year come December. An incredibly solid 9/10!

Dylan Gossett: Westward

The modern country star releases one of the highest anticipated debut albums of the year; an insane feat given that he’s already sat on nearly five million monthly listeners. His rise has been something to behold, his first release only coming three years ago, so the pressure is on quite a lot for this release. It’s a very good album, that’s for sure. It fits in pretty perfectly with the current scene too, being reminiscent of the likes of Zach Bryan, Wyatt Flores and Evan Honer. It’s Mumford and Sons-like, folk-pop infused country with fantastic, emotion-filled lyrics and fantastic delivery of them, a far-cry from the bro-country scene that preceded this movement. It’s chilled out and beautiful throughout. It’s packed full of awesome songs too, from ‘Cicada Choir’ to ‘Snake Eyes’ to ‘Roll of 35’. I firmly believe it’s impossible for a song to be called ‘Adeline’ and be bad, too. There isn’t a dud on the whole release, honestly. However, it is a touch long. Just over an hour of 17 pretty similar tracks is a little more for this easily-distracted writer, even if he enjoyed every song in its own right. It’s still an incredibly solid debut album, though, and firmly establishes Dylan as not only someone with staying power, but a future megastar in the scene. I’ll certainly be listening to this again, and I feel it will grow on me even more. For now though, it gets a still-solid 8/10

Bush: I Beat Loneliness

The tenth album from the London-based alt-rockers continues their run of form of pretty-decent-if-slightly-bland releases. We quite enjoyed The Art of Survival, and this very much feels like more of the same; a slightly darker and heavier version of their 90s sound. It’s fine, and worth a listen if you’re into the band or the style/genre, but it’s nothing groundbreaking or really too memorable. Tracks like the title one, ‘I Am Here to Save Your Life’ and ‘Footsteps in the Sand’ are all highlights personally. However, I did feel like I practically listened to the same song on repeat for 46 minutes, aside for the occasional stripped-back one. If you’re a fan of the band I’d recommend checking this out, you’ll probably like this too. But if you aren’t, I’d steer clear, as it’s very much just more of the same. Slightly disappointing that it all blurred into one for me, but it still gets a 7.5/10 from us.

Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway: Addicted to the Violence

The first album in seven years from the System of a Down guitarist and his solo band, yet it somehow still isn’t the longest gap between albums. Still, a lot has changed since 2018’s Dictator, with System even having released new music (even if it was just two tracks for charity). However, Daron and co are no less quirky and angry, producing something that very easily could have been released alongside their debut nearly two decades ago. It’s a brief 36-minutes too, and goes pretty balls to the wall throughout. Tracks like ‘Satan Hussein’, ‘Destroy the Power’, ‘Your Lives Burn’ and the very SOAD ‘You Destroy You’ are all person highlights, but there isn’t exactly a bad song on this thing! The album is packed full of awesome lyrics, quirky vocals and so many great riffs. It’s punk but with Daron’s flair from SOAD, just like their previous works. And, unlike Bush above, the band don’t exactly have an extensive back catalogue, so adding to the sound they have built still feels interesting and fresh. It’s not something I’ll revisit as a whole often, but it is certainly far from bad, and if you are a fan of the bands previous stuff you’ll love this. It gets a pretty damn solid 8/10 from us!

Florence Sommerville: Endless Horizon

We’ve already checked out this awesome country release! Check out our review of it here.

Joe Bonamassa: Breakthrough

The blues master is back with his 17th studio album and follow-up to 2023’s Blues Deluxe sequel and is just as fantastic a player and songwriter as ever! Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big blues guy, and this is the very best of the very best, insane for someone two and a half decades into his career. From the title track/opener to ‘I’ll Tale the Blame’, ‘Life After Dark’ to ‘You Don’t Own Me’, there is so much to love. From the foot-stompin’ rocky numbers to more slower, smoother stuff, he’s a true master of his craft and does it all so well. From the incredible riffing and soloing to his perfectly-fitting vocals and lyrics, to his band that are far from slouches too, it’s all amazing. I do have to say it’s not quite as good as Deluxe 2, but that shouldn’t reflect at all negatively on this album, it’s still awesome. It’s so fun and easy to listen to, and is an album I’ve already revisited a couple of times this weekend, let alone moving forward. No matter what you are into, if you are a musician, check this out immediately! 8.5/10

California Irish: The Mountains Are my Friends

The debut album from the Answer frontman Cormac Neeson’s side project finally dropped this past Friday. It’s far more chilled out than his main bands work, and gives off much more Americana/folk vibes; expected given the band and album title. And honestly, as a full album to throw on and relax to, it’s perfect. It’s a fantastic road-trip or cooking album, that’s for sure. However, it’s 40+ minutes of pretty samey songs, and does get old about halfway through for me. Even a track called ‘Something Different’ is ironically the same slow paced, Fleetwood-esque folk as the other nine songs. The closest thing to a standout track for me was single ‘Julie Ann’. ‘Sunday Morning’ isn’t bad, either. Overall though, it’s not an album I’d revisit often unless I wanted something like this as a full listen. I wanted to like it more as I am a fan of Cormac’s work, but my tiny attention span sadly had other plans. If you’re a folk fan I’d definitely recommend giving this a listen, but it was sadly a bit much for me. And it’s very much a me issue over anything else, the band have produced something awesome here and they are all clearly talented players and songwriters. Still, a solid 7/10 from us!

Cam: All Things Light

One of my biggest ‘sad white girl music’ guilty pleasures is up next, with Cam putting out her fourth album, continuing her five-years-between-releases trend. Coming off the back of the huge success of her help writing COWBOY CARTER, as well as her giving us one of the best sets I’ve ever seen at Long Road a couple of years back, anticipation for this release has been pretty high in the Overtone camp.

I think it’s taking a couple of listens to get into, but I think I’m definitely getting into this release in a big way. I don’t think it helped that I’m not into the opening track; it doesn’t make an impact in any way. And also, overall, I don’t think it has a big heavy-hitter of a standout single like ‘Burning House’, ‘Dian’ or ‘Otherside’. However, that’s not to say there aren’t great songs on here. Single ‘Alchemy’ has grown on me massively since my first listen, ‘Slow Down’ is an utterly beautiful throwback track, ‘Kill the Guru!’ is great, and ‘Look at the Pretty Girls!’ is maybe the standout on the whole album. The rest of it is a little slower and, while beautiful, is taking just a little getting into. Heck, it took me seeing her live to get into a lot of her stuff the first time, and now I’m obsessed, so clearly I just need her to come back over here for a tour! The harmonies are a huge high point, and Cam’s vocals and lyrics are incredible, too.

So, all things considered, I think it gets a tentative 8/10 from us. I really wanted to give it higher because of how much I loved her previous stuff, and it may very well grow on me more and get higher with more listens. But for now, it’s a solidly good album, but doesn’t quite live up to her previous two.

Margarita Witch Cult: Strung Out In Hell

The sophomore album from the Birmingham stoner/sludge rock trio very much does what the band promised; turns everything from their debut up to 11. Of course everything from the riffing to the soloing is incredible, but the rhythm section is also working overtime throughout, everyone playing their asses off. And, while the vocals can always be a bit hit and miss in the genre, they knock it out of the park on this record – sounding great, fitting the tracks perfectly and providing some catchy moments. Tracks like the opener, ‘Witches Candle’ and ‘Mars Rover’ are huge highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on the album, and if you like this genre you’re going to love this as much as I did! The band have gained a lot of traction over their short careers so far, and for good reason, and this album will surely push them to the next level yet again! It’s heavy and melodic and swampy in all the best ways, and gets a solid 8/10 from us!

Styx: Circling From Above

The prog rock legends return with their first new album since 2021s Crash of the Crown. And, honestly, I loved it. Though I am objectively ‘too young’ for this band and type of music, I had plenty of family who were big into it so it definitely has a nostalgic edge to it for me. I mean the fact that the band are over half a century into their career and still have enough juice in the tank to write and play and sound this awesome is truly incredible. It’s just a damn full album packed full of awesome riffs and melodies and percussion, showing that the seven-piece really are at the top of their craft. Songs like ‘Build and Destroy’, ‘It’s Clear’, ‘Everybody Raise a Glass’ and the folk-infused ‘Blue Eyes Raven’ are personal highlights, but the whole album has a great flow to it and there isn’t a bad track on it. Also, it somehow feels like both a perfectly long album, while also only being 40+ minutes; there’s not a single song I’d cut or even rearrange. I love this from start to finish, and if you’re into the style they play I really can’t recommend this album enough. It’s fun, technical, catchy and just plain awesome, and a true showcase of one of the best bands of all time a whopping 18 albums in. I can’t give this any less than 9/10, amazing stuff!

Trisha Yearwood: The Mirror

The country legend returned with her first new album in six years last week, and showed that after 34 years she hasn’t lost even half a step. ‘Bringing the Angels’ is a great, uptempo, rock-infused 2000s country track like only Trisha can make, and sets the tone for the album, perfectly. Then you have tracks like the boot stompin’ ‘Little Lady’, the beautiful rock ballad ‘The Record Plays On’ (duetted with Charles Kelley) and the fun, Jim Lauderdale-featuring ‘The Shovel’ that are all massive highlights in their own right. Don’t get me wrong, it does feel a touch long, and there are many one or two too many slower tracks on the album. However, for the most part, it’s arranged pretty well in that I didn’t feel the length aside for a couple of points towards the end. It’s a great release from an icon in the genre, and a fitting continuation of a career that no one would blame her for retiring from. Some good, fun songs, and even the slight mixed-bag nature of it still warrants a solid 7.5/10 from me!

Ba’al: The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here

If you hadn’t already guessed by the band and album title, this is epic, atmospheric black metal, and done to perfection! Long time readers here will know this isn’t particularly my sort of thing, but it’s done so well that I can’t help but enjoy and appreciate it. Heck, the epic, proggy, 13 minute opener is a masterpiece of the heavier end of metal, and there’s still another five tracks after that! It’s heavy and dark throughout, but also has some pretty killer riffs and some quieter parts of levity too. The dynamics of the whole album are great, and it really begs for this thing to be listened to in full at least once. It’s not something I’d revisit the individual tracks for often, but the album as a whole is definitely worth spinning and checking out if you are at all into the genre. And the emotion on display throughout is incredible, it really making you feel and leaving an impact. Shocking even myself, it gets a solid 7.5/10, good stuff!

Virgin Vampires: Whores and Judaism

The sophomore album from the dark, electro-gothic trio comes less than a year after their debut, and develops their sound even further, really carving out their own niche within the scene. They feel more confident in their direction with this release, with songs like single ‘At the Cemetery’, ‘The Curse of the Pharaons’ and ‘Medusa’ being favourites of mine. However, much like Ba’al above, I’m not the hugest fan of this style, so while I can very much appreciate it being great, it does go a little long for me. 40+ minutes of very similar music, especially in this genre, doesn’t work for my tiny attention span! Plus, the production of the album took a little getting used to, it being rather quiet and compressed, with their debut arguably sounding better on that front. Still, it’s not a bad release by any stretch, and if you’re into anything like The Cure or Birthday Party Massacre or artists like that, this is worth checking out! 7/10

P.S. the artwork is AMAZING.

The Island: LIMINAL

Another sophomore release, this time from the Manchester-based post-Tool band. They have plenty of elements of alternative, grunge and prog, but the closest thing I found myself immediately associating it with is Tool. That’s hardly an issue either, as both them and this album are amazing! It also reminds me a little of some of the quirkier stuff from the HARDBALL a couple of hers ago, which I also loved! The faster stuff definitely has more of a grunge or even stoner vibe, which is sick. From the incredible opening track to ‘The Irascible’ to the chaotic ‘The Crucible’ to the slower, epic closer, there is so much awesomeness here from a band that don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s certainly not going to be for everyone and is (potentially purposefully) a little rough around the edges, but it’s a lot of fun to listen to, and I’d highly recommend checking it out if you like the quirkier side of things! 8/10