Another stacked week of New Music Mondays, with some awesome albums released across metal, rock and country. Let’s dive right in!
Cheap Trick: All Washed Up
The whopping 22nd album from the hard rock/power pop legends is exactly what you’d expect from the band, especially this late into their storied careers. It’s certainly not bad, and the band very much still have ‘it’. However, said it is rather outdated and overplayed in 2025. Don’t get me wrong, tracks like ‘All Wrong Long Gone’, the foot stomping ‘The Riff that Won’t Quit’, ‘Bad Blood’ and ‘Dancing with the band’ are all awesome tracks and very much classic Cheep Trick. But there are a lot of bands these days that give off a similar vibe but are a lot younger, hungrier and, dare I say, better. It’s absolutely incredible that 55 years into their careers they are still steadily releasing new music of a high calibre, but it hardly reinvents the wheel. As a fan of the band, it’s nice to have some new music from them, and there isn’t a bad track on it. But as a journalist who listens to hundreds of albums a year, it’s simply alright. If you like them it’s definitely worth checking out, but I can’t give it much more than a 7.5/10
Of Mice and Men: Another Miracle
I’m shocked. An actually good, heavy OM&M album? In 2025? Am I in a parallel universe? But yeah, this is GOOD, dude! ‘A Waltz’ is a fantastic opener and sets the tone for the album perfectly. ‘Troubled Water’ continues it amazingly, and tracks like ‘Hourglass’, ‘Another Miracle’ and ‘Infinite’ are big other highlights. It’s taken more of a post-hardcore turn to it than their recent outputs, and almost has some slight Machine Head vibes in the riffs and the screams. Even the slower, more pop-metalcore tracks are good and enjoyable, which surprised me! It honestly feels like the most focused and concise album they’ve put out since Austin sadly stepped down, and I am honestly pretty buzzing about that. If you’re into their older stuff, or just a heavier end of metalcore in general, check this out, you’ll surely enjoy it as much as I did! I’m so glad good OM&M are back, and I will certainly be listening to this album again plenty over the next few weeks. A damn solid 8.5/10 from us!
The Devil Wears Prada: Flowers
Another long-running metalcore band, but sadly the inverse of the previous entry on this list. I loved their last album, and the EP that preceded it. However, this did very little for me. However, a lot of the praise I heaped on those releases don’t really apply here. They’ve shifted into very modern metalcore territory, feeling much more like BMTH or Bad Omens than a lot of their prior work. It’s pretty pop-centric, just with some heavy guitars and the odd breakdown thrown onto the end of the occasional track for good measure. It doesn’t feel like the same band wrote both ‘Nightfall’ and ‘For You’. Like, what the fuck happened? And why was there an extreme metal scream and breakdown in the ballad? Someone make it make sense, please. The closest to enjoying this album I got was ‘All Out’ or ‘My Paradise’ the rest were all so incredibly meh.
It was honestly a slog of an album to get through too, 42-minutes feeling like a lifetime. You can tell their guitarist was all but left out of the writing process for this release, replaced by various pop producers and songwriters. I hate to be that guy, but the term ‘selling out’ comes to mind… There have been times that I have loved this band, but this is certainly not one of them. If you’re a fan, awesome, but this was not at all for me. It’s a 4/10, sorry.
Honestly, I don’t know who I’m less excited to see support Ice Nine Kills next month at this point, these or TX2…
Ross Harding: The Blood & The Blues
A friend of Overtone up next, with his highly anticipated debut full-length. I’m a big fan of his previous work, yet am not particularly up on the recent singles from this. However, it’s all excellent; a fantastic dark-blues release, filled with some amazing guitar work and plenty of catchy moments. Plus, from the title track to ‘No Rest for the Wicked’ to the acoustic ‘Black Rose’, there are so many massive highlights. However, there really isn’t a bad track on the release (though Thousand Tongues twice, bookending, Limp Bizkit style, is a bit much)! It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but if you’re into the style, or think a mixture of Amigo the Devil and Clutch sounds good, I’d highly recommend checking this out! I loved it and will certainly be listening again plenty in the coming weeks. I am desperate to see him live too, but until then this gets a very solid 8/10 from us!
Dragon Throne: Tale of the Two: Dusk
The sophomore album from the Finnish epic heavy metal band is very much exactly that: epic. Seven tracks spread perfectly across just 30 exact minutes, it’s a fantastic listen from start to finish. It’s incredibly European in its sound, blending together the best parts of heavy, symphonic and power metal, but also with just a touch of a modern edge to all of it to set it apart. Once again it’s so hard to pick highlights, as with the interlude tracks and the extended length of the others, it really feels like it’s made to be listened to in full. It’s a big undertaking, but well worth it if you have the time and are into the styles of music. The band are incredibly talented and have crafted something special with this release. I only hope we’re getting a ‘Dawn’ in the near future! But for now, this gets an easy 7.5/10
Colter Wall: Memories and Empties
Surprisingly the only straight-up country release for us this week, but it’s a damn fantastic classic release in the genre! I’ve somehow never heard Colter’s music before now, but I’m immediately a big fan of him from this release. It’s just over half-an-hour of chilled-out, fun and yet still emotion-filled neo-traditional country music, and I am all here for it! From the opener to ‘Like the Hills’, ‘Living by the Hour’ to ‘The Longer you Hold On’, there’s a lot to love on here. And, like I said, the whole thing is great if you love a more traditional style! His voice is somehow like velvet while still having some weight and gravity to it, and fits each track so well. And his lyrics throughout are amazing. And, instrumentally, while all fairly simple, the arragement for each track is great, getting the most out of each sound with plenty of strings, drums and organs. If you can’t tell, I loved this, and hopefully he makes it over to the UK soon! 8/10
Eld Varg: Destroyer
Another sophomore album this week, this time from a band that really feel like they are doing their own thing. I really struggled to pin this down into a genre, and I mean that in the best way. From a traditional heavy metal base, the band build everything from power/viking metal to more of a groove and melodic sound, creating something pretty interesting and unique and honestly shockingly not done enough. Regardless of what it is, the riffs are HUGE, and there’s some damn catchy melodic choruses and moments throughout. From the title track through single ‘Black Starlight’ to the epic closer, the album is packed full of highlights. However, at just seven tracks packed into a tight 41 minutes, there isn’t a bad song on it, and it goes by in a flash! I’d seen the name gaining some traction across the UK but hadn’t had the chance to check them out before now. Well, they now have a big new fan in me, and I really can’t get over how awesome this album is! Check it out if you are at all curious or have even a passing interest in metal. 9/10
P.S. What a beautiful album cover!
The Man From Delemonte: Better Things
The return album from the Manchester indie-pop band, their first appearance back in three and a half decades. While it’s not typcially my sort of music, it at least made for a chilled-out, fun listen. Songs like ‘Monday Morning After’, ‘The Number One’ and ‘Spanish Town’ are personal highlights, but the whole release is a damn easy listen! It gives off slight Velvet Underground vibes, like that mixed with both a late 90s US indie sound and that old-school indie-punk scene, too.
It definitely grew on me more and more through my first listen, and expect it to keep growing with a second and third. It’s the perfect album to throw on and just relax to. My only slight issue is that it does feel it drags a little by the end; nearly 40 minutes of similar paced and energied music did lose my interest slightly by the end. Still, if you’re into the lighter stuff, this is definitely an album for you, and I’m damn glad they’re back and making new music again! They’re damn talented players and songwriters, and this is an easy 7/10!
Mike Patton & The Avett Brothers: AVTT/PTTN
Yet another incredible yet hugely unexpected collaboration from the Faith No More frontman. The Avett Brothers are an incredible folk-rock band who returned with a bang last year, and I honestly had no idea how a collab with one of the quirkiest modern artists would sound. It’s odd, as expected, but honestly an ever so slight touch safe given the two artists involved. There’s some more rock-focused tracks and some more folky stuff, for sure. However, it’s arguably less out-there than the Brothers’ last album, not something I’d expect from them and the brain-child of Mr Bungle. Still, Patton gets to show off his absolutely PHENOMENAL vocals throughout, and tracks like ‘Heaven’s Breath’, ‘Disappearing’ and the incredible, dark folk-blues rock ‘The Ox Driver’s Song’ are all amazing tracks in their own right. It might have been my fault for getting my expectations a little high, as this is still a damn good release if you are into this style. I just hoped for more of the latter track I mentioned and less slightly-safe, slower folk. If you are at all curious check this out, and I’ll certainly be listening to some of this again plenty in the future. 8/10
1914: Viribus Unitis
The sixth studio album from the Ukranian blackened death metal band sees them return to the studio after four years, following up the masterful Where Fear and Weapons Meet. Firstly, as the first album the band have released since the start of the war for their country, fair play to them, this is excellent. I also love the whole concept/lay out of the release; each track highlighting a year of WWI and significant battles in it (1918 gets three). It’s a really cool, creative way of putting out music. Between these guys and Sabaton, they’ve really taken over Iron Maiden’s mantle as metals history teachers!
As for the music itself, it is certainly an acquired taste. It’s definitely a style that has grown on me a lot over the last few years, but is not for the faint of heart! A lot of it I found myself loving, though. Both ‘1915’ and ‘1916’ are phenomenal in their own right, and all three parts of ‘1918’ are an incredible journey in their own right. I’ve found myself saying this a lot this week, but it’s another album designed to throw on all at once; a big task for a nearly-hour long release, that’s for sure, but well worth it in the end! If you are into epic heavy stuff, give this one a spin, you may love it even more than I do! Big Rotting Christ vibes at times in the best way! Even if it’s not a genre I’d listen to often, I really enjoyed it, and it’s another easy 7.5/10.
Putrevore: Unending Rotting Cycle
As if you couldn’t tell already by the band or album name, or the artwork, this is a heavy one. It’s 31-minutes of brutality that doesn’t let up for a second, old-school death metal at its finest. A lot of early Cannibal Corpse vibes, that’s for sure. I’m a little on the fence with it, honestly. The riffing and drumming is incredible, it all going hard throughout. I don’t even hate the vocals, honestly. Yeah, they’re a touch ‘cookie monster’, but they fit the tracks perfectly and actually do some interesting things with the mix on them at times. However, the mix of the album overall is still a little off sometimes, as is the case with a lot of grind stuff. It’s a big wall of sound, so it’s hard to pick out individual parts to really hone in on at times, especially when it’s all at a brake-neck pace, too. The band are clearly all talented, but it’s hard for them to all shine when they all go at 100mph from the very first note to the last. I feel like it’s the sort of music I’d enjoy a lot more live, as I can appreciate it all a little more and really get into the energy. Still, it’s certainly not a bad release into the genre; it’s probably up there with one of my favourite I’ve reviewed of it recently. ‘Morbid Procession’ and ‘Mortal Ways of the Flesh’ are probably my favourite on there. If you’re into the heavy side of metal, give this a go, you’ll surely enjoy it! A pretty solid 6.5/10 from us.
The Reticent: Please
This is an absolutely WILD album. Firstly, as someone who has suffered from depression as a teen and young adult, that intro hit HARD. Then you get the almost Tool-like opening tracks, with ‘The Night River’ being a particular highlight of mine. However, just as I thought I was understanding the album, I get slapped in the face with the tech-death ‘The Bed of Wasps’ (in the best way possible, of course!). If there’s one thing this album isn’t, it’s predictable, being the best kind of prog. Heck, we even got a Piers Morgan jumpscare on this thing!
As you can’t tell, I loved this album. The concept is of course one close to home and isn’t talked about nearly enough still to this day, but pulled off in truely spectacular fashion. The lyrics, the soundbites, all of it is great. And musically, it’s phenomenal. The closest thing I can compare it to is Between the Buried and Me, that combination of lighter prog and heavy metalcore/death elements, composed together perfectly throughout. From the various vocal styles to the awesome guitaring, drumming and bass work to a healthy does of piano for good measure, it’s all fantastic. It’s also impossible to pick highlight tracks as it all flows together perfectly and they all have their own place and high points of their own. I would wholly recommend it if you are at all curious, and it’s made me a big new fan of the band! Be ready for an emotional ride, though. A surprisingly easy 9.5/10!