An absolutely packed week of NMM this week, with plenty of releases across the rock, metal and country worlds for us to check out. Let’s dive right in!

Karnivool: IN VERSES

The first new album from the modern prog legends in nearly 13 years finally dropped this last Friday, to plenty of hype! Honestly, it about lives up to said hype, too! ‘Ghost’ is an excellent opener, setting the tone well. ‘Drone’ follows it up perfectly too, being an easy album highlight! However, the whole album is pretty amazing from start to finish, there not being a bad song on it. Heck, the band have been sat on All it Takes for years now, and it’s still a banger! Don’t get me wrong, and hour plus of steady paced, similar stuff may be a little much for some, but I just sat back and got absorbed into it all, and it truly took me on a journey. Do yourselves a favour and stick some headphones on in a dark room and thank me later. It’s not quite Tool, but when Tool are so slow at their output these days, Karnivool are a fantastic alternative. The band are insanely talented songwriters and players, and have put out a release to rival any of their three previous. If you’re a prog fan, this one is certainly for you! 8/10

Mayhem: Liturgy of Death

The black metal legends returned once again this last weekend with album number seven, their first since 2019. If you are familiar with the band at all, you know exactly what to expect here. Brutality, epicness and darkness for a full 48 minutes. As a celebration of four decades as a band, it’s a fitting addition to their discography. As a throwback black/extreme metal release, it’s probably great. As an album for me personally… I can take it or leave it. It’s certainly not bad by any stretch, and the band are clearly all talented players and songwriters. The production on it is also surprisingly great for the genre, which is also a plus (even if it is a bit ‘wall of sound’-y at times). But as a style as a whole, it just isn’t by bag. I like it in small doses, or if something is added to the black metal to keep me interested, but nearly 50-minutes of the same feel and pace is a little much for me. The closest to a highlight track for me was either ‘Despair’ or ‘Funeral of Existence’, though all the rest were pretty similar. Again, if you like the genre or band, you’ll probably get a lot out of this. However, it didn’t do a great deal for me overall, so I can’t give it any more than a 4.5/10. I want to like it more, if that helps. Maybe I’d get into it more live.

Silversun Pickups: Tenterhooks

The first album in four years from the American alt rockers is an odd one for me. I like the overall vibe of it; it’s got some great riffs, tones, melodies and overall playing. And the vaguely proggy writing at times feels like it is right up my street. However, for whatever reason I just wasn’t hooked into this. Maybe it was the more generally indie vibe to it? I remember checking out their last album when it dropped and looking back I clearly got bored of that one too as I didn’t even give it a score! I would say I enjoyed this one more as I at least liked stuff like single ‘The Wreckage’ and ‘Thorns and All’. There is no denying the band are damn talented, and there is a massive audience that will love this. However, it sadly just didn’t do much for me. It may grow on me more with more listens, but with all the amazing releases already this year, I’m not in a huge rush to revisit this. A solid 5.5/10 for now; certainly not bad but incredibly average.

Puscifer: Normal Isn’t

Somehow MJK’s most consistent output these days, the experimental rock band put out their follow-up to 2020s Exsistential Reckoning last Friday. And, to the shock of no one, they are just as odd and quirky as ever. First things first, it is certainly not for everyone. It wouldn’t normally be my sort of thing, but I am such a big fan of Keenan and his ‘stream of consciousness’ is captivating with this project. It’s like the lighter end of NIN’s stuff, which generally I don’t go for much, but I love it here. Tracks like the title one, heavier single ‘Self Evident’, ‘A Public Stoning’ and ‘ImpetuoUs’ are all personal favourites. However, there isn’t a bad song on here and it has a great flow to it, the nearly-hour going by in a flash.

I’d put it up there alongside their previous release in terms of quality, if not slightly higher, making this maybe the best thing Maynard’s released in nearly a decade. That’s not to take away from the other two members, who work their ass off throughout and are insanely talented, too. But, make no mistake, Maynard is the star here. His vocals are still so incredible some 40 years into his career, and his lyric writing is as good as ever. He almost sounds angry at times, the first time in years; definitely a refreshing throwback to his hayday.

This is certainly an album I’ll be revisiting a fair bit moving forward, and I’d recommend to anyone even a little bit curious. While I impatiently wait another decade plus for new Tool music, this will more that satiate that hunger! 9/10

Tailgunner: Midnight Blitz

We’ve already checked out this awesome release! Read the full review here!

Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence: Havin’ a Talk

This is an incredibly fun collaboration. The old-school country pair fit like two puzzle pieces together; it feeling pulled straight out of the 30s and 40s as both of them have such the perfect throwback style. Melissa’s voice is like it’s coming straight out of a gramophone, while Theo’s is a smoother, Sinatra type. They contrast amazingly, and very much do exactly what they advertise; have a talk throughout! It’s certainly an acquired taste, but from the opener to ‘Dat Ain’t Right’ to ‘Joyous Time’, I enjoyed my listen! The pair and the musicians they worked with on this are all super talented, and have crafted something that isn’t heard too much these days. The closest comparison I can make is probably The Tailspins, who I also love! If you’re at all curious give this a spin, you may be surprised how much you like it, like I was! I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on both artists moving forward, and it’s an easy 7.5/10 from me?

Ablaze: Slow Death

This new EP from the post-hardcore collective goes hard. It wastes no time in getting into the heaviness, ‘No’ being chaotic awesomeness, a mess of mathy riffs, solid drums and some great screams. ‘Life’ follows that up with an awesome riff and some almost proggy heaviness, a definite release highlight. And the other two tracks are just as good, honestly. The closest comparison I can make outside of the post-hardcore scene is Tallah, which is definitely a compliment. The talent on display between the guitaring, bass, drums and vocals are all off the charts, and they have crafted something truly creative and unique with their sound. If you are at all curious, I’d highly recommend checking this out, the band certainly have a new fan in me! 7.5/10

Paganizer: As Mankind Rots

More brutality this week, this time curtesy of the death metal Swedes. I tend to find myself getting into straight-up death metal a little easier than black metal, and something about this release hooked me in even more than usual. It’s 40-minutes of straight-to-the-point heaviness, packed full of amazing riffing, drumming and screams. And, much like with Mayhem further up, the mix is surprisingly excellent for a heavier album. Tracks like ‘Devoured’, ‘Put on Your Gasmask’ and ‘Afterworld’ are all massive personal highlights. Don’t get me wrong, it is all a touch samey, but when it’s this high quality that’s hardly an issue. If you like the genre or the heavier side of metal at all, I’d definitely recommend giving this a spin. It gets a solid 7/10 from us!

Lakelin Lemmings: Get Around Boy

The debut EP from the rising country star is a fun collection of modern radio hits. It’s very much in the same vein of Megan Moroney, Cassadee Pope or even early Taylor Swift, but also feels pretty modern and easily distinguishable as Lakelin. All five tracks are awesome, if a little similar, and it’s hard to pick just one or two as highlights! There’s some amazing vocal performances and lyric writing from Lakelin throughout, and her band do a great job playing around her, too. She’s got an incredibly bright future ahead of her, even in the saturated country music scene, and this is a fantastic jumping off point for that! Any fans of the genre should get on this immediately, and it gets a solid 8/10 from us. I already can’t wait to hear more from her!

Cartoons Can’t Die: Rebirth

The debut album from the djenty, deathcorey collective goes hard and chaotic from start to finish. It honestly took a little bit of getting into for me, but I think it was more down to me not quite enjoying the opener as much as other tracks. ‘Kinslayer’ is an awesome, almost melodeath-style track, while ‘The Loss of Something Dear’ and the deathcore ‘Godless’ were also personal high points. And, while a lot of the rest of the album is still good, those tracks in particular stand out more to me. I think maybe the mix has something to do with it; if it had a heavier hand of overall production it could be something truly incredible. Still, as a debut release this is amazing, and the band have crafted something incredibly interesting and unique. There is no denying their playing talent, and some of their arrangements are phenomenal. They have a curious new fan in me, and if you like things a little proggy, give this a listen! A solid 7/10!

Big Bad Train: Woodcut

The UK prog rockers are back with album 16, and it is just as impressive as their other work. True, old-school prog, this thing feels very much like Jethro Tull or Yes, and certainly not in a bad way. It has definite elements of Dream Theater in there for good measure, too! The talent in playing and writing on display throughout is off the charts; even the staunchest of haters would have to agree with that. ‘The Artist’ is an insanely good opener and introduction, while epic tracks like ‘The Sharpest Blade’, ‘Warp and Weft’ (holy crap that acapella bit!) and the surprisingly short (yet still grandiose) closer are all big highlights. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout. It’s not a small undertaking at 65-minutes, but it has a fantastic flow to it and begs to be listened to in full to really get an appreciation of the release as a whole, interludes and all. I somehow hadn’t heard of them before but they have a big new fan in me, and I’ll definitely be spinning this again in the months to come. A very solid 8.5/10!

Cj Hooper: Over Yonder

This is a fantastic little country release! It combines a lot of elements and sounds, very much wearing its inspirations on its sleeve. From the southern rock opener to the almost murder-folk ‘Hard Times’ to the Man in Black-esque ‘Rain Song’, there is plenty of variety through each track. Heck, ‘Damage Plan’ even gives off Social Distortion vibes, which at least tracks as they are a more punk Johnny Cash. The whole thing has a slight punk vibe overall, having some pretty powerful lyrics and definitely doing stuff against the norm. Plus, his vocals are amazing, having so much weight and emotion behind every word. I’d never heard of Cj before but he immediately has a big new fan in me, and I’ll definitely be going back and checking out his debut from last year soon! I would definitely recommend this if you are at all curious, and it’s another release that gets a massive 8.5/10

Demonic Resurrection: Apocalyptic Dawn

The new EP from the Indian symphonic metal band goes surprisingly hard! It’s much more death/extreme metal leaning than I was expecting given its symphonic tag. And, it’s not typically the amount of sound you’s expect from India. However, neither are knocks on the music as this is a great three tracks, and a welcome return after a few years of no releases. It’s technical, heavy and still has the epicness of a symphonic release, plenty of strings and stuff working their magic in the back. All three songs are amazing; performed, written and mixed perfectly. It’s an awesome release that is the perfect introduction into the band for people otherwise unfamiliar, like myself! If you are into the heavier side of metal, this is more than worth a spin. A very solid 8/10 from me!

P.S. some more incredible artwork this year here, too!

Lily Löwe: BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

The sophomore album from the Norwegian modern rocker is a pretty great follow-up to her 2022 debut! It’s nearly half an hour of massive choruses and vocals, backed by some fun riffs and drums. It’s very DOROTHY, or even Gaga, in the best ways. And, honestly, all nine songs of it are as good as the last! It’s impossible to pick highlights. It’s very radio-friendly and pop-infused, but also has some great heaviness at times, and the focus is pretty heavy on the rock instrumentation throughout. It’s insane to me that she isn’t a bigger name, as she could easily take the US and UK by absolute storm if she got a break. A lot of this is going to be stuck in my head for days to come, and she’s another artist that has gained a massive new fan in me! Her vocals are amazing and her writing is great too. And shoutout to the rest of the band once again, who are killing it throughout. I cannot recommend this enough to absolutely anyone, check it out immediately! 9/10

Big Richard: Pet

From the artist name, I certainly wasn’t expecting four women playing Americana/bluegrass music. However, this was sick, and I’m so glad I checked it out! The setup, while rather simple, lends itself to giving everyone time to shine on their instruments, and the vocals fit perfectly over the top of it, powerful and beautiful in equal measure. It’s got a slight darkness to it, feeling like a combination of Poor Man’s Poison and The Castellows. The opening track sets the perfect tone moving forward, and songs like ‘Alaska’ and the epic instrumental ‘Circus Jerk’ are also big highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song throughout! It may get a touch long-in-the-teeth with it being 40+ minutes of similar-ish music, but if you are a fan of traditional folk and bluegrass, you will surely love this a lot. I had a lot of fun with it, and will certainly be revisiting certain songs plenty, even if I don’t return to the album as a whole quite as much. Still, overall it’s great, and I can’t give it any less than 7.5/10!

Barrel: Triptych

Yet another amazing debut album for us to check out from last Friday! The Finnish metallers crafted nearly 40-minutes of heavy riffs, powerful vocals and some great melodies throughout, not to mention some surprising growls here and there for good measure. It’s borrows from plenty of different styles too, from melodic hard rock to thrash to doom to NWOBHM, and honestly feels like something pretty unique when combining each sound. The opener almost every element of this perfectly, and then you have songs like ‘Scavenger’ and ‘Signs for Kings’ that are a bit more focused but are certainly massive highlights. Also, the ballad ‘War’ is epic brilliance. The whole album is excellent though and clearly crafted with love, it flowing perfectly and having a couple of great little interlude tracks to add even more depth. The band have only been around a few years at this point but are surely set for big things in the next year or two after this release. They’re all insanely talented, and have crafted something both old-school and modern here. I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10, amazing stuff!