Another three awesome EPs for us to check out this week, from country to melodeath! Let’s dive in!
Chloe Loader: Fearlessly Wild
The debut EP from the UK country upstart is a fantastic early 2000s style release! Opener ‘Head on Down That Highway’ travels big Ashley McBride or Reba vibes, while ‘Cowgirl Boots’ is a bit more a boot-stompin’ southern rock track. Meanwhile ‘Lesson From You’ is a fantastic, heartfelt ballad, as is ‘Last Best Man’. And don’t get me wrong, the other two tracks are excellent, as well. There isn’t a bad song on this; it’s a very easy 20 minutes of listening. Every song is fantastically written, having a very classic vibe to it. And Chloe’s vocals are honestly incredible, her power and range is off the charts, definitely making for a big highlight of the release. For a debut release this is amazing, and a very clear indicator that Chloe is going to be a big name in the UK country scene sooner rather than later. If you are at all a fan of the genre, check this out immediately! It gets a very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Torch Us: To Non-Existence
The Finnish melodeath band are back with their sophomore EP, following up 2024’s Derailed rather perfectly. It’s only three songs, but 15 minutes of sheer awesomeness. From the riffing to the screams to the incredible drums and melodies, it all works so damn well! It’s very much an early In Flames vibe in the best way possible! If you have even a passing interest in the subgenre, check this out immediately, as this is honestly one of the best shorter releases in it. I cannot pick a favourite track as they are all awesome in their own way, and everyone works their asses off throughout all of them. It’s a genre that really need a mainstream metal comeback by now, and this very well may be the band that could make that happen! I can’t give it any less than 9/10!
Of Concrete Gods: The Art of Suffering
The third EP from the stoner/grunge metal band comes a full two years after their (some would call album) Hurt EP. In that time the band have somehow grown into even better songwriters and musicians. This whole thing is a powerhouse of riffs and catchy vocals for a full almost half-hour. From the opener/title track to the heavy-punk ‘Diatribes and Disappointment’ to the more lighter, proggy closing track, it’s all awesome! It gives off as much early 2000s alt metal as it does anything modern, but all the sounds combine together perfectly to make something truly great here. It won’t be for everyone, but I loved this EP a lot and will definitely spinning it plenty in the weeks to come. If you are at all a metal fan, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! A very easy 8/10
Another week, another trio of awesome EPs for us to be checking out. Let’s dive right in!
Edit the Tide: The Space Between Seconds
The sophomore EP from the US alt metallers is an awesome slab of catchy vocals and awesome riffs. Heck, a lot of the playing borders on math or prog, which makes for even more of an interesting listen! And vocally it’s amazing, being catchy throughout and still having some grit and screams where needed. There’s even some hardcore elements alongside the melodic parts, there being so many awesome sounds that combine together surprisingly perfectly. It’s hard to pick highlight tracks too, as every song is as good as the last. It has an excellent flow to it too, the peaks and troughs providing an amazing dynamic from start to finish. If you’re into anything from early 2000s radio metal (Breaking Benjamin and Crossfade) to more proggy stuff, I cannot recommend this enough. I loved it and the band certainly have a big new fan in me! I can’t give it any less than 9/10!
P.S. STUNNING artwork!
Leave no Witness: HELL AND BACK
A debut EP this time, from the West Midlands metalcore quartet. Combining their two biggest singles to date with two brand new tracks, it’s a powerhouse of heaviness for 17 straight minutes. Of course both remastered singles are awesome, but both ‘Familiar’ and ‘Heartless’ are up there alongside them, with the latter being a big highlight of the release as a whole. The band are all insanely talent; from the awesome riffing to heavy drumming to both the melodic screams and brutal screaming. I’ve heard the name around before but am shocked I haven’t checked them out before, as I LOVED this. They’re like an early Bullet but very much brought forward into the modern metal scene. So, if that sounds as good to you as it does me, check this out ASAP! An incredibly solid 8.5/10!
Rane Rautiainen & Paha Kaksonen: Ilman pimeyttä valo ei ole mitään
So just to put this out there, I have no idea what any of these words say or mean. However, I almost don’t need to, as I had a blast listening to this anyway! The pair have produced a great, fun, foot-stompin’ hard rock album, combining elements of sleaze, punk and AOR together perfectly. From the opener to ‘Uusi mies’, there’s plenty to love here, and there really isn’t a bad track on the release! The riffing is a big highlight of point, but the catchy vocals are certainly up there, too! I had no idea who either artist were before this review, but am so glad that they seem to work together regularly, as they fit so very well together. If you are at all into a sleazier side of rock, this is certainly the release for you! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the pair more often, and it gets an easy 8/10 from us!
Three more awesome EPs for us to check out this week, from country to metal! Let’s dive in!
Hunter Brothers: All Kinds of Country
This is an incredible country release, combining both pop and rock elements perfectly. It’s got some of the catchiest choruses and melodies I’ve heard all year, every track made to be a massive radio hit. The vocal harmonies throughout from the brothers just add to that, too. All six tracks are absolutely incredible, there not being a single weak link in the chain. However, ‘Keep on Truckin” and ‘Homegrown Night’ are personal highlights. However, then you have the boot-stompin’ opener, featuring the awesome Lathan Warlick who adds a bit more of an R&B feel to it. Shantia also does awesomely on ‘Better Days’, and their cover of that iconic Jackson 5 song is also incredible, giving off big Rascal Flats vibes. I’d somehow never heard of the band before this came across my email, but they have a HUGE new fan in me, and I immediately want to hear more! For now though, I can’t give it any less than a 9/10!
Analog Amara: Slowly Falling Apart
The debut EP from the dark alt metal band is an awesome collection of vulnerable tracks that fit together like the perfect puzzle. From former American Idol contestant Amanda Hawkins to Authority Zero drummer Jim Wilcox, there’s plenty of star power here, and the trio work incredible together, writing five great gothic metal songs. It’s hard to believe that they’ve only been working together for three years, as it’s all incredible well crafted, performed and even mixed! It feels like a combination of Phoenix Lake, Lacuna Coil and Him in all the best ways. And from the opener to ‘Is it All’ to ‘So Far Away’, there are plenty of highlights throughout. It’s a fantastic debut release and could easily push the band up a few notches in the scene. If you are at all curious, it’s well worth checking out, and gets a solid 8/10 from us!
RaeLynn: Jingle Jangle Rock
Well, it’s that time of the year already. Goddamn, I was not expecting to be covering Christmas music already. Still, DAMN, what an EP! The genre always works surprisingly well with the topic, something I never feel like I expect even if we get some new in it every year, and this is no exception! The opener is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, while ‘Redneck Christmas’ is a lot of fun, packed full of fun, tongue-in-cheek stereotypical lyrics. And, her version of ‘Run Run Rudolph’ is fantastic too, adding her awesome country-rock twang to the original. I’d somehow not heard of her before now, but I’ll definitely be checking out her other stuff now as I’m a big fan! And, I’ll surely be rocking this more and more over the next two months! A damn fun listen, and a very easy 8.5/10 from us.
This has somehow been both highly anticipated by me for ages, yet also came out of nowhere. Announced officially less than a month ago and only having two singles put out pre-release, it kinda feels like it’s been a fast project. However, I’ve heard at least two others when seeing him over the last 18 months, and in that time my hype has grown more and more. He is easily one of my favourite country stars currently around,no secrets there, and I truly believe this could be the album to take him to megastardom, if it’s as good as I hope. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
‘Cryin’ Shoulder’ is the perfect way to open this album. It’s also a song I completely forgot I’d heard before until now. It’s a simple, neo-traditional country track very much in a style of Brooks and Dunn. Heck, it’s barely two minutes long, but so damn catchy; a real earworm of a chorus! And not only that, but they still manage to squeeze in a cheeky little solo in the middle! It’s everything that Drake is about wrapped up into a neat little package, and kicks things off in style!
‘Hearts Together’ keeps the classic vibes rolling, this time in much more of an Elvis style. It’s a fantastic love song, packed full of perfect harmonies, some great lead guitaring and some excellent fiddle from Miss Kelly Hagen. I love that this sort of sound has really made its way back to the mainstream, with both Zach Topand Neon Union also doing it fantastically just this year alone. It’s of course another infectiously catchy track, and one that I can already invision being a firm favourite live. It also has one of my favourite solos from Ryan DeMers, it fitting the track excellently. The wife is going to love the song too, that’s for sure!
The title track has been stuck in my head periodically since I first heard it at TLR back in August. Hell, I even reacted to it when the studio version dropped and got even more obsessed. It’s arguably the perfect slow country ballad, and a cracking choice for a single. The lyrics are heartfelt and Drake delivers them with so much emotion, making you feel every line. And, of course, his band go hard throughout, the track building perfectly throughout and sounding truly epic by the end. And yes, both the pre and the chorus are catchy as hell. It’s as great on track as it is live, and a huge early highlight of the album. It’s been on our playlist since the day it was released!
‘Turn it Off’ keeps the pace slower and chilled, but Drake’s charisma eeks through still, keeping it constantly interesting. It’s another beautiful love ballad too, a style that he does to perfection. It reminds me of Everette’s ‘She Got That From Me’ (which is a MASSIVE compliment, trust me) but a positive version, like the negative of that track. It’s another simple song, a steady pace and simple arrangement, but there’s just something about when Drake does this sort of thing, man. His vocals are smooth as velvet throughout, them definitely being the focal point and highlight of the track. To the shock of I’m sure no one, it’s another excellent song!
Tracks like ‘Like the Moon’ and ‘Good as Gone’ are more slower, Midland-esque songs. That certainly isn’t a bad thing as both songs are still excellent. However, we have had a few similarly paced tracks in a row now, and it’s gotten a little hard to talk about them without repeating myself.
‘Slow Dancing to a Fast Song’ has been a firm favourite live over the last 18 months now, and it’s easy to hear why. I’ve heard it both timesI’ve seen him live, and it’s somehow just as good on track as it is in that setting. It’s such a fun concept for a song and is pulled off to perfection by Drake et al. From the excellent, catchy chorus to the fun, bouncy verses to some awesome lead lines again from the guitar and fiddle, it’s all so well done! Another firm highlight for the album, not that I ever doubted that it would be, and another that easily makes our playlist.
Another single and another we’ve already checked out, ‘Old Flames, Old whiskey’, is of course another banger. It’s a chorus ripped straight out of 90s country music, and it’s nice to have two upbeat tracks in a row. It’s another track that I’ve gushed over plenty since the moment it was released. It’s a simple, straight-to-the-point track that any country fan is bound to love! And yes, of course it’s another highlight!
‘Girl Like You’ is another catchy, up-tempo track, and one that will surely be a massive single in the months to come. Opening on another insanely catchy chorus, topped off with Drake’s cheeky charm, and keeping the bounce tempo up through the verses, it’s another welcome rockier track. It’s another simple, radio-friendly formula and structure, but is written and performed fantastically. The whole band is truly incredible, and I especially like the subtle keys throughout the track. It’s another that I want to hear live, as all the parts would be excellent!
Tracks like ‘Hard Headed Cowboy’ and ‘Lonely:30’ are more slower, traditional country stuff. It’s very Willie Nelson or Hank II, but in the best possible way. Both tracks are awesome, and fit well after a few faster numbers. Meanwhile both ‘Goodbye Ain’t All that Bad’ and ‘Talk Texas’ are still stripped back, but more up-tempo. The former honestly reminds me of his Christmas song, which isn’t at all a bad thing! It’s my favourite of the two, mainly due to the great fiddle melody and some great lead guitar throughout. The vocals and harmonies are great throughout, but it feels like the instrumentation is more of a focal point. Meanwhile ‘Talk Texas’ is just a damn fun, simple, bouncy track! It’s minimalistic drums and bass, focusing on the vocals and lead guitar and fiddle was awesome, and makes for a great late-album song.
‘How Much Beer’ is yet another track I’ve heard before, but we didn’t get a feature from the amazing Randall King live! It’s another song that’s destined to be a huge radio single, giving big early 2000s country vibes. It was also fantastic live, and went down a storm with an unfamiliar audience. It’s a catchy, blues-rock-based track, and both King and Milligan work perfectly together. Honestly, my only gripe is that it’s the album closer, I feel it would have worked better being earlier on, maybe swap with Tumbleweed. However, there’s a reason he’s a massive music star and I’m not, I guess! If you’re a fan of the light-hearted, boot-stompin’ side of country, I’d definitely recommend you check this out over an other on the release! It’s a lot of fun, and still a good way to close out the release; I just think it’s good enough to be close to the front. And the half time rockin’ at the end… DAMN… fucking awesome!
Overall: Of course, I loved this! I’d heard a third of it before its release so was almost guaranteed to, but it’s so good to finally have it out and get to check it out in full! Drake’s vocals and songwriting in his genre are second to none at this point, and he showcases both perfectly here. And, as I’ve said before, he has one of the best backing bands on the scene too, all getting their time to shine plenty throughout. I think the track order will take a touch of getting used to, as like I said, it’s not how I’d have arranged the album. But I’ll be listening to this plenty in the coming weeks, I’m sure it’ll grow on me even more! I think it was always going to be a tall task comparing this to his debut, but both are packed full of incredible country tracks, I think they’re just different as opposed to one over the other. This is an excellent release, and one I’d recommend to anyone!
Three more awesome EPs for us to check out this week, and they’re all from the heavier end!
Trivium: Struck Dead
It has been FAR too long since we’ve had new Trivium. It’s been over four yearssince Court of the Dragon, and my impatience for new music from Heafy and co has been massive. So, while three songs is not nearly enough to quench that hunger, this is still a damn good release! The band can do no wrong at this point, and this is 17-minutes of heavy metalcore awesomeness. Matthew’s screams are as good as ever, and his powerful cleans add some great melody to it all. And from the riffing to the drumming to the lead stuff, it’s all heavy, technical greatness in a way that only Trivium seem to deliver these days. And, while all three tracks are awesome, the epic, seven-minute ‘Six Walls’ is a huge high point, definitely one to make it regularly on a live set, I hope! If you are at all into the band, check this out immediately! 9/10
Currents: All That Follows
More metalcore this week but far more of a modern sound to it than Trivium. This surprise drop from the quintet goes hard, and follows up 2023’s critically acclaimed The Death We Seek perfectly! I remember loving that when it dropped but have for whatever reason not revisited it much. This has made me fall in love with the band all over again, though! This thing is 20 minutes of a heavy metalcore masterclass, all five tracks being as good as the last. The opener and ‘Can’t Turn Back’ are personal highlights, but every song is excellent. They boarder on deathcore perfectly, but have enough melody at times to keep them more rooted in metalcore. I said it before and I’ll say it again, they are the future of heavy music, and their output over the last few years is showing that clearly. The band are insanely talented and honestly put a good few other modern metal bands to shame.9.5/10, goddamn!
Takomaha: American Basements
I have to admit, I don’t get the whole indie-hardcore thing on track. It’s got a similar vibe to it as Turnstileor Soft Play in that I’d love to be in a crowd at a live gig for it, but don’t really get that same rush and energy on track. The band are clearly talented songwriters and players, and if you like this style this is up there with any of the aforementioned bands. It’s not bad, by any stretch. But, it’s sadly not one that I’d revisit much, even if I wouldn’t turn it off if it came on again! But fuck do I wanna throw people around in a pit to this. ‘NO_CLIP’ is probably my favourite track on here. It may grow on me more, but for now it gets a still solid 7/10 from us!
Another stacked week new albums for us to check out, from metal to country! Let’s dive right in!
Brandi Carlisle: Returning to Myself
The folk-Americana singer-songwriter seems to be on a bit of a resurgence recently, returning with her first new album in four years (aside the Elton collab). However, I’m glad she’s back, as this is an awesome release! There’s just something about Brandie, her lyrics and vocals are captivating, weather it’s slower, stripped-back vocals and guitar or the more rocky stuff that it builds to. It’s impossible not to love! The release is packed full of highlights, too, from single ‘Human’ to the gospel, Cam-like ‘A Woman Oversees to the rocky ‘Church & State’ and ‘No One Knows Us’. It’s a real early 2000s sound, but still feels fresh and fitting in 2025, especially with the emotion that Brandie puts into every single track. It does get a touch samey at times, don’t get me wrong, but if you are into her or the style of music, you will surely love this even more than I do! Her and her band are so insanely talented, and it’s impossible to get this any less than an 8/10!
Soulfly: Chama
The first new album from Max and co in three years, and it almost feels like they have something to prove with this release. This thing goes hard for just over half an hour, really taking no prisoners! His last couple of years reuniting Nailbomb has clearly renewed his heaviness, because this is wonderful, chaotic brutality. It also makes it very hard to pick highlight tracks, as it’s all pretty awesome, similar industrial/nu/groove metal, and doesn’t at all overstay it’s welcome. If you are into the band, any of Cavaleras other projects or just a more world-style of metal music in general, this is definitely one to check out! I’m just glad Soulfly, and by extension the Cavalera brothers, are still making awesome music after everything that’s gone on. The fact that it’s this good is really a bonus! A very easy 8/10 from us!
Alexandra Kay: Second Wind
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our full review of it here.
The Acacia Strain: You Are Safe from God Here
Their first new music since 2023’s double album, the metalcore quintet are another band that go hard from the very first note to the last. I do like this old-school approach of metalcore that focuses on much more of the actual metal as opposed to more pop elements, like a good few modern bands have turned to. It also very much leans into the hardcore heavily at times, it making me want to throw people around pit in the best way. This is just brutal riffing and screams throughout, almost boarding on deathcore for a lot of it. Tracks like ‘A CALL BEYOND’, ‘MOURNING STAR’ and ‘HOLY MOONLIGHT’ are all personal highlights, though there really isn’t a bad song throughout! I’ve sadly never gotten round to checking them out too much in the past but I’m a rather big fan immediately after this release! I cannot recommend it enough to anyone into the heavier side of metal, and it gets a very solid 9/10
Just Mustard: WE WERE JUST HERE
The third album from the Irish alt/experimental rock band is… well… it certainly exists. This very much isn’t my thing, and while I don’t really get how they got 200k+ monthly listeners, at least plenty of people do ‘get’ and enjoy it! It’s 40-minutes of samey, droning art rock, and was very much a slog for me to get through. The band members are clearly talented individuals, but their songwriting did absolutely nothing for me. The best of the bunch was probably ‘SILVER’. If this is your sort of thing that’s awesome, but I definitely won’t be revisiting it again. I sadly can’t give it any more than 3.5/10
Sumo Cyco: NEON VOID
A band we here at Overtone are very familiar with up next! Not only did we review their last album, but we’ve also reacted to four of these tracks already! So, to say my hype for this album is high would be an understatement!
Well, safe to say it lives up to the hype! Of course the singles are great, but the album tracks we haven’t yet heard are also excellent! ‘FLIES’, ‘VOICES’ and the closer are up there with any other track on the album, and probably up there with some of the bands best! As much as I enjoyed that album, this feels a bit more focused and refined, everything sounding awesome and fitting together perfectly. It is a little similar throughout, but ‘STRONGER NOW’ also does a good job at breaking things up in the middle. Skye’s vocals throughout are perfect and, despite me wishing for maybe another scream or two, they fit the awesome nu-metal riffing amazingly. It’s honestly insane that the band aren’t a massive name in the industry by now, but after a seemingly complicated release through COVID, they seem back and more motivated than ever! This is an awesome album, one I’ll revisit a lot, and an easy 8.5/10!
Conjurer: Unself
Album number four from the British post metal band has a LOT of hype to live up to after their stellar 2022 output. However, I would put this about on par with Páthos, honestly! It’s just as dark and heavy and epic, and the contrast between the lighter and crushingly heavy moments are incredible. It goes from black metal to djent to death all with ease, and is an album that really begs to be listened to in full instead of individual tracks. Having said that, both ‘All Apart’ and the epic ‘Foreclosure’ are both personal highlight tracks, though the whole album is great! It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but if you like a more epic sounding heaviness, this is certainly one that you need to check out immediately! It’s great to see the band slowly getting more and more praise and hype around them, and this is certainly an album I’ll be revisiting again soon. 8.5/10
Shiraz Lane: In Vertigo
Another band we are very familiar with, and another release that feels like it has been a long time coming and has finally arrived! The Finish heavy glam/AORers’ fourth studio album is fantastic from start to finish, giving off big early Santa Cruz vibes, which is never a bad thing. It boarders on metal perfectly, but still has plenty of soaring melody, designed to be played to huge arena crowds. It almost gives an air of Coheed and Cambria, which is really awesome! However, it still has plenty of Reckless Love, Bon Jovi and H.E.A.T to keep it firmly rooted in its genre. It’s another release packed full of awesome tracks, but between the two opening tracks, ‘Babylon’, ‘Sayonara Love’ and ‘Bullshit’ there are plenty of huge highlights for me personally! The band have always been talented songwriters and musicians, but this feels like somehow even a step up from their stellar last release. If you are at all into rock, this is an absolute must for you. The whole album is so easy to listen to, and goes by in a flash. An incredibly easy 9.5/10 from me, an album I’m going to be revisiting a lot!
Dayseeker: Creature in the Black Night
When I complained earlier about metalcore bands focusing heavily on pop, these were one of the main ones I had in mind. I passed on their last album to Max as he’s a fan, but instead you can suffer my review of this sixth album from them. It’s fine. But it is essentially pop-rock music with the very occasional metal sprinkled over the top. And it’s a shame too, as when they go heavy it’s great. Rory has a great scream to him, and while the riffing is pretty generic, it’s at least good. But the rest of it between, and it’s most of it, is such boring, slow, synth-pop that it makes it more than a slog to get to anything good. It’s baby’s first metal band, the new gateway band, and it’s probably the reason they have 2.5M monthly listeners. Much like with Just Mustard, if you like it, awesome. However, this honestly bored the fuck out of me. The only real saving grace was ‘Cemetery Blues’, and even that’s a bit of a stretch. 3/10, sorry not sorry.
Galactic Empire: Cinemetal
The Star Wars-themed metal band are back with album number four; producing another epic, heavy 43-minutes of cinematic metal. However, this time they have branched away from the solely Star Wars theme, this time including plenty of massive, blockbuster hits metal-fied by the masters. While not technically original music so I wouldn’t normally cover it here, it’s so damn impressive from not only a playing standpoint, but from a composition one, that there is no way I’m not highlighting it. Plus, it’s a fucking awesome release with some of my favourite movie themes transposed into my favourite genre, so how can I not gush over it? Of course, it’s some of the greatest non-Star Wars scores ever produced, so they are all incredible, but a special shoutout to ‘Avengers’, ‘Back to the Future’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’, which I feel transposed the best. The band are all insanely talented individuals, and I’d recommend absolutely anyone checking this out, as you’re bound to have listened to at least one of the tracks before now! It’s awesome, and gets a solid 8.5/10 from us (high for instrumental and/or covers!). Now I NEED Jurassic Park!
Brainwave: Ill Intent
This is every thrash/death-heads dream album. A 28-minute all-out assault of heavy, fast, evil riffs, some of the best drumming in the game and some truly awesome screamed vocals to back it all up. I’d never heard of the band before but DAMN, I’m so glad I managed to dive in here with their debut album. Every time I thought I’d heard it all, they just slapped me in the face with another fantastic riff or moment, keeping me constantly interested and almost constantly headbanging. Tracks like ‘The Truth’, ‘Another Foe’ and the title one are massive personal highlights. Then you have the almost more hardcore/crossover ‘Sad Man’s Parade’ due to a fantastic feature from Martial Law. There really isn’t a bad song on the album though, with each being just as good as the last. I feel like I haven’t had a huge amount of straight-forward thrashy albums this year, so this of this high quality is a huge, awesome breath of fresh air. If you are at all into the heavier side of metal, this is very much a must for you! A very easy 9/10 from us!
Mammoth: The End
Album number three from Master Van Halen is honestly a banger! It’s no secretthat I’ve never quite got his solo stuff so far, but this album very much feels like a step out of whatever shadow he was still under, feeling like he’s finally comfortable with his own sound and writing. It feels a little darker and heavier than his previous stuff, more like Alter Bridge as opposed to the hard rock of his previous two releases. I was hooked in front the opener, and tracks like ‘Same Old Song’, ‘I Really Wanna’ and ‘Something New’ kept me fully on the line! His talented as a player or really songwriter has never been in question, but this rougher sound is definitely more up my street, and I finally ‘get’ it. If you are into his previous stuff, please let me know if you like this too, I’m genuinely curious if I’m just the weird one. But yep, another album I’ll be spinning a lot in the coming weeks and months, and a very solid 8.5/10 from us!
Jet Jaguar: Severance
The second album from the Mexican classic metal four-piece is a long awaited, yet excellent, follow up to their 2020 debut. It almost boarders on power metal in its level of epicness, and clearly draws inspiration from everything from Maiden to Priest to Helloween. The band also go hard from start to finish on this album, ripping through eight tracks (and two bonus ones) in heavy, grandiose fashion, it going by in a flash. Tracks like single ‘Mach 10’, the title one and ‘Disposable Minds’ are all personal highlights. However, there really isn’t a bad song on here, with even the bonus tracks being awesome! It’s a sound that has come back in a big way in recent years, and Jaguar are up there as doing it as good as almost any other! A very solid 8/10 from us, and they have a new fan in me!
Vanguardian: III: Inhumanity
I had no idea about the band heading into this, but from their name, font and artwork, I expected a folky black metal thing. I wasn’t expecting this crazy mix of Burning Red-era Machine Head and Cradle of Filth, with a prog dash added in for good measure, at all! I have to admit it took a slight bit of growing, but the more I listened the more I enjoyed it. I think the biggest hurdle for me was the mix; it’s a little abrasive when I think a bigger, fuller sound would have enhanced the album even more. However, some of the riffing and drumming is phenomenal, as is the bass, and some of the screams are perfectly timed for the track, sounding awesome! Tracks line ‘Peripherals’, ‘Dead Space’ and ‘Electric Sorrow’ are personal favourite, but there isn’t really a bad song on it. It’s an interesting listen for sure, and one that I’d certainly recommend checking out if you’re interested. I enjoyed it and do think it’ll grow on me more with another listen or two. For a debut album it’s great and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them going forward, that’s for sure! 7.5/10
An awesome collection of new EPs for us to check out this week!
Gareth: Bluebird
The second EP from the fast-rising Irish country star follows up his excellent debutjust under six months ago. It picks up perfectly where that release left off, giving us another 21 minutes of incredible country-pop from start to finish. It’s insane that he’s only fully been on scene the last couple of years or so, as his songwriting is phenomenal and is honestly up there with any early-mid 2000s big name in the genre. It’s impossible to pick highlights too, as every track is just as good as the last! However, I do have to give a special shoutout to the duet with Joss Stone; their voices complimenting each other perfectly and it honestly giving me goosebumps! If you are a fan of a slower, more folk-edged contemporary country style, I cannot recommend this enough! It’s easy to see why he’s becoming a big name already, and I can just see him going up and up more with each release! Another incredibly easy 9/10 from us!
P.S. his ‘Iris’ cover is as amazing on track as it is live!
Juliet Ruin: Regime
The third EP from the melodic metal band and long-awaited follow-up to Dark Water finally dropped today, and is yet another awesome release from the quartet! The bands post-hardcore/metalcore style is a breath of fresh air, a style not many bands seem to still do these days aside for the likes of Ashen Reachor Skarlett Riot. And, while it’s a completely different release to the previous in this article, it’s another that doesn’t have a bad track on it, it being impossible to pick highlights! Everything from the riffing to the drums to the insane solos is incredible. And the vocals… DAMN, *chefs kiss*. Both the cleans and the screams are amazing, Jess and the guys being all criminally underrated together. If you are at all into any of the genres or bands that I mentioned, or even stuff like melodeath, I cannot recommend this release enough! It’s criminal that the band aren’t far bigger by now, but this EP will surely put them on that path. It’s another very easy 9/10!
Emmett Jerome: It Ain’t Me
Another country-infused sophomore EP this week, this time from the Canadian Americana/folk artist. he perfectly follows up last years Rocky Mountain Son with this collection of rock-drenched country-Americana. From the awesome opener to the beautifully Zach Bryan ‘Bottle Song’ to the more blues rock ‘Write to Me’, there is so much to love on this thing. However, there really isn’t a bad track on it. Emmett’s vocals and lyric writing are the focal and clear high point throughout, and it’s clear we have yet another star in the making here. It’s a more chilled out take on the wider country sound than much of the rest of the list, but if that is your thing definitely give this a spin! A solid 8/10!
Alkemia: Alkemia EP
I had no idea what to expect heading into this EP. However, I’d have never been able to predict post-grunge but with more hardcore, stoner vocals, in Finnish! However, after some slight getting used to, I found myself really enjoying it! It’s has elements of so much different stuff, from the aforementioned post-grunge, hardcore and stoner, to more punk vibes and even a touch of death’n’roll at times. It’s nothing if not a damn interesting and FUN listen. Personal highlights are ‘1+1’ and ‘Kääntöpuoli’, but every track has plenty to enjoy from it! If you are into the heavier, quirkier and moshier side of things, this is well worth checking out! The band have a new fan in me and, with this being their debut EP, I’m super curious to hear where they go from here! 7.5/10
Noah Rinker: The Pines
This is a surprisingly epic release. While rather Americana/folk overall, like a Mumford and Sons, it also has a healthy dose of indie and even soft rock splashed in for good measure. It’s a style that, while probably done plenty before, still feels rather fresh in Noah’s hands. Tracks like ‘Tumbleweed’, ‘The Pines’ and ‘Matches & Gasoline’ are all personal highlights. His vocals and lyrics are honestly incredible. I do have to say, however, that while every track is good, they do all sound pretty similar. Thank god it’s just an EP, because I think I was flagging a little by this’ 22-minute length, never mind anything longer! But still, if you like this sort of music it is a fantastically solid release in the genre, and well worth checking out! 7.5/10
Ars Onirica: 2.5 Nighttime EP
Following up 2019s I: Cold and 2022’s II: Lost comes the I assume midway point before the third album from the Alexandra Sforza prog metal solo project. It’s an incredibly well rounded project, both the light and heavy moments done amazingly. From the distorted riffs and powerful drums to the more introspective lower moments, it’s nothing if not interesting. It’s a very easy 20 minutes of metal spread across 20 minutes, too! It’s really creatively put together too, with Dawn and Dusk bookending the release, and a three part ‘Nightmare’ track in the middle. It’s little creative touches like that that I really love! And Alexandra’s vocals, be it cleans or screams, are another big high point of the release. The whole EP just begs to be listened to in full, and very much rewards those that do. It feels like the perfect blend of ASP and In Flames. It’s sometimes not typically my sort of style all the time, but this is an absolutely phenomenal EP and one I will definitely be revisiting pretty often. I hate that I’ve only just discovered the project, but I really hope this means that he’s working on another album for the near future. For now though, this gets a very easy 9/10 from us!
Buffalo Traffic Jam: Take Me Home
Another slower, grandiose indie-Americana release, this time the second EP from the fast-rising Montana duo. Firstly, the vocals throughout are absolutely phenomenal, giving off big Shane Smithvibes in the best ways; the lyrics and emotional delivery giving me goosebumps on multiple occasions. Tracks like ‘Black Eyed Suzie’ and the closing two are big personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad track on the EP! I did, however, check this out off the back of the Noah release, so was a touch burnt out by the style by the end. Still, it’s incredibly well written and performed, and they definitely have a curious new fan in me! 7.5/10
The sophomore release from fast-rising country star Alexandra Kay is released this upcoming Friday. Her name has been seemingly everywhere the last couple of years so my anticipation for the release is pretty high! I’m familiar with at least a couple of the singles and love what I’ve heard so far, so join me in checking out what the rest of the album has in store for us!
Starting with some beautiful, folky strings, Kay’s beautiful vocals soon come in over the top of a great acoustic chord progression for ‘Better Off’. It instantly gives off vibes of Carole King or Paula Cole in the best ways. It builds up perfectly into a powerful, bittersweet chorus, and one that will be stuck in my head for days to come! The whole song is beautifully bittersweet, and is a damn powerful opener to the album, setting the tone rather perfectly!
‘Nobody’ picks up the energy a bit, having more of an Americana feel to it than the folky previous song. The driving bass drum is excellent, and the layers throughout from all the different strings is honestly phenomenal song production. It once again builds to a massive chorus, one definitely designed to be played to huge festival crowds. I’m honestly shocked it hasn’t been a single already because it’s hugely catchy and would do amazingly on the radio. Hopefully it’s a post release one! It gives off more Janet Devlin or Caylee Hammack vibes this time, which I love just as much. It’s a simple arrangement and in and out in under three minutes, but is a fantastic song and an easy early highlight!
‘Straight for the Heart’ changes the pace yet again, this time feeling more like a straight up radio-country track. It’s got a bit of a rock edge to it too, the chorus being massive, the distorted guitars adding a lot to the sound. It’s easy to see why it was chosen as a single and is doing incredibly already on that front. It’s got a little bit of the good Taylor Swift era to it, or even Erin Kinsey. Heck, we even get some awesome guitar soloing tucked away behind some of the vocals, which adds and even greater layer to it. This is another phenomenal track, and the second that easily makes it onto our playlist, it’s that good!
The energy drops back down with ‘Right Now’. It’s a beautiful modern country ballad, the focus on the acoustic guitar, electronic beats and Kay’s utterly incredible vocals. It’s a similar story on tracks like ‘Old Me’. Both are fantastic tracks in their own right, and though I am not usually into the more electronic based drums, they fit both of these songs perfectly. And of course, lyrically and vocally, Kay once again knocks it out of the park.
Speaking of ballads, there are a few more throughout. From ‘Hell Right’ to ‘The Last’ to the closer, there are some excellent, acoustic-based country ballads on this album! All three are excellent tracks in their own right, and are only grouped together as they are pretty similar and I don’t want to repeat myself over and over here, gushing too hard over her! They’re all packed full of amazing lyrics, beautiful choruses and some great instrumentation. The strings and piano on the latter give it the perfect finale feel to it, while the former is another big highlight for me! Heck, ‘Measure of a Man’ is also pretty ballad-like, though it definitely also has more of a rock edge to it like ‘Straight for the Heart’ does. I’d definitely put it up there with that track in terms of quality, too!
Tracks like ‘Tomorrow Problems’ and ‘Feminine Energy’ are more like that mid 2000s pop-rock country style that it’s so hard not to love. Catchy, bouncy songs about having a good time is what country is all about out, and both of these do that to perfection. They’re both awesome songs and a style that Kay does so well, showing that she really is multi-talented in the country world! Both are big high points of the album too, with the latter even having another great guitar solo in it. I haven’t spoke enough about it yet, but her band have also killed it on this album, from start to finish!
The final two tracks from the album, ‘Big Boy Boots’ and lead single ‘Cupid’s a Cowgirl’, give off similar Americana-pop-rock energy that I honestly love. She manages to let loose a little with both tracks, her attitude coming out perfectly. Of course the single is an excellent track, but the former is just as good as it, and could very well be a big single in its own right. However, both songs are incredible and once again huge highlights on an album honestly packed full of them!
Overall: This is an incredible country album! We sadly missed her debut release when it dropped, but having gone back and revisited it since I do enjoy it. However, this is very much a step up from that, Kay really hitting her stride in a massive way with this album. There isn’t a bad song on the album and some of them are easily up there with some of the best country tracks of the year. It’s very easy to see why she’s become such a big name so fast, and is quickly establishing herself to be one of the biggest names in the genre in just a few years! I can’t recommend this enough to anyone even slightly into country music, check it out immediately!
Another week, another few awesome EPs for us to sink our teeth into! Join me in checking it out!
Unto Others: I Believe in Halloween II
Following up on the success of their previous part of this series back in 2021, as well as their full album release last year, the gothic metalcore quartet do a great job with this short output! With three great, epic original tracks followed by two excellent covers, it’s a really great release! I liked the more sci-fi theme of it, especially since a lot of darker metal still grounds itself in demons and the occult etc. Every track also manages to perfectly walk the line between dark heaviness and more catchy, melodicness, too. The opener is awesome, as is the almost punky single from the EP, ‘What I Did…’ and Misfits-like ‘Robots’. Also, their cover of ‘Pet Cemetery’ slaps. It definitely fits the time of year and the Halloween theme, but done in a way that only Unto Others could! It’s definitely worth checking out, and gets a solid 8/10 from us!
Tuk Smith & the Restless Hearts: Troubled Paradise
After last years album, I have become a big fan of this artist, so the hype was pretty high for me when this was announced. Thankfully, but unsurprisingly, this more than lived up to said hype! All four tracks are classic rock/APR greatness, and follow on from Rogue to Redemption perfectly! The opener/single/title track is one of the best tracks the collective have put out, in this writers humble opinion, while ‘Sadie Mae’ is another standout. However, as I said, all four tracks are fantastic, and it’s an incredibly easy 15-minute listen. Tuk’s vocals and songwriting ability are both fantastic, and it’s honestly becoming insane to me that they aren’t well on their way to becoming a massive name in the scene currently. If you are into the softer side of rock, I cannot recommend this enough, check it out immediately! An incredibly solid 9/10
Above Us the Waves: Counting Seasons
This EP slaps you right in the face with ‘Cliffhanger’ from the offset, and doesn’t relent for all 13 minutes of its runtime. It’s fucking awesome! It’s very Trivium in all the best ways, but also gives off elements of somehow both Orbit Culture and Deftones, which I love! It’s yet another release that doesn’t have a bad track on it, with all four songs being melodic metalcore goodness. I’d never heard of the band before but they have a huge new fan in me! Also, huge shoutout to Kin Beneath Chorus who are awesome featuring on ‘Ghost Issues’. For the first thing the band have put out since 2018’s Rough on High Seas, it is a more than welcome return, and an EP I will certainly be spinning a fair bit in the coming weeks and months! If anyone reading this is into metalcore, melodeath or post hardcore, this is an EP I cannot recommend enough! Yet another 9/10, amazing stuff!
The awesome Southern rockers Preacher Stone are back with a brand new album, following up last year’s excellent V. I’ve loved the band for a while now so have been rather impatiently waiting for this release, so when I got it through our email there was no way I wasn’t checking it out early!
The title track kicks things off with plenty of energy; a fantastic blues riff and some powerful drums! The riffing continues between the lines of the verse, keeping the track bouncing perfectly. The vocals fit perfectly immediately too, and it all feels like it builds to the massively catchy chorus, the harmonies adding even more awesomeness to it! We also get some amazing lead guitaring in the middle and to close the track out, the duel soloing being fantastic and again fitting the vibe of the song so well. It’s a simply arranged yet very well written southern rock song, and sets the tone of the album perfectly!
‘Saddled and Rode’ opens on another fantastic riff, it having a stomping pace and energy to it when the drums and bass come in behind. It strips back in the verses, the dynamics of the track being fantastic as it makes the choruses hit even harder! The drumming in particular on this track, and throughout the whole album, is incredible, Josh Wyatt being hugely underrated behind a kit. Everything he does fits the riffing perfectly and adds so much to the song. Not that the rest of the band aren’t hugely talented too, however. As I said, the riffing and soloing is incredible, and Ronnie’s vocals fit the tracks awesomely. The chorus is so simple yet is going to be stuck in my head for days to come! It’s another excellent song, and an easy album highlight!
‘Writing on the Wall’ follows a similar formula to the previous two tracks, but again does so so damn well that it’s hardly a complaint! Everything about the track is so very catchy too, the dropped-down verses giving me early 2000s Black Stone Cherry or Lynyrd Skynyrd, and it building perfectly through the pre into an absolutely amazing chorus made to be played to massive festival crowds. It’s another fantastic song, and one that easily makes our playlist!
Tracks like ‘The Devil You Know’ , ‘Old Joe’ and ‘The Last to Know’ are all pretty similar, slightly slower and more blues oriented tracks. They all have a great stomp and swagger to them, with the former surprisingly reminding me of some of Iron Maiden’s modern stuff in its guitar work. All are truly excellent tracks, with the latter being another big favourite of mine from the album. The only reason I’ve grouped them together is so that I don’t repeat myself over and over!
‘Blessing and a Curse’ slows things down with a beautiful acoustic ballad. It’s the perfect change of pace slap bang in the middle of the album, and is an absolutely fantastic song in its own right! From the acoustic and slide guitars to the great vocals and incredible use of harmonies, it’s a really well constructed track. It’s honestly one of my favourite tracks on the album, everything about it is awesome. It’s catchy as anything, and the instrumentation throughout is amazing. It’s another made to be played to huge crowds in arenas around the world, and definitely one to check out if you’re going to try any from the album!
The final two tracks, ‘Come What May’ and ‘Think by Now’, are more awesome southern/hard rock from the band. It’s two more great, mid-tempo tracks, with the closers chorus in particular being another high point of the album! It’s also the perfect album closer, seemingly bringing it all back round to a similar point as the title track. Again, but are fun, boot-stompin’ songs that are simply rather similar to each other. However, that shouldn’t take away from either track, as both are great and worth listening to!
Overall: This is a damn good southern rock record! It’s short, sweet and right to the point, and because of that is very much all killer, no filler! All nine tracks on this are great, with some standing out among some of my favourite from the bands growing discography. I’m so glad the band returned to the studio faster this time after their last release, and what they have come out with is something excellent! I’d recommend it to anyone even slightly into southern, country or just hard rock in general!
