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From the Wreckage: Do Star Circus Top Their Debut?

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The NWOCR rising stars are set to release their sophomore album this coming Friday. We’ve been a fan of the band a couple of years now so this release is pretty highly anticipated for us! The pair fronting it are insanely talented and if the singles are anything to go by, we’re in for a real treat with this release!

‘Over and Over’ sets the album up in perfect fashion; the fast-paced drums giving way to an awesome sleazy guitar riff. Dave Winkler’s vocals fit perfectly over the top, it all having such a great 70s/80s throwback sound to it. It all builds to a MASSIVE pre and chorus, designed to be played to massive arenas and festival crowds. It’s an infectiously catchy track that is already firmly lodged in my ears and brain for surely days to come. We also get some awesome soloing in the middle from both the organ/synth and the guitars, once again giving the track that awesome nostalgic classic rock feel! I love the instruments dropping out for the first two lines of the last chorus too, leaving just the massive, multi-tracked vocals and really highlighting how greatly written it is. The album starts off with a very strong bang, and this an easy one to immediately make the playlist!

‘Chained to You’ picks up right where the previous song leaves off, with some awesome riffing and drumming. Once again Dave’s vocals and lyrics are great over the top of it all, too. And, once again, it all builds to one of the honest to god best choruses of the year so far. Like I cut my teeth playing this sort of music back in the day, and I can assure you this is of the highest quality of classic/hard/sleaze rock there is. It drops down in the middle, a beautiful clean guitar tone ringing through for seconds before it builds perfectly into another fantastic, swagger-dripping guitar solo. The technical ability, as well as the feel, is off the charts. And the band are so far two for two on absolutely amazing songs on this album!

‘The Wreckage’ is a little slower and heavier and darker, while still feeling very Star Circus. It is a nice change of pace, keeping the album fresh already. It still builds up perfectly through the verse and already catchy pre into the stadium-sized chorus, the harmonies on the vocals making it somehow even more catchy! It almost feels like a metal ballad more than a sleazy rock song, and I love it! Another awesome solo leads to a great stripped-back clean section, much like the previous track. It fits even better in this song, and builds up into the fantastic chorus again perfectly. What a damn good song; the album is so far three for three with hits!

Single ‘One Hit Wonder’ picks up the pace again and brings the sleaze back in full force with that riff. However, the verse immediately gives me more EOL vibes than anything, not that that’s a bad thing! It still builds up to that massive hard rock chorus though, the parts all fitting together surprisingly well. It follows the standard formula the others have to this point in terms of structure, but once again feels pretty different to the other tracks, keeping it constantly interesting. And, shock horror, it’s another awesome song!

Another single, ‘Turn the Tide’, takes a surprising turn into more of a folk sound, again not that I’m complaining! The more acoustic-style riff to open is awesome, and the track builds through the instrumentation and lower vocals perfectly into a big hard-rock-ballad chorus. It’s an ear-worm of a chorus if I’ve ever heard one, too. The solo is another great one too, fitting the tone of the song perfectly, yet another example of the band’s incredible writing skills! The fact that yet again the album has changed up feel and pace so effortlessly is amazing, and we’re only halfway through the thing!

The bass intro to ‘Destiny’s Door’ was nice, and the main riffs actually give off big early Maiden vibes. It’s a pretty bass-driven track, which again is something different for the album, and is another dip into the more traditional hard rock sound like ‘The Wreckage’. I feel like it’s redundant at this point to mention how awesome and catchy the choruses are. Dave is a master at writing and singing/producing them, and every single chorus on this album is banging. And THAT chorus after the chorus… DAMN. The more Egyptian work from the guitar throughout is actually incredible, blowing me away with yet another style. The whole thing so much instrumentation and is all just 80s Maiden, and it’s yet another huge highlight of the album.

Songs like ‘Masquerade’, ‘Last Dance’ and ‘Floodlight’ somewhat thankfully chilled out just a little, still being fantastic but fitting a little more into the formula of the band at this point so my mind doesn’t end up in pieces all over the floor yet again. Having said that, the former does have some slight folk/power metal leaning, and I assume has some Sophie vocals on it, which also sound fantastic. Meanwhile the latter goes back to more of the slower, menacing-like ballad sound that the band do so well! As I said, all songs are good, but are styles that have all been done on the album at this point so I want to avoid repeating myself too much as this review is pretty long as it is. Still, all three of the songs are awesome and well worth checking out!

The final track on the album and the most recent single, ‘Two Odds Make an Even’ is somehow an amalgamation of everything that’s come before it, in the best way! It’s a ballad yet still has both heaviness and sleaziness in equal measure, and is packed full of awesome riffing, soloing and big choruses. It’s another awesome song that kinda gives me Gypsy Pistoleros vibes! It’s a great way to close out such an album too, going out with a bang (although damn do I hate a fade-out)!

Overall: This is a phenomenal album1! I love the band so was expecting good, but this blew all my expectations out of the water! It really is banger after banger, without a dud track throughout. And as I’ve said, the band constantly keep it interesting and change it up a fair bit, making for a truly engaging listen. The band have been going from strength to strength on the live circuit, and this album may quite easily push them up a level or two! A must for an rock fans out there, and an album I’ll be spinning for months to come!

The Score: 9.5/10

Reviews

New Music Mondays: Pearl Jam, The Ghost Inside and More!

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It’s gonna be a tough week for any album on this list, releasing on the same day as the musical megastar Taylor Swift. I won’t be reviewing that album but I have checked it out. It’s the same boring, slow, atmospheric nothingness that her last few albums have been. I’m a fan of her first few albums, but this lowest-common-denominator ’pop’ music is not for me. But hell, here are a few albums that hopefully will be!

Pearl Jam: Dark Matter

While the band’s insane pricing for their 2024 UK tour still leaves a sour taste in my mouth regarding the band, I’m still a fan of their music, and this album is no exception. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve always been the most boring of the ‘Grunge Big 4’ to me, and this is no different. It’s straight-forward rock music with a bit more fuzz and heavy blues to it. But it certainly isn’t bad. I’d heard the single and title track before the album was released and it remains a firm highlight of it. Other highlights include ‘Waiting for Stevie’, the punky ‘Running’ and the chilled ballad ‘Something Special’. It’s nothing new from the band, however, and while I certainly wouldn’t put it up against their early albums, I wouldn’t say it’s above their previous one or Lightening Bolt, either. It’s not a bad album, and is a fun, relaxed rock listen. However, it does feel a tad like the band are going through the motions, releasing an album for the sake of it. I’d honestly put it up there with Vedder’s last solo album, so this gets an easy 7/10 from me!

The Ghost Inside: Searching for Solace

These always seem like the lost modern metalcore band to me. I see their name everywhere, know they’re getting big and are supposed to be great, but I’ve never found the time to check them out. That changes today, given that this is their first album since 2020 so the first one I’ve been able to review!

Honestly, it’s pretty good. However, at the same time, I’m kinda okay with the fact that I’ve not listened to them really until now. They are parts of an incredibly popular, rather saturated genre these days, and I wouldn’t say it did anything out of the ordinary or all that interesting. As I said, I’m not particularly familiar with the band, so they may have pioneered the sound that has since been made hugely popular by the likes of Bad Omens and even BMTH to an extend. However, as most likely a new listener to the band with this album, it’s good, often-times great, metalcore that doesn’t bring anything new to the table. I found myself, like usual recently, gravitating to the all-out heavy tracks like ‘Death Grip’, ‘Wrath’ and ‘Split’. That’s not to say the cleaner, lighter, poppier parts and songs aren’t good, and I’d argue they are done much better by Ghost Inside than by Bad Omens, but the style is done so much recently that it kinda bores me now.

I completely see the appeal of this band. They are playing a very ‘in’ style of metal these days and they do it incredibly well. There are a few tracks that I love on here and I certainly wouldn’t turn off the album if it came on again. But it does feel more like a collection of a few songs I love mixed with a few I’d happily never listen to again. If you are a fan of modern metalcore, I’m sure you’ll love this. I’ve seen plenty of love for it already on social media, in fact. It’s not bad at all and is objectively great. But for me, it’s no I Prevail; it doesn’t quite reach that upper echelon of modern metalcore for me. 8/10

My Dying Bride: A Mortal Binding

Yorkshire’s own premier doom metal band are back with their first new album in four years. I’m a relatively new fan of the band, but really loved this album! ‘Her Dominion’ is such a perfect opener, setting up the heaviness of the album. Meanwhile follow-up ‘Thornwyck Hymn’ has a more theatrical, clean-vocalled sound and even some beautiful strings, giving it a truly epic feel. However, with each passing track, I loved them more and more. There are only seven of them, but they clock in at a total of 54-minutes. Each track feels like its own epic journey, while it all combines together to form one incredible piece. It’s certainly an album that’s designed to listen to in full. However, the highlight for me is the truly epic, 11+ minute ‘The Apocalyptist’. If you listen to anything off the album, let it be that one, it demonstrates everything the band do so amazingly on the release.

Having gone back and listened through a number of their previous releases, I have to say that this is certainly up there with some of their best. There isn’t a bad song on it and they all fit together perfectly. I don’t understand how this band aren’t towards the top of the metal world, they’re so good. If you like doom metal or just the heavy stuff in general, check this out, you won’t be disappointed! 9.5/10

Elvie Shane: Damascus

Taking a leaf from Jelly Roll on his sophomore album, Elvie combines country, soul, rock and hip-hop together masterfully. And, just like Whitsitt Creak last year, I can’t get enough of this. From the rocky opener, ‘Jonesin’’ and the Bon Jovi-like ‘Forgotten Man’ to the slower stuff like ‘Baptized’, ‘Pill’ and ‘Winning Horse’, all the styles Elvie does he nails. Also, massive shoutout to the Little Big Town featuring ‘First Place’, as it may be my favourite track on the album. And, at only 13-tracks, for an album like this it isn’t even that long! There isn’t a bad song on it, either. It’s just a fun listen from start to finish and there is never once a dull moment; it’s put together and arranged perfectly. There really isn’t much else to say, if you’re a country fan you’ll love this one! I’ll sure be listening to it a lot moving forward! 9/10

High on Fire: Cometh the Storm

I’ve heard the name floating around for years at this point and haven’t had the chance to check them out outside of a song or two. I had it in my head that they were more of a NWOBHM band, so to hear an album heavily inspired by early-Roots era Sepultura was a very nice surprise! It’s got elements of thrash, stoner and doom in there too, but the almost tribal riffs are very Sepultura-like. Tracks like the opener, ‘Sol’s Golden Curse’ and ‘Hunting Shadows’ are all big highlights for me. However, if you’re into the epic stoner metal style like me, you’ll probably love the whole album. Honestly there isn’t much more to say about this. It’s a solid metal album that didn’t at all feel like it lasted nearly an hour. Heck, the closing track on its own is 10-minutes of doomy goodness. I’ll certainly be listening to the band a lot moving forward, and this album will be at the forefront of that. 8/10

Anne Wilson: REBEL

Okay, so yes, I know that generally speaking, country as a genre has a lot of roots in Christianity. I get that the religion is a much bigger thing still in the US, especially in the areas where country is biggest. But damn, this album is God-bothery as fuck. I have no issue with people believing and living by whatever religion they want to, but I’m not a fan of being near-endlessly preached to for nearly an hour. And I know that she is an overtly Christian musician releasing music through a Christian record label. But bands like Skillet, Demon Hunter and P.O.D are also self-identifying Christian bands, yet have found that they can sing about other topics as well, not just their religious beliefs. I am far from Anne’s target audience, I know that, but musically and vocally she’s amazing, and I do think she’s limiting herself with how she writes her lyrics and how the label markets her.

It’s a shame too, as the opener/title track starts things off so strongly. ‘REBEL’ is certainly a highlight. Of course Lainey Wilson’s magical touch continues too, as ‘Praying Woman’ is a banger despite the lyrics. The same can be said for ‘Songs About Whiskey’. The Jordan Davis-featuring ‘Country Gold’ is also great, reigning in the bible-bashing to a minimum. But yeah, overall it was lot, and I struggled to get into a few of tracks when they were so constantly heavy-handed.

As I’ve said previously, I’m not against religion, and musically it’s pretty good; standard country stuff. She’s a fantastic vocalist and really isn’t a bad songwriter. But this personally isn’t for me as a whole. I’m sure it will appeal to plenty of people though and they’ll love it. But please don’t @ me as I give this a 4/10

Folterkahmmer: Weibermacht

The symphonic black metal band are back with their sophomoric album, and I have to say it’s pretty fucking great. I’m not sure how a German band ended up starting in New York, but when we get music this good I couldn’t care! Also, thought it would be a bit of a laugh putting them here on the list, given their general lyrical content, contrasting with Anne Wilson prior.

Those who check out a lot of our NMM series know that I struggle getting into straight-up black metal. It usually has to be cut with something else in order to keep me interested. Honestly, the various styles this band have added to it is the real perfect combination. I was hooked right from the epic opener, and tracks like ‘Küss Mir Die Füsse!’ and ‘Algolagnia’ certainly helped! Heck, their cover of ‘Venus in Fur’ is awesome and a really interesting take on Velvet Underground. The atmosphere and darkness the band create is fascinating, and the fact that they put out such a solid release in only seven original songs is a testament to the band’s writing. It’s certainly not for everyone, and even I won’t be listening to it constantly. However, it is incredibly well written and performed, and if you’re into black metal with a folky, operatic twist, you’ll surely dig this. It’s an album worth listening to in full to appreciate fully, and after doing so I can safely give this a 7.5/10

Praying Mantis: Defiance

the NWOBHM/AOR legends are back with their 13th studio album. the band have been insanely consistent with their output and quality this millennium, and this release is no different. I’m a pretty big AOR fan, and this is really the template in which that genre was built. From the soaring, powerful vocals to the solid guitars and drums to the heavy synth focus to the catchy, stadium-filling choruses, it does it all perfectly. There isn’t a bad song on the album, but personal highlights include the title track and ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’. Heck, we even get a really good cover of Rainbow’s ‘I Surrender’, a hard feat to accomplish to live up to Joe Lynn Turner! If you’re into the more epic, glam/sleezed-tinged side of rock music, this album is definitely for you. I’ll certainly be spinning this again a fair bit in the coming weeks! 8/10

Wyatt Flores: Half Life

So, I ummed and arred about whether to feature this here or not. Apparently it’s an EP. However, eight full tracks spanning nearly half an hour sounds like an album to me. Especially when my other option was Craig Campbell (whose release was also great) at just six full tracks and an intro & outro. apparently that one is an album but this one isn’t. Bollocks. I’m calling this an album, just like the Castellows one, and am reviewing it.

It’s fucking awesome. I’m really enjoying this resurgence of chilled-out, stripped-back country music into the mainstream thanks to the likes of Zach Bryan, and this is up there with his last release, for me. It’s all not much more than a couple of guitars and some simple drums backing his vocals, but it all fits so perfectly. ‘Wish I Could Stay’ is not only the perfect example of how well the instrumentation boosts Wyatt’s vocals and lyrics to epic levels, but is also an incredible song and one of the most beautifully bittersweet tracks I’ve ever heard. It literally gave me goosebumps. However, every track on this release is excellent, honestly. He’s a phenomenal lyricist and the delivery and instrumentation around them are both impeccable. He’s one of the ones I’m most excited to see at The Long Road this year, and even more so now after this release. I’d recommend this album to anyone, not just country fans, that’s how good it is. 10/10, it couldn’t be anything else!

Reviews

ULTRAPOWER: Striker ‘s Best Release Yet?

This is a band that I have actually been searching for for year now. I remember in my youth picking up a copy of a magazine that I’d never seen before or since, Thrasher I think it was called, and Striker were on the disc that came with it. Since then, I for some reason had never been able to find them again. That was, until we were emailed this album. So, to say that I’m excited is an understatement. Especially with how some of the singles are being described. Without further ado, let’s dive in, ladies and gents!

‘Circle of Evil’ opens the album in rather epic fashion, the start being an almost movie-score-like, halloween-esque soundscape. It then explodes into a fantastic thrash riff, an incredible lead working its way over the top, and the album immediately sets its tone. Dan Cleary’s soaring vocals soon come over the top of it, giving it a familiar NWOBHM feel. Even the melodies he’s hitting are very modern-day Iron Maiden, which I love and it fits so well with the music. It all builds to a huge, arena-filling chorus, sounding awesome and so catchy with the gang vocals. The duelling guitars to start the solo were insane, but then again the whole thing blew my mind hugely. It’s an amazing track in its own right, and one hell of a way to open an album and reintroduce me to the band! Playlisted!

Check out similar music here!

Single ‘Best of the Best’ picks up right where the previous track left off. Opening on part of the chorus, the big riffing soon explodes in. However, interestingly, the guitars drop out in parts through the verse, and are replaced by synths. It’s an awesome sound and addition that gives it an immediate 80s feel. Between the campy lyrics and feel, it very much feels ripped from that time, borrowing from the likes of ‘Pump It’ and ‘To Be the Best’. Of course, the style of writing makes it another infectiously catchy track, too. And of course we got some more awesome guitar soloing in the middle. It’s a second straight track to make our playlist, this album is great so far!

The band have really front-loaded the album, with most recent single ‘Give it All’ up next. And, spoiler alert, the band are three for three on excellent, playlisted tracks. Long-time readers here will know exactly why too: I’m a whore for a saxophone. It’s used to perfection here right from the start, too. The track again has an 80s feel to it, but the sax adds another element of pop/jazz that fits all too well in the NWOBHM-style metal behind it.

It’s another cheesy track but in the best possible ways. And the vocals throughout are incredible. It gives off big glam/AOR vibes which I can’t get enough of. We even get a sax solo in the middle as well as a guitar one, which I just love. I’m gushing over the track a lot, I know, but damn, it may be my favourite song of the year so far. Incredible!

The first non-single of the album, ‘Blood Magic’ is still a great track, and a lot of fun. Having more of an epic western feel to it with the riffing, guitar tone and whistling, the band still inject their own infectious heaviness and energy over the top. And yet the synths still ground it in a very 80s, AOR style sound, too. And then, shockingly, we get an almost breakdown riff in the middle, accompanied by some tapping that would make Herman Lee blush. I can’t get over how not only creative, but ridiculously talented every member of this band are. It’s crazy, honestly. It’s yet another incredible track. They need to chill out or this is going to be a horribly cringy review!

Tracks like ‘Sucks to Suck’, ‘Ready for Anything’ and ‘City Calling’ lean heavily into the catchy, heavy AOR sound that the band have clearly perfected on this album. The huge vocal lines are just begging for a massive crowd to sing along with them, and the rest of the instrumentation is far too fantastic for the genre, typically. All three are fantastic tracks that I honestly can’t get enough of. They are simply rather similar to a couple of the previous tracks to analyse too deeply without repeating myself!

Sadly, ‘Turn the Lights Out’ was the first time I hit a slight wall with the album. It, and the following three tracks that finish out the album, are again kinda more of the same. It’s amazing familiarity, but familiarity all the same. The album started on such a high with the three best tracks on it and all this creativity in the first half, and then the second half, while still packed full of great tracks, kinda drops off and isn’t quite as memorable. Even just a shuffle round of the order may have stopped my fatigue. Even so, despite my negativity, I loved these other four tracks.

Overall: This is a really great album. Aforementioned issues aside, every track is incredible, there really isn’t a bad song on the album. Striker really are firing on all cylinders here, with every member of the band getting more than enough time to shine. It’s a party album through and through, that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’m so glad I’ve rediscovered them, and will be listening to this album a lot in the coming weeks and months. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s high on our Albums of the Year list, come December!

The Score: 9.5/10

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Magnum, Hannah Ellis and More!

After a week off due to absolutely nothing coming out in the first week in January, we are back with a stacked week full of awesome new music. Let’s check it all out together below!

Magnum: Here Comes the Rain

Charlotte: Here Comes The Rain by Magnum is a perfect production of atmospheric and almost euphoric sound. Taking melodic classic rock crossed with epic vulnerable lyrics, distinctive keys and rich instrumental elements, Magnum have created an addictive album. Would I be criticised if I said they almost remind me of Bon Jovi, ELO and Journey in one? Even so, it’s a fantastic album and does their catalogue of hits justice. Rest In Peace guitarist and songwriter Tony Clarkin who passed away on the 7th January 2024. 8.5/10

Hannah Ellis: That Girl

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our review of it here!

Drown in Sulphur: Dark Secrets of the Soul

The Italian gothic deathcore band released their sophomore album last Friday. Honestly, it’s really fricking good, too. It’s crushingly heavy, but filled with plenty of atmosphere too, almost taking some black metal influences too. The screams, whether they’re low or more extreme metal, are all fantastic, and fit the amazing riffing perfectly. And some of the breakdowns, holy crap, brutal.

And, honestly, it is constantly interesting. It’s a very well put together that I couldn’t stop listening to from front to back. Whether it’s the crushing awesomeness of ‘Eclipse of the Sun of Eden’ or the slower, more atmospheric ‘Lotus’, everything about this album is awesome. There is so much more to it than just deathcore, and I love it. If you’re into heavy, give this a spin all the way through, you won’t be disappointed! The band have a new fan in me! 8.5/10

The Vaccines: Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations

The UK indie rock band are back with their sixth studio album. I have to admit, not being the biggest indie fan in the world, it kinda just sounds like everything else they’ve done. Don’t get me wrong, they are certainly one of the better bands in the genre, and tracks like ‘Sometimes, I Swear’ and ‘Love to Walk Away’ are fantastic. However, as an album as a whole, it’s a bit of a slog to get through. It’s all pretty samey. If you’re into the genre I’m sure you’ll love it, but for me it’s a bit much. The odd track is great, it’s rom-com soundtrack music through and through, but the album as a whole was a struggle for me. 4.5/10

Gothony: Self-Titled

I’d never heard the term ‘drama metal’ be coined until I got this album sent over to me. In my head, sitting here before listening to it, I’m thinking something along the lines of Avantasia or even Ice Nine Kills; epic, grandiose sounds and stories.

It both is and isn’t that. Gothony’s self-titled debut is definitely epic sounding, I’ll give it that. It’s a mixture of death metal, atmospheric black metal, and then some clear influences from symphonic and power metal. However, the instrumentation is great, and both the growls and screams sound incredible. And, surprisingly enough, there is the occasional operatic female vocal spread throughout, like in the track below. I love a lot of the riffs and sections throughout the whole album. There is no denying the bands talent at all.

However, I do wish they’d spent just a little longer on it in the studio. I may have been wrong, but it felt like a couple of times in the intro track the instruments went out of time or changed tempo. And a couple of the vocal performances could have maybe done with another take or two. It could have all been a production issue, though!

Still, overall this is a really enjoyable album. Tracks like ‘Ants’ and ‘Disarm the Gods’ stand out to me. And it is a damn epic album. Live, I feel like it would be incredible. It’s a great starting point for the band, and I can’t wait to hear where they go from here. 7/10

RYUJIN: Self-Titled

Yet another album we’ve already reviewed in full. It was great! Check it out here!

Casey: How to Disappear

Max: The Welsh post-hardcore band that can summerise every difficult emotion is back with another beautiful album, ‘How To Disappear’, their third album overall and first since 2018. As always the album deals with heavier topics and concepts throughout and, as they said in their own words, “each and every piece was crafted from real experiences, embellished to add poetic flair”. I think that that is important to note when listening to the album, and really everyone should read the post on their instagram talking about it, as it gives so much clarity as to the raw emotion that has been so carefully laid out in the album.

Casey is one of my favourite bands and their music has really helped me through difficult parts in my own life and this album continues on doing that for me and I’m sure a lot of their fans. Casey seems to have mastered the balance of intensity and calm throughout their music and can’t make songs have so much incredibly depth to the point that I’m sure if you were to listen to only one instrument all of the emotion would be so incredibly apparent still and when it is all together it simply becomes a masterpiece.

So, I implore you listen to the album and all of their albums and experience someone talk to you about your own emotions in ways that I would never think possible. Where I want to leave this short review is with one thing that the band said, “Even though occasional struggles persist, I am grateful to be here”. 9/10

Timson: Forever’s Not Enough

The debut album of the AOR band is a fantastic listen. Mark Timson took a couple of songs that he wrote in the 80s, updated them and then wrote a whole album around that sound and style. It’s very Whitesnake, Bon Jovi and Night Ranger in all the best ways. It’s Rock of Ages personified, and would feel right at home on the sunset strip four decades ago. Tracks like the title one, ‘Love Will Find a Way’ and ‘More Than Enough’ are all awesome.

Honestly, I don’t have much to say about this album, it’s a really solid release. My main complaint is simply that it’s only eight tracks, I’d have LOVED more of this! I do have to say that, as fantastic as this is, there has been a lot of amazing AOR over the years, and there continues to be a lot of great additions to the genre like Cats in Space and Vega. They may struggle to break through slightly or be labelled harshly by the internet. However, I loved every track on this and already cannot wait to hear more! 8.5/10

Engulf: The Dying Planet Weeps

The first full-length release from the New Jersey death metal outfit is awesome. The first thing they’ve put out in nearly five years, and it’s well worth the wait. It’s crushingly brutal, with some insane riffs and some of the best drumming I think I’ve ever heard. Some of the lower growls throughout are amazing too, though do sadly sometimes boarder on Chris Barnes levels of ridiculous. However, as an album, it’s awesome. There really isn’t a bad song on the album and if you’re into traditional death metal, you’ll love this. My only slight complaint is that it doesn’t really do anything new or innovative. But when it’s this fun a listen and this well written, that barely even matters! 7.5/10