Tag Archives: death metal

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Larry Fleet, Story of the Year and More!

Leave a comment

Another typically stacked week of new music, from rock to metal to country! Let’s dive in!

Larry Fleet: Another Year Older

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our full review here.

Story of the Year: A.R.S.O.N.

I clearly had a different band in my head, because I was not expecting so much awesome melodic hardcore heading into this! The seventh album from the Missouran quartet is an old-school post-hardcore powerhouse from start to finish. ‘Gasoline’ is the perfect, aggressive opener, while tracks like ‘See Through’ and ‘Into the Dark’ are all massive highlights on top of that. Also, Jacob Shaddix does an amazing job on ‘Fall Away’, definitely another big high point. However, there really isn’t a bad track on the album, even the slower stuff that wouldn’t typically be my thing is amazing. It’s very emo but certainly in a good way; like My Chem mixed with I Prevail, with a surprisingly healthy dose of Mikey D riffing mixed in with it all. I had a great time with this, and will definitely be revisiting it again soon! Check this out if you are at all interested, and it’s a solid 8/10 from us!

No Worth of Man: The Killing Streets

The debut album from the modern metal/deathcore band really makes a statement; the band standing tall and proud and saying ‘we are here to take no prisoners’. This thing goes hard. From the heavy riffs to the crushing screams to the solid drumming, it all fits together perfectly to create something truly awesome. There isn’t a bad track on the album, but songs like ‘Those of Our Kind’ and ‘Alarmus’ are big personal highlights. My only slight complaint is that I’ve heard half of the album before in there 2024 EP. Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoyed that release, but it would have been nice to hear a full collection of new songs from the band. Still, as an introduction to a band for new listeners, this is awesome, and I would fully recommend it to anyone into the heavier side of metal. The band are all hugely talented, and have a bright future ahead of them. Another solid 7.5/10

Angel Du$t: COLD 2 THE TOUCH

Album six from the Maryland melodic hardcorers goes a lot harder than their previous release, and is much better for it. I enjoyed BRAND NEW SOUL, this is much more up my street from a style perspective. The opening two tracks and ‘Zero’ are Turnstile-meets-Dog-Eat-Dog awesomeness, while ‘Jesus Head’ almost has a late 90s RHCP vibe to it. The album as a whole is amazing though, without a dud throughout. It blends Justice Tripp/Trapped Under Ice’s beatdown style with the more pop-friendly influence from the Turnstile lot who used to be part of the band. They’ve had considerable lineup changes in the last couple of years, but hopefully this is the solid lineup moving forward for a while, as it feels like the band are finally back on track and putting out music up their with their best.

It’s a release that blew me away a lot more than I expected it to, and is one I’d recommend if you are into any of the styles or bands I’ve mentioned previously. And, it’s another short album, which is always a win these days! I’ll definitely be revisiting it in the coming weeks, and don’t be surprised if it sneaks onto our top albums of the year list come December. 8.5/10

Pokey LaFarge: Travelin’ With Pokey LaFarge: Voice and Guitar, Vol 1

One of my favourite discoveries over the last couple of years, I’ve been excited for this to drop for a few months now. This solo EP dropped on his brand new record label and is a more stripped-back affair than we’re used to with his recent releases. However, he’s such a good songwriter, and him with… well… his voice and guitar, still makes awesome music. Opening on an awesome duet with the awesome Addie Hamilton before launching through five amazing solo rock tracks spanning everything from rock’n’roll to swing to country. ‘Walk Your Way out of This Town’ is a particular highlight. It’s all simple but beautiful and really great music, a solid 18-minutes of old-school sounds. It’s maybe not for everyone who’s typically a fan of the guy, but I really enjoyed it, and will definitely be listening again. It’s the perfect release to just sit back and chill-out to. A very solid 7.5/10 from us!

Hellgrimm: Resurrection

Another sixth album, this time from the Texan metallers. The band do a great job of blending together multiple different styles, from stoner to thrash to whatever Motörhead wanna be classed as today, and even elements of NWOBHM and melodic metal. They honestly remind me a lot of Rattlesnakes or Wailing Banshee. It’s a mystery why they aren’t bigger as they are clearly fantastic songwriters and musicians. My only slight nitpick is that maybe the mix could be slightly bigger, but I only really notice it on occasions around the vocals. Songs like ‘Reign of Terror’, ‘Dead Superstar’ and their big single, ‘Dog Trash Must Die’ are all big highlights. However, the whole album is enjoyable, including their Kreator and Stones covers! It’s not something I’d revisit as a whole massively often, but the individual tracks will surely be in my rotation for a while! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the band moving forward as they definitely have a new fan in me. 7/10

The Lone Bellow: What a Time to be Alive

The first studio album in going-on four years from the indie folk/Americana trio is another infectiously fun release. 46 minutes of chilled-out alt country and soft rock, giving off vibes of everything from James Bay to Kings of Leon to Drew Holocomb to even Zach Bryan. The band did a great job at choosing the singles as they are definite album high point, but tracks like ‘Common Folk’ and ‘I’m Here for You’ are definite highlights too. The whole album is excellent though, and has such a fantastic flow to it throughout. The harmonies on each song are amazing, and make every chorus huge and so very catchy.

I’d not checked the band out much outside of a song or two here and there, but I’m definitely going to have to go back and check out their back catologue, as I had a blast listening to this. Hopefully they come over to the UK soon too as I’d love to hear all of this live. Until that time, I happily just keep spinning this whole thing, though! 8/10, and it may grow on me even more with more listens!

Gorgol Bordello: We Mean it, Man!

We’ve also checked this one out, aren’t you lucky?! Check it out here.

Converge: Love is Not Enough

I’m sorry, but this album FUCKS. The mixture of aggressive death metal, hardcore and sludgy riffing is amazing and makes me want to punch everything. The first new studio release from the band since their collab with Chelsea Wolfe back in ’21, and their first solo release in nearly a decade, this had a lot of hype to live up to, and smashes all of it to pieces. Everything about it is awesome, and is the perfect 30 minutes of aggressive, brutal, OG metalcore. It’s impossible to pick highlights, I listened to this whole thing through a couple of times and loved every second of it (though ‘Beyond Repair’ goes maybe a minute too long). I am so damn glad these guys are back to releasing new music again, and am already desperate to see all of this live. If you’re into heavy, this is ABSOLUTELY the album for you. I’ve claimed a few times the last 12 months or so that hardcore is back in a big way, and weeks like this just keep proving me right. I can’t give it any less than 9.5/10, damn.

Max Jackson: Dangerous in Denim

The first studio album in nearly six years from the country star, and it at very least lives up to the hype! While the opener is a little too ‘Panderin‘‘ for me, her unique brand of stadium-country is a lot of fun, and makes for a very easy half-an-hour listen. Tracks like ‘Goin’ Nowhere Now’, ‘We Invented Love’ and the Shania-like ‘1990 Somethin” are all personal highlights. However, the more I listen, the more I fall in love with the album. It’s impossible not to have a good time listening to it, and Max has such a fantastic voice and vocal delivery that it keeps it fun, and emotional where needed. And, instrumentally it’s great, some real high points from the drums, guitars and bass throughout, too. Plus, the back-half of this album is truly awesome. Even revisiting ‘Red Dirt ROCKNROLL’ within the context of the album as a whole after, it has certainly grown on me. I would highly recommend this to any 90s or 2000s country music fan reading this, and Max has certainly gained a new fan in me! A very easy 8/10 from us!

Frozen Ocean: Askdrömmar

The first album from the Russian black metaller in a full decade is honestly pretty fantastic, and I’ve never been the biggest black metal fan! It’s not straight-up black metal, there’s some vague electronic and even gothic elements to it too, which definitely helped keep my interest. Tracks like ‘Bortkastade dödsrunor’ and ‘Jag sover’ are personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song throughout, even if the album as a whole does get a bit repetitive towards the back half. However, Vaarwel is an incredibly talented musician, and that sort of tunnel-vision is going to happen when there is just one working on a project. If you are into the genre at all, this is well worth checking out! As I said, I enjoyed my listen to it, and certainly wouldn’t turn it off if it came back on again. It gets a 6.5/10 from us!

Clay Street Unit: Sin & Squalor

The debut album from the folk/Americana collective dropped to a lot of hype and expectation on Friday, and lives up to all of it! The big-band feel is always something I love, and they have it in spades here. The hints of bluegrass in the instrumentation keep the pace bouncy and light, while the voice grounds it in country, adding some emotion, depth and some HUGE choruses. It has elements of the likes of Wyatt Flores, White Buffalo, Uncle Luscious, Zach Bryan and American Aquarium all perfectly blended together. It’s also packed full of awesome songs; 40 minutes of incredible music that’s nearly impossible to pick highlights from. From the opener to ‘Where Have you Gone?’, their duet with Lindsay Lou to the more ballad-like ‘Left Unsaid’ to the beautiful closer, it’s all so good. If you’re a fan of all things vaguely country, this is an absolute must-check-out! I can’t give it any less than 9/10, excellent stuff!

The Beautiful Darkness: Pain to Purpose

The debut EP from the mind of Nerys John blends so many different styles together, and does so incredibly interestingly. From folk to grunge to goth to punk to melodic hard rock, they really touch on a bit of everything through the release. Honestly, it’s a great introduction to the group! They have a cool, interesting sound to them, and constantly keep you guessing what’s coming next while listening. ‘The Narcissist’ is possibly my favourite track of the five, but all certainly have their charms. Generally it’s a touch slower pace for me as a whole, but that doesn’t mean it is any worse an EP. This will have so many fans, and I can see a bright future ahead for them, this being the perfect jumping off-point for that. Nerys’ vocals are incredible, and the band that she’s found are all hugely talented players. Another solid 7/10 from me!

Temple Balls: Self-Titled

Album five from the hard rock/AOR Finns is just as massive as their previous outings. Sounding like the natural evolution of Santa Cruz, H.E.A.T. and Van Halen, the band channel an awesome rock energy throughout, driven by pounding drums and awesome riffs. It’s nearly 40-minutes of sleazy goodness, arena-filling choruses and a fantastic bounce that will keep your head bobbing throughout. The band are insanely talented at their chosen instrument, and are also fantastic songwriters. From the opening two numbers to ‘We are the Night’ to ‘Stronger than Fire’, there are so many massive highlights on this thing, though there isn’t a bad song throughout. They fit perfectly in this revival of hard rock in Europe recently, and would fit awesomely into the NWOCR scene in the UK, so hopefully we can get them over here soon so I can see this live! However, for now I am more than happy to keep spinning this awesome album, and would urge any rock fan out there to do the same. A huge 8.5/10!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Karnivool, Mayhem and More!

Leave a comment

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!

Reviews

Soldatenschicksale: Kanonenfiber’s Best Album Yet?

Leave a comment

Album number three from the anti-war black/death metal band is set to drop on Friday, and I couldn’t be more excited! We loved their last album, to our surprise, so when we saw this one come across our emails there was no way we weren’t doing a deep dive! Join us in checking out all the glorious heaviness!

The album opens in a pretty punk way, with a marching drumbeat over the top of what I assume is some sort of old war speech. It all builds perfectly, the screams exploding into the chorus alongside some insanely fast drumming. The same break-neck pace keeps up through the verse, staying heavy and feeling like the perfect blend of death, black metal and hardcore punk. The pre is low and menacing too, building perfectly back into that massive, surprisingly catchy chorus. And, while I have no idea what is being said, I do like the concept of the band using its music to commemorate all those who have fallen in wars, outlining the true horrors of them. A particularly poignant message in these current worrying times. It’s a really excellent track to open the album on, and definitely a big early highlight for me!

‘Heizer Tenner’ once again builds masterfully in its intro; some ambient stuff and a low guitar riff running before it explodes into the massive black metal stuff. It’s very in-your-face I’m the best way and sounds pretty epic, almost giving off Rotting Christ vibes. I love the more straight-forward verses too, going more death metal and then adding in the black metal stuff for the choruses. The dynamics throughout are incredible, dropping down and building back up throughout, keeping it constantly interesting. That scream on its own near the end is incredible too, having so much emotion and anger in its delivery. It’s another damn good song!

After a brief interlude track, we get the AWESOME, stomping riffing of ‘Kampf und Sturm’. It almost feels industrial, adding yet another great element to their sound. Of course it then heads quickly into the chaotic black metal stuff, but that riff was a really great, unexpected addition. And that slower almost-breakdown in the middle is AMAZING, too! This is another incredible song, and one that easily makes it onto our playlist!

Starting sinister with that riff, ‘Die Havarie’ keeps a slower pace, once again reminding me of the newer Rotting Christ stuff. It sounds awesome, again setting a brilliant atmosphere as it builds and builds. Once again, we get plenty of heavy black-punk afterwards, but the scene the intro sets is amazing. The heavy, slower pace still returns for the pre-choruses too, bringing it back in an awesome way! Then we get an almost power metal-infused chorus, which is also excellent! It’s a real epic song throughout, drawing in so many different sounds and influences yet sounding like nothing else really around today. Yet again, it’s another fantastic heavier metal song!

The two part ‘Der Füsilier’ is a masterclass of all things heavy. The main vein of black metal is plenty present, but it has a lot of death, hardcore and noise (pun intended) throughout too! It’s 10 minutes of epicness, and both parts fit together perfectly. I imagine the story being told is really cool, and I’m going to have to track down the lyrics and translate them! The two parts are definitely worth a listen together, and are once again high points of the album.

The final two tracks on the album, ‘The Yankee Division March’ and ‘Die Fastnacht der Hölle’ are both awesome heavy songs again, and the perfect way to cap off an album like this! I liked the little Rammstein nod in the latter track, it definitely being my favourite song from that band. Both songs are amazing, and while their sound did get a little similar this late into the release, it was hard not to still love it. The closer is honestly one of my favourite songs on the release, though all of them are amazing!

Overall: This is a damn good, damn heavy album. The band are such incredibly talented musicians, and Noise is such a fantastic songwriter, that they really keep going from strength to strength. As much as I loved their last release, this may even inch ahead of it into my favourite! If you are at all a fan of the heavier side of metal, do yourselves a favour and check this out immediately! I need to see them live soon!

The Score: 8.5/10

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Kreator, Soen and More!

Leave a comment

A massive week for new music, from rock to country to metal. Let’s check it all out!

Kreator: Krushers of the World

The German thrash legends returned with their highly anticipated 16th studio album. Their previous effort, 2022’s Hate Über Alles, will certainly take some topping, so I’m curious to see where they go from this. Early reviews have been positive though, so I am definitely excited!

Honestly, it is yet another damn good album from the band! It’s 44 minutes of heavy, balls-to-the-wall thrash like only Kreator can do. Songs like ‘Satanic Anarchy’, ‘Tränenpalast’ and ‘Psychotic Imperator’ are all personal highlights. However, if you are into the band or the genre, like me, there really isn’t a bad track throughout. Much like a lot of their peers these days, they are very much still firing on all cylinders some four plus decades into their careers. I really think that this and their last album is up there alongside anything they’ve done in the past in terms of quality. Kreator have very much done it again, and shown why they are one of the most overlooked bands ever outside of mainland Europe. It’s another very easy 8/10 for the thrashers!

Soen: Reliance

Two and a half years after blowing me away with Memorial, the Swedish prog metallers are back with album number seven. And, what would you know, they’ve only gone and done it again! ‘Primal’ is the perfect opener, setting the tone for the album fantastically and hooking me in. Then you have tracks like single ‘Discordia’, ‘Huntress’ and ‘Draconian’ through the album that are also awesome, though there really isn’t a bad song on it. I sat down and listened through the full 43-minutes of this in one sitting, getting lost in the epicness, catchiness and heaviness throughout, never once losing interest. While similar to their previous work, it has been long enough since their previous albums that I have clearly been craving more of it without even realising. Also, it does feel a touch more focused on the heaviness, some of the riffs being killer and not nearly focused on enough! I would recommend this to anyone, regardless of what sort of music you are into. I can’t give it any less than another MASSIVE 9/10. Goddamn I love this band!

David Huckfelt: “I Was Born, But…”

Album number three from the folk activist, and first since 2021, is an incredibly chilled-out affair. Now, we’ll get the obvious out the way too: it’s pretty long. I feel like over an hour of slow folk music is too much, regardless of how good the quality is. There are some great lyrics throughout, and tracks like ‘Any Way the Wind Blows’ and ‘Who Do You Love?’I did enjoy. Honestly, when he leans into a bit more of an old-school blues sound, it’s excellent. However, the album as a whole very much struggled to hold my attention, especially when a lot of it was so similar. David is a great lyricist and a good songwriter, and there will definitely be people who love this release. I am sadly not one of them; it didn’t do much for me. If you like a more traditional folk/country sound, it’s worth giving a try, but I can’t give it any more than a 5/10. Fine, to listen to from time to time, but not my bag.

Mother Vulture: Cartoon Violence

The long awaited sophomore album from the UK hard rockers finally dropped this last Friday. It’s no secret I love them from their debut, so have been impatiently waiting for this for a while now. To say it doesn’t disappoint is an understatement! Opener ‘Mike Check’ sets the pace fantastically, and the band don’t let off the gas for the entire 41-minute runtime. Incorporating not only a bit of a heavier, hardcore edge to their sound, but also adding to the album some of the chaotic fun of their live show is honestly a stroke of genius. It still feels like Mother Vulture but feels incredibly fresh, a great evolution. It’s still packed with catchy radio-choruses and some amazing fuzzy stoner riffs, but has so much else at play too now. Georgi is honestly channelling his best inner Gerard Way throughout, and it’s fantastic! From ‘Sufferin’ Succotash!’ to ‘Slow Down’, ‘Double Down’ to ‘La Matadora’, it’s all SO GOOD. It all flows so well too, all the extra bits and touches they’ve added making it a true experience from front to back.

This is definitely one of the best albums of the year so far, regardless of how early we are into it. It also feels a step up from their debut, despite that one also being awesome. It’s another album I’d recommend to anyone even slightly into rock (everyone on this site, surely?) and will be one I’ll be spinning for weeks and months to come. Don’t be surprised to find it high up on our albums of the year list come December! 9.5/10

Gluecifer: Same Drug New High

I’ve been a fan of this band for a good while now, ever since ‘I Got a War’ came across my Spotify and I got a little obsessed. Their blending of punk, hard rock and glam is amazing, and it’s no wonder they are one of the most successful bands in their native Norway. So, ever since they reunited in 2018, I have been impatiently waiting for them to put out new music. Now, nearly 22 years after their last studio album, we finally get album six.

So, thank god, it’s fucking awesome! Right from the opener, ‘The Idiot’, I was hooked, and I wasn’t let go until the very last note. Being the perfect blend of everything from Alice Cooper to Turbonegro, The Ramones to White Zombie, and I love it. The band somehow haven’t lost a step in all their time away, even if they have still been playing live together a lot recently. There isn’t a bad track on the release, but songs like ‘Armadas’, the Cult-like ‘Pharmacity’ and the lighter punk ‘Another Night, Another City’ are personal favourites. But damn, this whole thing is so good, and incredibly easy and fun listen, as well as having their typically thought-provoking lyrics. I’d recommend giving this a listen if you are in any way a rock fan, and I am so dam glad they’re back to writing and releasing music again. I’d honestly put this up there with any of their previous albums. Hopefully we don’t have another two plus decades between long-form releases, but until we get more, I will happily be spinning this to death. I can’t give it any less than 9/10!

Nathan Evans & THE SAINT PHNX BAND: Angels’ Share

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

In a House of Heartbeats: Divination of Dreams

The UK underground dark rockers released their highly anticipated debut album this Friday. It’s a post-rock, gothic, proggy journey, and an awesome one at that! Firstly, let’s get the obvious out of the way; this certainly isn’t a release for everyone. It’s not for the feint of heart, either. It’s 50+ minutes of almost wholly instrumental, broken up slightly by some spoken-word parts. That alone is a lot, but when the music is also drawn out, repeated riffing, shoegaze and doom metal soundings, for sometimes 10+ minutes per track, it can certainly get a lot. Honestly, at times I struggled a bit. ‘A Head Full of Ghosts’ was probably my favourite track; it had some fun Tool vibes to it. I also liked the build-up of ‘Parasomniac’. However, as talented as they are, I struggled to keep my interest through much of the rest. It will certainly have its big fans, but I sadly do not think I’m one of them. I do, however, fully appreciate the art crafted here and the talent of the individuals involved. It’s an awesome release that just isn’t for me. So, for that, I can’t give it any more than 4/10, sorry guys!

DZ Deathrays: Easing Out of Control

Following up on 2023’s R.I.F.F seemed like a hard task, given its critically adored status, but honestly the Australian dance-punkers knock it out of the park again with their seventh album. This is half an hour of pure fun punk rock, and is surely impossible not to like. From ‘Sideways’ to ‘First Night Fever’, there’s plenty to love, and there isn’t a bad song throughout! It’s very much fitting into the Australian garage rock scene, and it’s easy to see why they are some of the brightest lights of it. It’s a damn fun listen and one I’d recommend to anyone even vaguely into punk music. I’ve spun it a couple of times this weekend already, and will definitely be spinning it plenty in the months to come. I can’t give it any less than 8/10, and it may grow on me even more in the weeks to come!

Langhorne Slim: The Dreamin’ Kind

The eighth studio album from the indie-Americana singer-songwriter is an excellent 38-minutes of music. It’s a style that I’m a little up and down on at times, but this is definitely a release that I’m big into! It’s pretty chilled-out throughout, and it a great one to throw on and relax to, it going by in a flash. From the opener to ‘Rickety Ol’ Bridge’ to ‘Dance on Thru’, there’s a lot to love. It’s kept constantly interesting too, with everything from blues to Western getting a nod throughout. It’s a little slow at times, but the songwriting is so good it’s so easy to get lost in it all and listen through from start to finish. It won’t be for everyone, but it’s a good album that I certainly enjoyed checking out, and would happily play again! 7/10

Edenbridge: Set the Dark on Fire

The whopping 12th studio album from the Austrian symphonic metal quintet sees them return to their former label in Streamhammer, as well as promise their heaviest album to date. It’s certainly heavier than their previous album, and is pretty damn epic in nature and composition. And, while it’s a pretty long release, I had a good time with it from start to finish. Tracks like ‘Cosmic Embrace’, the plodding ‘Our Place Among the Stars’, ballad ‘Bonded by the Light’ and well, all of ‘Spark of the Everflame’ are personal highlights. The band are all hugely talented players and songwriters, and the sheer size of the production throughout all combines together perfectly to make this a massive album. It is a touch samey by the end, sadly, and I did find my attention drifting away somewhat, but that massive four-part track to close really got me hooked back in again. If you are into the style or genre, this is definitely an album I’d recommend! I’d happily give it another spin, though with the sheer volume of great symphonic metal around these days, I don’t think I’d rush back to it as much. 7/10

Asterise: Twilight Opera

The Polish power metallers follow up their 2024 sophomore album with this epic EP. It’s epic and grandiose, giving off more Dragonforce vibes than Sabaton, not that that is at all an issue! They’ve gone full Metal Opera and I love it! I’d have honestly just taken the amazing title track and called it a day, but we still had another three awesome songs on top of that. ‘Eclipse’ is a mid-tempo, heavy stomper, ‘Hope’ is a powerful ballad and ‘On my Way to Heaven’ combines everything before it together perfectly. As much as I enjoyed Tale of a Wandering Soul, this feels like somehow another step up in terms of songwriting and production. I LOVED this, and I think the shorter release format helped a little. Having said that, insanely, I already want another full album from them! I’ll definitely be spinning this plenty while I wait for that to happen, though. If you are at all into power metal, this is an absolute must-check-out. I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10, great stuff!

P.S. INSANELY beautiful album artwork, some of the best I’ve seen in a while!

HyperioN: Cybergenesis

The first album from the Italian heavy metallers in nearly six years, it is clear they’ve spent a lot of that time working on this. It’s damn good! 40-minute of incredible riffing, solid drums and soaring, catchy, powerful vocals. ‘Rewire, Rebuild’ and ‘Grain of Sand’ are personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad track on it. It’s a great modern take of NWOBHM, combined with a power metal edge which has become so popular these days. There is no denying the bands talent, and despite it being another album that also feels a little samey by the end, it’s still a damn good release and one I’d highly recommend for anyone interested. I wasn’t aware of them until now but they certainly have a new fan in me! A solid 7.5/10 from us!

They Might be Giants: Eyeball

I had no idea this was dropping until I got an email about it. It’s hard not to be excited though, as I’m a big fan of the quirky duo and it’s about the first thing they’ve put out since 2021’s BOOK. Three odd tracks like only TMBG could produce, and barely eight minutes (and that’s with a remix of the title track added on too), it’s a quick, fun listen! The jazzy instrumental ‘Peggy Guggenheim’ was probably my favourite track, but all three certainly had their merits. If you’re into the band you will certainly enjoy this, though it definitely won’t change anyone’s minds who’s on the fence about them. I enjoyed it, and hopefully it acts as a fun little stopgap before another album! 7/10

Funeral Home: Your Funeral

The debut album from the death’n’roll Finns is glorious, fast-paced heaviness from start to finish. It’s a touch more melodic than its trad-death counterparts, but also has edges of hardcore and some bouncy punk riffs too. I definitely like when it leans into the rockin’ parts; tracks like ‘My Kingdom is Hell’, ‘Sacrificial Goat’ and ‘Graveyard Blues’ are definite highlights for me personally. However, there isn’t a bad song on here. The band are incredibly talented, and this is a phenomenal release for a debut. If you are into the heavy stuff with a touch of a fun edge, this is certainly the album for you! This will definitely stay in my rotation for the coming weeks, and I already can’t wait to hear where they go from here! 7.5/10

Low Gap: Geneva

The long awaited sophomore album from the country brothers finally dropped last weekend. Set to be the release to push them to the next level, the hype behind it is pretty high. And honestly, as more of a traditional, Americana-infused release, I definitely see the appeal. The duo work so damn well together, and have crafted some beautiful, catchy songs throughout this 44-minute journey. And some of the lyric writing is phenomenal, giving me goosebumps in a very bittersweet way. ‘Cuyahoga River’, the rockier ‘Churches’ and the amazing ‘Monsters (Take 2)’ are all huge highlights, and all for very different reasons! Also shoutout to the ever-amazing Julia Digrazia killing it as a guest on ‘Beattyville’! And ‘Heroes’ is far too beautiful sounding for how depressing it is, but an absolutely phenomenal song.

If you can’t tell, this album grew on me through my review! I know generally all you have to do to win me over is hit me with some deep, relatable lyrics (or a breakdown but not applicable here), but on top of tracks with that they also have some just awesome country songs. So much of this ended up on my personal playlist, and the versatility through the release from country rock to Americana to folk ballads; all the while the duo showing they can write each style perfectly. They certainly have a new fan in me, and I have a feeling this will be a release I’ll be revisiting at different times throughout the year. I’d recommend it to any country fan out there, and I can’t give it any less than a very solid 9/10!

Features

Top EPs of 2025!

Leave a comment

2025 was a stacked year for new music, not just with new albums but EPs too! Let’s take a look back at some of our favourite releases in the medium, from rock to country to metal! We reviewed easily 100 last year, so if we missed any off you think deserved it, let us know!

15 – Redferrin: Some City, Somewhere

Starting the list off strong with our friend Red and his second EP! This is every bit as good as his debut, being 21 minutes of chilled-out country-pop. It’s packed full of awesome songs; his incredible vocals and powerful lyrics over some basic-yet-fitting instrumentation. And, it’s grown on me more and more with each listen, something I surprisingly don’t find much for me with EPs. It’s not going to be for everyone, but I loved it and have listened to it a lot since February when it dropped. It got an 8.5/10 when it dropped, but I’d say it’s crept a little higher than that by now. A fitting start to the list!

Listen to: Ruin My Night, and Mornin’ Montana

14 – Sypha: Borderland

At just three songs and 10 minutes, this is the shortest release on this list, but that doesn’t take away from how great it is! An awesome slice of modern metal in the vein of Spiritbox or Bad Omens, though very much doing things their own way too, I’d honestly put it up there alongside any release from either band. The screams in particular are fantastic, especially when they are around the awesome breakdowns. However, the cleans also lead to some incredibly catchy choruses and verses, and it all fits over the top of the massive instrumentation perfectly. I’ve been jamming this since way back nearly a year ago, and haven’t gotten sick of it since! It got a solid 9/10 from us back then, and slips comfortably onto our list!

Listen to: Dirty Floor, and The Afterparty

13 – Revenant: Best Medicine

A band that put out two new EPs in 2025 and honestly, either could have made this list. However, I do think Medicine does ever so slightly edge out over Black Dogs, personally. However, both are excellent NWOCR releases, and could easily be combined together into an excellent album! Still, this is an amazing collection of five stompin’ rock tracks, and it’s impossible not to have a good time listening to it! Even the slower tracks are excellent, showing off the bands damn impressive range. I cannot wait to finally see them live in February and see these tracks, as I’ve been jamming them regularly for months now! Another solid 9/10 from us sees this easily make our list!

Listen to: Public Service Announcement, and Least I can Do

12 – Miss Vain: Sempiternal Drive

The follow-up to their incredible 2023 release, this had a lot of personal hype to live up to, and managed to do exactly that! This is melodic hard rock at its absolute finest. Five songs packed with huge, heavy riffs and choruses designed to be played to massive festival crowds. We even get some awesome screams too, adding a metalcore element to it which I love. Their sound is evolving more and more, and they deserve to be a growing name. It fills a great Santa Cruz-shaped hole in my soul, and I haven’t been able to get enough of it since April. A very easy 9/10 from us solidly secures this release a spot on our list! Check it out if you like the more melodic side of music!

Listen to: Now or Neverland, and Demon Spawn

11 – Blake Whiten: Six Mile

That voice. Need I say more? The sheer emotion in that rasp and low delivery is somehow both devastating and beautiful in equal measure, and makes all six of these tracks a must-listen. It hooks you in immediately, and doesn’t let you free until the very last note. And honestly, the instrumentation compliments Blake’s voice and lyrics perfectly. It’s a slower, steady, neotraditional country album, but delivered with an almost murder-folk darkness to it and times, as well as a modern edge. If all of that gushing hasn’t done enough to win you over, just take a listen, it really is that good. And hell, the 9.5/10 we gave it might convince you, too! It definitely deserves a slot on this list, and if it wasn’t for it being such a strong year in 2025, it may have gotten even higher!

Listen to: Reckless, and Rollin’ Stone

10 – Craig Morgan: American Soundtrack

A real throwback to the early-mid 2000s country sound in the very best of ways. From ballads to more rockier numbers, this release takes you on one hell of a journey across 20 short minutes, and is one I’ve listened to a fair bit the last nine months or so! It’s all catchy as anything and, while a little cliche lyrically, is still damn enjoyable. And, while I wait for another full-length to follow up 2020’s God, Family, Country, these EPs that he’s been putting out are more than enough to keep me going! It got top marks from us back in February, and honestly listening back, it’s hard to argue with it! The cheesiness may have dropped it down a couple of places on this list but honestly, it’s still one of the best EPs of the year, hence why it makes this list!

Listen to: American Soundtrack, and Roots

9 – Circle of Origin: Guilty Till Proven Innocent

An awesome melodic metal EP up next, and a massively high-calibre one for a debut! It’s a style that’s right up my street, and the band do it phenomenally. It’s massive, the perfect blend of heavy and melodic, and takes plenty of inspiration from the massively overlooked groove-metal genre, incorporating plenty of bounce into their hard-rock sound. I have listened through this 20-minute release multiple times since it dropped in early last year, and don’t see myself stopping any time soon! Hopefully we are getting more from them soon, and I also need to see them live ASAP too, as I have to hear these tracks live! An insanely solid 9.5/10 from us easily lands them this spot on our list.

Listen to: Time Waits for No One, and Broken

8 – Everette: Simple as That

It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of this project. So, the fact that we are four releases in and it has turned more into a solo project and we are still getting quality this high is a true testament to Brent’s talents. All four of these track are amazing, feeling a bit more like their earlier stuff than Keys to Kentucky was, which was pretty awesome. It’s another artist that should be far bigger than they are currently; just listen to this and tell me otherwise. I feel like it took a slight hit when Anthony left, but Brent seems to be gathering some steam again and, if he keeps putting out banger after banger like he has been, it surely will be bigger sooner rather than later! It got a 9.5/10 from us when it dropped but honestly, it feels like I only didn’t give it more because it just wasn’t long enough! If you like country even a little, give this a spin ASAP!

Listen to: Glad to Be Here, and Freight Train

7 – Jawfane: Me and All my Demons

A non-country Nashville band is always nice to see, and even more-so when it’s a fantastic, emo-adjacent heavy post-hardcore one! The debut EP from the quartet is a fantastic 17-minutes of anger, ch0nky riffs and brutal screams. It’s definitely on the darker side of releases on this list, but it also stands out a lot to me as shockingly not that many people seem to be doing stuff like this currently. And the fact that it’s done to this high a quality is truly awesome! All five tracks here are awesome, and it all fits together perfectly to make something truly special. If you like the genre, check this out immediately, you’ll surely love it! There’s a very good reason it got a 9.5/10 from us and makes it onto this list!

Listen to: Damaged Goods, and Friends and Enemies

6 – Tealdear: menace

This chaotic, proggy near-20-minutes is an absolute thrill ride of heavy music. It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but six months on from its release I still love it! It’s heavy, catchy and incredibly creative in its songwriting, it all flowing surprisingly well together. The band are all such insane musicians and songwriters, and again shoutout to their producer Audiomage, who’s done a fantastic job here too! They haven’t gotten nearly enough love and recognition from this release, but I adore it and would recommend anyone into the quirkier side of music. It got an incredibly easy 9.5/10 from us back in June, and if you listen it’s very easy to hear why. I cannot wait to hear more from them already, but for now I am happy to keep spinning this!

Listen to: the devil’s toybox, and don’t be a cult

5 – Gareth: Steal Your Thunder

2025 very much felt like Gareth’s year. Not only putting out not one but two awesome EPs, touring with Kip Moore, main stage at Long Road, it’s hard to argue what a huge, breakthrough year he had. And this felt like this release really set everything into motion here. Fifteen minutes spread across five incredible radio-country songs, all as good as each other. His vocals are beautiful and powerful, and his songwriting ability is really off the charts! And, while I did enjoy Bluebird a lot too, this one stood out a little more for me, and was a bit more solid throughout. This release has set him up for absolutely MASSIVE things, and it’s easy to hear why we gave it a 9/10, though honestly I think it deserves even more than that now. If you are a country fan, this release is an absolute must!

Listen to: Steal Your Thunder, and Last Thing I Do

4 – Bleed the Fifth: Mortal Heart

The first new release from the band in three years and it certainly didn’t disappoint! This is an incredible slab of modern metalcore from the Welsh quartet that almost teeters on melodeath at times, which certainly isn’t a bad thing! All five tracks are amazing, and this whole release has been a regular in my listening still all these months If you are at all a fan of the heavier side of metal, this is very much one for you! It very easily got top marks back in March, and it’s hard to disagree with that some ten months later. There was no way this wasn’t making the list, and I already can’t wait to hear where they go from here!

Listen to: First Flame, and We Belong

3 – Rattlesnakes: Deeper Shades of Tourment

The debut EP from the young, Derbyshire NWOBHM revival band is incredible, and has been in regular rotation for me since its April release. It goes hard throughout, from the incredible riffing to the solid drumming to Rowena’s powerful vocals. And for a debut release to produce this level of quality songs throughout is damn impressive! It’s a sound that, while never quite going away, is seeing an awesome resurgence in the UK underground scene as of late, and Rattlesnakes very much positioned themselves near the forefront of that with this release. If you are a fan of old-school metal, give this a spin, you’ll surely love it as much as I do. A very solid 9.5/10 back when it dropped, and it more than lives up to that now. A deserving addition to this list!

Listen to: Firestarter, and Burn for You

2 – Evan Bartels: To Make you Cry

As if I wasn’t already obsessed with this release when it dropped, seeing it live made me fall in love with it even more. It’s such a simple release, being pretty stripped back to Evan’s vocals and guitar with liminal other instrumentation, but it draws all the focus on the lyrics and vocal delivery, packing such a deep, emotional punch. It’s made me cry before, live and when revisiting it here. Heck, ‘The Highway’ still gives me goosebumps to this day. Plus, talking to Evan about how it was made just makes me appreciate it even more! It won’t be for everyone, but music at its most base form is supposed to make you feel something, and this does just that every single time. Every track is amazing, and this is an absolute must check out, regardless of what type of music you’re into! It’s very easy to hear why I gave it a 10/10, and it definitely deserves this slot on the list!

Listen to: Death of a Good Man, and The Highway

1 – Fangslinger: We Are the Night

There was no way this wasn’t topping our list. I’ve been obsessed with this band since they started, and this EP brought together everything I loved about the undead redneck rock’n’rollers! Big riffs, massive harmonies, arena-filling choruses and plenty of southern rock swagger to boot. All five tracks are as good as the last, it being 20-minutes of hard rock greatness. They are already teasing the next step, but until then, I am more than happy to keep spinning this release. It’s a fantastic combination of their early singles, and it’s another release I cannot recommend enough to anyone even slightly interested. It was another very easy 10/10 back in July, and I fully stand by that now. These guys are gonna be massive!

Listen to: The Lost Souls Saloon, and Blood Curse

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: 1986, Paleface Swiss and More!

Leave a comment

The first NMM of the new year, and we’re doing things a little differently this time around. Yep, we’re including EPs too! I felt that the separate EP posts weren’t drawing enough focus to some excellent releases, so I thought I’d try a combined one! Let me know if it works!

We have four excellent, heavy releases to sink our teeth into this week. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

1986: Carniveil

The debut album from the UK modern metalcorers goes HARD from start to finish, and is an excellent way to start the year’s releases. From the awesome riffing to the powerful screams, it’s old-school metalcore at its very best. Think Hatebreed over BFMV. And, from the opener to ‘Black Mirror’ to single ‘Static Burn’ there are so many awesome highlights. They lean into the hardcore elements a lot, and it makes for an incredibly fun listen. Even the production added to the overall product a lot. It all comes together excellently and makes for a great 40-minutes of heaviness. It’s a fantastic debut and sets the band up for a bright future if they carry on along this vein. A solid 8/10 from us!

Paleface Swiss: The Wilted EP

The first EP to feature on NMM, and of course it’s from the beatdown-deathcore titans who blew us away this time last year with their last album. They follow it up perfectly with this four tracks and an intro. Each track is as good as the last, and there really isn’t a bad song throughout. And, as good as the riffing and drumming is, Marc is of course the highlight again. One of the best vocalists in the music industry as a whole today, his range is off the charts, and on full display here. From surprisingly catchy choruses to brutal screams to his insane harsh rapping, and at least a few crazy laughs, it’s all SO GOOD. It fits perfectly over the instrumentation though, one not being as good without the other. If you are at all a fan of the band or just metal in general, I’d highly recommend this album. The band really cannot do any wrong right now! I can’t give it any less than 9/10!

Arcane Frost: Night’s Cavalry

Another debut album, this time from the German black metallers. It’s pretty straight-up black metal, not bells or whistles or combined sub-genres, just heaviness and darkness. If you’re into that sort of thing, this is definitely worth checking out! It’s a genre that’s definitely grown on me, and tracks like ‘Swarming Rats’ and ‘Withering Decay’ are personal highlights. The album is barely 30-minutes in length, making for an easy listen if you’re into this sort of thing. I enjoyed it, but have to admit with my limited bandwidth with the genre, I probably wouldn’t listen to it through much. However, it’s still good album, and I certainly wouldn’t turn it off if it came on again. Any black metal fans should certainly check this out! It’s a solid 7/10!

Woe: Legacies of Human Frailty

More black metal, this time from New York. Album number six from the band is unrelenting, going just as hard as anything they have put out previously. While I have pretty similar sentiments to the previous entry in this list, but I did appreciate the more epic nature of this release. The tracks are a little longer and it really gets everything it can out of every sound. Just six tracks stretch 45+ minutes, so the proggier nature definitely kept me more entertained. It reminded me a little of Rotting Christ, though not quite to that extent. It’s a good album, and once again one I’d highly recommend to anyone into the genre. It’s hard not to compare to Arcane Frost, but it is a little more my sort of thing, and will probably be spinning this again soon if I have the time. As far as black metal albums go, this is up there for me, and gets a damn solid 7.5/10!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Sidian, Mutiilation, and Sadie!

Leave a comment

The last #NMM of the year, and it’s a heavy one! Three awesome release for us to check out, let’s dive right in!

Sidian: Where Our Silence Comes to Die

The debut album from Wyatt Sharp’s experimental death metal project is wonderful chaos from start to finish! It’s technical, heavy and balls-to-the-wall throughout, and it’s hard not to at very least admire it, and at most love it. Tracks like ‘Elegiac, Absent Catharsis’, the title track and the epic ‘Albatross’ are personal highlights, but honestly every track on this is great, and it all grew on me more and more the more I listened. From the insane guitars and bass to the massive drums and the crushing screams and melodic cleans, Wyatt really can do it all, and his talent is off the fucking charts! The fact that he has done this all himself, as well as writing and crafting each track, is honestly mind-blowing.

It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but I loved this a lot, and would highly recommend to anyone into the heavier end of metal. It gives off vibes of everything from early Trivium to Periphery to Necrophagist, it’s great! I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10; don’t be surprised to see it creep onto our albums of the year list in a years time!

Mutiilation: Pandemonium of Egregores

Following on from last years Black Metal Cult, the modern black metal French outfit is another mainly solo project, of one William “Meyhna’ch” Roussel, though they have also added drummer Kham too. To say the return of the project is a success would be an understatement, as their last album was well received, while this is another banger if you’re into their particular brand of noise. Heck, I’m not even especially into black metal, and even I found myself enjoying it and happily listening through the short runtime in one sitting. It’s only four tracks and an intro, so is a pretty easy listen for anyone interested. And it’s hard to pick highlights, as it all flows so well together. While not something I’d seek out often, it’s definitely good, and I wouldn’t turn it off if it came on again. A solid 7/10 from us!

Sadie: THE REVIVAL OF MADNESS

The third album in the band’s REVIVAL series, it took me a far too long time to work out what was going on. This series is a re-recordings of their previous, pre-hiatus work. So, while technically not ‘new’, it’s new to music, and a slow week as the last one of the year, so cut me some slack! I think it’s designed to be a way of putting their music on streaming, as none of the original stuff is on there.

This is also an absolutely amazing melodic heavy metal album. From the great, alt metal riffing to the awesome, melodic parts and solos to the powerful, catchy vocals, it really has a bit of everything! Then ‘THE REQUIEM’ goes full metalcore/melodeath. It’s a cool idea to do these re-releases, as it really gives you an appreciation of the range of the bands sound over the years, and the sheer talent between them! That, ‘Jealousy’ and the funky ‘bleach’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad track on the release. It’s a testament to the incredible talent and longevity of the band, and it has definitely made me want to go back and check out the other REVIVAL parts! Hopefully we get some actual newly written music from the band soon, as this is awesome. However, for now I am more than happy to sit with these albums and become an even bigger new fan of the band. An incredibly solid 8.5/10 from us!

Features

The Top Albums of 2025 – Part 4!

Leave a comment

As we approach the final few, our list heats up, but there are still so many incredible releases for us to be checking out! See who’s 40-20!

40 – Volbeat: God of Angels Trust

The return of the Danish metal titans after a few years off has been a more than welcome one, as their ninth album is pretty incredible! You always know exactly what to get from the band, but rarely do they misstep, this being another great, similar release in their catalogue. Whether it’s chuggy almost thrash or their slower, more anthemic, stadium-filling stuff, they do it all as well as they ever have here. It’s 44-minutes of awesome hard rock/metal music in a style that’s only Volbeat can seem to pull off. When I first reviewed it, I wasn’t quite as sold on it as their previous album. However, after a good few spins since, it has grown on me a lot and is definitely up there with that release! It’s packed full of high points, from huge choruses to awesome riffs, and is a must check out for anyone who’s even a passing fan of the band! It still got a 9/10 from us then, but may even be a touch higher now. It very much deserves its slot on the list, and would have been higher had it not been such a good year!

Check out our reaction here!

Listen to: By a Monster’s Hand, Acid Rain, and Better Be Fueled than Tamed

39 – Ian Munsick: Eagle Feather

This is an absolutely INCREDIBLE country-Americana album that has somehow grown on me even more since first hearing it back in April. This thing is packed full of excellent track after excellent track, even at over an hour in length, and it goes by in a flash! His voice is so interesting for a country artist, and packed full of emotion throughout, just like his lyrics. From beauty to heartbreak, it’s all covered perfectly throughout, and by one of the best storytellers around in country today. And, whether you’re into a more neo-traditional country sound or not, this is well worth checking out, as I truly think it has a little bit of something for everyone. Want country rock? Check out ‘Stampede’. More of a pop sound? ‘God Bless the West’. Straight yo Americana? The opening two tracks. There’s a reason we gave it a massive 9.5/10 when we reviewed it, with the length being the only thing that still may keep it from top marks. However, it still more than deserves its slot on this list, and may get even higher on another day!

Listen to: Horses Not Hearts, God Bless the West, and Fixin’ Me

38 – Whitechapel: Hymns in Dissonance

Absolute brutality for 43-straight minutes, and an album I’ve seen talked about a lot in lists like this, and for very good reason! As much as I enjoyed Kin, I know there are those in the bands fanbase who didn’t, and see this as a return to their former sound, as well as a return to form. Honestly, it’s hard to argue! From the riffing to the drums to the screams, it’s all crushingly heavy and so well written and performed. And, every song is incredible, it all flowing together so well. It’s certainly not a release for everyone, but if you are into the heavier side of metal, I’m sure you’ve already checked out this masterpiece already! We only gave it an 8/10 back in March, but it has definitely grown on me a lot with more listens. An incredibly worthy entry to the list!

Listen to: Prisoner 666, A Visceral Retch, and Mammoth God

37 – Whiskey Myers: Whomp Whack Thunder

Somehow an album I missed until a couple of days too late, this is another excellent release from one of my favourite country artists. The band can really do no wrong at this point, as we loved their last album too! This release follows that one up perfectly, packed with awesome southern rock instrumentation and some incredible vocals, lyrics and melodies from Cody. And, from boot-stompin’ rockers to slower, emotional ballads, this album once again has a little bit of everything! If you are at all into country, southern stuff or hard rock, this is an absolute must of an album for you! There isn’t a bad track on the album and it goes by in a flash! It more than deserves its slot on this list, and it gets an incredibly easy 9/10 from us!

Listen to: Time Bomb, Rowdy Days, and Midnight Woman

36 – Biohazard: Divided We Fall

The return album from the hardcore thrash legends was everything as good as it was expected to be. It’s the perfect encapsulation of the anger in the world currently; from the lyrics to the riffing to the breakdowns, it’s all so great and fitting to the recent climate. It’s also an incredibly fun listen, and all 11 tracks on it are awesome and highlights in their own right. It’s impossible not to have a good time and actually feel something listening to this, and I’d recommend it to anyone to try at least once, regardless of what sort of music you like. It got a massive and very easy 9.5/10 from us when it dropped, but it may get even higher than that after a few more listens. It’s the perfect hardcore album of this style, and is very close to being the best album in the style this year… more on that later…

Listen to: Fuck the System, Eyes on Six, and Fight to be Free

35 – Ward XVI: Id3ntity

Overtone’s most anticipated album ever at this point I think finally dropped back in summer, and honestly lived up to the hype, insanely! Part three of the Psychoberry trilogy ends things in fitting, grandiose and dark fashion, the band doing their usual genre-blending just as perfectly as ever. From hard-rock to folk to gothic to heavy to modern metals to flashes of everything from Reggaeton to electronic, there is a bit of just about everything, and a hell of a lot of different instruments. And, in typical concept fashion, it all flows perfectly and seamlessly together. There really isn’t a bad track on this thing.

The band are not only known for putting on one of the best live shows, underground or otherwise, but their studio work really speaks for itself too at this point. It’s a fun, epic listen from start to finish, and one that I’d recommend to anyone! I am desperate to see it live so hope we get another tour or some festival slots in 2026, but I am more than happy to keep spinning this in the meantime. A solid 9.5/10 from us and a worthy addition to the list!

Check out our interview with them here!

Listen to: Regeneration, Macabaret, and Blood is the New Black

34 – Jon Pardi: Honkytonk Hollywood

The neo-traditional country legend returned back in April to follow up his 2022 release. I loved this when it came out, but for some reason then didn’t revisit it much for a while. However, when coming back to it when getting this release going, I remembered just how fucking excellent it truly is! From front to back this album is packed full of banger after banger. Be it a catchy country-rock radio hit or slower, emotion-filled ballad, it’s all so good. It’s almost an hour long but doesn’t feel it at all, going by in no time at all. I did enjoy Mr Saturday Night, but this definitely tops it, honestly up there alongside California Sunrise for me! There’s a reason he’s still one of the biggest names in the genre some ten years after he broke out, and output like this is a fantastic example of it. It got a massive 9/10 from us back then, and I am very inclined to agree with that still now, if not a 9.5! Much like with previous entries, if it was a smidge shorter it may have gotten even higher up, but it still earns a damn good place on our list!

Listen to: Boots Off, Rush, and Love the Lights Out

33 – Shiraz Lane: In Vertigo

Album number four from the AOR/sleazy hard rock quintet blew me away a couple of months ago when it released, and still does so whenever I go back to check it out now! It’s packed full of massive riffing, arena-filling choruses and absolutely stellar production. The band have really stepped up with this release, and this is coming from someone who was a big fan of their last couple of albums! Each of these 10 tracks are truly as good as the last, and the album is worth a listen if you are at all into rock music. It’s insane that they aren’t a bigger name worldwide, but this release is certainly set to push them to that level, I’m sure! It’s an incredibly fun release, as well as having moments of heartfeltness and some great ballads. It was a very easy 9.5/10 upon release, and after a few more listens it’s hard to say any differently. Another well-earned entry into our list!

Listen to: Stone Cold Lover, Dangerous, and Sayonara Love

32 – The Smith Street Band: Once I Was Wild

For anyone who hasn’t guessed by now, this isn’t typically my sort of music. However, the phenomenal writing and emotion bleeding from every single song drew me in and made me a massive new fan of this band last month. It’s on the heavier side of indie rock, definitely giving off Frank Turner vibes in the best ways. And yeah, this is a beautiful, bittersweet release that you cannot stop once you start, 41-minutes going by in a flash. Maybe it’s more of a reflection of my questionable mental health currently, but hey, this is my list, I can do what I want! This is an incredible, powerful, grandiose release that everyone needs to listen to at least once. It’s given me goosebumps, made me laugh and cry, and it’s only been out for a month! Instrumentally or vocally it’s nothing special, but it all works so well with the powerful lyrics that I really can’t get enough of it. 9/10 doesn’t seem to do it justice after a few more listens, so it would definitely get higher than I gave it before.

Listen to: Once I Was Wild, Constellation, and The Morning After

31 – Finger Eleven: Last Night on Earth

The Canadian alt-rockers’ return to the studio after a decade didn’t disappoint, and very much lived up to the hype! From the absolutely MASSIVE riffing to the catchy as anything choruses to, once again, some of the best production around today, everything about this release works so well together. And it’s also paced perfectly; the slower and faster tracks complimenting each other excellently and making for an incredibly easy 40-minute listen! It’s very much a throwback to the early 2000s radio rock sound that I grew up, so there is a touch of nostalgia here too, but give this a listen and try to tell me it isn’t excellent, it’s impossible. It’s equal parts beautiful and rocking, and it’s easy to see why they’re such a big name across the pond. A surprisingly slightly low 9/10 from us last month, it’s a truly amazing album and another I’d wholly recommend to anyone even slightly interested!

Listen to: Adrenaline, Lock Me Up, and Perfect Effigy

30 – Dominum: The Dead Don’t Die

The second album on this list to be dropped in December of 2024, I have been obsessed with it ever since! They’re my favourite modern power metal band, and they knocked it out of the park once again with their second release. I loved their debut, but this builds on everything from that record and very much turns it up to 11. Every chorus is stadium-fillingly catchy, and the album as a whole sounds MASSIVE, from the instrumentation to the perfect production. Dr Dead is honestly a genius when it comes to power metal, and has crafted something truly special with this release, just like he did with Hey Living People. It’s another album I’d recommend to absolutely anyone, and don’t be surprised if you come out of it having found one of your favourite new bands like I have these last two years! It was another album we gave a huge 9.5/10 to when it dropped, and it’s hard to argue against that still all these months later. Yet another worthy addition to the list!

Check out our interview with Dr Dead here!

Listen to: One of Us, The Dead Don’t Die, and Happy Deadly Ending

29 – Chris Young: I Didn’t Come Here to Leave

Just because this is a little lower on the list than his last one, it doesn’t mean that this isn’t still a phenomenal country album, and album overall for that matter! Chris is one of my favourite artists full stop, and I think he’s found the perfect formula for his particular brand of noise. This thing is packed to the brim with awesome songs, from more up-beat numbers to ballads, and smartly alternates between the two for most of the release. It’s the perfect mid 2000s radio-country album, with just enough rock to keep it interesting, and there really isn’t a bad song on it. It hasn’t gotten nearly enough love as it deserves, even though we gave it an 8.5/10 back in October. However, after a few listens it has grown on me even more, it being an incredibly well-rounded release, and is easily 9+ now! From a drinkin’, party mood to a more emotional track or two, Chris does it all so well, and I can’t recommend this album to anyone even slightly curious. It more than deserves its slot on this list, and is another that could be higher on any given day!

Listen to: Some Around Here, I Feel a Cold One Coming On, and Pour Some Whiskey on It

28 – Coheed and Cambria: The Father of Make Believe

Some more proggy alt hard rock, this time from the American legends and their tenth album. I’m going to put it straight out there; as beautiful as the opener is, it’s a terrible way to kick off the album. Especially when after that it’s a tour de force of everything Claudio and co. do so damn well. I get how much of a storyteller and concept artist he is and ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ probably fit the narrative better, but ‘Goodbye, Sunshine’ is a banger and would have been an excellent opener. That being said, the album as a whole is phenomenal. It’s the best flow an album has on this entire list, every song following on perfectly from one to the best, and an hour (1:15 for the New Entities edition) is so easy to sit and rock through. As much as I loved Vaxis II, this is something else dude. I’d put it up there alongside their best releases, for sure. From prog to slower ballads to heavier, hardcore-punk infused stuff, there is so much variety to keep you going, too. I wish I was even a fraction as creative as these guys, and I can never get enough when they put out new music. It got 9.5/10 and for damn good reason!

Listen to: The Father of Make Believe, Meri of Mercy, and Blind Side Sonny

27 – Rivers of Nihil: Self-Titled

I’m going to make a potentially wild claim here, but I stand by it: technical death metal may have never sounded so good as it does on this album. This has absolutely everything, from heaviness to scream, huge clean melodies to technical riffing and soloing and even some sexy sax, and the band pull it all off perfectly. The talent throughout is off the charts, and I’ve listened through all 10 tracks of this a fair bit since it dropped back in May. If you are at all into the heavy stuff, I truly cannot recommend this release enough! It got one of the easiest 10/10s I’ve ever given, and very easily made it this high up the list! If it wasn’t for some insanely strong albums later on, it’d have gotten even higher!

Listen to: The Sub-Orbital Blues, Despair Church, and Evidence

26 – Stray From the Path: Clockworked

Dropping the same week as the previous entry, it just edged it out for a higher spot due to how incredible the lyrics and overall vibe is. I told you hardcore was back in a big way this year, and no one does it better than the Long Island metalcore/hardcore punkers. The bounce, the heaviness, the attitude, it’s all fantastic from start to finish. It’s angry, and perfectly fitting for the current state of the world. It feels like an absolutely wild time for a band like this to be calling it quits, but they’re very much going out with a bang! We adored their last album but this one may be even better, honestly! 9/10 sounds far too low in retrospect, another album that could potentially get top marks now I’ve listened to it a few times! Check it out if you are at all curious!

Listen to: Fuck Them All to Hell, Shot Caller, and Can I Have your Autograph?

25 – Fury: Interceptor

Talk about an entire album being stuck in my head for nearly four months now! This is a hard rock/AOR masterclass from one of the very best in the NWOCR scene! From the riffing to the solid drumming to the stadium-filling choruses and harmonies, it’s all perfectly written and performed. The band have been going for a little while now and really have aged like a fine wine, this maybe being my favourite release from them! Every song is as good as the last, and it’s an incredibly easy 40+ minute listen. There’s a reason this got an impressive 9.5/10 from us, and just give it a listen if you don’t believe me and try to tell me it’s any less! It’s an incredible album, and one that is more than deserving its place here!

Check out our interview with them here!

Listen to: Interceptor, On the Town, and DTR

24 – Kip Moore: Solitary Tracks

This is how you do a long release well! The modern country/Americana legend blew me away at the start of the year, and produced an album that I have revisited plenty of times throughout the last 10 months. How is that someone can do a 22-track, 85-minute album, and it’s still all THIS GOOD? And, from up-tempo country bangers to more soft-rock inspired stuff to ballads, it’s got it all, and done perfectly. If any of that catches your fancy, check out this album immediately! It’s not going to be an album for everyone, but goddamn do I love this to pieces. It’s another that has grown on me more and more, and once again the 9/10 we gave it doesn’t feel enough any more! Certainly Kip’s most complete work to date!

Listen to: High Hopes, Like Ya Stole It, and Live Here to Work

23 – Sarayasign: Shadows of the Dying Light

Oh look, even more incredible AOR music! It’s like a heavier, groove-metal infused Bon Jovi, and I still can’t get enough two months later. And it’s somehow another album over an hour in length that is packed full of bangers, making for an incredibly easy listen. It’s all pretty epic stuff, and relatively cheesy (if done so well it’s only boarderline) so it certainly won’t be for everyone. I love it though, and it’s honestly a crime that they aren’t bigger than they are currently. They deserve to be playing this to huge festival crowds, as it would fit so well. They’re all insanely talented players and songwriters, and have crafted something special here! If you are into rock in any capacity, give this a spin, you’ll surely get as lost in it as I do. An incredibly easy 9.5/10 from us easily cemented this it’s high position on our list!

Listen to: Worlds Apart, Shades of Black, and Throne of Gold Part III

22 – LessDMV: Epitaph II

Y’all should know by now how much I adore Julian’s work. It’s been all over Overtone’s various avenues for a few years now, and this somehow feels like the culmination of all of it. 53-minutes of incredible, gothic hard rock/metal, all of it being excellent. Julian and his brother are amazing at writing heavy stuff or emotional ballads, and he has one of the best vocals across any genre today. And while its main aspect is gothic, it feels fresh; there isn’t really anyone sounding like this around currently. It’s packed full of memorable moments and some of the best tracks across all his projects, as well as being a release I have revisited again and again since its release in May. Some of it still gives me goosebumps or blows me away all these months later. I know he’s already teasing new music, but I can’t get enough of this still to be able to focus on anything else he’d put out! It was an incredibly easy 10/10 in our review, and I still fully stand by this now!

Listen to: Hysteria, The One, and In the Dark

21 – Blake Shelton: For Recreational Use Only

The big man himself put out his highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s Body Language, and somehow topped that already stellar album! Right from the excellent opening track through the other three excellent singles and every amazing album track around them, it’s 40 minutes of perfect 2000s country music. The fact that he’s been putting out music for nearly two and a half decades now and is still releasing stuff of this calibre is amazing, especially in country! ‘Texas’ has been a frequent ear-worm for a solid year at this point, but there is plenty more to love alongside that on this album. It’s another album that still puts a lump in my throat all these listens later, and got an incredibly deserving 9.5/10 in its review!

An excellent way to cap off part 4, now… let’s get to the last few…

Listen to: Texas, Hangin’ On, and Cold Can

<-   Part 3.                          Part 5   ->

Interviews & Features

Brainwave: ‘Ill Intent deals with a general dissatisfaction with the state of the world, but also a sense that you can conquer your doubts and prove your detractors wrong!’

Leave a comment

We had the pleasure of chatting to New Zealand’s new breakout thrash/hardcore band Brainwave. Check out as we talk to them about their debut album, recent tour and future plans!

How would you describe your sound?

We recently found aYouTube comment saying that Brainwave sounds like a hardcore Toxic Holocaust, so we’ve picked that up and run with it!

The early influences on Brainwave were bands like Judiciary, Power Trip, No Warning – hardcore and crossover coming out of Texas, the North East U.S., and Canada.

Those influences are still with us, but we’ve also been trying to incorporate more melodic elements without going full stadium metal. We want to push both the metal and hardcore elements of our sound to the extreme.

What’s it like having your debut album out? What went into the decision to put out an album over another EP?

It’s been great to get the album out. It took about two years of sweet and blood and it means a lot to all of us.

From our perspective, doing an L.P. was really the next logical step. It was the only way to progress our sound and dig into all the influences and elements we wanted to draw out. E.P’s are great, but we needed something that allowed us more space and room for expression.

Is there a particular theme to the album, or any individual stories you want to talk about from it?

There are definitely some themes that come through the album. We were all facing some challenges during the writing process, at work or in aspects of our personal lives, and the album became an outlet for those struggles. Things like not achieving the goals we wanted in life, feeling disconnected, isolated, and atomised. This is also all of course in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic and the polarisation that had wrought. Society itself seemed to be breaking down. Songs like ‘Lost My Way’ and ‘Never Be The Same’ confront these themes.

We were also all profoundly affected by the genocide being inflicted on the people of Gaza by the state of Israel and the escalation of violence in the West Bank. It was frustrating that many people we’d looked up to had failed to recognise that daily horror and systemic forces pushing the region to the brink.

Overall, Ill Intent deals with a general dissatisfaction with the state of the world, but also a sense that you can conquer your doubts and prove your detractors wrong and, hopefully, make things slightly better in the process.

What is the writing process like for the band?

Generally Joram (guitar) will fire some riffs through and we will try and shape those into a song in the practice space. Often we will partly finish a song then move on to another idea and circle back later once we need to really hone the ideas. 

‘Never Be The Same’ is a good example of this method. There is a riff that comes in at around 1:40min that we were playing as an intro to our set when we toured with Lucre in 2024. We thought that would be the start of a song, but as we wrote and reworked things, it felt natural to use it as a kind of beat switch part way through the track. Lewis Noke-Edwards, who produced, mixed, and mastered the album, then had the idea of adding a super slow breakdown after the riff, and Joram added vocals to really kick this track up a gear. It’s definitely a band favourite.

Seen you’ve had a busy month with shows, how’s the tour been going?

Yeah, we’ve just wrapped up our release tour. It’s been amazing, hella fun!

It was our first time playing in the South Island (we’re a North Island based band), so that was really cool. And it was great to have our friends Martial Law on all five shows. 

We’ve been pretty active in Wellington for a few years, but to go outside our city and see people singing along, throwing down, and generally having a great time has been really gratifying.

What’s the scene like over there? Seen a good few bands coming through from your area recently!

The New Zealand hardcore scene is really strong right now. As well as great bands there are a bunch of people all over the country putting on shows and working hard to bring bands here from overseas. The community in general is in a really good place.

Huge shout out to all the bands that featured on the record – Molosser, Lucre, Martial Law, and Xile.

Also shout out all the bands that we shared the stage with on our release tour – Shuv-it, Visions ov Hell, Standover, Shuriken, Cryfor, Only You, Kisser, Virginia Dry, Strap, Moment of Truth, MoneySock, Dredge, and Nuclear Blunt.

Got a busy 2026 planned? Any hope to come over towards Europe?

Damn, we’d love to get over to Europe if possible! We’re pretty seriously discussing how we can make something happen over in Australia in 2026. Apart from that, I think we are all keen to get back into writing again.

Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of?

Ossh, what a question!

For us, it would be about who we could learn the most from watching every night. We’re all really excited by what is happening over in Australia at the moment. Obviously the peak of that right now is Speed, but there are so many other great bands from there we’d love to play with – Iron Mind, Horsepower, Feel The Pain, and Dizdain just to name a few. All bands that are in the game not just for themselves, but their scene and community, too!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: The Losts, Funeral Vomit and More!

Leave a comment

A pretty packed week of heavy new albums for us to check out this time around. Let’s dive right in!

The Losts: Venom Within

This is an awesome slab of melodic heavy metal! The third album from the French quartet blends together plenty of old-school and modern styles, from heavy to power to black metal to thrash to even an almost early 2000s metalcore edge at times. Each style feels like it’s own time to shine at times throughout too, and all combines together to form a pretty unique sound to The Losts. Tracks like ‘Black out Days’, ‘Magical Idea’ and ‘Exponential Law’ are all personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on here, and despite the aforementioned style-changes, it still flows pretty damn well! I’m definitely going to have to go back and check out their previous work, as they very much have a new fan in me! A solid 8/10 from us!

Funeral Vomit: Upheaval of Necomancy

Another third album, this time from the heavy, old-school death metallers, and does pretty much exactly what is advertised. It’s a Cannibal Corpse-like half an hour of brutal riffing, great drumming and questionably mixed and performed screams. In fact the mix throughout is rather questionable, being more of a wall of sound that sometimes makes it hard to distinguish each part. Musically and arrangement-wise it’s very well put together, but it’s sadly not one I’d revisit readily. It’s a shame too, as I liked the intro stuff they did for the album and tracks. I’d probably get into it a lot more in a live setting! ‘Hematophagia’ was probably my personal favourite track, but I sadly can’t give the release as a whole much more than 4/10. Sorry, the mix and style really aren’t my sort of thing!

Scheitan: Wine for a Tormented Soul

The second release in two years from the reunited gothic metal soloist is an absolutely great release within that genre! Whether it’s legends like Him or Type O to even more modern stuff like newer Creeper, it channels plenty of great vibes. From the opening two tracks to ‘Carry Me Home’, there’s plenty to love, too. The whole album goes by in a flash, and is truly a must if you are into this style of music! It’s honestly so great to hear Pierre back making music again, especially when it’s this good! I had a great time listening to this, and can’t give it any less than a solid 7.5/10. Good stuff!

Amulet: Don’t Say the Anguish Took her Life

The debut album from the modern deathcore collective actually goes pretty damn hard! From the awesome screams to the brutal instrumentation, it’s all performed and written incredibly. While it’s not everyone style, this feels a bit more of a throwback to earlier times in the genre; think more Whitechapel than Slaughter to Prevail. And yeah, it’s fucking awesome! From ‘Her Suffocating Words’ to the title track to ‘Dying in my Dreams’, there is plenty to love, and truly not a bad song on here. Heck, at only 22 minutes it’s in and out in a flash, very much all-killer, no-filler. I’m excited to see where the band go from here, as they definitely have a bright future, but this is an absolutely excellent start to their album-releasing careers. 8.5/10, a must for fans of the genre!

Diamonds to Dust: Echoes of Grace and Strife

More deathcore, but a bit more on the prog side this time. And damn, this goes hard and heavy for Christian music! I was pretty hooked from opener ‘Child of the King’, and the album barely let me go throughout. And, though the track is packed full of guest features, I enjoy the tracks of just them just as much! ‘Bond Servant’ and ‘Dissonant Truth’ are just as good as the opener or ‘The White Rabbit’s Nightmare’. From the awesome technical riffing to the brutal screams and breakdowns to the solid drums, it’s all done so well. I know some will dismiss it immediately due to the religious beliefs of the members, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice as this is an honestly incredible metal release, period. Even at pushing an hour in length and 14 tracks, it all slaps and is so easy to listen to in one go. They have a big new fan in me, and this will be an album I’ll be listening to for months to come. 9/10