gospel | Overtone

A quieter but no less stacked week of release for us to check out this week, covering plenty from rock, metal, country, and even dipping our toes in gospel and rap! Let’s dive right in, shall we?!

Kid Rock: Halfway 2 Jesus

I ummed and arred about doing this album. His crazy right-wing and super Christian turn in the last few years has certainly been different, and not in a good way. Some of his views these days I don’t agree with, but hell, if James Hetfield can claim to be apolitical (lol) then I can at least try!

Honestly, musically it’s not bad. The gospel stuff is well done, the southern rock, late 2000s part of his sound is still great. There’s even some slight NO-jazz elements that I enjoyed, and ‘Heal My Faith’ almost feels like a Devil Without a Cause/History of Rock era track. However, it’s the track with the worst guest appearance. I’ve honestly lost a tiny bit of respect for Eminem for doing this collab, even if he was probably the best part of the record.

Though, I do have two main issues with the album. One is the bloated 71-minute runtime, an issue I also had with his last release. The other is, of course, the theming. I really have nothing against people being religious, and part of me gets it given everything in his personal life this year, but it’s a rather preachy album, and it’s rather hard to look past that and solely focus on the music. ‘Broken Hearted People’ is easily my favourite track from the album, a stompy country rock track and a lot of fun. A bit of the early album is good too, but a lot of the later half is a touch slow and samey. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad release, and it will surely have its fans. But it simply isn’t what I want to listen to when I spin Kid Rock. So, for that, I can’t give it any more than a 4/10

Joe from the future hear. I have since seen articles saying he used Suno’s AI generation software for the choirs, instead of paying an actual group of artists to do so. Yeah, that’s shitty, dog. That drops this easily down to a 2/10.

Gloryhammer: Space 1993: Wrath of Kor-Virliath

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

Devin Townsend/DreamPeace: Harmonic Dharma

This is the first release under Heavy Devy’s relaxation background music project since his slew of albums in 2023. And honestly, with me having become a brand new daddy this week, it was just what I needed! It’s 45-minutes of pure bliss. I know I have been a bit critical of his ambient stuff in the past, but I totally get it now. Who needs them albums of whale sounds and rainforests sold at odd gift shops (I may be showing my age there!) when you have Mr Townsend creating music to sleep and meditate to! Hell, even the baby liked it! I don’t have much to say or analyse with this one, not like I have any specific tracks to dive in deep with. Honestly, I’m not even going to give it a rating, it doesn’t feel right to given the nature of the project. However, if you have insomnia or just need to relax, throw this one, I can’t recommend it enough!

David Allan Coe: A Million Reasons

The first posthumous release from the outlaw country legend is a welcome return after 20 years without music from him. Nine songs lost to time until now, an acoustic version and even an intro done by the Nature Boy himself, it’s a damn good release from start to finish. From the title track to the rocky ‘Take Your Job and Shove It’, ‘Free my Mind’ to ‘Only God Knows Why’ are all personal highlights, but the other songs are just as good, honestly. If you’re a fan of classic DAC or outlaw country in general, this is very much a release for you. I certainly had a good time listening! I don’t know if the plan is to put together more stuff from his unreleased material like other sadly passed on country stars, but I kinda hope so if they’re going to be as good as this! A solid 7.5/10!

Kid Bookie: Cheaper Than Therapy II

Following up 2024’s Songs of the Living/Songs for the Dead, yet being a direct sequel to his 2021 album, the trap metal/rap rock Brit once again kills it here. Firstly, at 34-minutes spread across nine tracks and an interlude, it’s the perfect length, the only slight issue I had with Part I. And also, it’s packed full of great songs, making it pretty hard to pick highlights! Having said that, his trap cover of Slipknot’s ‘Disasterpiece’ was pretty interesting and rather awesome! It’s not going to be for everyone, but has some great heavy moments, some fantastic raps, and some pretty big choruses designed to be played to huge festival crowds. Mr Bookie is an incredible talented vocalist and writer, and his band kill it throughout too. However, the guests are just as excellent, ranging from Corey Taylor to Kate Nash to Rose McGowan, all adding to the tracks they are on perfectly. If you are into him already, or trap/modern rap/trap-pop, this is very much an album worth spinning! Or heck, if you are all curious, give it a try, you may be surprised at how much you like it! I had a good time listening, and will certainly be spinning it again! 8.5/10

Temperance: Arcani

The power metal Italians once again knock it out of the park with their eighth studio album! It’s a fair old chunk of music at 55 minutes, but it is so very worth it if you are a fan of the genre. It’s epic, grandiose, heavy and catchy all in equal measure, with every member of the band killing it at their respective positions. Powerful, melodic vocals from Michele and Kristin? Check. Some awesome riffs and soloing from Marco Pastornio? Check. Marco Sacchetto and Luca holding down the rhythm section perfectly? Check. And, from the opener to ‘Lean into Fear’, ‘Forgiveness’ to ‘The Man of Moonlight’, there are some really great songs throughout! However, there really isn’t a bad song on here, all of it flowing impressively well together. It’s very power metal, so if that is your thing you will absolutely love it. However, it may not be your thing if you don’t do the likes of Hammerfall or Avantasia. Still, I had a lot of fun with it, and it’s another great addition to their growing discography! 8/10

Mother of Graves: The Light That Keeps Us

The doomy melodeath band returned with their third studio album this last Friday. It’s a massive, gloomy 45-minutes of music, and I had a great time with it! Firstly, it’s really well put together, with the writing and production and dynamics being top notch throughout. Everyone worked their asses off on the whole album too, all clearly being masters of their craft. And, between ‘Through the Pale Shade’, ‘Eventide Angel’ and ‘The Beggar’s Allegory’, there’s some really amazing songs on here! However, the whole album is damn good, and the tracks flow excellently into each other. If you are into this side of metal, I’d absolutely recommend it. I’ll certainly be listening again, and I need to go and check out their previous releases, as they definitely have a new fan in me! Another solid 8/10!

Emily Ann Roberts: Thread

We’ve also reviewed this EP in full, aren’t you lucky! Check it out here.

Leadbelcher: Heaven’s Bloated Corpse

This is a really brutal, excellent debut album. 22 minutes of utter carnage, falling somewhere between death, grind and hardcore, it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. However, if you like the heavier side of metal, this is absolutely a release for you! It’s hard to pick highlight songs as they’re all pretty similar and run so perfectly into one another, but are so very good throughout! It’s refreshing to hear a release in this style not have terribly mixed vocals. They’re great, but so are the brutal riffs and frankly insane drumming. I had a good time with this and would LOVE to see it live. For now, I’ll settle for spinning this a few more times at home, and already can’t wait to hear where they go from here! 7.5/10

Of Spite: Raisu EP

Following up on their 2023 album with this three track EP, the Finnish “Stumblecore” quintet is quarter of an hour of brutal growls and some insane riffing. Much like with Leadbelcher above, it certainly isn’t for everyone, but I had a great time with it, all three songs being as good as the last. Some of the guitaring honestly blew me away, there being some real 2000s metalcore and melodeath runs and leads throughout, adding some great melody to the heaviness. And we also get some fantastic soloing on each track too, really giving the band a bit of a unique feel to them that I am really liking! It’s like a heavier melodeath, and I’m honestly shocked I haven’t heard more of this style around. Do yourselves a favour and check this out, regardless of what you are into, it’s that good you surely can’t not love it like I do! I already need more of this ASAP, pump it into my veins, but for now I can’t give this any less than 9/10

K. Michelle: Jesus & Whiskey

Album seven from the modern country superstar is a brief, fun affair! I surprisingly wasn’t very familiar with her before this outside of her name, but I really enjoyed what I heard! It’s interesting, as this felt like exactly what COWBOY CARTER wanted to sound like, except Michelle has nailed it here. It’s country rooted, but has elements of everything from pop to rock, R&B to roots, and plenty between! It’s also packed full of highlights, from ‘Damn Good Friend’ to the Blush-featuring ‘Anything’ to single ‘Jack Daniel’s’. However, none of the songs are back, by any stretch! It’s maybe a touch slow for me overall, but that certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of the music. It’s certainly non-traditional or pop-focused, but is definitely worth checking out if you’re into your roots/country stuff. I had a good time, and am curious about her earlier work. 7/10!

3FORCE: Strange Peace

Album six from the Russian electronic trio dropped last Tuesday, and I have spun it a lot since then! It’s a fantastic, epic journey, and surprisingly heavy for the genre. It gives off Carpenter Brut vibes in the best ways, as well of of course being perfect for a video game soundtrack. ‘Status Quo’ kicks things off perfectly, while tracks like the title one and ‘It Could be Worse’ are also great! The whole album is solid though and, while it can be a little samey at times, it’s a very easy listen, 40 minutes going by in a flash. It’s certainly not for everyone, especially with it being wholly instrumental, but it’s a rare release that I am completely happy without any vocals on. Maybe the odd spoken word thing would be interesting, but the instrumentation really speaks for itself throughout. The whole darkwave scene has really taken off in recent years, and these guys are truly at the forefront of the pack, and for good reason! If you are at all interested, give this a spin, you won’t be disappoint! A very easy 8/10 from us!

Zach Bryan: Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs

Country’s most controversial star is back with another EP, just nine months after the awesome With Heaven on Top. To the surprise of no one, it’s another excellent release! ‘Lodi When’ is the perfect opener. Then you have the Dusty Rhodes-opened, rockier ‘Robot Killed the Working Man’ which is a big highlight. The tracks with Lana Del Ray and Turnpike Troubadours are both fantastic too, each artist contributing perfectly to their respective songs. The other four songs on the release are also amazing, with ‘Dog Days’ being another particular highlight. His particular brand of country-Americana is so good, and the emotion in his lyric writing and delivery is still top notch. I almost prefer a shorter release from Zach, as his albums can be a slight slog at times. This fits perfectly with the rest of his stellar discography, and is well worth a listen for anyone interested! 8/10

John Diva & the Rockets of Love: Your Favourite Drug

The fourth album from the German glam metallers continues on their stellar discography perfectly! 10 head-bangin’, boot-stompin’ rockers all as good as the last, and combine to make an incredibly easy 34-minute listen. The opener sets up the album perfectly, while the likes of The Gems-featuring ‘Favourite Drug’ and ‘Love is Cold’ are all personal favourites but as I said, there certainly isn’t a bad track throughout! It’s a very European sleaze sound, reminding me of everything from Dust Bowl Jokies to Kissin’ Dynamite, though there is just a touch of The New Roses in there too. So, if you are into that, this is definitely a release for you! I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty in the weeks and months to come, and it gets an incredibly solid 8.5/10 from us!

Defects: Artificial Icons

This is an absolutely amazing alt metal/metalcore album! The British quartet’s sophomore release is jam packed with brutal screams, awesome riffing and drumming and some really massive choruses, the best of everything! Right from the opener/title track I was hooked, and not let go for the full 43 minutes. It’s honestly another release in which it’s truly impossible to pick highlight tracks. Even the slower songs like ‘Where did I go Wrong’, ‘The Other Side’ and ‘State of Mind’ are excellent, and fit the tone of the album perfectly! While this is mainly a release for those into the heavier side of metal, the three afformentioned tracks certainly fit in more with a lighter crowd, so honestly whoever is interested give this a listen ASAP! It is every bit as good as their debut, if not somehow even better, and they deserve every bit of love and momentum they are getting. I absolutely love this release, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our top albums list come December! 9.5/10, amazing stuff!

The hip-hop turn country superstar Jelly Roll has been EVERYWHERE the last couple of years since the album cycle for Whitsitt Chapel started, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s an amazing album and his vocals and songwriting talents are both phenomenal. So, when he announced his new album, the hype was already massive. So far the singles have lived up to that, but how will the rest of the album compare? Read on to find out!

‘Winning Streak’ opens things up pretty fantastically; a slow, soulful, emotional gut-punch of a track. It sets up the album perfectly, showing off Jelly’s amazing blend of country and hip-hop, and has him opening up in a massive way right from the get-go. Addressing alcoholism this head-on is admirable, especially when he’s calling himself Jason throughout. If I’m nearly crying from the opening track, I have no help of having dry eyes by the end, do I? Musically it’s also fantastic, the chorus being massive and catchy, the gospel-style backing vocals adding so much to it. It’s a fantastic opening song, and completely different to ‘Halfway to Hell’ from his last album.

‘Burning’’s slightly more up-beat, though certainly doesn’t lack any emotion compared to the opener. It’s a fun little acoustic guitar riff running through it that kinda reminds me of RHCP’s ‘Road Trippin’’. And his phenomenal power and vocal range gets to come into play for the hugely impactful chorus. It’s also added to even more by the subtle female backing vocal behind him, making it all sound huge. It’s a simple yet another amazing track that fits the tone of the album perfectly!

‘Heart of Stone’ is another fantastic track, and reminds me a lot of the follow-up track and one that were very familiar with here, ‘I Am Not Okay’. His vocals are hauntingly beautiful on both tracks, giving me goosebumps almost constantly. Both also almost had me in tears, the latter even after hearing it so many times in the last couple of months already. And while the former has a bit more going on instrumentally, both have absolutely huge choruses. Both tracks easily make it onto our playlist, and I’d recommend them to anyone at all reading this!

The next two tracks feature incredible guests, llsey on the stripped-back ‘When the Drugs Don’t Work’ and Wiz Khalifa on ‘Higher than Heaven’. Both are two more excellent tracks with both guest vocalists adding a lot to each. I have to admit I prefer the latter; it has a bit more to it instrumentally and Wiz’s rapping is pretty fun, contrasting with Mr Roll’s soulful vocals perfectly. They both slot pretty perfectly together, and yet again fit the vibe of the album pretty perfectly.

Next up is single ‘Liar’. I’m pretty familiar with this already too, and love it just as much now as I did with my first listen. His haunting vocals over the simple acoustic guitar chords to open it is incredible, and it builds up slowly and perfectly into an utterly HUGE chorus. I’ve also just got to accept the fact that it’ll be stuck in my head for the rest of the day… yet again. It’s another utterly incredible track that’s on our playlist, perfectly blending country and hip-hop elements and is a sure fire radio mega-hit!

Tracks like ‘Everybody Bleeds’, ‘What it Takes’ and ‘Hey Mama’ are more simpler, hip-hop leaning songs. They’re still very heavily based around the acoustic guitar, keeping that country element to it, but yeah, are pretty slower and steadier tracks. Almost ballads, if the rest of the album wasn’t at a level much higher. All are good tracks, Jelly being the highlight of all of them with his powerful voice and lyrics.

‘Get By’ picks up the pace again a little, more of a foot-stomping rockier number. I love the gospel beat and feel behind the guitar and vocals, the stomp-clap being a lot of fun. And yet still, it builds to another massive feeling, yet still kinda subdued, chorus. It’s an infectiously fun track that’s impossible not to dance to. It’s also another huge highlight of the album and another that sneaks its way onto our playlist.

‘Unpretty’ is a true ballad, Jelly singing over a few single organ chords, more instrumentation slowly building in throughout. Jelly’s vocals are hauntingly beautiful over the top of it, and the gospel choir behind him gave me goosebumps. And yes, I may have cried a little again if you must know, okay? This is incredible, and easily up there with ‘I Am Not Okay’ in terms of Jelly’s emotion-filled ballads. I’d LOVE to hear this live, especially with the backing vocals too, so he’d better hurry up and be able to come to the UK soon! Follow-up ‘Grace’ gives it a run for its money too, another beautiful ballad track. It’s a little similar to a few of the other tracks though, which is why it didn’t stand out as much to me.

The final track I had in advance was ‘Time of Day’ with the polarising mgk. I have to admit I’m not a fan of the guy, and this didn’t do anything to change my mind. His vocals are consistently bad, and when put against one of the best vocalists around currently in Mr Roll, it makes it even worse for the former rapper/former pop-punker. I’m really hoping these couple of songs with Jelly are it for mgk in country, please can he not kill a second genre in a row? Yeah, this wasn’t great. And I’m glad the streaming editions of the album have an extra few tracks after this, to cleanse the pallet so this wasn’t the lasting memory of the release.

Speaking of the other tracks, I’m not 100% if these are bonus tracks and that this is some extended edition, or if I missed them when I got the album sent over. Either way, they do feel a little… extra? None of them are bad by any stretch, but after 14 tracks already, I kinda felt like the album was long enough, and not many of these add anything new to the release, or blew me away. The only ones that stood out were ‘Hear me Out’ for its incredible lyrics, and the blues-tinged ‘Woman’. The other five tracks, while good, are all kinda similar and sadly just feel a touch fillery to me, on an album that certainly doesn’t need it. Still, if you’re a fan of Jelly’s style, you’ll enjoy them!

Overall: I really enjoyed this! There is so much amazing music on this release, a lot of which I’ll be listening to so much going forward. It’s so hard to compare to his last release as it’s so different. The last one had a lot more of a rock edge that I do think this one took a hit for lacking. I do also feel like the last album had better guests on it who contributed more to the tracks they were on. However, this is still a fantastic album, leaning more into gospel and hip-hop than maybe even the country elements of his sound. I feel like it’s more of a grower for me, but on first listen it’s still super enjoyable. It’s easy to see why he’s one of the biggest names in the scene, currently.

The Score: 8.5/10

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Tag Archives: gospel

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