The modern power metal legends are back this Friday with their highly anticipated new album. Not only is it a follow-up to 2023’s Return to the Kingdom of Fife, but it seems to be a direct sequel to 2015’s much loved Space 1992. Now, long time readers here will know that I have a bit of an up-down relationship with the band, having loved them during Thomas Winkler’s run but struggling a little when they switched singers with their last album. Still, the singles I’ve heard from this so far are great, so I’m curiously excited to dive in and see what the album as a whole is like!
A grandiose, pretty long intro track sets the epic tone perfectly and expertly blends into the lead single from the album, ‘Ultimate Sacrifice’. The track itself explodes in with a huge, heavy riff and a fast pace set by drummer Ralathor (Ben Turk). The synths and keys from band leader Zargothrax (Chris Bowes) give the sound so much depth and size too, it feeling massive from the outset. Soon enough the powerful vocals come in from new-ish comer Sozos Michael, fitting over the top of the instrumentation perfectly and instantly having a catchy energy to them. The chorus is absolutely massive and even more catchy, the harmonies and gang vocals adding so much to it all. It’s immediately a hook that is going to be stuck in my head for days to come! The spoken word bit in the bridge continues the story of their band excellently, and we get a brief, awesome technical solo to follow it. It’s an awesome song in its own right, being exactly what Gloryhammer are all about, and was a great choice for a single as well as an opening track!
Album track ‘On a Quest for Aberdeen’ continues the same vibes as the opener perfectly. It’s another excellent modern power metal track, with all the trappings and glorious cheesiness. It’s a pretty similar formula to the previous track too, with a more simple verse and a huge, multi-vocalled, catchy as anything chorus. The vocals in the bridge were great, the harmonies working even harder as the notes push up to an impressive register, somehow feeling like it builds the track even more! And, we get another fantastic solo from Ser Proletius (Paul Templing), the harmonised second half being particularly excellent and memorable, though the whole part gets plenty of breathing room this time! It’s another awesome song, so massive and catchy!
Onto another single next with ‘Die with a Sword in My Hand’. And, what do you know, it’s another similar, grandiose power metal track! It certainly still works though, especially this early on the album! The chorus is fun too, more chanted than a big harmony-filled one, making it a sure-fire fan-favourite live. It also has maybe my favourite solo on the album, the tone on the guitar being so good. It’s another good song; exactly what you’d expect from the band and another good single choice!
By ‘Silver Talon’ I did start getting slightly tired of the same style, pace and lyrics for a fourth straight song. It’s a damn good song in its own right, and very enjoyable in isolation. Hell, it even fits perfectly with the rest of the album, in terms of both sound and theming. But my easily-distracted brain and ears could have done with something slightly different by the time this track rolled around, especially when we’re getting closer to the midpoint of the album.
I got a little bit of my wish with the following track, single ‘Starfighters of Leuchars’. While it still has some heavy guitars and drums, it does feel like a slower song overall. And, I really loved the Danny Elfman vibe to it with the synths and horns and backing vocals. It made the track a LOT of fun. Yet, it still fits in perfectly with the album and bands discography as a whole, the chorus being absolutely huge and another big earworm. It feels like it’s designed to be played to huge festival crowds around the world! I think Sozos gets the most chance to shine vocally on this track too, really showing off his phenomenal range. It’s another awesome song, and one that easily makes our playlist!
Single ‘Warriors of Auchtermuchty’ brings us back to the bands typical sound again, though certainly in a catchy way with another huge chorus and some call-and-response vocals in the verses. The same can be said for ‘Pax Galactica’, though it does have a touch of Elfman to it like ‘Starfighters’ did. Both are good songs in their own right, and once again fit the album well, but are certainly similar to others on the release. If you are big into their sound though, I’m sure you’ll love it!
The final three tracks are generally more of the same. ‘Demonic Devotion’ and ‘Hammer of Fate’ are your typical Gloryhammer album tracks. However, the closer (with a stupidly long title that I’m not going to type out), is proggy epicness, and a lot of fun! Don’t get me wrong, it has all the hallmarks of the bands sound, but it’s all dialled up to 11 and everything gets so much time to shine. The storytelling throughout is excellent, as is the playing and the vocals, while the composition is truly off the charts. Hell, we even get some screams tucked away in the middle here, which were a nice touch and broke everything up well! Don’t get me wrong, it’s still pretty cheesy, but you know exactly what to expect when heading into a Gloryhammer album, and this is very much all of that. I had a good time with it, and it sums up and closes out the release rather perfectly!
Overall: This is a good album! I know I have mentioned a bit of the negatives towards it I’ve felt, but that shouldn’t take away how great a release it is overall. It’s exactly what you’d expect and want from a Gloryhammer album: straight up epic modern power metal, and on that it absolutely delivers. If you are a fan of that style I’d absolutely recommend giving this a listen, ASAP! There are some tracks on here that are honestly career highlights, even if I wouldn’t necessarily spin the album as a whole every listen. It’s a dam solid addition to their growing discography, and I at least enjoyed it more than their previous one!
Another week, some more great music across the rock, metal and country world. Let’s check it out!
Greta Van Fleet: Palace for the People
Five albums deep into the not-so-young-anymore bands career and everyone should know exactly what to expect at this point. The perfect combination of Rush, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull, it’s old school, semi-prog rock at its best. And, while I did enjoy it more than ‘23’s Starcatcher, it’s still just… fine. Tracks like ‘Heart and the Beat’, single ‘Play Your Games’ and ‘Call my Own’ are personal highlights, and while none of the rest is especially bad, it’s not hugely my sort of thing. The band are all incredibly talented players, but Josh’s caterwauling grated on me a touch at times. I also found the choruses rather repetitive, and the album as a whole is rather strung out and long-winded at an hour long. Their current folkier edge is interesting, but it leads to a generally slow pace that gets boring by the mid-point. I didn’t think I’d be saying this, but I actually miss their early days when they just copied Led Zep. The epic vibe is cool, but gets old when it’s every track. They are clearly doing something right as they are an absolutely massive band, and this release will have plenty of fans. But outside of handful of tracks, I’m not one of them. I don’t think I could do the album as a whole again, honestly. It gets a rather generous 6/10 from us!
Chase & Status: Generic Everything
The heavy drum & basers returned with their seventh album this last Friday. It’s certainly not a release for everyone, and even I was a little up and down on it. I do find myself enjoying their heavier tracks while not being a fan overall, and it’s very much the same here. The opener was okay, the distorted guitars in the back and the dynamics being great. Songs like ‘Essa Ta Quente’ (feat. the legendary Skrillex) and ‘Gone Too Far’ (feat. Debbie) are also pretty good. However, a lot of the rest of it is not my sort of thing, and the aforementioned tracks were pushing it honestly. They’re certainly one of the weirder choices to be adopted into the heavier scene, and that’s about the only reason I thought I’d give it a spin. If you’re into this sort of style you’ll probably enjoy it, but I’d happily not listen to it again, honestly. It’s objectively pretty well crafted and put together, but from a personal standpoint I got bored, so can’t give it much more than 4.5/10. Sorry guys. Maybe a couple of heavier collabs would have reeled me in a lot more!
Twin Temple: Doomed Lovers
Jade: Straight off the bat, it feels like I’m listening to a haunting, gothic version of Grease The Musical. The whole album has a very theatrical feel to it which really draws you in. It at the very least made me curious. Lead vocalist Alexandra James has the most stunning voice, which really stands out from other artists with its vintage style. It’s not something you hear very often any more and it’s nice to go back to that more vintage style of rock and roll. Some of my favourites of this album are ‘Possessed’, ‘I Want Blood’ and ‘Someone In The Walls’. It’s a fun style and if anything a little on the too short side for my liking, I just want to hear more! Especially when it’s been a little while now since their last release! Still, it’s an album I’d recommend to anyone into a more vintage style of rock. 7/10
Left to Suffer: Unwelcome Guest
Max: This one is a little disappointing. It’s a fine album but that’s it. There isn’t anything standout or particularly notable throughout the entire album and all it really did was make me want something more on each track. Now I know what you are saying: making people want more is generally a good thing, but not when on every track people are wanting some kind of flavour or substance. To put it bluntly this album was a bit boring and a let down. 5/10
K-Man & the 45’s: Heed the Call
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; we don’t cover enough ska on this site. However, it does mean that on the odd occasion that I do get to cover some, I’m a little obsessed! And, of course, this is no exception. It’s 36 minutes of fun, catchy and creative reggae-rock, and I loved every minute! It’s packed full of fantastic tracks from front to back too, from ‘Clark St.’ to ‘Oh Yeah Attitude’, ‘Working in the Sun’ to ‘I Wanna Live’ and everything in between! I love that they cover quite the variety of sounds too, from all three generations of ska, making it a constantly interesting journey. This was somehow my introduction to the band, but they have a massive new fan in me, and I can’t wait to go back and check out their previous three albums! They’re all such incredibly talented musicians and songwriters, and we don’t have nearly enough of this sound around these days. I’d recommend this to anyone, and will certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward. A very solid 8.5/10 from us!
The Temperance Movement: New Promise Land Incorporated
The first new studio work from the UK blues rock supergroup in close to a decade finally dropped on Friday to much hype. It’s exactly what fans of the band would expect from them, and is a lot of fun! As a blues/southern rock fan, I had a great time listening to this. From ‘Eat You Alive’ to ‘Love Kicks’ to ‘Always Been Love’, there’s some great stuff on here, too! Honestly, there isn’t a bad song throughout, even if the noticeable dip in energy and tempo the later in the album it gets a bit much by the end. Still, the band are effortlessly talented and if you are a fan of their earlier stuff, or the softer side of blues/Southern rock, this is absolutely an album for you! I’ll certainly be spinning it again, and I do think it’s a grower, but for now it still gets a solid 7/10 from us!
Lucy Gallant: Forbidden Fruit
Following up 2023’s Flowers EP, the self-described bohemian folk-pop artist is back with another great five tracks! It’s chilled out, catchy, well written, and some of the notes she hits with her vocals are insane. It’s just a really easy 17 minute listen, and one that I’d honestly recommend to anyone. ‘F YOU’ is probably my personal favourite, an infectiously catchy anthem, but there truly isn’t a bad song throughout. The Bond-like ‘Venom’ is also incredible. She feels wholly unique, something rather hard to do in 2026. I’ve spun this a good few times this weekend alone, and I will most likely keep doing so plenty in the weeks and months to come. She has a big new fan in me; there is something about her writing and vocals that is just entrancing. I can’t give this any less than 9/10, it’s fantastic!
Werewolves: You’re Weak and you Know You’re Weak
Max: This album was quite good. It’s as punchy and aggressive as ever from Werewolves with barely a breath taken between the pummlings you receive as the listener. I think this one might be a little hard to listen to for some as it really is just pure extreme metal, but if you are in to that, I think you are really going to enjoy it. It isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel when it comes to what metal is and what Werewolves do, but that doesn’t make it bad and considering the Aussie outfit are planning on going 10 for 10 when it comes to albums per year. I think this is a really good stance for being on year 7 of that, however I do have a fear that the fatigue might set in soon which would be a real disappointment.
So yeah, if you want some kick-ass metal that isn’t pulling any punches then here you go, just don’t expect anything revolutionary. 7.5/10
GASSED: MENTAL
This is 11 minutes of pure aggression, heaviness and carnage. A balls-to-the-wall punk release that doesn’t let up for a second across all eight of its tracks. And, honestly, I love it! And, at its compact length, it’s an incredibly easy listen, and it’s so easy to get lost in the sound and the emotion of it all. I may have been throwing hands around my living room… having said that, the one-two-punch of ‘THE HAND’ and ‘’RECLAIMED’ is awesome, and certainly highlights despite the whole release being truly excellent. This is the sort of hardcore that I need more of in my life, and this band deserve so much more love than they have had currently. They have really exploded on the scene the last couple of years, and I can see this album(?) pushing them up a couple of levels as it is truly excellent! I am going to have to see this live, and I cannot recommend it enough for anyone even vaguely curious or into the genre. 9/10, pump this into my veins!
Celtic Cross: Meet Me in the Kitchen
The return release from the New-York-based Irish folk-rock band comes a whopping 12 years after their last album. In that time, they have very clearly not lost a step, however! This is a beautiful 20 minutes of heartfelt folk-based music, though it has elements of everything from country to rock, Americana to even vague bluegrass vibes too, and of course some pop elements too. From the opener to ‘Slán Go Fóill’ to the rockier ‘Toss it Back’, there’s some is some great stuff on here. However, the other half of the tracks are just as good, it all being plenty varied and constantly interesting. It really has something for everyone! And, honestly, it’s awesome, the band deserving a lot more attention and praise than they’ll get from it! It’s an EP I’d recommend to anyone, and is yet another artist that have a firm new fan in me! Another very solid 8/10 from us.
Sickmind: Babel Tower
Jade: This one has been a bit of an odd experience for me. I’ve been left wanting more…not more to listen too, I just expected more from this album with the clear talent all of the members have. The drums follow the guitar riffs and it sounds absolutely insane. It almost over shadows the vocals a bit. I’m drawn more into the instrumental side of the band, I feel like the vocals get a bit lost. I really want to enjoy them; for all intents and purposes it’s exactly the type of vocals I enjoy with death metal. I don’t know if it’s the way the album has been mixed but it’s just not quite there. I’m not getting the aggression that I feel is there. It’s such a shame because the drummer is so incredibly talented and is doing some insane stuff in these tracks. Same goes for the guitar riffs and heavy bass. Everything is working so well until those vocals come in. For me at least it weakens the overall presence that I feel like you usually have with death metal.
With that in mind, it makes the album feel too long, and all a bit too similar to be able to sit and enjoy the full 44 minutes. There are most definitely still highlights that stood out, those being ‘The Chaos Beneath Our Feet’, ‘Humanness’ and the title track. These particular songs all just stood out the most to me, and really showed me the potential of the band. I know this is the first release since the band rebranded themselves, and I do still look forward to seeing what they do next! It’s certainly not bad, but I struggled to get into it as a whole. 6/10
Idolvein: This Place I Leave Behind
The follow-up EP to 2025’s fantastic Where We Became Spirits, the alt metallers once again knock it out of the park here! A collection of their singles from the year, alongside two more awesome tracks for good measure, it’s half an hour of great, heavy, melodic music. From the more pop-inspired opener to the post-hardcore new one ‘My Last War’ to the ballad-like ‘The Ways We Remain’, the release kicks off incredibly strongly. The rest of the EP follows their lead excellently, and makes for a great, varied listen throughout! The mathy, Dance Gavin Dance-like ‘In the Hands of Thieves’ is also a massive highlight. It’s easily up there alongside their last release, if not even slightly better once I’ve sat with it a little longer. It’s also a release I’d recommend to anyone even slightly into modern metalcore/alt metal. The band keeps going from strength to strength, and it’s another easy 8.5/10 from us!
The Pineapple Thief: Far and Wide
Just two and a half year removed from their last massive release, we got another great album from the British prog rockers. As a big ol’ fan of Tool, and these being like a lighter version of them, I loved this! The band are of course incredibly talented musicians, but are such good songwriters together too. The likes of ‘Hold the Ashes’, ‘This Empty Space’ and ‘Who Wants It?’ are all personal highlights, but the whole album is great and has a really fantastic flow. 47 minutes goes by in a flash, and is a surprisingly easy listen for a prog album. This certainly won’t be the only time I spin this album soon, and I can feel it growing on me even more each time. And, even still, I can’t give this any less than a massive 8.5/10. Great stuff!
Sagittarius: Abomination of Mind
The debut album from the heavy metal revivalists is a great 34 minutes of music! Having some great thrashy riffs and drums, but combined with some powerful, catchy vocals, it feels very much the perfect combination of 90s Priest and early Metallica. And, from ‘Disaster Dawn’ to the dark, epic ‘Dead Inside’ to the closer, there is plenty to love throughout. Hell, my only issue would be that honestly, it may have been a little short! Still, if you are into your old-school metal this is well worth checking out, and I’m excited to see where they go from here. 7.5/10
Sueco: PARTY’S OVER
Album four from the emo-rapper/pop-punker is interesting if nothing else. I was familiar with the name from him featuring on others’ tracks, but this is the first real deep-dive I’ve managed to have with the man himself. Honestly, I found myself enjoying it a lot more than I expected to. It’s an incredibly modern sound, reminding me a lot of the likes of Stand Atlantic, most of his album guests, or even MGK a little. However, it feels a lot less disingenuous a sound than the latter artists modern work. ‘ARE YOU ENTERTAINTED?’ is a big early highlight, while the likes of ‘TRUST MYSELF’ and Scream 7’s ‘REARRANGING SCARS’ are also good. Don’t get me wrong, there is a bit of a lull in both energy and quality in the middle, and some of the lyrics do hit a bit cringy at times. However, it isn’t inherently a bad album, and those more into this style or Sueco as an artist will probably get more mileage out of it than I do. I probably wouldn’t throw it on often, but also wouldn’t turn it off if it came on again. 6.5/10
Joshua Slone: Long Life Living for a Lover Boy
Following up his debut album from this time last year, the rising country star put out a collection of another five great, emotion-filled tracks this last Friday. It’s slower and rather stripped-back, continuing on the vibes from his album excellently. ‘Morehead State’ was a personal favourite track of mine, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout. It’s a little slow for me typically, but is a good release to sit and relax to, and is the pretty perfect length for a sound like this. He’s got a great voice and is clearly a very talented songwriter. 7/10, good stuff!
Hollow Bone: Onar
The sophomore album from the experimental post-metal Italians comes over six years after their debut, but builds on the sound expertly. It’s dark and heavy and technical and proggy, and begs a full listen in a dark room with headphones on. It’s certainly not for everyone, but I had a good time here! The band are all insanely talented, and have crafted a truly massive soundscape with this release. And, while I very much recommend listening in full, I do think ‘Meltdown’ and the Tool-like ‘Presence of Eagles’ are personal highlights. If you like slower, grandiose instrumental metal, this is certainly a release I’d recommend! Another solid 7/10 from us!
Mad Painter: Island Poetry
Another sophomore album this week, this time from the Boston blues collective. Now, I do have to say that at pushing an hour in length, it is a little long, especially when it’s largely at the same steady pace. Still, in isolation, tracks like ‘Empty Bottles’, ‘Nektarized’ and ‘Stand Your Ground’ are a lot of fun and very much personal highlights. It’s a real old-school, Quo-like sound, and it’s impossible not to have a good time listening, regardless of what you’re into. The band are all clearly talented, and all get their own chance to shine plenty throughout with some great vocals, drums, bass, riffs and solos. If you are even slightly interested, I’d give this one a spin, despite the daunting length! It may be a grower for me, but even then it gets an easy 7.5/10 from us for now!
Matthew Goodnough: Your Loss, My Misery
The debut album of one of the hardest working people in the country scene the last few years dropped this last Friday, to much hype and fan-fair. Having listened to it, it deserves every bit of that hype, too! ‘Nothing Left to Say’ opens the release in perfect, rocky fashion, while ‘Finding Bones’ follows it up excellently. Then you have the likes of the title track, ‘Dirty Myrtle’ and ‘Cradle Rocker’ that are just as great! It reminds me a lot of Koe Wetzel or Treaty Oak Revival, but somehow has both a bit more rock and radio-country to it, dialling back the more indie vibe they both have to fantastic results, at least for this writer! My only thing is that it is maybe a little similar throughout, though having said that 45 minutes went by in a flash for my first time, I had a blast. His vocals, writing and delivery are all awesome, and his band are working their asses off throughout. He has an INCREDIBLY bright future ahead of him, and a huge new fan in me. An incredibly easy 9/10 from me!
Fail the Enemy: Sandcastles
The first EP from the alt rock/metallers since their 2018 self-titled debut, the trio demonstrate that they haven’t lost a single step in that time! This is 21 minutes spread across five excellent tracks honestly each just as good as the last! They feel pretty unique, at least in terms of the UK scene, and between their songwriting/composition and the production it all sounds really awesome. Having said that, the trio themselves are also fantastic, playing their parts perfectly. The whole EP has a grandiose, epic vibe to it, and I’d recommend anyone interested listen to it in full, you certainly won’t be disappointed! Hopefully we don’t have to wait so long for their next release, as I can’t wait to hear where they go from here. However, until that point, I will gladly continue to spin this! 8/10
A typically stacked edition of New Music Mondays this week, with everything from rock to metal to country for us to check out! Let’s dive right in!
Amon Amarth: The Allfather Awakens
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our full review here!
Miranda Lambert: Crisco
Following on from 2024’s Postcards from Texas, the modern country legend is back with her 10th solo album. Right off the bat, I didn’t enjoy it as much as her previous release. ‘Snakeskin Boots’ is a pretty bad opener, and wastes a feature of the biggest star in the genre at the minute in Ella Langley. Things don’t get much better with the title track or ‘Cowgirl Curtsy’. I very much get the appeal; it’s like Barbie’s country music, or Kaitlin Butts’ latest stuff without the fun or Oklahoma theming. It’s certainly a far cry from the rocky and attitude-filled Four the Record, or even her last album. It’s just all a bit… slow, and while it is well written and performed, it was a bit on the boring side for me. Maybe it was the production on it compared to the last, but something about it just wasn’t for me.
As I said though, it isn’t a bad album. The more up-tempo ‘Cuttin’ Onions’ is fun, as is the preceeding ballad ‘Two Things Can be True’. ‘Whiskey Business’ is also good, and Chris Stapleton’s voice is so perfect it makes ‘A Song to Sing’ also great, as they duet together excellently. However, the album as a whole I could take or leave personally, and it’s not one I’d revisit very often. If you are a fan of her you will still probably get a lot out of this so I would recommend, or if you’re a fan of slower country girly-pop. However, I sadly can’t give it any more than 5.5/10
Kyle Gordon: Kyle Gordon is Everywhere
The album title is most certainly correct; Kyle Gordon is indeed everywhere. We’ve been a fan of him for a whilehere at Overtone, but the lead up to this release has seen him all over my social media, and even appearing alongside the likes of Daniel Radcliffe and (suddenly controversially) Edd Sheeran. It has built a hype up for this release even more so than his last two stellar releases. And, if the singles so far are anything to go by, we’re certainly in for another wild, fun and great album!
Speaking of the singles, they front-load the album. They’re broken up perfectly by narrator of the release Mr Radcliffe, following a similar formula from the last two albums of introducing and giving background to each track and the fictional band that wrote it. However, the album tracks are just as awesome, too! Downshift’s ‘Hero of Fallujah’ is a great dark-folk-rock banger, ‘We Are the Zorg’ is industrial awesomeness, and the funky ‘Congratulations’ rounds things out perfectly. However, every song is fantastic in its own right, and so creatively written.
Three albums deep and the formula has not at all gotten stale. The album still flows excellently, and him changing up the genre and style with each track shows Kyle’s phenomenal levels of talent. It’s silly and over the top and certainly not for everyone, but if you have even a vague curiosity this is well worth spinning in full! While I don’t think it’s collectively quite as strong as his other two works, it’s also hard not to view them all as one big project, and regardless it’s a lot of fun. A very easy 8.5/10 from us!
P.S. congratulations on Kyle on his doctorate!
Escape the Fate: The Last Goodbye
Max: This album doesn’t feel nearly as good as Imminence. It’s fine, it’s not horrendous, but it is nothing to write home about. I think the most noteworthy song on the album was ‘Paranoia’ which is a solid metalcore track. But, there isn’t anything particularly special about it which is a disappointment. Genuinely I think, hell I know that this band is capable of making better music but so much of this album was just bland and to be honest the lyrics were by far the worst part. So much so that I found myself cringing at some parts and that isn’t exactly what you would want. 5/10
These Wicked Rivers: Fire and Folklore
Derby’s greatest musical export are back with their highly anticipated new album. If you didn’t know already, we are huge fans of this band here at Overtone, and once again the Southern rockers don’t disappoint! Lead single/opener ‘Ain’t no Smoke’ has been routinely stuck in my head since we reacted to it when it dropped, while other singles, ‘Horse to Water’ and the Kezia Gill-featuring ‘Sing Another Song’ are also awesome and great representations of the album. However, the album tracks are just as excellent! ‘Better Man’ is a beautiful, emotional ballad, while ‘Brother oh Brother’ is a fantastic, epic Western track and ‘Love to Love’ and ‘Woodland Queen’ give more of a classic Rivers energy.
I like the slower, more country-like approach they’ve taken on this release, like a darker Blackberry Smoke, and it fits the bands style and John’s vocals fantastically. However, there’s still plenty of energy to it too, especially later in the album. They have not forgotten their roots or steered too far from their last album, but have evolved and grown, pushing the boundaries of their sound. It’s every bit as good as Force of Nature, and is an album I’d recommend to absolutely anyone. I love it already, while I also think the album will grow on me even more too with more listens. The lads have done it again, and it’s another incredble 9.5/10 from us!
The Paradox: Proceed with Caution
Jade: I came across this band last year and instantly fell in love. It took me straight back to my teen years, when I started to discover pop punk from watching all the teen comedies and chick flicks from the 90s and early 2000s. This band is so old school but also somehow feels really present.
This EP continues to show how fun and upbeat these guys are, as with their past releases. It just makes you let loose and it’s just such a vibe. There is just such a crazy amount of talent between the four of them. I’m completely hooked on ‘That’s Not Fair’; it’s the song that feels like I’ve been put in a time machine. I could just have it on repeat it’s so good. Another favourite is ‘Stoner Mentality’. It’s just so catchy, and is almost pop punk anthem worthy. I honestly just love every single song on this EP, I have nothing bad to say at all other than I wish there was more! I also feel like I need to just comment on how impressive it is that Eric Dangerfield, the main vocalist, plays a primary role in writing lyrics as well as composing. When someone has this much talent at such a young age you just know they are going to be absolutely massive. It makes me even more envious of the fact they had to drop out of the All Time Low UK tour earlier this year. It kind of devastated me back then, and now I want to see them even more. Honestly I just can’t wait to see what they do next! 10/10
Gavin Adcock: The Day I Hang it Up
Album three from the modern country rising star in as many years is every bit as good as his last releases. We somehow missed a review of last year’s Own Worst Enemy (though it’s good), but had a great time with ‘24’s Actin’ Up Again, and this gives very similar vibes to that. It reminds me of Koe Wetzel a lot, that brand of chilled-out, rock-infused country, and is a style I’ve really gotten back into the last year or so. The title track opens things up perfectly, while songs like ‘Get a Grip’, ‘Thing For You’, ‘Anymore’ and ‘Wannabe’ are all excellent too! Heck, there are other good songs throughout this, but the ones I’ve named so far are just 20% of the album…
Yes, this thing is 25 SONGS LONG and an insane 75 minutes. It’s not prog, it doesn’t need to be this long. Especially when a lot of it is a similar pace and energy. The guy has put out nearly three and a half hours of music across three albums in the last three years; talk about overkill. I know I must sound like a broken record at this point with this point as it isn’t my first time complaining about it, but it is such a massive issue across country music these days. There is an absolutely killer 9 or 10/10 album somewhere in here, but it is bogged down by so much unnecessary filler. Heck, it could have been two albums; save half of it for next year’s outing. He’s an insanely talented artist. His songwriting, vocals and the delivery/instrumentation throughout is amazing. But I find it hard giving it any more than 7.5/10 because it is just too damn long. I’ll most likely be spinning it again, hopefully it grows on me more, as like I said, it’s certainly good!
Butcher Babies: NIGHTBLOOM
The first album from the LA metalcore band to not feature Carla Harvey on vocals, it feels like the band have a lot to prove because of it. Especially with Carla herself now killing it with both The Violent Hour and Lords of Acid. I was never the biggest fan of the band to begin with, and sadly this release did little to change that. It’s a very modern alternative to/metalcore sound, reminding me a lot of Bad Omens and that kind of ilk, which just doesn’t do much for me. It feels safe, without much if anything standing out or being memorable after the listen. It just feels a little bland and emotionless, so very corporate and overproduced. Even the screams and breakdowns do little for me, and are few and far between. The band was very much built on the interplay in vocals between Heidi and Carla, and without that it’s just another alt metal band in 2026. The closest thing to a “favourite track” is ‘Fever in my Neck’, and even then it’s not something I’d revisit all too often. If you’re a fan of the band or their current genre/sound, it’s probably worth a try, but it’s sadly not for me. It’s not bad, but I can’t give it any more than a 5/10. Distinctly average.
Doctor Nez: Nothing Short of Silver
The follow-up to their 2024 debut album, this EP is self-described as “the first instalment in a dark fantasy journey of an individual in the throes of a curse”. And, honestly, I kinda get that vibe! It’s dark and epic, and the story thread throughout certainly had me hooked. Musically it’s interesting too, slotting somewhere between Alice in Chains-esque heavy grunge, horror punk and just a touch of sleaze rock too. Heck, there’s even a doom-like edge to ‘Find Familiar’. It feels fresh and was a lot of fun! And, at 22 minutes spread across five songs and an intro track, it’s almost impossible to pick highlights, as it all flowed excellently! The band have a new fan in me, and I’ll be checking out their old stuff while also waiting patiently for whatever they have planned for a second instalment to this. A very solid 7.5/10 from us!
ASOMVEL: Set Your World on Fire
Album five from the UK heavy metal/rock’n’rollers picks up right where 2024’s amazing Born to Rock ‘n’ Rollleft off. It’s 37-minutes of balls-to-the-wall riffing and drumming, and some fantastic and catchy vocal lines from Ralph Robinson. ‘King of the World’ opens things up perfectly, while the likes of the title track, ‘Eye of the Storm’ and ‘If It’s Too Loud, You’re Too Old’ are all other huge highlights. However, it’s all fantastic, from start to finish! Even when they push the boat out with the ballad ‘World at War’, it was awesome and worked surprisingly well, slotting perfectly in a bit later into the album. Outside of that track you know exactly what to expect from the band, and they once again deliver in spades! It’s easy to hear why they have gathered so much momentum in recent years, and they deserve every massive opportunity they have gotten. The comparisons to Motörhead are still obviously there, but it is in no way a bad thing, and we very much lack bands like them of this quality these days. If you are at all a more old-school rock and metal fan, this is absolutely the album for you. It’s every bit as good as their last release, and gets an easy 9/10!
Gareth: Halfway Home
We’ve also checked this out early, aren’t you lucky? Read our full review here!
Frozen Crown: The Legend of the Six Kings
Following on from 2024’s excellent War Hearts, the Italian power metallers once again give us an awesome collection of tracks with album six. It’s a balls-to-the-wall start with the excellent ‘Lightning in the Sky’, while the likes of ‘Who Wants to Burn in Heaven’, ‘The One’ and ‘Through the Fire’ are also bangers. Their Goo Goo Dolls cover was a little odd, but certainly grew on me with more listens. There really isn’t a bad song throughout though, and the 36 minutes goes by in a flash. It could have maybe done with a ballad, but honestly the album was so concise I didn’t miss it until a second listen. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a modern power metal album, especially if you are familiar with the band already. It perfectly combines the style with an old-school heavy metal vibe, and everyone involved is so damn talented. While I wouldn’t say it’s quite as good as their last album, it’s still a damn solid album! 8/10
Imminance: Axis Mundi
Max: Honestly, I think this is one of the best albums that I have heard this year. The Swedish band Imminence are back with their 6th full length album and damn its good! Starting off with an explosion of energy, the album seems like it will be one of their heaviest efforts yet. However, about halfway through the album you have a change to a shoegaze post rock track ‘If Not Now, When’ and this was really pretty. To be honest, it feels like the band is stretching their legs and exploring and I don’t think anyone can complain at a combination of Loathe and Imminence in one track. The next song, ‘Didn’t Think About You (Lately)’, is an interesting one; its very electronic and is definitely explorative in nature and at first I was unsure. It’s just so disconnected from what you would expect. That being said, listen to it a few times and I think you will come round to it. I would be surprised if it is your favourite track on the album but it is really good.
Towards the end of the album, you have a still somewhat slower and softer song in ‘Shed Your Skin’ before falling right in to the aggression and energy of ‘Power Divine’ which is just a front to back brilliant Imminence track. As for the final track ‘Exodus’, I personally find it to be a brilliant ending to the album. The solo alone at the end of the ‘metal’ part of the track is fantastic, but I actually have a huge soft spot for the beauty of the orchestral and atmospheric ending and I don’t think that there is a better way to end an Imminence album than with a string instrument. 9.5/10
Egokills: Brainbanger
One of myfavourite albums of2023, I somehow almost missed this dropping, but am damn glad I didn’t! This is another incredibly fun 37 minutes of banging riffs, catchy melodies and overall great stoner metal vibes. From the opener/title track to ‘Swan’, ‘Transition’ to ‘Dead Flowers’, it’s all so good! At only 10 tracks too, it feels like everything gets time to breathe, and everyone gets their time to shine. It’s another album that I think isn’t quite as good as their previous, but that’s damn hard as I adore their self-titled release and still spin it to this day. Still, it is an awesome album that I’d recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in rock music, or any musician at all. It will most likely grow on me more with more listens, like I think the last did, and it gets a very solid 8/10 from us!
Sorcery: The Immaculate Sin
The first album from the Swedish death metallers since 2019, the quintet show that they haven’t lost even a single step in that seven years. It’s 45 minutes of brutality spread across 10 awesome tracks, with the band working their asses off from start to finish. ‘Set the World Ablaze’, ‘Terminate’ and ‘Flood’ are personal favourites, but every song is pretty awesome! It’s all maybe a little too similar, especially given the length of it, but if you’re a fan of the style you’ll get a lot out of it, and I honestly don’t think I’d be able to cut any to shorten it! The band are all insanely talented, with some great riffs and melodic moments throughout. If you are into a more 2000s death metal sound this is well worth checking out, and I’ll certainly be spinning at very least my favourite tracks again! A pretty easy 7.5/10 from us!
GHØSTKID: FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT
Album three from the alt metaller is a really interesting listen. After recruiting a whole new band for this project, Sushi seems rather rejuvenated and focused, releasing maybe this best album yet. From single ‘IVORY’ to the title track to the modern nu-metal ‘UNCONDITIONALLY’, there are some really excellent tracks throughout. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout, as even the more Bad Omens-like poppier tracks fit excellently with the album and I had fun with them. It’s such a fascinating blend of styles, from metalcore to gothic, industrial to post-hardcore, and feels wholly unique to GHØSTKID. His vocals are amazing too, his cleans reminding me of Nico Sallach while his screams are excellent. It’s easy to hear why they’re becoming a big name in recent years, and this will surly push them to even greater heights! If you are at all interested I’d recommend checking this out, and it gets a very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Inherited: ALL4ONE
Jade: This is the first time I’ve come across Inherited. They place themselves as a combination of Groove Metal, Thrash Metal and Hardcore Punk. And you know what, I am getting all of that and for someone who wouldn’t class themselves as a fan of Thrash, I’m kinda vibing with this. The drummer Neill Ray does not hold back in the slightest, he absolutely beasts the hell out of that drum kit. Everything about this EP is chucky and the vocals are everything I love in any metal music. Super aggressive and absolutely filthy in the breakdowns. A band I could see going down very well at festivals like BloodStock. If you check out one track off this EP, my favourite is ‘WASTED SPACE’. Purely for the absolute chaos, insane drums and absolutely filthy breakdown, followed by the most whimsical outro. Now I’m not 100% sold, and feel like I need to experience the band live to get my final opinion. But based off this first listen, they are a band I’ll keep a lookout for. 8/10
Lee Brice: Sunriser
While another pretty long country release, this is a really great album! The opener/title track sets the tone excellently, while everything from ‘Killed the Man’ to the dark, rocky ‘Devil’s at it Again’, the bro-country ‘What You Know About That’ to the guest-featuring ‘Drinkin’ Buddies’, there is a hell of a lot to love on this thing. Don’t get me wrong, there’s maybe a track or two too many, but the good far outweighs the bad, and nearly an hour goes by surprisingly quickly. His voice is phenomenal, fitting both the upbeat party vibes and the more sombre, emotional beats perfectly. It’s certainly an album I’ll be revisiting plenty moving forward, and is one I’d recommend to any country fan out there! It was well worth the six year wait between releases, and it’s another incredibly easy 8.5/10 from us!
Ruled by Raptors: A Shadow that Never Moves
Self described as a mini-album, this is nearly half an hour of brutal, excellent riffs and proggy, mathy arrangements. And, on top of that, there are some great melodic moments and some catchy vocal parts, too! ‘Fiends’, ‘Rescissory’ and ‘Static Collapse’ are personal highlights, but all of it is pretty excellent! I love the blend of styles, having elements of everything from punk to post-hardcore to metalcore to math rock, blending together into a really interesting melting pot. It’s a really great release that I would recommend to anyone into the quirkier side of rock and metal, and I already can’t wait to hear where they go from here! Until then though, I’ll certainly be spinning this again plenty. The closest thing I could find myself comparing it to is Tealdeer, but even then it’s a loose comparison. Either way, check this out! 8/10
Dexter and the Moonrocks: Friends that I Don’t Like
Firstly, I did not realise how crazy big this band has gotten. For a band of their weirdness to have 10M monthly listeners for their debut album is INSANE. It’s a real testament to how fantastic they are as songwriters and musicans, though. It’s crazy that it somehow feels like both a throwback to the 90s while simultaneously feels modern and unique in its own way. They’ve somehow described it perfectly themselves as “Western Space Grunge”. And, the album itself is awesome! ‘Mull it Over’, ‘Why Don’t you Say So’ and the Treaty Oak Revival-featuring ’12 Steps’ are all personal highlights, but there certainly isn’t a bad song throughout. It’s another album that’s maybe slightly long for the range of styles it encompasses, but is done in such a confident and excellent manor that it’s hard not to enjoy and admire it, still! If you are at all curious this is well worth a spin, and they are only going to continue to get bigger and bigger in the coming months and years. I feel like it’s another album that’ll grow on me, and I’ll certainly be listening again. For now though, it gets a solid 7/10!
The viking metal legends return this coming Friday with album number 13. The band’s last release, 2022’s Great Heathen Army, was a good entry into their discography, but did feel like it played it a little safe with the sound. However, with the singles we have heard from this release so far, it feels like not only have they started experimenting more than ever, but they are firing on all cylinders too! So, when this came across our emails, there was no way we weren’t diving right into it! Without further ado, let’s do this.
The album opens perfectly, with ‘Gjallarhorn’ setting the tone excellently. The catchy chanting with the guitar following the melody is insanely memorable, and will go over a storm live. The faster riff comes in behind, and soon it all launches into the expected powerful melodeath the band are known for. Jocke Wallgren kills it on the drums from the get-go, and Johan’s unmistakable vocals are fantastic the moment the verse hits. And, despite the harsh vocals, there is an element of catchiness throughout, one that I will surely try (and fail) to scream along to on subsequent listens. It feels and sounds massive, from the production to writing, their folk and power metal elements adding so much to the base sound. The track is balls-to-the-wall throughout, and is a really great showcase for the rest of the album! Great stuff!
Single ‘Eight Legs of Thunder’ continues the vibe excellently from the opener. The riffing is awesome, the verse is chuggy, heavy greatness, and the lower growls from Johan are amazing! A great harmonised, melodic guitar lick leads to a massive, infectiously catchy chorus, one that is sure to be stuck in my head for days to come! The guitar solo in the middle is phenomenal too, technical and packed full of emotion, as well as having some truly amazing harmonies throughout. It has plenty of time to breathe too, being a decent chunk of the tracks runtime. It’s classic Amon Amarth in all the best ways, and is up there alongside their big heavy hitting tracks, in this writers humble opinion. It’s an amazing song, and one that easily makes our playlist!
The first album track from the release, ‘Kvasir’s Blood’, continues the heaviness, but is a little more plodding in its pace. I like it dropping down for the verse, it giving the heavy vocals even more weight. I also love the call-and-response in the second part of it, adding more depth and catchiness to it all. It all builds into another massive, power-death chorus, fitting the tone of the song excellently while still being very Amon Amarth. The dynamics of the track are great throughout if I’m honest, with bits dropping out and exploding back in at the perfect moments. And we even get some timing changes with bridge too, it also being another killer riff. The whole thing is another really great song, and memorable despite it being packed in by singles.
Speaking of singles, the last two from the release are up next. The lead single from the album, ‘We Rule the Waves’, dropped way back in July of last year, and is very much another typical Amon Amarth track! The lyrics are a little Wind Rose-like, especially in the chorus, but it will still go down a storm live as it’s insanely catchy. And instrumentally, it’s your typical epic death-infused metal. If you know anything about the band, this is exactly what you’d expect, and that certainly isn’t a bad thing! Then, however, ‘Upphaf’ changed things up rather dramatically. The band don’t do enough acoustic tracks, and this really highlights their range perfectly. Johan cleans up his vocals a bit, still growling but more spoken-word, almost singing. And it fits the stripped-back instrumentation perfectly. It’s the folkiest track on the album, and is such an excellent change of pace at the halfway point of the album. It’s another huge highlight of the album and a track I’d recommend to anyone, even if they aren’t typically into the band! It’s certainly a style they need to explore more!
Tracks like ‘Die with a War Cry’, ‘Raven God’ and ‘Oden’s Hunt’ are more standard tracks from the band. None of them are bad by any stretch, and fit the album excellently, but when they’re pretty similar I don’t want to keep repeating myself over and over in this review! They definitely have their place on the album, and I’d happily listen to them again not just as part of it but also on their own. I’m a big AA fan and these are sick, but you certainly know what to expect heading into them!
The title track, while also having a similar vibe, is another track that honestly has single written all over it! From the opening, ‘The Pursuit of Vikings’ style riff and pace to the the guitar melody following the already catchy verse vocals to the awesome chorus, it’s all so damn good. It’s perfect Amon Amarth, and another huge high point of the album! I really hope this becomes a fixture of their live sets, as I’d absolutely love to see it in person. It’s a track that I will be revisiting plenty in the weeks and months to come!
Then, we reach the epic closer, ‘Ascending Like an Eagle’. At almost seven minutes in length, everything gets plenty of time to breathe, and the whole band get a chance to shine. It’s heavy and fast, but also incredibly catchy and melodic, and goes by in a flash! It feels like it draws together almost everything before it on the release, and finishes things off perfectly! It’s yet another firm highlight of the album, as if the release isn’t already packed full of them!
Overall: This is a really awesome album! It’s exactly what you’d expect from the band, with a few twists and turns thrown in for good measure. Every song on it is excellent, and as I said there are a few that I would put up there alongside their very best! All of them work their asses off throughout and show why they are so beloved and respected in the scene, all being masters of their craft. If you are a fan of the band or their general style/genre, I would absolutely recommend giving it a listen ASAP! It’s my favourite they’ve put out since at least at least Berserker, and I’m going to HAVE to see this live soon!
We chatted to the rising stars of Japanese heavy metal, Fireflame, about their debut full-length and future plans. Check it all out below!
How would you describe your sound?
We define our sound as Modern Heavy Metal, which strives for a seamless fusion of classic 80s heavy metal and modern metalcore. We dislike being boxed into a single specific subgenre. Rather than simply mimicking the past or sounding overly modern, we pursue a style where both worlds are perfectly balanced and blended.
The album’s been out a couple of months now, it seems to have gone down really well! Is there a particular theme or story behind the album, or is it more that each track is its own story?
The album is actually built as a cohesive concept! Excluding the bonus tracks, all 12 main songs are interconnected, telling one continuous story from start to finish. Central to this narrative is the overarching theme of “the persistent inner fire within those who continue to fight for something they cannot give up.” Through this story, we wanted to convey a powerful message about facing adversity and refusing to bend, no matter what obstacles stand in your way!
What is your songwriting process like?
The main process usually begins with Connie Flames (Ba) and myself (FireRay, Gt) putting together rough demos. Once we have those initial demos, we bring them straight into the rehearsal studio.
We jam and play through the songs together as a full band, shaping and refining the arrangements and details on the spot. It’s through this hands-on studio session work that everyone’s ideas and energy come together to give the final song its full form.
Is there more writing going on already?
Yes, absolutely! We’ve actually already completed 3 brand new tracks, and we have several more demos in the works!
Even though our 1st album Force Against The End was just released, we’re already focused on and excited about the next album. We can’t wait to push our sound even further!
Do you have a busy rest of the year and start of 207 planned with live stuff?
Now that our debut album is finally out, we’re currently planning a tour and getting ready to hit the road. It’s definitely going to be a very busy and exciting time for us!
What is the heavy metal scene like in Japan? I feel like I’m starting to see more and more bands from the country!
Compared to its peak, heavy metal definitely isn’t in the mainstream spotlight here anymore, and honestly, our hometown scene in Osaka has declined quite a bit.
However, we have amazing bandmates of our generation who share the same passion, as well as inspiring seniors who support us. Because of that, I truly believe we can rebuild and reignite the scene from here and we want to be the band leading that charge!
You’re quite active on social media, do you have any advice you could give bands just starting out, in that regard?
Honestly, we don’t really have advice to give because we’re still just a starting-out band ourselves! Haha.
But if there’s one thing, it’s simply to keep doing it over and over again. Just put content out there constantly, stay active, and keep pushing without overthinking it!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you’d want to support or friends you’d want to bring with you?
Supporting heavy metal legends like Loudness, Judas Priest, or Bullet For My Valentine would be an absolute dream come true and it’s something we are determined to make happen!
As for who we’d bring with us, we want to bring everyone who has supported us on this journey. It sounds like a big dream, but we’re going to make it reality!
If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! But the first song that came to my mind is “Painkiller” by Judas Priest. To me, it’s the ultimate heavy metal anthem from the legendary drum intro to the relentless riffs and twin guitars, it completely defines what heavy metal is.
Yet another MASSIVE week for new releases, from country to rock to metal. Let’s check it all out together!
Kenny Chesney: Silver Sands Marina
The country legend is back with album 21, following 2024’s Born surprisingly closely. Firstly, he clearly read my last review back then, as this is almost half the length of that release, and much better for it. Secondly, this is an awesome collection of classic Chesney music, and I love it! While the opener kicked things off a little low energy and awkwardly, lead single ‘Carry On’ follows it up excellently and is a certified banger. Tracks like single ‘Goldfish’, ‘Shot a Car Into Space’ and the Colbie Caillat-featuring ‘What We Got Going On’ are also big highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout! Sure, it’s a touch on the slower side again, but when it’s a shorter album it’s a hell of a lot less of an issue. That and the guy is pushing 60, so it’s rather expected. It’s so very late 90s, early 2000s country, and I loved every second of it! It’s crazy that at this point in his career he’s still putting out such high quality material, and it gets another solid 8/10 from us!
Tom Morello: Everyone Gets Everything They Want
The first solo album from the guitar legend in nearly five years is an interesting one. It feels like a tail of two halves, yet both halves don’t necessarily run as the first six tracks and then the last six. The instrumental opening into the title track had me pumped, and both are awesome tracks! Then it got a little weird for a bit. I genuinely had to watch the video for ‘Adjourn It’ to be able to hear that it was actually Serj, and a couple of the tracks after it didn’t do much for me. The song with KNEECAP was surprisingly pretty good, as was the Worldwide Rebel Songs-like ‘The Last Rung of the Ladder’ and the Audioslave ish ‘Pretend You Remember Me’. However, as an album as a whole, I don’t think I’d revisit it a whole lot, just the songs I like. Tom is still a phenomenal guitarist, and has clearly passed that gene down to his son who gets plenty of time to shine on the tracks he’s on, and I still surprisingly like his folky vocals. But his songwriting is in a strange place at the minute, tugged between his earlier solo stuff and a more modern metal sound, and it leads to slightly mixed results. I’d still prefer an all-out RATM track or two, but this is still good, and I’d recommend it to anyone even slightly interested! 7/10
Europe: Come This Madness
The rock legends are back with their first new studio album in nearly a decade. And, honestly, it is far better than I feel most expected it to be! ‘One on One’ is the perfect opener, setting the darker, heavier AOR tone of the album up excellently. From there, we get a solid 10 other tracks, all slotting together amazingly and leading to a very easy 41 minutes of listening! This sort of sound fits Joey’s vocals these days perfectly, and the band all work their asses off throughout, all getting plenty of time to shine, whether it’s big riffs, awesome solos and drum fills. Tracks like ‘Come This Madness’, the epic ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ and ‘The Devil’s Back’ are all personal favourites, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout! If you are at all an old-school rock fan, this album is an absolute must, and a showcase of just how amazing the band are still, nearly fifty years into their careers. 8.5/10, awesome stuff!
Warren Zeiders: No Breaks
Jade: I’ve not come across Warren Zeiders before, but straight off the bat I really like his voice. It’s really easy to listen to, super smooth with a little bit of a twang to it. He’s got that sound that fits quite nicely into what you would class as stadium country, but has a slightly more stripped back feel to it. You really get that feeling with the title track. It’s quite soft and builds up to more of an epic chorus. And the vocals in the chorus are pretty damn dreamy. I get my fix of country cringe with ‘overrated’ featuring Bellah Mae. More upbeat than the previous tracks, catchy and their voices blend like butter. What more could you ask for from a country love duet!
I do enjoy more of the upbeat side of country, and although a lot of the tracks on this album are more on the slower side, they are all so different which just pulls you into it more. It has the potential to be the most incredible experience at a more intimate gig, but could easily fill a much bigger venue and give massive energy. Especially with the more stripped-back verses that go into the catchy, punchy choruses. ‘Drinking Game’ is the perfect example of this. I really enjoy how much range Warren has in terms of style. He has switched between stadium country, to bro country and then even hitting us with a slightly more rocky vibe. The way he uses his voice in ‘Looks Good On You’ and ‘Souvenirs’ is giving a more country Nickelback vibe, and I’m here for it.
Honestly I could absolutely gush over every single one of these tracks, which has me presently surprised. It’s almost like there is a song for everyone on this album which is pretty refreshing for country artists these days. Regardless if it was a slower track or not, each track does its own thing, I wouldn’t really say any are one in the same. I have very much come away a fan and will be going back to check out some of Warren’s earlier stuff. 9/10
Lacrimas Profundere: Lay Me Down O Silent Fear
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
Volucrine: Chapter V: Renewal
Max: I don’t have the longest review out there on this one but here are my thoughts. The album is a pretty hard hitting and enjoyable ride front to back coming in at a somewhat longer 52 minutes, spread across 13 tracks. I’d say that there is a relatively standard formula of chunking riffs, some decent clean vocals, and then a breakdown or screamed chorus which I initially thought was this bands strongest point. However the clean vocals and more melodic points started to become more and more enjoyable. And then you get to my favourite track in the album hands down, ‘Drift’. I get that’s its the cliché emotional song in the later half of a metal album but damn is really good. Just everything about it is gorgeous and I wish for more like that. However it does also expose the album to its biggest issue in my opinion, Pacing. whilst it is mostly fine with no disjointed or jarring moments, the flow between ‘Swans’ -> ‘Drift’ and ‘Drift’ -> ‘The Future That Never Was’ is quite abrupted and feels a little out of rhythm with the rest of the album.
That being said, that is a rather weak criticism that is only used when you need to say when an album isn’t perfect. So ignoring that, the album is really quite good and one that I would recommend. Hopefully I can catch this group on tour at some point. 8/10
Wheeler Walker Jr.: Pullin’ Out
The apparent final album from the crass, comedic country genius is an expectly damn fun half-hour. If you are familiar with him already, you know exactly what to expect. If you aren’t, you may be in for a shock! It is certainly a lot if you’re a bit more conservative on the sex and drugs side of the world, but it’s hard not to have a good time with it regardless. It’s cleverly written, and the music is always surprisingly excellent and well produced behind the silly vocals. Tracks like the bluesy ‘Whiskey Dickin’’, ‘Old Piece of Shit’ and ‘Why Aren’t Suckin’ my Dick?’ are all personal favourites, but the whole album is pretty great! It’s a hard one because while I do think the joke may have run it’s course a little, it’s hard to not still love his music and his creativity, and it will be sad to see him go. If you like silly country music, this is absolutely the album for you! 8/10, I’ll certainly be listening to this plenty moving forward!
Nothing but Thieves: Stray Dogs
Following up 2023’s excellent Dead Club City, the English alt rockers have gone a bit heavier with Stray Dogs, and certainly in a good way! The title track sets the tone perfectly, while songs like ‘Testosterone’ and ‘AI.Jesus’ follow its lead. It’s a little bit Royal Blood or Deftones, you know, if Deftones were good. Then you have more expected-sounding tracks like ‘Evolution’ and ‘Baby Kool’. The album does sadly lull a bit too long in energy around the middle, but even those slower songs are still good. While I wouldn’t say it’s quite as monumental or memorable as their last release, it’s still a damn good album in its own right! The band are all so damn talented and, while they are a massive name, they deserve to be even bigger with their stellar recent output! There is plenty of greatness to sink your teeth into, and it goes by in a flash despite its length. A very solid 8/10 from us, and another album I will happily be revisting soon!
AJJ: Dirty Old Power
Album nine from the folk-punkers is an absolutely fantastic half-hour of music! While I remember somewhat enjoying 2023’s Disposable Everything, but it is also an album that I’ve revisited a lot since, and has grown on me a lot. This album, however, hit me immediately and I had a blast throughout! Honestly it’s hard to pick highlight tracks too, as I enjoyed every one in its own quirky way. Every song is different as well, making the album so interesting throughout. It’s chilled-out (aside for ‘Phlamethrower’), fun but also so very well written and put together, with some of the lyrics being really damn good. The band are true masters of their craft at this point, and have crafted something truly special together with this release. If you like the quirkier side of rock and folk music, I’d definitely recommend you check this out ASAP. I’ll certainly be spinning this again plenty moving forward, and it gets a very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Metalite: Discovery
Another band that I LOVEDthe last album of, and another band that once again knock it out of the park with their new album! It’s yet another amazing collection of fantastic modern power metal like really only Metalite can do. The release opens fantastically with the one-two punch of ‘Our Time has Come’ and ‘In Case of Emergency’, while ‘The Metal Elite’ and ‘Wings of Fire’ continue the excellence throughout. What’s more is there isn’t really a ballad on here either, it’s balls-to-the-wall for a full 46 minutes. Usually I’d feel like it would be an odd choice, but it absolutely works here! Every song is amazing, and it is a damn good follow-up to Expedition One. They are one of the most underrated bands in the modern power metal scene, and feel like true frontrunners alongside Dominum when it comes to quality output. I loved this, and it’s an incredibly easy 8.5/10 from us!
Max McNown: Leave on a Light
We’ve also checked this out in full, aren’t you lucky?! Read it here.
Coldrain: OPTIMISE = OPTDEMISE
Jade: I have very much enjoyed the odd coldrain track here and there over the past couple of years. However I will admit I’ve never taken the time to actually listen to an album in full. So what better time than now with this never release?
Coldrain is a band that gives me everything I love, from screams you’d expect in metalcore alongside melodic vocals, which combine in the best way. The opening track ‘OPTIMISE’ did not disappoint, and god did it remind me why I like this band so much. Masato’s vocals are just so impressive going between such cleans to those nasty, aggressive screams. Sais cleans really shine in the next track ‘CHASING SHADOWS’. I will say I have absolutely no idea what I’m taking about when it comes to any sort of instruments, but I can appreciate how hard the rest of the band slaps. Katsuma beats the hell out that drum kit throughout, and there is crazy impressive guitar from Sugi and Y.K.C. Of course we can’t forget how chunky the bass line is in these tracks thanks to RxYxO.
If you want a song that shows all of that then ‘INCOMPLETE’ is the one for you. And holy moly, I was not ready for “FREE FALL”. God damn I had to take a second for how heavy that was. Those screams are so filthy. Then to bit hit with a dirty breakdown midway too. That one is straight on my playlist! ‘EX-HUMANITY’ give a bit of a different vibe, still very good, but definitely more of a track with the intent of getting a message across to listeners. Which don’t get me wrong is the running theme throughout the album, touching on how people have changed and what humanity is anymore. This particular track just feels a little more direct to that sentiment. I wasn’t expecting a ballad on this Album, but ‘SING’ is exactly that, and it’s bloody beautiful and an amazing showcase for Masato’s vocals yet again. The album finishes on ‘SAVIOR’ which is way more walking the line of hardcore than the rest of the album. Kenta Koie features in this track, who I’m not personally familiar with, but god damn is he impressive! Those screams really are something else, and it fits so well alongside Masato’s vocals and the rest of the band. It couldn’t be a more perfect collab.
Overall, this has been a really great album, some tracks definitely outshined others but the stronger ones were spaced nicely through the album which gave it a good pacing. This is one I would definitely recommend checking out! 8/10
Pyre of Descent: Albedo
The first release from the German gothy, proggy metallers since the pandemic times is an epic 50 minutes of darkness and chaos. Let’s get the obvious out of the way, it’s certainly not going to be for everyone. It’s only six tracks, with the closer being over 13 minutes in length. However, I had a good time with it! Everyone involved is super talented, playing their asses off, and I love that the tracks flow into one another! It’s a heavier version of old-school goth music that I never knew I needed in my life until now! ‘Die for Us’ and the epic, plodding ‘At Sea’ are personal highlights, but the album as a whole is well worth a listen if you’re interested. The band very much have a new fan in me, and it’s a very easy 7.5/10 from us!
Scorpion Milk: Flesh Masks for Skulls
Following up on last year’s debut album, the band very much continues on its journey of cult post-punk/gothic-metal music. It’s dark but high energy and surprisingly catchy throughout. Opener ‘Dreaming Skulls’ is a lot of fun, and sets the tone for the EP excellently. However, every track on here is just as good as the last, and makes for an incredibly easy, fun listen. If you are at all into this sort of style, this is absolutely something you need to be checking out! The band have a new fan in me, and I already can’t wait to hear more from them. Mat McNerney is an incredible talent and mind in the music business, and doesn’t get nearly the flowers he deserves! 8/10
Godflesh: Decay
Less than two years removed from their last massive album, the doom masters are back with another crushing 40+ minutes of music. It is very much an acquired taste and not at all for everyone, including myself to be honest. It’s a lot of the same riff over and over, and the mix is very odd, the vocals being so low in it. ‘Living/Ending’ is probably my favourite on here, and none of it is bad at all, just not my thing. If you are into grandiose, traditional doom/stoner stuff, give it a spin, but I shan’t be trying it again, sadly. 4.5/10
Stryper: Throne of Thorns
Barely two years removed from their last album, the glam/heavy metal legends are back with their 15th studio effort. If you are familiar with the band it’s exactly what you’d expect, and that isn’t at all a bad thing! It’s packed full of awesome riffing, solid drumming and some catchy-ass choruses. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tiny bit on the religious side for me, but it doesn’t take away much at all from the awesome writing and musicianship. Tracks like ‘Here in Your Heart’, ‘Carry the Flame’ and ‘Alone Again’ are all personal highlights. The whole album has their typical brand of grandiose, epic metal, especially when it comes to those more soft-rock choruses, and while it does get a very slight touch repetitive by the end, it’s impossible to think of any songs that I’d change or cut to change that. The band have added yet another great release to their solid, growing discography, and this is a must for any fans of the band. 7/10
Dylan Gossett: Ramblin’
As if last year’s Westward wasn’t good enough, barely a year later the modern country superstar somehow knocks it even further out of the park with his sophomore release! Right from the opener I was hooked, and wasn’t let go for the full 44 minutes. His blend of country, folk and Americana is phenomenal, and his lyrics and the delivery of them throughout is captivating. ‘Love and Such’, ‘Honeysuckle’ and ‘Head in the Clouds’ are all massive high points for me, but honestly the whole album is spectacular. Even with the ending quarter being generally o the slow side, it still went by in a flash, and I loved every minute of it. I honestly cannot rave about this album enough, and it’s just as good as his first, if not somehow even better. This is an album for anyone even slightly a fan of any of the genres I mentioned above, and I can’t give it any less than a 9/10. Amazing stuff!
Red Code: Traces of unease and discomfort, Pt. 1
The debut EP from the alt/prog metallers is a fantastic 23-minutes journey through each members’ experiences. Each of the five tracks are not only great, but so interesting and fantastically written, and all represents and sounds like a different sound and angle of the band. Because of that, it’s honestly so hard to pick individual highlight tracks, as this really feels like an EP worth listening to in full at least once! I already can’t wait to hear where the band go from there, and they deserve so much love already because of how good this is! It’s heavy and melodic in all of the best ways, and everyone involved is so very talented. An easy 8/10 from us, and I can’t wait for part 2!
Mikey Ball & The Company: Keep the Fire Burning
The sophomore album from the hard rockers is a short, sweet, awesome affair! It’s got not just an old-school rock feel to it, but almost a punk edge too. It gives off vibes of everything from Ricky Warwick’s solo stuff to Social Distortion to American Aquarium. And, at under half an hour, it’s an incredibly easy listen! ‘Pressure’, ‘No Time to Lose’ and the closer are all personal highlights, but the other four songs are also awesome! The band are all very talented players and songwriters, and work so well together. It’s a name that I’d seen around a lot recently but hadn’t had the pleasure of really checking out much until recently. However, the band have a big new fan in me, that’s for sure! I’ll be spinning this plenty in the week and months to come, I’m sure, and it gets an easy 8/10 from us!
Lawrence Rothman: Here Lies Love/Sawdust to Stardust
Another country release for us this week, this one a bit more slower and steadier. It’s a beautiful, stripped-back release, and if you’re into that sort of style you’ll love it! I had a lot of fun with it, even if it did get slightly long-in-the-tooth by the end. ‘A Word’s a Weapon’ and ‘Worn Out Woman’ are personal favourites of mine, but all are equally as great in quality as they are in sound. Lawence has gained a real cult following over his previous four albums, and it’s easy to see why. I’ll certainly be going back and checking them out, as despite it not fully being my thing, I did have a good time listening to it! It’s the perfect album to throw on and relax to, though some of the lyrics are really deep and emotion-filled at the same time. A solid 7/10 from us!
We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing metallers Hippie Death Cult between tours about said adventures, their potential upcoming new music, and much more! Check it all out below!
How would you describe your sound?
Rock n’ Roll. Not as a static genre, but as a living, evolving entity. It’s a synthesis and celebration of everything we love about music. Bridging the gap from the birth of rock ’n’ roll, through early R&B, soul, and funk, into 60s psychedelia, 70s heavy blues, 80s thrash, and 90s metal and grunge. There is a common thread that tied those eras together, regardless of how broad the expression became. I feel like the tether to that thread got lost somewhere in the late 90s personally, and a lot of music that came after was either lacking deep roots or just copying an already played out formula. We aren’t trying to “revive” anything; we’re just picking up that thread and trying to keep it moving. We’d rather be a band that’s hard to define than one that’s easy to categorize but lacks soul and vitality.
Recently signed with Blacklight Media, what’s that been like?
It’s been a great experience so far, everyone we are working with over there and at Metal Blade Records have been great partners and I feel there’s a strong trust between us that goes both ways. It feels like a great match so far, and I’m excited to see how the rollout of the new record pans out!
I saw you’re teasing some new music coming next year too, right? How does it compare to your previous stuff?
We’re always digging for something deeper, and this new material is a reflection of that. We took the foundation we’ve built, and just made it nastier. It’s got more of everything. Groove, soul, passion and fury, but it’s focused. Laura’s hitting notes and intensities that we haven’t heard from her before and it’s really cool. It’s the sound of us getting out of our own way.
Just finished touring the US, how was it?
The real highlight was the connection with the people who showed up, honestly. It feels like we have family everywhere we go, and it’s amazing feeling that energy exchange while we perform every night. It was also a grind, but in the best way possible. Dealing with daily chaos, long van rides and lack of sleep and then stepping on stage mustering everything you’ve got night after night to deliver the same level of intensity and passion is really a thing. There’s a magic on a soul level that sustains you. We just did about 25 shows in a row, and we are about to go play about 60 more here in October and November.
Back over to Europe next month too. How would you compare the scene out here compared to back home?
It’s tough to compare, because the vibe really changes city to city rather than country to country. You find places in both the US and Europe where people are incredibly appreciative that you’re there, and then you hit other spots that just don’t seem as supportive of the arts. We’ve encountered both extremes, and everything in between, every time we’ve been out on the road. We’ve stopped trying to generalize it; we’re just grateful that our music is the reason we get to travel and experience all those different places firsthand!
You’re quite well-versed on social media, do you have any advice for bands just starting out, in that regard?
I don’t know if I’m any kind of authority on this, but my advice would be simple: whatever you put out there, make sure it actually aligns with who you are. Don’t do things just to chase attention, that stuff is so cringe to me. Once you find a way to present your music that feels authentic, just be consistent. Post quality content and actually engage with the people who are listening. If you’re genuine with your community, they’ll stick with you.
Do you have much planned for 2027 already?
Yes, there’s a lot of plans for 2027. We have a new record coming and a lot of tour dates piling up. This is shaping up to be probably the busiest year we’ve ever had. And we’ve always been pretty busy!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you’d want to support or any friends you’d want to bring along?
Honestly, we are taking part in a dream lineup tour this coming November with The Sword and Corrosion of Conformity. Stoked for that! Let’s go Pantera and Metallica next. All of our friends are invited!
If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?
‘Black Sabbath’ by Black Sabbath maybe? Something like that, something that just changed the game. Changed music as we know it. For the (way) better.
Four years removed from the amazing How To Shroud Yourself, the German gothic metal titans are back with album 14. We’ve all become BIG fans of the band in recent years, so when this came over our emails we knew immediately we were going to dive deep into it. I’ve been hyped since it was announced, and every single they’ve dropped so far has only amped that up higher. Without further ado, let’s do this!
The open starts with a heavy riff to open ‘Days of Doom’. Julian’s brutal screams come in over the top, very much setting the tone for the release perfectly, almost a melodeath edge to it all! Still, we get some multi-layered vocals with some cleans behind the screams on a couple of lines, giving some great depth from the offset. The screams then drop off into low, more gothic cleans, and… I’m already gushing over his vocals too much, aren’t I? It all builds into a massive, epic arena-filling chorus, immediately rooting itself into my ear for days to come. The Trivium-like triplet guitaring in the bridge is awesome too, it being a brief moment that separates the choruses but fits the track perfectly. It’s a real grandiose way to open things up, and I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single too, as it really is that good! A very easy early highlight!
Speaking of singles, ‘Nevermore’ absolutely slaps! I have a reaction video incoming for both this and ‘Faceless’ later on, but until then I am still happy to gush about both tracks on here! Both are excellent choices for singles as they both have truly excellent, huge choruses. They also have some great riffs running through them both. However, both certainly approach the Lacrimas formula from a different direction. The former is much more of a dark, gothic track dominated by some sexy low vocals, while the latter is more of a melodeath-infused track with some excellent screams in the verse. However, the choruses for both are the real highlight, and honestly are two of my favourites the band have ever produced. If you check out any two songs from the album, it should be these, again demonstrating just how excellent a choice they were as singles!
‘Heart I Will Break…’ is a pretty epic build with the keys and drums, the strings behind the low vocals for the verse honestly making it feel like a massive film score. And, it all leads to that absolutely HUGE screamed chorus, the perfect crescendo to it all! It flips the script we’ve had so far on its head in the best way possible, and is another fantastic song! It turns the gothic vibes to 11, and reminds me more of their last album than anything else so far. I love it! Those low notes in the bridge are absolutely insane, too. If you like the heavier end of their sound, this is absolutely a track for you!
The other single from the album, ‘O Silent Fear‘, is one we’re very familiar withhere at Overtone. Honestly, I don’t know what else I can say that I haven’t already said about this track. I’ve gushed about it plenty in that video and really whenever I’ve had the chance to, and it’s yet another awesome track on an album filled with them to this point! And, having said that, I think it’s somehow my least favourite single from the release, even though it’s a really fantastic song in its own right! It’s heavy but melodic and gothic and grandiose and just plain awesome. From the low verses to the screamed chorus, it’s so good and still somehow so catchy. The band are really firing on all cylinders with this release!
‘Agony’ gives me vibes of All Hope is Gone-era Slipknot, and I love it! From the plodding pace to the dark instrumentation to some of the melodies Julian is hitting, it’s taking me back to my youth in 2008 in the best ways! I love that the chorus doesn’t change the vibe too much too, adding in a bit of heaviness and some harmonies, but it generally just stays menacing and melancholic like the verse. It’s a great change of pace in the middle of the album, that’s for sure. And all the layers of vocals in that final chorus… *chef’s kiss*. To the surprise of no one, it’s another really excellent song!
Tracks like ‘Arcane Promises’ and ‘A Sinful Desire’ are more up-tempo, heavy songs. The former is mainly clean vocals, again feeling for an easy choice for a radio track if the band are wanting to go that way, but still have plenty of their signature goth and dark vibes. And once again, it’s got a fantastically catchy hook, and some really excellent vocals! And the breakdown goes pretty damn hard in the middle too, everyone working their asses off through it. Meanwhile the latter has a good mixture of both cleans and screams (it has maybe my favourite screams on the whole album), and a truly massive, Audio Secrecy-style chorus. Both are fantastic songs in their own right that. And, even though they feel slightly like album tracks, are still incredible, fitting the tone of the album perfectly and standing out to me in their own ways. Wow!
‘Veil XV’ is the ballad of the album, and is just as excellent as the rest of the songs. It’s truly epic; the arrangement and production being phenomenal. And once again, Julian’s vocals are top notch, truly one of the most underrated singers in the game. There’s something about his breathy voice over the piano that just scratches my brain in the best ways. Then, when the distortion and heaviness comes in for the arena-filling chorus, it’s perfect in a whole different way. Hell, all the parts of this are awesome, as I also loved just the chunky guitar chords and vocals for the second verse, too! And all of the strings for the bridge makes it all feel absolutely huge. Another absolutely massive high point of the album, and another song that easily makes our playlist. GODDAMN.
The closer, and a song title that rivals early 2000s Fall Out Boy in length, finishes things off in style. It’s arguably the heaviest on the album, packed full of brutal screams and some crushing riffing and drums. Having said that, it still has the bands trademark clean, multi-layered chorus tucked away between all the aggression! It feels like it draws together the very best elements of what came before it, capping the release odd excellently. What a fantastic final song!
Overall: This is somehow even more amazing than I expected it to be! The singles were of course excellent, but there truly isn’t a bad song on here, and there are some absolutely gems buried in the album tracks. As much as I loved their last album, this may honestly be my favourite from them yet! I’ll be spinning this a lot in the coming weeks and months, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our albums of the year listcome December!
An absolutely STACKED week of new music for us to dive into, with everything from metal to country to rock putting out bangers. Let’s dive right in!
Luke Bryan: Signs
So, I know everyone’s been clowning on a couple of the singles from this album, and somewhat rightfully so. A lot of the lyrics are truly cringe country tropes. However, that doesn’t stop it from being a fun, enjoyable album! It’s exactly what you’d expect from Bryan’s ninth release, and if you are into stadium country it’s certainly a collection for you! Tracks like ‘Word on the Street’, ‘Fish Hunt Gold Drink’ and ‘Crooked Rows of Corn’ are all personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on the album, honestly! It’s maybe a touch slow for my liking at times, but having just learnt the guy is 50 while writing this, you can’t blame him for not having it be more high-energy party songs any more. It’s not quite as good as his last album in my eyes, but it’s a fun, certainly good 40 minutes of country. Even when this style has seemingly been left in the dust a little by the modern country scene, Luke still proves why he is one of the biggest names in the genre and that he isn’t going away any time soon. Give this a spin if you’re in any way interested, and if you’re a fan of his you won’t be disappointed! 7.5/10
Anthrax: Cursum Perficio
I’ve been waiting for this album for A WHILE. It’s been a full decade since their last studio release. And honestly, from first impressions, I’m not sure how to feel about this. I’ve spun it a couple of times over the weekend, and while it has grown on me on a second spin, I still don’t think it lives up to the hype I had built for it over the last decade. But hey, that’s on me! Each individual part is awesome, everyone is working their asses off throughout, but something about the sum of all said parts doesn’t get me as pumped as I hoped it would. It reminds me a little of Avenged Sevenfold’s The Stage for me; a big, hype-filled release from a massive metal band that doesn’t feel as immediately huge as previous albums. Tracks like ‘The Long Goodbye’, ‘The Edge of Perfection’ and ‘T.O.M.B.’ are all personal highlights. There isn’t a bad song on the album even, but it does feel like a bit of a grower.
It’s not quite Worship Music, let alone their early stuff, but it is still a good modern thrash album. Maybe it’s because the likes of Testament, Exodus and even Priest/Saxon are still firing out amazing albums at a quicker pace, but I sadly don’t find myself quite as attached to it as some other reviewers do. I haven’t been left remembering anything from it even on a second listen. So, for that reason, it gets another 7.5/10. Good but not great.
Madska: More Than Dramatic
Self-described as “Rose-coloured rock”, it’s the perfected way to describe this Philly trio, and this EP is a perfect introduction to the band for those haven’t heard their 2024 debut album. It’s chilled out and upbeat while also rather epic in its arrangement, and has some really catchy hooks throughout. The band are all so damn talented too, all working their asses off throughout and each piece fitting together perfectly. The title track opens things up perfectly, while the slower ‘Basement’ and the funky ‘Medusa’ are also great tracks. However, the other two are just as good; the full 18 minutes is awesome and such an easy listen! It’s different in the best sense of the world, and I’d honestly recommend it to absolutely anyone reading this! It’s been well worth the wait since I interviewed them about it the other month, and I’ll be spinning this plenty in the weeks and months to come. A very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Holding Absence: Modern Life is Lonely
Max: The Welsh outfit are back with a genuinely very beautiful album. There is a lot of emotion layered throughout which can be expected from this band. However this album looks outwards in many ways and shows a constant improvement and desire to grow from the band. Whilst listing all of the things from this album that I love would take an eternity, I want to highlight just a few.
The vocals are stunning. Simply so. From the cleans to the screams everything is fantastic. The instruments are not a let down either. everything from the backing instrumentals, to the drums, to the guitars. Everything is tight, precise and well done, but not in that way that screams of overproduction, in the way that you know care was given to everything and that corners weren’t cut.
I also want to say that there is a very good blend of highs and lows throughout the album, both in terms of the vocals but also with the emotion. There are songs that have so much energy you float through and ones that leave you sitting there in a sort of pensive sadness. But when they come together its everything. I think “Lucid Love” and “Scorched Earth” are prime examples of this carrying both energy but also love and emotion and, at least to me, a level of poignant sadness. But really the best example of Holding Absence not only releasing an amazing song, but also being very typical and leaving it until the end, is “Kyoto Snow”. Talking about love across whatever distance and how no matter what, be it distance, space, time or realities, love transcends all.
This album deserves to be played, heard and felt. 10/10
Riley Green: That’s Just Me
Another year, another long collection of slow country ballads from Mr Green. My foolish ass even thought “maybe this time will be different” when ‘Think as you Drunk’ came out but nope, this is over an hour of slower-end, stripped-back country. For what it is, it’s completely fine, solid even. It’s clear he’s good and talented, as he’s an absolutely MASSIVE name in music in general these days. The afformentioned rockier track is great, as is ‘Got That From You’, ‘Don’t Come Any Closer’ and ‘More of a Man than Me’. Hell, there isn’t a bad song on here, honestly. It’s just too damn long. His style has grown on me over the last few years, and I definitely enjoyed this more than his last release. However, it is too long and too similar for me to sit with the album as a whole probably ever again. There is an excellent record hidden somewhere in here, but it is too bloated, and very weirdly composed from an track-order perspective. I can’t give it any more than 6.5/10, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of his music!
Nonpoint: The Last Word
The Nu-metal/rap-rock pioneers are back with their first album in over eight years, and it is every bit as excellent as I’d hoped it would be! Honestly, I missed them dude; there’s no one that quite does music like Nonpoint, and nearly thirty years into their careers they prove that they very much still have it! It doesn’t overstay its welcome at just 10 tracks spread across half an hour, but it means that it is very much all killer, no filler. ‘Is It’, ‘Dial Tones’ and ‘Red Yeti’ are personal highlights, but every song on here is a banger. The band somehow sound almost identical to how they did back when they first broke out, but have somehow found a way to keep it feeling fresh and interesting even 11 albums in! If you are at all into that early 2000s sound and scene that they came from, or just nu or industrial metal or even hip hop in any way, you NEED to check out this album ASAP. I’m a little obsessed already, and it is going to be in regular rotation for me most likely for the rest of the year. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, and I am already desperate to see them live again!
Seasick Steve: The Last Season of America
The first album in a couple of years from the folk/Americana legend, and he proves yet again that he hasn’t lost a step all these years into his career! The title track opens things up in a way only Steve can, highlighting his views on the state of his country perfectly, a sombre tune. Then you have more blues rock-inspired bangers like single ‘Bad Things’ and ‘Free Man’ that are all awesome. Heck, instrumental ‘Surf’s Flat’ is amazing too, there certainly not being a dud across the whole release! You know exactly what to expect from the guy this deep into his career, yet he never fails to disappoint. It’s every bit as good as his last album, so gets another solid 7.5/10 from us! Check this out if you are even a passing fan of the guy!
Blackment: Pandemonium Portrait
The sophomore album from the Finnish melodic metal band follows up their 2022 debut perfectly. And this is coming from someone who LOVED their debut! This is almost an hour of grandiose, heavy and catchy metal, and is a really fantastic listen. It almost reminds me of those middle couple of Trivium albums where Matt stopped screaming as much, except crafted in a way that is amazing, and is more of the bands identity. Hell, it’s got elements of power metal throughout this too, almost giving Dominum vibes in the best ways! From ‘In Motion’ to ‘Afterlife’ to the epic ‘Nocturnal Queen’, there are plenty of bangers on here. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout, and the album flows so damn well together. Every member of the band are so incredibly talented, and they all work together perfectly! It’s up there alongside their debut for me, and I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10!
Jason Scott and the High Heat: Play Boy
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
The Bites: Self-Titled
Another sophomore album, this time from the US hard/sleaze rockers. Their debut was massive, but I honestly feel like this is a step up in terms of quality! It’s 37-minutes of massive, arena-filling melodies and hooks, as well as some fantastic playing from the entire band throughout! The Van Halen-esque ‘Hold On’ is a big early highlight and I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single from the jump. Tracks like single ‘Dancing with the Devil’, ‘Carry You Home’ and ballad ‘Waiting’ are all personal highlights, but there isn’t a bad song on here honestly. Hell, ‘Lips’, while cringy lyrically, is a catchy as anything song that will be stuck in my head for days to come! While it fits in perfectly with the current revival of the sound, the band still feel unique and somehow fresh, not an easy achievement in 2026. It’s a damn fun album that I’d recommend to any rock fan reading this, and is an incredibly easy 8/10!
Game Over: When Darkness Falls
Max: So I just want to start with letting you know, I normally really don’t like this kind of music. But this album… its a lot of fun. I think the horror theming to the album makes for an enjoyable lens to craft an album in with definitely a tonal difference between certain tracks.
Starting with a simple opening of “Hollow and Cold” serving as an instrumental opening before we get seamlessly in to the first full length track, “Two Souls One Flesh”. this felt very genre fitting with bouncing riffs and a constant beat throughout with the almost chanting mid section of the song which I think can be expected, and don’t worry of course there is the solo in the later third of the song to make sure you know who and what you are listening to. I want to also say the flow between the opening track in to “Two Souls One Flesh” is really perfect and just goes to show the absolute precision involved when making this album.
Now personally, I didn’t find much to write home about with when it came to songs 4 and 5, they are by no means bad songs, in fact quite the opposite, they are just rather standard and to some extent ‘safe’ that being said, I never skipped them, which if the “worst” tracks on the album are a solid 7.5/10 you know the album is good.
And to be fully honest that is my only criticism of the album, because straight after we get an eery mid album spoken word interlude and then you are dropped straight in to my favourite song of the album, “Curse Of Strahd”. Not only is the a great campaign, it is also a great chuggy and pumping track that pulls you in and keeps you coming back. There is not a single thing I would change with this track because damn its really really good.
As for the last three tracks of the album, they are also really good. I wont say why but the final track uses a speech from a very good film and solidifies this album as just being really fun to listen to. Overall there is a lot to love, now its not creating a new genre or redefining this one, however what it does do is tell you the GAME OVER is really good at what they do. 9/10
Orville Peck: Mule
Jade: Opening the album is a beautiful folky, almost bewitching song ‘Prolouge (Eulogy of a man turned mule)’ featuring Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus and Allison Russell. Going straight in the next track ‘Big Ol’ House’ all expectations are immediately met as always with Orville. His unique voice and the strength of his vocals just hit. This goes for the next track with is a bit more upbeat and bouncy ‘Already Gone’. I must say I have been slightly obsessed with this track since it was released back in August. He shows such a range in his vocals and it has me in a bit of a choke hold. I feel like I have to mention Rehab blues mainly for the whistle intro. As you all probably know my husband is a sucker for a whistle solo. Then you get hit hard by the lyrics which are so casual but deep when it comes to recovery. I am very much seeing a pattern in this album, in that it just rips your heart out and tramples all over it. There is so much hurt and pain, and Orville’s absolutely stunning vocals just makes it sting that little bit more. ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘The Fall’ have me absolutely sobbing. Just when you like you are getting an up beat, bluesy almost Elvis song with ‘Cowboy Heart’ you again are hit with such powerful lyrics. I just know this album is going to sit very close to so many people. Without me absolutely gushing and boring you with my babble, all I’ll say about ‘The breeze, the grass, the mourning dove and me’ is that I desperately NEED to hear that some live. There are some crazy good vocals. ‘Too little, too late’ was another song I’ve been obsessed with since it was released as a single. Just a great catchy track that just reminds you that you are a bad bitch that deserves better. The final track I want to talk about is the last on the the album, the title track ‘Mule’. There couldn’t have been a more perfect track to finish off this powerful album. It’s stripped back and slowly brings in more instruments as the song progresses. It almost rounds off all the other tracks and brings everything together so subtly with different struggles being touched upon throughout the album. The whole thing is just so full of emotions and is just beautiful…I don’t know how else to describe it. You’ve done it again Orville.
Just to reiterate, like I haven’t already babbled on for too long. I am in absolute awe of this album. The talent of this man never ceases to amaze me. As a big lover of country music, he definitely brings a uniqueness to the mix that I can’t really compare to any other artist. All there is left to do is wait for him to come back to the UK on tour! 10/10
Beck: Ride Lonesome
Seven years removed from his last album, Hyperspace, the alt rocker returns with a chilled out, folky release. For what it is, it’s fine. It’s not hugely my sort of thing, at least on track, and reminds me a lot of the recent Fruit Batsstuff. I would have much preferred another revisit to his 90s stuff, but if you’re a fan of this side of his music, you’l surely get something out of this. Honestly though, I can’t even really pick highlight tracks, as it all just blurs together into 45 minutes of slow, stripped-back monotony. Beck is a talented guy, that much has always been clear, but this is not at all my sort of thing. I got bored, and fast! 3/10
Krallice: Scour Order
Release 14 from the technical black metal New Yorkers is over an hour of dark, brutal heaviness, and is a really interesting listen! It’s certainly a variation of the black metal formula that I enjoy and get a lot out of, and the band are so damn talented that it’s hard not to be sucked in and hooked at times. Some of the guitaring in particular really blew me away! And, with just eight songs being spread across over an hour, everything gets plenty of time to breathe. ‘Grievous Corrector’ and ‘Her Green Arms’ are personal highlights. And, while it is a touch long for now similar it is, there still isn’t a necessarily bad song on the release! If you are into this sort of thing give it a spin, but I’d struggle to give it much more than 5.5/10
Olive Vox: Trace it Back
The second EP from the Texas-based alt rockers is under 20 minutes of catchy vocals and melodies, backed perfectly by some really great instrumentation! Opener ‘Hear me Out’ had me hooked from the get-go, while the indie-punk ‘I Do’ and ‘Black and White’ are also excellent songs. However, the whole EP is concise, a really great example of everything the band are so great at. They are such talented players and songwriters, and had me loving it despite it not typically being my sort of sound. If you like the heavier, punkier side of indie music, this is very much a release for you! Another solid 7/10 from us this week!
The Homesick: What’s Up With All These Shangri-Las
The fourth album from the Dutch avant-pop group is somehow not at all what I expected heading in, even when I had zero expectations! It’s another release that, while not really my thing typically, I found myself actually having a good time listening! It’s not something I’d revisit often or even really have highlights tracks from, but the album as a whole is a fun, quirky and fantastically interesting listen. It’s very European, and gives off big 80s experimental pop vibes in a really great way. It’s certainly not a release for everyone, but if you are at all interested, give this a spin, you might just love it! I’d happily listen to it again soon, and it gets a solid 6/10 from us!
The Goods: Goodbye Summertime
The sophomore album from the Californian soft rockers is a fun, laid-back 42 minutes of music. It draws from plenty of sounds and inspirations, from folk rock to indie-Americana to… well… the Beatles, into something wholly unique, and a damn good listen! Tracks like ‘Minor Key’, ‘Punchbowl’ and ‘Dare You’ are all personal highlights. However, if you like this sort of thing, you’ll most likely love it all! It’s maybe a touch repetitive at times, especially when it’s not fully my sort of thing, but it’s certainly a nice release to throw on and chill out to. That, and Rob Good and co. are insanely talented at what they do, and it makes this a damn good album in its genre! 7/10, though it may grow on me even more with more listens!
Velveteen Queen: The Greater Good
The modern rock five-piece’s sophomore album is somehow even better than their 2024 debut! It’s old-school sleazy and Sunset strip while having a modern edge and production to it, not unlike The Bites further up! Tracks like the title one, ‘Adrenaline’ and ‘Best of the Best’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout, it going by in a flash! It’s exactly what you’d expect from a modern glam/sleaze infused hard rock band, but done to absolute perfection. It’s easy to see why the band have gathered so much love and momentum in their short careers so far, and their studio output matches that love easily! I had a blast listening to it, and the band certainly have a big new fan in me! 7/10
You know the drill by now! Join us as we check out some of the best rock, metal and country releases from the last week!
Green Lung: Necropolitan
The stoner/doom metallers follow up 2023’s critically acclaimed This Heathen Land with another excellent release! It’s 40 minutes of amazing riffing, catchy melodic moments and a generally massive, malevolent sound. The opener ‘Dance to the Grave’ is an epic, grandiose track, while songs like ‘Black Magick Radio’, the more ballad-like ‘Together in Death’ and ‘Alostrael’ are all massive personal highlights. However, the whole album is excellent from start to finish, and doesn’t feel it’s length at all. It’s a fantastically old school sound, drawing from everything from Deep Purple to Sabbath, Maiden to Candlemass. Having said that, it also has a slight modern edge to it, though that may be more down to the production. The band have been gaining some serious momentum in recent years, and it’s in large part due to their stellar studio output. This is easily up there alongside their previous releases, and gets another solid 9/10 from us!
Tygers of Pan Tang: Electrifyed
The English heavy metal legends are back with album number 14. Going on 50 years since they formed, the band show that they have somehow still not lost a step! From ‘Forevermore’ to ‘Dark Divinity’, ‘The Nail’ to the closer, there is plenty of great stuff throughout. It’s a modernised NWOBHM album and exactly what you’d expect from the band heading into it. While not quite up there with their top releases like the legendary Spellbound or 2016s Self Titled, it’s still an incredibly solid album, and one I’d recommend to anyone who’s a fan! A solid 7.5/10 from us!
Pokey Lafarge: Rent Money
The latest album from the throwback blues/soul rocker is just as great as the rest of his discography! It’s 35-minutes of catchy, chilled-out and incredible well written and performed music; exactly what I expected and wanted! It took a couple of tracks for me to truly fall in love, but from then on I was truly hooked! The title track was an excellent lead single, and we loved it from the moment it released. Followers ‘Stick Together’ and ‘Work’ are other massive album highlights, as is the slower ‘Told You No’. However, the whole album is excellent from front to back, and it all grew on me somehow even more with more listens. The guy can do no wrong from a musical standpoint; it flows incredibly well and the talent on display throughout is off the charts. It’s certainly up there with his last album. If you are at all curious, I cannot recommend this enough! I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward, and it gets a solid 9/10!
Røry: BLOODLETTING
The third album from the UK pop-metaller is honestly a lot better than I expected heading into it! I’ve not been a fan of much of her previous stuff, but this blew me away! ‘DEGRADATION’ is a straight-up, heavy modern metalcore track, and is a lot of fun. The other heavier stuff like ‘MORTAL’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘GREY’, are also songs I enjoyed a lot. Some of the rest is a little too slow and Bad Omens-y for my tastes, but there is no denying that it is still good music. I also love the intro and interludes, making the album feel like one cohesive project and making for an incredibly easy listen. It’s certainly her strongest album to date, and it may grow on me even more with subsequent listens. Her band are all insanely talented too, and I like the direction that she appears to be heading in, reminding me a lot of Poppy. A pretty damn solid 7.5/10 from us!
The Proclaimers: You May Offend
The Scotish legends once again don’t disappoint on album #13. It’s surprisingly high-energy at times, but is still pretty much exactly what you’d expect from the band. Songs like single ‘But it Is’, ‘Till the Ink Dries’ and ‘There’s No Plan’ are personal highlights. However, none of the album is bad by any stretch. It’s completely inoffensive (moreso than their opinions) pop/folk rock music, and if you’re a fan of their other work it will probably scratch that itch. It doesn’t catch my ear quite as much as their last release, but is still a solid entry into their later discography. I struggled to pin down a score, but I think a strong 6/10 feels right!
Sweet Electric: Something Something Disco
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
Smithfield: Country With Heart (Part Two)
The country duo’s self-professed debut album (the distinction between albums and singles confuses me no end these days), part two of Country With Heart follows up it’s 2024 counterpart perfectly. It’s 26-minutes of excellent country-pop from start to finish! The harmonies between the pair are incredible, and they work perfectly together from a performing and writing perspective. However, their band are also amazing throughout!
Tracks like ‘Drunk Love You’, ‘Let You’ and ‘Tell Me You Don’t’ are particular highlights, but the whole release is amazing from start to finish. It’s an incredibly easy listen that goes by in a flash. Hell, if there is any justice, ‘Let You’ would be one of the biggest songs in modern country, it is THAT good. It reminds me of Everette’s ‘Gonna be a Problem’ in that regard, but then again the whole project reminds me of Kings of the Dairy Queen Parking Lot in the very best way! They’ve put in a lot of work to get to where they are today, and this album is good enough to hopefully catapult them into the stratosphere! Check this out if you are in any way a country fan, and I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward. 8.5/10
P.S. check out our live review and interview with the band hereandhere!
Scene Queen: METALICIOUS
The new EP from the bimbocore pioneer herself is exactly what I’ve come to expect from her. I was surprised how much I enjoyed her debut album, so went into this with a modicum of hype and wasn’t disappointed! It’s a short 16 minutes of nu-metal adjacent greatness, and is a lot of fun. ‘Manicure’ is great, as is incredibly cleverly put together ‘Shopaholic’ and ‘Tracksuit’. Sadly the guest tracks were a slight letdown. I expected to not enjoy the one with TX2 and I was correct, but the title track was maybe the worst track on the release and the fact that it featured Left to Suffer was certainly sad. However, there is more good than bad on this release, and I find myself cringing slightly less and less every time I listen to her. It’s still a touch over the top for me at times lyrically, but I very much know that is the whole point of it. It’s worth a listen if you’re interested, and a solid 7.5/10 from us!
iATLAS: Beyond the New Horizon
The debut EP from the alt rock trio is a fun 16 minutes, and a great introduction to the band! It’s a great throwback 70s/80s sound, and the band are all clearly talented players and songwriters. ‘Touch the Sky’ and ‘3iATLAS’ are personal highlights, and were great choices for singles. However, each track is good, and the EP is such an easy listen as a hole! I’m curious to see where the band go from here, and I already can’t wait to hear more! For now though I’ll certainly be spinning it again soon. Also, the artwork is SICK. A solid 7/10 from us!
Hubris.: White Shores
Album five from the Swiss post-rock instrumental quartet is a captivating, epic 40 minute soundscape. Everything flows together excellently, from the audio to even the track names, branding it as a truly thought out work of art. It’s certainly not going to be a release for everyone, but if you are at all interested I’d definitely recommend checking it out! It’s not something you’d probably listen to individual tracks off, but as a complete package it’s incredible! Just sit in a dark room with some headphones on and get lost in it. Another easy 7/10, and one I’ll be revisiting it again soon!
Slug Comparison: Cold In Cold Out
The new solo EP from Fen vocalist/guitarist Doug Harrison is an amazing 26 minutes of music! Though we sadly didn’t have time to review his latest album last year, I really enjoyed it. Somehow, this is even better! The dark, brooding, grungy alt-rock opener is fantastic, and sets the tone for the rest of the release excellently. ‘Back to the World’ is another highlight for me, but there really isn’t a bad song on the EP. It’s maybe a touch long for a generally slower release, but it’s so well written and performed that I couldn’t help but get lost in it. The soundscape created is amazing, while his vocals and lyrics are phenomenal. It’s definitely one I’d recommend if you’re into the proggier side of alt rock, and will surely make it onto our top EPs of the year listcome December! 8.5/10
Nicolas Jamerson: Rabbit Holes (Vol. 1)
Following up his album from last year, the traditional country/Americana/bluegrass singer-songwriter put out another fantastic collection of tracks this last Friday! It’s honestly amazing that he gets such a full sound and feel out of mainly just him and his guitar, holding my attention fully throughout. It’s 19 minutes and seven tracks of sheer beautiful playing and writing, and is packed full of emotion. ‘I’ve Never Been Anywhere’ is a massive highlight, as is ‘Be Strong’ and the beautiful duet in ‘Fly’. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout. His vocals are powerful and fit the vibe of the songs perfectly, and his lyrics are tremendous from start to finish. It’s another release that isn’t for everyone, but I’d recommend it to anyone into an older-school country vibe. I already can’t wait for Vol. 2. A very easy 8/10!
Mother of Millions: T
The prog metal Greeks are back with their fifth album, and it’s another excellent release! It’s packed full of chunky riffs, powerful, soaring, catchy vocals and some fantastic technically and arrangements. ‘The Wound’ opens things perfectly, while songs like ‘The Aftermath’, ‘The One’ and ‘The Circle’ are other massive highlights. It’s maybe a touch long for my preference, but the album is so varied it’s still an easy listen, and I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you what to cut! The band are all massively talented both individually and together, and this reminds me of Finger Elevenin the best possible way. It’s exactly the sort of thing I love, and the band very much have a big new fan in me! I’ll certainly be going back and checking out their previous stuff as well as spinning this plenty in the coming weeks and months. A very easy 8.5/10 from me!
The Meffs: Business
The sophomore album from the punk duo is exactly what you’d expect if you’d heard their other music. It’s fine. It’s old school punk with a bit of a heavier edge. The attitude is very much there, and their lyrics and the message behind them is excellent. But musically it’s just straight up punk, as you’d expect from just the two of them. It’s good, but a little repetitive for my liking overall. Tracks like ‘Where Did it All go Wrong’ and ‘So Modern’ are pretty good and definite personal highlights. And I’m certainly not saying the rest of the album is bad; they are very clearly great at what they do are gathering a lot of steam and have a bright future ahead of them. But the tough-boi punk always felt a touch cringy to me, and this is no different. I certainly wouldn’t turn it off if it came on, but I wouldn’t actively seek out to listen to it, if that makes sense. If you’re a hardcore (not in that way) punk fan, give this a spin, you’ll surely enjoy it! However, I can’t give it any more than a 6.5/10, sorry guys!
CoreLeoni: Generection
The fourth album from the Swiss hard rock/NWOHMers is built around previously unreleased songs, and is a mighty fine release in its own right. From the sleazy, heavy riffing to the soaring vocals to the catchy hooks and melodies, it’s 40+ minutes of great, 80s style rock music! From ‘Generation Rock’ to ‘Sex on the Beach’, ‘Don’t Tell Me’ to ‘Yearning’ and everything in between, it’s all awesome! There is plenty of variety, keeping it interesting throughout, and I got lost in it very easy from start to finish. The more I listened the more I fell in love; the band have crafted something truly special with a lot of these tracks, and they fit together perfectly! It starts slightly rough, but honestly give it the time and you’ll surely fall in love as much as I did. A very easy 9/10 from us!
Schandmaul: Sternensegler
German folk-rockers Schandmaul have once again dropped a fantastic album! it’s 11 awesome rock/metal tracks packed with massive, arena-filling choruses and some great folk elements! I somehow wasn’t familiar with them heading into this, but really enjoyed the album as a whole! The title track, ‘Flagge’ and ‘Lass nicht los’ are all personal highlights, but there isn’t a bad song throughout! It straddles the line perfectly between heavy and more balladlike rock, and is a very easy listen. The band are all talented and, while I don’t understand the lyrics, I certainly felt the emotion in the vocals, and he’s a criminally underrated singer! Another band I have left a fan of, and will have to go back and check out their earlier work! Another easy 8/10
