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 while here 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’ Roll left 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 my favourite albums of 2023, 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!

Another week, another stack of amazing releases, from rock to metal to country. Let’s dive right in!

Airbourne: Self-Titled

The highly anticipated new album from the Aussie hard rockers comes nearly seven years after their last, marking the longest gap between releases for the band by quite a margin. Having said that, you still know exactly what to expect heading into an album of theirs, and this is no exception! It’s 47-minutes of high energy, head-bangin’ rock, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s honestly hard to find much to say about it, it is very much just the standard Airbourne formula. But if it ain’t broke, and all that! Tracks like single ‘Alive After Death’, ‘Kid in a Candy Store’ and ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Ya’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout. It’s an easy, fun listen and a throwback sound from a band that are known to provide exactly that. Then again, the vague Christmas song was a bit unexpected, especially in September. The band have always felt like a greatest hits one to me over full albums, but then every album they’ve put out is beyond solid and packed full of great songs! While I’m more likely to put the band on shuffle over listen to a specific album, I had a good time with this and will certainly revisit it again! The more I listened the more I enjoyed it, and I can’t give it any less than 7.5/10. Great stuff!

Behemoth: I, Scvlptor

Coming just one year after the awesome The Shit Ov God, the black metal titans once again knock it out of the park with this release. Bridging the gap between an EP and an album rather perfectly, the output sees the band tackle re-recorded early tracks, previously unreleased songs, and even a couple of covers. And, honestly, it’s 37 minutes of brutal awesomeness! The covers are incredible, not only being of great Venom and Bathory songs (the latter is awesome live and I’m so glad we got that version!), but featuring incredible guests in Shagrath and Sakis Tolis. However, I genuinely think my favourite song on here is ‘Lord Ov the Horizons’, Nergal singing cleanly in his heavier project is crazy but so awesome to hear! However, if you like the heavier end of metal, this is absolutely a release for you! They are my favourite black(ish) metal band, and honestly have been knocking it out of the park for well over a decade now. It’s a fantastic stop-gap while we wait for another full new album from the band, and is certainly something I’ll be revisiting again sooner rather than later. A very solid 8/10 from us!

Kasabian: ACT III

The indie legends return with album number nine. I remember checking out Happenings a couple of years ago, and feeling almost identically about this release. There are a few good tracks on it, like ‘Hippie Sunshine’ and ‘SILVER APPLE EYES’ and ‘THE GURU…’ but the rest of it generally blurs together into a gloomy, mid-tempo plod of nothingness. Hey, at least it’s another short release at 32 minutes! I keep trying with the band, hoping that they’ll change my mind and hook me in with an album, but so far it continues to only be a song or two per album that catches my ear. Much like with our last review, if you’re a fan of the band it’s most likely an excellent album. It’s certainly not a bad by any stretch, just not really for me. So, again, I can’t give it much more than a 4/10. I would say it’s slightly better than their last release though, certainly a stronger 4!

Ricky Warwick: Fire & Vengeance

The Almighty and Black Star Riders frontman is back with his second solo album in two years. We enjoyed last year’s Blood Ties, and this is more of the same! The title track/opener is great, as is ‘The Angels’ Share’ and ‘Tumbleweed Town’. It’s also packed full of some truly awesome guests. Doug Aldrich adds a punky flavour to his number, while Phil Collen adds his stadium-rock heritage to ‘Seek Zen Destroy’. Michael Starr and Darren Holden also kill it on their respective tracks. As you can tell, it’s packed full of great songs. It’s everything I love about Ricky rolled into one 40 minute package, and I’ve had a blast listening to it a couple of times over this weekend. I’d recommend this to absolutely anyone even vaguely into him or his various projects, you certainly won’t be disappointed. It’s one of my favourite solo releases from him overall, and gets a very easy 8/10 from us!

Space Pistol: HEADLOCKER

The sophomore album from the alt-rock/grunge trio is every bit as good as their debut. It’s heavy, packed full of chunky, distorted riffs, but also has plenty of great melodic, indie-like vocal melodies. It feels like a combination of Smashing Pumpkins and Royal Blood, but also feels incredibly fresh and innovative in its own way. From the opener to ‘New’, the hardcore/Manson-esque ‘I Can’t Sleep’ to ‘Ambulance’ there is plenty to love, and every song is pretty damn good! The band have a real infectious energy, and something about them kept me hooked from start to finish. I’d certainly recommend giving it a full spin if you are at all interested, you won’t be disappointed! The band are all so very talented, both at their chosen instrument and collectively as songwriters. They are certainly set to continue their upwards trajectory and momentum with this album, and I can’t give it any less than 8/10. Great stuff!

Those Made Broken: A Door You can Never Close

The sophomore album from the Scottish alt metallers comes nearly 12 years after their debut release. Honestly though, the band knock it out of the park with this, and prove that they are very much at the top of their game still. It’s got a touch of everything too; heavy riffs and grooves and drums, some huge, catchy vocal melodies and plenty of proggy arrangements and technicality. Hell, we even have touches of groove metal at times which were honestly sick. And, of course, it’s packed full of awesome songs! From single ‘Simpleman’ to ‘Echo Chamber’ to ‘Little Keeper of Light’, there is so much to love, but there really isn’t a bad track throughout! 40 minutes goes by in a flash, and if you are at all into the genre, I honestly cannot recommend this album enough. The band have a big new fan in me, and I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty in the weeks and months to come! I can’t give it anything less than 8/10, great stuff!

Theory of a Deadman: Part 1: Funeral Songs

The Canadian radio-rockers’ first release since their return to form with 2023’s Dinosaur, the first part in their new EP series kicks things off with a massive bang! It’s six great, high energy rock songs like only Theory can do. ‘Barricade’ is an excellent opener, being heavy while reminding me of the very best from the bands back catologue. It’s pretty much the story of the whole release, too. ‘Funeral Song’ and ‘Monster Truck’ bring back some of their more tongue-in-cheek lyric writing, while single ‘Winnebago’ and ‘Deep End’ bring back that Nickelback-esque country edge to their sound. Hell, the latter is one of the bands best ballads they’ve done in a while. Even the pop-infused closer will probably be one that some have an issue with and make fun of, but I really enjoyed it! It’s not designed to be taken seriously, and is catchy as hell. The EP feels like a fusion of their last album and The Truth Is, and I’m all for it!

Bigger bands have been killing it on the EP front this year, and this is very much more of the same! It honestly feels like the perfect lenfth for them, too. This will certainly be a release I’ll be listening to a lot over the coming weeks and months, and it has gotten me already hyped for Part 2, whenever that is set to drop. The band were a big part of my teen years but I did fall out of love with them a bit around the turn of the decade. However, they are back in a big way and are getting to the point of being rather criminally underrated. I can’t recommend this release enough to anyone at all, it has a bit of something for everyone! 8.5/10

Lifeswallower: Self-Titled

This is an absolutely WILD EP! Nestled somewhere between prog, nu and tech-death, it feels like something Mr. Bungle would come out with if given this sort of heaviness to work towards. And, what’s more, it’s fucking amazing. Each track is as great as the last, and the whole thing is well worth a listen from front-to-back, flowing fantastically. It doesn’t feel like 23 minutes at all, it’s such an easy listen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a release for everyone, but I fell in love instantly, and have listened to it a good few times since it dropped last Tuesday. The band are all hugely talented, the playing and vocals throughout being off the charts, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone even vaguely interested. It’s a very easy 9/10, and will certainly end up being high on our EPs of the year list come December! Wow!

Angus & Julia Stone: Karaoke Bar

The first album in a couple of years from the indie-folk brother-and-sister duo is somehow also my first experience with them. It’s 35 minutes of chilled out music that I found a little hard to get into, but certainly did by the end! The two are incredibly interesting songwriters and performers, but it was the rest of the arrangements and instrumentations around them that I found hooked me in more. The guitaring throughout is fantastic, and the synths and subtle horns are also great. Tracks like ‘Monroe’, ‘Strangely Strangely’ and ‘Take Me Back to Japan’ are personal highlights! Honestly, some of it reminded me a little of the slower, quirkier Gorillaz stuff, though that may just be because of the vocal effects. It’s beautiful and ethereal at times, and if you’re into this sound you’ll probably get a lot out of this. It’s not something I’d revisit often, but I certainly wouldn’t turn it off if it came back on! A solid 6.5/10

Kingcrown: Moonfall

Following up their awesome 2024 release Nova Altantis, the French power metallers once again kill it on album four! It’s nearly 45 minutes of great riffing, soaring vocals and some massive, catchy melodies. Tracks like ‘Nothing’, ‘Rise of Machines’ and ‘Oblivion/Resilience’ are personal highlights. However, if you are into the band or their overall sound, the whole album is worth a listen, as it’s really damn good! The band are all so damn talented, and work together excellently throughout, really finding a winning formula together. It’s heavy, melodic and epic throughout, and will definitely be an album I revisit again soon. While I don’t think it stands out quite as much as their last release for me, it’s still great, and gets a solid 7.5/10 from us!

President: Blood of Your Empire

Max: So the awaited first full album by the masked outfit president is here, and I think it plays for the most part as you would expect. With about half the songs having been released as singles, as seems standard with album releases these days, it is up the the remaining tracks to really sell you on why the wait for this album was worth it. There are, in my opinion, two parts that do that exactly.

First you have the rerecording of the song ‘Dionysus’. This doesn’t change the fabric of the song wholly or have you freaking but it is a nice touch to just update the sound of an older track to better fit with the album it is being put in to. Second, a lot of the songs on the album are really good. ‘Pink Noise’ is a particular favourite of mine that shows the ability to quickly switch up genres that the band clearly wants you to know they can do. And, whilst it is not my favourite track on the album and I fear might prove somewhat divisive, ‘Hate Figure’ has a more rap metal genre which is a fun and unexpected switch up in the later stages of the album.

I think it is clear that there is room for the band to grow and develop but they certainly have a good footing and many, and I mean many, directions that they can take their music in the future. But for now the focus is in this album and it’s definitely worth listening to! 8/10

Josh Mitcham: Gonna Be Alright

Album seven from the Kentucky singer-songwriter is a fun romp through country and folk/Americana pop. It’s a pretty stripped back release, mainly consisting of Josh’s guitar and powerful voice, a simple drumbeat keeping the tempo alongside the odd extra accompaniment here and there. It’s interesting too, as a good few of the tracks and parts almost beg for a rockier arrangement, but having it more stripped back gives the release a unique sound and quality to it, and almost reminds me a touch of someone like Jack Johnson, just with a country twang to it. He’s a damn interesting songwriter, and his lyrics throughout are also awesome! It’s catchy and full of hooks, yet still maintains a more DIY, chilled-out tone. Tracks like ‘Something to Get Into’, ‘Break it to Me’ and the title song are all personal highlights, but the album as a whole is packed full of great songs. It’s 34 minutes of chilled out, catchy, well written country music, and I’d recommend it to anyone even vaguely into the genre! A solid 7.5/10 from us. This is the first full album by him I’ve checked out, and I’m gonna have to head back and visit the others soon!

Benjamin Tod: Country is Dead

The second solo album from the Lost Dog Street Band’s frontman this year alone is 42 minutes of traditional country awesomeness. It’s stripped back and very much in the vein of modern old-school revivalists like Zach Top, Drake Milligan and Braxton Keith, except very much focusing on the slower side of the sound. Still, it’s impossible not to love it! Tracks like ‘Natrual Thing to Do’, ‘Nashville Women’ and ‘Only a Hobo’ are personal highlights, but the whole album flows spectacularly and doesn’t feel its length at all. It’s a lot like his other music but if it’s not broke don’t fix it, right? The more I listened the more I fell in love, and I’d happily recommend this to anyone into their older school style of country! An easy 7/10 from me!

SiM: HOOMAN AFTER ALL

The “Reggae PUNX from Japan” are back with their seventh album, and what a wild album it is! Right from the offset, the massive opener ‘FiVE TiMES DEAD’ sets the tone for their heavy, experimental sound perfectly, and the rest of the 35 minutes follow in much the same vein. ‘BLiNDEYES’ channels more of their reggae and nu metal leanings, and features the amazing Hanabie., being a firm highlight. The same can be said for ‘HOLD MY BEER’ and the title track, being so very Skindred in the best way. Then you have more of the Japanese punk-metal sounds of ‘Karen’s Son’ and ‘ZiON’. And hell, we even get a J-Ska track in ‘The Sniffing Cats Ska’. Oh, and a hip-hop track in ‘BLACK SUNSHINE’, so very Hed(PE) and I love it!

So yeah, as you can see, the whole album is pretty fucking awesome. Oh, and did I mention that it’s roughly about cats? That makes it even better, doesn’t it? The band are all insanely talented at what they do, and every track on here is as good as the last. After a slightly lesser reaction commercially to their last album, this feels like it should surely catapult them back on track as being one of the biggest bands from the country. I’d recommend this to absolutely anyone, there is something for everybody throughout. It really tickles my brain and ears in all the best ways. 9.5/10, it’s certainly a contendender for album of the year!

Follow Thru: Eat Your Heart Out

This is an awesome little pop-punk debut album! Under half an hour of up-tempo riffing and drumming, with some fantastic lyrics and some really catchy melody lines. It’s the perfect combo of the late 90s boom of the genre and a more modern take on it; think Pennywise or Less Than Jake’s heavier stuff mixed with Homesick. It’s pretty heavy for the genre, but also plenty catchy in equal measure, making for a lot of fun. Tracks like ‘Less Than Civil’, ‘We’ll Surivive the Apocalypse’, ‘This Inevitable Ruin’ and ‘American Drift’ are all personal highlights. However, the whole album is good from start to finish, and is such an easy listen. If you are at all into the punkier side of music give this one a listen, you won’t at all be disappointed! The band have a new fan in me, and this gets an easy 8/10!

Stormbringer: Transcendence

A band that I’ve been a fan of for well over a decade now, it’s awesome to finally get to review them! I remember enjoying their last release nearly five years ago now, and still revisit their debut to this day. It very much feels like a revisit to that early work, both in terms of sound and quality. ‘Energy’ is one hell of an opener, while the likes of the AIC-like ‘Dirt and Bone’ and ‘Whole Again’ are also big high points. The whole album is awesome though, packed full of groovy riffs, plenty of heaviness and some amazing melodies and massive choruses. The quintet are seasoned vets at this point, and are truly masters of their craft. The more I listen to this, the more I fall in love, and it is certainly up there among my favourite releases from the band. If you are at all curious, I can’t recommend it enough! It’s an incredibly easy 8.5/10 from me, and I’ll certainly have this on sporadically for the rest of the year!

The Media Project: Kharon:Forbearance

Another release caught somewhere between an album and an EP, this follows up their 2025 previous output perfectly. A blend of doom, gothic, sludge, primal death and black metal; the atmosphere created is dark, brooding and massive. And, while it’s not typically my sort of style, I actually found myself enjoying myself listening! While there aren’t certain highlight tracks, the release as a whole flows excellently and is well worth a full listen if you’re curious. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure, but they are so very good at their craft. I also feel like it would be really awesome live, and I’d be into it even more! Honestly, I don’t really have much more to say about it, but the band at least have a curious new fan in me. 6.5/10

Audrey Horne: Achilles

The Twin Peaks-inspired melodic hard rockers are back with their first new album since 2022’s Devil’s Bell, and they once again knock it out of the park! Right from the opener/title track I was hooked, and not let go for its entire 44 minute runtime. There are some excellent riffs running through it, and a real arena-filling vibe to the melodies, choruses and overall massive size to the sound. ‘Vampires’, ‘Prodrome’ into ‘Insanity’ and ‘Six Feet in the Ground’ are all massive highlights for me but, as I said, the whole album is excellent and goes by in a flash. The band are so damn talented and I’m so glad they are back with new music. This kind of melodic/AOR rock is really gaining some traction and momentum again in recent years, and Audrey Horne are very much towards the front of the pack because of releases like this. 8.5/10, amazing stuff!

A slightly steadier but no less awesome week of new releases across the rock, metal and country world! Let’s dive in and check it all out!

Electric Callboy: TANZNEID

Despite my feelings about bands putting out nearly the entire album as pre-release singles (especially when the first came out over two years ago), this is a fantastic album. We’ve loved reacting to some of the singles, and stuff like ‘RATATATA’ and ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ are also great. Hell, the title track has grown on me a lot since it first dropped, and is now one of my favourite tracks on the album. And the two previously-unheard tracks, ‘Heartaid’ and ‘The Saviour’, are also awesome, with the latter being another firm favourite! There truly isn’t a bad track throughout.

The band can honestly do no wrong at this point. They are all such insanely talented musicians and songwriters that everything they touch turns to gold. It feels like the perfect follow-up to Tekkno, taking everything that worked from that release and dialling it up to 11. I think as a whole it’s a more consistent release than anything they’ve put out before, even if I’d struggle to pick a favourite between this one or their last. It’s just a hugely fun metal album that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is a release that I would recommend to absolutely anyone. They deserve every bit of ground the band have gained in recent years, and are well on their way to being one of the biggest artists of their generation in the metal world. I can’t give this any more than a 9.5/10, and it very well could have gotten perfect marks if I’d have heard less before today.

Erin Kinsey: Suede

Whether her debut album or not (I would still contend that was 2024’s Gettin’ Away with It), this is another truly incredible country release from her. ‘High Water’ opens things excellently, while single ‘House Arrest’ is a firm highlight of not just this release, but her whole discography! Then you have tracks like ‘Tie Me Down’ and ‘I’m Done’ that are other big highlights, as is the Dylan Marlowe duet ‘Say I’m Wrong’. However, the whole album is amazing, there not being a bad song throughout! It’s an incredibly easy half-hour of music, and feels perfectly paced, the slower couple of songs at the end somehow feeling exactly what the release called for. Her vocals and songwriting throughout are amazing, and her band kill it on every single track. As you can tell, I’m a huge fan of her, but she is certainly one of the bright sparks of the country world, and is set to be a huge name sooner rather than later, if her output here has anything to say about it! This is slightly less rocky than her previous release, but no less awesome, and shows how versatile she is as a performer and writer. I’ll certainly be spinning this plenty moving forward, and it gets a very solid 8.5/10 from us!

Cancer Bats: Give Me Dirt

Somehow two decades into their career releasing music, there is still no one that sounds quite like Cancer Bats. They walk the line perfectly between hardcore punk, stoner metal and NWOAHM, and it’s a really awesome sound. And, while I remember enjoying their last album, I LOVED this one! It’s balls to the wall for its entire 38 minute runtime, and is packed full of amazing riffs, catchy vocal moments and plenty of heaviness. Tracks like ‘Stay Stuck’, ‘Don’t Trip’, ‘Long Tooth’ and ‘Prognosis’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout! The band are criminally underrated at this stage in their careers, and I’d recommend this to anyone with even a passing interest in a more hardcore style. I’ll certainly be spinning it a fair bit moving forward, as I’ve already listened three times just this weekend! Another huge 8.5/10 from us!

Xandria: Eclipse

The brand new album from the German symphonic metallers is another excellent addition to their discography! We loved The Wonders Still Awaiting back in 2023, and this is an absolutely brilliant follow-up to that album. The title track kicks things off phenomenally; one of the best and catchiest choruses they have ever laid down, and the epic vibes are present right from the offset. Then you have tracks like ‘The Grand Delusion’, ‘Northstar’ and the monumental ‘The Last Generation’ that are all huge highlights. Hell, there isn’t a bad song throughout, honestly. The album is, like the last one, a touch on the too-long side, but I couldn’t think of which tracks I’d cut from it to make it shorter! The band are so incredibly talented, and have crafted yet another amazing symphonic metal album with this release. The story they weave throughout is captivating, and the band never give it a chance to get boring. If you are at all into this side of metal, this album is an absolute must! 8/10

Evan Honer: 4 songs

This short collection of, you guessed it, four tracks is a little different to what one may come to expect from Evan’s music, typically. It’s still great, don’t get me wrong, but is a fair bit more stripped-back overall than his last couple of albums. Still, his lyric writing is just as phenomenal as ever, and his delivery is second to none in any genre currently. ‘say anything’ is a fantastic song that easily sits up there alongside his best. Also, the Medium Build-featuring ‘pull me out’ is incredible, too. The other two songs are awesome too though; the release has gotten better and better to me with each listen. It’s if anything just made me want more. It’s a fantastic EP but does feel like a little stop-gap on the way to his next full-length. It does feel a little weird that we most likely aren’t going to get an album from him this year, after three on the trot. Still, if you are a fan of his or the indie-Americana style, give this a spin. It’s short and sweet and excellent! 8.5/10

Kye Alfred Hillig: Widowmaker Express

The second album from the indie-folk singer-songwriter this year, following his return from semi-retirement, is another deeply personal, vulnerable release. It’s a stripped-back release, mainly focusing on Kye’s guitar and vocals, though there is the odd keys or strings parts in the back to fill out the sound. It only adds even more weight to his lyrics and delivery though, both of which are heartbreaking and phenomenal in equal measure. ‘Disease of the Heart’, ‘Coyote Skins’ and ‘Romance Whinnies on the Reins’ are all personal highlights. However, if you are into this sort of style, you’ll more than likely love all of it! I had a surprisingly great time with it; Kye is a fantastically songwriter and vocalist. And I’ll leave you to do some reading about the subject matter, because man is it heavy, but I felt every word, and it gave me goosebumps more than once. A very solid 7.5/10 from me, and I already can’t wait to check out The All-Night Costume Company!

Flowers of Rust: Crude Exhibitions of the Soul

The sophomore album from the post-black-metallers is a dark, bleak half-hour of music. And that is said with the uttermost love and respect, as I am sure that is the intended sound! The band are all clearly talented musicians and songwriters, and have crafted a cohesive sound through the seven songs that never once got old. It’s not typically my sort of style but I actually had a good time listening to this, with ‘Sour Mercy’ and ‘Mother Atrophy’ being personal highlights. My only slight issue was the production didn’t quite hit at times; if it had more of a Rotting Christ feel to it it would have been massive. Still, it didn’t take away from the release too much for me. I feel like live it would hit even harder, and be truly awesome! If you are into the heavier side of metal, this is well worth giving a spin. 7/10 from us!

Charlie Worsham: Once Upon a Second Time Around

I was somehow not familiar with Charlie before being sent this album. However, I have come out of it an absolutely massive new fan of him. Holy crap this thing is awesome! His first full-length in nearly a decade, this album is all killer from start to finish! ‘Powers That Be’ sets things off excellently, while tracks like ‘Wrap my Porch Around’, ‘Grass’ and the title one are all awesome in their own right. Then you have the guest features; two of the biggest names in the country world right now in Miss Lainey Wilson and Steven Wilson Jr., alongside The Travelin’ McCourys tagging onto their own version of ‘Wrap my Porch Around’ to end things. The former is a beautiful duet, and a fantastic, emotion-filled ballad. Meanwhile Wilson’s song somehow feels like the perfect combination of both artists’ sounds, and is another firm highlight. And the more acoustic, bluegrass version of ‘Wrap…’ is a great take on an awesome song!

As you can surely tell by now, I loved this! He’s got a sound that is somehow both old-school and modern and pretty chilled-out, definitely giving hints of Buffett as well as his modern neo-traditional counterparts. It’s twelve tracks that go by in a flash, the whole thing is such an easy listen. If you are at all into country music, this is absolutely a release you need to be checking out! I can’t give it any less than 9/10, amazing stuff!

The Anchoress: As We Once Were

Album three from the Welsh indie rocker picks up right where 2021’s The Art of Losing left off. It’s another big collection, 14 tracks across 50 minutes, and is dripping in coolness and swaggering vibes. ‘Throw Over Your Man’ is a great opener, setting the tone for the release excellently, while the likes of ‘All I Really Want is Peace’ and ‘What You Did’ are also good songs. Her vocals are incredible, and the harmonies add to that even more so, the vocals being by far the main highlight and focus of the release. It’s an interesting album, that’s for sure, and at least kept me interested throughout despite this not really being my sort of style. If you like the lighter, pop/folky side of indie, this is worth a listen. Otherwise, I’m not sure I’d actually recommend it. Still, I didn’t have a bad time with this, so it gets 6.5/10 from me!

Billy Morrison: HOLLOW

The hard rock legend of Billy Idol and The Cult fame released his fourth solo album this last Friday, and it’s a bit good! 46 minutes of chunky riffs, awesome leads and some massive, catchy vocal melodies. The tracks that he’s on his own for, like the title one or ‘Tearing Down the Walls’, are great, but the guests really add another layer of awesomeness to this album. The combination of Sully Erna and Nuno Bettencourt on ‘Becoming’ was one I never thought I needed until hearing it, and am now a little obsessed. ‘The Tailor’ features Manson and is industrial/nu metal goodness. The hip-hop-legend-featuring ‘No Suspects’ is a lot of fun and still pretty heavy, ‘Leave no Trace’ has a country tinge to it with Duff McKagen, and the Dexter Holland-featuring ‘Never Gonna Change’ is a straight-up punk song. I love that Morrison changes his style depending on who he’s playing/writing with, a real testament to his incredible talents. It kinda reminds me of Slash’s 2010 release, which is a big compliment, honestly! It’s an album I’d honestly recommend to anyone, as there is something for everyone throughout. I’ll certainly be spinning it again plenty moving forward, and it gets a solid 8/10 from us!

Suffer: Soul From Flesh

The first EP from the UK deathcorers since their debut album back in 2022, this release is an all-out assault for 20 minutes. All four tracks go HARD (and the intro ‘III’ lays it all up perfectly). It’s certainly not for the faint of heart, but seasoned listeners of the heavier side of metal will surely find a lot to love in this, just as I do! The riffing and drumming are all excellent, as are the screams, but honestly the breakdowns are where it’s at here. The one to close our ‘Pendulum of Vengeance’ is brutal, and makes the song a big high point of the release. That certainly shouldn’t take away from the other tracks though, which are just as great. Whenever I need some heavy on, this will certainly be a go-to for a while! I can’t give it any less than 8/10, great stuff!

Casey Barnes: MADE FOR THIS

Album six from the country rocker knocks it out of the park, honestly! It’s half an hour of catchy radio hooks, fun lyrics and some surprisingly great instrumentation. The title track hooked me in immediately, while songs like ‘SHE DOES’, ‘ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES’, ‘TIPTOE’ and ‘BUY THAT GIRL A BEER’ kept me that way. And hell, even the slower ballads were great, breaking things up excellently. He is certainly a big name in the scene, but how he isn’t one of the biggest when his output is of this sort of quality is wild to me. He’s got that great combination of early 2000s country, a rock tinge and a more modern bro/pop country edge that is just born for massive radio play. Either way, I loved this from start to finish, and will be spinning this plenty in the weeks and months to come! If you have even a passing interest in country, give this a spin, you won’t be disappointed! 9/10