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new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Airbourne, Behemoth and More!

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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!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Electric Callboy, Erin Kinsey and More!

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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

Features, Reviews

New Music: The Lost Releases II

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We’re back with another one of these! Sadly, we are only human, and we can’t quite get to every single album and EP each week it release. However, we listen to plenty more, and here is a handful of our very favourites from the ones we haven’t yet written about!

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra: [SKA] SHOWDOWN

A band that I actually didn’t know about until chatting to Suburban Legends a couple of months back, they are quickly becoming a bit of an obsession of mine. Not only am I a big fan of the genre in general, but these guys do it so damn well! Whether it’s the punkier edge that got me into the genre to begin with or the slower, more jazz-leaning end, the band showcase that they are utterly phenomenal at both throughout this entire release. I also love that they alternate between the two styles with each track, keeping it constantly interesting and making nearly 50 minute so insanely interesting. It’s honestly impossible to pick highlights, it’s all so good! It’s impossible to have a bad time listening to this, and I’ve spun it a LOT over the last couple of months. The band are all such talented songwriters and musicians, and how they aren’t global superstars at this point is beyond me. Check this out immediately, no matter what you are into, you won’t be disappointed! Spoiler alert, this is very high on our albums of the year list so far. 9.5/10

Bite Down: Violent Playground

I found this while searching for a band of the same name as the album title, and what a find it was! This is absolute brutality from front to back, and an excellent 23 minutes of hardcore/metal music! Whether it’s the excellent riffs, crazy drumming, amazing screams or truly crushing breakdowns, it’s all written and performed to perfection! Also, at such a short release, it’s truly impossible to pick highlights, each track being as good as the last! Having said that, the tracks that feature guests in Orbit Culture and HÅRD are both spectacular, and utilise the other people so damn well. The band deserve so much more love than they are getting, though have certainly carved out a rabid fanbase for themselves among the underground scene, in large part due to this debut album. If you are into anything on the deathcore or heavier hardcore side of things, do yourselves a favour and give this a listen ASAP. It gets a very easy 9/10 from us, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our top albums list come December!

Morgan Myles: Laced

The much-anticipated second studio album from the rising country star dropped back in Feb, and is another release that has not gotten nearly enough love! I’ve been a little obsessed with it since I first heard it, and have spun it a good few times in full in the last few months. It’s a throwback sound to the 90s and early 2000s country world, and I fell in love right from the opener. From Shania to Reba to Miranda, she wears her inspirations on here sleeve perfectly. Tracks like ‘Love is Lonesome’, ‘Que Sera Serenade’ and the title track are also big highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song on the release! Heck, the vast majority made it onto my personal playlist. Her vocals are amazing, as is her writing. If you are at all into country, this is an absolute must-listen. I’ve not gotten sick of it yet, and feel like I won’t for the rest of the year at this rate! 9/10

Ondt Blod: Bauta

The third album from the Norwegian hardcore punk rockers is every bit as good as their previous two. Longtime readers here would know my complicated relationship with hardcore, but this is the absolute best way to be doing it, honestly. It has elements of crossover thrash, straight up punk, old-school hardcore, and plenty of melody to go with it. It’s also packed full of massive highlights, from ‘AUX’ to ‘Mortal Enemy’, ‘Máddu’ to ‘Flamma’ and everything in between! As is a growing trend with this list, the band deserves so much more love and attention than they are getting, as they really are something special. I’ve spun this a bunch since I first heard it, and it has not once gotten old in that time! Heck, I don’t speak the language but still feel every bit of emotion put into the vocals. It’s yet another incredibly solid 9/10 from us!

Colton Bowlin: Grandpa’s Mill

I’ve seen a LOT of love for this release in the country scene, and rightfully so! It’s old-school country through and through, and Colton has really captured lightning in a bottle across this 41 minutes of music. And, while every song on it is amazing, personal favourites include ‘Don’t Come Home’, ‘Dirty River’, ‘State Lines’ and ‘Set me Free’. Colton’s voice is incredible, and his lyric writing is up there alongside the very best. He’s a classic storyteller and up there alongside the likes of Zach Top and Braxton Keith as the very best of the revival sound. Even if you aren’t typically into the older country sound, this is well worth checking out, it would surely win over even the firmest of skeptics. It feels modernised as well as traditional, and is a very easy 12 tracks to listen to! I’ve spun it a good few times since it dropped, and it’s a solid 8.5/10 from me!

Forcefed Horsehead & Shaving Werewolf: From Horrid to Worse

Collab albums seem to be becoming a rather popular thing these days, and if they’re all this high quality I’m all for it! What is interesting is that the bands take four tracks each instead of all eight being both. However, both bands fit together well, and it has surely worked in shining a light on both individually! It’s certainly not going to be a release for everyone, but if you are a fan of death metal, grindcore or hardcore in general, this is certainly one to check out. It’s only 25 minutes, but an all-out assault through that whole runtime, in the best way possible! ‘The Will of the Many’ and ‘Smoking the Crack of Dawn’ were personal favourites of mine, but none of it is bad by any stretch. The two bands are all insanely talented, and have put out something rather special with this release. A solid 8/10, and definitely my go-to heavy release the last month or two!

Joshua Sinclair: Dirty Dirty

Album six from the country rocker is a fantastic, fun release from start to finish. ‘Black Rose’ had me hooked from first listen, while tracks like ‘Check One Two’, ‘Hank’ and ‘Sundays are for Shots’ are also big personal highlights. As with everything on this list though, there really isn’t a bad song throughout! It’s a real early 2000s sound in the best way possible, and is such an easy listen. I honestly don’t have much else to say about it other than check this out as soon as you can if you are in any way interested! I’ve since gone back and checked out his other stuff and he has a big new fan in me. Hopefully he gets the attention and love he so sorely deserves soon, as he is one of the most overlooked talents in the scene. 8.5/10

Paul Cauthen: Book of Paul

Album six from the old-school country superstar is a fun, awesome 40 minutes of music! His vocals are as amazing as they have always been, and instrumentally it’s as good as any modern classical revivalist. He did a fantastic job picking the singles, as both ‘Texas Swagger’ and ‘Dark Horse’ are big highlights, but both tracks features, both Jake Worthington and Delaney Ramsdell, are also excellent! If you like an older sound as opposed to the modern radio sound country has, this is very much an album you need to hear immediately! It’s just a lot of fun, and goes by in a flash. A very easy 8/10, and an album I’ve spun a lot since its release.

Kröwnn: Santa Somnia

This is an awesome metal album, and a welcome return after six years from the doomy quartet. From ‘You Died’ to ‘Skullknight’ to ‘Permadeath’, this is packed to the brim with awesome tracks. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout, and it flows together perfectly, like any good doom album should! It’s an absolute must for anyone into the genre, and has been on regular rotation for me since it dropped back in February. They deserve so much love in the scene, and hopefully this release helps them build that up, as I’d love to see them make it out to the UK for a show or two at some point! The band are all insanely talented, and have crafted something truly awesome with this album. 8.5/10

The Imaginary Band: Self-Titled

Some more country/folk/Americana and, as I’m sure you’re aware given the purpose of this article, another excellent release! And, it’s yet another band that are criminally underrated, and this album hasn’t had nearly enough love since its release at the end of March. Andrew Christopher and co are all hugely talented, and have crafted a great, chilled-out half-hour with this release. From ‘If You Only Knew’ to ‘Smoke Song’ to ‘Polka Hands’, there is plenty to love, and there really isn’t a bad song throughout! If you are at all interested from my words give this one a listen, you’re bound to enjoy it as much as I do! A very solid 7.5/10 from us, and a release that I’ll certainly be spinning plenty more still through the summer!

Black Veil Brides: VINDICATE

How we missed this back in May I don’t know. While I’ve never been the biggest fan of the band generally, there was no denying their huge popularity when I was a teenager, and I did enjoy their big tracks despite the cheesiness. And, their recent lean into their old heavier side has served them well the last few years. The same can be said for this album! The opener/title track SLAPS, as does single ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘Woe & Pain’. Then you have ‘Alive’ that goes harder than arguably anything they’ve done before, and they even convinced Robb Flynn to be on ‘Revenger’, and it’s pretty sick! There are times where it goes a little too cheese for me, but for the most part the album as a whole is excellent, the best they have put out in a VERY long time. The band have blended the 2000s and modern metalcore styles together perfectly, and the result is a lot of fun. 8.5/10, awesome stuff!

Elles Bailey: Can’t Take My Story Away

The fifth album from the modern blues superstar is every bit as good as her last two! The title track is excellent, and opens the release in spectacular fashion. Then you have songs like singles ‘Better Days’ and ‘Take a Step Back’, and ‘Angel’ that are all equally amazing. The whole album slaps though, spanning up-tempo blues/jazz rock and slower ballads perfectly, all providing an excellent backdrop for Ellles’ effortlessly powerful vocals. It’s an incredibly easy listen, and 46 minutes goes by in a flash. This is another album that I’d recommend to absolutely anyone, and I can’t give it any less than 8/10. It’s been a regular revisit for me for the whole year, and I’m sure it will be the same for you!

Sticks N’ Stones: Diggin’ For Daylight

The sophomore album from the Canadian brothers comes just a year after their debut, and packs one hell of a punch! The band are a fantastic blend of classic rock and modern metallic metal, and it makes for an awesome 35 minutes of amazing riffs and catchy melodies. Hell, we even get the odd great growl throughout, fitting the sound surprisingly excellently! It reminds me of everything from Alter Bridge to Mammoth to Florence Black in the best ways. From ‘Saviour’ to ‘Feel Again’ to the truly epic ‘Last Goodbye’, it’s packed full of highlights, but every song is amazing in its own right! The band are already gathering some amazing momentum, and have a massively bright future ahead of them if they keep putting out music of this quality! It is right up my street, and the band have a huge new fan in me from this release! 9.5/10, and I’ve already gone back and listened to their equally awesome debut!

Archspire: Too Fast to Die

I have seen that this is already a lot of peoples album of the year in the heavier circles of metal. And, honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. This is 40 minutes of technical, brutal death metal performed by some of the very best in the genre. The sheer pace that Oliver Rae Aleron Peters can scream at is second to none, and is a phenomenal talent in of itself. However, the other four members kill it just as much at their respective instrument. The whole album is beautiful chaos from start to finish, but personal favourites include ‘Red Goliath’ and ‘Limb of Leviticus’. If you are into the heavier end of metal, this is absolutely an album for you, and it may be my favourite the band have ever point out at this point. It has been on regular rotation for me since April, and I can’t give it any less than 9/10!

Angine De Poitrine: Vol.II

I feel like I can’t go without talking about the breakout band of the year finally, can I? These guys are suddenly massive and everywhere, which is insane given that it is instrumental, technical prog/jazz rock. Still, they have clearly captured lightening in a bottle, sitting at nearly one million monthly listeners on Spotify alone, some four months after this album dropped. So, we’ll get the obvious out the way immediately: holy crap are the duo talented! From the playing to the arrangement, it’s all phenomenal. And, while I didn’t really ‘get’ it at first, after a couple of listens it is certainly growing on me. Don’t get me wrong, it can certainly get repetitive at times, especially when it’s six songs, each based around the same sort of riffing, spread across 36 minutes. But, the pair are so talented it almost makes up for all of that! It’s impossible to pick specific highlights as it’s all like one big piece, so if you are interested, certainly give this a full spin! 8/10 for now, and it may continue to grow on me more with more listens!

M.ILL.ION: Legend

The latest album from the Swedish melodic hard rock band follows up 2021’s Back on Track perfectly. It’s a grandiose 37 minutes of amazing riffs and catchy, arena-filling vocal lines. Right from opener ‘Kingmaker’ I was hooked, and through highlights ‘Bad Lovin’’ and ‘Private Dancer’ to the epic closer, it’s a real tour de force of modern AOR. If anyone is into that 80s style that the band started in, this is absolutely the release for you, and it shows that the band haven’t lost a step in their nearly four-decade careers. I’ve listened to this a few times since I got told about it, and it hasn’t once gotten tired since. A very solid 8/10 from us!

Dust: Thoughts of a Falling Man

This is the second album from the Italian metalcore/melodeath band, and honestly feels like the second coming of Trivium. This album reminds me a LOT of Ascendency in all the best ways, and I honestly haven’t been able to get enough of it the last four months. ‘Before You Awaken’ is the perfect opener, setting the tone for the rest of the album excellently, but honestly every song that follows it is just as good! The whole thing is packed full of incredible riffs, solid drumming and some surprisingly catchy vocals for them being so harsh. It’s almost criminal that this didn’t get the love it deserves when it dropped, so I can only ask that if you are at all interested, give this a spin, you’re sure to love it as much as I do! I can’t give this any less than a 9/10, and already can’t wait to hear where they go from here!

Vanderlust: The Human Farm

This is an incredible, proggy metal release. Nestled somewhere between Dream Theater and Tool, the album takes the listener on a phenomenal journey through its whole 47 minute runtime, and hits plenty of awesome musical beats along the way! Tracks like ‘The Turning Point’, ‘Battlefield’ and ‘Reborn… Again’ are personal highlights, but the whole album is great. It flows perfectly, and the concept and story behind it is really excellent. We don’t get enough releases like this these days, it channeling both Mindcrime and The Metal Opera in its sound and execution. If any of that sounds like your sort of thing, give this thing a spin, you will surely love it! And it is another that is absolutely worth listening to from front-to-back, not that that should really require saying! A solid 8/10 again from us!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Motionless in White, Niko Moon and More!

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Another packed out week of great new music across the rock, metal and country world. Let’s dive in!

Motionless in White: Decades

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

Niko Moon: ROOTS

The first album from the country-pop singer to not feature his signature face logo on the cover, it somehow feels different to his previous albums while still having that signature Moon style and charm. We sadly missed his previous album last year, but LOVED BETTER DAYS before that. While this release doesn’t quite blow me away as much as that one did, it is still an excellent release! It does feel a little more country than his previous stuff, or at least leans more into his red clay roots and a healthy does of bro country. However, it also gives off big Buffett vibes still, as well as everything from AJR to even Bublé at times! Tracks like ‘RICH MAN’, ‘GET COUNTRY’, ‘COUNTRY SONG’, and ‘ONE WAY TO FIND OUT’ are all big highlights, as is the soulful ‘LAY IT ON ME’. However, I didn’t have nearly as much fun as I did with BETTER DAYS, and it if anything has just made me go back and listen to that release instead. It’s not a bad album, that’s for sure, but for how hyped I was to check it out, it did let me down a touch. It’s a lot of similar sounding stuff for 44 minutes, too. I’d not turn it off if it came back on, but I won’t be rushing to re-listen immediately, either. It may grow on me the more I sit with it, but for now it gets a 7/10

Protest the Hero: Within

The Canadian prog/tech metallers are back with their first album in over six years. To say that they haven’t lost a step in that time would honestly be an understatement! It’s 35 minutes of chaotic brilliance; insane riffing, fantastic drumming, catchy vocal melodies, and a healthy dose of screams, too. ‘Mouthpiece’ is a phenomenal opener, while every other track is just as excellent. The broadway-meets-Coheed ‘Fishhook’ is excellent, as is ‘Liberty Spike’, while ‘Grandfather’s Axe’ is one of my favourite tracks the band have ever done! The band are so insanely talented, and how they’ve had such a consistently excellent output over their 23 years of releasing music is beyond me. It’s not going to be for everyone, don’t get me wrong, but I’m a little bit obsessed with this release! It’s up there with Fortress for me, and is easily their best album since. I’m going to be spinning it a lot in the weeks and months to come, and would recommend anyone even slightly interested to check it out ASAP. I can’t give it any less than 10/10, GODDAMN.

Aaron Lewis: Give my Country Back

I actually remember liking ThatguyfromStaind’s last solo country album. Yeah, it was a little corny, but it at least fit well with his voice and his writing style. I’d heard the talk about the title track of this album when it dropped, so I was grimly curious to check it out…

It was just as bad as I expected. It’s a shame too, as I was lured into a false sense of security with opener ‘The Door’; it wasn’t half bad! However, then the heavy-handed patriotism started, and I very quickly tapped out. The title track is indeed that bad, but the rest of the album isn’t much better. Even the artwork is cringy, honestly. I don’t want to get bogged down by the obvious politics of it all, but safe to say from my perspective, it’s not a good look.

And, almost as egregious as all of that: it’s slow and a little boring. I know Aaron’s not exactly known for up-tempo stuff in general, but a lot of this blurred together for me. There’s some stuff on here that is honestly good, like the aforementioned opener and ‘A Showman’s Heart’, but they are bogged down by a lot of mid-or-worse stuff. If you are a big fan of Aaron’s previous releases, it may be worth giving a spin, but I wouldn’t recommend going in with particularly high expectations. Musically it’s at least inoffensive, but yeah, it’s hard to get into overall. 3/10

Tesla: Homage

The legendary hard rockers returned this weekend with their first new album since 2019. I’ve been a fan of them for well over a decade at this point, and rather enjoyed Shock upon its release, so I’m so glad they’re back with studio music again. What a return it is, too! Though we tend not to do covers albums on this series, this was done so well and is such a fun release it was impossible not to rave about! It’s almost an hour of blues/AOR-infused rock music like only Tesla can do. And, what’s more, the band make every track feel distinctly them, putting their own signature spin on things. To the point where if you weren’t already familiar with the songs, you may be fooled into thinking they were Tesla’s themselves!

The opening two tracks show their range enough as it is, and both are awesome songs in their own right. Then you have stuff like single ‘Spread Your Wings’, ‘Night Moves’, ‘Give a Little Bit’ and ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’ that are also huge highlights. However, there isn’t a bad track on here, and it’s just a damn fun listen all round. Each track perfectly showcases Jeff Keith’s ever-impressive vocals, and the rest of the band play their asses off throughout, too. If you are at all a fan of old-school rock, blues or soul, or just Tesla in general, this is certainly worth a spin. It’s a goos stop-gap while I impatiently (hopefully) wait for new music, and is a solid 8/10 from us!

Mercers.: The Liminal Tapes

This debut EP from the hardcore/nu-metal-ish Brits is surely set to catapult them far right from the jump. This thing is pissed off and aggressive, but also plenty melodic too! Heck, ‘New Stockholm’ somewhat purposefully(?) has some Muse elements to it, which were awesome! It’s 17 minutes that fit together perfectly, and all four tracks are as good as the last. It’s honestly so hard to pick highlights. You really do have to check this thing out in full at least once, it’s that good! It’s quirky and unique, and written and performed by four people who are masters at their craft! The closest comparison my brain is making is Tealdear, and that is very exciting to me! Do yourselves a favour and give this a spin, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, the creativity is off the charts!

Nearly Skulls: These Shadows of Our Wilder Selves

The first new album in three years from the ‘grumpy dad rockers’, it does follow up their awesome EP from earlier this year, PAX AMERICANA. We loved that album, and this release builds on that perfectly. It’s another dose of 90s rock nostalgia in the form of REM or their more punk-infused counterparts, but this time it’s a full nearly hour instead of 20 minutes. Tracks like ‘Some Change’, the Pucifer-like ‘On the Network’, ‘Dinosaurs’ and ‘The Ocean’ are big personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad track throughout, the album being a fantastic, chilled-out affair and an incredibly easy listen. If you’re into this sort of style, I cannot recommend it enough, and it’s a fitting follow-up to PAX. There is maybe one or two too many tracks on here, if I had to offer one criticism, but I wouldn’t know what songs to cut, and after three years it’s hard to fault them throwing it all out there! 8/10, great stuff!

Haken: in a fever dream

Returning to the studio following 2023’s excellent Fauna (it did in fact grow on me with more listens), the prog metallers once again knock it out of the park on this shorter release. The opener is the perfect prog track, building for much of its longer runtime into a huge, heavy crescendo. Meanwhile single ‘delerium’ is more like a 2000s alt metal track. ‘bleeding sky’ and ‘lotus’ are a mixture of the two and classic Haken awesomeness. Then you have the slower ‘eclipsed by you’ tucked perfectly in the middle of it all. It’s 26-minutes, long for an EP, but the perfect amount of music from the band. It’s arranged perfectly and is such an easy listen, going by in a flash. I’m so glad the band are back to releasing new music, and if you are at all a fan of the band or the wider genre, this is definitely worth checking out! Front to back it is excellent, and the opener and closer in particular are up there alongside some of the best tracks the band have ever produced. I can’t give it any less than 9/10!

Some Velvet Morning: TELL THE SUMMER HANG ON

The first new studio album in over five years from the rockers, and it’s a rather epic half-hour! The opener sets the tone for the soft-rock release perfectly, while songs like ‘Before I Met You’ and the grandiose, Western-style ‘The Architect’ are also big high points. The band are clearly all incredibly talented musicians and songwriters, and they get plenty of time to shine both individually and together throughout. However, it does get a little samey towards the end, I do have to say. Those of you more into this sort of old-school style than me will probably get a bit more milage out of it. It’s sadly not a whole album I’d eagerly revisit, but a few of the tracks I will definitely be spinning again! 6.5/10, it wasn’t as much for me as I’d hoped!

As It Is: Self-Titled

The follow-up to the pop-rockers huge 2022 release, I WENT TO HELL AND BACK, their brand new, self-titled album is another infectiously fun release. Right from opener ‘I’m So Alive!’ I was getting modern All Time Low vibes in the best way possible, and it set up the rest of the album fantastically. The singles, like ‘Do You Remember?’ and ‘Marilyn’, are great, even if they do front-load the album a little drastically. However, album tracks like ‘Lose Your Way & Find Yourself’ and ‘What if it All Works Out’ are just as fantastically. The band are really at the top of their game right now, and if you like this style even a little, you’ll surely love it as much as I do! Their last release grew on me with more listens but this one doesn’t have to, it hooked me right in from the opening moments! This will certainly be one I’ll be spinning plenty in the weeks and months to come! 8.5/10

Loathe: A Stranger to You

Five years after their last release, the ambient sister album to their breakout I Let it In and It Took Everything, the experimental metalcore rising stars finally return with a full new album. Firstly, at 14 tracks and 54-minutes, it’s a big ol’ release. And, surprisingly to me, it may take a few listens for me to truly get into. It’s especially surprising as I remember enjoying I Let it In… a lot, and still do. The band are well known to blend genres, which usually I’m down with. However, as someone who’s not really into the whole droning shoegaze thing, they maybe leant a little too hard into that side of their sound for me here.

The opener was interesting, but ‘Block of Flats’ went on far too long for what it was. That was especially sad as it features Static Dress, and I LOVED their last album. ‘Fortress Down’ pulls it back a little for me, but it’s nothing more than fine. Songs like ‘Gemini’ and ‘Gifted Every Strength’ are good, but they are spread fairly too few and far between. A lot of it is dull, or Deftones turned up by 1000%. None of it quite gives me the feeling that ‘Gored’ or ‘Two-Way Mirror’ did, or still do. As I said, it may grow on me with more listens, but it also feels a little bit like the last Zeal & Ardor album, and that sadly didn’t. If you liked this album then awesome, I’m honestly glad! I certainly want to like it, and feel like I should, but certainly found myself struggling. I’m curious to see what other people’s reactions to it are, as I can’t give it any more than a 5/10, sadly!

Imperium: Exodus Unknown

The highly anticipated debut album from the UK thrashers is just as good as I expected, if not better! From the first notes to the last, it’s a brutal assault of awesome riffing, drumming and some surprisingly catchy vocal melodies. The opener is a big highlight, as is the epic almost-ballad ‘The Gun’. The Demolition Man himself even provided an excellent feature on ‘Tread the Serpent’! But honestly, the whole album is excellent. There’s a surprising amount of dynamics to it, with some fun and interesting tempo changes to go alongside all the rest of the excellence. The band very much wear their inspirations on their sleeve, whether it’s legends like Slayer and Kreator to more homeward bands like Evile. If you are a fan of any of these bands, or the wider genre in general, give this a spin, I promise you won’t regret it! Another album I’ll be spinning a lot moving forward, and a very solid 9/10 from us!

Reviews

Decades: Is the New Motionless in White Album their Best Yet?

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The first new album from the metalcore titans since 2022’s massive Scoring the End of the World, the bands seventh album is dropping to a lot of hype on Friday. Being big fans for a while now, we were over the moon to get the chance to check this out a little early. They are on the cusp of becoming the next big thing it feels, so I’m super curious to see if they can ride that wave with this release. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

The title track opens the album perfectly. A huge industrial/nu metal riff blasts in before Chris proclaims “I’m still fucking here” in an absolutely huge scream. The verse keeps up the pace and heavy vibes, the harsh vocals matched perfectly by Horror’s backing. It’s packed full of attitude, and is Motionless down to a tee. It all builds up to a surprisingly heavy-still chorus, the pair spitting venom throughout. However, it is still a surprisingly catchy moment, and we essentially get a breakdown coming out of it. The only clean vocals from the track slot rather perfectly over the top of the brutal riffing, too! And, of course, we get a proper breakdown for the bridge too, the callout of ‘fuck a tombstone’ being as hilarious as it is heavy. If you couldn’t tell already, I loved this. It was the best way they could open the album, setting the tone for the rest of it perfectly. My only slight concern/interest is that it followed a similar structure to one of the singles, but more on that later…

‘log_in//crash_out’ adds some synth to the proceedings, but still hits with just as hard a riff. It almost feels just a touch Electric Callboy, but I certainly mean that in a good way. And, plus, we get a fantastic bleh to really kick things into gear. The track drops back for the verse, it keeping its early 2000s metal roots but allows Chris’ great clean vocals to shine through instead of the screams. It all builds to a huge, arena-filling chorus, and one that’s bound to be stuck in my head for days to come! And, despite the predominately clean vocals, it still has plenty of attitude and anger behind it, Chris’ delivery being excellent. I was a little shocked by the choice of the kids choir in the bridge, it’s such a strangely popular trope that I think is incredibly hard to pull off, bands missing more than they hit with it. However, it thankfully kinda fits here, and leads to another headbanging breakdown that ups the ante and heaviness of the track excellently. Overall, it’s another excellent track, and showcase another side of the band perfectly!

Single ‘R.I.P.’ somehow shifts gears yet again, being the first ballad-like track of the album. Having it this early was a curious decision, but it kinda works! It also features the wonderful Skylar Grey on guest vocals, and she kills it. Opening on her and a piano was excellent, her vocals catchy and powerful and brimming with emotion. Chris soon takes over for a second verse, the pair working surprisingly well as a duet. The interplay and alternation between the pair throughout keeps things constantly interesting, though I was shocked we didn’t get at least one chorus where they sang together. It felt like a slightly missed opportunity for harmonies. It all builds to a huge chorus, the production working to make it all sound MASSIVE. It’s a dark, gothic masterpiece of a ballad, still sounding like Motionless and fitting the album well despite being more of a Linkin Park/modern BMTH song. It’s an excellent choice for a single that, while not a song I would probably revisit on its own often, is a really great track.

The pace picks back up for ‘Fight Like Hell’. I love that we get the Rhea Ripley line to open it up, as it does very much feel like a wrestling song in every possible way. I do have to say it’s not quite as good as ‘Demon in my Dreams’, but that may be just because I’ve heard the latter so much that it’s forever burned into my brain. This is an excellent track still that would still fit Rhea perfectly. The rapping in the second verse shocked me a little, to the point that I wasn’t convinced it wasn’t Daddy Durst at first, but Chris pulls it off well. It’s a catchy track that feels designed to be a huge radio hit, so I’m a little shocked it was a pre-release single. Still, there’s time for it to be one in the future. And having said all that, the breakdown, while a little basic, still hits hard. Shock, another fantastic song!

I’ve already gushed about Playing God plenty. This is a truly awesome song that really reminds me of Slaughterhouse off their previous record. It brings out an anger and aggression from Corey Taylor that has felt lacking in recent years, while Chris matches that aggression perfectly. The pair play off each other excellently here, almost seeming like they’re trying to one-up each other throughout. It very much feels like a clear homage to Slipknot, but done in a very Motionless way. It’s a song I’ve been hung on since its release, and am still rather obsessed now! It’s easily one of my favourite tracks from the album, and may be up there with some of my favourite from the bands whole discography. From the lyrics to the riffs, vocals to the breakdown, it’s all phenomenal. I know I mentioned earlier about a track with a similar structure, and it’s this one. However, each track between the two is so staunchly different that it isn’t at all an issue. This is an incredible song, and one I’d urge anyone to check out!

The electronic elements return for ‘All That I’ve Ever Known’. Tracks like it, ‘Blood Rave’ and ‘Count Back from Zero’ are all synth heavy, clean-vocal-focused tracks that are all great in their own right, but do blur together somewhat. There’s some more fun rapping in the former, and Dark Divine’s Anthony Martinez kills it with his feature on ‘Blood Rave’. They’re all great songs that feel like they borrow from the success of the likes of ‘Voices’ and ‘Werewolf’. While none are necessarily highlights, I’d happily listen to them all within the context of the album on subsequent listens.

Speaking of ‘Werwolf’, they continue on with their monster jams with ‘Love at First Bite’. It very much feels like a spiritual successor, carrying a similar vibe and structure. It’s light for Motionless, but is catchy as hell and the horror elements fit in excellently. It honestly wouldn’t feel out of place on a Dominum album, and I actually love it! The band all kill it, it’s once again a different feeling track to much of the rest of the album, and it’s another huge highlight. It easily makes it onto our playlist! Another that I can’t recommend checking out enough!

‘Blood Pact’ feels like a combination of a lot of what came before it. It’s a steady tempo, had some electro elements and plenty of clean vocals. However, the riff is HEAVY, and there are plenty of great screams throughout too. It’s industrial as hell, but also has a rather epic vibe to it, as well as having some catchy-ass hooks. I didn’t expect to enjoy a track like this from Motionless as much as I did, but it’s yet another banger on an album full of them!

Final single ‘Afraid of the Dark’ goes full old-school Parkway out of nowhere, and it’s fantastic! It’s that epic, European-inspired end of metalcore that I really love, and once again Motionless do it so well. It’s grandiose riffing and drumming, heavy, essentially post-hardcore verses and then absolutely massive choruses that are designed to be played to huge festival crowds around the world. Oh, and that breakdown… DAMN. It’s filthy, and I’m a little obsessed. It’s another excellent choice for a single, and yet again the band show yet another side to their sound; pretty damn varied these days. It was the one I hadn’t had the chance to check out before the album, but it’s a big high point of the album right from the first listen!

Kinda-closer ‘Sunglasses at Night’ is a synth-pop-metal banger. It’s so very Those Damn Vampires, big vicecore energy. It’s an odd way to be closing such a generally heavy album, but that doesn’t take away from the songs itself. It’s a Europop, club ready song, and goddamn, it’s another completely different sort of track again. If you don’t take anything else away from this review, you should at least know how damn creative and talented the band are throughout this whole album. Their ability to do all these different sounds but still sound like them is insanely impressive. It’s an excellent song, and one that I worry I’ll be spinning a lot in the next few weeks, probably until I make myself sick of it!

Closing off the release are two bonus tracks. ‘Hollywood’ and the other version of ‘Fight Like Hell’ are fun tracks, but I see why they are bonus tracks, they do feel a little different to their usual stuff. The former is straight-up Manson, while the latter features the mighty Outlier, adding even more ferocity to the sound. It’s arguably one of my favourite features on the album, and I do think I prefer this one to the actual album version! Both are worthy additions to the release, that’s for sure!

Overall: To the surprise of no-one, it’s awesome release from the quintet! There are so many fantastic tracks on it, while there really isn’t a bad song throughout. Honestly, I’m not sure what I prefer between this and Scoring the End of the World, but either way the band are on the best run of their careers right now! In an age where metalcore is coming back in a big way, Motionless prove that they are towards the front of the pack time and time again. I’ll be spinning this a lot in the coming weeks and months, and I’d expect anyone who listens to it would be doing the same. What an album!!

The Score: 9/10

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New Music Mondays: The Rolling Stones, Devildriver and More!

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Some massive albums for us to check out this week, from rock to metal to country!

The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues

Owen: This week saw the release of the 25th studio album from arguably one of the most all time influential groups in the rock genre. Jagger and crew still have a lot to say after over 60 years of releasing music together. Foreign Tongues is a contentious listen for me. On the whole it’s an inoensive album, however Jagger himself has been open about the fact that this could be the last of a long and storied discography. I can’t help but ask myself if they are going out with a whimper or a bang? Opening track ‘Rough and Twisted’ feels like classic Rolling Stones; this track is exactly what fans would expect of an album opener. However this feeling quickly fades as the tracks play on, melting into some generic tracks that lack identity. A pleasant surprise did await me on the ninth track, a cover of ‘You Know I’m No Good’ from the late Amy Winehouse, not something I expected to hear from Jagger and co, and expected even less to enjoy so much. The  cover is faithful to the original whilst simultaneously leaning into the strengths of this group. 6/10

Devildriver: Strike & Kill

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

Jack White: Frozen Charlotte

The White Stripes legend himself is back with his first solo effort in nearly two years. We sadly missed that release, but I do remember enjoying his two previous back in 2022. And, honestly, I really dug this, too! The opener is classic White goodness, all fun bluesy riffs and quirky, catchy vocals. And, honestly, it keeps up the high quality and expected/hoped for sound from there on out! ‘There’s Nobody There’, ‘Dollar Bill’ and ‘Making Contact’ are also massive high points for me personally. However, the whole album is great from start to finish, and the fact that 13 songs go by in this much of a flash is a true testament to Jack’s writing and musicianship. Honestly, this may be the most I’ve enjoyed an album of his since the early White Stripes days, it really is that good! It’s bluesy yet poppy, and filled with so many catch hooks from both the guitar and the vocals. Heck, White himself sounds more renewed and focused than he has in years. If you are at all a fan of his sound or genre, do yourselves a favour and give this a spin. I’ll certainly be listening to it plenty moving forward, that’s for sure! An easy 8.5/10

Chevy Beaulieu: Self-Titled

This is honestly a masterclass in country music. It’s 40 minutes that spans everything from Southern rock to more traditionalist styles to ballads, and I loved every second of it. There’s even hints of more of a modern pop-country vibe at times. It’s a lot of fun from front to back, and constantly keeps things interesting. It’s honestly impossible just to pick a couple of highlights too as it’s all so good, so much of this ended up on my personal playlist. And the fact that when we chatted to him he said that over half of it was written by him and, in this day and age, it makes it even more impressive!

He’s been growing his name pretty fantastically in Canada over the last few years, and it’s easy to hear why! He’s an incredibly talented writer, singer and player, and clearly has an ear to pick others that are equally as talented. I’ve already spun this a couple of times this weekend alone, and don’t feel like I’ll be slowing down much in the coming weeks and months! He fits perfectly into the modern country scene, and I can see this release pushing him to even greater heights within it. Give this a spin if you are at all into country! 9/10

Eva Under Fire: Villainous

Max: I was a bit stuck on this one. It’s a clearly good album, but didn’t do anything for me really. To be fair maybe I am not the target audience and I probably shouldn’t have spent the last week listening to Toe but I really struggled to get into this album. The production is really really good, that cannot be understated, and there was a nice rhythm to the album. I should also say that the breakdowns were mostly really good and the feature from Maria Brink was great as one would expect. With all that being said, I couldn’t connect to the songs. It felt very radio ready which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I have never liked music like that all too much. And, for the most part, I couldn’t tell you which song is which as they all had a very similar arc to them. With all that said, it is a good, inoffensive album. 7/10

Adam Lambert: ADAM

The modern Queen frontman returns with his first new solo LP in three years. It’s a grandiose, perfectly polished pop-rock opera, and I do think people’s milage with it will vary based on what they’re into. The closest thing I feel myself comparing it to is Marianas Trench or Nothing But Thieves, although there is definite inspiration from his time with Queen, too. I do like both (all three?) bands, but I’m a touch up and down with this. Opener ‘RAT CITY’ is awesome and sounds absolutely massive with those harmonies. The industrial-tinged, Lexie Liu-featuring ‘PROCELAIN’ is a lot of fun. ‘Rage’ had a catchy, techno-infused pop-rock hook to it. A lot of the rest of the album I could take or leave. None of it is bad by any stretch, and Lambert is clearly an incredible vocalist, but it just didn’t land for me. Then again, I am hardly his target audience, I imagine. It’s at least varied enough to stay interesting, and if you are at all curious it’s well worth giving a try. However, I probably won’t revisit it too often, and can’t give it much more than a 6.5/10. Good moments, but overall not my thing.

As Oceans Divide: Self-Titled

The debut EP from the metalcore/melodeath Canadians goes hard for its full 18 minutes. Fitting in perfectly between Trivium, Killswitch Engage and In Flames, the release is packed full of great riffs, solid drums, brutal screams and some damn catchy clean melodies. The opener is a great example of their heavier side, while the likes of ‘White Noise’ and ‘Cursed Oblivion’ almost boarder on melodic metal. And the all-out assault of ‘World Collapse’ is also excellent. As you can tell, I love this release! The band are insanely talented and have a VERY bright future ahead of them if they keep putting out music like this. I have no qualms in saying that this is one of my favourite EPs of the year so far, and it’s up against some stiff competition there, too! If you have even a passing interest in the heavier side of music, give this a listen ASAP, you’re bounce to love it as much as I do! 9/10, I already can’t wait to hear more from them!

The Plot in You: Self-Titled

A cheating release next. I have been rather vocal about my dislike of bands putting out almost all the album as pre-release singles before it drops (as much as streaming algorithms like that), but this release honestly takes the cake in that regard. I remember Atreyu doing a similar thing recently, as did Annisokay, and I wasn’t really a fan of either. Combining previous EPs together for the sake of having another album out takes away from both the value of the individual EPs, and the album they produce. Then again, it’s not like we checked out any of the EPs, so it’s new from a review standpoint.

Musically, it’s fine. It’s the side of metalcore that is ‘not really my sort of thing’ like Bad Omens or Northlane (although fuck do Northlane slap live), so knew I wouldn’t have a huge amount of milage in it to begin with. The heavier tracks like ‘Forgotten’, ‘Been Here Before’ and ‘Spare Me’ are good fun, but they feel few and far between when they alternate the even-more pop-centric tracks in between them. If you are a fan of the band you’ll probably get some enjoyment out of it, and it is definitely a popular style and sound these days. However, it certainly isn’t for me, and I found myself getting a bit bored by the end. They’re certainly talented players, but unless you’re a fan of modern metalcore I probably wouldn’t recommend this album. 5/10, incredibly average.

Allison Russel: In the Hour of Chaos

Owen: In the Hour of Chaos is the third album Russell has released since her solo debut in 2021. Previous member of groups such as Birds of Chicago, and Our Native Daughters, Russell is well versed in many genres and a skilled vocalist and songwriter. This third instalment is an impressively collaborative affair, with ten out the eleven tracks featuring other artists, notably Norah Jones, Chibueze Ihumoa, Ruby Amanfu, and many more. Thematically the album is  pushing a message of hope in the face of chaos and despair, which feels sadly needed in the world right now. Sitting between various genres and inviting many dierent voices into the album supports this message for me, Russell and her contributors deliver a message of unity and optimism. 8/10

Among Legends: Lose My Grip

This is a fantastic punk release! The sophomore album from the Canadians is a lot of fun; and energetic and attitude-filled half-hour! It’s also 12 fantastic tracks, each as fantastic as the last. ‘Sound the Alarm’, ‘Hollow’ and ‘Band Dudes Fuck Off’ are personal highlights, but the whole album is super solid and goes by in a flash. The band wear their inspiration on their sleeves in the best way, everything from Blink to Pennywise to Lagwagon, but also with a slight hardcore edge to it that I love! It’s a style that deserves to be massive again, and these guys are so good that they could easily lead that charge! They have a big new fan in me, and clearly I need to holiday in Ontario to go see this live! If you are at all into punk or pop-punk this an album you have to listen to. I’ll be spinning it a lot in the coming weeks and months, and it gets a massive yet easy 9.5/10. Goddamn, I loved this!

The Devil Wears Nada: In Lust We Trust

The sophomore album from the Swedish melodic rockers is a damn fun half-hour! It’s massive-sounding AOR/arena rock, and the production helps the writing and playing reach its lofty heights no end! From the huge riffs to the melodic synth, the anthemic choruses to the awesome solos, it’s all so good. And, from ‘Last Forever’ to ‘In Lust We Trust’ to ‘Shotgun Wedding’, there are so many bangers throughout! Having said that, every song on here is awesome, and it goes by in a flash. I had a lot of fun listening to this, and the band have a huge new fan in me! I honestly can’t gush over it enough, and if you like that 80s revival sound, this is an absolute must-listen. I don’t have much else to say about it other than check this out immediately! 9/10, I’m just throwing them out this week!

Andrew Farriss: The Prospector

The sophomore solo album from the INXS co-founder comes a full half-decade after his debut. Much like his first release, it’s a chilled-out, old-school album that combines so many different elements. Country, Americana, bluegrass, folk, rock; all of it is moulded together rather masterfully throughout. The closest comparison I find myself making immediately is Sons of Town Hall, in its essence and vibe at least, and if you read my review of their last album you’d know how big of a compliment that is. Somewhere between that and a Drew Holcomb or early Keifer Sutherland. This feels like not just a story, but a journey through its 38-minute runtime, and I am all for it.

It’s another album that has plenty variety too, keeping me constantly interested and entertained. And, it all flows together masterfully, track-into-track. It’s very much designed to be listened to in one sitting, though tracks like ‘Southern Cross Shines’, ‘Honesty’, ‘Something Stronger’ and ‘Someone For Everyone’ are personal favourites. Every track is awesome though, and it makes for a rather easy, relaxing listen, even when it’s a little melancholic at times. I’ll be spinning this album a lot in the coming months, as I’m sure anyone who listens to it will be doing! While I have checked out his previous release, I do think that this is a step up in quality, and he has a big new fan in me. I can’t give it any less than a 9/10!

Pythonic: Laws of Karma

Less than seven months after their last release, the third EP from the brutal death metallers/deathcorers is five venom-soaked, brutally awesome songs. The title track lands a brutal shot to the face right from the get-go, and sets the tone for the project immediately. The rest of the tracks follow its lead; a brutal yet melodic 18 minutes of music. The band are all extremely talented and have crafted something here that stands out from their peers from its perfect blend of aggression and catchiness. I already can’t wait to hear more, but until then will be spinning this plenty and checking out their older stuff, too. A very solid 8/10!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: The War and Treaty, Hard-Fi and More!

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A slightly quieter week this time, but we still have some great releases to be checking out! Let’s dive in!

The War and Treaty: The Story of Michael and Tanya

The second album in two years from the Southern soul duo and honestly, it may take a little growing for me. Tracks like ‘You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore’, ‘Holy Ghost Fire’ and the closer are high points, but the album as a whole is a touch slow. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not known for high pace generally, but they at least have some smattered throughout their projects. This is just all ballads aside for closer ‘High Heels’. Said track is up there among their best, honestly, but it certainly took some getting to. While I did very much like Plus One, it was a slight step below Lover’s Game for me in hindsight, and this release once again takes another sad step down. I did enjoy the concept of the release, the pair highlighting the ups and downs of their marriage from each perspective. However, it felt like they didn’t lean into each other as much, more having each track be a solo one with the other as backup. The emotion is still there, but it can make for a damn depressing listen at times. When they do sing together though, it still very much works to perfection. They still have two of the best voices in music currently. They just felt less of a team sharing each song than usual.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not exactly their target audience, and I’m sure plenty of their fans will love this. It’s still not a bad album by any stretch. However, it’s nothing we haven’t had from them before, except it leans hard on the stuff that I like a little more in moderation from the duo. As I said, hopefully it grows on me, as I’ll certainly be giving it more listens. For now, I can’t give it much more than 7.5/10.

Hard-Fi: Sweating Someone Else’s Fever

Having known the name for a while, I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard a track by the UK indie rockers outside of their big hit. However, the first album in a decade and a half and since their 2022 reunion, there was no way I wasn’t checking it out to see what all he hype was for.

It’s at very least interesting. The opener is terrible, but I did enjoy the Latin-infused single ‘Digo Nada’. Tracks like ‘Looking for Fun’ and ‘Now and Then’ are also pretty good! However, overall it isn’t really the sort of thing I’m into much. None of it is bad at all, and does have a bit of a nostalgic twinge for me from when this sort of style was big in the bands heyday. If you are big into this sort of music, you’ll almost certainly have a lot of love for this. The band are clearly talented! Krysten Cummings also does great on her two guest tracks, adding a lot to the sound. However, the whole album is a bit boring and samey, dragging across its 40 minutes. It’s nothing that hasn’t been done before, and feels kinda dated; a little expected given their time off. As I say, if you’re a fan of the band or 2000s/2010s indie music, this is worth a listen. Outside of that though, I don’t think it’s win many new fans over. If it was on I wouldn’t turn it off, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this again. 5/10

When Rivers Meet: Rhythm Rust & Static

Coming just one year after the awesome Addicted to You, the husband-and-wife blues duo are back with album number five. I feels like the pair have gone a bit heavier with this release too, which was awesome to hear! I was hooked right from the opener, and not let go for the full 41 minutes. ‘Caught in the Middle’, ‘I’m Ready for You’ and ‘My Time Is Done’ are big personal highlights, but honestly the whole album is fantastic and has a great flow to it. Heck, as a soon-to-be-parent, hearing the pair of new parents write and perform a track like ‘Bring Life’ was truly beautiful. They are such a phenomenal combined talent, and I honestly feel like they have the ingredient that I was missing from War and Treaty above; they play off each other and compliment each other perfectly throughout. The pair and their backing band are all insanely talented, and I think they’ve maybe crafted their most cohesively high-quality release yet! Another incredibly solid 9/10 from us!

Endseeker: Coffin Born

The farewell EP from the German death metallers is a fittingly brutal. It’s 22 minutes of fast paced, heavy music, and each track is as good as the last! ‘Enemies of Peace’ is an amazing opener packed with some truly great lyrics. ‘Coffin Born’ goes hard too, and the Lord of the Lost-featuring ‘True Survivor’ not only closes things out perfectly, but adds some great dynamics to the release with some clean vocals. As I said though, the whole thing is great from beginning to end. It’s a shame to see the band go, but what a note to end it on! If to are into the heavier end of stuff at all, this is definitely worth a spin! I can’t give it any less than 8/10

Warning: Rituals of Shame

The first album from the British doom band in a whopping two decades finally dropped this last Friday, to much hype from its cult following. It’s 45-minutes of darkness and despair, the band picking things up like they never left it off in the first place. It’s only five tracks long, but each is proggy, doom-filled epicness, and it all flows surprisingly well together. Don’t get me wrong, on the whole it’s maybe a little slow for me personally, but I still very much appreciate the talent and writing that went into creating this! Having said that, I really enjoyed ‘Stations’, and closer ‘Teacher’ is awesome too. It all just feels a bit similar to me, and the slower doom stuff doesn’t hit as hard when that’s all it is, if that makes sense? For fans of the band, I imagine this is like Christmas, and it is certainly a worthy successor to Watching from a Distance. And while it is damn good doom metal, I can’t give it any more than 7/10

Pond: Terrestrials

Following up 2024’s Stung!, the Australian psychedelic five-piece show off their incredible talent once again here! While not typically my sort of thing on paper, I had a blast listening to it in full! Nestled comfortably between Yes, Deep Purple and ELO, their sound is awesome, and each member plays their asses off throughout, all getting their own time to shine. Personal highlights include ‘Casuarina’, ‘Roebuck Plains’ and ‘Personal Hell’, but the whole album is pretty damn good! If you like the softer, proggier side of rock music, this is absolutely an album for you. It’s not something I’ll be spinning too often, but will most likely be checking it out again in the relatively near future. It’s a solid 7.5/10, and is another that may grow on me even more through the rest of the year!

Inherits the Void: The Silent Abscission

This atmospheric black metal album is honestly awesome! Y’all know by now that I have an up-and-down relationship with black metal, but this was interesting and entertaining as hell throughout. Having elements of almost tech death added to the rest was awesome, the sheer playing and writing ability on display being off the charts. From the opener to ‘In the Shadow of the Falling Star’ to ‘A World Unmade’, the album is packed full of great songs! It’s another release that flows fantastically too, not at all feeling nearly 50 minutes in length. It’s not a release for everyone, but I really enjoyed it, and will certainly be spinning it again plenty moving forward. Even if you aren’t typically into black metal, give this a try, it will almost certainly win you over like it did me! 8.5/10, great stuff!

Kashus Culpepper: Act I: Summer Nights

The new EP from the rising country star is a short but very sweet affair. Three new songs, backed up by a fantastic cover and an interlude, and it makes for incredibly easy listening! It’s 13 minutes of chilled-out, beautiful pop-country/Southern soul, and I can’t get enough! ‘Let me Show You Love’ is fantastic, as is ‘Til the Sun Goes Down’. However, there is no beating that fantastic Glen Campbell cover, it opens things up perfectly. I remember checking out his debut album back at the start of the year and not minding it, but honestly this was a step up in quality for me! I feel like the brief nature of this release (Act I is long) helped it a lot, it being all-killer, no-filler. I’ll definitely be listening to this again, probably a fair bit over the summer, and would urge anyone reading this to check this out! Another incredibly easy 8.5/10 from us!

Swim Deep: Hum

Album five from the indie collective is another chilled-out release for us this week. I can’t say I’d really heard of them before checking out this album, and while it’s not usually my sort of style, I definitely had fun with it! It’s simple and relaxed and gives off a real early-mid 2000s vibe that I can’t help but be a little nostalgic for. And, from ‘You, Me and Mary’ to ‘Such a Fool’ to ‘In Dreams Alive’, there is a lot to love. It’s maybe a little too similar for me in terms of pace and sound for an album as a whole, but I’ll definitely be coming back to the aforementioned tracks pretty regularly! For any indie fans reading this, this is certainly an album for you. I’m at least curious to go back and check out the rest of their back catalogue to see if it’s all this good. And, while I do so, this gets a solid 7/10

Shadowborne: Heaven’s Falling

Time for a debut album, us having surprisingly few this week. The power metal newcomers kill it with this release! From the excellent opener ‘High and Low’ to ‘Hold the Door’ to ‘The Wall’, there is so much to love throughout, though the whole album is pretty excellent! If you are even a passing fan of power or heavy metal, give this a spin ASAP! From the soaring vocals to the solid drumming to the excellent riffs and synth, it’s all so damn good. And the choruses, they are easily a high point of the release as a whole, they are all so infectiously catchy. The band are going to go very far in the scene if this release is anything to go by. I already can’t wait to hear where they go from here, but for now I’ll certainly be listening to this a lot moving forward. I can’t give it any less than 8/10!

Mork: Monolitt

The ninth album from Thomas Eriksen’s black metal project is another brutal addition to their growing discography. It’s a perfect encapsulation of the 2nd wave of the genre, though with some real top-notch production that honestly helps it a lot. There are some awesome riffs throughout, and some truly heavy drums and screams. It’s a little more straight forward than Inherits the Void above, so did struggle to hold my attention a little more. However, there was enough more death metal-like parts that I still found myself enjoying it! Single ‘Ødelagt’ is a big high point of the release, as is ‘Martyr’. And the rest all sounds fairly similar, so if you generally like your metal black, you’re bound to love this! Another solid 7/10

Tucker Zimmerman: Dream Me a Dream

The criminally underrated folk singer-songwriter put out his fifth album this decade so far this last Friday. It’s a stripped-back, relaxed affair and a 37 minutes I found myself enjoying far more than I expected to! The lyrics were amazing, and sometimes the swell of the strings and other instrumentation around Tucker bring out so much emotion. ‘Don’t Feel Like Doing Nothing Today’ is probably my favourite, but I also really like the Lou Reed-like ‘Rooftops of San Francisco’. He’s an old-school storyteller through and through, and it’s cool to still be getting this sort of music being released. It’s probably not something I’d revisit a huge amount, but I can appreciate the hell out of the musicianship that went into it, and certainly liked it. It was cool to just throw on and get lost in the lyricism and feel of it all. And, for that, it gets an easy 7.5/10

Features, Reviews

Download 2026: The Big Bad Review – Day 3

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The last day of the festival kicked into high gear immedialy with Kublai Khan TX. The new kings of hardcore brought the heavy and swagger right from the moment they stepped on stage, and had a surprisingly long set filled with bangers. Matt is such a good frontman, making everything from his growls to his interactions look so effortless and cool. The rest of the band very much give it their all though, putting on a show enough to match. The setlist was great too, a full 12 tracks of attitude and brutality. And the crowd were all for it, even at barely midday, throwing down and shouting back to the band at Matt’s every command. I am already desperate to see the band again, hopefully in a smaller, more intimate setting, but I’m shocked that even seeing a band like this on a stage as big as this was so good! What a way to shake off the cobwebs and start the day off with a bang!

Next up was the legend that is Mammoth. Another one that we’ve seen once or twice at Graspop, not only do Wolfgang and co. keep growing more each year, but they somehow keep getting even better, too! I was a big fan of their album last year, and to hear a good chunk of it live was awesome! Honestly, it was just a really great set to sit and chill out in the sun to after a busy weekend (and the madness of Khan). I don’t really have much else to say about it other than it was fantastically good hard rock music, and if you’re into that you should absolutely go and see them ASAP!

Over in the Avalanche tent we saw one of my new favourite bands next in The Pretty Wild. Sisters Jyl and Jules are absolute powerhouses not just on track but on stage too, and their band absolutely back that up in a massive way. The sheer talent of both of their vocals is off the charts, but the fact that they can sing and scream like that while also putting on the performance like that is honestly phenomenal. The setlist was perfect, giving us the very best of their album and single stuff, and actually felt like the best possible length (though I’d have happily taken another ten minutes, honestly). They already had one of my favourite albums of last year, and now on top of that they have one of my favourite sets of this year! I already can’t wait to see them again, we need a headline UK/EU tour next year please!

Bloodywood absolutely tore apart main stage next. I’d only seen them the once before, and I think the sound quality played a big part in me being ever so slightly let down by the set. This more than made up for that instance. For once they got the sound right on the main stage; this hit hard and loud in all the right places. And you could tell too, as the crowd popped OFF throughout. And while I do still think they talk a little too much between tracks, I know a lot of people are into that, and they were certainly saying some great stuff. On top of that, it was another perfect set, giving us the very best of their two albums. They are still such a unique and interesting sound, it makes it impossible not to get on board with it, and the fact that they very much bring it live too makes it even better. I was always a fan, but this definitely won me over to the band in an even more massive way. Another band I need to see again like yesterday.

After that were The Pretty Reckless. Another band that it’s been almost a decade since I’d last seen, and it’s kinda sad that in all that time, they haven’t gotten much better live. I’m sorry y’all, I just don’t get it. And still, I find it hard to put my finger on exactly why that is. The band are all talented, and Taylor has a great live voice. She’s not the best front-person in the world, but I’ve certainly seen worse, and from bigger artists. I think that might be it though; they throw their weight around like they are the biggest band in the world. They drag everything out so much, stretching their 10 track setlist by easily 10 minutes than the studio versions to make everything interractable. Don’t get me wrong, they have some damn good songs, but I hate to say that if it wasn’t for Momsen being the face of the band, I don’t think they’d be nearly as big as they are if they had the same tracks still. She’s a rockstar through and through, standing out among an industry now of more clean-cut, calmer musicians, but I’m not sure that’s necessarily a good thing. They’re certainly good, and I know that their fans there loved it, but I sadly kinda found myself thinking ‘just get on with it’.

Social Distortion didn’t have nearly a big enough crowd on the Opus stage. They definitely had some stiff competition from the other stages, but the punk legends don’t venture over here all too often, and just put out a banger of a new album, they deserved more love! They still sound great live too, even with Mike’s recent health issues. However, while I did dig the new album stuff, I have to say as my first time seeing them, I was a little let down they didn’t do literally anything off their massive, self-titled album. It’s what got me into the band all those years ago, and I was excited to finally hear some of it live. Clearly I just need to hear a longer set from them, as they sounded great and put on a good show, I just wanted more!

Possibly my favourite band at this point were up next, Ice Nine Kills. This was a weird one for me, honestly. We saw them back in December and they were incredible! However, something here felt slightly off at times, though I’m 90% convinced it was the sound. The vocal mix, for once, was actually impeccable. I’ve never heard Ricky and Joe so loudly, and they filled in around Spencer excellently. However, and it’s the same complaint as I had all weekend, the main stage was just too damn quiet. They’re a heavy-ass metalcore band with pretty brutal breakdowns and almost death metal parts, yet we were at the first crowd-breaker and none of it really hit.

However, the band and the stage show of course killed it, just as always. A set packed full of incredible songs, be it off Welcome to Horrorwood, their recent singles or even a cheeky NOFX cover. Each one was complete with costume changes, props, extras and pyro, proving that they are truly one of the best live bands around today. I didn’t even mind that it was essentially the same set that we’d seen from them in the winter, because it’s all so good live and on track that it’s impossible not to love! Plus, Hannah Greenwood coming out to do Grace’s parts on ‘Twisting the Knife’ was amazing, she absolutely KILLED it all weekend (pun intended). It’s another case of if I was down the front, I’d have had even more fun, and it is a shame that the sound was so quiet that being further back had a big impact. But, even still, this was one of the best sets of the weekend!

After INK, we finally chilled out a bit. It was tetting warm and we couldn’t decide on who to see, so we kinda milled around, catching bits of whatever we fancied. Ash didn’t stand out to me much beforehand, and were simply fine live. We watched a bit of a meat smoking show, that was good fun and took me back to years of Long Roads. We caught the last two tracks of Mastodon, curious how they would sound without Brent. Honestly, I wasn’t digging it too much until ‘Crack the Skye’, and then that and ‘Blood and Thunder’ were excellent and I was really into it. They’ve never been the biggest band for me, but I’d happily see them again at another festival. Oh, and we popped up to Dogtooth early and caught the last few from the criminally underrated Spineshank. They killed it, and were honestly my biggest surprise of the weekend!

Creeper set two, Dogtooth tent. Now, I will happily hold my hands up and say that their packed out set at Trees the other year is one of my favourite live music experiences of all time. And fuck, the boys (and Hannah) only went and did it again, didn’t they? There is something about Creeper in a slightly more intimate, darker venue that makes it somehow even better, and it helps that the crowd were all in right from the start. And, while we got a fair bit of the same stuff as Friday’s set, the extra 20 minutes certainly helped! ‘The Ballad of Spook & Mercy’ is one of my favourite tracks they’ve ever done, and hearing it live is always amazing. And to hear new tracks like ‘The Crimson Bride’ and ‘The Black House’ live was amazing, too. Heck, we even got the live debut of Sanguivore closing ballad ‘More Than Death’, which I never thought we’d ever get live. Will absolutely blew everyone away with it and, to absolutely no one’s shock, made the wife cry again.

Everything about the set was honestly perfect. The sound was great, the band performed masterfully, the crowd was packed in to the rafters with genuine fans and, outside of me maybe wanting an older track or two sneaking in again, the setlist was amazing. The band have very quickly made Download their home the last few years, and this capped off one hell of a weekend for them. Looking back, this may very well have been my favourite set of the weekend, maybe even of the year. Goddamn.

And with that, the final band of the weekend took to the stage. A lot has been made about Linkin Park finally being the first female fronted band to headline the festival, and honestly it’s about fucking time. However, and don’t kill me for saying this, I wasn’t really feeling the set. They played a massive set packed full of career spanning hits to a packed out crowd, a lot of whom seemed to be loving it. And the From Zero stuff, from ‘Two Faced’ to ‘IGYEIH’ and plenty in between, sounded awesome! However, as much as I wanted to enjoy the older stuff, Emily’s voice just isn’t cut out for it. She wasn’t awful at the Thousand Suns or ‘Burn it Down’, but anything from the early stuff didn’t hit at all for me. I felt nothing when she sung the Hybrid Theory or Meteora tracks; it was all very one-note with no real emotion there. It made it feel even more like a Mike cash grab than it did before. The stage show was interesting, though there was far too much down time between songs, and the chemistry between Mike and Emily on the rare times they did interact with the crowd felt forced. If you enjoyed it and it scratched that LP itch for you, that’s awesome, but it sadly did not do that for me. We left during ‘Numb’, it was just too sad.

<- Day 2

Features, Reviews

Download 2026: The Big Bad Review – Day 2!

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Having a sunburnt, pregnant wife tagging along, we got in a touch later than hoped on the Saturday. However, we made it in for most of the amazing As Everything Unfolds on Opus, and what a way to start our day! The alt rock/metalcore rising stars owned the massive stage right from the jump, proving that they very much deserved to be up there. It’s crazy too, as they were originally supposed to be on the much smaller Dogtooth stage later on, but swapped with Drowning Pool because their flights were delayed. It proved to be a fantastic decision on both counts, as I think AEU got heaps of new ears and exposure from this move. Seeing ‘Gasoline’ live was awesome, as it’s become honestly one of my favourite tracks from this year so far. But the whole set was amazing, and the band played their asses off throughout!

Over to the Dogtooth tent for the first time of the weekend, we saw proggy, middle-eastern infused metal band Lowen. By far the quirkiest band for us of the weekend, it was damn interesting to watch. They were all insanely talented musicians, and I loved the video and images they had playing behind them, really adding to the atmosphere of it all. While it’s not typically my sort of style in a live environment, I had a good time watching them and have listened to them a few times on track since coming home. They are well worth seeing if you are into this side of metal music, and would honestly go down a storm in the European market! Nina has such an interesting voice and she fronts the band spectacularly, while the rest of the band back her up and make their wall of sound absolutely massive. They definitely have a new fan in me!

Over to the Apex stage, we caught emo-metal legends Black Veil Brides. The last time I saw them properly was here back in 2012. Back then, they were so hated they were getting bottles and mud balls hurled at them. The metal world has softened on them since then, and we’re fairly receptive to the band this time around! The crowd for them was pretty massive, and the front half were hanging on every note. However, something about it just didn’t land for me. Maybe it was because we were a touch further back and, for as big as the new main stage is, it isn’t very loud. Or maybe it was because they did a setlist primarily consisting of new tracks, bookended by a few classics. It’s not exactly a bad thing, and their fans certainly seemed to enjoy it, but it didn’t hook me in for too long, despite how talented the band all are.

Because of that, we instead headed over to see our friends, the mighty Those Damn Crows. It had already been too long since we’d last seen them, it being the very start of 2025. They were excellent at Winters End and, to the surprise of I’m sure no one, they were also excellent here! The bands sound and energy is built for huge festival stages like this at this point, and they put on the set to prove it. From ‘Find a Way’ to ‘Sin on Skin’, their awesome, extensive back catalogue was on full display. My only slight complaint is that we didn’t get much off their recent chart-topping album, God Shaped Hole. However, that was most likely because they didn’t have a huge amount of time. It just means that they’ll have to do a headline tour soon as well as the Shinedown support, so we can see a full set… Shane is a truly excellent frontman, getting the crowd going as well as coming across genuinely sincere and likeable. And the rest of the band played their asses off throughout, just as they always do. Another fantastic set!

Speaking of fantastic sets, Drowning Pool were up next. After their set-switch earlier in the day, they were now packed into the smaller Dogtooth tent, and I’d rarely seen a crowd as big trying to watch a band in there! The last time I’d seen the band was at Rescue Rooms when I was just a teenager, so to say I was hyped would be an understatement. Especially with the recent re-addition of Ryan back at the front! He sounded better than he has in a few years too, I know he seemed to be struggling a little last time we saw him with Soil. We’ll get the elephant in the room out of the way first: they only had time for four songs. However, those four songs were all excellent, and brought me back to my youth in a big way. A Sinners-full set of the heaviest hitters from that album, and the crowd hung on every note. As a big ‘Mania X8 guy, ‘Tear Away’ will always be a huge song for me, and they played it amazingly on Saturday. Then, of course, sending the crowd home in a frenzy from the massive ‘Bodies’ was absolutely the right call, it being the main reason most were near that tent to begin with. I’m really hoping this means that they’ll be back sooner rather than later, and hopefully finally start getting more of the love they deserve in the UK. Too short, but an excellent set!

As we left the tent, we managed to catch the back half of Babymetal’s set. It once again wasn’t the first time we’d seen them, and while I once again enjoyed previous sets, this was by no means a bad one! We came over from the solos of ‘METALI!!’ onwards, and got treated to four more excellent songs after that! While I do still think Callboy do ‘RATATATA’ better live, it’s still a lot of fun to hear, especially two days in a row. And the one-two punch of ‘Headbannggerrr!!’ into ‘Road of Resistance’ to close was awesome! The trio put on such an amazing, energetic show between them, while they are backed by some truly awesome musicians, playing some incredible stuff. If you haven’t seen them live already, they are an absolute must!

After a brief changeover, Trivium took to the stage. The band have been a powerhouse live for over 20 years now, so it’s no surprise that this was also a storming set. Matt’s vocals are somehow better and more powerful than ever, and the bands cohesion and talent individually and as a group is incredible. You can really tell they still all really enjoy playing together. It was a classics/anniversary tour-heavy set, with the likes of ‘Gunshot to the Head’, ‘Dying in your Arms’ and ‘Down from the Sky’. As an almost life-long Trivum fan, it certainly tickled that itch. However, we had seen a similar set before. And, incase anyone hasn’t heard, I LOVE their last two albums, and to only get ‘Catastrophist’ off them was a little sad. Still, I get it, it’s a festival, so play the ones people know. I know they mentioned a tour for ’27, hopefully it’s near the release of their upcoming album and we get some stuff off it live this time! However, it’s a minor gripe really, as I did enjoy their set a hell of a lot! Each song was excellent and played to perfection. If I was down in the pit it would have most likely been one of my favourite sets of the weekend, no question. One of the best live metal bands around today!

We then took a slow stroll over to Opus to see the black metal legends Behemoth. I’ve recently become a fan of them on track, and my god did they blow me away here! Everything about it, from the sound to the production to their live skill was impeccable, and made them feel MASSIVE. They fully owned the stage, and made an incredibly solid case as to why they’re headliners in Europe and at the likes of Bloodstock. The setlist was perfect, too. Whether it was the heavy-hitters from the bands magnum opus, The Satanist, the title track from their latest album or even a cheeky Bathory cover, it was all so damn good. They made it feel like their darker genre of music belonged at a typically lighter festival, and most definitely turned some heads. Nergal is a fantastic frontman and conducted his brutal symphony to perfection.

After a short pause, Opus headliners of the day Architects took the stage by storm. The crowd were raring to go right from the offset, and the set proved that the band could arguably be headlining the festival as a whole the next time they’re there. The crowd were so into it, in fact, that the opening half was rather stop start due to those pesky pits getting a little too hairy and security intervening. ‘Blackhole’ and ‘Impermanence’ in particular were a pain, but both restarted and went just as hard afterwards. I’ve seen some saying that Sam [Carter] didn’t handle it very well, but if anything it just revved him up to go even harder the rest of the set. Even with it being the most stop-start set of the weekend, it just goes to show how much the Download crowd love the band, and how hugely popular they have become.

The setlist was rather perfect for me, too. Being Sky Earth heavy was amazing, as I LOVE THAT ALBUM. ‘Blackhole’ when it was finally played fully, was a particular highlight, but opener ‘Elegy’, ‘Seeing Red’ and the Florent Salfati-featuring ‘Brain Dead’ were all just as awesome. And, we still got some of the very best of their back catologue between. From ‘Deep Fake’ to ‘Gravedigger’, ‘Black Lungs’ to the touching Tom tribute of ‘Doomsday’ and now-perennial closer ‘Animals’ it was all SO GOOD. Hell Sam’s voice even held up a lot better live than I expected it to from recent clips, and he is such a good frontman these days. His and Adam’s lows combined still itch my brain in the best way. They were one of my most anticipated bands of the weekend and they certainly didn’t disappoint!

On the way out of the arena, we caught a couple of songs from mainstage headliners Guns n’ Roses. Now, I’ve seen them three times before since their reunion, I knew what I was getting into. Still, hearing Axl murder some of my favourite minutes in all of music in the close of ‘Coma’ still hurt just a little. We caught that, a big widdly solo from Slash (expected) and then watched ‘Sweet Child O Mine’ from the back. It was exactly what I expected it to be. A slightly thinner crowd going nuts for one of the four songs from the three plus hour set that they actually wanted to see. The band are still pretty tight; Slash still noodles with the best of them, even if his technicality is slipping now that he’s *checks notes* SIXTY. And Axl was… also present. I don’t want to clown too hard on the guy as he is a legend and performs long-ass sets on the regular at his age, it’s no mean feat. Heck, he still has the energy of a toddler… he just also has the voice of one. Still, I know plenty of people who enjoyed it and got some nostalgia out of it, and good for them! They still put on a great show, no matter their sound, and are truly one of the biggest bands ever. It’s just not for me any more, nothing will top that first show back for me. I am, however, jealous of those who got to see them do ‘Dead Horse’ live, I do love that song!

<- Day 1

Day 3 ->

Features, Reviews

Download 2026: The Big Bad Review!

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The first time I had been to Donington for a full weekend since 2019, the line-up was so good it was impossible to pass up! Three days of insane rock and metal music among 90k+ likeminded people, what could possibly be better than that?! From rising stars to legends and everything between, it was one of the most stacked weekend in recent memory. There really was something for everyone! We saw so many amazing bands across the weekend, there was no way we weren’t letting y’all know what we thought! Strap yourselves in boys and girls, it’s a long one!

Sadly we missed Native James due to it taking a little longer than expected to get into the arena, something about running out of wristbands. However, we made it in to get a prime spot in the Avalanche tent for hardcore newcomers Silly Goose. Thank god we did too, as they were fucking awesome! Their blend of old-school nu-metal and more modern hardcore was infectiously fun, and they put on one of the highest-energy sets of the weekend right off the bat. The packed-out tent gave that energy right back to the band, too! They didn’t have long, but made more than the most of the time they had, and won over more than a few new fans in the process, I’m sure. I immediately want to see them grace the UK again ASAP, seeing them in a smaller venue would pop off. A fantastic start to our weekend!

Headed across to the Apex stage, we caught the last half of P.O.D.. A band that I’ve caught briefly at Graspop before, this was the closest we’ve been able to watch them before. The nu metal legends are still at the top of their games live, both sounding and performing awesomely. Their set was short but sweet, rattling off the very best of their discography. ‘Youth of the Nation’ took me back to my childhood, while ‘Alive’ had the whole crowd singing along instantly. And yet still, they managed to squeeze in a new one, ‘Drop’ fitting perfectly alongside the rest. Sonny is a fantastic frontman, still having the energy and stage presence that would put someone half of his age to shame. And the rest of the band backed him up amazingly, them sounding remarkably close to how they do on track. It was slightly lower energy after the craziness of Goose, but still a great set!

Switching stages again, we finally got to see the mighty Paleface Swiss tear apart the Opus stage. I’ve been wanting to see them since I first got into them a couple of years ago, and even more so after last year’s album. I’d seen videos and had hyped myself up plenty in my head beforehand, yet still they blew me away. Their rise has been undeniable over the last four years of live shows, and for clearly good reason! Firstly, the energy was off the charts, the four twenty-somethings bringing so much energy and fire (metaphorically and literally) to the stage. Marc is such a force up on stage; he’s charismatic and entertaining and how his vocals can do what he does on track live for a full set honestly blows my mind. And as for the rest of the band, they are all so insanely talented, and put on such an incredible show individually, as well as together.

The setlist too… *chefs kiss*. Marc coming out to start off saying “we’ve been told we can’t ask for a pit but…” and then them immediately launching into ‘Hatred’ was fantastic, and it only kept on being awesome from there! Whether the brutality of ‘The Orphan’ and ‘Please End Me’ to the surpising sentimentality of ‘Everything Is Fine’, it was all awesome, if expectedly too short! The crowd went nuts from start to finish too, hanging on every single note. Honestly one of the sets of the weekend for me!

Long-time readers here know that we are certainly partial to some country, so Lakeview were a must for us. Especially after the carnage of Paleface! To say it may not typically be their sort of crowd too, the duo and their band knocked it out of the park! They are surprisingly heavy live, or at least heavied it up for this show in the best way. Every drop and riff hit HARD, and it contrasted extremely well with Jesse and Luke’s southern drawls. ‘Wrong Side of the Track’ was probably my favourite track of the setlist, but every song hit just as hard. They really held the crowds attention too; I was shocked at how full the tent was and barely anyone left throughout. I’m already desperate to see them again, so hopefully they hit the country festival scene next year!

One of our favourite bands were up next on the Opus stage. Creeper have been killing it the last couple of years or so, and this was yet another great example of that! Right from opener ‘Mistress of Death’, the band sounded on top form, somehow even more polished than I had heard them before. And the Nosfera-two stuff somehow grows on me more and more every time I hear it live. ‘Headstones’ always goes hard, but the big high point for me was ‘Razor Wire’. Hannah’s vocals and emotion throughout brought my wife to tears, so that alone should show just how good it was (she is pregnant though so it’s maybe slightly easier…). However, Will has evolved into one of the best frontmen in the game right now, though more on him later, and between them they are sure to catapult Creeper into the stratosphere sooner rather than later. The crowd were once again into it too, and ‘Cry to Heaven’ is such a good closer that everyone went nuts for it. If you haven’t yet seen them, what are you playing at? They’re on the road a lot the rest of the year, so get your asses to a show, you won’t be disappointed!

After a very short rest for us, the mighty Electric Callboy graced the Apex stage. We have caught them at multiple festivals the last few years, and always have a good time with them. Download was no exception! The new stuff, ‘TANZNEID’ and ‘Let the Good Times Roll’, came across better live for me and certainly got me hyped for the upcoming album. Between those and tried-and-true classics like ‘Pump It’, ‘MC Thunder II’ and the Babymetal-featuring ‘RATATATA’, it was one hell of a setlist. Heck, we even got some Electric Bassboy in the middle, dubstepping up some Drowning Pool and Blink 182. It was awesome!

I do think I’ve seen them slightly better, it’d take a lot to top their Graspop set for me, but they are such a phenomenal live band that we still had a blast throughout. It was just a shame ‘Mindreader’ got cut short due to an issue in the pit (sadly a running theme of the weekend, more on it later). However, Kevin and Nico are such consummate professionals that they stopped immediately, getting the issue sorted and right back to the music. Their dynamic together is always so fantastic to watch, and their live vocals just keep getting better and better. It won’t be long before they are headlining festivals of this size, mark my words!

We quickly high-tailed it back over to Opus to catch the latter half of Daughtry. Somehow we hadn’t seen them live before, but they were every bit as great as I expected them to be! Chris’ vocals are so damn powerful, and just as amazing live as they are on track. And the setlist was top-class, too. We got plenty of heavy newer stuff off SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM, yet still got the radio classics in ‘Over You’ and ‘Heavy is the Crown’. The crowd were more than happy to sing along to the ballads, too! They felt like good old-fashioned hard rock music live; go out there, rock the joint with a tight set and let the music do the talking. I’d happily see them again, and would love to see a full set from the quintet! Hopefully we get a rare UK headline tour soon! Especially when the wind was a little troublesome with the sound all day.

Cypress Hill felt like a bit of an odd-one-out on paper, but packed out the place and had the crowd pumping throughout. Over an hour of West Coast hip-hop from some of the best to ever do it. Their back catalogue is incredible, from ‘When the Shit Goes Down’ to ‘Dr Greenthumb’, ‘(Rock) Superstar’ to ‘How I Could Just Kill a Man’ to their megahit ‘Insane in the Brain’, and it all sounds just as good live as it did on track! However, they didn’t just stop there. We also got two awesome covers: RATM’s ‘Bombtrack’ and instant crowd-favourite ‘Jump Around’. B-Real and Sen Dog play off each other perfectly and sounded awesome, while DJ Muggs and Eric Bobo back them up so well. It may not have been to everyone’s tastes, but they most certainly won some people over during their set, and had the crowd in the palm of their hands throughout. I’m glad I finally got to see them live, and they certainly didn’t disappoint!

After a short break, the mighty Limp Bizkit took to the stage to finally headline the festival, 23 years after they were first supposed to. We saw them at Graspop a couple of years back and loved it and, while it was a fairly similar setlist to then, I still had an absolute blast. The band strolling out and getting the hype to a fever pitch with some ‘Thieves’ riffing before launching into current open-closer ‘Break Stuff’. Whether it’s their massive hits like ‘Nookie’, ‘Rollin’’ or ‘Take A Look Around’ to smaller tracks like the newer ‘Dad Vibes’ and ‘Livin’ it Up’, it was a great setlist. Add to that their massive covers of ‘Faith’ and ‘Behind Blue Eyes’, bringing out the awesome Lauren Sanderson to rock ‘Hot Dog’ with them or bringing some fans on to sing ‘Full Nelson’, and it was a hell of a lot of fun. Hell, we even got ‘Eat You Alive’, which we at least didn’t get from the last set!

As for the performance itself, it was amazing! Fred is one of the most charismatic people around, and barely even needed to do anything to hold the crowds attention throughout. His vocals are iconic and hold up still to this day. Meanwhile, DJ Lethal, John Otto and newcomer on the bass Richie Buxton all kill it as always. Meanwhile Wes Borland is a guitar god at this point, and such an amazing performer in his own right. And, while I’ve seen some people complaining about the between-songs stuff, I quite liked Lethal playing easy-listening classics, it kept the crowd pumped and kept the fun, party vibe going. Once again, however, we had the set paused mid-way through a song due to crowd issues. The ending of ‘My Way’ got cut, and I feel like we lost another song with how long the pause was, too. I completely respect Fred for stopping the show to make sure people were okay, but it became a running theme of the festival, sadly. However, until that point, it was awesome, the crowd were fully in, and it was a fantastic set. Spoiler alert, it was my favourite headline set of the weekend, and I already want to see them again!

Day 2 ->