An absolutely STACKED week of new music for us to dive into, with everything from metal to country to rock putting out bangers. Let’s dive right in!

Luke Bryan: Signs

So, I know everyone’s been clowning on a couple of the singles from this album, and somewhat rightfully so. A lot of the lyrics are truly cringe country tropes. However, that doesn’t stop it from being a fun, enjoyable album! It’s exactly what you’d expect from Bryan’s ninth release, and if you are into stadium country it’s certainly a collection for you! Tracks like ‘Word on the Street’, ‘Fish Hunt Gold Drink’ and ‘Crooked Rows of Corn’ are all personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on the album, honestly! It’s maybe a touch slow for my liking at times, but having just learnt the guy is 50 while writing this, you can’t blame him for not having it be more high-energy party songs any more. It’s not quite as good as his last album in my eyes, but it’s a fun, certainly good 40 minutes of country. Even when this style has seemingly been left in the dust a little by the modern country scene, Luke still proves why he is one of the biggest names in the genre and that he isn’t going away any time soon. Give this a spin if you’re in any way interested, and if you’re a fan of his you won’t be disappointed! 7.5/10

Anthrax: Cursum Perficio

I’ve been waiting for this album for A WHILE. It’s been a full decade since their last studio release. And honestly, from first impressions, I’m not sure how to feel about this. I’ve spun it a couple of times over the weekend, and while it has grown on me on a second spin, I still don’t think it lives up to the hype I had built for it over the last decade. But hey, that’s on me! Each individual part is awesome, everyone is working their asses off throughout, but something about the sum of all said parts doesn’t get me as pumped as I hoped it would. It reminds me a little of Avenged Sevenfold’s The Stage for me; a big, hype-filled release from a massive metal band that doesn’t feel as immediately huge as previous albums. Tracks like ‘The Long Goodbye’, ‘The Edge of Perfection’ and ‘T.O.M.B.’ are all personal highlights. There isn’t a bad song on the album even, but it does feel like a bit of a grower.

It’s not quite Worship Music, let alone their early stuff, but it is still a good modern thrash album. Maybe it’s because the likes of Testament, Exodus and even Priest/Saxon are still firing out amazing albums at a quicker pace, but I sadly don’t find myself quite as attached to it as some other reviewers do. I haven’t been left remembering anything from it even on a second listen. So, for that reason, it gets another 7.5/10. Good but not great.

Madska: More Than Dramatic

Self-described as “Rose-coloured rock”, it’s the perfected way to describe this Philly trio, and this EP is a perfect introduction to the band for those haven’t heard their 2024 debut album. It’s chilled out and upbeat while also rather epic in its arrangement, and has some really catchy hooks throughout. The band are all so damn talented too, all working their asses off throughout and each piece fitting together perfectly. The title track opens things up perfectly, while the slower ‘Basement’ and the funky ‘Medusa’ are also great tracks. However, the other two are just as good; the full 18 minutes is awesome and such an easy listen! It’s different in the best sense of the world, and I’d honestly recommend it to absolutely anyone reading this! It’s been well worth the wait since I interviewed them about it the other month, and I’ll be spinning this plenty in the weeks and months to come. A very easy 8.5/10 from us!

Holding Absence: Modern Life is Lonely

Max: The Welsh outfit are back with a genuinely very beautiful album. There is a lot of emotion layered throughout which can be expected from this band. However this album looks outwards in many ways and shows a constant improvement and desire to grow from the band. Whilst listing all of the things from this album that I love would take an eternity, I want to highlight just a few.

The vocals are stunning. Simply so. From the cleans to the screams everything is fantastic. The instruments are not a let down either. everything from the backing instrumentals, to the drums, to the guitars. Everything is tight, precise and well done, but not in that way that screams of overproduction, in the way that you know care was given to everything and that corners weren’t cut. 

I also want to say that there is a very good blend of highs and lows throughout the album, both in terms of the vocals but also with the emotion. There are songs that have so much energy you float through and ones that leave you sitting there in a sort of pensive sadness. But when they come together its everything. I think “Lucid Love” and “Scorched Earth” are prime examples of this carrying both energy but also love and emotion and, at least to me, a level of poignant sadness. But really the best example of Holding Absence not only releasing an amazing song, but also being very typical and leaving it until the end, is “Kyoto Snow”. Talking about love across whatever distance and how no matter what, be it distance, space, time or realities, love transcends all. 

This album deserves to be played, heard and felt. 10/10

Riley Green: That’s Just Me

Another year, another long collection of slow country ballads from Mr Green. My foolish ass even thought “maybe this time will be different” when ‘Think as you Drunk’ came out but nope, this is over an hour of slower-end, stripped-back country. For what it is, it’s completely fine, solid even. It’s clear he’s good and talented, as he’s an absolutely MASSIVE name in music in general these days. The afformentioned rockier track is great, as is ‘Got That From You’, ‘Don’t Come Any Closer’ and ‘More of a Man than Me’. Hell, there isn’t a bad song on here, honestly. It’s just too damn long. His style has grown on me over the last few years, and I definitely enjoyed this more than his last release. However, it is too long and too similar for me to sit with the album as a whole probably ever again. There is an excellent record hidden somewhere in here, but it is too bloated, and very weirdly composed from an track-order perspective. I can’t give it any more than 6.5/10, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of his music!

Nonpoint: The Last Word

The Nu-metal/rap-rock pioneers are back with their first album in over eight years, and it is every bit as excellent as I’d hoped it would be! Honestly, I missed them dude; there’s no one that quite does music like Nonpoint, and nearly thirty years into their careers they prove that they very much still have it! It doesn’t overstay its welcome at just 10 tracks spread across half an hour, but it means that it is very much all killer, no filler. ‘Is It’, ‘Dial Tones’ and ‘Red Yeti’ are personal highlights, but every song on here is a banger. The band somehow sound almost identical to how they did back when they first broke out, but have somehow found a way to keep it feeling fresh and interesting even 11 albums in! If you are at all into that early 2000s sound and scene that they came from, or just nu or industrial metal or even hip hop in any way, you NEED to check out this album ASAP. I’m a little obsessed already, and it is going to be in regular rotation for me most likely for the rest of the year. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, and I am already desperate to see them live again!

Seasick Steve: The Last Season of America

The first album in a couple of years from the folk/Americana legend, and he proves yet again that he hasn’t lost a step all these years into his career! The title track opens things up in a way only Steve can, highlighting his views on the state of his country perfectly, a sombre tune. Then you have more blues rock-inspired bangers like single ‘Bad Things’ and ‘Free Man’ that are all awesome. Heck, instrumental ‘Surf’s Flat’ is amazing too, there certainly not being a dud across the whole release! You know exactly what to expect from the guy this deep into his career, yet he never fails to disappoint. It’s every bit as good as his last album, so gets another solid 7.5/10 from us! Check this out if you are even a passing fan of the guy!

Blackment: Pandemonium Portrait

The sophomore album from the Finnish melodic metal band follows up their 2022 debut perfectly. And this is coming from someone who LOVED their debut! This is almost an hour of grandiose, heavy and catchy metal, and is a really fantastic listen. It almost reminds me of those middle couple of Trivium albums where Matt stopped screaming as much, except crafted in a way that is amazing, and is more of the bands identity. Hell, it’s got elements of power metal throughout this too, almost giving Dominum vibes in the best ways! From ‘In Motion’ to ‘Afterlife’ to the epic ‘Nocturnal Queen’, there are plenty of bangers on here. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout, and the album flows so damn well together. Every member of the band are so incredibly talented, and they all work together perfectly! It’s up there alongside their debut for me, and I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10!

Jason Scott and the High Heat: Play Boy

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

The Bites: Self-Titled

Another sophomore album, this time from the US hard/sleaze rockers. Their debut was massive, but I honestly feel like this is a step up in terms of quality! It’s 37-minutes of massive, arena-filling melodies and hooks, as well as some fantastic playing from the entire band throughout! The Van Halen-esque ‘Hold On’ is a big early highlight and I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single from the jump. Tracks like single ‘Dancing with the Devil’, ‘Carry You Home’ and ballad ‘Waiting’ are all personal highlights, but there isn’t a bad song on here honestly. Hell, ‘Lips’, while cringy lyrically, is a catchy as anything song that will be stuck in my head for days to come! While it fits in perfectly with the current revival of the sound, the band still feel unique and somehow fresh, not an easy achievement in 2026. It’s a damn fun album that I’d recommend to any rock fan reading this, and is an incredibly easy 8/10!

Game Over: When Darkness Falls

Max: So I just want to start with letting you know, I normally really don’t like this kind of music. But this album… its a lot of fun. I think the horror theming to the album makes for an enjoyable lens to craft an album in with definitely a tonal difference between certain tracks.  

Starting with a simple opening of “Hollow and Cold” serving as an instrumental opening before we get seamlessly in to the first full length track,  “Two Souls One Flesh”. this felt very genre fitting with bouncing riffs and a constant beat throughout with the almost chanting mid section of the song which I think can be expected, and don’t worry of course there is the solo in the later third of the song to make sure you know who and  what you are listening to. I want to also say the flow between the opening track in to “Two Souls One Flesh” is really perfect and just goes to show the absolute precision involved when making this album.

Now personally, I didn’t find much to write home about with when it came to songs 4 and 5, they are by no means bad songs, in fact quite the opposite, they are just rather standard and to some extent ‘safe’ that being said, I never skipped them, which if the “worst” tracks on the album are a solid 7.5/10 you know the album is good. 

And to be fully honest that is my only criticism of the album, because straight after we get an eery mid album spoken word interlude and then you are dropped straight in to my favourite song of the album, “Curse Of Strahd”. Not only is the a great campaign, it is also a great chuggy and pumping track that pulls you in and keeps you coming back. There is not a single thing I would change with this track because damn its really really good. 

As for the last three tracks of the album, they are also really good. I wont say why but the final track uses a speech from a very good film and solidifies this album as just being really fun to listen to. Overall there is a lot to love, now its not creating a new genre or redefining this one, however what it does do is tell you the GAME OVER is really good at what they do. 9/10

Orville Peck: Mule

Jade: Opening the album is a beautiful folky, almost bewitching song ‘Prolouge (Eulogy of a man turned mule)’ featuring Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus and Allison Russell. Going straight in the next track ‘Big Ol’ House’ all expectations are immediately met as always with Orville. His unique voice and the strength of his vocals just hit. This goes for the next track with is a bit more upbeat and bouncy ‘Already Gone’. I must say I have been slightly obsessed with this track since it was released back in August. He shows such a range in his vocals and it has me in a bit of a choke hold. I feel like I have to mention Rehab blues mainly for the whistle intro. As you all probably know my husband is a sucker for a whistle solo. Then you get hit hard by the lyrics which are so casual but deep when it comes to recovery. I am very much seeing a pattern in this album, in that it just rips your heart out and tramples all over it. There is so much hurt and pain, and Orville’s absolutely stunning vocals just makes it sting that little bit more. ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘The Fall’ have me absolutely sobbing. Just when you like you are getting an up beat, bluesy almost Elvis song with ‘Cowboy Heart’  you again are hit with such powerful lyrics. I just know this album is going to sit very close to so many people. Without me absolutely gushing and boring you with my babble, all I’ll say about ‘The breeze, the grass, the mourning dove and me’ is that I desperately NEED to hear that some live. There are some crazy good vocals. ‘Too little, too late’ was another song I’ve been obsessed with since it was released as a single. Just a great catchy track that just reminds you that you are a bad bitch that deserves better. The final track I want to talk about is the last on the the album, the title track ‘Mule’. There couldn’t have been a more perfect track to finish off this powerful album. It’s stripped back and slowly brings in more instruments as the song progresses. It almost rounds off all the other tracks and brings everything together so subtly with different struggles being touched upon throughout the album. The whole thing is just so full of emotions and is just beautiful…I don’t know how else to describe it. You’ve done it again Orville.

Just to reiterate, like I haven’t already babbled on for too long. I am in absolute awe of this album. The talent of this man never ceases to amaze me. As a big lover of country music, he definitely brings a uniqueness to the mix that I can’t really compare to any other artist. All there is left to do is wait for him to come back to the UK on tour! 10/10

Beck: Ride Lonesome

Seven years removed from his last album, Hyperspace, the alt rocker returns with a chilled out, folky release. For what it is, it’s fine. It’s not hugely my sort of thing, at least on track, and reminds me a lot of the recent Fruit Bats stuff. I would have much preferred another revisit to his 90s stuff, but if you’re a fan of this side of his music, you’l surely get something out of this. Honestly though, I can’t even really pick highlight tracks, as it all just blurs together into 45 minutes of slow, stripped-back monotony. Beck is a talented guy, that much has always been clear, but this is not at all my sort of thing. I got bored, and fast! 3/10

Krallice: Scour Order

Release 14 from the technical black metal New Yorkers is over an hour of dark, brutal heaviness, and is a really interesting listen! It’s certainly a variation of the black metal formula that I enjoy and get a lot out of, and the band are so damn talented that it’s hard not to be sucked in and hooked at times. Some of the guitaring in particular really blew me away! And, with just eight songs being spread across over an hour, everything gets plenty of time to breathe. ‘Grievous Corrector’ and ‘Her Green Arms’ are personal highlights. And, while it is a touch long for now similar it is, there still isn’t a necessarily bad song on the release! If you are into this sort of thing give it a spin, but I’d struggle to give it much more than 5.5/10

Olive Vox: Trace it Back

The second EP from the Texas-based alt rockers is under 20 minutes of catchy vocals and melodies, backed perfectly by some really great instrumentation! Opener ‘Hear me Out’ had me hooked from the get-go, while the indie-punk ‘I Do’ and ‘Black and White’ are also excellent songs. However, the whole EP is concise, a really great example of everything the band are so great at. They are such talented players and songwriters, and had me loving it despite it not typically being my sort of sound. If you like the heavier, punkier side of indie music, this is very much a release for you! Another solid 7/10 from us this week!

The Homesick: What’s Up With All These Shangri-Las

The fourth album from the Dutch avant-pop group is somehow not at all what I expected heading in, even when I had zero expectations! It’s another release that, while not really my thing typically, I found myself actually having a good time listening! It’s not something I’d revisit often or even really have highlights tracks from, but the album as a whole is a fun, quirky and fantastically interesting listen. It’s very European, and gives off big 80s experimental pop vibes in a really great way. It’s certainly not a release for everyone, but if you are at all interested, give this a spin, you might just love it! I’d happily listen to it again soon, and it gets a solid 6/10 from us!

The Goods: Goodbye Summertime

The sophomore album from the Californian soft rockers is a fun, laid-back 42 minutes of music. It draws from plenty of sounds and inspirations, from folk rock to indie-Americana to… well… the Beatles, into something wholly unique, and a damn good listen! Tracks like ‘Minor Key’, ‘Punchbowl’ and ‘Dare You’ are all personal highlights. However, if you like this sort of thing, you’ll most likely love it all! It’s maybe a touch repetitive at times, especially when it’s not fully my sort of thing, but it’s certainly a nice release to throw on and chill out to. That, and Rob Good and co. are insanely talented at what they do, and it makes this a damn good album in its genre! 7/10, though it may grow on me even more with more listens!

Velveteen Queen: The Greater Good

The modern rock five-piece’s sophomore album is somehow even better than their 2024 debut! It’s old-school sleazy and Sunset strip while having a modern edge and production to it, not unlike The Bites further up! Tracks like the title one, ‘Adrenaline’ and ‘Best of the Best’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout, it going by in a flash! It’s exactly what you’d expect from a modern glam/sleaze infused hard rock band, but done to absolute perfection. It’s easy to see why the band have gathered so much love and momentum in their short careers so far, and their studio output matches that love easily! I had a blast listening to it, and the band certainly have a big new fan in me! 7/10

Another typically stacked week of new music for us to check out, from rock to metal to country! Let’s dive right in!

A: PRANG

The return album from the British alt rockers, their first new studio work in over two decades despite being relatively active for most of that time, is honestly about what you’d expect from fans of the band. Hi-Fi Serious was a big release for me in my youth, and while this is certainly more tame in comparison, it’s insane to expect three brothers in their 50s to have that same anger as when they were in their late 20s. Regardless, it’s still a good, fun album. It feels like it draws a little more from Britpop than I was expecting it to, but definitely still has that alt and punk infusion the band are known for. Tracks like ‘Bring on the Likes’, the heavier ‘All In’, the hardcore ‘Techno Viking’ and ‘Back to the Shop’ are all big personal highlights. However, at only 10 tracks in length, it’s pretty short and sweet, and goes by in a flash.

My only slight complaint is that the album takes a bit of getting going, I think there’s a better track arragement in here somewhere, for me at least! There’s some heavy hitters later on that could have been better served in the opening songs. However, if you’re a fan of the band or their particular brand of noise, this is an album well worth checking out! I’ll certainly be spinning it again and it may grow on me more, but for now it gets a still-solid 7.5/10!

Dimmu Borgir: Grand Serpent Rising

The symphonic black metal legends return with their first new release since 2023’s Inspiration Profanus. Somehow we missed reviewing that album, though I have checked it out in my own time and enjoyed it. Though typically not as into black metal in my youth, this band were always an exception, and to this day they are still so unique, interesting and captivating. Now, it’s not a small undertaking, 70-minutes of dark brutality, but if you like the band this is well worth a listen! The album is definitely designed to be listened to in one sitting, but songs like ‘As Seen in the Unseen’, ‘Repository of Divine Transmutation’ and ‘Recognizant’ are personal highlights. It’s certainly not for everyone, but if you are into the genre and have some patience, it is awesome and a damn rewarding listen! The band very much prove that they still have it, some three plus decades into their careers. And they are some of the most talented players and songwriters in metal. A solid 8/10 from us!

Dan Byrne: This is Where the Show Begins

The debut solo album from the UK hard rocker is somehow even better than I expected it to be! I’ve been following his career for years at this point, being a big fan of Revival Black back in the day, but this honestly feels like a step up, like he has something to prove. It has a real arena rock feel to it, both in the writing and the incredible mixing, and is definitely set to take Dan to the next level. It opens on the incredible single ‘Saviour’, followed up perfectly by ‘She’s the Devil’. Then you have tracks like ‘Sober’ and ‘Hate Me’ that are just as good as any of the pre-release singles! Every track on this is amazing though, each being as good as the last. It even works having the two slower tracks in the middle (aside I guess for closer ‘Home’), a move that is usually hard to pull off.

Dan is one of the best vocalists in the scene currently, and has proved here that his songwriting matches that immense talented, too. If you are at all into hard rock or its wider genres, this is an absolute must-listen! I’ll be spinning this plenty in the coming weeks and months, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our albums of the year list come December. 9/10

Jake Vaadeland: This is Jake Vaadeland

The traditional country/bluegrass Canadian singer-songwriter returned with his third studio album this last Friday, following up 2024’s critically acclaimed Retro Man. Well, safe to say it’s another excellent old-school release from the man and his Sturgeon River Boys. From ‘Wildwood Flower’ to ‘Keep on the Sunny Side’, ‘Will the Circle be Unbroken’ to ‘Short Life of Trouble’, there is plenty to love throughout. Don’t get me wrong, at 17 tracks, all of which are fairly similar, it can certainly feel long. However, even though it’s not strictly my sort of sound, I had a good time listening to this, and would urge anyone even slightly interested to do the same! He’s insanely talented at what he does, a real leading light in the 40s/50s revival genre. There isn’t even much else more I can say; it’s exactly what you’d expect it to be and damn good, at that! 7/10

Armored Saint: Emotion Factory Reset

The first studio album from the heavy metal legends in six years, this thing goes hard for a full 47 minutes. John Bush’s vocals never seem to age, sounding just as awesome and powerful as ever, and the rest of the band play their asses off throughout. From the opener to single ‘Hit a Moonshot’, ‘Compromise’ to ‘Bottom Feeder’, there is so much to love throughout this. There certainly isn’t a bad song throughout, either. They do a fantastic job of making this feel like their old-school music while also still having a modern edge to it, mainly due to the fantastic production. If you are at all a fan of 80s and 90s heavy metal/thrash, this is absolutely the album for you! Hopefully we get a full run of shows out here at some point soon, not just a one off (although Stonedead looks BANGIN’ this year), as I’d love to see this live! For now though, I’m happy to keep spinning this album, and it gets a solid 8/10 from us!

ALT BLK ERA: Our World

One of the fastest rising stars in the UK alt scene, the local duo already exploded onto the scene with their debut album last year, returning just 16 months later with this awesome EP! The pair continue to grow their fusion of rock, rap, pop and electronica perfectly with these five tracks, all of which are better than the last. It’s very hard to pick specific highlights, as every song flows so well into each other and is good as each other. Having said that, ‘Okay (Cyber Racing)’ was probably my favourite track. It’s no wonder the duo are getting the hype around them that they are getting, as they more than deserve. It this a great stop-gap before a sophomore album, and a release well worth checking out into you’re into a modern rock-pop sound! 8/10

McCoy Moore: Sunshine State

The sophomore album from the rising country star is a great, chilled-out affair. It gives off a slight vibe akin to the new ERNEST album, but with more of a modern or even bro country twang to it. And it’s also packed full of highlights. From single ‘Every Single Summer’ to the Cole Swindell-featuring ‘In Here, Out There’, ‘Something to You’ to ‘Chesney on a Beach’ to ‘Memories We Never Made’, there’s some truly excellent songs. However, there isn’t a bad track throughout, and it felt like it grew on me more and more the more I listened! The lyrics are amazing, going from emotion-filled to fun and clever, and the instrumentation fits perfectly behind them all. It’s easy to hear why he is such a fast-rising star, and to come out with a second album of this high quality just six months after his debut really highlights just how talented the guy is. He is surely going to keep growing and rising through the ranks quickly. I’m definitely becoming a bigger fan the more I listen, and this will certainly be one of the albums of the summer for me, I’m sure! A very easy 8.5/10, great stuff!

Erik Grönwall: Bad Bones

The former H.E.A.T. frontman put out his fifth solo album this last Friday, following up his Eriksplanations collection the last few years. However, it’s been a while since we’ve had original solo music from him. Well, aside for that Michael Schenker album, but I can’t imagine he had much of a hand in the writing of that. Heck, the album he did with Skid Row was four years ago now! So, safe to say, I’m curious what this is gonna be like!

Well, it’s fucking awesome! It’s an excellent AOR album from one of the best the genre has ever seen. It’s packed full of catchy, arena-filling choruses, soaring, powerful vocals and some awesome riffing. Also, the mix on this thing is amazing, making everything sound MASSIVE. And, because of all of that, it’s almost impossible to pick highlights. All 10 of these tracks are as good as the last, and it makes for an incredibly easy 35-minute listen. From boot stompin’ rockers to the three epic ballads, it’s all amazing. As much as I do prefer Kenny with H.E.A.T., Erik is an incredible talent and has crafted something truly special here. He continued his return from his recent health scare in a major way, and proves that he’s not going anywhere, except maybe even higher up! I’d recommend this album to absolutely anyone, and will be spinning it plenty in the weeks and months to come. Another very easy 9/10 from us! It’s almost as good as the last H.E.A.T. album…

Beggars Bliss: Self-Titled

This is an awesome slab of blues rock! Bring from our neck of the woods, I am already pretty familiar with the band, and they are all great people. So I’ve been excited to finally hear this release in a professional capacity for a while, and it somehow blew away every hope and expectation I had! Whether it’s big, grungy blues riffs, powerful, swagger-dripping vocals, solid drumming or some great keys work, this release really has it all. It also seemed like it had me in a chokehold from start to finish, me listening through it twice in full already just this last week! The album is arranged in such a way that it flows perfectly, every song slotting together like a jigsaw. It’s like a blend of Lenny Kravitz, Luna Marble, Exile Club and Hendrix, and I honestly can’t get enough. Surprisingly, I found myself preferring the lighter tracks, or at least those that have a greater focus on the keys, like ‘Forbidden Fruit’, ‘Dusk Till Dawn’ and the Pearl-Jam-like closer. However, that isn’t to say that the boot-stompers aren’t also amazing songs in their own right, too.

I could rave about this album all day; it’s right up my street musically and is phenomenal from start to finish. Heck, the fact that this is a debut album too is mind-blowing. The band have a very bright future ahead of them, and this will definitely be seen as the start of their incredible run in years to come. If you are at all interested, check this out immediately. I feel like it’s been a while but honestly, it deserves it… 10/10

Moonlight Haze: Interstellar Madness

This is an awesome power/symphonic metal EP! Six tracks across 21 minutes of true epicness and greatness. It’s another release that doesn’t have a bad song through its runtime, and is once again impossible to pick specific highlights. The band are so damn talented, and blend the heavy and the melodic perfectly, having some of the biggest choruses I’ve heard recently alongside some truly excellent riffs and even screams. The band have been around a little while at this point and it’s wild to me that they aren’t already a huge name. However, this release will surely push them to new heights, and deserves to be heard by everyone, it really is that good! They have a big new fan in me, and I can’t give this any less than 9/10!

Neo Dimes: Alone

The debut darkwave album from the mind of Stephen Edmunds is a damn interesting listen! Combining neo-industrial and post-punk sounds together into his own blend of dark, catchy electro music had me rather hooked from start to finish. Songs like ‘Angels’, ‘Obsidian’ and ‘How to Love’ are all personal highlights. I do think it’s maybe all a little too samey, 50 minutes of similar music did get a touch much by the end. However, that may be because it’s not 100% my style of music, and my tiny attention span just wandered off somewhere. Some of it reminded me of All the Damn Vampires, in the best possible way, while others dripped with Nine Inch Nails or Filter. If you’re into any of the bands or genres I’ve mentioned, this is well worth checking out! I had a good time listening and will certainly be spinning it again at some point soon! A solid 7/10 from us.

Bleachers: everyone for ten minutes

The indie/alt/soft rock New Jersans’ sixth studio album is a chilled-out, enjoyable. I have such an up-and-down relationship with this sort of music, but I honestly had a great time listening to this! Songs like ‘the van’, the almost country ‘dirty wedding dress’, ‘take you out tonight’ and ‘I’m not joking’ are personal highlights. However, the whole album is good and an incredibly easy listen, 39 minutes going by in a flash. If you are at all into the more chilled-out side of music, this is absolutely the sort of album to throw on and get lost in. I probably won’t revisit this often, but whenever I do I’m sure I’ll have a blast! An easy 7.5/10!

Ersedu: GORE

The sophomore EP from the symphonic death metal band dropped last Tuesday, and has been rather the mainstay on my streaming since then! It’s the perfect amount of epicness, heaviness and melody, making for a fantastic 15-minute listen! It at times reminds me of Dimmu above, but has more of a death metal than black metal base to it, honestly making it a more interesting listen for me! Once again, it’s also hard to pick highlights, as at only three track and an interlude/intro, it’s all killer, no filler! If you are at all into the heavier side of metal, this is absolutely the release for you! I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward, and my only complaint is that it isn’t longer! 8/10

Billy Lockett: Things are Looking Up

Album three from the British singer-songwriter is packed full of emotion. Covering plenty of deep topics and heartbreak, it very much takes the listener on a journey. And, it helps that said journey is accompanied by some amazing folk-pop-rock music! From the title track to ‘Cornerstone’ to ‘We Know’, there is plenty for me to love throughout. And generally while it’s not fully my sort of thing as an album as a whole, I had a good time listening, and can appreciate how good it is for people more into this side of music. It’s probably not something I’d revisit in full often, but the tracks I like I really like, and will be spinning them individually for quite some time to come. Billy’s a damn talented musican and songwriter. He definitely has a curious new fan in me, and I’ll be dipping into his back catalogue after this weekend, that’s for sure! 7.5/10

Bullets and Octane: Self-Titled

The first fully new studio album from the SoCal hard rockers in six years (though following up last years demos and B-sides collection), this feels like both a reinvention and a confirmation of the bands sound. The punk-edge and sleazy swagger is still very much still there from their early work, but it also has a revitalised heaviness and massive production to it that gives it a more modern edge. Plus, it’s also not only packed with big, chunky riffing, but some arena-filling melodies and choruses. From the opener to the almost Hellyeah-like ‘The Break’ and ‘Operation Butterfly’, there are so many amazing songs on here. However, every track on this thing is excellent, and the album is well worth at least a spin in full, if not several! Gene’s vocals are somehow as good as ever, and the rest of the band play their asses off throughout, creating an excellent vibe throughout. I’ve been a big fan of the band for years at this point, and to hear them return so strong with new music is honestly incredible, as well as heart-warming. I feel like this will be an album I’ll be revisiting plenty in the weeks and months to come, and I can’t give it any less than a 9/10!