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new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Those Damn Crows, Jon Pardi and More!

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An absolutely massive week for new albums this week, with the very best in metal, rock and country all putting out bangers. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Those Damn Crows: God Shaped Hole

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our review of it here!

Jon Pardi: Honkytonk Hollywood

The neo-traditional country legend is finally back with the highly anticipated followup to 2022’s Mr Saturday Night. Being one of the first country artists I got heavily into, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this for a while, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint! It’s nearly a full hour of catchy vocal lines, typically-country lyrics and great instrumentation, mainly including the incredible string work throughout. It’s awesome! Songs like the opener, ‘Gamblin’ Man’, ‘Rush’, ‘Last Call Thing’ and ‘Love the Lights Out’ are all incredible songs and huge personal highlights. However, so much of this album is excellent, and a lot of it ended up on my personal playlist. Whether it’s two-steppin’, boot stompin’ uptempo numbers or the more emotion-filled ballad tracks, it’s all written and performed so well and Pardi does it in such a way that few can even replicate, never mind do better.

It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or anything, but certainly continues and refines the sound that he’s worked on now for five albums, and may actually be his most solid album front-to-back. Yes, it’s long, but the quality is spread throughout the album and it’s honestly one of the few country albums that genuinely didn’t feel it’s length. It’s a great, fun listen that I’ll certainly be revisiting a lot in the coming weeks and months, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up being one of my favourite country albums of the year. It’s rare we get this style of country in 2025, so I’m so glad it’s this good! Mr Saturday Night is back, and gets a solid 9/10 from us!

Spin Doctors: Face Full of Cake

This was an interesting, weird release. Being raised on 90s and early 2000s culture, I like countless others couldn’t escape ‘Two Princes’, and came to love it alongside that album as a whole. However, I never really dug into the band much beyond that, so I was quite excited to be finally checking out something new from this band.

It had a lot more RHCP, Terrorvision and Quireboys than I was expecting. I’m not sure if was a gradual evolution or not, but this was not the album I was expecting heading in. However, it wasn’t a bad release, by any stretch. It took a bit of getting going; outside of ‘Rock n Roll Heaven’ the first few weren’t really my thing. However, by the time we reached ‘I Liked you Better When Your Butt was Big’, I really started to get into things, and the rest of the album from there was pretty solid. It’s quirky in a Barenaked Ladies kinda way, and is a pretty chilled out 44-minutes of poppy alt rock. It still has some of that 90s charm, but definitely has more of a modern spin on it. Is it as good as Pocket Full of Kryponite? No. But for a band that ‘peaked’ nearly three and a half decades ago, it’s a solid-ass release, and well worth checking out for anyone into the band or 90s rock in general. It’s a solid 7.5/10 from us!

Epica: Aspiral

The ninth album from the symphonic metal legends follows up their stellar 2022 ‘EP’ fantastically. I’ve always loved this band, and honestly this may be up there with some of their best work. Opening on their fantastic lead single and then the equally awesome title track is amazing. However, then we get not one, not two, but another THREE parts of the bands epic A New Ages of Dawns saga, the first mainline entries since 2009s Design Your Universe. It has made me go back and listen to all of them through and DAMN. It’s insane that songs released 20 years apart can still fit perfectly together. All three songs are huge highlights of the release, but honestly every track on this thing is amazing.

We’ve covered a lot of symphonic metal on this site over the years, and I’d say this measures up with the very best of them, be it Nightwish or Within Temptation or Evanescence or otherwise. Every single track is heavy, epic and masterfully performed by the entire band; it’s impossible to pick highlights. It’s an hour long and doesn’t feel like a slog in any stretch. And Simone’s vocals are as strong and impressive as ever. I went into this album expecting it to be good, but nowhere near this good. I loved every second of it, and will be spinning it a lot in the coming weeks and months. I can’t give it anything less than 9.5/10, amazing stuff! It’s a must listen for any metal fans reading!

Kaschalot: Anemoia

It’s pretty rare we get to cover much instrumental stuff on here, so when we do I kinda love it. Especially when it’s on the experimental math rock side of things; easily the best style of instrumental music (fight me). The band’s sophomore album comes out a full six and a half years after their debut, and the band have clearly put their all into the release. This is 36-minutes of stellar musicianship from front to back, and surprisingly manages to keep it interesting and captivating despite not a single word being said/sung. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but I loved this and found myself getting lost in the sheer talent of the quartet throughout. If you are into math rock or the quirkier side of rock in general, I can’t recommend this enough. Even if you aren’t typically into instrumental stuff it’s well worth checking this out, as they are so creative you may easily love it as much as I did. The band have a new fan in me, and this is an easy 8/10 from me!

Magnolia Park: VAMP

The fast-rising alt rock stars are back with their highly anticipated fourth studio album. I remember checking out Baku’s Revenge back when it released and thinking it was alright. This is at least better than that album, that’s for sure. It’s still your average radio metalcore, but at least now it borrows from Sempiternal era BMTH or 2021-2024 Architects or I Prevail, which is an improvement at least. Then again, there’s some older/newer school Architects in the heavier parts too, which is more than welcome. And there is an ever so slight industrial edge at times which does add some interesting moments to it. The opener is great and sets the tone perfectly. Then you have tracks like ‘CULT’ and ‘OMEN’ that are also big personal highlights. However, the rest of it was rather slower and pop/alt rock oriented. As I said, it is certainly better than the last album we checked out by them, but outside of a few shining lights it all felt pretty samey and honestly just made me want to listen to For Those That Wish to Exist again. It may grow on me still, but for now it gets a 7/10

OK GO: And the Adjacent Possible

The first studio album from the Chicagoan alt rock band in 11 years, safe to say this has had a fair amount of hype behind it! After listening, I’d say it lives up to at least most of said hype, too! It’s quirky, poppy and a lot of fun, reminding me of a combination of Mother Mother, Marianas Trench and even Mika. As you can tell from the other reviews, I love all three artists, so of course I loved this too. From the opener to the funk-rock ‘A Good, Good Day at Last’ to ‘Better Than This’ to the beautiful closing track, this is packed full of amazing songs and highlights. There truly isn’t a bad track on it. If you’re into the more chilled-out, pop/alt side of rock music, I’d certainly recommend checking this out, you certainly won’t be disappointed. OK Go are finally back, and what an album to be making their return with! It’s an incredibly solid 8/10 from us, and I’ll certainly be listening to this again soon.

Ye Banished Privateers: ‘Til the Sea Shall Give up Her Dead

Goddamn I love piratey folk music, and this is honestly one of the best examples as to why. Taking inspiration from traditional Irish and Scandinavian folk, the band do the sound so well and bring it perfectly to a modern mix and audience. The opening track is a huge highlight and sets the tone of the album fantastically well, and songs like the fun ‘Raise Your Glass’ and ‘Here’s To The Royal Navy’ are also big highlights. It’s a fun, lighthearted release that knows exactly what it is and does it to perfection. My issue is that it’s nearly an hour long and is pretty similar throughout. It was a little much for my by the end, but if you’re big into this sort of thing I’m sure that is much less of an issue. And live, I can imagine it being incredible. I won’t listen to it particularly often, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy it whenever I do. 6.5/10

Muscadine Bloodline: …And What Was Left Behind

The Alabaman country duo followed up last year’s The Coastal Plain with what I assume to be a ‘b-sides and leftovers’ follow-up to last year’s Coastal Plain album and its sessions. I really thought I’d reviewed it at the time, but apparently not. I’ve definitely checked it out somewhere and, wildly, I think I prefer this release to their previous one! ‘Ain’t For Sale’ is my favourite song the band have ever done (shoutout to the awesome Josh Meloy on said track too), and songs like ‘Deer in the Headlights’, ‘Hittin’ my Stride’ and ‘Ballad of the Blanton Brothers’ are massive other highlights. However, every single track on this thing is awesome, and I think I’ve very quickly become addicted. I’m so glad the duo have finally blown up and got the recognition they so sorely deserve, and putting out this incredible release to top it all off is a testament to how incredible they are as musicians and writers. If you’re in an way a country fan, or even a fan of southern stuff or that side of rock music, check this out, I’m sure you’ll love this just as much as I do. I loved their last couple of albums, but this may be my favourite release from them, and it gets a very solid 9.5/10 from me!

Nightblade: 5

Strangely the seventh album it seems from the punk-infused hard rockers, this is a damn solid release! It reminded me of a lower energy Pennywise at times, especially with the riffing, which I really liked. Songs like ‘Grave Mistake’, ‘I’ll be Home Tonight’ and ‘Left at the Lights’ are all personal highlights. It gives a real old-school rock’n’roll and punk vibe, almost a DIY sorta thing, throughout which is almost impossible not to love. I’m honestly shocked the band haven’t gotten more of a following, especially with how long they’ve been going. They deserve to be bigger, and I feel like in doing so their production would improve massively, too. It’s a touch rough around the edges, but is a lot of fun to listen to and is something I’d love to go see live at a dark dingy dive bar somewhere! The band are damn talented songwriters and it’s certainly made me want to go back and check out their older stuff. It’s another solid 7/10 from us!

Ledher Blue: Fait Divers

I had no idea what to expect heading into this release, yet somehow it still wasn’t this. Described to me as a ‘Portuguese meets Irish indie duo’, it’s so much more than that. It doesn’t feel like a lot of indie-rock out there these days; it has plenty of shoegaze, psychedelic and even folk elements throughout. Heck, the opening track gave me faint Tool vibes, which was enough to blow me away a little. While it’s not something I’d typically listen to, I found myself having a great time checking this out, and have spun it a couple of times since it’s release back on Tuesday. It’s definitely got elements of old-school, like The Strokes or Iggy Pop, but also has a distinct modern edge; especially in the excellent production. Tracks like ‘Sorrows of Ammended Hearts’, ‘Rollerblades’, and ‘Longing’ are all huge highlights. However, the whole album is pretty solid and a good one to just sit back and chill to. It will probably be a big hit among indie fans, but even if you’re not into the genre it might be worth checking it out, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised like I was. It’s a solid 7/10 from us, and it may get even higher with subsequent listens!

Once Awake: Far Out and Beyond

Goddamn, WHAT AN ALBUM. I went into this completely blind no was blown away. I’ve definitely gained a soft spot for music in that grey area between melodeath and metalcore, and this album is the perfect example of that done SO WELL. The fifth album from the Norwegian band shows how it’s done in terms of heaviness, melody, epicness and technicality, as well as great songwriting. And all nine tracks do it amazingly; there isn’t a bad song on this release. How have I never heard this band before? They definitely have a huge new fan in me! It’s honestly impossible for me to pick highlight tracks as every single song is incredible, almost all of it making it onto my personal playlist. The band are incredibly talented players and songwriters, and fingers crossed this is the album to finally break them out into the next level, as they so very deserve it! They feel like a combination of Lamb of God, In Flames and early All that Remains, yet also have something about them that makes them feel pretty unique. I cannot recommend this album enough to any fans of the heavier end of metal out there, and I desperately need to go back and check out the rest of their back catalogue. For the second time this week, I can’t give this any less than 10/10, incredible stuff!

Turnpike Troubadours: The Price of Admission

The country legends are back with their seventh album, and second since their reunion. As fans of the band would surely be expecting, it’s a chilled-out, neo-traditional release packed full of some great instrumentation, catchy choruses and vocal harmonies, and plenty of emotion. Songs like ‘Searching for a Light’, the Celtic/Americana ‘Be Here’ and ‘The Devil Plies his Trade’ are all huge highlights. However, the album is perfect to sit back and relax to, and there isn’t a bad track on it. The band do their style better than few others, so if you are into them or the old-school, Americana/blues infused country music, I’d most certainly recommend checking this out! Honestly, I’d put it up there against any of the rest of their discography, that’s how damn good this is. I’ll definitely be listening to it more in the coming weeks and months, and would absolutely love to see them live, especially at some open-air festival, it feels like the perfect setting. It’s a very easy 8/10 from us!

Reviews

Together: Buster Shuffle’s Best Album to Date?

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The sixth studio album from the ska-punk quartet is set to drop this coming Friday. Being an absolutely massive fan of the genre (I’m a 90s kid) I knew this was one I just had to be checking out, so getting sent it early so that I could do so in full was amazing news! Just to warn you now, this will be full of gushing and fangirling. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

‘Shows How Little You Know’ sets up the tone of the album perfect. A surprisingly heavy build drops out to some of the most Madness-like ska I’ve heard in years. However, the melody in the choruses, probably helped by the distorted guitars, is clearly inspired awesomely by Rancid. It’s a damn fun song packed full of plenty of amazing instrumentation that somehow never feels like it drowns out any of the rest. And it’s catchy as anything, especially with the ‘ey’s. It’s a short, sweet track that opens things up fantastically. If the rest of the album is up to this standard, we may be onto a winner!

‘Masterplan’ opens up a little more bluesy with the piano. However, the vocal melody, cockney accent and bouncy drums instantly roots it back firmly into ska. Again, there is so much going on instrumentally, and it’s a true testament to the band that they juggle it all so perfectly and it all compliments each other instead of drowning parts out. And it’s another infectiously catchy song too; that chorus is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, for sure! It’s a fun, feel-good track and a clear highlight of the album, easily making it onto our playlist!

The organ that opens ‘Take a Pill’ is so very Rancid in the best way, as is the chanting and the general vibe of the track. I love it! The bassline is a big highlight, and the lyrics are of course fantastic as always. They fit the theme of togetherness and coming together to support each other perfectly, and it’s a beautifully uplifting song packed in around the bouncy instrumentation. It’s sadly a really real situation they are singing about, and if anyone is down in that way, check this song out, it certainly helps put it all into perspective. It’s so hard to write lyrics this meaningful as it is, let alone around some stellar musicianship too. It’s yet another incredible song! I absolutely love the extended outro with everything slowly dropping out around the chanting. It honestly gave me goosebumps, and it’s something I want to see live so bad.

Tracks like ‘Waiting For You’, the title song and ‘Knocking at 122’ are slower tracks overall, but that doesn’t mean they are in any way bad. The lyrics for ‘Together’ are expectedly poignant and, if I can get nerdy for a second, the bass tone on the latter track is tasty. All are awesome, more traditionally British ska tracks, harkening back to the 2nd wave perfectly. They play their part on the album fantastically and, especially in ‘Knocking…’s case, it’s another big highlight of the album!

‘I Don’t Mind What I See’ is a bit more high energy; opening on a rock’n’roll riff and generally bringing that punk energy back in force. It’s the perfect change of pace for the mid-point of the album, and is an excellent track in its own right. It’s a catchy, foot-stomping, incredibly fun song and yet another huge highlight on an album so far packed full of them. If you listen to any track on this album, let it be this one, it’s the perfect example of everything the band do so very well!

‘If I Were Wise’ is another Madness-esque ska banger, while ‘One In Ten’ almost feels like the album’s ballad-track. The latter is another awesome song with a catchy as anything, emotion-filled, rocky chorus. ‘Thanks’ is a brief outing of simple, uplifting greatness while ‘View for a Fool’ closes the album in an album jazz-bar style. I love the beat and the piano, organ and guitars playing around it masterfully. I just love ska music, and few do it as well these days as Buster Shuffle do. That’s why I’ve combined these last few tracks together, because it’s all such perfectly formed ska music that it’s impossible to pick out individual parts, it’s all phenomenal. ‘View…’ is another perfect encapsulation of What the band are about, and rounds out the themes and of the album perfectly.

Overall: As I’m sure you can tell, I loved this! The whole thing is right up my street, and we never get to cover much ska stuff on here so whenever I do, I always find it finds a special place in my heart. Every song on this is awesome, and the whole message behind the album is beautiful and much needed in today’s climate. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone reading this. If you’re a fan of the band, the genre or just music in general, check this out, I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I do! The band are criminally underrated, and this is yet another album of theirs that shows that perfectly.

The Score: 9/10

Features

The Top Albums of 2024 – Part 2!

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Before we get into this, as I did a dishonorable mention last time, let’s do an honourable one this time…

A Whole New Sound – The pop-punk Disney covers album.

It’s an incredible album, but we only really focus on original releases for this list. Still, I’d recommend it to anyone though, and every band smashes their cover!

80 – Sergeant Thunderhoof: The Ghost of Badon Hill

Starting off this section of the list with a bag is the proggy-doom epic fifth album from the Somerset band. It’s another pretty recent release, but there was no way this wasn’t making the list! The atmosphere created by this album alone is utterly incredible, and that’s before we get onto the amazing riffing and pretty catchy melodic vocals throughout. I’ve loved it since the first moment it came out and it’s really no wonder it made waves, charting here in the UK. I listened to it through in full again while writing this up and somehow fell in love with it even more! It’s definitely made to be consumed in that capacity, and easily earned our 8.5/10 rating! If you like more slower, atmospheric stuff but still with plenty of awesome riffing and rocking, I cannot recommend this album enough!

Listen to: The whole thing from front to back, trust me!

79 – Steal the City: Road to Nowhere

Even more NWOCR on this list, it really goes to show how strong said scene is currently! STC are on the heavier end, incorporating some metalcore into the hard rock sound, and I think it’s why I loved this so much! I’ve always loved this band and the album’s been a long time coming, so to finally have it and having listened to it over the last couple of months, there was no way it wasn’t going to end up on this list! It’s somehow continued to grow on me more with each listen, too! From the incredible A7X-style guitaring to the heavy riffing to the incredibly catchy choruses, it has everything I love in this type of music! This is an incredibly strong debut album that got a very easy 9/10 from me when we reviewed it. The band are set for big things in both the rock and metal scenes in the UK, and this album is a fantastic jumping off point for that!

Listen to: Drag me to Hell, Knight the Unholy and Tomorrow’s Another Day

78 – Sweet: Full Circle

Y’all know how much of a sucker I am for a big chorus, and this album has them in spades! The legendary British glam band have no right being this good over half a century into their career, and it’s so sad that this will be the last studio release we get from them. Still, as I said in our review, the band are very much going out in style! This is just a good fun listen from front to back by a band that are so incredibly professional they could probably pump out a great album in their sleep! Don’t get me wrong, this certainly won’t be for everyone, but if you like an old-school 70s/80s glam rock sound, it doesn’t get much better than this album! I’ve listened to it multiple times now since it came out, and I doubt I’ll stop any time soon! It got a solid 9/10 in the review, and I stick to that here!

Listen to: Don’t Bring me Water, Everything and Rising Up

77 – Rotting Christ: Pro Xristou

Clearly 2024 is the year where my musical evolution has completed, because when I started Overtone I never expected a black metal album to end up on one of these lists! This, however, is a phenomenal release, from a songwriting, atmospheric and playing perspective. It has a truly epic feel and some incredible production, which is probably why I favour it over a lot of other black metal. It’s genuinely interesting, and fits around the subject matter perfectly. I just love the almost power metal blend it has with the darker, heavier baseline, and I think it would win more than a few unsuspecting people over in the sub-genre! I gave it a solid 8.5/10 when I reviewed the release back in May, and I’ve listened to it multiple times since and loved it just as much every time! It’s a damn good metal album overall that I would recommend to any fans of the genre!

Also, somehow the deluxe edition is even better, so check that out if you can!

Listen to: The Apostate, The Farewell and Saoirse

76 – Drew Holocomb and the Neighbours: Strangers No More Vol. 2

This is an amazing, chilled-out album that has stayed just as good with age. I wasn’t too familiar with them before this year, but have become a big fan of their particular brand of pop-leaning Americana. This album is the perfect example of that, and a fantastic follow-up from Vol. 1 last year. It’s a fun, relaxing 38-minute journey through some amazing songwriting and playing that it’s almost impossible to not love. Even if you aren’t necessarily a fan of this type of music, I’d recommend checking it out for Drew’s powerful vocals, catchy choruses and great lyrics, as well as the band’s pretty amazing playing throughout. There really isn’t a bad track on the album and it easily earned the 9/10 from us! I think it’s so hard to discern which part is better, but both volumes fit together perfectly; last year’s output somehow making this one even better!

Listen to: Green Light, Suffering and Burn

75 – Earthtone9: In Resonance Nexus

This was a return I was not expecting to be so amazing! Over a decade after the UK underground metal legends’ last album, they returned out of nowhere with this utterly amazing alt-metal release. It’s the perfect mix of heavy and melodic too, combining elements of metalcore and industrial perfectly. I’m shocked that nearly six months later this album hasn’t pushed the band to a bigger crowd, as I have listened to it so much in that time! Everything from the riffing to the drumming to the clean and harsh vocals are insane, and really top-notch stuff. If you’re into early 2000s metal with a modern twist, you’ll be as obsessed with this as I am! We gave it 9/10 when we reviewed it, and it fully holds up still all these months later! It more than deserves its place on this list, and I urge you to check it out immediately!

Listen to: Navison Record, Under the Snake and Black Swan Roulette

74 – Opeth: The Last Will And Testament

I know I know, I’m gonna get a LOT of hate from fans of the band for putting this album so low. Don’t get me wrong, it is a fantastic and incredibly interesting prog metal album, incorporating many different styles and constantly keeping me guessing. The talent to write and perform it all is off the charts. But it is still a huge, overblown prog album that I do find my tiny attention span wandering away from when trying to listen to in full. I’m a sucker for a big chorus as much as I love technical brilliance, and I’m afraid I got one without the other here. Still, I can’t help but appreciate just how amazing this is, and a real return to form for the band. It’s heavy, quirky and insane, and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of the band, the heavier side of metal or just odd music in general! It got a 9/10 from us and for very good reason, and it more than deserves to be here on this list!

Listen to: §2, §5 and §7

73 – Nightwish: Yesterwynde

The masters of symphonic metal returned this year with their first release in four years, a spiritual successor to that 2020 album. Somehow, it seems to have flown relatively under the radar, as I see very few people still taking about it yet it only came out in September. I have a feeling it’s because, while it is still an incredibly good release, it doesn’t quiet live up to the calibre of some of their other albums. However, the fact that I say that and it still lands this high on the list is a true testament to the sheer amazingness of this band. The riffing and playing overall is still incredible, Floor’s vocals are as good as ever, and the epic writing leads to some utterly huge, stadium-filling choruses. Plus, all the orchestral elements are just as amazing as they always are.

It’s an incredibly fun album to listen to if you like this sort of music, which I most certainly do. I do think it’s missing one big track like the other albums do though, to kinda set it apart from the pack. Though, as an album as a whole, it’s phenomenal. It got a solid 9/10 from us still, and I can safely say I do love this album!

Listen to: The Antikythera Mechanism, Perfume of the Timeless and The Children of ‘Ata

72 – Post Malone: F1 Trillion

It pains me to put this album so low. There’s on main reason for me doing so, though; it’s too damn long. And that’s just the standard version too, we ain’t even including the Long Bed extra tracks! Don’t get me wrong, there are a LOT of great tracks on this album. However, there are also a lot of track that, despite the huge names attached to them, are kinda mid and almost filler. I respect and admire the hell out of Post for all of the genre’s he’s dipped into and done well, but I really wish he’d have taken his time with his country stage and made this two separate albums. Having said that, though, the good stuff on this is so good that it more than earned its spot on this list. It was another album on this list that I gave a pretty easy 9/10 to, and I 100% stand by that all these months later. It’s a fun pop-country album with a lot of highlights, it’s just too bloated.

Listen to: Finer Things, Pour Me a Drink and Nosedive

71 – Skam: From the Depths

The grungy, stonery NWOCR legends returned this year with album #5, and somehow upped their game once again. Every track on this release is just as good as the last one; it’s 45-minutes of hard rock excellence. The band don’t get nearly as much credit as they deserve, and even though this album is only a couple of weeks old the same can be said here! It’s such a strong album packed full of awesome riffing and arena-filling, catchy choruses, and I can’t rave about it enough! If you’re a fan of anything from QOTSA to Those Damn Crows, you need to listen to this like yesterday. Anyone who listens to this can easily tell why I gave it a 9/10, it’s amazing, and another album I have listened to a lot over the last couple of weeks that it’s been out. I really wish I could put this higher but, as I said, there was so much awesome music released this year!

Listen to: Rising Fever, Fate of the Souls and The Grind

70 – Marianas Trench: Haven

The sheer epicness of a lot of this pop-rock album boosted this much higher than I was expecting on this list. The dramatic, almost Broadway-esque arrangements throughout were incredible, and made me instantly obsessed with this release. Heck, three-and-a-half months on and the opener still blows my mind every time I hear it. Don’t get me wrong, it certainly won’t be for every reader of this list, and is somehow maybe the most out-there entry on it, but I’d certainly recommend anyone with an open mind checking it out, because it is truly amazingly written. Yes, it’s a bit Jonas Brothers at times, but it’s also very Panic! My Chemical Romance, Set it Off etc, so make of that what you will! I’m sure this will shock no one by this point, but it got another 9/10 from me when I did my review! It’s an infectiously fun album that never fails to make me smile, so it easily made this list!

Listen to: A Normal Life, I’m Not Getting Better and Ancient History

69 – Devin Townsend: Powernerd

I never thought I’d end up with a Heavy Devy album on a list like this but here we are. I feel like I finally ‘get’ him. Well, at least this side of him, those ambient electro albums can get in the bin. But yeah, this is a fantastic alt-metal album! From his heavy riffing to his powerful, amazing vocals and the steady pace throughout, this is easily one of my favourite releases Devin has put out, and that’s including SYL too! I feel like it’s going to be another criminally underrated album that makes it onto this list. It’s pretty well put together too, with some more atmospheric bits spread through, giving plenty of dynamics across its 44-minute runtime. I feel like this is somehow a culmination of his last few years of work, it all combining perfectly together to form something truly great and interesting, and has won me over onto the guy even more. It’s another that I somehow missed for New Music Mondays, but the more I listen the more it grows on me. It gets a solid 8.5/10 from me, though lands this high up on our list for being such a surprising change of pace for my taste, and because I can appreciate it is generally an even better album than even that!

Listen to: Powernerd, Knuckledragger and Glacier

68 – Black Lakes: Dead Gods

I’ve loved this band since I reviewed their debut album a couple of years back, and I’m so glad they’ve made it onto this list with their sophomore release! This one ups the ante of that release in every way, not only continuing the band’s niche carving in the local scene and their sound, but creates one of the most interesting albums of the year. The band manage to combine early 2000s radio metal and metalcore with the current hard rock scene in the UK to create something truly unique and special, and I have listened to it a lot since early September when it was released! Honestly, it’s still growing on me more with each listen somehow, too! Everything from the track on it is amazing, and the album itself is arranged perfectly! Whether it’s the melodic, catchy vocals, amazing, ch0nky riffs, impressive guitaring or the surprising yet amazing screams, there is so much to love, and makes every track stand out as a highlight in its own highlight. We gave it a 9/10, but that may even be a little too low for this. No matter what you’re into check this out ASAP, you won’t be disappointed!

Listen to: Hurricane, Dead Gods and Dark Glass

67 – Asomvel: Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll

I fucking love this band. They are a no nonsense, straight-to-the-point hard rock band who own their Motörhead-like sound on their sleeves and do so fantastically. The band are big dumb fun and this is 44-minutes of boot-stomping, head-banging greatness. If you are in any way familiar with this band you know exactly what to expect with this album, and they deliver exactly that in spades. If you’re a fan of the style of music I cannot recommend the album enough (or them live too, as we got the chance to see them earlier this year!). I’ve listened to this album a lot over the last few months, be it in full or individual tracks, and no matter what it’s impossible not to have a good time when it’s on. It got another massive 9.5/10 from our review, and I still stand by that today! I’d definitely recommend giving it a spin!

Listen to: Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll, Outside the Law and When You’re Dead Lie Down

66 – Fellowship: The Skies Above Eternity

One of my best finds of this year, the power metal Brits put out one hell of a sophomore album this year! I usually find the genre vaguely average, loving it but never having much come out that blows me away. This certainly bucked that trend. The overall feel is hugely epic, but the instrumentation is utterly phenomenal, giving Dragonforce a run for their money. Meanwhile, the vocals give enough huge melodies and choruses to make anyone sing along! I know it is certainly not everyone’s favourite genre, but it’s worth checking out from a sheer musicianship standpoint alone. Every track slaps and, at only 40-minutes, it’s a pretty easy listen! And this humble writer absolutely loved it, hence why it got 9/10 and this specific spot on his list of top albums of the year!

Listen to: Victim, Eternity and A New Hope

65 – Amongst Liars: By Design

Another album that we somehow missed for NMM, but one that I loved from the moment I listened to it. I’ve loved the guys for a while, being obsessed with their last album a couple of years ago and even seeing a couple of these tracks live last year. The band have certainly managed to keep developing their sound over the last two years, and what they put out back in July is utterly phenomenal. Still having that indie edge but leading into the heavier side of their sound, going much more radio-friendly alt-rock, it’s an amazing album! It’s another release that’s got plenty of highlights tracks, while there isn’t a bad song in sight! The band already done some huge stuff in their short time together, and this release will surely set up even more of that moving forward. I’ve listened to it a lot over the last few months and would easily recommend it to anyone reading this; there really is something for everyone! It gets an easy 9/10 from me, and easily earned its place on this list.

Listen to: Read for This?, The Shameful and Alibi

64 – Judas Priest: Invincible Shield

19 albums in and after half a decade, the NWOBHM have no right putting out an album this damn good. Not that I expected it to be bad, of course, but they have to slow down and chill out eventually, right? That time clearly wasn’t this year, as they put out another awesome heavy metal album that is packed full of amazing tracks. Honestly, as I said in my review of it, it’s pretty akin to Painkiller, in both sound and quality. It’s been out months so I really shouldn’t have to gush over it as much as you should have already checked it out by now, but if you haven’t go and do that immediately! The legends got a whopping 9.5/10 from me and honestly after all this time and all these listens, it’s impossible to disagree with that. It’s arguably in their top 10 albums easily, and is a true testament to just how incredible the band are as players and songwriters. It only didn’t get higher because of how many other amazing releases also came out this year!

Listen to: Panic Attack, Devil in Disguise and Trial by Fire

63 – Skarlett Riot: Caeleste

The fourth album from the UK metalcore/alt metal powerhouses is my favourite album from them. It’s taken me two months of sitting on it to decide that, but it really is that awesome! Not only is every track on it amazing, but it does every element of their craft so well. You want heavy riffing and some breakdowns? Check. You want soaring, catchy vocals, as well as some heavy and harsh and incredible screams? Check. And overall epic feel akin to something more power/symphonic metal-based? All of the check. The whole band are extremely talented players, vocalists and songwriters, and they have crafted something truly special with this release. There’s no wonder they’ve steadily build themselves up in the UK scene and are already playing some pretty big venues after this album. We gave it a 9/10, but honestly the more I listen to it, the more I think it could be even higher! I’d recommend this to any metal fan at all reading this, and it easily made it to this slot on the list!

Listen to: Run, Limits and Shatter

62 – Lainey Wilson: Whirlwind

The modern queen of country herself put out a followup to her 2022 breakout album, and somehow build and improves in that stellar release! And, as is a common theme for this part of the list clearly, it grew on me more and more with each passing listen. It just kept creeping higher and higher up as I wrote this and listened to it. There truly isn’t a bad song on the release. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly tracks I prefer to others, usually the more upbeat and interesting ones. However, Lainey is so talented that even the half the album that is slower stuff is fantastic, and a really great listen. There is much more than the three tracks named below that you should check out, and I’d easily recommend the entire album if you have even a passing interest in country. There’s a reason why she is one of the biggest names in country currently, and why I gave her a solid 9/10!

Listen to: Country’s Cool Again, Broken Hearts Still Beat and Hang Tight Honey

61 – The Browning: OMNI

Time to get heavy now, as we have the tech deathcore titans’ new blistering album scorching its way onto our list. The mixture of the band’s insane heaviness and industrial-synth elements have crafted something super interesting and wholly unique. It certainly won’t be for every reader of this list, but it’s an incredibly well crafted album that goes by in a flash and has a fantastic flow to it. It’s also packed full of highlight tracks, wigh me loving every single song on the album. Even with their massive heaviness, this band should be bigger than they are, and I truly believe that this album is the one to finally push them higher after all these years. I somehow only gave it 8/10 the other week when I reviewed it, but after another couple of listens that easily goes up another point. I’d honestly recommend it to any heavy fans out there as it has some of the best riffing, drumming, breakdowns and screams in the game currently.

Listen to: FED UP, OMNI and Deceiver

<- Part 1

Part 3 ->

Features

The Top 100 Albums of 2024!

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Yep, we’re reached that insane time of the year again where my brain hurts trying to organise some of my favourite albums of the year into some sort of vaguely coherent list. Now, to add a bit of context, this may be our biggest year ever. We covered over 470 albums in the space of the last year since the list started up again (November-November). So, if an album you like is low down or not even featured, that by no means means it’s bad, just that we covered so much music this year!

And as usual, this is all personal opinion; I’m not saying this is a 100% truthful or even logical list, just how I feel and as a way of promoting some incredible albums that I think everyone should hear. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the craziness.

But first, a dishonourable mention…

Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER

I kid of course! I’d actually personally like to thank Beyoncé for allowing me to be in the music industry and make this list in the first place…

100 – Linkin Park: From Zero

Starting off strong, I know! Now, if you read our review of this album, you may be a little shocked to see its inclusion in this list, especially over a lot of other really great music. My opinion of the album hasn’t really changed much in the last few weeks, either. Half of the album still feels like slower, pop-rock Mike Shinoda solo stuff with the LP named slapped over the top of it. However, the singles and heavier tracks are SO GOOD that it’s hard not to give it a slot on this list. When the band go hard and bring back that old-school, nu-metal edge they had back in the day, it some of the best songs to come out this year. Despite the controversies, Emily has fit rather perfectly into the band, and her voice throughout is impressive. Honestly, if the whole album was the same quality as ‘Two Faced’, it could have easily been up there in the top 20. But between some tracks that felt like filler and the rather tiny 30-minute runtime, it barely scrapes onto this list.

Listen to: Two Faced, Casualty and The Emptiness Machine

99 – TRUCKER DIABLO: Social Hand Grenade

The first of many bands in the NWOCR scene to make this list, yet that should by no means be seen as negative; this album is awesome! Right from the electrifying punk intro track to the now-typical closing ballad is Wildhearts-like awesomeness, and I love every second of it. The band have been around now but I feel like they’ve really come into their own with this release; not just from a playing standpoint but from a writing one, too. If it was any other year a little weaker this album may have been much higher on this list. It’s amazing, and if you’re into the heavier end of hard rock it’s certainly one I’d recommend! I sadly didn’t have the chance to review it when it released, even as part of our New Music Monday series, but it gets an easy 8/10, and earned its slot on our list easily!

Listen to: Kill the Lights, Stop the Bleed, Here Come the Vultures

98 – Chase Rice: Go Down Singin’

This makes it onto the list due to ‘Fireside’ alone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all amazing, but that track has been an obsession of mine since this album was released back in September. Chase’s traditional country/roots sound is amazing, and his voice compliments it perfectly. In a hugely saturated country market in 2024, Rice somehow manages to do stuff that sounds a little different and interesting, setting himself apart from his peers easily. Plus, at only 11-tracks long, it’s quite short for a country album these days, which definitely helped my enjoyment of it. Especially compared to his bloated (yet still amazing) release the year before. Yes, it does get a touch preachy at times, but that comes with the territory, I guess. It doesn’t make this album any more amazing; the perfect country release to chill out to. While I Hate Cowboys didn’t make last year’s cut, but this one got a strong 8.5/10 from me and sneaks into this year’s edition!

Listen to: Fireside, Hey God it’s Me Again and If Drinkin’ Helped

97 – Category 7: Self-Titled

The guitar tone, MY GOD. There was no way this album wasn’t making the list. I’ve been obsessed with Mike Orlando’s guitar playing since Adrenaline Mob, and adding to that metal icons like Phil Demmel, Jason Bittner and John Bush was of course going to be a recipe for awesomeness. And this is 51-minutes of exactly that; technical heavy metal awesomeness. If you’re a fan of Adrenaline Mob, Bush’s tenure with Anthrax or Bittner’s time in Overkill, this will very much be an album for you, if you haven’t fallen in love with it already! It really harkens back to a style of metal that we really don’t get much of these days, which really set it apart from the pack this year. I was raised on this mid-2000s, post industrial/nu metal sound, among other stuff, so I can’t help but love it. I’d recommend this to any metal fans reading this article, as there really isn’t a bad track on the album. It got a solid 8.5/10 from us and easily secured its place on this list!

Listen to: In Stitches, Exhausted and Mousetrap

96 – Patty Gurdy: Tavern

The overnight traditional folk sensation just had to make this list! After ‘Brighter Days Come’ popped off on my TikTok a few months ago, I wasn’t sure if she’d just be a flash in the pan or one-hit-wonder. However, after sitting with this album for a few weeks now, it just keeps getting better and better! Her voice is utterly phenomenal, and whoever’s writing these songs, be it her with/or someone else, is amazing at it. ‘Rise Up’ is one of my top tracks of the year and still gives me goosebumps to this day; it’s so powerful and I’m desperate to see it live. Also, ‘Up to the Stars’ scratches that Witcher itch so good. The only thing slightly letting it down and lowering it a couple of spots, which I think I said in our review too, is the song with Chris. And that’s not even because of the controversy surrounding him, I just feel it ruins the tone of the album a little.

It’s certainly not going to be an album for everyone, but if you’re into some traditional folk music with a modern twist, I can’t recommend this album enough. It easily earns the 8.5/10 we gave it, and it may even be a touch higher the more I listen!

Listen to: I Am With You, Rise Up and Brighter Days Come

95 – The Outlaw Orchestra: La Familia

It really pains me to put this album so low. In the big run of albums after this one on this list, you will find few as fun to listen to as this one. Every single track has a completely different sound and feel, ranging from bluegrass to roots to country to hard rock to even easy listening/soft rock, and everything in between! And they do all with not only style, but while keeping their own identity; it all feels very Outlaw Orchestra. I think my literal only thing is that having seen them live a lot over the years, they come across even better in that setting. Though, this is certainly my favourite album from the band; it’s amazing! If you’re a fan of any of the genres I’ve brought up already, I cannot recommend this album enough. It’s only in this slot because of the sheer amount of music I’ve checked out this year. It was very deserving of the 9/10 we gave it!

Listen to: El Dorado, Holy Ground and Born to be a Thief

94 – Saving Vice: Good Days, Dead Eyes

This was another case of an album being a bit of mixed bag. However, with this metalcore release, there was a lot more good than bad! Not that you’d guess from the rather average modern-metalcore opener. It wasn’t bad, but it certainly gets more interesting further into the album. The track that follows it is dark, epic, heavy awesomeness. Then you have stuff like the songs mentioned below, ‘Cry, Wolf’, ‘Blood or Wine?’ And ‘Trauma Souba’ that are all pretty great! It’s a damn solid sophomore album from the US band, showing they’ve got a huge future ahead of them! Some of the breakdowns and screams are honestly up there with my favourite of the year, and the writing in general is pretty damn good! It’s easy to see why it got an easy 8/10 from me when I did my review of it! The only reason it isn’t higher is because it wasn’t solid quality all the way through, and because this year is so insanely strong!

Listen to: Haec Est Ars Moriendi, The Cabal and The Covenant

93 – Cody Jinks: Change the Game

Another album I wish I could put higher, as Mr Jinks is one of my favourite country artists. However, while some of this is excellent, other parts are a bit of a mixed bag. Honestly it seems to be a running theme for this part of the list. The title track has my ears in a vice grip still all these months later, while another three or four tracks on this are also excellent. And don’t get me wrong, the rest of it isn’t bad by any stretch, hence why we gave it 9/10. But when I said it would take a few more listens to grow on it… it kinda didn’t. A lot of this is slow. And while that isn’t inherently a bad thing, it does make the rare quicker paced songs stand out more as highlights. Sitting down and listening to the album as a whole is an amazing experience, and a must for any country fans. But the repeatability of a lot of the songs sadly drags it down a few notches. Still, it’s one of the best country albums of the year and sneaks onto our list!

Listen to: Outlaws and Mustangs, Change the Game and Always Running

92 – Flotsam And Jetsom: I Am the Weapon

This is just some good old-fashioned 80s thrash-infused heavy metal. And it’s also another album that’s impossible to not love. I have to admit that somehow I wasn’t too familiar with the band outside of their name before this release, but they immediately won me over with their throwback sound mixed with epic power metal. However, it is another album that takes just a little bit of getting into, I’ve found. The first couple of tracks still don’t hook me much to this day, but by the time we reach the end of the title track, and every song after that, I’m hooked in for another excellent full-album listen. But, while not every track on this is perfect, it’s an incredibly solid album that easily earns it’s way onto this list! I’ve listened to it a lot in the couple of months since it’s been out, and it certainly earns it’s 9/10 from us! It’s another one that I desperately want to see live, so hopefully they tour the UK soon!

And once again, some of the best artwork on this list!

Listen to: A New Kind of Hero, Burned my Bridges and Cold Steel Lights

91 – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: b741

So, when I came back to revisit this album, I have to admit I was slightly confused why it ended up so high up on my list. Then I got hit by the one-two-three punch of the three tracks named below, and I suddenly remembered… this album is fucking awesome. And not only that, it’s a whole lotta fun. To the point where, going back and listening to the early tracks after, they clicked a lot more with me after.

And it still blows my mind that the same band that made it onto last year’s list for a thrashy, doomy metal album, is the same band that put out this jazzy, easy-listening, Beatles-style thing. Both are fantastic in their own right, and somehow I found myself liking this even more than their heavier one. I’d yoy like more chilled-out, soft rock stuff; something fun and easy to listen to, I cannot recommend this album enough. It’s quirky and weird and the talent it took to write and play it is off the charts! I still objectively agree with the 10/10 score I gave it, and I’ve been sleeping on this for far too long, I’m a little obsessed again!

Listen to: Field of Vision, Hog Calling Contest and Le Risque

90 – Fahran: The Hope That Killed Me

A band that I’ve known and been a fan of now for a decade, and another that deserve to be so much higher on this lost, and so much bigger in general. After some time off post-apocalypse (2020) the band returned with a bang, coming out of the gate swinging with this album. The band have always straddled the line between hard rock and metalcore wonderfully, but have never quite done it this masterfully before. I adore Chasing Hours and even though that album holds a hell of a lot of nostalgia for me, I think after a couple of months to sit on it this is my favourite album they’ve put out. From the riffing to the breakdowns to Matt’s soaring vocals and surprisingly great screams, it’s all amazing, and feels like the perfect evolution of the band.

They aren’t going to get anywhere near enough credit for this album as they deserve, but I fully stand by the 9/10 it got from us! If you are a fan of the band did or any of the genres I’ve spoke about before, check this out, you may very well discover one of your favourite bands! And do yourself a favour and listen to it in fill, even if the hour runtime is daunting!

Listen to: Hate Me, Marizion and Inside the Fire

89 – Marty Friedman: Drama

Mild spoiler alert: this is the only almost all instrumental album on this list. However, what a pick, right? The guitar LEGEND put out an absolute banger of an album back in May, and one that I have enjoyed listening to ever since! Whether you listen to this as a musician for his absolute mind-blowing technical ability, or as a general music fan for the sheer epic soundscapes he creates, it’s a truly phenomenal release. It’s crazy to me that someone this good at crafting their solo stuff will have it so overlooked in favour of his time in Megadeth (not that that wasn’t also incredible). You can very much tell the man is a composer at heart, and what he’s pieced together here is honestly some of his best work. Honestly, you listen to ‘Triumph’ and tell me it doesn’t make you emotional! It more than earned its 9/10 I gave it, and there was no way it wasn’t getting itself onto this list somehow!

Listen to: Triumph, Thrill City and 2 Rebeldes

88 – We Three Kings: By Royal Appointment

I’ve loved this band for a while now, and yet I still didn’t expect this album to be quite this excellent! From the fuzzy riffing to the catchy, arena-filling vocals and chorus melodies and the solid drumming, both of them have crafted something amazing with this release. It’s the perfect combination of hard rock, grunge and indie music, and fits right in with the current musical climate. It’s another incredibly recent release, but as soon as I first heard it I knew it was getting a spot on this list. As with most of this list, I am desperate to see all of this live, too! I would highly recommend checking it out if you are into any of the genres I’ve mentioned; the band are certainly destined for big things! We gave it a very easy 9/10 in our review and I cannot wait to see where the band go from here!

Listen to: Blackout, The Edge of Death and Give it to me, GO!

87 – The Warning: Keep Me Fed

These girls have absolutely exploded onto the international scene this year, and it’s thanks in large part to this album. Shockingly it was another I missed for New Music Mondays, but having gone back to listen to it recently, I can see why everyone’s raving about it. It’s a fantastic album, hence its appearance here!

This is a super solid hard rock album from front to back, not a single second of its 38-minute runtime going to waste. And, what’s more, it’s not only brimming with attitude and swagger, but it’s a dam fun album to listen to! I hate that I missed this in June, as I had a solid two months without it before I finally had time to listen to it, and have loved it ever since. They’ve managed to produce a rather unique sound that is hard rock but certainly has a pop-friendly edge to it. It’s incredibly polished and well put together and produced, which certainly is yet another big point in its favour. I cannot recommend this album enough to any rock fans out there, and it’s a very easy 8.5/10 from me. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the band moving forward, as I can see them becoming megastars!

Listen to: S!CK, Qué Más Quieres and Escapism

86 – Poppy: Negative Spaces

If you asked me a couple of years ago, I’d have said I’d be very shocked if Poppy ever made it onto a list like this for me. However, I’ll gladly eat my words, as she has evolved into one hell of an artist, and this is an amazing modern metal album. It’s another pretty varied album, between radio-metal, hardcore and more pop-leaning tracks. I do have to say that some hit the mark better than others, and that if they were all on the heavier end I do think this would have been much higher for me. However, none of the tracks are bad at all, and it certainly gives the release an interesting ebb and flow. Plus, there is no denying her absolutely insane vocal range these days! She’s quickly becoming one of the biggest names in the modern scene, and it’s not hard to hear why when she’s putting out stuff like this! She got an easy 8.5/10 from our review, and it easily scored her a spot on this list!

Listen to: have you had enough?, they’re all around us and nothing

85 – Gun: Homebre

This album had no right going this hard. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a fan of the band, but I didn’t expect them to come out with something this great nearly fourth years after they first started. It’s a short but fun hard rock/punky/sleazy album, with plenty of memorable, catchy choruses and melodies. The band never fail to impress, but I do truly feel this is the best release they’ve put out in a good while. As I said in my review, this is what modern day Guns n Roses SHOULD sound like. It got a very deserving 9/10 from us and is a must for any rock fans reading this!

Listen to: All Fired Up, Take Me Back Home and Never Enough

84 – Scarefield: A Quiet Country

I’mma say it; this may be one of, if not the, most underrated album on this list. It’s old-school heavy metal with a modern feel to it, why aren’t more people eating this up?! There’s Maiden, Priest, Metallica in there, but also just a touch of Trivium and Bullet for my Valentine and even Corosion of Conformity and Alice in Chains in there, what’s not to love? Fun fact: this is the only review I’ve ever been paid to do, and I’m being genuinely serious when I say I love it, and have become a big fan of the band because of it.

There is so much amazing stuff on this album… but that opening track doesn’t quite do the rest of the album justice, hence why it’s a little lower than it maybe could have been. However, if you are a fan of any metal from the last half-a-centry, I’d certainly recommend checking this out. It’s absolutely insane quality for a debut album and it more than deserves its spot on our list and the 9.5/10 review we gave it!

Listen to: Dead Center, Spectre and Children of the Corn

83 – Graphic Nature: Who Are You When No One is Watching?

The UK nu-metalcore band put out an absolute banger of a sophomore album earlier this year. It’s beautifully heavy and perfectly encapsulates the best of both of its combined genres. The riffing is incredible, the breakdowns are heavy and the screamed, hip-hop-style vocals and flow are amazing. Heck, even the turntable fits in so well, arguably better than Slipknot have ever incorporated it. I can’t put it much better than I already did in my review back in July, and could quite easily continue to gush about the band all day. Over four months on, this album still blows me away, and I’ve listened to it pretty regularly in that time. If they continue on this path they’ll be a HUGE name sooner rather than later. This got a very easy 9/10, and it was a very easy choice for this list!

Listen to: Blinded, Something I’m Not and Low

82 – The End Machine: The Quantum Phase

I had a LOT of fun revisiting this album for this list. I remembered listening to this when it was released and loving it, hence why it was still pretty high up my list some eight months later, but I sadly hadn’t had the time to check much of it out since then. It’s a shame too, as this is a fun, great AOR album! They really channel a heavier, more modern Night Ranger/early Whitesnake vibe, and it makes for an amazing listen from front to back! And, as will be a trend in this list, there really isn’t a bad track on the release. I sat and listened to the full 51-minutes of this happily as I wrote this, and just wish I could put it higher! The band are insanely talented musicians and three albums into their careers they are truly firing on all cylinders. I can see big things in their future, and it could easily all be traced back to this release! It got the first 10/10 on this list in our review and I still stand by that today. It’s the perfect AOR album this year, and I’d recommend it to anyone!

Listen to: Black Hole Extinction, killer of the Night and Shattered Glass Heart

81 – Sum 41: Heaven :x: Hell

The final album from the pop-punk legends is awesome… if rather bloated. I’ve had that same opinion since the end of March when it was released, and it hasn’t once changed in that time. 20 tracks, even for a swan song, is too much. Especially when there is some filler in here. However, despite the negativity, a lot of this is up there with some of the best music the band has ever produced. There’s something to be said for going out on top, and Sum 41 have definitely done that (until the reunion, of course!). There was no way this wasn’t making this list, and the fact that it is this good to warrant it, not just coasting by on emotion and nostalgia, is a real bonus. It’s top-notch early 2000s pop-punk, and I love it. It’s what I grew up on, and there was not a chance I was hating this album. It was yet another excellent album that got a 9/10 from us, and it’s a must for anyone into anything to do with punk or rock.

Listen to: Landmines, Future Primitive, Rise Up

Part 2 ->

Reviews

Held by Trees, Penny Rich and Forsaken Rite: EPs Galore!

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Another three awesome, very different EPs for us to check out this time around. So, let’s dive right in with them!

Held by Trees: Held by Trees & Martin Smith

This is a damn interesting release. The bands first collaboration with a vocalist and they couldn’t have picked a better fit than Martin. Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not going to be for everyone, it being slower, more chilled out prog music. However, from a truly instrumental and writing standpoint, it’s utterly phenomenal. The way the instruments play alongside each other in the opening track is amazing, Martin’s voice almost treated like another instrument alongside them. However, that shouldn’t take away from his great lyrics. But man, the guitar and sax solos were a big highlight of the track. Then you have the equally epic and introspective, albeit slower, ‘Lay Your Troubles Down’, and the shorter ‘Oh, My Love’. The whole thing has such an awesome flow to it, feeling like a combination of U2, Pink Floyd and the Police, yet somehow is arguably more interesting than all three. I cannot get over that Sax work especially in ‘Oh, My Love’. It’s definitely a highlight of the release. The rest of the EP is different versions of these three tracks, which I can honestly take or leave, but the nearly half an hour of these three are amazing, and went by like a flash. Honestly, it gets a solid 8.5/10 from me!

Penny Rich: On and On

We don’t cover anywhere near enough noise-punk on this site, which is probably why when I hear some as good as this, I love it even more! This is four tracks of attitude-drenched indie-punk, and I enjoyed every number of it. The closest thing I can think to compare it to is IDLES, but even then it has a bit more grit and intrigue to it. And look no further for proof of that then the opening single, ‘Fundamentals’. It incapsulates everything the band are about in one four-and-a-half minute package, and is a massive highlight of the release. However, all four tracks are great, and if you like this sort of music you’ll get plenty of enjoyment out of the EP. The band are all clearly insanely talented musicians and writers, and are going to become a huge name in the scene sooner rather than later, I’m sure of it! I’mma be listening to it plenty where I can, though interestingly it is only realised via Bandcamp currently, a service I sadly do not use anywhere near enough. It very much compliments the band’s punk ethos, though! It’s an easy 8/10!

Forsaken Rite: The Forgotten West

The Canadian folk-metallers are back with their first new music since 2017’s full-length The Northern Saga. Touting this as very much a continuation to that release, I clearly need to go back and check that album out as this EP is awesome! It takes inspiration from not just folk, but symphonic and even atmospheric black metal too, combining all these sounds together in one powerhouse 22-minute package. The clean, operatic vocals are beautiful, and contrast perfectly with the harsh male growls throughout. And the rest of the band have created an epic, awesome soundscape across all five tracks! It’s super hard to pick highlights, but for me the opening track and ‘Fire Circle’ stood out ever so slightly above the others. As I said though, all are fantastic songs. The band have returned with a vengeance, and if they build on this release and momentum, can easily be pushed high up in the genre pretty soon. For now, this EP gets another easy 8/10

Reviews

2000 Trees 2024 – Saturday Review!

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So, somehow I have reached the ripe old age of nearly 30 and not been to one of the biggest rock festivals in the UK. That finally all changed last weekend when I went to 2000 Trees for the day. It’s not like I hadn’t been to other festivals of the same size (see our Long Road Review, for example), but I still didn’t know what to expect. Safe to say I loved it! It’s very well set up and organised, isn’t too big, and packs plenty of different stages and styles into the small sight. I’d definitely go back again if the lineup was another good one!

But, I also want to talk about the bands, as we managed to see a good few over the day…

The first band we caught a full set from were The Xcerts on the main stage. Scottish bands just seem to hit different, and these were no exception. The soft/indie/pop rock was amazing to hear live, and the crowd went nuts throughout. I’d not really heard their music before now, just their name, but they have a big new fan in me, and I’ve had a few of their songs on a fair bit over the past few days since I got back. They fed perfectly off the massive love from the crowd and, although the frontman came across as a bit arrogant at times, it kinda worked well with their show. A great way to open the day for us!

We caught the first half of the Mysterines on the main stage too, but honestly I could take them or leave them. They sounded good, but didn’t feel they had really any stage presence, just going through the motions instead of performing. Maybe it was the style of music though, as plenty around us appeared to love it!

We then headed over to the awesome Forest Sessions stage to catch Mordessa. Granted, we thought we were going over for Noah and the Loners, and I’m still not quite sure what happened there or if something got lost in translation. However, I didn’t mind, as Mordessa were desert rock/grungy/indie awesomeness! The band had such a swaggering stage presence, as if they were playing on a stage far bigger than they were. They only had a short set, but ripped through a handful of awesome songs, and looked like they had fun doing it! The band only have one track out currently, but are going to go far if they keep pushing!

Then we reached the first of a run of three bands that we went to the festival to see, Amigo the Devil. I didn’t know what to expect, but I came away having experienced one of the best sets I’d ever seen. It was 45-minutes of dark folk/spooky banjo time awesomeness, and I was all for it. On top of being an incredible lyric and songwriter, Danny is one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever seen, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand from the very first note. And the rest of his band were also amazing, both at plating and performing. For a minimal stagehsow, I couldn’t take my eyes off any of it!

And whether it was new album tracks (which are awesome) like ‘It’s All Gone’ or ‘Cannibal Within’, or old crowd favourites like ‘Hell and You’ or amazing set closer ‘Hungover in Jonestown’, it was all incredible. We even got a new, yet-unreleased track, ‘My Body is a Dive Bar’, which went over a storm and is catchy awesomeness just like everything else. It was not only one of the best sets of the day, but one of the best sets I’ve seen so far this year. To the point where I was almost tempted to get tickets to their Birmingham show, and probably would have if I wasn’t already busy at another gig at the weekend. The band are phenomenal, and deserve to be absolutely massive with the show they put on and the songs they write. Amazing stuff.

Somehow, despite being a fan since practically the moment I arrived in secondary school, I’d never managed to see Frank Turner live. That finally all changed last Saturday, as I got to witness a full near-hour-and-a-half from the lyrical-genius folk-punk rocker. And what a set it was, too. I got every single song I could have possibly asked for (aside for maybe something off No Man’s Land) and more. From modern hits like ‘Do One’ and ‘Haven’t Been Doing so Well’ to old classics ‘Recovery’, ‘I Still Believe’ and even ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’ (requested by the booker), it was a hugely enjoyable, varied set. He’s a consummate professional when it comes to performance too, having done pushing 3000 shows and perfecting how to hold a crowd. He even got over half of them jumping on day three of a festival in the rain, which not many people would be able to do. The Sleeping Souls are just as entertaining to watch too, and played their hearts out for the entire set. I loved every second, and my inner teen can finally be happy. Heck, a good half of it legitimately gave me goosebumps, finally hearing it live. If it wasn’t for the bands either side of it, it would have been a set to remember…

Holy shit, Creeper are on another level. They were very much on their home turf, playing to a packed tent at a festival that they cut their teeth at in the beginning and have rose through the ranks of over the years. However, that’s still no excuse for putting on the absolutely blinding show that they did last Saturday.

Opening on the epic ‘Further Than Forever’ before continuing to run through the best Sanguivore has to offer (and there’s a lot), I was in heaven already. Will is a born frontman and showman and bounced around the stage like a man possessed, and the crowd lapped up the entire thing. However, the rest of the band put on just as good of a shoe, and deserve all the props in the world for that. It was already a special set, but it was when they dived back into their first album that it got truly magical. The crowd went nuts for the punky ‘Down Below’, giving it everything they got. And by the time emotional ballad ‘Misery’ was played, everyone was singing their hearts out. Heck, the band paused before the last chorus and the crowd carried it on, and fucking loudly I might add. It was a truly special moment, and one that nearly brought most of the band to tears. And of course, closing on their big recent single ‘Cry to Heaven’ was also an excellent idea. The band have been going from strength to strength over the last couple of years, and goddamn if this set doesn’t prove that they are a massive headliner in the making!

Don Broco felt like a bit of a comedown after that. Don’t get me wrong, I was never the biggest fan of the band anyway, but just about anyone would feel like a comedown after Creeper. It didn’t help that they also didn’t sound great, though. I also feel like opening on their biggest hit, ‘Everybody’ didn’t help. It was one of the few songs I’m a fan of by the band, and hearing how much Rob sounded like he struggled to sing it, his voice sounding hoarse, it kinda put a dampener on the rest of the set. To the point where we only stayed for a few more songs, peacing out after another song I don’t mind, ‘Gumshield’. They put on a good show, don’t get me wrong, and it was cool to see some pyro, but it just felt like there was something off with them, and after a fantastic day I struggled to enjoy them somewhat.

Overall, though, it was an amazing day! Some incredible bands and a generally really well put together festival. I’d go back again in a heartbeat, and would LOVE to see Amigo or Creeper again ASAP. If you ever get the chance, check out the festival or any of the bands, I can’t recommend it all enough!

Reviews

Undefeated: Frank Turner’s Reflective New Album!

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Anyone who has been on this site for any decent length of time knows how much I adore Frank Turner. Heck, just check out how much I gushed over his last album. He was a huge part of my teen years, and has helped me through a lot. So we all knew I HAD to review this latest release too. I’ve been impatiently waiting for this since it was announced, and the singles have done a good job at adding even more to that hype. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Frank’s poetic, powerful lyricism cuts through immediately, his vocals opening first track ‘Do One’ over his acoustic guitar. It’s a song about accepting yourself and fuck everyone else, a topic that Turner does perfectly. The rest of the band explode in with the chorus, adding the punky distortion element to the sound. It’s a fun, interesting dynamic for sure, as the distortion drops back out for the verses. Meanwhile, the chorus is catchy as anything, especially with the backing vocals. It’s all typical Frank stuff, but it’s so good and the perfect way to open an album like this. It immediately made our playlist!

‘Never Mind the Back Problems’ turns the punk dial up to 11, a short, sweet, sub-two-minute, bouncy, dancy banger. It’s something I’m already desperate to see live, as I feel like it’d have the whole crowd going nuts. It’s a fun song, Frank and his band working their ass off and sounding like they’re enjoying themselves. We even get an awesome little Celtic-style guitar solo tucked away in the middle of it. It’s a sprint of a track and fucking awesome! It gives off big Flogging Molly/Dropkick Murphy’s vibes in all the best ways. And once again, Frank’s lyrics are on point, and it’s another catchy song!

As if trying to give the listener whiplash, ‘Ceasefire’ drops the pace back down, it being more of a modern indie ballad than anything else. Having said that, it also gives off ever so slight Bryan Adams/Bruce Springsteen vibes. It’s not a bad song at all, and once again the lyrics are a major highlight of it. However, compared to the previous couple of tracks, this is less my sort of thing.

Thankfully ‘Girl from the Record Shop’ ups the energy and punk vibes again. It’s a modern, 90’s radio punk sound compared to ‘Never Mind…’, but it’s still a massively fun, dancy track. The same can be said for the likes of ‘No Thank You for the Music’. In fact, said track is another huge highlight of the album, and another that makes the playlist. It’s fun and catchy and impossible not to tap your foot to. Both tracks are awesome, and go back to Frank’s roots the most out of any other tracks on the album. It’s almost a shame we don’t get a tad more punk-infused folk throughout, but the rest of the album is that good it’s hard to complain too much!

Tracks like ‘Pandemic PTSD’ and ‘International Hide and Seak Champions’ sound like only really Frank can. They draw together all of his inspirations, be it punk, folk, indie, rock’n’roll, and fuse them perfectly. They’re closer to the sound of some of his biggest songs; think ‘Get Better’, ‘Recovery’ or even ‘Haven’t Been Doing So Well’. The former is a horribly relatable song with an awesome riff running through it. Having said that, I did think we’d have gotten away from songs about the pandemic by now. Meanwhile the latter is just as catchy, an arena-filling, massive chorus about running away with your partner and starting a new life together. It’s a beautiful, fantastic rock song that I’m sure that more than a few of us have thought about following through with over the years. It’s another that makes it onto our playlist with ease!

Single ‘Letters’ is another very Trank T song, reminding me more of something off Be More Kind than anything. It’s an interesting, bittersweet track, and one just brimming with emotion. Of course the lyrics are captivating, but some of the bass work during the verses is also incredible here. Honestly it sounds like the plot of a movie, which is a real testament to the visual storytelling ability of Frank. In terms of the instrumentation, it’s pretty standard stuff, but it’s a fantastic song really boosted up to a top level by the lyrics.

‘East Finchley’ is an emotional ballad, and one on par with any other he’s done, outside of ‘Wave Across a Bay’. It opens on this massive sound of guitars and drums, it setting a dramatic tone right from the offset, before dropping down into the more acoustic, slower, stripped-back style that the rest of the song follows. And once again, Frank’s visual storytelling on this track is truly phenomenal. It’s an amazing, emotional song that honestly gave me goosebumps. Check this out!

‘The Leaders’ is one-and-a-half minutes of bouncy, acoustic pop-punk that sadly spits a lot of truth. It’s a complete tear down of governments in general, as well as a rebellion anthem, but written in such a fun, catchy way that it’s hard not to dance along. And we get a sweet harmonica solo in the middle. It’s a fun, infectiously catchy song that is another that I can’t help but sneak onto the playlist!

By the time we’d reached ‘Show People’, I’d been given that much awesomeness that a few slower, indie-folk tracks lost my interest just a tad by the end of the album. Don’t get me wrong, the final four tracks on the album are all awesome, with ‘Somewhere Inbetween’ being a particular highlight for me, given how close to home it hit. The closing/title track is also a beautiful, emotion-filled piano ballad. In my humble opinion, however, it would have been nice to have something a bit more upbeat in the final third of the album, as well as these. Throw ‘Girl From the Record Shop’ in the middle here and it would have held my attention just a little more. Still, all four tracks are amazing, and ‘Undefeated’ is the perfect, epic closing track for the album. The horns in the final chorus are incredible.

Overall: I enjoyed this! I feel like I have such an interesting relationship with Franks music post Ten for Ten (as do a lot of people, I imagine) that it’s so hard to compare any of it to that first decade too closely. Be More Kind is incredible, No Man’s Land is experimental brilliance, and FTHC is actually one of my favourite albums by him and felt like a return to form after Covid caused a few years of collab and different albums. I don’t get the same immediate feelings with this album as I did with FTHC, though. Undefeated is a great release, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t hit quite as hard for me. There aren’t as many instantly classic songs on this, but it does feel like an album with more of a sense of direction. Frank has self-admitted to getting older and changing with age, and I think I’m going to need another few lessons to follow him in that change. It’s still a great album, for sure, but lands closer to Be More Kind and Poetry of the Deed than Tape Deck Heart or England Keep my Bones. I very well may change with subsequent listens, but right now outside of the few standout tracks, I wouldn’t hurry back to listen to the album as a whole, still, Frank has done amazingly here, and I can’t give it anything less than an…

The Score: 8/10

Reviews

Uncoiled: Outcast Syndicate ‘s Explosive Debut Album!

Newcastle’s own melodic rock band, Outcast Syndicate, are set to release their debut full length this coming Friday. Having built quite a bit of momentum and buzz around them in their local area, the band are set to explode with this release. But what did we think about it? Check out our review below to find out!

The album opens on a massive hard rock/punk riff, starting things off with a bang. The light, upbeat feeling continues through the verse, the vocals powerful and the backing/harmonies fitting perfectly behind. It all stays at a similar level throughout too, making it all massively catchy, from the verses to the chorus. Also, all the pinch harmonics are amazing, giving it just a tease of metal in amongst the punk. The outro with the ‘nah’s is especially catchy too, and awesome when the guitar leads follows behind the melody. It’s an uplifting, fun song, and the perfect introduction to the album and Outcast Syndicate!

Check out similar music here!

‘Coming 4U’ is another great classic rock-infused punk track. Much like the previous song, it’s upbeat and full of great vocals and harmonies. It’s feel-good rock music at this point, and is impossible to not like. There’s some great drumming and bass parts throughout the track, standing out more than in the previous track. There’s a nice guitar solo tucked in the middle of the song, too. It feels like the instrumentation is more of a focus in this track, which is fine by me! It’s another good song!

The title track has a fantastic main riff to open it up. Again, it adds an almost metal edge to it, giving off definite Black Label Society influence. The pace stays heavier and quicker compared to other tracks on the album, giving some great variety. I feel like it’d be awesome live, too. Honestly, it could make it even better, as my only slight gripe with the track is that the mixing doesn’t quite emphasis the heavier elements. I feel like they’d come across better cranked in a live setting. Still, it has an amazing, arena-filling chorus and I LOVE the build-up bridge before the final chorus, it almost having grunge vibes. It’s an amazing song, and one that easily makes our playlist.

‘Bring it Home’ heads back to a steadier pace again. It still has a punk energy, but the riffing gives off more AC/DC vibes, which I don’t hate at all. It’s definitely a classic rock track that would fit pretty perfectly amongst the likes of Sons of Liberty and Thundermother in the NWOCR movement. It’s a really catchy track that would work perfectly in a live setting, getting the crowd singing along to the outro chorus in a huge way.

The all-out punk feel returns with ‘Don’t Let ‘Em Do It’. The same could be said for the likes of ‘Cheesecake Punk’ and most of the rest of the tracks on the album. All are great tracks in their own right, and fit the tone and style of the album perfectly. The former song stands out due to its truly fantastic lyric writing, though. It’s another that easily makes our playlist!

The other track on the album, single ‘Plastic Feel’, is slower than the other songs. It again has more of a classic rock feel to it, and once again everything about the vocals is amazing. It’s all so catchy, and the harmonies are done incredibly well. The band also work their asses off, some awesome playing from the guitar, bass and drums. It’s another excellent song, and another that ends up easily on our playlist!

Overall: This is a great punky classic rock album! For a debut full-length it’s amazing, and is easily going to catapult the band to new highs. There isn’t a bad track on it, and there are plenty that I’m sure I’ll be listening to over and over in the next couple of months or so!

The Score: 8.5/10

Reviews

So Many Years: The Debut EP of Violet Origin!

UK modern hard rockers Violet Origin are set to release their debut EP on Thursday. Being compared to the likes of Black Stone Cherry, Alter Bridge and Bruce Springsteen, I was already excited. And the band themselves have said ‘It’s like classic rock and a carnival ride had a musical lovechild’. I’m not familiar at all with this band, so am excited to check it out!

‘Doubt’ opens the EP on a punky feel with the drums and a steady, uplifting riff. The vocals fit the mood perfectly for the verses, it all having very Neck Deep/Mayday Parade vibes. It all builds perfectly to a hugely catchy chorus too. The harmonies on the vocals are fantastic and add an almost skate-punk edge to it, reminding me more of Social Distortion. A simple guitar lead part acts as a bridge between the second and third choruses, too. It’s a real basic radio formula and structure, but honestly is done to perfection here. This is a fantastic introduction to the band and easily makes our playlist!

Check out more punk here.

‘On the Line’ starts at an equally steady pace from the drums, a bluesy, sleazy riff coming in over the top. The track overall has a lot more of am old-school hard rock feel to it, the verses being bass driven with some awesome stabs from the guitars. And of course, the vocals over the top work perfectly. It’s almost an AC/DC kinda vibe. Still, it builds to another huge, arena-filling chorus, the backing vocals and added instrumentation being awesome. We get an awesome solo in the middle of the track, too, the guitarist showing off his impressive talent. It was technical yet fit the track perfectly. And a final great chorus takes us home. It’s another fantastic track!

The final track on the EP, and it’s title one, again has a fantastic riff running through it. This one immediately gives the song a bit more of an indie feel, though. The pace is a bit higher than the others, having plenty of punk energy, too. And for some reason the vocals reminded me a bit of Ozzy on this track. The chorus is a bit more chilled out, this having much more of a stomping, swaggering rock track vibe than an anthem. The solo was again great, too. A third awesome track!

Overall: This EP was great and over far too quick. I desperately need to hear more from this band, and already cannot wait for their next release. I’d also LOVE to see them live, I feel like all three tracks would go down so well in a packed little room. All three songs are awesome and I’ll definitely be listening to them again a lot. My only slight issue was the mixing/mastering. It let the tracks down ever so slightly, but not enough for them to be unenjoyable. I cannot wait to see where these guys go next, they have a bright future ahead of them!

The Score: 8/10

Reviews

Duende A Go Go Loco: The Album to Push Gypsy Pistoleros Into the Mainstream?

The punk/hard rock flamenco band are back with their brand new album, to be released tomorrow. I’ve been a fan of the band for a few years now, ever since seeing them at a HRH event a couple of years back. And since then, Gypsy Pistoleros have gained more and more momentum with each passing month, so it seems. So, let’s dive into this album together and see what it’s like!

The album’s title track kicks things off with a slow build guitar riff, immediately giving the collection an epic feel. The quicker, punkier pace explodes in, setting up a simple yet fun, bouncy verse. It all leads to a catchy chorus that gives off big Pretty Boy Floyd vibes. A pretty decent guitar solo is nestled in the middle of the track, and the dropped-down bridge with the vocals and clapping is great. I feel like it would all go over so well live! It’s a great way to not only open the album, but also introduce anyone unfamiliar with the band to their particular brand of noise.

A drum fill leads to another upbeat, mid-tempo track with ‘I Got it All’. It’s very glam/sleaze/AOR, and I see why the band are so popular with the HRH crowd, it is right up that street in terms of sound. Unfortunately the chorus doesn’t differentiate itself that much to the rest of the track, so it doesn’t quite feel as big as the previous track’s. Still though, the Spanish fit pretty perfectly in, and it’s still a damn enjoyable track! And the ‘lalala’ing is still catchy.

Check out more Gypsy Pistoleros here.

‘Revolution’ opens straight into a great, sleazy riff. The whole track drips with attitude and is put together perfectly with the drop-out verses and massive, simple, catchy chorus. I love all of the vocals in this track, and the backing and harmonies throughout add so much to them, too. The bridge goes pretty hard, something I’d again love to see live; a pit for it would be awesome! It’s my favourite track on the album so far, and easily makes our playlist.

The band go back to their punky, glam side with ‘What’s it Like to be a Girl’. There are again plenty of catchy vocals, mainly from the backing and harmonies. The interplay between them and Gypsy Lee is a lot of fun in this track. It all builds into a pretty great chorus too, the distorted guitars and huge drums coming in to fill out the rock sound. There isn’t much to this track, it’s just a fun, stomping rock track.

I’m already familiar with ‘The Ballad of Tommy Shelby’, having checked out the single when it was released. The slower, jazzy, bluesy clean open is amazing, and I’ve loved it since I first heard it. And the way it explodes into the faster, almost Rancid-like punky stuff after a minute is great. Again, the backing vocals are a massive highlight, especially with the ‘woh’s. It makes everything so fun and catchy. The dynamics between the cleaner, slower stuff and the balls-to-the-wall punk throughout is awesome, too. It’s a really good track, and definitely the right choice for a single. Another that easily makes the playlist!

Tracks ‘Like Tears in the Rain’ and ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ are both awesome, heavier punk numbers. They fit in perfectly with the album, but I’m struggling to say much about them that I haven’t already mentioned about previous songs.

‘Thrill Kill Killer Club’ is the heaviest track on the album and was a nice change of pace. It has more of a Motorhead vibe to it which was a lot of fun. And yet, it is still pretty catchy through the chorus. The Nancy Sinatra reference in the middle was a nice touch, too! It’s another track that easily makes our playlist!

The final Gypsy Pistoleros track on the album is the token ballad, ‘I’ll Remember You’. Honestly, it’s a really well written track and a sound that fits the band perfectly. The heavy riffing in and out of the chorus is awesome, and it’s all very catchy. It’s an incredible track, and I’d have honestly loved this to have been the closer, as it does have a rather epic, finale feel to it.

However, the album instead finishes on the band’s cover of ‘Come on Eileen’. Honestly, I’m not a fan of it. It’s such a MASSIVE, popular song that it’s so hard to do and not pale in comparison to the original. Also, I’m a big ska punk fan, so Save Ferris’ cover will always hold a special place in my heart. The track is good and I appreciate the effort to try and make it different, but it isn’t for me.

Overall: This was a lot of fun! The band occupy an interesting space currently where practically no one else in the UK underground scene is sounding like this, especially as a newer band. And they do said sound impressively well, and have crafted one hell of an album. It’s full of catchy moments, great playing, and genuine emotion. I can see why they are getting some serious momentum in the scene now!

The Score: 8/10