We had the pleasure of chatting to Australia’s own Jayne Murphy, formerly of Lime Spiders, about her current solo work, tour and latest single! Check it all out below!
How would you describe your sound?
I would say my sound is a blend of pop, rock and punk delivered in an Aussie pub rock fashion. Raw. Unfiltered. Honest.
You’re currently in the middle of a tour, how’s it going so far?
Having a bunch of fun! Punters have really taken to the new single and the new line-up in a positive way. We’re sizzling right now performance wise.. There was even conga-line dancing at one gig! A lot of people are also interested in seeing me play being a former member and lead guitarist of the Lime Spiders.
You’ve put out a new single ready for the shows, what can you tell me about it?
‘Pocket Superman’ is about denouncing violence – denouncing domestic and family violence. In Australia, it’s a curse. It’s on the rise. Metaphorically, a Pocket Superman is a “personal safety plan”. It could be a preloaded text message calling for help, a whistle to gain attention or even a siren type device to attract the attention of others, to deter a stalker. I was careful to ensure the lyrics weren’t gendered, because domestic violence affects everyone.
Had another single this year, are they both standalone or are we building to another album or EP?
Yes, ‘Greedy Rich Boys’ was released in April 2026. It is on the drawing board that ‘Pocket Superman’ and other recent singles will appear on a physical album format in the future. Like a best of the singles since 2019. I’m hoping to have it released on vinyl through my distributor MGM Distribution (Australia) sometime in 2027!
What is the writing process like for the band?
I’m the principal songwriter for the band project. I write 100% of the lyrics and titles, and come up with the main ideas for the compositions. I don’t have a particular “formula” for writing songs. It might be a title, a melody line or a rhyming couplet that might come to my mind and underpins the structure of the song. Sometimes a song will just spill out of my mind completely finished. It’s quite bizarre when that happens. The quickest fully written song I crafted was in 9mins. During recording pre-production I’ll send a “skat track” (my term for a loosely recorded acoustic version of the song) to the bass player and drummer. They’ll usually write their own parts and then as producer I’ll make suggestions to them about their parts and how it applies to my vision for the arrangement of the song.
Do you have a busy rest of the year and into 2027 with gigs and studio stuff?
Gigs in September and October. Sometimes I do solo gigs in record stores and small bars. Heading into the studio late November/early December to record a new single. Another tour is slated to run from 12th to 28th February 2027. Then another recording session to probably lay down the beds for another three singles. And as I mentioned earlier, I am looking to put together a single compilation in physical form, as a lot of the singles are only available in digital/streaming format!
You’re pretty up on the whole social media game, any advice you could give for a band just starting out?
Hmmm, social media can be quite a “hit and miss’ affair when you want to ride that algorithm, haha! I guess the best advice for bands starting out on socials is to be “strategic”. Research “best times” to post content. Collaborate with like minded bands. And even if you’re not getting the volume of likes and interaction you were expecting, persistence is the key. Don’t be shy to get family and friends involved. Quality content is important. Brush up on those Canva and Adobe Express skills!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Any bands you’d want to support or friends you’d want to bring along with you?
Good question. Big question. I think my dream tour lineup would be Foo Fighters, The Runaways, Green Day, Placebo, Blur and Flowers For Jayne. There’s quite a few bands I’d like to invite to tag along. So many talented younger bands out there as well. Might have to “draw straws” for that decision, haha!
If you could have written one song from history, what would it have been and why?
Ahhhh! Wow! Just one song?? Tricky! I guess it would have to be, “I Am Woman’ by Helen Reddy!
We chatted to the rising stars of Japanese heavy metal, Fireflame, about their debut full-length and future plans. Check it all out below!
How would you describe your sound?
We define our sound as Modern Heavy Metal, which strives for a seamless fusion of classic 80s heavy metal and modern metalcore. We dislike being boxed into a single specific subgenre. Rather than simply mimicking the past or sounding overly modern, we pursue a style where both worlds are perfectly balanced and blended.
The album’s been out a couple of months now, it seems to have gone down really well! Is there a particular theme or story behind the album, or is it more that each track is its own story?
The album is actually built as a cohesive concept! Excluding the bonus tracks, all 12 main songs are interconnected, telling one continuous story from start to finish. Central to this narrative is the overarching theme of “the persistent inner fire within those who continue to fight for something they cannot give up.” Through this story, we wanted to convey a powerful message about facing adversity and refusing to bend, no matter what obstacles stand in your way!
What is your songwriting process like?
The main process usually begins with Connie Flames (Ba) and myself (FireRay, Gt) putting together rough demos. Once we have those initial demos, we bring them straight into the rehearsal studio.
We jam and play through the songs together as a full band, shaping and refining the arrangements and details on the spot. It’s through this hands-on studio session work that everyone’s ideas and energy come together to give the final song its full form.
Is there more writing going on already?
Yes, absolutely! We’ve actually already completed 3 brand new tracks, and we have several more demos in the works!
Even though our 1st album Force Against The End was just released, we’re already focused on and excited about the next album. We can’t wait to push our sound even further!
Do you have a busy rest of the year and start of 207 planned with live stuff?
Now that our debut album is finally out, we’re currently planning a tour and getting ready to hit the road. It’s definitely going to be a very busy and exciting time for us!
What is the heavy metal scene like in Japan? I feel like I’m starting to see more and more bands from the country!
Compared to its peak, heavy metal definitely isn’t in the mainstream spotlight here anymore, and honestly, our hometown scene in Osaka has declined quite a bit.
However, we have amazing bandmates of our generation who share the same passion, as well as inspiring seniors who support us. Because of that, I truly believe we can rebuild and reignite the scene from here and we want to be the band leading that charge!
You’re quite active on social media, do you have any advice you could give bands just starting out, in that regard?
Honestly, we don’t really have advice to give because we’re still just a starting-out band ourselves! Haha.
But if there’s one thing, it’s simply to keep doing it over and over again. Just put content out there constantly, stay active, and keep pushing without overthinking it!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you’d want to support or friends you’d want to bring with you?
Supporting heavy metal legends like Loudness, Judas Priest, or Bullet For My Valentine would be an absolute dream come true and it’s something we are determined to make happen!
As for who we’d bring with us, we want to bring everyone who has supported us on this journey. It sounds like a big dream, but we’re going to make it reality!
If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! But the first song that came to my mind is “Painkiller” by Judas Priest. To me, it’s the ultimate heavy metal anthem from the legendary drum intro to the relentless riffs and twin guitars, it completely defines what heavy metal is.
Yet another MASSIVE week for new releases, from country to rock to metal. Let’s check it all out together!
Kenny Chesney: Silver Sands Marina
The country legend is back with album 21, following 2024’s Born surprisingly closely. Firstly, he clearly read my last review back then, as this is almost half the length of that release, and much better for it. Secondly, this is an awesome collection of classic Chesney music, and I love it! While the opener kicked things off a little low energy and awkwardly, lead single ‘Carry On’ follows it up excellently and is a certified banger. Tracks like single ‘Goldfish’, ‘Shot a Car Into Space’ and the Colbie Caillat-featuring ‘What We Got Going On’ are also big highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout! Sure, it’s a touch on the slower side again, but when it’s a shorter album it’s a hell of a lot less of an issue. That and the guy is pushing 60, so it’s rather expected. It’s so very late 90s, early 2000s country, and I loved every second of it! It’s crazy that at this point in his career he’s still putting out such high quality material, and it gets another solid 8/10 from us!
Tom Morello: Everyone Gets Everything They Want
The first solo album from the guitar legend in nearly five years is an interesting one. It feels like a tail of two halves, yet both halves don’t necessarily run as the first six tracks and then the last six. The instrumental opening into the title track had me pumped, and both are awesome tracks! Then it got a little weird for a bit. I genuinely had to watch the video for ‘Adjourn It’ to be able to hear that it was actually Serj, and a couple of the tracks after it didn’t do much for me. The song with KNEECAP was surprisingly pretty good, as was the Worldwide Rebel Songs-like ‘The Last Rung of the Ladder’ and the Audioslave ish ‘Pretend You Remember Me’. However, as an album as a whole, I don’t think I’d revisit it a whole lot, just the songs I like. Tom is still a phenomenal guitarist, and has clearly passed that gene down to his son who gets plenty of time to shine on the tracks he’s on, and I still surprisingly like his folky vocals. But his songwriting is in a strange place at the minute, tugged between his earlier solo stuff and a more modern metal sound, and it leads to slightly mixed results. I’d still prefer an all-out RATM track or two, but this is still good, and I’d recommend it to anyone even slightly interested! 7/10
Europe: Come This Madness
The rock legends are back with their first new studio album in nearly a decade. And, honestly, it is far better than I feel most expected it to be! ‘One on One’ is the perfect opener, setting the darker, heavier AOR tone of the album up excellently. From there, we get a solid 10 other tracks, all slotting together amazingly and leading to a very easy 41 minutes of listening! This sort of sound fits Joey’s vocals these days perfectly, and the band all work their asses off throughout, all getting plenty of time to shine, whether it’s big riffs, awesome solos and drum fills. Tracks like ‘Come This Madness’, the epic ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ and ‘The Devil’s Back’ are all personal favourites, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout! If you are at all an old-school rock fan, this album is an absolute must, and a showcase of just how amazing the band are still, nearly fifty years into their careers. 8.5/10, awesome stuff!
Warren Zeiders: No Breaks
Jade: I’ve not come across Warren Zeiders before, but straight off the bat I really like his voice. It’s really easy to listen to, super smooth with a little bit of a twang to it. He’s got that sound that fits quite nicely into what you would class as stadium country, but has a slightly more stripped back feel to it. You really get that feeling with the title track. It’s quite soft and builds up to more of an epic chorus. And the vocals in the chorus are pretty damn dreamy. I get my fix of country cringe with ‘overrated’ featuring Bellah Mae. More upbeat than the previous tracks, catchy and their voices blend like butter. What more could you ask for from a country love duet!
I do enjoy more of the upbeat side of country, and although a lot of the tracks on this album are more on the slower side, they are all so different which just pulls you into it more. It has the potential to be the most incredible experience at a more intimate gig, but could easily fill a much bigger venue and give massive energy. Especially with the more stripped-back verses that go into the catchy, punchy choruses. ‘Drinking Game’ is the perfect example of this. I really enjoy how much range Warren has in terms of style. He has switched between stadium country, to bro country and then even hitting us with a slightly more rocky vibe. The way he uses his voice in ‘Looks Good On You’ and ‘Souvenirs’ is giving a more country Nickelback vibe, and I’m here for it.
Honestly I could absolutely gush over every single one of these tracks, which has me presently surprised. It’s almost like there is a song for everyone on this album which is pretty refreshing for country artists these days. Regardless if it was a slower track or not, each track does its own thing, I wouldn’t really say any are one in the same. I have very much come away a fan and will be going back to check out some of Warren’s earlier stuff. 9/10
Lacrimas Profundere: Lay Me Down O Silent Fear
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
Volucrine: Chapter V: Renewal
Max: I don’t have the longest review out there on this one but here are my thoughts. The album is a pretty hard hitting and enjoyable ride front to back coming in at a somewhat longer 52 minutes, spread across 13 tracks. I’d say that there is a relatively standard formula of chunking riffs, some decent clean vocals, and then a breakdown or screamed chorus which I initially thought was this bands strongest point. However the clean vocals and more melodic points started to become more and more enjoyable. And then you get to my favourite track in the album hands down, ‘Drift’. I get that’s its the cliché emotional song in the later half of a metal album but damn is really good. Just everything about it is gorgeous and I wish for more like that. However it does also expose the album to its biggest issue in my opinion, Pacing. whilst it is mostly fine with no disjointed or jarring moments, the flow between ‘Swans’ -> ‘Drift’ and ‘Drift’ -> ‘The Future That Never Was’ is quite abrupted and feels a little out of rhythm with the rest of the album.
That being said, that is a rather weak criticism that is only used when you need to say when an album isn’t perfect. So ignoring that, the album is really quite good and one that I would recommend. Hopefully I can catch this group on tour at some point. 8/10
Wheeler Walker Jr.: Pullin’ Out
The apparent final album from the crass, comedic country genius is an expectly damn fun half-hour. If you are familiar with him already, you know exactly what to expect. If you aren’t, you may be in for a shock! It is certainly a lot if you’re a bit more conservative on the sex and drugs side of the world, but it’s hard not to have a good time with it regardless. It’s cleverly written, and the music is always surprisingly excellent and well produced behind the silly vocals. Tracks like the bluesy ‘Whiskey Dickin’’, ‘Old Piece of Shit’ and ‘Why Aren’t Suckin’ my Dick?’ are all personal favourites, but the whole album is pretty great! It’s a hard one because while I do think the joke may have run it’s course a little, it’s hard to not still love his music and his creativity, and it will be sad to see him go. If you like silly country music, this is absolutely the album for you! 8/10, I’ll certainly be listening to this plenty moving forward!
Nothing but Thieves: Stray Dogs
Following up 2023’s excellent Dead Club City, the English alt rockers have gone a bit heavier with Stray Dogs, and certainly in a good way! The title track sets the tone perfectly, while songs like ‘Testosterone’ and ‘AI.Jesus’ follow its lead. It’s a little bit Royal Blood or Deftones, you know, if Deftones were good. Then you have more expected-sounding tracks like ‘Evolution’ and ‘Baby Kool’. The album does sadly lull a bit too long in energy around the middle, but even those slower songs are still good. While I wouldn’t say it’s quite as monumental or memorable as their last release, it’s still a damn good album in its own right! The band are all so damn talented and, while they are a massive name, they deserve to be even bigger with their stellar recent output! There is plenty of greatness to sink your teeth into, and it goes by in a flash despite its length. A very solid 8/10 from us, and another album I will happily be revisting soon!
AJJ: Dirty Old Power
Album nine from the folk-punkers is an absolutely fantastic half-hour of music! While I remember somewhat enjoying 2023’s Disposable Everything, but it is also an album that I’ve revisited a lot since, and has grown on me a lot. This album, however, hit me immediately and I had a blast throughout! Honestly it’s hard to pick highlight tracks too, as I enjoyed every one in its own quirky way. Every song is different as well, making the album so interesting throughout. It’s chilled-out (aside for ‘Phlamethrower’), fun but also so very well written and put together, with some of the lyrics being really damn good. The band are true masters of their craft at this point, and have crafted something truly special together with this release. If you like the quirkier side of rock and folk music, I’d definitely recommend you check this out ASAP. I’ll certainly be spinning this again plenty moving forward, and it gets a very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Metalite: Discovery
Another band that I LOVEDthe last album of, and another band that once again knock it out of the park with their new album! It’s yet another amazing collection of fantastic modern power metal like really only Metalite can do. The release opens fantastically with the one-two punch of ‘Our Time has Come’ and ‘In Case of Emergency’, while ‘The Metal Elite’ and ‘Wings of Fire’ continue the excellence throughout. What’s more is there isn’t really a ballad on here either, it’s balls-to-the-wall for a full 46 minutes. Usually I’d feel like it would be an odd choice, but it absolutely works here! Every song is amazing, and it is a damn good follow-up to Expedition One. They are one of the most underrated bands in the modern power metal scene, and feel like true frontrunners alongside Dominum when it comes to quality output. I loved this, and it’s an incredibly easy 8.5/10 from us!
Max McNown: Leave on a Light
We’ve also checked this out in full, aren’t you lucky?! Read it here.
Coldrain: OPTIMISE = OPTDEMISE
Jade: I have very much enjoyed the odd coldrain track here and there over the past couple of years. However I will admit I’ve never taken the time to actually listen to an album in full. So what better time than now with this never release?
Coldrain is a band that gives me everything I love, from screams you’d expect in metalcore alongside melodic vocals, which combine in the best way. The opening track ‘OPTIMISE’ did not disappoint, and god did it remind me why I like this band so much. Masato’s vocals are just so impressive going between such cleans to those nasty, aggressive screams. Sais cleans really shine in the next track ‘CHASING SHADOWS’. I will say I have absolutely no idea what I’m taking about when it comes to any sort of instruments, but I can appreciate how hard the rest of the band slaps. Katsuma beats the hell out that drum kit throughout, and there is crazy impressive guitar from Sugi and Y.K.C. Of course we can’t forget how chunky the bass line is in these tracks thanks to RxYxO.
If you want a song that shows all of that then ‘INCOMPLETE’ is the one for you. And holy moly, I was not ready for “FREE FALL”. God damn I had to take a second for how heavy that was. Those screams are so filthy. Then to bit hit with a dirty breakdown midway too. That one is straight on my playlist! ‘EX-HUMANITY’ give a bit of a different vibe, still very good, but definitely more of a track with the intent of getting a message across to listeners. Which don’t get me wrong is the running theme throughout the album, touching on how people have changed and what humanity is anymore. This particular track just feels a little more direct to that sentiment. I wasn’t expecting a ballad on this Album, but ‘SING’ is exactly that, and it’s bloody beautiful and an amazing showcase for Masato’s vocals yet again. The album finishes on ‘SAVIOR’ which is way more walking the line of hardcore than the rest of the album. Kenta Koie features in this track, who I’m not personally familiar with, but god damn is he impressive! Those screams really are something else, and it fits so well alongside Masato’s vocals and the rest of the band. It couldn’t be a more perfect collab.
Overall, this has been a really great album, some tracks definitely outshined others but the stronger ones were spaced nicely through the album which gave it a good pacing. This is one I would definitely recommend checking out! 8/10
Pyre of Descent: Albedo
The first release from the German gothy, proggy metallers since the pandemic times is an epic 50 minutes of darkness and chaos. Let’s get the obvious out of the way, it’s certainly not going to be for everyone. It’s only six tracks, with the closer being over 13 minutes in length. However, I had a good time with it! Everyone involved is super talented, playing their asses off, and I love that the tracks flow into one another! It’s a heavier version of old-school goth music that I never knew I needed in my life until now! ‘Die for Us’ and the epic, plodding ‘At Sea’ are personal highlights, but the album as a whole is well worth a listen if you’re interested. The band very much have a new fan in me, and it’s a very easy 7.5/10 from us!
Scorpion Milk: Flesh Masks for Skulls
Following up on last year’s debut album, the band very much continues on its journey of cult post-punk/gothic-metal music. It’s dark but high energy and surprisingly catchy throughout. Opener ‘Dreaming Skulls’ is a lot of fun, and sets the tone for the EP excellently. However, every track on here is just as good as the last, and makes for an incredibly easy, fun listen. If you are at all into this sort of style, this is absolutely something you need to be checking out! The band have a new fan in me, and I already can’t wait to hear more from them. Mat McNerney is an incredible talent and mind in the music business, and doesn’t get nearly the flowers he deserves! 8/10
Godflesh: Decay
Less than two years removed from their last massive album, the doom masters are back with another crushing 40+ minutes of music. It is very much an acquired taste and not at all for everyone, including myself to be honest. It’s a lot of the same riff over and over, and the mix is very odd, the vocals being so low in it. ‘Living/Ending’ is probably my favourite on here, and none of it is bad at all, just not my thing. If you are into grandiose, traditional doom/stoner stuff, give it a spin, but I shan’t be trying it again, sadly. 4.5/10
Stryper: Throne of Thorns
Barely two years removed from their last album, the glam/heavy metal legends are back with their 15th studio effort. If you are familiar with the band it’s exactly what you’d expect, and that isn’t at all a bad thing! It’s packed full of awesome riffing, solid drumming and some catchy-ass choruses. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a tiny bit on the religious side for me, but it doesn’t take away much at all from the awesome writing and musicianship. Tracks like ‘Here in Your Heart’, ‘Carry the Flame’ and ‘Alone Again’ are all personal highlights. The whole album has their typical brand of grandiose, epic metal, especially when it comes to those more soft-rock choruses, and while it does get a very slight touch repetitive by the end, it’s impossible to think of any songs that I’d change or cut to change that. The band have added yet another great release to their solid, growing discography, and this is a must for any fans of the band. 7/10
Dylan Gossett: Ramblin’
As if last year’s Westward wasn’t good enough, barely a year later the modern country superstar somehow knocks it even further out of the park with his sophomore release! Right from the opener I was hooked, and wasn’t let go for the full 44 minutes. His blend of country, folk and Americana is phenomenal, and his lyrics and the delivery of them throughout is captivating. ‘Love and Such’, ‘Honeysuckle’ and ‘Head in the Clouds’ are all massive high points for me, but honestly the whole album is spectacular. Even with the ending quarter being generally o the slow side, it still went by in a flash, and I loved every minute of it. I honestly cannot rave about this album enough, and it’s just as good as his first, if not somehow even better. This is an album for anyone even slightly a fan of any of the genres I mentioned above, and I can’t give it any less than a 9/10. Amazing stuff!
Red Code: Traces of unease and discomfort, Pt. 1
The debut EP from the alt/prog metallers is a fantastic 23-minutes journey through each members’ experiences. Each of the five tracks are not only great, but so interesting and fantastically written, and all represents and sounds like a different sound and angle of the band. Because of that, it’s honestly so hard to pick individual highlight tracks, as this really feels like an EP worth listening to in full at least once! I already can’t wait to hear where the band go from there, and they deserve so much love already because of how good this is! It’s heavy and melodic in all of the best ways, and everyone involved is so very talented. An easy 8/10 from us, and I can’t wait for part 2!
Mikey Ball & The Company: Keep the Fire Burning
The sophomore album from the hard rockers is a short, sweet, awesome affair! It’s got not just an old-school rock feel to it, but almost a punk edge too. It gives off vibes of everything from Ricky Warwick’s solo stuff to Social Distortion to American Aquarium. And, at under half an hour, it’s an incredibly easy listen! ‘Pressure’, ‘No Time to Lose’ and the closer are all personal highlights, but the other four songs are also awesome! The band are all very talented players and songwriters, and work so well together. It’s a name that I’d seen around a lot recently but hadn’t had the pleasure of really checking out much until recently. However, the band have a big new fan in me, that’s for sure! I’ll be spinning this plenty in the week and months to come, I’m sure, and it gets an easy 8/10 from us!
Lawrence Rothman: Here Lies Love/Sawdust to Stardust
Another country release for us this week, this one a bit more slower and steadier. It’s a beautiful, stripped-back release, and if you’re into that sort of style you’ll love it! I had a lot of fun with it, even if it did get slightly long-in-the-tooth by the end. ‘A Word’s a Weapon’ and ‘Worn Out Woman’ are personal favourites of mine, but all are equally as great in quality as they are in sound. Lawence has gained a real cult following over his previous four albums, and it’s easy to see why. I’ll certainly be going back and checking them out, as despite it not fully being my thing, I did have a good time listening to it! It’s the perfect album to throw on and relax to, though some of the lyrics are really deep and emotion-filled at the same time. A solid 7/10 from us!
We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing metallers Hippie Death Cult between tours about said adventures, their potential upcoming new music, and much more! Check it all out below!
How would you describe your sound?
Rock n’ Roll. Not as a static genre, but as a living, evolving entity. It’s a synthesis and celebration of everything we love about music. Bridging the gap from the birth of rock ’n’ roll, through early R&B, soul, and funk, into 60s psychedelia, 70s heavy blues, 80s thrash, and 90s metal and grunge. There is a common thread that tied those eras together, regardless of how broad the expression became. I feel like the tether to that thread got lost somewhere in the late 90s personally, and a lot of music that came after was either lacking deep roots or just copying an already played out formula. We aren’t trying to “revive” anything; we’re just picking up that thread and trying to keep it moving. We’d rather be a band that’s hard to define than one that’s easy to categorize but lacks soul and vitality.
Recently signed with Blacklight Media, what’s that been like?
It’s been a great experience so far, everyone we are working with over there and at Metal Blade Records have been great partners and I feel there’s a strong trust between us that goes both ways. It feels like a great match so far, and I’m excited to see how the rollout of the new record pans out!
I saw you’re teasing some new music coming next year too, right? How does it compare to your previous stuff?
We’re always digging for something deeper, and this new material is a reflection of that. We took the foundation we’ve built, and just made it nastier. It’s got more of everything. Groove, soul, passion and fury, but it’s focused. Laura’s hitting notes and intensities that we haven’t heard from her before and it’s really cool. It’s the sound of us getting out of our own way.
Just finished touring the US, how was it?
The real highlight was the connection with the people who showed up, honestly. It feels like we have family everywhere we go, and it’s amazing feeling that energy exchange while we perform every night. It was also a grind, but in the best way possible. Dealing with daily chaos, long van rides and lack of sleep and then stepping on stage mustering everything you’ve got night after night to deliver the same level of intensity and passion is really a thing. There’s a magic on a soul level that sustains you. We just did about 25 shows in a row, and we are about to go play about 60 more here in October and November.
Back over to Europe next month too. How would you compare the scene out here compared to back home?
It’s tough to compare, because the vibe really changes city to city rather than country to country. You find places in both the US and Europe where people are incredibly appreciative that you’re there, and then you hit other spots that just don’t seem as supportive of the arts. We’ve encountered both extremes, and everything in between, every time we’ve been out on the road. We’ve stopped trying to generalize it; we’re just grateful that our music is the reason we get to travel and experience all those different places firsthand!
You’re quite well-versed on social media, do you have any advice for bands just starting out, in that regard?
I don’t know if I’m any kind of authority on this, but my advice would be simple: whatever you put out there, make sure it actually aligns with who you are. Don’t do things just to chase attention, that stuff is so cringe to me. Once you find a way to present your music that feels authentic, just be consistent. Post quality content and actually engage with the people who are listening. If you’re genuine with your community, they’ll stick with you.
Do you have much planned for 2027 already?
Yes, there’s a lot of plans for 2027. We have a new record coming and a lot of tour dates piling up. This is shaping up to be probably the busiest year we’ve ever had. And we’ve always been pretty busy!
Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you’d want to support or any friends you’d want to bring along?
Honestly, we are taking part in a dream lineup tour this coming November with The Sword and Corrosion of Conformity. Stoked for that! Let’s go Pantera and Metallica next. All of our friends are invited!
If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?
‘Black Sabbath’ by Black Sabbath maybe? Something like that, something that just changed the game. Changed music as we know it. For the (way) better.
Four years removed from the amazing How To Shroud Yourself, the German gothic metal titans are back with album 14. We’ve all become BIG fans of the band in recent years, so when this came over our emails we knew immediately we were going to dive deep into it. I’ve been hyped since it was announced, and every single they’ve dropped so far has only amped that up higher. Without further ado, let’s do this!
The open starts with a heavy riff to open ‘Days of Doom’. Julian’s brutal screams come in over the top, very much setting the tone for the release perfectly, almost a melodeath edge to it all! Still, we get some multi-layered vocals with some cleans behind the screams on a couple of lines, giving some great depth from the offset. The screams then drop off into low, more gothic cleans, and… I’m already gushing over his vocals too much, aren’t I? It all builds into a massive, epic arena-filling chorus, immediately rooting itself into my ear for days to come. The Trivium-like triplet guitaring in the bridge is awesome too, it being a brief moment that separates the choruses but fits the track perfectly. It’s a real grandiose way to open things up, and I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single too, as it really is that good! A very easy early highlight!
Speaking of singles, ‘Nevermore’ absolutely slaps! I have a reaction video incoming for both this and ‘Faceless’ later on, but until then I am still happy to gush about both tracks on here! Both are excellent choices for singles as they both have truly excellent, huge choruses. They also have some great riffs running through them both. However, both certainly approach the Lacrimas formula from a different direction. The former is much more of a dark, gothic track dominated by some sexy low vocals, while the latter is more of a melodeath-infused track with some excellent screams in the verse. However, the choruses for both are the real highlight, and honestly are two of my favourites the band have ever produced. If you check out any two songs from the album, it should be these, again demonstrating just how excellent a choice they were as singles!
‘Heart I Will Break…’ is a pretty epic build with the keys and drums, the strings behind the low vocals for the verse honestly making it feel like a massive film score. And, it all leads to that absolutely HUGE screamed chorus, the perfect crescendo to it all! It flips the script we’ve had so far on its head in the best way possible, and is another fantastic song! It turns the gothic vibes to 11, and reminds me more of their last album than anything else so far. I love it! Those low notes in the bridge are absolutely insane, too. If you like the heavier end of their sound, this is absolutely a track for you!
The other single from the album, ‘O Silent Fear‘, is one we’re very familiar withhere at Overtone. Honestly, I don’t know what else I can say that I haven’t already said about this track. I’ve gushed about it plenty in that video and really whenever I’ve had the chance to, and it’s yet another awesome track on an album filled with them to this point! And, having said that, I think it’s somehow my least favourite single from the release, even though it’s a really fantastic song in its own right! It’s heavy but melodic and gothic and grandiose and just plain awesome. From the low verses to the screamed chorus, it’s so good and still somehow so catchy. The band are really firing on all cylinders with this release!
‘Agony’ gives me vibes of All Hope is Gone-era Slipknot, and I love it! From the plodding pace to the dark instrumentation to some of the melodies Julian is hitting, it’s taking me back to my youth in 2008 in the best ways! I love that the chorus doesn’t change the vibe too much too, adding in a bit of heaviness and some harmonies, but it generally just stays menacing and melancholic like the verse. It’s a great change of pace in the middle of the album, that’s for sure. And all the layers of vocals in that final chorus… *chef’s kiss*. To the surprise of no one, it’s another really excellent song!
Tracks like ‘Arcane Promises’ and ‘A Sinful Desire’ are more up-tempo, heavy songs. The former is mainly clean vocals, again feeling for an easy choice for a radio track if the band are wanting to go that way, but still have plenty of their signature goth and dark vibes. And once again, it’s got a fantastically catchy hook, and some really excellent vocals! And the breakdown goes pretty damn hard in the middle too, everyone working their asses off through it. Meanwhile the latter has a good mixture of both cleans and screams (it has maybe my favourite screams on the whole album), and a truly massive, Audio Secrecy-style chorus. Both are fantastic songs in their own right that. And, even though they feel slightly like album tracks, are still incredible, fitting the tone of the album perfectly and standing out to me in their own ways. Wow!
‘Veil XV’ is the ballad of the album, and is just as excellent as the rest of the songs. It’s truly epic; the arrangement and production being phenomenal. And once again, Julian’s vocals are top notch, truly one of the most underrated singers in the game. There’s something about his breathy voice over the piano that just scratches my brain in the best ways. Then, when the distortion and heaviness comes in for the arena-filling chorus, it’s perfect in a whole different way. Hell, all the parts of this are awesome, as I also loved just the chunky guitar chords and vocals for the second verse, too! And all of the strings for the bridge makes it all feel absolutely huge. Another absolutely massive high point of the album, and another song that easily makes our playlist. GODDAMN.
The closer, and a song title that rivals early 2000s Fall Out Boy in length, finishes things off in style. It’s arguably the heaviest on the album, packed full of brutal screams and some crushing riffing and drums. Having said that, it still has the bands trademark clean, multi-layered chorus tucked away between all the aggression! It feels like it draws together the very best elements of what came before it, capping the release odd excellently. What a fantastic final song!
Overall: This is somehow even more amazing than I expected it to be! The singles were of course excellent, but there truly isn’t a bad song on here, and there are some absolutely gems buried in the album tracks. As much as I loved their last album, this may honestly be my favourite from them yet! I’ll be spinning this a lot in the coming weeks and months, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our albums of the year listcome December!
We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing Jason Scott & the High Heat ahead of their set at The Long Road the other weekend, not long before their amazing new album dropped! Check it all out below!
You guys are right slap-bang in the middle of the tour now in the UK. How’s it been so far?
So far so good, man! It’s great to be back. Away from home for a little bit!
Is it your first time in the UK or have we done a couple of visits before?
Yeah, that’s our first time. It’s pretty crazy!
How are you finding it compared to back home?
Much nicer!
Apart from the rain, obviously, yeah.
Yeah, I don’t mind it! It’s cool. Maybe after a couple of weeks it’ll go?
Yeah, true. At least apparently we’re not going to get any rain after Monday now, so it’s isolated to just this weekend!
Yeah, yeah. We’ll enjoy it. At least it hasn’t deterred anybody?
No, true. It’s been pretty busystill!
Are there any comparisons you can make from the scene out here compared to back home?
The roads don’t compare at all. You guys drive on little tiny roads!
Very true. It’s rather thin, yeah!
But there’s an appreciation for the countryside and you know, it’s pristine, just some of the way… it’s just older here too, you know what I mean?
Very true, yeah.Someone was telling me, I think it was last year, that the house here is like six, seven hundred years old, or something like that!
Yeah, we don’t have that back home.
No, exactly. But I feel like the rest of the setting has been picked out quite well. They look at least vaguely like something you’d have back home, I imagine?
We passed that church. Yeah, I mean, maybe up in the Northeast of America there’s some old, a church on every corner!
We’ve heard a fair bit of the album so far through singles. I assume we’re getting a lot of that tonight?
Yeah, absolutely. Not all of it, but we’ll play as many as we know!
Can we expect anything else from the set? I assume some old favorites?
Yeah, we’ve got some surprises. A choice cover tune in there that you may know!
In terms of the album, what can we expect from the rest of it? Is there some different stuff compared to the singles in there?
Yeah, I think there is actually! There’s some there’s some kind of more group-sing-along kind of vibes on it that I’m really excited about, and also a couple of real just slow kind of intimate songs that didn’t feel like they had enough room to be a single, but are some of my favorites.
What went into the decision to do another album? I know the algorithm and all this nowadays is singles or EPs. Like, I feel like it’s quite a big undertaking these days to do a full release!
I don’t know why we would do it any other way. You know, maybe there might be some EPs in the future or something, but to me a body of work is space and time and era. The sound is what it is because we’ve been out on the road playing, and and you know it’s just an expansion on that. I don’t know, I like making records! And now with Leo’s help, previously it’d take three years because I’d have to go work for a month to pay off to go record, so we’re moving through that process quicker. But yeah, I love to do it!
You guys have got quite a busy rest of the year planned after you get home, right?
We do. We do get to go home…I don’t think we get to go home. Yeah, it’s like three or four days off and then back on the road, so yeah!
That’s intense. But I imagine it’s good fun!
There’s no AC in the van, guys…
What! Still? I feel like this is a prank. You can’t hurt me.
Yeah, you’re stuck now!
Hey, but this is getting us used to being over here with no AC!
Yeah, true. The last three months have been pretty killer with the heat over here and no AC, so the rain is at least a little bit nicer than that.
It’s between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius at home. We haven’t decided what the degree is yet!
You guys are pretty kind of well-versed on the whole social media kind of aspect of it all. Have you got any advice you could give artists just starting up in that regard? I feel like it’s quite a daunting thing to jump into!
Yeah, I don’t know. Just put shit out. See what sticks. I thought you were going to stop that sentence after you said “we were pretty-“
Oh, you are! Yeah, that was it. It’s just a nice compliment!
Nice.
I don’t know. What do you think? Like, try to find something that you don’t hate doing, because you have to do something, so find a niche that that works, but you also enjoy doing it because it’s got to be done.
Yeah, it’s like 80/20.
Be born with rich parents, which we weren’t.
That would be nice, pump it all into marketing!
Do you guys have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? I imagine you’ve probably supported some awesome bands, but if there’s anyone else..?
Yeah, of course! They’re not really country bands. I would love to play with Medium Build. I think that would be sick. I mean Tyler Childers would be awesome as well!
Yeah, pretty much just support, right? Stones? Ronnie Wood, love to play with Ronnie.
I feel like any of them you’d probably fit in really well with.
Yeah, well our music has a little bit of that—we’ve kind of straddled the fence with country and rock and roll. I’m probably leaning more on the rock and roll side of things nowadays, but, I don’t know, it it gets us—we opened for Morgan Wallen the other day. I think we could fit not world and we could open for Ruby Wolf, or Phoebe Bridgers, and Ben Bill would be so sick!
Then if you could have written one song from history, do any immediately spring to mind?
Anything Dolly wrote.
That’s fair. Very good choice!
ABCs. That shit slaps. Get the alphabet LMNOP’s going!
See, I get “Happy Birthday” quite a lot as well, you know, get some royalties going in.
An absolutely STACKED week of new music for us to dive into, with everything from metal to country to rock putting out bangers. Let’s dive right in!
Luke Bryan: Signs
So, I know everyone’s been clowning on a couple of the singles from this album, and somewhat rightfully so. A lot of the lyrics are truly cringe country tropes. However, that doesn’t stop it from being a fun, enjoyable album! It’s exactly what you’d expect from Bryan’s ninth release, and if you are into stadium country it’s certainly a collection for you! Tracks like ‘Word on the Street’, ‘Fish Hunt Gold Drink’ and ‘Crooked Rows of Corn’ are all personal highlights. However, there isn’t a bad song on the album, honestly! It’s maybe a touch slow for my liking at times, but having just learnt the guy is 50 while writing this, you can’t blame him for not having it be more high-energy party songs any more. It’s not quite as good as his last album in my eyes, but it’s a fun, certainly good 40 minutes of country. Even when this style has seemingly been left in the dust a little by the modern country scene, Luke still proves why he is one of the biggest names in the genre and that he isn’t going away any time soon. Give this a spin if you’re in any way interested, and if you’re a fan of his you won’t be disappointed! 7.5/10
Anthrax: Cursum Perficio
I’ve been waiting for this album for A WHILE. It’s been a full decade since their last studio release. And honestly, from first impressions, I’m not sure how to feel about this. I’ve spun it a couple of times over the weekend, and while it has grown on me on a second spin, I still don’t think it lives up to the hype I had built for it over the last decade. But hey, that’s on me! Each individual part is awesome, everyone is working their asses off throughout, but something about the sum of all said parts doesn’t get me as pumped as I hoped it would. It reminds me a little of Avenged Sevenfold’s The Stage for me; a big, hype-filled release from a massive metal band that doesn’t feel as immediately huge as previous albums. Tracks like ‘The Long Goodbye’, ‘The Edge of Perfection’ and ‘T.O.M.B.’ are all personal highlights. There isn’t a bad song on the album even, but it does feel like a bit of a grower.
It’s not quite Worship Music, let alone their early stuff, but it is still a good modern thrash album. Maybe it’s because the likes of Testament, Exodus and even Priest/Saxon are still firing out amazing albums at a quicker pace, but I sadly don’t find myself quite as attached to it as some other reviewers do. I haven’t been left remembering anything from it even on a second listen. So, for that reason, it gets another 7.5/10. Good but not great.
Madska: More Than Dramatic
Self-described as “Rose-coloured rock”, it’s the perfected way to describe this Philly trio, and this EP is a perfect introduction to the band for those haven’t heard their 2024 debut album. It’s chilled out and upbeat while also rather epic in its arrangement, and has some really catchy hooks throughout. The band are all so damn talented too, all working their asses off throughout and each piece fitting together perfectly. The title track opens things up perfectly, while the slower ‘Basement’ and the funky ‘Medusa’ are also great tracks. However, the other two are just as good; the full 18 minutes is awesome and such an easy listen! It’s different in the best sense of the world, and I’d honestly recommend it to absolutely anyone reading this! It’s been well worth the wait since I interviewed them about it the other month, and I’ll be spinning this plenty in the weeks and months to come. A very easy 8.5/10 from us!
Holding Absence: Modern Life is Lonely
Max: The Welsh outfit are back with a genuinely very beautiful album. There is a lot of emotion layered throughout which can be expected from this band. However this album looks outwards in many ways and shows a constant improvement and desire to grow from the band. Whilst listing all of the things from this album that I love would take an eternity, I want to highlight just a few.
The vocals are stunning. Simply so. From the cleans to the screams everything is fantastic. The instruments are not a let down either. everything from the backing instrumentals, to the drums, to the guitars. Everything is tight, precise and well done, but not in that way that screams of overproduction, in the way that you know care was given to everything and that corners weren’t cut.
I also want to say that there is a very good blend of highs and lows throughout the album, both in terms of the vocals but also with the emotion. There are songs that have so much energy you float through and ones that leave you sitting there in a sort of pensive sadness. But when they come together its everything. I think “Lucid Love” and “Scorched Earth” are prime examples of this carrying both energy but also love and emotion and, at least to me, a level of poignant sadness. But really the best example of Holding Absence not only releasing an amazing song, but also being very typical and leaving it until the end, is “Kyoto Snow”. Talking about love across whatever distance and how no matter what, be it distance, space, time or realities, love transcends all.
This album deserves to be played, heard and felt. 10/10
Riley Green: That’s Just Me
Another year, another long collection of slow country ballads from Mr Green. My foolish ass even thought “maybe this time will be different” when ‘Think as you Drunk’ came out but nope, this is over an hour of slower-end, stripped-back country. For what it is, it’s completely fine, solid even. It’s clear he’s good and talented, as he’s an absolutely MASSIVE name in music in general these days. The afformentioned rockier track is great, as is ‘Got That From You’, ‘Don’t Come Any Closer’ and ‘More of a Man than Me’. Hell, there isn’t a bad song on here, honestly. It’s just too damn long. His style has grown on me over the last few years, and I definitely enjoyed this more than his last release. However, it is too long and too similar for me to sit with the album as a whole probably ever again. There is an excellent record hidden somewhere in here, but it is too bloated, and very weirdly composed from an track-order perspective. I can’t give it any more than 6.5/10, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of his music!
Nonpoint: The Last Word
The Nu-metal/rap-rock pioneers are back with their first album in over eight years, and it is every bit as excellent as I’d hoped it would be! Honestly, I missed them dude; there’s no one that quite does music like Nonpoint, and nearly thirty years into their careers they prove that they very much still have it! It doesn’t overstay its welcome at just 10 tracks spread across half an hour, but it means that it is very much all killer, no filler. ‘Is It’, ‘Dial Tones’ and ‘Red Yeti’ are personal highlights, but every song on here is a banger. The band somehow sound almost identical to how they did back when they first broke out, but have somehow found a way to keep it feeling fresh and interesting even 11 albums in! If you are at all into that early 2000s sound and scene that they came from, or just nu or industrial metal or even hip hop in any way, you NEED to check out this album ASAP. I’m a little obsessed already, and it is going to be in regular rotation for me most likely for the rest of the year. I can’t give it any less than 9/10, and I am already desperate to see them live again!
Seasick Steve: The Last Season of America
The first album in a couple of years from the folk/Americana legend, and he proves yet again that he hasn’t lost a step all these years into his career! The title track opens things up in a way only Steve can, highlighting his views on the state of his country perfectly, a sombre tune. Then you have more blues rock-inspired bangers like single ‘Bad Things’ and ‘Free Man’ that are all awesome. Heck, instrumental ‘Surf’s Flat’ is amazing too, there certainly not being a dud across the whole release! You know exactly what to expect from the guy this deep into his career, yet he never fails to disappoint. It’s every bit as good as his last album, so gets another solid 7.5/10 from us! Check this out if you are even a passing fan of the guy!
Blackment: Pandemonium Portrait
The sophomore album from the Finnish melodic metal band follows up their 2022 debut perfectly. And this is coming from someone who LOVED their debut! This is almost an hour of grandiose, heavy and catchy metal, and is a really fantastic listen. It almost reminds me of those middle couple of Trivium albums where Matt stopped screaming as much, except crafted in a way that is amazing, and is more of the bands identity. Hell, it’s got elements of power metal throughout this too, almost giving Dominum vibes in the best ways! From ‘In Motion’ to ‘Afterlife’ to the epic ‘Nocturnal Queen’, there are plenty of bangers on here. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout, and the album flows so damn well together. Every member of the band are so incredibly talented, and they all work together perfectly! It’s up there alongside their debut for me, and I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10!
Jason Scott and the High Heat: Play Boy
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
The Bites: Self-Titled
Another sophomore album, this time from the US hard/sleaze rockers. Their debut was massive, but I honestly feel like this is a step up in terms of quality! It’s 37-minutes of massive, arena-filling melodies and hooks, as well as some fantastic playing from the entire band throughout! The Van Halen-esque ‘Hold On’ is a big early highlight and I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single from the jump. Tracks like single ‘Dancing with the Devil’, ‘Carry You Home’ and ballad ‘Waiting’ are all personal highlights, but there isn’t a bad song on here honestly. Hell, ‘Lips’, while cringy lyrically, is a catchy as anything song that will be stuck in my head for days to come! While it fits in perfectly with the current revival of the sound, the band still feel unique and somehow fresh, not an easy achievement in 2026. It’s a damn fun album that I’d recommend to any rock fan reading this, and is an incredibly easy 8/10!
Game Over: When Darkness Falls
Max: So I just want to start with letting you know, I normally really don’t like this kind of music. But this album… its a lot of fun. I think the horror theming to the album makes for an enjoyable lens to craft an album in with definitely a tonal difference between certain tracks.
Starting with a simple opening of “Hollow and Cold” serving as an instrumental opening before we get seamlessly in to the first full length track, “Two Souls One Flesh”. this felt very genre fitting with bouncing riffs and a constant beat throughout with the almost chanting mid section of the song which I think can be expected, and don’t worry of course there is the solo in the later third of the song to make sure you know who and what you are listening to. I want to also say the flow between the opening track in to “Two Souls One Flesh” is really perfect and just goes to show the absolute precision involved when making this album.
Now personally, I didn’t find much to write home about with when it came to songs 4 and 5, they are by no means bad songs, in fact quite the opposite, they are just rather standard and to some extent ‘safe’ that being said, I never skipped them, which if the “worst” tracks on the album are a solid 7.5/10 you know the album is good.
And to be fully honest that is my only criticism of the album, because straight after we get an eery mid album spoken word interlude and then you are dropped straight in to my favourite song of the album, “Curse Of Strahd”. Not only is the a great campaign, it is also a great chuggy and pumping track that pulls you in and keeps you coming back. There is not a single thing I would change with this track because damn its really really good.
As for the last three tracks of the album, they are also really good. I wont say why but the final track uses a speech from a very good film and solidifies this album as just being really fun to listen to. Overall there is a lot to love, now its not creating a new genre or redefining this one, however what it does do is tell you the GAME OVER is really good at what they do. 9/10
Orville Peck: Mule
Jade: Opening the album is a beautiful folky, almost bewitching song ‘Prolouge (Eulogy of a man turned mule)’ featuring Emmylou Harris, Noah Cyrus and Allison Russell. Going straight in the next track ‘Big Ol’ House’ all expectations are immediately met as always with Orville. His unique voice and the strength of his vocals just hit. This goes for the next track with is a bit more upbeat and bouncy ‘Already Gone’. I must say I have been slightly obsessed with this track since it was released back in August. He shows such a range in his vocals and it has me in a bit of a choke hold. I feel like I have to mention Rehab blues mainly for the whistle intro. As you all probably know my husband is a sucker for a whistle solo. Then you get hit hard by the lyrics which are so casual but deep when it comes to recovery. I am very much seeing a pattern in this album, in that it just rips your heart out and tramples all over it. There is so much hurt and pain, and Orville’s absolutely stunning vocals just makes it sting that little bit more. ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘The Fall’ have me absolutely sobbing. Just when you like you are getting an up beat, bluesy almost Elvis song with ‘Cowboy Heart’ you again are hit with such powerful lyrics. I just know this album is going to sit very close to so many people. Without me absolutely gushing and boring you with my babble, all I’ll say about ‘The breeze, the grass, the mourning dove and me’ is that I desperately NEED to hear that some live. There are some crazy good vocals. ‘Too little, too late’ was another song I’ve been obsessed with since it was released as a single. Just a great catchy track that just reminds you that you are a bad bitch that deserves better. The final track I want to talk about is the last on the the album, the title track ‘Mule’. There couldn’t have been a more perfect track to finish off this powerful album. It’s stripped back and slowly brings in more instruments as the song progresses. It almost rounds off all the other tracks and brings everything together so subtly with different struggles being touched upon throughout the album. The whole thing is just so full of emotions and is just beautiful…I don’t know how else to describe it. You’ve done it again Orville.
Just to reiterate, like I haven’t already babbled on for too long. I am in absolute awe of this album. The talent of this man never ceases to amaze me. As a big lover of country music, he definitely brings a uniqueness to the mix that I can’t really compare to any other artist. All there is left to do is wait for him to come back to the UK on tour! 10/10
Beck: Ride Lonesome
Seven years removed from his last album, Hyperspace, the alt rocker returns with a chilled out, folky release. For what it is, it’s fine. It’s not hugely my sort of thing, at least on track, and reminds me a lot of the recent Fruit Batsstuff. I would have much preferred another revisit to his 90s stuff, but if you’re a fan of this side of his music, you’l surely get something out of this. Honestly though, I can’t even really pick highlight tracks, as it all just blurs together into 45 minutes of slow, stripped-back monotony. Beck is a talented guy, that much has always been clear, but this is not at all my sort of thing. I got bored, and fast! 3/10
Krallice: Scour Order
Release 14 from the technical black metal New Yorkers is over an hour of dark, brutal heaviness, and is a really interesting listen! It’s certainly a variation of the black metal formula that I enjoy and get a lot out of, and the band are so damn talented that it’s hard not to be sucked in and hooked at times. Some of the guitaring in particular really blew me away! And, with just eight songs being spread across over an hour, everything gets plenty of time to breathe. ‘Grievous Corrector’ and ‘Her Green Arms’ are personal highlights. And, while it is a touch long for now similar it is, there still isn’t a necessarily bad song on the release! If you are into this sort of thing give it a spin, but I’d struggle to give it much more than 5.5/10
Olive Vox: Trace it Back
The second EP from the Texas-based alt rockers is under 20 minutes of catchy vocals and melodies, backed perfectly by some really great instrumentation! Opener ‘Hear me Out’ had me hooked from the get-go, while the indie-punk ‘I Do’ and ‘Black and White’ are also excellent songs. However, the whole EP is concise, a really great example of everything the band are so great at. They are such talented players and songwriters, and had me loving it despite it not typically being my sort of sound. If you like the heavier, punkier side of indie music, this is very much a release for you! Another solid 7/10 from us this week!
The Homesick: What’s Up With All These Shangri-Las
The fourth album from the Dutch avant-pop group is somehow not at all what I expected heading in, even when I had zero expectations! It’s another release that, while not really my thing typically, I found myself actually having a good time listening! It’s not something I’d revisit often or even really have highlights tracks from, but the album as a whole is a fun, quirky and fantastically interesting listen. It’s very European, and gives off big 80s experimental pop vibes in a really great way. It’s certainly not a release for everyone, but if you are at all interested, give this a spin, you might just love it! I’d happily listen to it again soon, and it gets a solid 6/10 from us!
The Goods: Goodbye Summertime
The sophomore album from the Californian soft rockers is a fun, laid-back 42 minutes of music. It draws from plenty of sounds and inspirations, from folk rock to indie-Americana to… well… the Beatles, into something wholly unique, and a damn good listen! Tracks like ‘Minor Key’, ‘Punchbowl’ and ‘Dare You’ are all personal highlights. However, if you like this sort of thing, you’ll most likely love it all! It’s maybe a touch repetitive at times, especially when it’s not fully my sort of thing, but it’s certainly a nice release to throw on and chill out to. That, and Rob Good and co. are insanely talented at what they do, and it makes this a damn good album in its genre! 7/10, though it may grow on me even more with more listens!
Velveteen Queen: The Greater Good
The modern rock five-piece’s sophomore album is somehow even better than their 2024 debut! It’s old-school sleazy and Sunset strip while having a modern edge and production to it, not unlike The Bites further up! Tracks like the title one, ‘Adrenaline’ and ‘Best of the Best’ are all personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout, it going by in a flash! It’s exactly what you’d expect from a modern glam/sleaze infused hard rock band, but done to absolute perfection. It’s easy to see why the band have gathered so much love and momentum in their short careers so far, and their studio output matches that love easily! I had a blast listening to it, and the band certainly have a big new fan in me! 7/10
Album three from the American soul/heartland country rock quintet is dropping tomorrow, and we couldn’t be more excited! arriving just over a year removed from their stellar last album, the hype around this release is high, so getting to hear it a little early is a real pleasure. We sadly didn’t check said album out at the time, but have listened since in preparation to see them at The Long Road this year, and since loved it (and their live show!). So, without further ado, let’s dive in!
The opening single sets the tone for the album perfectly. A great, bluegrass-style guitar lick soon has Jason’s great vocals over the top, the multi-tracking on it making it sound massive from the jump. The song builds perfectly with more vocal harmonies and the steady inclusion of percussion. And it never quite explodes in like I expected either, instead just adding more and more with each new part. The more full guitar sounds from around the midpoint were awesome. Honestly, the whole song has an excellent, chilled-out vibe to it, nestled somewhere between Buffett and Jack Johnson. It’s catchy, well crafted and excellently performed, and a massive early highlight!
Another single, ‘Shit Show’, picks up the pace and the rock vibes, the riffing being so very Skynyrd in all the best ways. The vocals give it a bit more of a late 90s pop edge to it, which I also love, and both styles combine together excellently. The main way I can describe it just fun vibes, and I love it! Also, the clapping; great addition! The chorus isn’t a massive sing-along one, but it is still a catchy track, and the little guitar solo tucked away in the middle is a great addition to the song. The dynamics are great too as it drops back not long after into a slow, epic part filled with some great vocal moments and strings, all before ramping back up into the indie-country rock. It’s yet another excellent track, and a very good choice for a single!
The singles keep rolling with ‘Too Good, Too Bad’. It’s got a great stomping pace to it, but keeps the same upbeat, chilled out and fun vibes from the other tracks so far! The vocals are great, with the harmonies adding even more depth and awesomeness to them. And, from the verse to the choruse, it’s all hugely catchy! It’s another simply arranged song, but so infectiously fun, it almost impossible not to dance along to it! Once again we get an awesome, technical little guitar solo tucked away in the middle too, keeping the track amazing throughout. However the chorus and harmonies are the main kicker here, and make for a truly excellent song. The band are three for three so far on greatness, and this is a track that easily makes our playlist!
‘Highway Robbery’ is the most traditional country track on the release, giving big Brooks and Dunn vibes in all the best ways. The riff is great, while all the rest of the instrumentation adds so much, from the keys to the guitar to the drums. However, the vocals also fit the track perfectly, and are fantastic in their own right. Once again, the arrangements and structure are simple, but it works so well with the style of the song, and it still sounds so very High Heat. And it still gets a bit more rockin’ by the end! As you can tell, it’s another excellent song on an album so far full of them! Shame about the fade out though, I was hoping for a big ending with some half time and stuff…
The first non-single of the release, ‘Roll me All the Way’, opens on some great isolated vocals. The acoustic instrumentation soon comes in, and of course it’s very Willy in all the best ways! It’s a steady paced, incredibly chilled-out and exceptionally catchy track, and is just again a lot of fun! Honestly, it’s a similar vibe through the closer ‘If Heaven had a Honky Tonk’, right down to the vocal intro. And, honestly, it’s a fantastic way to close out the album, tying everything together excellently, as well as being a great song and a big highlight in its own right! That chorus is going to be stuck in my head for days to come!
Songs like ‘Willy, Waylon & Waltzes’, ‘Goodbye Moon’ and ‘Fastest Fool in Town’ are all slower, more ballad tracks. All give off a little more of an Orville Peck/Zach Top vibe to them, and are excellent in their own right! I also surprisingly love that the former two are one-after-another, breaking up the more higher-energy songs well, and slotting excellently into the middle of the album. Meanwhile the latter also reminds me a little of more of a Skynyrd-style southern rock ballad, which is also awesome! It’s some classic country in all the best ways and, while all are a little similar, they’re all fantastic tracks in their own right!
Meanwhile, the likes of singles ‘Cowboy Cold Beer’, ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ and ‘All This Pain’ are more like their signature blend of indies rock and chilled-out, upbeat country. Having said that, they also still have their own identities, that’s for sure! The former is a catchy, simple affair with plenty of catchy vocal lines and even some rapping, which was a great surprise! Meanwhile ‘How to Get Away…’ has a bit more of a Western flavour to it, while also turning up the indie and even RHCP vibes a little with that bass. And the latter is a straight-up rockier track. So yeah, again all are excellent songs that fit the tone of the release well. All are just as great as the rest of the album, honestly!
‘When Love Tries To Hurt You’, ‘What Do You Know About Love’ up the chilled vibes even more, and I love it! Having said that, both have some elements of rock still, and are infectiously catchy in their own right! The former is one of my favourite tracks on the album even, and that says a lot! Meanwhile the latter, while a little ballady again, still feels a little rock driven, like the perfect mix of Pinegrove and Treaty Oak Revival. Again, both songs are excellent in their own right, fitting the tone of the release perfectly while constantly keeping it interesting with a slight variation of their sound each time. I can’t get over how talented this band are!
Overall: I really loved this release! It doesn’t feel its length and there truly isn’t a bad song on it! The variety on display is excellent, showing just how fantastic the band are as combined songwriters, and they all play and sing their asses off throughout. The band have continued to build momentum in quick order the last few years, and it’s so easy to see why when their studio work is of such high quality! If you are at all into country or a more chilled-out, light-hearted rock sound, I cannot recommend this album enough. I’ll be spinning it a lot in the weeks and months to come, and don’t be surprised to see it high on our albums of the year list come December!
You know the drill by now! Join us as we check out some of the best rock, metal and country releases from the last week!
Green Lung: Necropolitan
The stoner/doom metallers follow up 2023’s critically acclaimed This Heathen Land with another excellent release! It’s 40 minutes of amazing riffing, catchy melodic moments and a generally massive, malevolent sound. The opener ‘Dance to the Grave’ is an epic, grandiose track, while songs like ‘Black Magick Radio’, the more ballad-like ‘Together in Death’ and ‘Alostrael’ are all massive personal highlights. However, the whole album is excellent from start to finish, and doesn’t feel it’s length at all. It’s a fantastically old school sound, drawing from everything from Deep Purple to Sabbath, Maiden to Candlemass. Having said that, it also has a slight modern edge to it, though that may be more down to the production. The band have been gaining some serious momentum in recent years, and it’s in large part due to their stellar studio output. This is easily up there alongside their previous releases, and gets another solid 9/10 from us!
Tygers of Pan Tang: Electrifyed
The English heavy metal legends are back with album number 14. Going on 50 years since they formed, the band show that they have somehow still not lost a step! From ‘Forevermore’ to ‘Dark Divinity’, ‘The Nail’ to the closer, there is plenty of great stuff throughout. It’s a modernised NWOBHM album and exactly what you’d expect from the band heading into it. While not quite up there with their top releases like the legendary Spellbound or 2016s Self Titled, it’s still an incredibly solid album, and one I’d recommend to anyone who’s a fan! A solid 7.5/10 from us!
Pokey Lafarge: Rent Money
The latest album from the throwback blues/soul rocker is just as great as the rest of his discography! It’s 35-minutes of catchy, chilled-out and incredible well written and performed music; exactly what I expected and wanted! It took a couple of tracks for me to truly fall in love, but from then on I was truly hooked! The title track was an excellent lead single, and we loved it from the moment it released. Followers ‘Stick Together’ and ‘Work’ are other massive album highlights, as is the slower ‘Told You No’. However, the whole album is excellent from front to back, and it all grew on me somehow even more with more listens. The guy can do no wrong from a musical standpoint; it flows incredibly well and the talent on display throughout is off the charts. It’s certainly up there with his last album. If you are at all curious, I cannot recommend this enough! I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward, and it gets a solid 9/10!
Røry: BLOODLETTING
The third album from the UK pop-metaller is honestly a lot better than I expected heading into it! I’ve not been a fan of much of her previous stuff, but this blew me away! ‘DEGRADATION’ is a straight-up, heavy modern metalcore track, and is a lot of fun. The other heavier stuff like ‘MORTAL’ and, to a lesser extent, ‘GREY’, are also songs I enjoyed a lot. Some of the rest is a little too slow and Bad Omens-y for my tastes, but there is no denying that it is still good music. I also love the intro and interludes, making the album feel like one cohesive project and making for an incredibly easy listen. It’s certainly her strongest album to date, and it may grow on me even more with subsequent listens. Her band are all insanely talented too, and I like the direction that she appears to be heading in, reminding me a lot of Poppy. A pretty damn solid 7.5/10 from us!
The Proclaimers: You May Offend
The Scotish legends once again don’t disappoint on album #13. It’s surprisingly high-energy at times, but is still pretty much exactly what you’d expect from the band. Songs like single ‘But it Is’, ‘Till the Ink Dries’ and ‘There’s No Plan’ are personal highlights. However, none of the album is bad by any stretch. It’s completely inoffensive (moreso than their opinions) pop/folk rock music, and if you’re a fan of their other work it will probably scratch that itch. It doesn’t catch my ear quite as much as their last release, but is still a solid entry into their later discography. I struggled to pin down a score, but I think a strong 6/10 feels right!
Sweet Electric: Something Something Disco
We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.
Smithfield: Country With Heart (Part Two)
The country duo’s self-professed debut album (the distinction between albums and singles confuses me no end these days), part two of Country With Heart follows up it’s 2024 counterpart perfectly. It’s 26-minutes of excellent country-pop from start to finish! The harmonies between the pair are incredible, and they work perfectly together from a performing and writing perspective. However, their band are also amazing throughout!
Tracks like ‘Drunk Love You’, ‘Let You’ and ‘Tell Me You Don’t’ are particular highlights, but the whole release is amazing from start to finish. It’s an incredibly easy listen that goes by in a flash. Hell, if there is any justice, ‘Let You’ would be one of the biggest songs in modern country, it is THAT good. It reminds me of Everette’s ‘Gonna be a Problem’ in that regard, but then again the whole project reminds me of Kings of the Dairy Queen Parking Lot in the very best way! They’ve put in a lot of work to get to where they are today, and this album is good enough to hopefully catapult them into the stratosphere! Check this out if you are in any way a country fan, and I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty moving forward. 8.5/10
P.S. check out our live review and interview with the band hereandhere!
Scene Queen: METALICIOUS
The new EP from the bimbocore pioneer herself is exactly what I’ve come to expect from her. I was surprised how much I enjoyed her debut album, so went into this with a modicum of hype and wasn’t disappointed! It’s a short 16 minutes of nu-metal adjacent greatness, and is a lot of fun. ‘Manicure’ is great, as is incredibly cleverly put together ‘Shopaholic’ and ‘Tracksuit’. Sadly the guest tracks were a slight letdown. I expected to not enjoy the one with TX2 and I was correct, but the title track was maybe the worst track on the release and the fact that it featured Left to Suffer was certainly sad. However, there is more good than bad on this release, and I find myself cringing slightly less and less every time I listen to her. It’s still a touch over the top for me at times lyrically, but I very much know that is the whole point of it. It’s worth a listen if you’re interested, and a solid 7.5/10 from us!
iATLAS: Beyond the New Horizon
The debut EP from the alt rock trio is a fun 16 minutes, and a great introduction to the band! It’s a great throwback 70s/80s sound, and the band are all clearly talented players and songwriters. ‘Touch the Sky’ and ‘3iATLAS’ are personal highlights, and were great choices for singles. However, each track is good, and the EP is such an easy listen as a hole! I’m curious to see where the band go from here, and I already can’t wait to hear more! For now though I’ll certainly be spinning it again soon. Also, the artwork is SICK. A solid 7/10 from us!
Hubris.: White Shores
Album five from the Swiss post-rock instrumental quartet is a captivating, epic 40 minute soundscape. Everything flows together excellently, from the audio to even the track names, branding it as a truly thought out work of art. It’s certainly not going to be a release for everyone, but if you are at all interested I’d definitely recommend checking it out! It’s not something you’d probably listen to individual tracks off, but as a complete package it’s incredible! Just sit in a dark room with some headphones on and get lost in it. Another easy 7/10, and one I’ll be revisiting it again soon!
Slug Comparison: Cold In Cold Out
The new solo EP from Fen vocalist/guitarist Doug Harrison is an amazing 26 minutes of music! Though we sadly didn’t have time to review his latest album last year, I really enjoyed it. Somehow, this is even better! The dark, brooding, grungy alt-rock opener is fantastic, and sets the tone for the rest of the release excellently. ‘Back to the World’ is another highlight for me, but there really isn’t a bad song on the EP. It’s maybe a touch long for a generally slower release, but it’s so well written and performed that I couldn’t help but get lost in it. The soundscape created is amazing, while his vocals and lyrics are phenomenal. It’s definitely one I’d recommend if you’re into the proggier side of alt rock, and will surely make it onto our top EPs of the year listcome December! 8.5/10
Nicolas Jamerson: Rabbit Holes (Vol. 1)
Following up his album from last year, the traditional country/Americana/bluegrass singer-songwriter put out another fantastic collection of tracks this last Friday! It’s honestly amazing that he gets such a full sound and feel out of mainly just him and his guitar, holding my attention fully throughout. It’s 19 minutes and seven tracks of sheer beautiful playing and writing, and is packed full of emotion. ‘I’ve Never Been Anywhere’ is a massive highlight, as is ‘Be Strong’ and the beautiful duet in ‘Fly’. However, there really isn’t a bad song throughout. His vocals are powerful and fit the vibe of the songs perfectly, and his lyrics are tremendous from start to finish. It’s another release that isn’t for everyone, but I’d recommend it to anyone into an older-school country vibe. I already can’t wait for Vol. 2. A very easy 8/10!
Mother of Millions: T
The prog metal Greeks are back with their fifth album, and it’s another excellent release! It’s packed full of chunky riffs, powerful, soaring, catchy vocals and some fantastic technically and arrangements. ‘The Wound’ opens things perfectly, while songs like ‘The Aftermath’, ‘The One’ and ‘The Circle’ are other massive highlights. It’s maybe a touch long for my preference, but the album is so varied it’s still an easy listen, and I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you what to cut! The band are all massively talented both individually and together, and this reminds me of Finger Elevenin the best possible way. It’s exactly the sort of thing I love, and the band very much have a big new fan in me! I’ll certainly be going back and checking out their previous stuff as well as spinning this plenty in the coming weeks and months. A very easy 8.5/10 from me!
The Meffs: Business
The sophomore album from the punk duo is exactly what you’d expect if you’d heard their other music. It’s fine. It’s old school punk with a bit of a heavier edge. The attitude is very much there, and their lyrics and the message behind them is excellent. But musically it’s just straight up punk, as you’d expect from just the two of them. It’s good, but a little repetitive for my liking overall. Tracks like ‘Where Did it All go Wrong’ and ‘So Modern’ are pretty good and definite personal highlights. And I’m certainly not saying the rest of the album is bad; they are very clearly great at what they do are gathering a lot of steam and have a bright future ahead of them. But the tough-boi punk always felt a touch cringy to me, and this is no different. I certainly wouldn’t turn it off if it came on, but I wouldn’t actively seek out to listen to it, if that makes sense. If you’re a hardcore (not in that way) punk fan, give this a spin, you’ll surely enjoy it! However, I can’t give it any more than a 6.5/10, sorry guys!
CoreLeoni: Generection
The fourth album from the Swiss hard rock/NWOHMers is built around previously unreleased songs, and is a mighty fine release in its own right. From the sleazy, heavy riffing to the soaring vocals to the catchy hooks and melodies, it’s 40+ minutes of great, 80s style rock music! From ‘Generation Rock’ to ‘Sex on the Beach’, ‘Don’t Tell Me’ to ‘Yearning’ and everything in between, it’s all awesome! There is plenty of variety, keeping it interesting throughout, and I got lost in it very easy from start to finish. The more I listened the more I fell in love; the band have crafted something truly special with a lot of these tracks, and they fit together perfectly! It starts slightly rough, but honestly give it the time and you’ll surely fall in love as much as I did. A very easy 9/10 from us!
Schandmaul: Sternensegler
German folk-rockers Schandmaul have once again dropped a fantastic album! it’s 11 awesome rock/metal tracks packed with massive, arena-filling choruses and some great folk elements! I somehow wasn’t familiar with them heading into this, but really enjoyed the album as a whole! The title track, ‘Flagge’ and ‘Lass nicht los’ are all personal highlights, but there isn’t a bad song throughout! It straddles the line perfectly between heavy and more balladlike rock, and is a very easy listen. The band are all talented and, while I don’t understand the lyrics, I certainly felt the emotion in the vocals, and he’s a criminally underrated singer! Another band I have left a fan of, and will have to go back and check out their earlier work! Another easy 8/10
The amazing German hard rockers are back with their highly anticipated sophomore album. Arriving less than two years after their debut, the quintet have been hard at work on both their live shows and recorded work to follow it up. The singles so far have been kick-ass, so if the record is anything like that, we’re in for a treat! Let’s dive right in, shall we?
The album starts with a shot of adrenaline curtesy of ‘Sick in the Head’. An amazing riff, a fast drumbeat and some chaotic police stuff, it all screams Brad Marr in the best way! I love the guitars dropping out between the lines in the verse, the vocal delivery keeps the same sense of urgency but it adds some great dynamics to the track. Heck, some of it boarders on rap in the second verse, being an awesome addition to the track and something I didn’t realise Brad had in his repertoire! It all builds to a catchy-as-anything chorus, the pace staying high but it opening up a little, and the call and response vocals were a nice touch! A fun bridge leads to an excellent guitar solo, getting some Egyptian scaling in there that fits surprisigly well! The whole track is amazing; a lot of fun and the perfect way to kick off an album like this. An easy early highlight!
‘Mexico’ keeps the fun vibes going, but adds more of a punky flavour to the mix. The drum intro into the higher, pop-punk chords, coupled with the vocal delivery and harmonies, scream Green Day in all the best ways! It all builds into a massive, again infectiously catchy chorus that almost injects just a touch of Britpop/soft rock into the mix. The track is completely different to the last, yet both still fit surprisingly perfectly together, and feel so very Sweet Electric. The dynamics of the track are cool too, more of a harmonic lead line than a solo in the bridge, before it all drops down and explodes back in perfectly. It’s another amazing song, and another firm highlight for me!
The hard rock vibes return with ‘These Guns’, the riff and driving bassline giving big AC/DC vibes. For my money it’s the most Massive track on the album, and given how much I miss that band, that’s fine by me! It’s just a great, straight-forward rock song, and is a damn fun listen. The lyrics walk the line between swaggering and dripping with attitude with a little tongue in cheek, but either way it goes it works! The solo tucked away in the middle is awesome too, fitting the track excellently. It’s technical, packed full of feeling and also given plenty of time to breathe, both guitarists duelling fantastically. It’s another fantastic song, and if you like either of the bands I’ve mentioned, or Sweet Electric I’m general, you’ll love this!
‘Somewhere in the Middle’ opens on an insane, blistering guitar solo, before dropping back into a clean guitar and Brad’s great vocals. For some reason the first thing that came to mind to compare it to was The Darkness. A combination of that and Status Quo. It’s again another change of pace from the album, but is another infectiously fun and catchy song! The band have shown just how insanely talented they are throughout this whole album so far, and it’s hard not to love each song in its own right! It’s yet another song that I’d recommend to absolutely anyone, and another that I’ll happily be revisiting plenty.
We get some more punky vibes in ‘D3AD!’, but they’re heavier than in ‘Mexico’. It’s higher paced and energied and heck, we even get a scream! It’s another fun, catchy track that feels like a combination of the opening two songs from the album. It’s a lot of fun, but is maybe the first song that feels slightly ‘album track’-esque. Still, it’s a damn good song in its own right, though!
Single ‘I Remember You’ is a beautiful, emotional ballad dedicated to his mother. The opening minute is pretty punky, starting with Brad’s vocals over some massive sounding guitar power chords. The track builds excellently, adding in some more guitars and drums and vocal harmonies into a massive soundscape around the midpoint. Honestly, the darker, emotional tone gives off slight MCR vibes, and I am all for it! And, on top of all of that, we get an amazing, bluesy riff in the back half, and another phenomenal guitar solo. The lyrics speak for themselves, and I’d highly recommend the music video to accompany it, it certainly made me a little misty eyed the first time I did both. It’s such an excellent song and a really touching and memorable tribute. Another firm album highlight, and a fantastic choice for a single.
The other single from the album, ‘Long Way Back’, picks up the pace and the mood again. Tracks like it, ‘Get Up’ and the other two are all higher energy rock stompers, but then yet again all feel so different and unique. ‘Get Up’ has almost a country/bluegrass twang to it, while ‘OMG’ does have a slight bit of the disco vibe the album title eludes to, though is also heavy on the DC again. Then the closer, ‘Psycho’, has a bit of an epic arrangement to it, boarding on metal almost. However, that awesome bluesy riff firmly keeps it grounded in hard rock! Then again, we get a metalcore breakdown that is so very Trivium. Though, it still fits somehow not just the track, but the album as a whole, once again showing how effortlessly diverse and fantastic they are at writing. All are amazing in their own right and ways, and add to the album perfectly. And damn, ‘Psycho’ is such an excellent closer, and one of my favourite songs on the album. One that easily makes it onto our playlist!
Overall: I absolutely LOVED this whole album! There really isn’t a bad song throughout, it being pretty short and the very definition of all-killer-no-filler. As much as I enjoyed their debut, this is a step up from it, and really knocks it out of the park! It honestly gave me the same excited, fuzzy feeling that Massive’s debut did, and I am now desperate to see all of it live; I can’t wait for November! I’ve said it already, but I’d recommend this album to absolutely anyone, so make sure you spin it ASAP! It’s certainly going to be high on our top albums of the year list come December!
