Sprain

The Lamb As Effigy

Flenser

One of the many exciting acts introduced through The Flenser, Sprain delivered an impressive work with their debut record, As Lost Through Collision. Introduced during the dark times between lockdowns in 2020, the album is a tour de force through noise rock and post-hardcore. With an off-kilter element and an allure for both the chaotic and depressing nature of no wave, Sprain seemed not only a promising but, already, a remarkable act. This feeling now becomes reality as the California band releases their sophomore work, The Lamb As Effigy. This is a despairing affair, filled with a spectrum of emotions, ranging from anger and fear, but traveling all the way to melancholy and even submission. The sentiment that they are able to transmit is real, and it strikes a very familiar tone. This is the door leading to the place in your mind that you do your best every day not to visit. Well, Sprain have just kicked down the door for you. Enjoy!

– Spyros Stasis

GraveRipper

Seasons Dreaming Death

Wise Blood Records

Indianapolis based black/thrash four piece GraveRipper formed in 2019 and have previously released three EP's , one being a split. Seasons Dreaming Death is their first full length album release. GraveRipper have made sure they have well and truly smashed out a proper rager with Seasons Dreaming Death with ten tracks of masterful fusion of fast paced thrash interspersed with some classic metal and infectious riffage! Fans of Exodus, Slayer and other similar thrash legends will appreciate GraveRipper, however there are inflections of Kreator and definitely some Iron Maiden styles in the pacing, structure and instrumentation as well which makes for good listening.

– Sarah Jane

Night Court

Humans!

Debt Offensive, Snappy Little Numbers

What’s the difference between overabundance and starvation? Between drowning and dehydration? Between far too much and not enough? What’s the difference, then, between everyone else and Night Court? A lo-fi punk trio out of Vancouver, Night Court released their third album, Humans!, June 9th on Snappy Little Numbers and Debt Offensive Records. While their sound may have slightly changed since their last release, their ethos has not. Night Court pride themselves on to-the-point songs; they trim the fat and leave the listener with lean, pithy tracks. From day one the group set out to only include ‘the good bits’ in their music. Night Court is equal parts angry surf rock meets lo-fi punk meets indie darling. Humans! is enough to satiate any appetite. This long awaited follow up to the Nervous Birds duology more than exceeds expectations. It hits hard but knows when to draw back. It’s a crash course in lo-fi punk perfection that preaches without pretension and sure as hell never gets boring.

– Delaney

Ulthar

Anthronomicon / Helionomicon

20 Buck Spin

Released as two "companion" albums, Anthronomicon / Helionomicon is the sound of death-metal power. The US-based three-piece comprise members from several other groups and this 80 minute riff-fest, split into two doses, emphasises the intensity of Ulthar's music: you probably can't sit down and take all of this churning energy in a single listen. Clever, inventive and requiring some investment from the listener, this is a challenging and relentless collection of music.

– Matt

Khanate

To Be Cruel

Sacred Bones

Among the pioneers of punishing drone music, Khanate made a surprise return with To Be Cruel. It is without any surprise a cruel work that relies on patience and anticipation, as Khanate navigate through howling feedback and despairing vocals. While through their discography Khanate have not made missteps, To Be Cruel channels the act’s glory days in their self-titled debut and Things Viral. In that sense, it makes a fine balance between the within and the without. It is at the same time an inhuman, and yet deeply personal record. It is a devastating procession through both a wrecked world, but also through the destroyed human psyche. While in recent years many have risen to adopt the teachings of the great act, Khanate’s return to form feels both necessary and triumphant.

– Spyros Stasis

Paint It Black

Famine

Revelation Records

Paint It Black’s intensity commands your attention. It’s primarily angry music, but there are also forlorn and forsaken emotions that give it needed balance and humanity. There is a lot of density in these songs, with common imagery from and lyrical choices that recall biblical plight to modern war and devastation. The final result itself is devastating too, with pummeling beats and catchy breakdowns, urgent singalongs, and even a touch of raw minimalism.

– Loren

Angus McSix

Angus McSix and the Sword of Power.

Napalm

This first chapter in this story, Angus McSix and the Sword of Power follows Angus McSix aka; Thomas Winkler (Vocals/keys) and his allies as they battle against the evil Seebulon and his army to see that the universe does not fall under his dominion! This music is filling venues with a huge diverse section of the metal community. The fantastical themes, stories and amazing technical musical skill fills you with energy and wonder. It is something that everyone can get on board with for pure escapism and just totally geek out to together! Whilst I may have my own personal concerns about their longevity and maybe some kind of copyright infringements or something down the line I will put these thoughts to one side and just enjoy their music, as I do with Gloryhammer, for as long as I can.

– Sarah Jane

Skating Polly

Chaos County Line

El Camino Media

I won’t condescend. I won’t explain to you what ugly means. You know what ugly means. The sale rack at Marshall’s, usually. The concrete apartment complex built in 1992 and never updated. The cake your seven-year-old niece decorated for you. Okay, that one might’ve been a little mean, but the point still stands. Ugly, ugly, ugly. You don’t need it explained.

Ugly-Pop, then.

You know what Ugly-Pop means, right? This would be the time for me to swoop in and finally start to condescend. To prove my vast and superior musical knowledge to you. To explain, with the help of copious adverbs, that Ugly-Pop is the genre, the lifestyle, the ethos, created by Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse of Skating Polly. Ugly-Pop is the idea of heavy melody mixed with violent imperfections. But I get the feeling I don’t need to explain all this either- do I? Chances are if you know anything at all about Skating Polly you know about Ugly-Pop. It’s been their brand (and I don’t mean that nasty) for a decade and change now.

I you take one thing away from this, please let it be a second listen. A second listen all the way through. This time, though, do me a favour. Note all the ugly parts. All the Ugly-Pop. Dig out the humanity, even the uncomfortable parts, and crank the volume to eleven.

– Delaney

VNV Nation

Electric Sun

Anachron Sounds

If you’re looking for a band to get you moving, to induce euphoria without having to pound espressos (or whatever your poison is), or a band to make the hairs stand up on your arms with naught but a change in beat, then VNV Nation might be what you’re looking for. Electric Sun is their eleventh full-length album, which sits alongside several EPs and live recordings in their discography, and stands amongst them as one of the best. I’ll be honest and say that there’s a couple of albums I’m not 100% into, I’ll skip a one or two tracks along the way, but Electric Sun forgoes that ritual and has fast become a go-to and certainly made it into my most played albums of the year within its first week. Sadness can be comprised of several differing emotions fighting for space, yet Ronan Harris has found a way in which it can be transformed into radiant joy.

– Cheryl

The Oxys

Generation Irrelevant

Dead Beat Records

Arms outstretched in the desperate hope of fulfilling dreams that had dissipated, longing for when life was simpler devoid of political persuasion, social media meanderings and opinionated pigs snorting in their own shit hiding behind the keyboard shooting out grammatical inaccuracies chock full of hateful smiling emojis. Festering open sores, drool pouring from the cocked head unbalanced and teetering onto the well-worn Chuck Taylor's black Converse. Perceived as Mr.Horrible by those with well-polished Corinthian leather briefcases, sipping their overpriced double lattes on their way to the high tower monstrosity looming over any non-descript city. The cupidity clowns dance with their powderpuff poodles for power. I am a Ticking Time Bomb begging for a fraction of a life lived by a well-groomed A. I robotic pencil-pushing old boy of the round coke-filled table.

Generation Irrelevant as seen by the one-percenters chomping on a King of Denmark fat stogie and blowing smoke up the ass of underprivileged and discarded people left to wallow in food inequality and desperation. I am the shit stain on the bottom of their designer shoe. I Feel Nutin’ I am Numb, I am Forgotten, I am dirty and sick. I am the turkey vulture at the side of the road ready to pounce on your cast-offs. The large foot of inequality forces my head down into the cold pissed stained cement while unrelenting forces cause pressure sores to ooze and weep like the tears that no longer flow. I am an emotional trainwreck riding the third rail straight to the fiery pits of constant pitchfork-stabbing pain. I am screaming in silence. Hear my voice through the wind as the hush cuts through the light pollution over the smog-filled cement crematorium. Help. Listen to my death rattle. Listen to The Oxys.

– Christopher D

mingjia

star, star

Independent

star, star is a captivating and immersive album that weaves together a rich tapestry of musical styles, from baroque and chamber pop to golden era Disney music and modern jazz. It is an album that demands your full attention and rewards you with a profound and emotional experience. The album's cinematic quality and spoken word segments enhance the storytelling aspect of the music, creating a sense of depth and immersion. star, star is a true gem of an album that deserves to be heard by a wider audience. It is a testament to the power of music to transport us to new worlds and connect us with our own emotions.

– Robert Miklos (Piro)

Swans

The Beggar

Young God Records

The volume is used for selfish reasons, really. I want to personally atomize in the sound. I want it to obliterate me. I can’t help myself. I’m addicted to it. My goal is for my limbs and innards to festoon the rafters of whatever venue we’re playing at the time. It’s part of the fun.

– Christopher D

The Gaslight Anthem

History Books

Rich Mahogany Recordings

After a long hiatus, The Gaslight Anthem are back and still churning out glorious melodies. Over the time, the band have grown and matured. This is an album that connects with the fans that have grown as old and weathered as they have, and I mean that in the best way possible. It still sparks a little fire and has some bite, but it's somber tracks like "The Weatherman" and "Michigan, 1975" that I find myself drifting too more and more. There's something for everyone.

– Aaron H

The Mars Volta

Qué Dios Te Maldiga Mí Corazón

Clouds Hill

An acoustic re-recording of their 2022 self-titled album, this is a lush and imaginative re-interpretation of the softer, even "yacht rock" vibes of its predecessor. Songs are given room to relax further as the runtime increases by several minutes, and although we can debate whether this record needed to exist, in a world where we waited a decade in between Volta releases, I'm happy to have two in two years. This is the sound of a band at peace with themselves, under no obligation to reach for nostalgia, and to create a body of work that spans a wide expanse of genres and feelings. Put it on late and let it wash over you.

– Matt

Opus Kink

My Eyes, Brother!

Nice Swan Recordings

Despite the general overcrowding of the UK post-punk scene, Opus Kink cut their own silhouette with My Eyes, Brother!. Opus Kink are a UK based sextet, who released their debut EP, ‘Til The Stream Runs Dry, in June 2022 to critical acclaim. Four singles from their second EP have already been released, leaving us to wonder: is there anything good left? Short answer: yes. Long answer: well, keep reading. Opus Kink aren’t reinventing themselves here; nor is there a particular need to. The band is talented and stand apart from their peers in new and unique ways. If you like one of their songs, you’ll love this entire EP; if you haven’t been their biggest fan and were hoping for a change of pace, look elsewhere. Dancing from shoulder to shoulder of rock, jazz and funk gods past, Opus Kink serves up frantic moodiness with a smirk.

– Delaney