Aesop Rock
Integrated Tech Solutions
Rhymesayers (2023)
Aesop Rock seems to be the rare artist who gets better with age. I enjoyed his early work with Blockhead, but it felt like things started to take off when he took over self-production, steadily growing and hitting what felt like peak when Spirit World Field Guide came out in 2020 (followed by Garbology in ’21). Luckily for all of us, he’s maintaining his trajectory … Read more
Aisha Devi
Death Is Home
Houndstooth (2023)
The talent and quality of Aisha Devi have been apparent since the release of her first EP, Aura For Everyone through her own Danse Noire imprint. As the years passed, Devi became more ambitious and started honing into the duality between ecstasy and mysticism. Her latter works, in 2018’s fantastic DNA Feelings yielded towards the atmospheric and ambient side, presenting a sublime journey through … Read more
Alien Nosejob
The Derivative Sounds Of... Or... A Dog Always Returns To Its Vomit
Anti Fade Records, Goner (2023)
Alien Nosejob, the one-man project from Australian musician Jake Robertson has been releasing a lot of records. The project began a garage rock bent and recently moved into hardcore-inspired raw punk. The newest record, a 13-song collection called The Derivative Sounds Of... Or... A Dog Always Returns To Its Vomit goes full circle -- really even further back, with some of these … Read more
American Television
Scars
Smartpunk Records (2023)
There are a few basic moods to punk. American Television fall into the singalong category. This is short, fast, and predictable melodic punk – and I don’t even slightly mean that in a bad way. Scars tears through 10 songs in probably 20 minutes, balancing whoa-ohs, harmonies and punchy power chords. It all culminates in “Bittersweet” with a refrain of “Broken bones … Read more
Angus McSix
Angus McSix and the Sword of Power.
Napalm (2023)
The story of this album is forged thusly; after heroically dying in the greatest battle of all time at the hands of goblins, Prince Angus awakes in the underworld, realm of martyrs. Remembering that his homeland of Scotland and, indeed the galaxy, are still under threat he endeavours to return. After loseing his hammer he finds the mighty sword of … Read more
Anton Ponomarev / Guillaume Cazelet
Pyrocene
Utech (2023)
Another one for Guillaume Cazelet, the prolific artist from avant-garde icons Neptunian Maximalism and his solo black metal project Ôros Kaù. This time around Cazelet collaborates with Anton Ponomarev, a fellow maniac from free improvisational fiends P/O Massacre. With their new work, Pyrocene, the duo lets go completely of any form or notion and drives straight into the abstract domain of drone, noise, and musique … Read more
Ardent Nova
Ardent Nova
Wise Blood Records (2023)
Ardent Nova is the brainchild of Mike Pardi (Empty Throne). Originally formed as Pagan Thunder about 22 years ago, it was after a dream that Pardi decided to change the bands name to Ardent Nova and by asking in the odd guest solo and backing vocals here and there, Mike wrote and composed this eight track self titled debut album … Read more
Atmosphere
So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously
Rhymesayers (2023)
Atmosphere has always felt like rapper Slug pouring his soul into the mic. It feels authentic and refreshing to hear his humble self-reflection. But after a few albums, it also kind of feels like overload. There’s such a thing as too much emotion and strife. That’s not a knock on Atmosphere’s art, but Atmosphere took a break from each other. … Read more
Bad Idols
Popstar
Say-10 (2023)
With the billion or so punk subgenres and comeback cycles, it’s interesting to me that more bands aren’t playing this style of Crimpshrine-inspired East Bay punk. Popstar by Bad Idols is crunchy yet melodic. It’s generally pop-structured but with gruff and deeply personal lyrics. Let’s just say the word “I” is prevalent throughout this 12-song record. I’ll also add that I’m a big … Read more
Bankrupt
Illiberal Holiday
Independent (2023)
There can be many reasons to pick an album to review. Sometimes it is the description, sometimes it is a connection with another band and sometimes it is the artwork. Upon seeing this for the first time I thought: “This better be good, ‘cause artwork like this deserves something good!”. This thought got stronger and stronger after I discovered every … Read more
Be Your Own Pet
Mommy
Third Man (2023)
Retrospective genre creation by both grizzled music critics and TikTokers has had many victims, from the constituents of Twee to Yatch Rock; however, the rebranding of 2005 garage rock and punk to indie sleaze has to be one of the more egregious. Half aesthetic movement and half musical umbrella for any 2000s band with smudged eyeliner (that hadn’t already been … Read more
Benefits
Nails
Invada (2023)
In December 2019, Benefits released their “Marlboro Hundreds” single. The UK act sourced all the fury and urgency of punk, wrapping it into a devastating noise facade and powerviolence demeanor. A prime example of weaponized music, and while through the years Benefits have morphed, their poignant messaging remains. Now, their debut record, Nails, sees them revisit some of their early single … Read more
Billy Liar
Crisis Actor
Pirates Press (2023)
I really liked Some Legacy when it released, listening a lot in 2019-2020. Then it kind of slipped off my radar, as records tend to do as somebody who gets a ton of new music. Now, Billy Liar is back with new record and this one is equally vibrant. Billy Liar is a Scottish musician, sometimes playing solo and sometimes with a … Read more
Bloodletter
A Different Kind Of Hell
Wise Blood Records (2023)
Bloodletter are a four piece thrash metal outfit from Chicago, Illinois and are here to assault your ears in the best possible way with their new album, A Different Kind Of Hell. Formed in 2012 and performing highly toned and proficient thrash/speed metal with melodic undertones and solo's to die for. A Different Kind Of Hell is their third full length album and … Read more
Bruise Control
Useless for Something
TNSrecords (2023)
Bruise Control is a new-ish punk band from Manchester. The band definitely checks off the boxes of the style, mixing it up quite a bit though over their nine-song debut full-length. The lead song, “Useless” has jangly garage rock tones meets punk aggression that builds over the two and a half minute song. While that lead tone makes an impression, … Read more
Buen Destino
Buen Destino
BCore (2023)
Buen Destino is a new hardcore band from Barcelona. It is formed by members and ex-members of a host of other bands, none of which rung a bell. On this self-titled album the band incorporates a big range of influences. Their Bandcamp tells me this album should appeal to fans of Killing Joke, Discharge, Converge, Jesus Lizard, Daughters, Dead Cross, Breach or His Hero is Gone. That is a … Read more
Chain Whip
Call of the Knife
Neon Taste (2023)
It’s hard to keep the classic genre styles sounding fresh, which is what makes a band like Chain Whip so vibrant. The Vancouver hardcore band play tough-sounding, angry, loud, and fast punk – the type that makes yoo want to punch things. Heck, they named the band Chain Whip and the record is called Call Of The Knife. It’s aurally and … Read more
CIVIC
Taken By Force
ATO (2023)
You’re a professional musician. You fixate on creation. On guitar tones. On overarching themes. You’re writing your third studio album in Elphinstone, Australia- a town of less than 500 people. You and your bandmates have temporarily taken up residence here to craft your apocalyptic new LP. You’re thinking about disasters, emergencies, horrific tragedies. Naturally, that starts to bleed over into … Read more
