Hatis Noit – “Angelus Novus”
Aura

Are you a bad listener? I worry I am sometimes; a worrying proportion of the time, my music consumption is a soundtrack for Other Things, or a canvas of projection for what Paul McCartney termed the aimless rambling amongst the canyons of your mind. Well, not when “Angelus Novus” is on, that is. Hatis Noit is quite simply a better singer than I am a daydreamer or multitasker, and this attention-subjugating masterclass of abstracted a capella gets both ears pricked every time without fail. What a sound; what a marvel. –JohnnyoftheWell

HEALTH – “GNOSTIC FLESH/MORTAL HELL”
DISCO4 PART II

I’m a sucker for “GNOSTIC FLESH/MORTAL HELL”‘s hip-hop beat; it has an undeniable swing to it, with plenty of breathing room for you to feel the unfettered pounding of the song’s drum kicks. Outside of this groove, there’s a lot going on, from Backxwash’s ice-cold flows, to Ho99o9’s haunting incantations. There’s plenty of excellent moments to be found on [i]Disco4[/i]’s closing chapter, but this song has so much to unpack, and it’s all fantastic. –DrGonzo1937

Heilung – “Anoana”
Drif

Northern collective Heilung have been reawakening forgotten echoes for some time now, unveiling soundscapes where men, nature, and magic coexisted as a single, almost indivisible entity. The latest single, “Anoana”, follows up on their ritualistic concept, focusing on the European migration period and its mystical incantations. And in a time when we’re divorcing from nature, these echoes take on special relevance. –TheNotrap

Jenna & the Janes – “Through the Bluffs”
Earth Dog Year

Earth Dog Year is a fairly simple but heartfelt album exploring themes of loss and renewal. The record’s whole conception comes together, as it should, with the closer “Through The Bluffs”. At once both a gut-wrenching emotional punch and an irresistible anthem, it’s a near-perfect track, and one that I probably would’ve fallen for even without losing both parents in recent months. As it is, fuhgettaboutit… –Sunnyvale

Macaroom – “Yakan-Hikou”
Inter Ice Age 4

Macaroom’s latest record is an understated amble through ambient pop soundscapes seldom seen in such grace or detail, but boy oh boy when this group decide to make straight pop, there’s no-one that can touch them. “Yakan-Hikou” is a delightfully airy banger drawn from a crisp beat and a handful of choice vocal melodies, the gloriously simple development of its pre-chorus-into-chorus standing as one of this year’s strongest hooks. It’s a worthy addition to the group’s top shelf. –JohnnyoftheWell

Magna Carta Cartel – “Darling”
The Dying Option

Despite their last LP being in 2009 and relative silence since an EP and standalone singles across 2017-2018, MCC’s reputation for developing ethereal, cinematic soundscapes remained steadfast on The Dying Option. “Darling”‘s keys weave to-and-fro like a hypnotist’s watch, and I’m an immense sucker for well-mic’d hi-hats and bass kicks (especially while wearing headphones), as heard in the track’s pensive bridge. Martin Persner’s soaring “You’re lost somewhere / Where are you now?” vocals are another resplendent highlight. For those looking for a heavier side of MCC, “Savantgarde” is the quintessential choice, with emphatic keys, robust guitars, and an immersive final chorus. –Jom

Meshuggah – “Phantoms”
Immutable

While the first half of “Phantoms” is impressive for reasons that have theorists frothing from orifices that might not ordinarily froth, it’s the stately and stupid semitonal breakdown that provides the finest moment of Meshuggah’s latest album-length exercise in doing the same thing slightly differently again. The difference in this particular instance is the way that Haake finesses his way through the maelstrom, weaving stoopid and silly fills in places where nobody else would dare think to. –MiloRuggles

Moon Tooth – “Deathwish Blues”
Phototroph

Every song on Moon Tooth’s new album is good and worth many dozens of listens, and the explosive breakup anthem “Deathwish Blues” is STILL a clear-cut playlist candidate, the kind of blood-pumping heavy metal that can actually win over folks with little taste for headbanging or circle pits. MT’s inimitable chops are put to great use on the most seamless tempo shifts I’ve heard all year and a pulverizing main riff, but the “GOT ME CAVIN’ IN” refrain is sugary-sweet enough to satisfy parents, coworkers, and kiddies alike. –Kompys2000

My Chemical Romance – “The Foundations of Decay”
The Foundations of Decay

Leave it to My Chemical Romance to still find a way to surprise us all. Their second life after nearly a decade gone had begun to feel like a reunion that would just fizzle out, but not so. “The Foundations of Decay”, dropped with no warning or fanfare, plants both its feet to stare the listener straight in the eye and remind us how fun this band can be when we leave our expectations at the door. A noisy, unwieldy monster with Gerard Way’s iconic voice mixed ghostlike in the background, it sounds more like a matured take on I Brought You My Bullets… than anyone could possibly expect. Let it serve as a reminder: never lay odds on this most predictably unpredictable of bands. –Rowan5215

Old Nick – “Ghost of Sourdough Bread and 2% Milk” [stream]
Ghost O’Clock

Every now and then, an album comes along that seems deliberately designed to shake up your preconceptions about a given genre. Old Nick’s Ghost O’Clock is just such an album, and this, its sprawling grand finale, takes black metal to heights more kooky and colorful than I ever thought possible. By the time the band let off the gas pedal for a gentle marimba coda, corpse paint will be the last thing on your mind. –Kompys2000

Orville Peck – “Hexie Mountains”
Bronco

While there could be an argument here for just about any song off of Bronco, the song that I’m consistently coming back to is “Hexie Mountains”, the most understated moment on the album. The melody is immensely hummable and the instrumental portions call to mind the best of Dolly, Denver, and Dylan. The fact that it remains restrained also allows Peck’s voice, his strongest asset, to shine. Simply put, “Hexie Mountains” is just an incredibly pretty song. –dmathias52

Patrick Watson – “Little Moments”
Better in the Shade

The centerpiece of Patrick Watson’s diminutive new album, “Little Moments” takes the singer-songwriter’s typical emotive beauty in the direction of a delirious fever dream. The results are completely mesmerizing. This is a tune which inevitably draws me entirely under its sway, emerging from a record that works best as (unusually great) background music and then just as quickly dissolves again. –Sunnyvale

Porcupine Tree – “Dignity”
Closure / Continuation

Remember when Porcupine Tree could create and convey genuine emotions in a way that felt like actual human beings were behind the p r o g ? I think I do, a vague memory of days gone by with the likes of “Feel So Low” and “Heartattack in a Layby”, before Steven Wilson became preoccupied writing concept albums about the downsides of Xbox. “Dignity” isn’t just the best song from Closure / Continuation, it’s the first time in more than a decade that Porcupine Tree’s music has stirred up those kind of feelings in me. For that reason alone, full marks, lads: but that cheeky little riff is fun too, yeah? –Rowan5215

Prince Daddy & The Hyena – “Curly Q”
Prince Daddy & The Hyena

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a punk song like “Curly Q”. The Brian Wilson-esque melodies plant you firmly in the warmth of summer, and the gorgeous guitar solo at the end is so soulful and eloquently delivered that one can’t help but be moved by it. It’s one of the smoothest and most purely enjoyable songs of the year, and it almost single-handedly made a Prince Daddy fan out of me. –Sowing

Rammstein – “Adieu”
Zeit

Taking out of the equation the minor debate on whether this song is a send-off for the band or not, Rammstein’s “Adieu” is a colossal anthem backed by Till’s emotive hues and soaring power. It’s a fantastic closing number, but it’s also one of the best anthemic tracks in the band’s discography, as it masters the effectiveness of scuttling electronics, rumbling bass and those crisp piano keys segueing into the grandest of choruses. If it is their last track, it’s an extremely poignant one; if it’s not, it’s a damn fine track to add to the portfolio. –DrGonzo1937

Sasquatch – “Save the Day, Ruin the Night”
Fever Fantasy

Sasquatch are back with an album you can tear down walls with. It’s something you would expect from them by now, and between those tracks are some serious grab-yer-dancing-shoes rockers. “Save the Day, Ruin the Night” is a cool, swinging hard rock track for you to dance to this summer. –insomniac15

Say Sue Me – “To Dream”
The Last Thing Left

I’m not sure if “To Dream” sounds like summer or if I wish summer felt the way “To Dream” sounds. That said, I am sure that this song is one of the most relaxingly beautiful things to have come out this year. If this doesn’t make you want to drown in the sparkly shimmer of a sea of sweet strawberries… sue me. –JesperL

Saya Gray – “EMPATHY 4 BETHANY”
19 MASTERS

I don’t remember exactly how I stumbled across “EMPATHY 4 BETHANY”, only that I was immediately enamoured. Enamoured by its overlapping arpeggios; its catchy, washed-out chorus; its trumpet and piano, the way they’re woven into and out of the song’s background, its landscape. Hard not to be enamoured by a song that I barely remember, though which I cannot seem to — have not — stop(ped) listening to. –BlushfulHippocrene

Sullii – “Distant”
Wake Up Next to Me

You’re thinking it, I’m thinking it, we’re all thinking it: staff mixtapes need more disposable zoomer sadboi-core. Sullii delivers. While the artist has been embracing more organic instrumentation (read: pop punk) on his recent album, “distant” presents a break from the intensity with its simplistically contemplative melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and Sullii’s stupidly smooth vocals. –JesperL

The Smile – “Thin Thing”
A Light for Attracting Attention

I had no idea that the two guys that people can actually name from Radiohead had formed a new outfit with Tom Skinner until the digital fates cast this intricate track before me. In a chance meeting of ignorance and predictability, those head-spinning guitar patterns sent neurons down pathways previously only lit up by the suave leather jacket brand confidence found in “The Numbers”, only this time the track is so propulsive and nimble that even these three legends struggle to piece it together live; full compliments, team — I hope you’ve got it down by the time I miss the one show you’ll probably never play in Aotearoa. –MiloRuggles

Tomberlin – “tap”
i don’t know who needs to hear this…

A frankly magical song elevated further by some of the loveliest folk production I’ve heard since Adrianne Lenker’s last. –BlushfulHippocrene

Vansire -“Next Time in New York”
The Modern Western World

While Vansire have been at the top of the (very short) dreamjazzhopgaze food chain for quite some time now, the dissonant synths of “Next Time in New York” add some exciting new flavours to the duo’s formula. It’s as explicitly vibey as ever, but this time you’ll find yourself attempting to hum along to every overlapping melody at once while contemplating the significance of a coffeeshop employer looking like Erlend Øye. Relatable stuff. –JesperL

White Ward – “False Light”
False Light

Allow me to sabotage this playlist with 14 minutes of jazzy black metal just because. You might have seen the beautiful Ukrainian city of Odessa in the news recently — for all the wrong reasons, too. As these sons of Odessa were finishing up their new album, Putin (not Russia) decided it was a good time to go down in history as a buffoon and a butcher. When I think we were a missile away from never listening to “False Light”, my soul burns, but here we are. –Dewinged

Wilco – “Country Song Upside-Down”
Cruel Country

I threw in a one-word description of “Country Song Upside-Down” as ‘magical’ in my review of Wilco’s latest album, and there’s really not much more to say about it. It’s the type of tune that feels inherently timeless, dwelling in its own self-contained world. Decades along, one of indie’s biggest names still have a few tricks up their sleeves. –Sunnyvale

Wo Fat – “Overworlder”
The Singularity

One of the highlights of Wo Fat’s latest massive LP, “Overworlder” is pretty much a ZZ Top tune sandwiched between scorching progressive tinged hard rock riffage. It’s groovy, heavy and fun. –insomniac15

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Participating staff writers:

BlushfulHippocrene | Dewinged | dmathias52 | DrGonzo1937 | insomniac15 | JesperL | JohnnyoftheWell | Jom | Kompys2000 | MiloRuggles | Rowan5215 | Sowing | Sunnyvale | TheNotrap