Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 16, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
– Full List of Releases: March 16, 2018 –
Alva Noto: Unieqav
Genre: Electronic // Label: NOTON Records
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Bill Frisell: Music Is
Genre: Jazz // Label: Sony Masterworks
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Bishop Nehru: Elevators Act I & II
Genre: Rap // Label: Nehruvia LLC
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The Crown: Cobra Speed Venom
Genre: Thrash/Melodic Death Metal // Label: Metal Blade Records
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The Dean Ween Group: Rock 2
Genre: Alternative/Pop Rock // Label: Schnitzel Records
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The Decemberists: I’ll Be Your Girl
Genre: Alternative // Label: Capitol Records
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Earthless: Black Heaven
Genre: Psychedelic/Jam Rock // Label: Nuclear Blast Records
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Eyes Of The Sun: Chapter I (Reissue)
Genre: Doom/Sludge // Label: Metal Blade Records
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The Fratellis: In Your Own Sweet Time
Genre: Alternative/Indie Pop // Label: Cooking Vinyl
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Hot Snakes: Jericho Sirens
Genre: Punk/Post Hardcore // Label: Sub Pop Records
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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 9, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Featured Release
Between the Buried And Me: Automata I Genre: Progressive Metal/Metalcore // Label: Holy Roar Records
Background:
Between The Buried And Me is a progressive metalcore band that has been wowing the easily wowed for years. If BTBAM is your thing, then prepared to be wowed once more because Automata I is definitely the best thing they’ve done since their last thing.
“Condemned To The Gallows”:
– Full List of Releases: March 9, 2018 –
Albert Hammond Jr.: Francis Trouble
Genre: Indie Pop/Indie Rock // Label: Red Bull Records
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August Greene: August Greene
Genre: Rap/Hip Hop // Label: August Greene LLC
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Between The Buried And Me: Automata I
Genre: Progressive Metal/Metalcore // Label: Sumerian Records
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Conjurer: Mire
Genre: Technical Death Metal // Label: Holy Roar Records
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David Byrne: American Utopia
Genre: Post Punk/Pop Rock // Label: Nonesuch Records
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Drowse: Cold Air
Genre: Ambient/Shoegaze/Electronic // Label: The Flenser
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Drudkh: They Often See Dreams About the Spring
Genre: Post Black Metal // Label: Season Of Mist
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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 2, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Featured Release
Tech N9ne: Planet Genre: Rap/Hip Hop // Label: Strange Music
Background:
Tech N9ne has been delivering his rapid-fire lyrics over a dark and twisted version of hip hop since 1999. After nearly twenty years of solid releases, Tech N9ne returns with his twentieth release, Planets. First single, “Don’t Nobody Want None”, drops the twisted darkness and delves straight into the classic 80s scene, sounding like a blend of Tech N9ne and Debbie Deb. Throughout the rest of the album you get exactly what you’d expect… Tech’s rapid-fire delivery, multi-faceted, twisted hip hop, and a slew of guest appearances. The difference is Planet is delivered with more conviction than anything he’s done since All 6’s and 7’s back in 2011.
“Don’t Nobody Want None”:
– Full List of Releases: March 2, 2018 –
Andrew W.K.: You’re Not Alone
Genre: Rock/Metal // Label: Sony Music
Check out our Contributor Review of You’re Not Alone.
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Anna Von Hausswolff: Dead Magic
Genre: Experimental/Dream Pop // Label: City Slang
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 23, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Featured Release
Cabal: Mark of Rot Genre: Blackened Death Metal/Djent // Label: Long Branch Records
Background:
Cabal is an upcoming band from Copenhagen, Denmark. Their sound is like a marriage between Meshuggah and Ulcerate with black metal synths. Mark of Rot succeeds because it manages to blend the varying influences into one seamless sound that mixes rhythmic riffs that are huge in sound with an oppressive atmosphere that transitions between black metal and industrial influences. The vocals, too, run the scope from guttural death metal to black metal shrieks.
“Blackened Soil”:
– Full List of Releases: February 23, 2018 –
All The Luck In The World: A Blind Arcade
Genre: Folk // Label: Self-Released
Check out our Staff Review courtesy of SowingSeason.
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Avslut: Deceptis
Genre: Black Metal // Label: Osmose Productions
Stream Deceptis here.
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Cabal: Mark of Rot
Genre: Blackened Death Metal/Djent // Label: Long Branch Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 16, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Featured Release
Senses Fail: If There Is Light, It Will Find You
Genre: Post Hardcore // Label: Pure Noise Records
Background:
Senses Fail started out as an equal blend of pop punk and post hardcore, but with each subsequent album they slowly dropped the pop elements and increased the hardcore. Despite this slow build up, the sound of their fifth album, Renacer, was still a shock for fans. Suddenly, any hint of pop punk or even the friendlier side of post hardcore was missing — Renacer and it’s follow-up Pull The Thorns From Your Heart, were pretty much metallic hardcore with barely any clean singing or catchy choruses to speak of. As much as Renacer was a sudden swing in style, If There Is Light… is just as drastic, but in the opposite direction. Sounding like the golden era of Let It Enfold You and Still Searching, If There is Light… is the return of what most fans probably loved most about Senses Fail — huge hooks, pop punk vocals coupled with hardcore shouts, and enough emotional baggage for any three other people.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 9, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Featured Release
Son Lux: Brighter Wounds
Genre: Trip-Hop/Electronic // Label: City Slang
Background:
New York City composer Ryan Lott returns with his 5th full-length LP. The album is available to stream in full courtesy of NPR, or you can simply check out the lead single “Dream State”, below.
“Dream State”:
– Full List of Releases: February 9, 2018 –
The Atlas Moth: Coma Noir
Genre: Sludge Metal // Label: Prosthetic
Long Island alt-rock/indie outfit The Republic of Wolves have made new details available surrounding their upcoming third LP, shrine. The record now has an official release date of March 27, 2018, and will feature the below artwork and tracklist. There will be three bonus tracks on the album as well, with titles that are as-of-yet TBD:
01. The Canyon 02. Bask 03. Sundials 04. Birdless Cage 05. Mitama 06. Dialogues 07. Northern Orthodox 08. Colored Out 09. Ore 10. Worry If You Want (Yume)
Two of the songs from the above tracklist have already been released. “Mitama” and “Northern Orthodox” can be heard here. A version of “Birdless Cage” was also created for NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, although it allegedly differs from the version that will appear on shrine.
“Mitama“
“Northern Orthodox“
Additionally, for those who haven’t been following the most recent developments, the group has also been releasing studio updates regarding the album. These installments can be viewed below:
It’s with hearty congratulations that we welcome three new staff members to our team today!
Without further ado, please welcome Frippertronics, ScuroFantasma, and Verdant to the list of professional writers here at Sputnikmusic.com. These users have displayed exceptional skills, and now you’ll get to read their review summaries on Metacritic. Stay sharp, fellas!
Also, it is time to usher in a new litter of contributors – all of whom have given us reason to look towards the future with optimism:
We’d like to take this time to thank everyone who applied. It was a really tight decision for some, so if you think you should have been promoted, you’re probably right. There will almost certainly be a fabled “ghost” round, and perhaps sooner than you think! Keep your nose to the grindstone.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 2, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Justin Timberlake: Man of the Woods
Genre: Pop/R&B // Label: RCA
Background:
For many, The 20/20 Experience was one of the best pop albums in recent memory. It would be a tough act to follow, but that doesn’t appear to be the aim for Man of the Woods. A preliminary trailer advertising the record hinted towards a folksy, electronic venture not all that dissimilar from the works of Justin Vernon. While those expectations haven’t exactly been mirrored by the singles released so far, it’s a 16-track album – so there’s plenty of room for JT’s 5th LP to either follow the “personal” path described, or to become a haphazard mix of electronica, pop, and middling attempts at an experimental folk album. I guess we’ll see.
“Man of the Woods” Trailer:
– Full List of Releases: February 2, 2018 –
AWOLNATION: Here Come The Runts
Genre: Electronic/Indie-Pop // Label: Red Bull Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 26, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
As you also may have already seen, we are currently accepting applications for the roles of staff reviewer and contributing reviewer. If you think you have what it takes, apply here. The tentative deadline is this Sunday, 1/28.
– Full List of Releases: January 26, 2018 –
Calexico: The Thread That Keeps Us
Genre: Country/Americana/Folk // Label: Anti/Epitaph
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 19, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Belle & Sebastian: How To Solve Our Human Problems Pt. 2
Genre: Indie-Pop/Rock // Label: Matador
Background:
The second in a three-part EP series, How To Solve Our Human Problems Pt. 2 will look to expand upon the sleek indie-pop/electronic offering of the first installment. The band arguably reached a handful of personal heights on Pt. 1, especially creatively and in terms of production value, so there is reason to anticipate continued excellence throughout the trilogy. You can hear the lead single from Pt. 2 below.
“I’ll be Your Pilot”:
– Full List of Releases: January 19, 2018 –
A Grave with No Name: Passover
Genre: Indie-Folk // Label: LForged Artifacts
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Arkona: Khram
Genre: Black Metal // Label: Napalm
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Bahamas: Earthtones
Genre: Alternative Rock // Label: Brushfire/Universal
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 12, 2018. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Camila Cabello: Camila
Genre: Pop // Label: Syco/Epic
Background:
Leaving Fifth Harmony to pursue a solo career, Camila Cabello has found early success with her chart-topping ‘Havana.’ Camila may not be the most riveting album to kick off our 2018, but it’s sure to be a talked about (and almost certainly overplayed) pop outing that could set Ms. Cabello up for a a lot of mainstream success in the coming years. As a debut, Camila already appears to be positioned as one of 2018’s biggest pop albums. If you’ve managed to live under a rock for the last several months, you can hear her extremely successful single below.
“Havana”:
– Full List of Releases: January 12, 2018 –
Anderson East: Encore
Genre: Country/Americana/Soul // Label: Low Country Sound/Elektra
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of November 10, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
— Album of the Week —
Toothgrinder: Phantom Amour
Genre: Modern Prog // Label: Spinefarm
Background:
This is going to shock longtime fans. Toothgrinder started out as one of those modern prog bands specializing in chaos, noise, and aggression with occasional moments of clean singing and melody. On Phantom Amour the chaos and noise has been replaced by lush atmosphere, and most the aggression has been replaced by the clean singing and melody. The most similar sonic shift that comes to mind is the change between Gabriel and Transhuman — in fact, this and Transhuman have a lot in common. Throughout its runtime, Phantom Amour delivers a moody, melodic blend of modern prog, alternative rock, and even a little psychedelia. Check out Phantom Amour‘s title track below.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of November 3, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Converge: The Dusk In Us
Genre: Metalcore/Hardcore/Punk // Label: Epitaph
Background:
It’s been five years since we’ve had new Converge, and the kings of hardcore are back to follow up their acclaimed eighth LP All We Love We Leave Behind. A band like this requires no introduction; they’ve long dominated their particular scene and The Dusk In Us will only continue to grow their legacy. For a hint of things to come later this week when the album officially drops, stream the lyric video for ‘Under Duress’ below:
“Under Duress”:
– Full List of Releases: November 3, 2017 –
Adimiron: Et Liber Eris
Genre: Death/Progressive Metal // Label: Indie Recordings
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Annihilator: For The Demented
Genre: Thrash/Progressive Metal // Label: Neverland Music
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Anti-Flag: American Fall
Genre: Punk/Hardcore // Label: Spinefarm
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AUTOBAHN: The Moral Crossing
Genre: Alternative Rock/Post-Punk // Label: felte
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Beast In Black: Berserker
Genre: Power Metal // Label: Nuclear…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 27, 2017. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff or contributors. As our staff post reviews of these albums, links will appear below the art work so that you can read about the release, see how we scored it, and more.
Ne Obliviscaris: Urn
Genre: Progressive/Black Metal/Death Metal // Label: Season of Mist
Background:
I’m not going to lie, I’m probably not the person to actually be writing on this. I liked the first two tracks from their debut and barely even bothered with their sophomore release because I kind of felt that it was a step backwards and didn’t really build on any of the debut’s potential. But Urn… this finally builds on the debut’s potential. Yes, the vocals are still kind of nasally and off-key, but when it comes to the music and songwriting, they’re finally getting it. The songs are more memorable and their blend of black, death, and prog is finally gelling into a cohesive unit. Also, the songs themselves don’t seem to meander all over the place like they used to on previous albums. Definitely something fans should check out, but Urn is even something people that blew off their previous two releases might actually enjoy.
![21nm1-fVq8L._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/21nm1-fVq8L._SS5001-e1521128930959.jpg)
Alva Noto: Unieqav![81WnZ5xgcaL._SY355_[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/81WnZ5xgcaL._SY355_1-e1521129042676.jpg)
Bill Frisell: Music Is
Bishop Nehru: Elevators Act I & II![611weHytmaL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/611weHytmaL._SS5001-e1521129427298.jpg)
The Crown: Cobra Speed Venom![51k6O4Do3iL._SY355_[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51k6O4Do3iL._SY355_1-e1521129532661.jpg)
The Dean Ween Group: Rock 2![61CjO+oQyyL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61CjO-oQyyL._SS5001-e1521129655695.jpg)
The Decemberists: I’ll Be Your Girl![61pgPMkfYgL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61pgPMkfYgL._SS5001-e1521129752990.jpg)
Earthless: Black Heaven
Eyes Of The Sun: Chapter I (Reissue)![71+ROZdl3aL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/71-ROZdl3aL._SS50011-e1521130075783.jpg)
The Fratellis: In Your Own Sweet Time![61d2XcdC-9L._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61d2XcdC-9L._SS5001-e1521130156282.jpg)
Hot Snakes: Jericho Sirens![31dF3mizQML._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/31dF3mizQML._SS5001-e1521130256180.jpg)
Meshell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism![51i7sjYdqnL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51i7sjYdqnL._SS5001-e1521130495277.jpg)
Milla Romero: Milla Romero![61RjN7mQg4L._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61RjN7mQg4L._SS5001-e1521130711796.jpg)
Mount Eerie: Now Only![51ytUJ-+ruL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51ytUJ-ruL._SS5001-e1521130839233.jpg)
The Oak Ridge Boys: 17th Avenue Revival![51J4UNcyOjL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51J4UNcyOjL._SS5001-e1521130958239.jpg)
Paradise…
![61V29Jof5RL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61V29Jof5RL._SS5001-e1520358635572.jpg)
![51CV2AduecL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51CV2AduecL._SS5001-e1520358937416.jpg)
![51vKjaAliPL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51vKjaAliPL._SS5001-e1520359330902.jpg)
![61f4gQu6SqL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61f4gQu6SqL._SS50011-e1520359426673.jpg)
![61W5Tu0gGQL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61W5Tu0gGQL._SS5001-e1520359515890.jpg)
![61i4--gAVWL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61i4-gAVWL._SS5001-e1520359917360.jpg)
![71VLe0i0zpL._SX522_[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/71VLe0i0zpL._SX522_1-e1520360184200.jpg)
![51y6xh3mQRL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51y6xh3mQRL._SS5001-e1520360294148.jpg)
![51dhiUEKeNL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51dhiUEKeNL._SS50011-e1519141440183.jpg)
![61DAXrg-wrL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/61DAXrg-wrL._SS5001-e1519141590957.jpg)
![680549[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/6805491-e1519141737581.jpg)
![51dhiUEKeNL._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51dhiUEKeNL._SS5001-e1519141801831.jpg)
![51dkLsJ479L._SS500[1]](http://www.sputnikmusic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/51dkLsJ479L._SS5001-e1519142313472.jpg)
![For The Demented [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61TwArmhrVL._SS500.jpg)
![American Fall [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61NeAGjAbSL._SS500.jpg)
![Berserker [Explicit]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61KHbMTnKSL._SS500.jpg)
