Welcome back to the Sputnik’s most irresistible democratic feature!
Digbox Ten is T for TECHNO, which is fortunate because the science is finally beginning to show that techno is the only good genre, and we are able to deliver a high-profile TIE-IN with Sputnik’s Build-an-Album Competition. Run by bop chieftain Sinternet, the tournament sees a number of users go head-to-head with one another, jumping through a pernicious set of hoops to produce the perfect playlist for a range of randomly-selected genres. Starting on an apparent high with techno, Round 1 laid down the following criteria for song selection:
No tech house
Neither the artist nor song title may contain the letter “E”
This gauntlet wreaked havoc among the unfortunately techno-phobic ranks of the competitors (many of whom managed to produce excellent submissions all the same), but in order to get the scoop on no-E / no-house techno, Digbox decided to investigate further and is happy to present the following set of killer tunes you should listen to from based+qualified enjoyers of the genre. Enjoy!
Aril Brikha – “Ottil”
Despite being born in Iran and now residing in Sweden, Aril Brikha is a pivotal contributor to the formation of Detroit Techno in the vein of Jeff Mills or Robert Hood. The supposed simplicity and repetition of his tracks act as major positives here as I’m transported back to my early childhood days where using my dad’s Windows 98 at his office felt like I was taking a vacation.…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of March 1, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: March 1, 2024 –
Bruce Dickinson: The Mandrake Project
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
Label: BMG
Daniel Herskedal: A Single Sunbeam
Genre: Jazz
Label: Edition Records
Devastator (UK): Conjurers of Cruelty
Genre: Black Metal/Thrash Metal
Label: Listenable Records
Everything Everything: Mountainhead
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Label: BMG
Fathomless Ritual: Hymns for the Lesser Gods
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Firewind: Stand United
Genre: Power Metal/Heavy Metal
Label: AFM
Fontaines D.C., Massive Attack, and Young Fathers: Ceasefire (EP)
Genre: Various
Label: Battle Box
Gulfer: Third Wind (Feb 28th)
Genre: Emo/Math Rock
Label: Topshelf Records
Halfway Line: Halfway Line (EP)
Genre: Alt-Rock/Post-Rock/Shoegaze
Label: ?
Ilat Mahru: Incipit Akkadian
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Death Prayer
Liam Gallagher and John Squire: Liam Gallagher John Squire
Genre: Britpop/Alt-Rock
Label: Warner Music UK
 
Liv Kristine: Deus Ex Machina (Reissue)
Genre: Gothic Rock
Label: Napalm Records
Mannequin Pussy: I Got Heaven
Genre: Indie Rock/Post-Punk
Label: Epitaph Records
Mildlife: Chorus
Genre: Psychedelic/Funk/Disco
Label: Heavenly
Ministry: HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES
Genre: Industrial Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Mini Trees: Burn Out (EP)
Genre: Indie/Dream Pop
…
Revisit other SputStaff Top 10 Lists:
Bjork | Bon Iver | Kanye West | Metallica | Mastodon | mewithoutYou
My Chemical Romance | Queens of the Stone Age | The National | Say Anything
Taylor Swift | Tim Hecker | Thrice
 
Foreword:
Equal parts the preserve of masochistic veterans of the no wave scene, po-faced crescendo-riders, and arthouse devotees of guitar music’s more arcane side, few names command the same behemoth weight or stern complexion as Swans. Founded in 1982 as the brainchild of demoniac auteur Michael Gira, the band’s output has overlapped a wide range of collaborators and musical styles, yet rarely showcased anything less than ruthless focus and a profound sensibility for the extremities of humanity and inhumanity alike.
Originally prompted by last year’s release of Swans’ sixteenth album The Beggar and subsequent discourse over whether Gira appeared to be ageing with dignity or decrepitness, this list may not plumb the depths of the band’s multi-decade career or (spoilers) even dip its toes into their harrowing noise rock roots or folk-infused middle years, but it does provide a relevant snapshot of the eras they are best known for: well over a decade since Michael Gira reformed Swans, it’s remarkable how much staying power his ’10s output has had past its initial boom. This era saw Swans reframed from a revered cult classic to an obligatory hurdle to just about anyone starting out on the path of experimental rock music, and any reservations over the expansion of their audience or the datapool underpinning our democratic process can hold their horses until you’ve heard…
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By Willie
Wednesday February 21, 2024
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Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of February 23rd, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: February 23rd, 2024 –
 A Burial At Sea: Close to Home
Genre: Progressive Rock / Math Rock
Label: Pelagic Records
 Ace Frehley: 10,000 Volts
Genre: Rock
Label: Ace Frehley Merchandise
 Allie X: Girl With No Face
Genre: Synthpop
Label: Rough Trade
 Amaranthe: The Catalyst
Genre: Metalcore / Pop / Electronic
Label: Nuclear Blast
 Atoll: Inhuman Implants
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Rough Trade
 Austrian Death Machine: Quad Brutal
Genre: Metalcore / Thrash
Label: Napalm Records
 Borknagar: Fall
Genre: Progressive / Black Metal
Label: Century Media
 Cathubodua: Interbellum
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Label: Massacre Records
 Coltre: To Watch With Hands…
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Dying Victim Productions
 Darkest Hour: Perpetual | Terminal
Genre: Metalcore / Melodic Death Metal
Label: MNRK Heavy
 Erika de Casier: Still
Genre: Trip Hop / Pop
Label: 4AD
 Hand of Kalliach: Corryvreckan
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Prosthetic Records
 Jazmin Bean: Traumatic Livelihood
Genre: Pop Rock
Label: Interscope
 Job For
…
Slift-Ilion
The best thing I can say about Ilion is that it is the first album in a while, in my memory, that really sells the idea of it being a journey, or telling a story- the moments that eclipse the album’s experience as a whole come few and far between, but every moment serves to communicate this great journey. And what a journey it is, told through an enormous, ever-shifting wall of sound, and through the three members’ stellar musicianship including great riffs, looming bass, passionate vocals, and propulsive, furious drumming. These elements are able to successfully carry the momentum across the entire length- not only does Ilion cover 8 songs in 80 minutes, but these songs really ROCK too. Even the repetitive closer feels like music that might play while looking at the destruction created after a final boss is defeated, or ceremony music that symbolizes a great and terrifying change in the life of a protagonist. Even if better albums come along later in the year, this is a story that must be told, and an album you must hear.
–Squiggly
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By Sowing
Monday February 12, 2024
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Here’s a non-exhaustive list of new releases for the week of February 16, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: February 16, 2024 –
Art of Anarchy: Let There Be Anarchy
Genre: Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
Label: Pavement Entertainment
The Boxer Rebellion: Open Arms
Genre: Indie-Rock
Label: Universal
Darkspace: Dark Space – II
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Chromeo: Adult Contemporary
Genre: Funk/Disco
Label: BMG
Einar Solberg: The Congregation Acoustic
Genre: Progressive Rock/Art Pop
Label: InsideOutMusic
Eternal Storm: A Giant Bound to Fall
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Grandaddy: Blu Wav
Genre: Indie-Rock/Lo-Fi
Label: Dangerbird
IDLES: TANGK
Genre: Punk/Post-Punk
Label: Partisan
Ihsahn: Ihsahn
Genre: Progressive/Black Metal
Label: Candlelight
Illumishade: Another Side of You
Genre: Metal/Gothic
Label: Napalm
Jason Derulo: Nu King
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: Atlantic
Jennifer Lopez: This Is Me… Now
Genre: Pop/R&B
Label: BMG
Laura Jane Grace: Hole In My Head
Genre: Folk/Punk
Label: Polyvinyl
Middle…
Previous Diagnoses:
Paradise Lost|Primus|Faith No More|Paramore|HEALTH|Dir En Grey
Band/Artist: MC Ren
Origins: Compton, California, USA
Founded: 1992
Studio albums: 4
Active: Yes
Sample: Playlist
Good day denizens of Sputnik, and welcome to the seventh instalment of my diagnosis series. After covering a mixture of rock and metal bands, I thought I’d tap into some hip-hop, and more specifically, highlight an underrated MC in the game: Ren. For my money, Ren is a great rapper – his baritone voice has the same kind of well-rounded warmth and weight to it his peers Ice Cube and Dre have, and his feral attitude and cold-killer bars make his discography a very engaging one. Yet, he’s not really talked about a great deal. Why? Well, being in, arguably, the most important hip-hop act in music history won’t have made his situation any easier, giving that N.W.A was comprised of pedigree talents Ice Cube, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, all of whom went off to shatter and re-define the genre with their own solo careers. As such, while MC Ren didn’t grapple the zeitgeist as aggressively as Ice Cube say, his music still deserves every hip-hop fan’s attention.
Shock of the Hour (1993)
The Doctor’s rating: 4/5
Analysis: After the success of his debut EP Kizz My Black Azz in 1992, with the aid of Eazy-E, Ren set to work on a…
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of new releases for the week of February 9, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: February 9, 2024 –
Chelsea Wolfe – She Reaches Out To She Reaches To She
Genre: Gothic/Folk/Alt-Rock
Label: Loma Vista
The Chisel – What A Fucking Nightmare
Genre: Punk
Label: Pure Noise
Dizzee Rascal – Don’t Take It Personal
Genre: Hip-Hop/Grime
Label: Big Dirte3
Helado Negro – PHASOR
Genre: Alt/Indie Pop
Label: 4AD
Hulder – Verses In Oath
Genre: Black Metal
Label: 2o Buck Spin
Infected Rain – Time
Genre: Nu-Metal/Djent/Metalcore
Label: Napalm Records
In Vain (ESP) – Back To Nowhere
Genre: Heavy Metal/Thrash
Label: Fighter Records
Itasca – Imitation Of War
Genre: Folk/Rock/Psych
Label: Paradise Of Bachelors
Kali Malone – All Life Long
Genre: Classical/Drone
Label: Ideologic Organ
Kristoffer Gildenlow – Empty
Genre: Prog Rock/Alt-Rock
Label: New Joke Productions
The Last Ten Seconds Of Life – No Name Graves
Genre: Death Metal/Hardcore/Deathcore
Label: Unique Leader
Madi Diaz – Weird Faith
Genre: Indie Folk
Label: ANTI-
Morbid Saint – Swallowed By Hell
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Label: High Roller
Nocturnal Sorcery– Captive In The Breath Of Life
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Kvult
The Pineapple Thief –…
Previous Diagnoses:
Paradise Lost|Primus|Faith No More|Paramore|HEALTH
Hello music enthusiast, and welcome to another instalment of Dr.Gonzo’s ‘Diagnosis Series’– where I go through a band or artist’s studio recordings and find their strengths and weaknesses. Today’s edition is on Japanese legends Dir En Grey, so join me while I try and wade through their sprawling and epic work.
Band/Artist: Dir En Grey
Origins: Osaka, Japan
Founded: 1997
Members:
Kyo – vocals
Kaoru – lead guitar
Die – rhythm guitar
Toshiya – bass
Shinya – drums
Studio albums: 11
Active: Yes
Gauze (1999)
The Doctor’s rating: 4/5
Analysis: As far as debut albums go, Gauze is an excellent entry point for fans looking to listen to some great J-rock music. Tracks like “Yurameki”, “Akuro No Oka”, “Cage” and “Yokan” reveal the raw talent within the band, with a deluge of infectious melodies, fantastic vocal performances and solid playing from every member. “Cage” in particular is a song I hold close to my heart, as I spent A LOT of time trying to play it when I first started playing the bass (the solo is still one of Toshiya’s career highlights). In hindsight though, Gauze’s strongest attribute is setting the stage for the rest of Dir En Grey’s career. The album gives every member the opportunity to shine and show their…
Peter Gabriel-i/o
The usual hesitations behind releasing a record in December seemed to matter fuck all to legend Peter Gabriel, who kicked off the month with his first studio album of original material since 2002, which he had been tracking since as far back as 1995. i/o’s nearly 30 years in development did not go to waste either, as this may be his richest and most densely produced record since the ’80s. The man even released three separate mixes of the record, each highlighting enough new subtleties in the production to make any of them a reasonable candidate for “the definitive version”. Peter approaches the sonic palate here blending electronics and traditional instrumentation perhaps the furthest he’s ever gone, spanning a range from beautiful, lush, and sprawling orchestration (“Playing for Time”) to tightly constructed borderline sculptural beats that almost sound assembled in a musical junkyard out of any scrap he could find (“The Court”). This is a notably more patient and subdued record than some of his bombastic and thunderous early work (understandably so at 73 years old), but even a few throwback bangers rear their head and show the man can still sell jubilant pop tunes overflowing with vibrancy, most notably the exhilarating “Olive Tree”. It’s the title track however, a warm and moving piece on universal connectedness that only feels more earnest and resonant in Peter’s old age, that serves as the heart of the whole project. Although i/o admittedly falls short of the unfairly high…
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By Nocte
Monday January 29, 2024
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Here’s a non-exhaustive list of new releases for the week of February 2nd, 2024. What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same, and nothing that you did mattered? Genres/labels are best guesses based on cursory Googling and should not be taken seriously. Don’t drive angry. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors. Or don’t, whatever. I wake up every day, right here, right in Punxsutawney, and it’s always February 2nd, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
– List of Releases: February 2nd, 2024 –
Birds in Row & Coilguns – You and I in the Gap (EP)
Genre: Post-Hardcore / Noise Rock
Label: Hummus
Brittany Howard – What Now
Genre: Psychedelic Soul
Label: Island Records
Cyberaktif – eNdgame
Genre: Electro-Industrial
Label: Artoffact
Eliminate – Get Off the Internet
Genre: Dubstep / Hybrid Trap
Label: Create Music Group
Enterprise Earth – Death: An Anthology
Genre: Deathcore
Label: MNRK
Giant Rooks – How Have You Been?
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Irrsinn
J Mascis – What Do We Do Now
Genre: Jangle Pop / Folk Rock
Label: Sub Pop
Kirin J Callinan –…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of January 26th, 2024. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: January 26, 2024 –
Alkaline Trio: Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs
Genre: Pop Punk / Post Hardcore
Label: Rise
Benny the Butcher: Everybody Can’t Go
Genre: Hip Hop
Label: Griselda
Blood Red Throne: Nonagon
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Soulseller
Caligula’s Horse: Charcoal Grace
Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: InsideOut Music
Charlotte Sands: Can We Start Over?
Genre: Indie Pop
Label: CS
Cognizance: Phantazein
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Willowtip
Dissimulator: Lower Form Resistance
Genre: Death Metal / Thrash Metal / Sci-fi
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Exocrine: Legend
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes: Dark Rainbow
Genre: Punk
Label: International Death Cult
Future Islands: People Who Aren’t There Anymore
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: 4AD
Goth Babe: Lola
Genre: Alternative
Label: Mom + Pop
 …
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By Willie
Friday January 12, 2024
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50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1 | EP/Live/Compilation
 [Official site] // [Spotify]
I’m going to say something that shouldn’t actually be controversial, but will inevitably cause a bunch of people to lose their shit: Divine Inner Tension is Hail the Sun’s best work.
[long awkward silence]
“Ye speaketh blasphemy, ye corpulent mammalian sea creature!”
Yes, I do. Shamelessly.
I’ve said this before, but it took a lot to bring me to listen to this album. I refused to listen to the singles. I refused to have anything to do with the rotten cadaver of the genre Hail the Sun had been pigeonholed into. “It all sounds the same anyway!” was the chant I told my friends about the singles that kept dropping. “They’ve peaked! They’re on the decline!” is what I kept saying to myself to justify my refusal to give Divine Inner Tension a chance.
It didn’t matter that I have a deep-seated respect and admiration for Donovan Melero as a musician and seemingly good dude. It didn’t matter that of all the “swancore” bands out there, Hail the Sun had actually put out the most consistent music. It didn’t matter that — while they hadn’t quite achieved the highs of Wake — Culture Scars, Mental Knife and New Age Filth were all very good records. All that would come of a new album in the age of aging guitar-wankery…
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By Willie
Thursday January 11, 2024
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50-31 | 30-11 | 10-1 | EP/Live/Compilation
[Bandcamp] // [Spotify]
Short and sweet collection of almost-banging tunes that take their time to show how smooth these earworms are. The production is gorgeous, and Tenenbaum’s vocal delivery finely walks the playful-quirky line. Really excited about their future. –dedex
[Bandcamp] // [Spotify]
If you are still sleeping on Joliette, Luz de Bengala is a short and sweet cacophony to disturb your slumber: the Mexican post-hardcore mainstays are firing on all cylinders here, conjuring up an expected, spellbinding amalgam of downtrodden riffs, chiming, post-rocky builds, and zesty screams en español. Coming off a couple standalone singles in the years prior, this EP marks the band’s first multi-track project with bassist Gastón Prado on lead vocals, and that lineup change isn’t elemental so much as it is tonal: where once Joliette doubled down on grisly, violent imagery or infernal despair, their latest incarnation ultimately espouses hope without sacrificing their knack for tense, tightly-wound arrangements. Fans of Birds In Row, Ostraca, a theoretically skramz-ier At The Drive-In, or basically anything on the quartet’s latest home, Zegema Beach Records: don’t overlook these guys any longer. –ashcrash9
[Bandcamp] // [Spotify]
In…
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