Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 15th, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: October 15, 2021 –
Aeon: God Ends Here
Genre: Death Metal Label: Metal Blade
The Agonist: Days Before The World Wept [EP]
Genre: Metalcore / Melodeath Label: Napalm
Alcatrazz: V
Genre: Heavy Metal Label: Silver Lining
Bound In Fear: Penance
Genre: Death Metal Label: Unique Leader
Cherubs: SLO BLO 4 FRNZ & SXY [EP]
Genre: Noise Rock / Sludge Label: Relapse
Coldplay: Music of the Spheres
Genre: Prog Label: Parlophone
Cœur De Pirate: Impossible à aimer
Genre: Indie Pop Label: Bravo Musique
Dødsdrift: Ødnis
Genre: Black Metal Label: Vendetta Records
Dug Pinnick: Joy Bomb
Genre: Hard Rock Label: Rat Pak
Feed The Corpses To The Pigs: This Insidious Horror
Genre: Death Metal Label: Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
On 6th March 2020, Honey Harper released his barnstorming celestial-country debut album, Starmaker, which was nothing short of being breathtaking. However, shortly after the release of this glorious triumph, just days before Will and Alana were set to promote the record, the infamous pandemic took a hold of the world and destroyed – a long with many other artists’ new records – Starmaker’s insurmountable potential. Just over eighteen months later, I managed to catch up with Will and Alana over breakfast to discuss their thoughts on Starmaker, the damage Covid-19 had on Honey’s incredible debut record, and what they have in store for Honey Harper in the future.
Will: So, we checked out Sputnikmusic and there’s lots of love, which is really great! I’m humbled.
Oh man, yeah. There’s a lot of people that aren’t really into country music on there – I think the guy that wrote the review [Sowing] for Starmaker, he wasn’t really into country – but Starmaker feels like a really good Gateway album to get you into that sort of thing. It’s super accessible because it does so many other things as well. So, yeah, there’s a lot of people who love it; you’ve got a lot of people that gush over it.
Will: I was kind of blown away. I felt very loved, it was pretty great, yeah.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 8th, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: October 8, 2021 –
Atræ Bilis: Apexapien
Genre: Death Metal Label: 20 Buck Spin
BADBADNOTGOOD: Talk Memory
Genre: Electronic / Jazz Label: XL Recordings
Blood Red Throne: Imperial Congregation
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Nuclear Blast
Caravan: It’s None Of Your Business
Genre: Progressive Rock Label: Madfish
Creeping Death: The Edge of Existence [EP]
Genre: Death Metal Label: eOne
Eclipse: Wired
Genre: Hard Rock Label: Frontiers
Efterklang: Windflowers
Genre: Indie Rock Label: City Slang
Gus G: Quantum Leap
Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Label: AFM
Howlin’ Rain: The Dharma Wheel
Genre: Progressive Rock Label: Silver Current Records
While there was certainly no shortage of exceptional metalcore releases in 2018, one in particular possessed a level of ingenuity in its craft that deserved far greater praise. Despite their underground status, Noise Trail Immersion managed to emerge from the depths to secure a portion of the spotlight, revealing to a broader audience their expertise over technicality and atmosphere. Their brand of post metalcore contained a frighteningly aggressive quality owing to influence from black metal titans of the modern day. Such a combination bred a sophomore record that immersed listeners in a realm of psychological terror, portraying the decomposition of one’s mind as it travels through stages of nihilism, a loss of faith, and an eventual acceptance of cognitive demise. It was a blockbuster album towering above a stacked field of aspiring artists; few were able to contend with the level of songwriting the young group displayed so early in their career.
Creating such an experience, let alone constructing a worthy sequel, is a tall order for any collective to fulfill. After a prolonged period dedicated to arranging this long awaited album, the band joined forces with I, Voidhanger Records in order to house their latest creation. Considering how highly I value the nascent body of work cultivated by Noise Trail Immersion, comprehending the process that motivated their efforts immediately caught my interest. With the upcoming third disc approaching on the horizon, primed for takeoff to impose further dissonant riffs upon the masses, I had a conversation with primary composer…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of October 1st, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: October 1, 2021 –
Abstracter: Abominion
Genre: Black Metal / Crust / Doom Label: Sentient Ruin Laboratories
Anima Hereticae: Ov Behest [EP]
Genre: Blackgaze / Death Metal Label: Inverse Records
Asking Alexandria: See What’s On The Inside
Genre: Metalcore Label: Better Noise Music
Audiobooks: Astro Tough
Genre: Indie Pop Label: Heavenly Records
Black Dice: Mod Prog Sic
Genre: Electronic / Experimental Label: FourFour Records
Brandi Carlile: In These Silent Days
Genre: Singer Songwriter Label: Low Country Sound / Elektra
The Body and BIG|BRAVE: Leaving None But Small Birds
Genre: Folk / Experimental Label: Thrill Jockey
Churchburn: Genocidal Rite
Genre: Death Metal / Sludge Label: Translation Loss Records
With a lot of the seminal black-metal-folk-y albums like Agalloch and Ulver, their artwork is intrinsic to – like you said before Nathanael, when you were walking through the city listening to The Mantle, how the sky sort of connected with you while you were listening to the music – the overall feel of the music, and the album cover represents a lot of that perfectly as well. Listening to Inheritance, I think the cover perfectly encapsulates what you’re going to be hearing. Was there a conscious effort to find the best artwork that represents the songs or was it just by chance?
Nathanael: Yeah, it was sort of both. Obviously, with Musk Ox we don’t have any lyrics, so the artwork is very important in the way that it’s going to give people the visual representation that adds to the music. It was intentional, but also by chance, because we never really discussed it. I had an idea, and I took this photographer to a place literally 5 minutes from my house where there’s this railroad – like, it’s not a Photoshop thing, it’s literally just over here and we took these photos of it and it worked with the concept. At the time, I looked at one of the photos and thought “yeah, this is definitely it!” and then Raph was like, “actually I like this one” and Evan agreed with…
Welcome to the third installment of our 2021 quarterly playlist! Feel free to jam the songs below while reading what our writers had to say about each selection. Tell us what your favorites are in the comments, as well as any new artists you may have discovered. Alternatively, you can always let us know what we missed! Thanks for reading/listening.
To view the historical content of these playlists, visit the bottom of this page.
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Tracklist:
BADBADNOTGOOD – “Signal from the Noise”
At the height of BBNG’s (TikTok) fame comes ‘Signal from the Noise’, a psychedelic jazz marvel. The band’s longest track in some time, it’s also its most filmic. Having proven itself in a number of ways over the last few years — popularity-wise, as well as in terms of diversity and productivity — its about time BBNG returns to crafting albums. And if this and ‘Beside April’ are any indication (what else is the point of single?), Talk Memory is going to be a well-crafted album. Lotsa fun, too. — BlushfulHippocrene
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 24th, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: September 24, 2021 –
Aorlhac: Pierres Brûlées
Genre: Black Metal Label: Les Acteurs de L’Ombre Productions
Amon Tobin: How Do You Live
Genre: Electronic/Ambient Label: Nomark Records
A Pale Horse Named Death: Infernum In Terra
Genre: Metal Label: Long Branch Records
Angels and Airwaves: Lifeforms
Genre: Alternative Rock Label: Rise
British Lion: British Lion
Genre: Heavy Metal/Iron Maiden-core Label: Gala Records/EMI
Cold War Kids: New Age Norms 3
Genre: Pop Rock Label: AWAL Recordings
Cognizance: Upheaval
Genre: Technical Death Metal Label: Prosthetic Records
Dream Ocean: The Missing Stone
Genre: Symphonic Metal Label: Independent
LLNN: Unmaker
Genre: Hardcore/Sci-fi/Sludge Label: Pelagic Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 17th, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: September 17, 2021 –
Alien Weaponry: Tangaroa
Genre: Progressive Metal Label: Napalm Records
Brainstorm: Wall Of Skulls
Genre: Heavy metal Label: AFM
Candlebox: Wolves
Genre: Alt Rock / Grunge Label: Pavement Entertainment
Carcass: Torn Arteries
Genre: Death Metal Label: Nuclear Blast
Charlotte Wessels: Tales From Six Feet Under
Genre: Gothic Rock / Pop Rock Label: Napalm Records
Criminal: Sacrificio
Genre: Thrash Metal Label: Metal Blade
Daughtry: Dear Beloved
Genre: Alt Rock Label: Daughtry
Dead Sara: Ain’t It Tragic
Genre: Alt Rock Label: Warner
Dream Theater: Master Of Puppets – Live In Barcelona, 2002 [Live]
Genre: Progressive Metal Label: InsideOut Music
Edge Of Paradise: The Unknown
Genre: Hard Rock / Progressive Metal Label: Frontiers Records
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 10th, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: September 10, 2021 –
Aborted: ManiaCult
Genre: Death Metal Label: Century Media Records
Andrew W.K.: God Is Partying
Genre: Hard Rock Label: Napalm
Amyl and the Sniffers: Comfort To Me
Genre: Retro-Rock Label: Goner Records
Chrome Waves: The Rain Will Cleanse
Genre: Shoegaze/Post Black Metal Label: Transcending Records
Colleen Green: Cool
Genre: Indie Pop Label: Warner Music
Common: A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap Label: Loma Vista
Dawn Fades: Ode
Genre: Post Hardcore Label: Metal Assault Records
Delta Sleep: Spring Island
Genre: Indie Rock/Math Label: Sofa Boy Records
Diana Ross: Thank You
Genre: Soul/R&B Label: Decca
Hail Spirit Noir: Mannequins
Genre: Synthwave/ Sci-fi Pop Label: Agonia Records
Heartless Bastards: A Beautiful Life
Genre: Rock Label: Sweet Unknown Records
Inferi: Vile Genesis
Genre: Technical Death Metal Label: The Artisan Era
Jazz Cartier: Fleur Print
Genre: Rap Label: Petal Garden/PIVTL Projects
Kacey Musgraves: Star-Crossed
Genre: Country/Pop Label: MCA Nashville/ Interscope Records
Welcome to the KILL or KEEP milestone instalment, Vol.5. What a moment this is. We have gone from powers of 2 to powers of 5. We have transcended the snottiness of bashing mediocre bands like the Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails and reached such heights that we can make up whatever bollocks we so please and potentially tackle a legitimately “good” artist one day. What a giddy moment.
There was (probably) going to be a celebration of this belletristic triumph, but before it got organised, Sputnik MVP Staffer Dewinged (legeeend) spontaneously declared that he was going to listen to a Nightwish album with one hour’s notice, and a different kind of gravity asserted itself.
The album in question turned out to be Once, the 2004 opus among opuses viewed by many as the group’s symphonic peak – this being the most significant Nightwish album that JohnnyoftheWell (lol loser) had not heard, a glitzy pact was formed on the spot. Dewi got to take the next steps on his Epic journey with added style; Johnny got to go back in time and cover his tracks. What’s not to love?
Unfortunately, these motivations were both ultimately selfish, hardly reflective of KILL or KEEP‘s deeper imperative for critical justice and practical public advice. To remedy this and save the whole affair from corrupt SputStaff-exclusive sticky-pokey, we invited the unmodified unmastered vox pop microdeity LeddSledd into the fray (baaased). With not partisan attachments past, present or (likely) future, he…
Musk Ox are the real deal. Yet, only one month ago I had no prior knowledge of their existence. It was only through Sputnikmusic’s Album of the Month feature that I came to hear of this Canadian trio – their latest album Inheritance had won best album for July which encouraged me to check it out. In short, Inheritance is a truly spellbinding peregrination; a creation that feels perfectly attuned to nature. It’s an idiosyncratic ambient experience that has some of the most rewarding songwriting heard thus far in 2021. Palpable, lucid songwriting that carves impeccable detail into Inheritance’s tracks. Vivid soundscapes, gigantic crescendos, and a perfect harmony with beauty and melancholy. As such, it left a lasting impression on me. I approached the band’s guitarist, Nathanael, for an interview. The result is a two-part epic detailing a lot of what makes Musk Ox’s members the inimitable pioneers they are today – as we talk about the importance of production, what it’s like being in a band in Canada, Tool, their artwork and influences, and what the future holds for Musk Ox. It goes without saying that you should check out their latest triumph, but if nothing else, this is a good place to start and get to know the band.
For those who don’t know, could you give us a bit of background on the band and how it all came…
We live in a time where sequels and call-backs are done to death. Take your artistic medium of choice and witness the litany of hackneyed cash-grabs attempting to tug on your nostalgic heartstrings. On the boldly stated Colors II, Between the Buried and Me buck the trend and deliver on the promise of following up an all-time classic. As a standalone, this album is a gigantic, progressive gymnastics routine packed to the absolute gills with instrumental mastery and compositional/genre fuckery, the likes of which we’ve rarely seen. Taken as another rainbow block of molded clay to be affixed onto their 2007 construction, what we have here is a balls-to-the-white-walls two-part epic that reframes their entire sprawling discography. No matter where you lie along the prog metal appreciation spectrum – this deserves your ears, if only as a reference point for what’s possible. – Inoculaeted
There are few albums in recent memory that have been quite so divisive as Donda. Kanye West’s long-teased 10th LP has gone through many iterations and titles, and finally dropped yesterday as a 27-track, almost 2 hour behemoth. Length alone should never be a detractor to one’s critical reception of art – but in this case, the album simply fails to uphold the quality of its strongest moments for that entire duration. That’s really okay, because two hours of superb music is nearly impossible to pull off. In forming a critical analysis of Donda, however, one must take all moments into account – not just its finer cuts – and the results are middling. At its core though, Donda had the potential to be nearly perfect and go toe to toe with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as West’s best and most ambitious work. I’m sure this will be done a thousand different ways over the coming weeks, but below is my re-imagined and condensed version of Donda – an iteration that I almost certainly would have hailed as superb or a classic.
I left ‘Jail’ as the opener (we’re not counting ‘Donda Chant’ in this case) because I think it is the ideal adrenaline pumping scene-setter. I’ve heard some complaints already about ‘God Breathed’s early placement with that long outro, but I’m okay with it – it cements Donda as the imaginative and ambitious piece that it is. Most of this re-imagining was just me trimming…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of September 3rd, 2021. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: September 3, 2021 –
Apallic: Edge of Desolation
Genre: Death Metal Label: Kernkraftritter Records
Apophis: Excess
Genre: Death Metal Label: Nuclear Blast
Auri: II – Those We Don’t Speak Of
Genre: Folk / Celtic Label: Nuclear Blast
Bad Waitress: No Taste
Genre: Punk / Garage Rock Label: Royal Mountain Records
Beyond Grace: Our Kingdom Undone
Genre: Death Metal Label: Prosthetic Records
Bokassa: Molotov Rocktail
Genre: Stoner / Punk / Hardcore Label: Napalm Records
Carnifex: Graveside Confessions
Genre: Deathcore Label: Nuclear Blast
Damu The Fudgemunk: Conversation Peace
Genre: Hip Hop Label: Def Pressé
David Ferguson: Nashville No More
Genre: Country Label: Fat Possum records
Defacement: Defacement
Genre: Atmospheric Death Metal / Black metal Label: I, Voidhanger
