Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of July 8th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: July 8, 2022 –
Altars: Ascetic Reflection
Gender: Black Metal / Death Metal / Dissodeath Label: Everlasting Spew
Apollo Brown: This Must Be The Place
Gender: Hip Hop Label: Mello Music Group
Ardours: Anatomy of a Moment
Gender: Alt Metal Label: Frontiers
Bad Breeding: Human Capital
Gender: Punk / Noise Rock Label: One Little Independent
Welcome to the second installment of our 2022 quarterly playlist! Feel free to jam the playlist 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 here — or, alternatively, tell us what we missed! Thanks for reading/listening.
Unsurprisingly, the eponymous third chapter from Long Island’s singular dissonant machine stands as one of the finest death metal albums to come out in the first half of 2022. The first single, “Celestial Cyst”, with its dense psychedelic(ish) slow-paced section, is not only Artificial Brain‘s most iconic moment, but also epitomizes its unforeseen emotional weight. –TheNotrap
Asian Glow – “Look Close, Nose the Reflection” Stalled Flutes, means
The biggest and bestest track on Asian Glow’s tangled knockout of a new album might just be the most impressive thing to come out of the whole of 5th wave emo. It is momentous; it is ambitious, perhaps a little too much so; it is maudlin yet you can almost dance to it; it has best bits and they don’t last forever. It’s
There was never an intense desire for The Moon is a Dead World to finally have a sequel. In the realm of screamo or screamo-adjacent music, one-offs are par for the course, with the genre littered with classics delivered by groups that endured for a handful of years at best. These titans gradually generate their own mythology, and they transform into stories told ‘round the campfire by weathered stalwarts—tales of triumph we must strive to recreate. Of all those predecessors, however, it can be reasonably asserted that Moon was the most irreplicable of them all. The scene at large didn’t dare to take a stab at it; observing the trajectory of Gospel’s associated music influences reveals how few, if any, tried to capitalize off their work. It was equal parts the daunting critical reception, the eclectic grab-bag of genres, and the stunning musicianship required to tie it all together. It’s not likely for that drumming performance to reappear, nor is it probable for progressive rock sensibilities and keyboards to reunite in a category seemingly adverse to them.
Who else to perform Gospel again than, well, Gospel themselves? From the obscurity they once disappeared to, they decided to return in what could be the most shocking comeback witnessed in the industry. It’s impressive not only for the absurd waiting period between releases, but also due to its quality; The…
The city of Columbus has changed much over the past decade. Ohio’s reputation as ‘that lame Midwestern state’ certainly persists, but it’d be hard to figure that when observing the growth of the state’s capital; it’s undergoing one of the highest growth rates of all Midwestern metropoles. It’s no longer simply a domain for the Buckeye faithful (and the broken, battered Blue Jackets fans), but a combination of diverse people arriving from all corners of the United States. It’s a change that can be observed in the heightened enrollment rates of The Ohio State University. It can be felt in the explosive crowds filling the stands of the novel Lower.com stadium. It can be witnessed in the outdoor Shakespeare shows and the sprawling Arts Festival. Most importantly, for us at least, it can be heard in the bustling live music scene.
As a consequence of Columbus’ rise to prominence, its music market has considerably increased. Beyond the multitude of stadiums and theaters that can serve as concert venues, there are a plethora of smaller locales with their own personality and show miscellany. A trip to north downtown’s King of Clubs might feature the legends of melodic death metal Dark Tranquillity, a brutal combo of Thy Art is Murder and After the Burial, or an amateur wrestling display. KEMBA Live can provide The Shins, Wiz Khalifa, or Meshuggah. For something off the beaten path, The Rambling House exhibits bluegrass jam sessions, jazz and stand-up comedy. Regardless of…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of July 1st, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: July 1st, 2022 –
Black Cilice: Esoteric Atavism
Genre: Raw Black Metal Label: Iron Bonehead Productions
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of June 24th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: June 24, 2022 –
Alestorm: Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum
Genre: Heavy Metal Label: Napalm
Alexisonfire: Otherness
Genre: Post Hardcore Label: Dine Alone
Axioma: Sepsis
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Translation Loss
Belphegor: The Devils
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Nuclear Blast
The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees
Genre: Psychedelic Rock Label: A Recordings
Caamp: Lavender Days
Genre: Indie Folk Label: Mom + Pop
Candy: Heaven Is Here
Genre: Hardcore / Punk Label: Relapse
Chaotian: Effigies of Obsolescence
Genre: Death Metal Label: Dark Descent
Coheed and Cambria: Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of June 17th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: June 17, 2022 –
Alanis Morissette: The Storm Before The Calm
Genre: Singer Songwriter / Meditation Label: Sony Music
Alice Merton: S.I.D.E.S.
Genre: Indie Pop Label: Mom + Pop
Ataraxy: The Last Mirror
Genre: Death Metal Label: Dark Descent
Bartees Strange: Farm To Table
Genre: Indie Rock / Singer Songwriter Label: 4AD
Chaos Magic: Emerge
Genre: Symphonic Metal Label: Frontiers
Civil War: Invaders
Genre: Power Metal Label: Napalm
Consecration: Cinis
Genre: Death Metal / Doom Label: Redefining Darkness
Denouncement Pyre: Forever Burning
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Agonia
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows: Destroy Rebuild
Genre: Post Hardcore Label: Equal Vision / Velocity
Esoctrilihum: Consecration Of The Spiritüs Flesh
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: I, Voidhanger
It should bear no repeating, yet I’ll do so once more for those in the back: modern metalcore is in safe hands. Bands come and go, trends rise and fall, but the genre is a resilient one; a slew of acts have come to prominence in the past decade, each one eager to carve out a slice of the heavy music listening base. After an arduous day of stress, responsibilities and other such clutter, there’s no better release than a masterful breakdown or sudden barrage of discordant riffs. It’s an adrenaline rush that continuously defines the classification in a unique manner. Rest assured, this new school has officially taken up the mantle in their own ways, be it unabashed chaos, groovy swagger, or genuine emotion. Essentially, whatever one desires out of a -core package, the genre can quickly offer an appropriate escape. Combine all three approaches and a wondrous idea is formed: a tour across the nation featuring some of the hottest names mentioned in the underground. There’s always an audience hungry for the unrelenting pandemonium live metal shows can provide — something evident in the frantic mosh pits and equally energetic stage antics. Thus, the Beautiful Coma Tour was constructed: an epic union of Limbs out of Florida, Kentucky’s own Greyhaven, and The surprisingly-not-from-Dallas Callous Daoboys. As could perhaps be predicted, it was a match made in heaven.
Fans of the expanding Columbus underground scene gathered…
After four long years of inactivity, the SputStaff Top 10 is back! The staff at Sputnikmusic put their heads together and tried to come up with the most badass way to reboot the series, and, uh, the best we could muster was T-Swizzle. She knits sweaters, yo! Anyway she might be the biggest pop star in the entire world, and at just 32 years old, she already has quite the extensive catalog. If you’re anything like us, you’ve spent many sleepless nights tossing and turning in bed wondering what the top 10 Taylor Swift songs are. Thanks to our dedicated staff, you can finally put your mind at ease. We’ve done all the legwork, turned over every stone, and split every hair — so without further ado, I present to you the esteemed and irrefutably correct top 10 Taylor Swift tracks of all time.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of June 10th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: June 10, 2022 –
Billy Howerdel: What Normal Was
Genre: Alt Rock Label: BMG
Carrie Underwood: Denim & Rhinestones
Genre: Country Label: Capitol
Deathwhite: Grey Everlasting
Genre: Doom / Progressive Metal Label: Season of Mist
Dir En Grey: Phalaris [June 15th]
Genre: Alt Metal / J-Rock Label: Firewall Div.
Downset: Maintain
Genre: Rap Metal / Hardcore Label: Nuclar Blast
The Dream Syndicate: Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions
Mason Maggio is a man of many talents. Currently he is the sole member of Souveneer, an indie-folk/rock project formed in 2016, but you might also know him as the lead singer from The Republic of Wolves and Tigers on Trains. I caught up with him recently on the progress of his new EP, the future of his other projects, and even his successful stint on Jeopardy.
In addition to the interview, Maggio has also granted Sputnikmusic exclusive early access to his upcoming song, “Evelyn”, which will be on his 2022 EP Sleep Study. “Evelyn” drops officially on Thursday, June 9th.
You can stream “Evelyn” below, as well as Sleep Study‘s two other already released tracks as you navigate through the interview.
Enjoy!
It’s been a while since we’ve caught up for an interview (2016, to be precise). A lot in the world has changed since then…how are you doing?
A very tough question to start things off! Overall I’ve been well. Without getting into major worldwide events, some of the main happenings in my life since 2016 have been moving from New York to LA, getting a dog, becoming obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons, winning on Jeopardy, meeting/collaborating with some amazing songwriters, and growing enough as a musician and artist to fully embrace my solo project.
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of June 3rd, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: June 3, 2022 –
070 Shake: You Can’t Kill Me
Genre: r&b / Trip Hop / Synthpop Label: GOOD Music
All Get Out: Kodak
Genre: Indie Rock Label: Equal Vision
Andrew Bird: Inside Problems
Genre: Chamber Pop / Indie Folk Label: Loma Vista
Angel Olsen: Big Time
Genre: Singer Songwriter Label: Jagjaguwar
Artificial Brain: Artificial Brain
Genre: Death Metal Label: Profound Lore
Astronoid: Radiant Bloom
Genre: Blackgaze / Progressive Metal Label: MNRK Music
Battlelore: The Return of the Shadow
Genre: Power Metal / Symphonic Metal Label: Napalm
Bleed From Within: Shrine
Genre: Metalcore Label: Nuclear Blast
Crobot: Feel This
Genre: Hard Rock / Stoner Label: Mascot Label Group
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of May 27th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: May 27, 2022 –
700 Bliss: Nothing to Declare
Genre: Hip Hop / Noise Label: Hyperdub
Alfie Templeman : Mellow Moon
Genre: Indie Pop Label: Chess Club
Al Lover: Cosmic Joke
Genre: Experimental / Electronic / Psychedelic Label: Fuzz Club
Besvärjelsen: Atlas
Genre: Doom / Progressive Rock / Sludge Label: Magnetic Eye
Black Lung: Dark Waves [EP]
Genre: Doom Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Bloodhunter: Knowledge Was The Price
Genre: Melodic Death Metal / Black Metal Label: Maldito
Bong-Ra: Meditations
Genre: Experimental / Doomjazz Label: Tartarus
Cadaveria: Emptiness
Genre: Black Metal / Doom Label: Time to Kill
Church of Disgust: Weakest Is The Flesh
Genre: Death Metal Label: Hells Headbangers
Coheed and Cambria: Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of May 20th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: May 20, 2022 –
Anvil: Impact Is Imminent
Genre: Heavy Metal Label: AFM
Assumption: Hadean Tides
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Sentient Ruin Laboratories
Blut Aus Nord: Disharmonium: Undreamable Abysses
Genre: Black Metal / Experimental Label: Debemur Morti
Carnal Ghoul: Back From the Vault
Genre: OSDM Label: Supreme Chaos
Cave In: Heavy Pendulum
Genre: Post Hardcore / Alternative Label: Relapse
Cities of Mars: Cities of Mars
Genre: Progressive Rock / Stoner Label: Ripple Music
Craig Finn: Legacy Of Rentals
Genre: Singer Songwriter Label: Muy interesante Music / Clarabelle Songs
Drift Into Black: Earthtorn
Genre: Doom / Gothic Metal Label: Black Lion
Evergrey: A Heartless Portrait (The Orphéan Testament)
Genre: Progressive Metal Label: Napalm
Everything Everything: Raw Data Feel
Genre: Indie Pop Label: AWAL Recordings
Flume: Palaces
Genre: Electronic Label: Future Classic
Gronibard: Regarde Les Hommes Sucer
Genre: Grindcore / Goregrind Label: Season of Mist…
“In typical fashion,” a phrase synonymous with Tool and one you’ll be reading a couple of times during this review.
Seventeen years ago, an ex-girlfriend of mine handed me a copy of Ænima and told me to listen to it. At the time, my very limited music taste hadn’t stepped outside of the realm of NU-metal, American Alt-rock/metal, and sporadic classic rock bands, but the seeds from that album would be well and truly planted for what would become a total obsession a couple of years later. With the exception of maybe Linkin Park and DIR EN GREY, I haven’t poured so many hours into a band. Justin Chancellor was a monolith for developing my own bass playing; a player who encouraged people to disregard this dichotomy people had with playing a certain way. Their enigmatic disposition, avoiding the spotlight and being as contrarian as possible only stood to bolster my obsession for the band, and by 2010 my fascination for the band was at its apex.
However, by 2013, with a lack of new material and the constant delays with making what would become Fear Inoculum, as well as never doing their own tours – only doing the odd festival (something I’ve never enjoyed going to) I never got to see them live – I eventually began to lose interest in the band and move my interests elsewhere. By the time Fear Inoculum came out, I was so indifferent to its release, given how much time had passed since…
![folklore [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91PYDrG2ejL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![folklore: the long pond studio sessions (from the Disney+ special) (deluxe edition) [Explicit]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71MnkZETNhL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
