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…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of May 13th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: May 13, 2022 –
The Black Keys: Dropout Boogie
Genre: Indie Rock Label: Nonesuch
Bear’s Den: Blue Hours
Genre: Indie Folk / Rock Label: Communion
Cage Fight: Cage Fight
Genre: Hardcore Label: Candlelight / Spinefarm
The Chainsmokers: So Far So Good
Genre: Pop Label: Columbia
Craig David: 22
Genre: r&b / Soul Label: BMG
Corpus Christii: The Bitter End of Old
Genre: Black Metal / Death Metal Label: Immortal Frost Productions
Demiricous: The Chaotic Lethal
Genre: Death Metal Label: Post. Recordings
Ecstatic Vision: Elusive Mojo
Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Stoner Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Elcamino: Let There Be Light
Genre: Hip Hop Label: Anti Gun Violence Co.
Emma Ruth Rundle: Eg2: Dowsing Voice
Genre: Ambient / New Age / Drone Label: Sargent House
I’ve seen HEALTH on several occasions over the years, and even though their stage production is likely restrained by austere limitations when compared to the band playing in a high-end venue in a capital city, or one of their shows in the States, they’ve always been able to blow it out of the water – no matter where they are playing. Indeed, The White Hotel in Salford is probably the most austere venue I’ve seen them playing in; a venue that literally looks like it was converted from a car garage into a music venue. A solid bare-brick-walled room with a towering PA system and a little stage in the corner. The room was pitch black, bar the slender beams of blue and red stage lighting breaking through the dense darkness and waves of stage smoke, while Max Payne 3’s most poignant track “Pain” played in the background before the band came onto the stage.
One thing that should be mentioned is that HEALTH approach their shows slightly differently to the myriad of other bands I’ve seen over the years. For these guys it’s clear, first and foremost, the music is paramount. That’s not to disparage other artists who perform live, but there’s a brazen and abrupt way to how HEALTH perform live. There’s no banter – bar the quick sentence Jake gets in halfway through the set, thanking everyone who came out to see them play – and most welcoming of all, they never do encores and haven’t done…
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of May 6th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: May 6, 2022 –
!!!: Let It Be Blue
Genre: Indie-Rock/Post-Punk/Funk
Label: Warp
Arcade Fire: WE
Genre: Indie-Rock/Indie-Pop
Label: Columbia
AWOLNATION: My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers, and Me
Genre: Electronic/Indie-Pop
Label: Better Noise Music
Belle and Sebastian: A Bit of Previous
Genre: Indie-Pop/Indie-Folk
Label: Matador
Cosmic Putrefaction: Crepuscular Dirge For The Blessed Ones
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Profound Lore
Halestorm: Back From The Dead
Genre: Hard Rock/Pop Rock
Label: Atlantic
Haunter (USA-TX): Discarnate Ails
Genre: Death/Black Metal
Label: Profound Lore
Ibaraki: Rashomon
Genre: Black Metal/Metalcore/Heavy Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Here’s a list of major new releases for the week of April 29th, 2022. Please feel free to request reviews for any of the following albums from staff and/or contributors.
– List of Releases: April 29, 2022 –
Alexia Avina: A Little Older
Genre: Dream Pop / Singer Songwriter Label: Lost Map
Al-Namrood: Worship the Degenerate
Genre: Black Metal Label: Shaytan productions
And Hell Followed With: Quietus
Genre: Deathcore Label: Hallowed
Archive: Call to Arms & Angels
Genre: Alt Rock / Electronic Label: Dangervisit
Bloc Party: Alpha Games
Genre: Indie Rock Label: BMG
Blossoms: Ribbon Around The Bomb
Genre: Indie Rock Label: EMI
Congotronics International: Where’s The One
Genre: Root Rock / World Music Label: Crammed Discs
Courtney Swain: Silver Lining
Genre: Indie Rock / Singer Songwriter Label: Self Released / Many Hats Distribution
![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)
