Music Reviews

Sitting down with the newest Phoebe Bridgers album was always going to be an intimidating task. One of the most exciting new names on the folk/indie rock scene, Bridgers received a lot of attention for her debut, 'Stranger in the Alps', not least earning her a guest spot on the new Hayley Williams album. But can she keep the momentum going with follow-up, 'Punisher'?

In one of the most significant moves of their career, Lamb of God have returned with their eighth studio album after a gap of five years. It’s self-titled, it’s the first one with new drummer Art Cruz, and it’s released during a time of immense global upheaval. So, how does it hold up?

France has become a hotbed for superb metal acts in recent years and as a result has been gaining much deserved notoriety around the world. One band that has sprung forth in recent years is Temnein, who have been quietly honing their craft in the underground for some time now, releasing two previous albums - '404 B.C' and 'White Stained Inferno' - which showed a level of creativity and forward thinking that far surpassed their years. Now, in 2020, the band may have just penned the defining release of their blossoming career. The album is entitled 'Tales: Of Humanity And Greed' and shows the band pushing their particular brand of melodic death metal into brave new territory.

After what is sure to be one of their most successful tours ever, supporting Canadian mastermind Devin Townsend, Haken return with a new studio offering, in the form of 'Virus'. Recorded in secret this new album serves as a follow-up to 2018’s Vector, with the events taking place twenty years afterwards. So, shall we return to Mountview Institute?

The 1975 aren’t a band to do things by halves and their fourth album, 'Notes On A Conditional Form', is a fine example of this. Chiming in at over eighty minutes long and twenty-two tracks in length, it has provided the perfect platform for sound experimentation as we see rock, pop, hip-hop and even house tracks make an appearance. After a number of release date delays, do good things really come to those who wait?

PATRÓN, the new project of Lo, previously of Loading Data, is a curious melting pot of influences, from fifties rock ‘n’ roll to ‘80s synth pop. Carried by the instantaneously recogniseable vocals of Lo (aka PATRÓN himself), this band have their sound absolutely nailed, but are frequently let down by repetitive, and at times, uncomfortable lyrics.

An immediate, energetic onslaught of hardcore noise is what the new CAPRA release brings to the table. Fronted by the formidable Crow Lotus, this band are taking no prisoners on their self-titled EP.

Flamboyant art-rock trio Palaye Royale have ramped up the musical theatrics for their long awaited third studio album, 'The Bastards'. As far as record release cycles go, The Bastards era by comparison to its counterparts, 'Boom Boom Room (Side A)' and 'Boom Boom Room (Side B)', has been a challenging campaign so far. From tackling troubles with UK venues, to facing the cancellation of the UK/EU run as a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, overall it’s been a turbulent time in the run up to 29th May. However with successful pop-up shops, some Palaye in the parks and several shows under the belt, the band have defeated these difficulties, as Remington Leith, Sebastian Danzig and Emerson Barrett of Palaye Royale have produced an adrenaline fuelled rock n’ roll record with 'The Bastards'. 

Your favourite punk uncle Jeff Rosenstock has added a surprise release to a lockdown full of surprises, but is 'NO DREAM' what we all need to brighten up the solitude?

In the decade since their debut album, Caligula’s Horse have proved themselves time and again to be a force to be reckoned with on the Australian prog-metal scene, and indeed, the world. This latest offering, 'Rise Radiant', sees them master their sound, step back, and reap the rewards of their labour.