Behemoth - I Loved You at Your Darkest
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Not sure I could name a name broadcasting Satanism more earnestly and large-scale than Behemoth chieftain Nergal. His growls perpetually powerful and snarls always spiteful, metal that's severe and colossal but suitable for stadiums or symphonies -- a commixture of carnage and speed and class that's acute enough to make you consider conversion. Seemingly resting on their laurels a bit here tho, laudable laurels they may be; perhaps guilty simply of not possessing the insistent impact of its predecessor. But hey, they've even got the kids-n-choirs involved. And what aspiring atheist hasn't gotten a kick outta replacing prayer's 'heaven's with 'hell's? Now they just get to hear it roared atop some sincere+epic fury. 7.5/10
Guerilla Toss - Twisted Crystal
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Thus continues their recent streak of records that are irresistibly intriguing yet as wholes seem weirdly truncated or not quite fully-formed. But since trading in much of the dirty+difficult din for a dancier poppier demeanor their stylistic palette is a thing to behold -- a fun fusion of punk-funk groove and synthy psychedelic oomph that's catchy and curious, full-a perk and vague absurdity, layers squooshy and massive, loud yet light-hearted, boisterous yet candied. Kassie Carlson's vox being the cutesy android icing on the wacky-cake; oft wavering between near-nursery rhyme and straight talking. 7.5/10
Joey Purp - Quarterthing
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Can't help but pine for some more personality comin' from Purp, but his adaptability and confidence and vigor go far; not to mention being backed+boosted by one of the best beat-batches in recent hip-hop memory. Love when he mad-dog mocks his peers' mania for materialism even though he's guilty of draggin' on about it too; appreciate his ability to go from grateful-yet-distressed gospel guy to aggro dealer dude to freaky funk-house dabbler to stupidly catchy stupor victim; on the fence about a majority of the songs lasting less than three minutes. 7.5/10
Spiritualized - And Nothing Hurt
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Sure he recycles quondam ideas and conveys a rather questionable commixture of mumblin' young'un down-n-outer and 52-year old who continues to call himself a lonely rock-n-roller and still wants to hit the road with you, baby -- guy's taken with kids btw. But above all else Jason Pierce is superb at soaring his self-indulgent sadness into the stratosphere; "wasted / faded / uneducated / doing the best that he can" with a propensity for buildups and the symphony. Acknowledging the ability to be a great guy yet giving up and dumping you instead is not only nobly pathetic but makes for some timeless tunes. Much cred of course goes to the presumably many many MANY other members, without whom such groove and psychedelic walls wouldn't be as proper+powerful. Excels in the pleasant, pretty, blaring -- bassy saxxy boogie, you say? See "The Morning After", which begins with Janey's problem with the modern world and ends with her tying a noose. That groove-n-wall, tho. 7.5/10
Voivod - The Wake
*******HIGHEST RECS*******
Ardent tellers of technological terrors that they are, perhaps Voivod saw the present as a particularly opportune time to give a record some extra oomph. Haven't heard anything past 89's Nothingface personally tho, so maybe that's presumption. But an album of this caliber this far downstream is a triumph; don't hurt that it also makes impending doom kind of a blast and effortlessly encompasses their mastery. An exercise in tightness+tone+chemistry that still riiiips, riffsriffsriffsriffs, prog with punch, dorky but persuasive, bassbassbass, oft funny (likely unintentional), drummer that's been there since 82. Theatrical in that its machine steam spurts and walkie-talkies and space drone put you precisely on location and it ends with minutes of nothin' but a dramatic violin duel; but it's their thrash and snarl technique making me a believer. Plus I swear I've battled an NES boss to the beginning riff from "Event Horizon". Distich most worth revisiting on 12-minute repriser-finale: "It's scary / it's crazy". 8/10
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boygenius - boygenius [EP] 7/10
Eric Church - Desperate Man 5.5/10
Cloud Nothings - Last Building Burning 6.5/10
Cupcakke - Eden 7/10
Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want 7/10
Marie Davidson - Working Class Woman 7/10
Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs ~*~meh~*~
Kevin Gates - Luca Brasi 3 5.5/10
Haken - Vector 5.5/10
Julia Holter - Aviary 6/10
Horrendous - Idol 7/10
JK Flesh - New Horizon 6/10
Kero Kero Bonito - Time 'n' Place 6/10
Machine Girl - The Ugly Art 6.5/10
Noname - Room 25 7/10
Objekt - Cocoon Crush 6.5/10
Puce Mary - The Drought 6/10
Rabit - Life After Death 7/10
Sun Kil Moon - This is My Dinner ~*~meh~*~
