That's a spicy meatball!

Some of the best power metal you're going to hear in recent years.

Every song just blends into one, without any real highlights to show for it. The true charm lies in the simple yet effective arrangements paired with Ghedi's vocals, but it isn't enough to keep one coming back for more.

Does anyone else hear "Time to Pretend" by MGMT at times in the opening track? Anyway, this album was fun, but I think it will fall by the wayside for me pretty quickly.

Favourite tracks: 7ft Tall Post-Suicidal Feel Good Blues, Pleasure Pen, Leave Your Cares Behind, Don't Pass Me By

The two tracks that bookend Gatecreeper's 'An Unexpected Reality' are enough to warrant your attention on what is an extremely enjoyable album from start to finish. Its short runtime aids it in a genre that can often feature over-bloated albums.

In 2018, post-punk newcomers shame blew me away with their debut album 'Songs of Praise.' The album was a rambunctious, rollicking ride that displayed a balanced level of angst and experience that suggested the band was far more mature than their scant discography suggested.

Now, in 2021, they return with their sophomore album 'Drunk Tank Pink.' Oftentimes, it is easy for a band to fall into the trap of not living up to their debut effort - especially when the debut is filled with such ... read more

It was a 37 degree celsius day where I'm from and it wasn't even midday yet. With what little ounce of energy I had, I peeled myself off of the leather couch and wandered over to my speakers, flicking them on, ready to play the new Sunken record 'Livslede.' Now, I didn't know what to expect, but the four-piece band from Denmark was certainly getting off on the wrong foot by making me move from under the air conditioner. I slowly meandered back to my seat and pressed play on my laptop.

Certain ... read more

The production on this makes it unlistenable.

The best Blind Guardian-inspired band that you didn't know you needed in your life is back!

Just like their previous album 'The Last Emperor,' Judicator's 'Let There Be Nothing' is a rollicking power metal album that belies the early stages of this band's career. It takes all of the elements that one would often expect to hear in a power metal band, but does just enough to twist them and bend them. The album is littered with soaring vocals that are paired off with memorable riffs; the solos ... read more

Death metal had somewhat of a renaissance in 2020, and I am very okay with that. Plague's debut 'Portraits of Mind' pays homage to the stalwarts of old school death metal, and I am VERY okay with that. A very solid debut, indeed.

It treads that fine line between standard folk pop and deconstructed, haunting pop with devastating affect. Didn't expect much coming into this one, so I'm pleasantly surprised.

I remember absolutely adoring Ghostpoet's 'Peanut Butter and Melancholy Jam' back in my early-twenties. I would listen to "Cash and Carry Me Home" incessantly, much to the dismay of anyone who set foot into my car. Eventually, it would be one of those albums that fell by the wayside, usurped by the next "flavour of the month." The song would slowly stop featuring in my favourite playlists and eventually fade into obscurity.

The reason for this anecdote is that I genuinely ... read more

The warmth that envelops you with each listen is enough to keep on coming back for more.

Cindy Lee's 'What's Tonight to Eternity' is a jarring listen from start to finish. It features harsh, high-pitched sounds paired with creeping, lo-fi vocals. The end result is an album that stands out from the pack without feeling too forced or contrived.

Favourite tracks: I Want You to Suffer, One Second to Toe the Line, Lucifer Stand, Heavy Metal

Aaah, the most famous export to hail from my humble small city in Australia, Perth.

One of my favourite memories is going to my workmates share house in Fremantle in 2011. We sat out the back of the house, which contained a tiny granny flat at the very back. I asked my friend who was staying in there. He said it was his other housemate and his partner at the time, and that it was largely used for him to make and record music. This other housemate and his band mates joined us and we shared a ... read more

Sixteen-year-old me would have loved this.

This one took a while for me. I couldn't justify reviewing it until I gave it the care and attention it needed. On first listen, it felt as if far too many of the songs blended into one long, meandering piece. The second listen opened up more of the intricacies of the album -- the soaring synths, the bleak yet hopeful lyrics -- yet it still felt as if it was missing something. I then sat down and listened to it on loop several times, allowing it to truly sink in and simmer inside me. Once I ... read more

Chaotic, frenetic, eclectic - Squarepusher's 'Be Up a Hello' tests the listener through its jolting style that never quite settles on a particular techno sub-genre.

Favourite tracks: Hitsonu, Nervelevers

I can get behind the majority of the instrumentation but I can't help being reminded of ska punk, which definitely isn't a good thing.

The sultry vocals paired with the wonderful instrumentation produce an album laced with rich narratives that are formed through a range of figurative language techniques.