It's just a bit boring, innit? Am I doing this right?

It's the subtleties in Dan Deacon's music that make it so beautiful and with 'Mystic Familiar,' Deacon shows this in spades. The songs have a way of building inside the listener, making it an introspective journey that is tinged with a sadness that is masked by rapturous melodies and eccentric beats. Whereas 'Glass Riffer' had the benefit of two standout tracks, 'Mystic Familiar' trumps it, as it may be Deacon's most well-realised release since 'America.'

Favourite tracks: Become a Mountain, ... read more

Scratching an itch that modern thrash often can't satisfy.

EDIT: This fucking rules. Do yourselves a favour, and listen to it. Not since Power Trip's 'Nightmare Logic' have I been this excited by a thrash metal album. It is relentless, fun and dares the listener to try and not bang their head. Resistance is futile.

Favourite tracks: Dead End Gone, Politicians, Lambs to the Slaughter, Part of a Sick World, Confrontation

Beautiful orchestral arrangements pulsate over the top of crunching riffs. Soaring vocals make way for growling aggression. The result of these polar opposites colliding produces a stunning sound that often isn't heard in metal, or at least isn't done this well. This is my first time listening to Thy Catafolque, and it is safe to say that I will be going through the rest of their discography. Oh, and don't get me started on that glorious bass line in "Tsitsushka."

EDIT: Whilst it is ... read more

I realise that this may be jumping the gun a bit, but is this the year that indie bands of the early to mid-2000's come roaring back into relevance? First, we had a welcome return to form in of Montreal's 'UR FUN' and now we have Spencer Krug's outfit Wolf Parade offering us 'Thin Mind'.

Outside of 'Apologies to the Queen Mary' and 'At Mount Zoomer,' Wolf Parade has not put out anything noteworthy for the better part of a decade. I have always had a soft spot for the band and Krug's ventures ... read more

While Blessed Black's 'Beyond the Crimson Throne' doesn't bring anything new to the table, it does show a young band with plenty of promise. The riffs are crunchy and the vocalist shows glimpses, albeit inconsistently. If they can hone their vocals and switch up the tempo of some of their songs to show some variation, then they will avoid the pitfalls of an over-saturated genre.

A decent dose of fuzzy, psychedelic doom pervades the majority of this album. An enjoyable listen for fans of Earthless.

The title track warns the listener that "we're getting ready for the sound." What occurs thereafter suggests that the sound has already arrived and Algiers are unafraid to narrate the bleak present that is unfolding. The end product is an album that is uncompromising and relentless as it revels in its chaos.

Favourite tracks: Dispossessed, Void, Losing is Ours, Chaka, Wait for the Sound

Despite his undeniable talent, Theophilus London still remains an artist that largely goes unnoticed. Even after collaborating with world-renowned artists -- such as Tame Impala, Kanye West and Ariel Pink, just to name a few -- it seems that people still aren't ready to give him the credit that he seemingly deserves.

With London's latest record, 'Bebey,' he continue to develop the funk-infused hip hop that he has honed with each release. Certain tracks show his maturity as an artist. Take ... read more

It may not stand out much, but Pinegrove's 'Marigold' is a beautifully simplistic album. The opener "Dotted Line" sounds like a song hailing from indie's glory days, building throughout and containing just the right balance of hope and hopelessness in love, loneliness and heartbreak. The tracks don't digress much from these themes and can often bleed from one into the next without the listener necessarily realising. However, this does make for a consistent and cohesive effort from a ... read more

'Manic' adopts a plethora of pop tropes without bringing anything new to the table. Also, "You should be sad" sounds like a female-fronted Mumford and Sons.

Talk about an album title that perfectly describes its body of work...

In recent years, it had pained me to admit that one of my favourite bands, of Montreal and their charismatic frontman, Kevin Barnes, had faded into irrelevance with a slew of pointless, meandering albums with overblown song titles and jarring, cacophonous wankery. However, with their latest effort, the somewhat-simplified "UR FUN," of Montreal show that they still have what it takes.

The album sees Barnes and co. embrace their indie roots once again whilst still developing the R ... read more

Ow, my freakin' ears!

When Teebs' "Anicca" begins with "Atoms Song," you immediately know you are in for a treat. He concocts a swirling, dreamscape world that he gently transports the listener to and continues to build on it throughout. The result is an album filled with tiny nuances and, at times, grandiose crescendos that creep up slowly on the listener.

Favourite tracks: Atoms Song, Shells, Studie, Universe

At four tracks long, with a length of 47 minutes and with the shortest track clocking in at 9 : 55, Ghosts of Glaciers "The Greatest Burden" is anything but what its name suggests. The tracks ebb and flow without ever giving way to monotony. Make no mistake, this is a band that display great cohesiveness and experience.

A 35-minute dirge that showcases the band's ability to construct crushingly heavy songs that demand your attention.

The Hold Steady have transitioned from indie rockers to dad rock so seamlessly, it is almost impressive.

Grima's folk-infused black metal is a sweeping affair that beckons the listener to seek solitude in the coldest, most isolated planes of the earth.

Horseburner's "The Thief" is a pleasant, sludgy surprise that intertwines subtle nuances throughout its nine tracks to set them apart from many of their contemporaries without ever straying too far from the formula that makes the genre.

Favourite tracks: Drowning Bird, The Oak