Been waiting for a full Softcult album ever since I heard their first song. It definitely lived up to the standard the sisters have built up over the years, even when 1 or 2 tracks on the record are a bit of a miss.
The title track When a Flower Doesn’t Grow is just pure audio bliss and might be one of their best offerings.

With "Something Beautiful", Miley Cyrus delivers her strongest album to date - a work that not only shines musically, but is also conceptually convincing. What exactly the concept is remains vague and open to interpretation, but the effect is clear: this album works best in one piece - atmospherically dense, dramaturgically well thought-out, emotionally resounding.

In terms of production, Something Beautiful is something I have never heard on a Miley record before: rich in detail, ... read more

Charli XCX, the reigning Queen of New Era Pop, has returned with her latest album, "BRAT," delivering some of her best material yet. This record not only showcases Charli's most vulnerable and open songwriting but also features some of her catchiest bops to date, making it a standout in her already impressive discography.

The album kicks off with "360," an opener that immediately sets the tone with its catchy chorus and punchy synths, getting you straight into the mood, ... read more

Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn return with their fourth studio EP and manage to achieve something, that I knew they were capable of, and quite honestly, hoped would happen.

The record opens up with a distant, quickly approaching avalanche of sound that announces the beautifully mellow "Haunt You Still" - being kicked off by immediate vocal rendition and thus getting the listener straight into the groove of Softcult's airy, moody and melodic soundscape.
Lyrically, the song delves into ... read more

Philadelphia's Mannequin Pussy returns with a bombastic record in "I Got Heaven," revealing a sonic journey that effortlessly navigates between two distinct sides, each contributing to a cohesive and compelling whole.

The album showcases an impeccable balance, oscillating between bone-crushing, hard-hitting punk anthems and melodic, beautiful renditions of airy ballads. This dynamic interplay is not confined to Marisa Dabice's vocal performances alone, which spans from vulnerable, ... read more

The fourth studio album by dark folk artist Amigo the Devil comes with powerful New Western vibes and impressive storytelling.

The dark theme of the album is excellently presented in a modern, artistic form of country. Terms such as dark folk and gothic country are given their full meaning here, as the lyrics revolve around violence, drugs and despair.
The instrumental accompaniment is impressive, with beautiful passages of guitar, banjo and harmonica that form a perfect symbiosis with Amigo's ... read more

Mr. West returns into the musical world after a failed attempt to revolutionize the way we listen to music with his Stem Player and the only half finished Donda 2 - and also of course a triad of questionable remarks and political views.
But aside all that - does Yeezy still have the sheer capability to make great music? The answer is: absolutely yes.

The Record starts of with the beautiful intro track "Stars". A heavenly sample of Dijons „Good Luck“ sets the mood and ... read more

Buffalo MC and Griselda member Benny the Butcher delivers a usual stellar performance on "Everybody Can't Go".

Benny comes through with his laid-back style, which can now be described as a good standard - be it in the flow, the cadence or the style of the beats. The latter often emphasize in a minimalist way how important the synergy of vocals and instrumental can be, and Benny implements this perfectly. Somewhat more Trappy influences, supplied by producer mastermind Hit-Boy, also ... read more

"MADRA" by Galway band NewDad arrives as a brilliant first full lenght project.

Although the album begins somewhat cautiously, an almost unskippable streak of songs begins with "In My Head" and continues until the last track. These are consistently filled with beautiful vocals, top tier chord sequences and a feeling of uniquely bittersweet heaviness. Of particular note in this series are the songs "Dream of Me" and "Nightmares", which simply inspire awe ... read more

With "The Rhythmus of Death Eternal", the Australian project Krvna presents atmospheric black metal deeply immersed in darkness.

The mini-album, Krvna's third commercial release, consists of three original tracks and two cover versions of songs by Abigor and Bathory. The three new tracks are quasi-independent, seven-minute epics, while the covers can be seen as additional material.
Particularly noteworthy is the concluding "Man of Iron", which impresses with grandiose, epic ... read more

Sleater-Kinney's 11th Album feels like a eating a sandwich with non existing filling.

While stylistically scratching every Indie/Post-Punk scratch one could ask for, the album remains to feel a tad bit bland, especially in every part that isn't the opener and the closer, both feeling really grand and rich. Especially the last track "Untidy Creature" prevails in a grandiose and climactic fashion with a striking vocal performance and drenched guitars.

The coating of a great intro and ... read more

After a four-year hiatus, legendary pop-punk/alternative rock pioneers Green Day are back with "Saviors".

At first glance, the album unfortunately reveals little further development and remains a little too firmly anchored in the band's familiar sound. This is not too bad of a thing in itself, but it doesn't trigger any euphoric leaps either.
Some tracks such as "Bobby Sox" and "1981" stand out, as they are not too formulaic and introduce fresh elements. The ... read more

Kali Uchis' long-awaited follow-up "ORQUÍDEAS" turns out to be a fun and beautiful Latin pop experience, spiced up with a pinch of R&B here and a hint of Reggaeton there.

The impressive ballads such as "Igual Que Un Ángel" with Peso Pluma strike an excellent balance with rhythmic Reggaeton bangers such as "Muñekita" with El Alfa & JT or "No Hay Ley Parte 2" with Rauw Alejandro. The latter track in particular presents the most ... read more

British singer/songwriter Marika Hackman presents a harmonious mix of Indie Folk and Indie Rock with "Big Sigh".

The record convinces with tracks such as "No Caffeine", which enchant with refreshing ideas and a pinch of wit, while other tracks, such as "Slime", bring a beautiful heaviness that could almost be described as a second, young adult coming-of-age.

The beautiful instrumentals, paired with Marika's impressive vocal performance give the album a ... read more

Welsh Post-Harcore band Casey make an impressive reunion with their third album "How To Disappear".

The record starts with an extremely solid opening, consisting of the first two tracks "Unique Lights" and "I Was Happy When You Died". These flow seamlessly into each other and almost feel like one big song, making a strong opening statement and perfectly illustrating the mix of melancholy, hope and powerful riffs that is to come during the remaining playtime. ... read more

Cudder returns with his grand 21-track album "Insano".

Despite the extensive tracklist, the album unfortunately feels a little bloated, with many tracks feeling more like filler. It takes some time for the album to pick up speed, but there are still some highlights.
Particularly noteworthy is "WOW" with A$AP Rocky, which scores with a powerful chorus and an impressive feature.
Another highlight is "BLUE SKY", with one of Cudi's better vocal and melodic ... read more

OG Keemo, who can be defined as almost unique in the German-speaking rap scene with his style based on Freddie Gibbs, Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar, delivers a very mixed result here. The recurring theme and the integration of the "Fieber" samples show a clear thread here, which is picked up by outstanding production from Funkvater Frank.

Despite the album's strong structure, enthusiasm remains ambivalent. Keemo's rap style, especially in terms of voice, pronunciation and cadence, ... read more

"Here Comes The Panic" by Something To Do presents a delightful fusion of ska and alternative.

The band manages to create a rousing mix, which particularly stands out in "Sweet Caffeination!" - an anthem for the caffeine junkies that describes every Monday morning in a charmingly ironic way.
Another highlight is the following track "Draw Me Like One Of Your French Girls", which intensifies the band's alternative influences and thus provides something fresh early ... read more

"Flea House" by Frat Mouse is an extremely solid midwest emo and alternative rock album.

Particularly outstanding is "paint pen" with its brilliant melancholy and nostalgia, which unfolds in the guitar, the voice and the lyrics. Equally impressive is the following "dirty word" with its almost heartbreaking chorus.

Overall, the album delivers a beautiful blend of sad boy music, while at the same time reflecting a burgeoning euphoria of adolescence.

With "Letter to Self", Sprints present an extremely strong debut post-punk album.

The intro track "Ticking" builds up beautifully and lays the foundation for the atmospheric journey that the entire album offers.
Particularly outstanding is "Adore Adore Adore" with its irresistible catchy chorus. "Shadow of a Doubt" shines with drenched guitars, while "Literary Mind" masterfully combines the two previous highlights.

Overall the successful ... read more