Solid death metal. Not a ton to dissect here, you kinda know up front what you're going to get.
Picked up for me on God's Last Breath, and Adversary.
This ain't it.
Not much experimental is happening here by JPEGs standards. It's a tier below his previous albums, plain and simple. Songs sound similar to but with less energy than I Lay Down My Life For You. No great cuts. JPEG has been 'experimental' for his whole career, so I was hoping this would actually be his album to test out other sounds, but not happening. I don't see returning to this album much at all; would rather listen to one of his albums with bangers ... read more
Positive first impression. Really started hitting for me on HELLSTAR, which is funky as hell and has a timeless sound to it. THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE throws this album onto a whole new tier. Both tracks immediately on my 2026 playlist.
The beat on LIFE KEEPS GOING feels like a brain massage. I think that makes sense. It's hypnotic at the perfect bpms.
The only true miss here is 4LIFE. it's like an interlude that goes on way too fucking long.
Like: PIRATE RADIO, STAMPEDE, HELLSTAR, ... read more
Thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this Knats album. Most refreshing jazz album I've heard in a while.
One the one hand, this is the most I've listened to a funeral doom metal album. On the other hand, whenever I listen to this album I can't help but to imagine that the stupid sloth from Zootopia is playing the drums with that big stupid smile on its face, and that ruins the vibe I think this band is going for.
Favorite track - Decima.
Final verdict: not my speed, but can see how folks might like it.
I honestly think this is worse than Medicine at Midnight.
At the least, the lows of this album (spit shine) far exceed any other album. Spit Shine... like if White Limo from Wasting Light was composed after a week long meth binge.
Asking for a Friend is the only salvagable track for a Foo Fighters playlist. Caught in the Echo, Window are fine but are true echos of better songs from the past.
Like: Caught in the Echo, Window, Asking for a Friend
meh: Of All People, If You Only Knew, ... read more
Skindred aged like a fine wine.
Been following Skindred off and on since their debut and I think this might be their most fun album. Holy shit this whole thing rips. Just about every song is done well and they're fused reggae and nu metal better than anything else I've heard.
Of course with Skindred you never really know what's coming next, which can feel inconsistent at times but the highs far outweigh the lows.
Favorites are Can I Get A and Glass. On my 2026 playlist. ... read more
Like: What Am I Doing It For?, Killing Cupid, If Not You, Who?, Blame Game, God Will Be My Witness,
meh: If You Don't Love Me, Again, Talking to Jesus, What a Letdown, Maybe
Dislike: none
I spent the better part of the week trying to dig into the new Archspire album. It's decent but nothing really stands out to me. Limb of Leviticus is by far the strongest track. Everything else sounds very formulaic, by Archspire's formula, which is a good one, but maybe getting a bit tired.
... but Rick Beato likes it.
Oh man, this one was tough to get through. The repetitive nature of each song drove me insane. Not gonna try to dunk on these guys for talent but I'd rather self-flagellate than listen again.
...all that said, I love the dick noses.
Pros - mix between clean and harsh vocals is done well.
Cons - I feel like it ran out of steam about halfway through...or my personal tolerance for Moodring peaks at 5 tracks. Regardless, a decent release that fades into the background for the most part.
Like: Half-Life, Masochist Machine, Gunplay (Suicidal 3way), Ketamine, Sickf_ck
meh: Cannibal, Anywhere But Here, STFA, Oxidized, Bleed Enough, coldmetalkiss
Dislike: Die Slow
The vocals aren't hitting for me. Add that to a backbone of good but straightforward death metal instrumentals and it sums up to be just an average death metal release. 75 for instrumentals, 40 for vocals.
Feel like i got transported to 1986.
I fucking love this on first playthrough. Riff city, vocals perfect, drums and bass set excellent backbone. Solos a tad below top tier but definitely serviceable.
Strong and fun throwback album.
Like: Whips-A-Swinging, Savage Gods, Sword of Iron, Crystal Skull, Warlords, Titans Awakening, Haneda
meh: The Cross, Black Talon
Dislike: none
This the type of album that makes you go back and lower ratings for other pop albums after listening.
Like: DANCE..., BEAT UP CHANEL$, CANNIBALISM!, OLD TECHNOLOGY, CRANK, GAS STATION, YES GODDD, I'M ACTUALLY KINDA FAMOUS, $T. LOSER, BRITTANY MURPHY
meh: OLD FLING$, WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE LIKED?
Dislike: UNKNOWN LOVERS
N/A: *PRAYER
A true epic.
It's 3am and I can't stop listening.
With this music may contain hope, Raye has transcended to a new level of musical theater. This is such an ambitious album. The combination of deeply introspective lyrics as only Raye can deliver with gorgeous, flamboyant instrumentals sets a high bar for AOTY. Each song is so intricate...like Escapism but drawn out to a full album. And full album is not an exaggeration, this is 73 minutes of storytelling that only Raye can deliver. ... read more
Hemlocke Springs released a bunch of ear worms that have implanted in my brain.
Awesome debut album. Took me a while to get around to reviewing, but I've been listening to the apple tree under the sea consistently for two months now, so wanted to get my thoughts in here. Hemlocke Springs is so freaking unique. I guess she reminds me somewhat of Childish Gambino - has that same unhinged funky energy. w-w-w-w-w is my favorite and went right on my best of 2026 playlist. 2026 is setting up to ... read more
Underscores saves pop again.
The singles sound even better in the context of the full album. Not as ranging as Wallsocket but a tight, well balanced album that has very few weaknesses. Transitions between songs are on point. I really only wish there was a bit more of the glitchy weirdness on this album. But not comparing to her prior albums, this one is hands down one of the best pop albums of the year.
Highlights so far are Music and Do It... the singles were the right choice and ... read more
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Recent Review Comments
On Systematic - Somewhere in Between
"@llamaqwerty feel like it's pretty generic metal. Weak nu metal i guess. I saw these guys open for good bands a bunch back in the day and they never impressed me all that much, so went with the most generic typology i could think of at the time i reviewed it."
On By Storm - My Ghosts Go Ghost
"@OnsPascal Everyone digests music differently. Like I said, I respect the artistic merit here, just not for me, probably for the exact reason that you provide here. Doesn't mean I shouldn't share my thoughts."
On HomeSession3's review of Soen - Reliance
"@HomeSession3 nice review. Agree on a lot of points, and I like the straightforward alt-metal sound, but found it a bit conservative given their talent. I wish they would lean just a bit more into their prog roots and juice the instrumentals a bit."
On Systematic - Somewhere in Between
"@Kendrickgoatedg they were contemporaries... but yeah, pretty close in sound. I think they were trying to hit a nu metal version of soundgarden. Maybe a bit better musically but a bit generic."
On Hayley Williams - EGO
"@Killuah K Stan"
On DJ-SLIM's review of Norman North - Over the Influence
"LOL I almost added this last Friday but felt the same way."
On Bugeater_'s review of Squid - Cowards
"Agree 💯. The Narrator is still stuck in my head, nothing from this album is anywhere near as innovative and has the ear candy that the first album had."
On Orgone - Pleroma
"@Pangota72 💯 more people need to appreciate this masterpiece. 6 months in and it only keeps growing on me."
On Ethel Cain - Perverts
"Makes more sense re Dr. Luke. That dude ruins everything."
On Andwella - World's End
"@parannemi Thanks! It's airways fun stumbling on an old hidden gem like this album. I felt like it needed someone to pay homage."
On Alkymist - UnnDerr
"@chemjay300 even their tiny cookies are awesome."
On NTTR's review of VOLA - Friend of a Phantom
"You were spot on with the similar bands! Maybe a little Soen in there as well."
On Godspeed You! Black Emperor - "NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD"
"@Zackhy the last three minutes were awesome! I get that layering sounds too create the end stage of each song is a process and I respect that. I'm sure that my opinion would change drastically after seeing them live."
On 40 Watt Sun - Little Weight
"@Doofy Fair point. I will leave this one in the rotation for a bit to see if it grows on me."
On Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God
"@leoxmi You're right, I should. My favorite Nick Cave song is the Passenger off the Batman Forever soundtrack...I'll check out some of the early/mid-90s albums."
On Orville Peck - Stampede
"@dasturbo totally agree. With the right manager he could end up a legend in alt country. Just needs to steer clear of all the pop country industry nonsense."
On The Marías - Submarine
"🤷♂️ I didn't expect to be a citric but I'm not feeling this one."
On Maggie Lindemann - HEADSPLIT
"Cool. I'm going to have to check out the first two albums. Thanks!"
On DiceBloke's review of (Hed) P.E. - DETOX
"the self-titled album is much better. The lyrics are still a liability but the music has a lot more originality and funk to it. There were some good musicians in the original line-up, but they're all gone by now. It is tough to put the self-titled album in any one genre, but this album is kind of a one-trick pony."
On DiceBloke's review of (Hed) P.E. - DETOX
"Lyrics have been a problem with this band for its whole existence."
On Inherus - Beholden
"I have to be honest with you, XsVrits...I don't know what you're trying to convey with your statement here."
On The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony
"Yeah, maybe t's not so much the harmonies as it is the actual lead vocals remind me of a mix of weird Al and Tiny Tim. The harmonies are actually decent, but that only exacerbates the weak lead vocals. Maybe that's my issue with it. I don't know, every time I turn this on to try to analyze it I just get a visceral reaction to something in the vocals."
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