Best Haken album. Best metal album I’ve heard in years. Already ready to call it album of the year.

Haven't heard of this guy before but it's a fun listen especially with the guest vocalists. The last 3 tracks are a very strong closing to the album.

First time I've listened to an Allegation album before and I'm impressed.

Very technically proficient. Great riffs. Nice use of acoustic guitar. This drummer rips! I like the mix of brutal death and clean vocals throughout. The melodies mix well with the heaviness. At times, they remind me of early Opeth at times which is always a good thing.

Highlights:
Called Home
Of Beasts and Worms
Blight
Into Embers
Vermin

This is definitely my favorite Amorphis album to date and that’s saying something. The mix of old and new sounds is exactly what they needed to do and they pulled it off brilliantly.

Highlights:
My Name is Night
A New Land
On The Dark Waters
Northwards
The Moon

Pretty solid but short album. A couple of the songs didn’t do anything for me but there were more highs than lows.

Highlights:
Zeit
OK
Zick Zack
Lugen
Adieu

I’ve been listening to Soilwork for over 20 years now and I still think their peak was the early to mid 2000s. However, this album manages to capture much of the energy they had back then while continuing that evolution of their sound. Musically they are at the top of their game and Bjorn’s vocals have never been better.

I also want to give a shoutout to that album artwork.

Highlights:
Nous Sommes la Guerre
Is It In Your Darkness
Overgivenheten
Electric Again
Dreams of Nowhere

Dream pop is probably a good description for the genre this belongs to. I was looking for something to chill out too and this one definitely fits the bill. I really like how each track has its own distinct sound but combining them all under one album still makes sense.

Highlights:
Masquerade
Through Me
Over and Over
Superstar

Spacey, hypnotic guitar riffs accompanied by brilliant vocals. I really like that the focus is the instruments first and vocals second but both complement each other very well.

Hacia los Bosques - 8/10
El Proximo Verano - 8/10
Desvelo - 8/10
El Incendio - 9/10

The follow-up to the amazing Alien is a natural progression of Northlane’s sound. It took me a few listens to warm up to this album unlike Alien which hooked me right away. I still think the second half is weaker than the first half though. “Clockwork” is one of the best metal songs I’ve heard in recent memory.

Highlights:
Clockwork
Clarity
Dark Solitaire

Highlights: End of the Empire I-III, Age of Anxiety I, Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)

This album is pretty great. Each listen reveals a new layer I didn’t hear before. There’s a lot of great things going on at surface level but the very subtle notes and effects in the background makes subsequent listens enjoyable. Definitely a fun listen on both speakers and headphones. So many great tracks here but the standout is “Alone on a Hill” where Nikki Monninger gets a chance to shine.

Highlights:
Alone on a Hill
Sticks and Stones
Stillness (Way Beyond)
System ... read more

This album seems to be heavily influenced by Mastodon and Alice In Chains. Definitely not a bad thing.

Highlights:
Floating Skulls
Reckoning
Blood Spiller
New Reality

This post-punk rock band is catchy, fun, and overall a good time. Their sound isn’t original or unique but they are great at putting together some good music with a lot of energy.

Highlights:
Angelica
Chaise Longue
Ur Mum

I’ve been a fan of Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson for 20 years at this point. This is not the best album Porcupine Tree has made but it is very good. Especially when you consider this is the first from them in 13 years. These are some of the best musicians in the business today and some of the best prog you will hear. I would put “Harridan” up against any of their best songs.

Highlights:
Harridan
Dignity
Of The New Day
Chimera’s Wreck

I hadn’t listened to Stabbing Westward since they were on my “favorite band” list in the 90s. I was surprised to hear that they had broken up in 2002 and this was their first album since they reunited. I must admit this is one of the big surprises of the year for me. The sound is so familiar yet very modern. I’ve had a special affinity for industrial rock/metal and Stabbing Westward always captured that genre brilliantly in my eyes. This album is no exception as I feel ... read more

Matthew Schufman and Amanda Zimmerman complement each other so well on vocals. The music is an 80’s poppy-synthy-goth-rock amalgamation that sounds like something you’d hear on The Breakfast Club soundtrack.

Highlights:
Halloween
Another One Waits
Valens
Rose Vine

I stumbled upon this one late in 2022 but I'm glad I did. Eva Spence is fantastic and should definitely be in consideration for one of the top vocalists in metal today. I've always appreciated how someone can switch so seamlessly between growls and clean vocals and how it all makes sense in the context of the song. Her growls seem to have a lot of black metal roots while the clean vocals are eerily haunting and soothing at the same time. The band itself is tight and locked in and the piano ... read more

I've been following Devin's musical career since Strapping Young Lad's City and around that time he guided me through an exploration of all the genres he touched in his various iterations of musical experimentation -- Ocean Machine, Physicist, Ziltoid, Empath, to name a few. I've always been impressed with the musical talents and emotions that he brings to the table. Lightwork once again captures everything I've enjoyed about Devin's music for the past 30 years. I would like to add that ... read more

Bad Dream was one of my favorite songs of 2021 and I remember having Fire For You on repeat back in 2019(?).
Naturally, I was interested in this release and I've enjoyed it on a few listens. It's nothing particularly ground breaking but the vocal performance of Michelle Joy is a standout and the musicianship (particularly the synths/keyboards) is very tight for a synth-pop band. I've been on a bit of a synth wave kick these past few years so this scratches the itch for me.

The highlights are ... read more