THE LOUDER STUFF
BLOOD FROM THE SOUL – DSM-5
Experimental sci-fi themed metal/hardcore supergroup led by Napalm Death’s Shane Embury and featuring members of Converge, Megadeth and Nasum sounds more like Voivod than any of the aforementioned. (7)
JESU – Terminus
Justin Broadrick (Godflesh) on some great guitar-oriented droning rock. Quite shoegaze-y, rather different from previous Jesu works. (8)
JUCIFER – نظم (Nazm)
…And the WTF Album Of The Month Award goes to this sludge/stoner metal band that just released an album of what sounds like traditional Pakistani trance music. (?)
KATATONIA – Dead Air
They released one of the best metal albums of the year but weren’t able to tour for it so here’s a lockdown live show, featuring 20 fan-chosen songs. (8)
KILLER BE KILLED – Reluctant Hero
Supergroup including members of Soulfly, Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan and Converge on second album of heavy metal goodness. Fans of all the aforementioned bands and/or High On Fire will love this. (8)
LITURGY – Origin Of The Alimonies
This band was controversial even before the leader came out as transgender, which I don’t have a problem with. What I do have a problem with is all the pretentious bullshit messing up what would be an otherwise pretty decent experimental album trying to bridge Mayhem with La Monte Young. And I miss Greg Fox’s drumming. (6)
MY DYING BRIDE – Macabre Cabaret
Stuck at home and unable to tour, gothic doom veterans release EP just a few months after their latest full-length and it’s depressing as hell, in a good way I mean. (7)
REFUSED – The Malignant Fire
Influential hardcore band made the List last year, follow up that great album with an equally great EP. (8)
WARRIOR SOUL – Cocaine And Other Good Stuff
An interesting set of covers. Some expected choices (Hendrix, Kiss, Van Halen, Motorhead, Alice Cooper, Grand Funk Railroad, Judas Priest), some welcome surprises (Cars, JJ Cale, KC & the Sunshine Band), Kory Clarke still sounds like Marianne Faithfull on her deathbed. (7)
THE OTHER STUFF
NICK CAVE – Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace
22 career-spanning classics (including one new track) performed live in an empty concert hall, just Cave and his piano. Hauntingly beautiful. (9)
CHRIS CONNELLY – Graveyard Sex
Industrial God Connelly (The Damage Manual, Die Warzau, Finitribe, KMFDM, Ministry, Murder Inc., Pigface, Revolting Cocks) has a new album and it’s his most Goth work yet, probably a tribute to his fallen comrade Bill Rieflin. (7)
LARKIN POE – Kindred Spirits
Blues rock siblings released a fantastic proper album with a full band earlier this year but have also been known to do great stripped-down covers on their Youtube channel, and this lockdown album is based on that concept: Songs by Lenny Kravitz, Neil Young, Phil Collins, Moody Blues, Allman Brothers, Elton John etc. get the sisters treatment. (8)
GWENIFER RAYMOND – Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain
If you thought you knew what an acoustic guitar can do, check out this John Fahey-influenced Welsh player and prepare to have your mind blown. (8)
CHRIS STAPLETON – Starting Over
Another excellent album from Stapleton combining his country, rock, and soul influences into a no-filler set of killer tunes. What a voice! (8)
THE WAR ON DRUGS – Live Drugs
A nice reminder of what we love about a good live show, even for people like me who are not the greatest fans of this particular fashionable band’s “Dire Straits Meet The Waterboys” style. (7)
Perhaps you could cover Aesop Rock, Vennart on the next round? I am curious in what you'd think about)feel on those.
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