METAL: Halftime

 

Since we're halfway through the year, here's a list of the year's 20 best metal and metal-friendly albums to date. The list is alphabetical, if you think I missed something I'm open to suggestions!

AT THE GATES – Ghost Of A Future Dead 
By far their best post-reunion album proves once again that they were a cut above the rest of the Gothenburg melodeath bands. RIP Tomas. 

BACKENGRILLEN – Backengrillen
Members of Refused team up with free jazz musician Mats Gustafsson for an impressively noisy debut album where troglodyte doom riffs meet sax skronk, like a dingier Stooges on amphetamines. 

THE BLACK CROWES – A Pound Of Feathers
Stones-ey, AC/DC-ey, and with Hammond organs and female backing vocals providing a Stax-ey feel, this is the Crowes in top form. Get down!  

CONVERGE – Love Is Not Enough
Their previous album (a collab with Chelsea Wolfe) was majestically epic, this one goes straight for the jugular – a relentless hardcore thrash attack that bands half their age have tried and failed to replicate. 

CONVERGE – Hum Of Hurt 
Second album this year, apparently both written at the same time. To my ears, “Love Is Not Enough” was their “metal” record whereas “Hum Of Hurt” is their “noise rock” record. Both are excellent, this one a notch more difficult.  

CORROSION OF COMFORMITY – Good God Baad Man
They’ll never top “Deliverance”, the album that invented COC as most people know them, but this is a welcome return to form and the sound of four men really enjoying themselves with a whole bunch of beer- and whiskey-soaked gritty punk metal riffs and southern rock grooves and hooks. 

FUCKED UP – Year Of The Monkey
There’s no band out there like them, being punk/hardcore but sounding like Rush/Yes with ridiculous concepts, 27-minute-long songs, and kicking so much ass. One of their best. 

GENGHIS TRON – Signal Fire
A million bands today are trying to do what these guys were doing 20 years ago, which is merge extreme metal with electronica, and none of them can look peak Genghis Tron in the eye – including, but not limited to, The Armed who have two members on loan to the current GT incarnation.  

GLUECIFER – Same Drug New High
When The Hellacopters returned I made a wish for a Gluecifer comeback, and apparently Santa Claus is real because this is what I got for Xmas. 

GODTHRYMM – Projections
Classic, quality UK doom metal a-la Solstice, with a few “Peaceville Three” elements thrown in.  

HELLRIPPER – Coronach
Every article about this band describes them as “blackthrash”, but to me this is just imperial era Iron Maiden played at 1.5x the speed, meaning it’s fucking awesome. Not that any album that contains a song called “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm” could ever be bad, mind you. 

KARNIVOOL – In Verses 
Australian progressive metal band returns after a 13-year hiatus. The combination of the sound plus the long wait means they can now officially change their name to KarniTool. 

LAMB OF GOD – Into Oblivion
Probably their strongest album since they moved from Roadrunner to Nuclear Blast over a decade ago: Killer riffs, Randy Blythe in top form, and some very welcome noise-rock influences that make this sound like Pantera channeling Jesus Lizard. 

NEUROSIS – An Undying Love For A Burning World
Probably THE most influential band for 21st century metal surprise-drops a new album with Aaron Turner (Isis) the obviously correct choice in replacing the canceled Scott Kelly. Post metal? Doom? Sludge? Tribal? Industrial? I don’t care what you call this, it’s still their best in 20-25 years. 

POISON RUIN – Hymns From The Hills
On early releases their curious blend of punk/hardcore, NWOBHM and dungeon synth with lyrics about the Middle Ages somehow ended up sounding like the Wipers. Their new album streamlines all the influences into something totally their own, and the much-improved production should guarantee a well-deserved breakthrough. 

POISON THE WELL – Peace In Place
I never really got into metalcore and I didn’t really pay attention to these guys the first time around, but their comeback album 17 years after their last one is better than what most contemporary metalcore bands can come up with, because they’re not afraid to experiment rather than stick to the formula. 

SLIFT – Fantasia
Progressive, psychedelic, heavy space rock. People have been comparing them to Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, but I think they could share a bill with Blood Incantation or Neurosis and nobody would bat an eyelid.

SOCIAL DISTORTION– Born To Kill
A 15-year gap since the last album but Social Distortion are still in good form, their usual punk-meets-rockabilly sound augmented by a couple of mellower moments including a decent cover of Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game”. 

SUN DONT SHINE – Power To Live
Supergroup consisting of Type O Negative and Crowbar members explore their inner Sabbath. 

SUNN O))) – Sunn O)))
The front and back covers feature Mark Rothko paintings, and the album itself is probably the aural equivalent of a Rothko painting that looks simple and will piss off 97% of the people who look at it but will blow the minds of the 3% who get it.

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, June 26

THE LOUDER STUFF

ALL THEM WITCHES – House Of Mirrors
It’s almost as if The Black Keys decided to make a Monster Magnet album. (8)

CONVERGE – Hum Of Hurt 
Second album this year, apparently both written at the same time. To my ears, “Love Is Not Enough” was their “metal” record whereas “Hum Of Hurt” is their “noise rock” record. Both are excellent, this one a notch more difficult. (8)

DWARVES – Jenkem 
Dwarves will be Dwarves – 14 sophomoric, stupid, politically incorrect punk rock songs in under 19 minutes. It’s great. (8)

GODTHRYMM – Projections
Classic, quality UK doom metal a-la Solstice, with a few “Peaceville Three” elements thrown in. (8)

SLIFT – Fantasia
Progressive, psychedelic, heavy space rock. People have been comparing them to Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, but I think they could share a bill with Blood Incantation or Neurosis and nobody would bat an eyelid. With better vocals, this could be making year-end lists. (8)

SPARTA – Cut A Silhouette
Those over 40 remember when post-hardcore revolutionaries At The Drive In split into two factions, the afro’d Mars Volta who decided they wanted to be King Crimson and the non-afro’d Sparta who stayed on the post-hardcore path, now reaching album #6 without a dip in quality. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

BOARDS OF CANADA – Inferno 
Even though I find Japanese Breakfast not being Japanese extremely annoying, I don’t mind Boards Of Canada not being Canadian. So I guess it has nothing to do with my autism and it all comes down to experimental occult electronica, when done REALLY right, being more interesting than sunny indie pop. (8)

DEER TICK – Coin-O-Matic
If you like latter-day Springsteen, or what Ryan Adams was doing 20-25 years ago, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. (8)

ELENI MANDELL – Tailspin 
L.A. singer-songwriter returns after several years and personal life changes. The music can’t be defined by genre – it’s not folk, it’s not country blues, it’s not jazz, but it’s good. (7)

WILLIE NELSON – Dream Chaser
The guy is literally almost 100 years old, he shouldn’t be able to still record albums as good as this, especially at the rate of three per year. (8)

ZOH AMBA – Eyes Full
Free jazz saxophonist puts the saxophone aside and picks up the six-string for a set of rugged indie folk rock songs. On the surface you might be forgiven for thinking this will be Big Thief-like or something, but it’s actually much noisier than you imagine. (7)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews May 26, Vol. II

THE LOUDER STUFF

ARMORED SAINT – Emotion Factory Reset
Remember that time when John Bush almost became the singer of Metallica? Tracks like “Ηit A Moonshot” provide a glimpse into what Metallica might have sounded like in a parallel universe where this actually happened. Elsewhere, however, “Buckeye” is almost a Stone Temple Pilots song for some reason. (7)

BLINDEAD 23 – Deuterium
Ex-members of Behemoth, Katatonia, and Vader on a great album that’s hard to pin down – the Behemoth influence is there, but I also hear Opeth, Mastodon, even Cult Of Luna in here. (8)

GOZU – Gozu VI
A lifetime ago when people were still buying physical media, I wrote that “if your record collection is arranged in alphabetical order, Gozu will sit comfortably between Goatsnake and Gruntruck”. This is still true, and they’re one of the best “stoner” (time to retire that term) bands around. (8)

FATHER DIONYSIOS TABAKIS – Paradise Metal
Greek Orthodox priest from Nafplio releases album and goes viral, even getting a very good review on Pitchfork. Is it worth it? Yes and no: If you buy into the hype and expect to hear a drone metal masterpiece on par with “Earth 2” you’ll be disappointed, but if you’re into outsider music and the whole “Songs In The Key Of Z” universe (The Shaggs, Daniel Johnston, Jandek, Wesley Willis…), and you don’t mind records that are all over the place and clumsy as long as it all comes from the heart, then you might want to check this out, or at least try not to avoid it. (7)


THE OTHER STUFF

THOMAS DOLLBAUM – Birds Of Paradise
Fantastic roots rock by a very talented singer-songwriter that should appeal to fans of MJ Lenderman (who is actually all over this album) and Jason Isbell. (8) 

IRREVERSIBLE ENTANGLEMENTS – Future Present Past
Free jazz collective’s fifth album featuring the poetry/spoken word of Moor Mother and lots of awesome sax skronk. (8)

THE HANDSOME FAMILY – Singing Bones (reissue, 2003)
39 minutes of murder ballads, black humor, reverb, and pedal steel guitar that became famous for providing the main title theme for the 1st season of “True Detective”, this is an American Gothic classic remastered and featuring bonus outtakes, demos, etc. (9)

KEVIN MORBY – Little Wide Open
His previous album made The List, and the new one proves once again that this guy’s one of the most exciting folk/country/indie rock guys around at the moment. (8)

PARLOR GREENS – Emeralds
Competent Booker T & The MGs cosplay. (7)

FRANK RODARTE – The Return Of The Wild Jalapeno
83-year-old tenor sax player is a legend in his hometown of San Antonio, and in Las Vegas where his band’s wild after-hours shows used to attract a regular crowd including Elvis, Tom Jones, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. chilling after their own shows. But this is actually his first solo album, an old-school R’n’B/Soul/Gospel affair that’s quite touching. And he can still blow the fuck out of that horn. (8)

TAMIKREST – Assikel
Among all the current desert blues artists (Mdou Moctar, Bombino, Songhoy Blues, Kel Assouf, Imarhan…), Tamikrest are probably the ones staying closest to the original Tinariwen template, as this album demonstrates. (8)  

Short Attention Span Record Reviews May 26

THE LOUDER STUFF

ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVELL – The Trouble With The Shovell
Proto-metal revivalists from South England return with another solid disc of Budgie/Dust/Sir Lord Baltimore worship. It’s on Rise Above Records so it couldn’t be bad anyway. (7)

AT THE GATES – Ghost Of A Future Dead 
By far their best post-reunion album proves once again that they were a cut above the rest of the Gothenburg melodeath bands. RIP Tomas. (8)

THE CLAYPOOL LENNON DELIRIUM – The Great Parrot-Ox And The Golden Egg Of Empathy
A totally bonkers anti-AI concept album which combines the playfulness and surrealism of Claypool’s Primus with the, well, Lennon-esque melodies of Sean Ono Lennon. (8) 

FOO FIGHTERS – Your Favorite Toy
The previous album was one of their best, epic and cathartic, this one’s more of a “back to basics” thing. If you’re looking for confessionals about the tabloid scandals you’ll probably be disappointed, if you just want what the Foos are best at (i.e. catchy tunes sitting halfway between grunge and classic rock) you’ll be fine. (7)  

PROSTITUTE – Attempted Martyr
I missed this both times it came out, first self-released in 2024, then re-released on Mute Records a few months ago: Top-notch political noise rock from a multicultural band, if you’re into the Amphetamine Reptile catalog you’ll love this! (8)

SOCIAL DISTORTION – Born To Kill
A 15-year gap since the last album but Social Distortion are still in good form, their usual punk-meets-rockabilly sound augmented by a couple of mellower moments including a decent cover of Chris Isaac’s “Wicked Game”. (8)


THE OTHER STUFF

THE BLACK KEYS – Peaches 
It feels like I’m the only person on the planet who liked their previous album, which tanked so badly that just one year later they ditch the modern stuff and do a “back to roots” thing with a set of decent blues covers. (7)

BUTLER, BLAKE & GRANT – Murmurs
This supergroup’s debut album made the list last year with its wonderful Crosby Stills & Nash vibe. This follow-up is in a similar mood but rather than focusing on new material it revisits/reimagines older songs from the band members’ back catalogues. (7)

DALEK – Brilliance Of A Falling Moon
Further down this page I say that I’m not really a big hip hop/rap fan. Well, that’s not technically true, because when it comes specifically to rhymes over industrial/noise beats (Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, Consolidated etc.) I think I own everything ever released, and Dalek probably sit on top of that pile. (8)

DIANA DARBY – Otterson
These songs are so quiet and eerie they make Leonard Cohen sound like The Ramones. (7)

GREAZY ALICE – As Time Goes By
New Orleans-based honky-tonk band attempts to revive the classic Gram Parsons-Emmylou Harris boy/girl dynamic, but their vocal harmonies are imperfect. (6)

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER – I’m People
You cannot not like this guy – his sound is meat-and-potatoes heartland American rock, his albums are consistently good, and each one includes at least a couple of truly great songs, like “Last Orders” on this one for example. (8)

JESCA HOOP – Long Wave Home
As I’ve said before, she’s probably sick and tired of people mentioning the fact that she used to work as nanny to Tom Waits’ children instead of talking about her art but, remarkably, she sounds exactly like the nanny to Tom Waits’ children. (8)

ANTHONY JOSEPH – The Ark
Maybe it’s all the vintage Tom Waits and Beat Generation literature I consumed in my teens and 20’s, but I generally enjoy this kind of jazzy, funky Afrocentric spoken word/poetry much more than rap/hip-hop. Check it out if you like Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, that sort of thing. (8)

THE LEMON TWIGS – Look For Your Mind!
This is it, they’ve finally nailed it, this is their masterpiece – a fantastic power pop album where Big Star/Byrds jangle meets 1967 Beatles melodies and Beach Boys harmonies. (9)

KACEY MUSGRAVES – Middle Of Nowhere
Her strongest album since breaking through with “Same Trailer Different Park”, probably the funniest too – it’s the kind of album that turned me on to country music in the first place. Dolly and Willie should be proud of Kacey continuing their legacy. (8) 

VARIOUS ARTISTS – This Can't Be Today: A Trip Through The US Psychedelic Underground 1977-1988
These Cherry Red compilations are always fun, even if it’s impossible to make everyone happy (where’s Screaming Trees?). But when you have 3 CDs full of tracks by The Bangs/Bangles, Green On Red, Dream Syndicate, REM, Long Ryders, Rain Parade, Redd Kross, Meat Puppets, Husker Du, Flaming Lips, Thin White Rope, Camper Van Beethoven, Dead Moon, Cynics etc. you can’t complain. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews Apr 26, Vol. II

 

THE LOUDER STUFF

CORROSION OF COMFORMITY – Good God Baad Man
They’ll never top “Deliverance”, the album that invented COC as most people know them, but this is a welcome return to form and the sound of four men really enjoying themselves with a whole bunch of beer- and whiskey-soaked gritty punk metal riffs and southern rock grooves and hooks. (8)

MELVINS & NAPALM DEATH – Savage Imperial Death March
This one was originally released about a year ago on Amphetamine Reptile – now it gets a wider release on Ipecac with two extra tracks. A collaborative effort that will delight fans of both bands. (8)

POISON RUIN – Hymns From The Hills
On early releases their curious blend of punk/hardcore, NWOBHM and dungeon synth with lyrics about the Middle Ages somehow ended up sounding like the Wipers. Their new album streamlines all the influences into something totally their own, and the much-improved production should guarantee a well-deserved breakthrough. (8)

SUNN O))) – Sunn O)))
The front and back covers feature Mark Rothko paintings, and the album itself is probably the aural equivalent of a Rothko painting that looks simple and will piss off 97% of the people who look at it but will blow the minds of the 3% who get it. (8) 


THE OTHER STUFF

ANGINE DE POITRINE – Vol. II
The hype is justified for once, as these anonymous weirdos whose disco math rock seems to channel prime Primus and Lightning Bolt via an organic-not-electronic version of Daft Punk from a parallel universe (or something) have just released one of the most exciting albums of the year. (9)

THE BEVIS FROND – Horrorful Heights
It’s mind boggling that a band led by a 74-year-old has released what is probably their best album in a 40-year career: This is top-shelf grungy neo-psychedelia/folk rock with songs that even prime Neil Young would be proud of. (8) 

DRIVIN ‘N’ CRYIN’ – Crushing Flowers
The definition of “underrated”, this band from Georgia has been going since the 80’s and has fans like REM’s Peter Buck (who also guests here). Listening to their latest album you’ll certainly understand why – their mix of southern rock, folk rock, power pop and everything in between will appeal to fans of everyone from the aforementioned REM to Tom Petty to Jason Isbell to Blackberry Smoke. (8)

L.Y.R. – Dark Sky Reservation
A poet and two musicians put together a gorgeous, experimental album. Very hard to compare this mix of organic and electronic to anything else – Kae Tempest, maybe? Saul Williams? Cinematic Orchestra for bookworms? (8)

MY NEW BAND BELIEVE – My New Band Believe
Former Black Midi bassist and occasional frontman keeps the maximalist approach but focuses on acoustic instrumentation on the debut of his new band. (8)

ARLO PARKS – Ambiguous Desire
A move away from the gentle indie pop that made her a household name towards techno and electronica, the gentler tracks are still the best. (7)

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS – Squirrel Nut Zippers Starring In Fat City (The Ballad Of Lil’ Tony)
Legendary swing revival band (a family favorite around these parts) release a concept album based on the early 20th century real-life misadventures of bandleader Jimbo’s grandfather (bootlegger, juke joint operator, big band promoter). It’s more cabaret/smoky jazz club than previous efforts, but still a joy. (8)

FRANK TURNER– Campfire Punkrock 20
Where it all started – 20th anniversary reissue of Turner’s first solo EP for Record Store Day featuring bonus (live) tracks – a bit quieter than the albums that followed with his (E-Street) band. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Late Night Tales: Barry Can’t Swim
LNT is a wonderful artist-curated chill-out compilation series built around the idea of making the perfect late night mixtape, and the latest instalment by this Scottish DJ is fantastic. (8)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Apr 26

THE LOUDER STUFF

THE HEADS – Yourprettyplaceisgoingtohell
If you think that Monster Magnet sold out after “Spine Of God” then you’re probably going to love this – they even got John McBain on board to produce. (8)

HELLRIPPER – Coronach
Every article about this band describes them as “blackthrash”, but to me this is just imperial era Iron Maiden played at 1.5x the speed, meaning it’s fucking awesome. Not that any album that contains a song called “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm” could ever be bad, mind you. (8) 

NEUROSIS – An Undying Love For A Burning World
Probably THE most influential band for 21st century metal surprise-drops a new album with Aaron Turner (Isis) the obviously correct choice in replacing the canceled Scott Kelly. Post metal? Doom? Sludge? Tribal? Industrial? I don’t care what you call this, it’s still their best in 20-25 years. (8)

POISON THE WELL – Peace In Place
I never really got into metalcore and I didn’t really pay attention to these guys the first time around, but their comeback album 17 years after their last one is better than what most contemporary metalcore bands can come up with, because they’re not afraid to experiment rather than stick to the formula. (8)

SUN DONT SHINE – Power To Live 
Supergroup consisting of Type O Negative and Crowbar members explore their inner Sabbath. (8) 


THE OTHER STUFF

ORA COGAN – Hard Hearted Woman
A strong Gothic Americana/dream-pop hybrid including one of the best songs of the year, “Outgrowing”. (8)

THE DANDY WARHOLS – Pin Ups
I love a good cover version and there’s 17 of them here, from The Cult to Violent Femmes to Cramps to Bob Dylan. An album that was probably as fun to make as it is to listen to. (8)  

FLEA – Honora
Chili Pepper learns to play the trumpet and releases an ambient/spiritual jazz record featuring Nick Cave, Thom Yorke, and a bunch of L.A. jazz cats. Not only refreshing to hear him do something so different from his day job – it’s actually pretty good! (8)

JOHNNY BLUE SKIES & THE DARK CLOUDS – Mutiny After Midnight
Sturgill Simpson has had zero fucks left to give for some time now and this album, which is sonically more funky Steely Dan than psychedelic Waylon Jennings and includes a bunch of songs about fucking and a bunch of songs about how billionaires are fucking the world, proves it once again. (8)

THE LONG RYDERS – High Noon Hymns
Paisley Underground pioneers are aging gracefully during their second coming. (8)

ASHLEY MONROE – Dear Nashville
A concept album (or rather EP) about the capital of country music and how tough it can be even for a successful artist like Monroe. Beautiful and heartbreaking. (8)

AUBREY SELLERS – Attachment Theory
Her previous couple of albums were a mix of traditional country and classic rock, this one sounds more “modern” and less country, closer to the more corporate side of late 90’s alternative rock. (7)

SNAIL MAIL – Ricochet 
Did I mention the more corporate side of late 90’s alternative rock? Well, this lady sounds like she probably grew up on a steady diet of Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, and Death Cab For Cutie, despite such artists having peaked before she was born. (7)

Short Attention Span Record Reviews, Mar 26 Vol. II

THE BLACK CROWES – A Pound Of Feathers
Stones-ey, AC/DC-ey, and with Hammond organs and female backing vocals providing a Stax-ey feel, this is the Crowes in top form. Get down! (8)

THE DELINES – The Set Up
Let’s call this Americana Noir, shall we? (8)

LAMB OF GOD – Into Oblivion
Probably their strongest album since they moved from Roadrunner to Nuclear Blast over a decade ago: Killer riffs, Randy Blythe in top form, and some very welcome noise-rock influences that make this sound like Pantera channeling Jesus Lizard. (8)

THE MESSTHETICS & JAMES BRANDON LEWIS – Deface the Currency
A fantastic quartet operating where free jazz and post-punk intersect, this one features a post-bop sax player, a guitar shredder, and Fugazi’s rhythm section. Their debut almost made The List in 2024, the follow-up is probably even better. (8)

MITSKI – Nothing’s About To Happen To Me
Like a gothless Lana Del Rey, or Taylor Swift for adults. (8)

REIGNING SOUND – Time Bomb High School (2002, reissue)
Reissue of a hidden garage rock/power pop gem. Like early Stones before Jagger/Richards started writing their own songs, even though these guys wrote their own stuff. There’s an inevitable hint of Big Star here too since they were from Memphis. (8)

TANYA TAGAQ – Saputjiji
Canadian Inuit (what we used to call “Eskimo” before it became politically incorrect) multidisciplinary artist (musician, actress, writer…) releases anti-war album and it’s really intense, like Diamanda Galas produced by Trent Reznor when he was still a cokehead. (8) 

TINARIWEN – Hoggar
Desert blues pioneers return with a sound that’s a bit more intimate, like friends jamming on a cool night around a campfire in the Sahara. (8)

TOP JIMMY AND THE RHYTHM PIGS – Pigus Drunkus Maximus (1987, reissue)
Peers of The Blasters, Lone Justice, X, and Los Lobos back in the 80’s, these guys were a big attraction on the Los Angeles club scene, drawing fans like David Lee Roth and Tom Waits to their performances. Their only album, a gritty old-school underground drunken rock ‘n’ roll affair, has been out of print for decades, so here’s your chance to glimpse at a universe that existed parallel to hair metal. (8)

WITCHCRAFT – A Sinner's Child
5-track EP following last year’s excellent album, this blends all facets of the band – from the doomy opener to acoustic acid folk to “poppier” tunes like the title track. (8)

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Help (2)
A great star-studded compilation album to benefit the War Child charity, recorded over a week at Abbey Road Studios. High-profile contributors offering unreleased originals or interesting covers include Arctic Monkeys, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Fontaines DC, Pulp, Olivia Rodrigo etc., but it’s Arooj Aftab and Beth Gibbons who shine the brightest, making “Lilac Wine” (you probably know Jeff Buckley’s version) and The Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning” respectively their own. (9)