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)
