CIRITH UNGOL – All The Shadows
I always liked Cirith Ungol’s weird trve metal, even back in the 80’s when Kerrang! or whoever was calling them the worst band of all time, but this album suffers from sometimes mediocre songwriting. (6)
ENSLAVED – Mið
35 years and 17 albums down the road and they’re at the top of their game, at the crossroads where black metal meets prog. (8)
TONY IOMMI – From The Dark
It’s as good as any post-“Mob Rules” Sabbath album except “Born Again”. And “Seventh Star”. And “Headless Cross”. (7)
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – Perfecth
Their transformation from hard rock to soft rock band is now completed, but they’re a damn good soft rock band. (8)
SATANIC PLANET – Dead Deities
Political manifestos shrieked over horror B-movie organs, Godflesh industrial noise, and Dave Lombardo in Fantomas (rather than Slayer) mode, make for a seriously satanic-sounding album. (8)
WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Estuary
Their unique style of tree-hugging, environmentalist black metal reached a peak with their previous couple of albums, and this sort-of-concept new one (about a world after the extinction of the human race) stays there. (8)
THE OTHER STUFF
DJRUM – DJ-Kicks
Most “DJ Kicks” mixes/compilations focus on the dancefloor, this one is more of a Good Headphones affair and, as such, quite a feat – wild and unpredictable. (8)
JADE JACKSON – Jadine
No longer on ANTI- Records, and without Mike Ness (Social Distortion) producing, Jackson can still write a good country tune but has lost most of the punk rock edge. (7)
MIRANDA LAMBERT – Crisco
Country superstar enhances her sound with disco strings and hi-hats and the results and fun and refreshing. (8)
LYDIA LOVELESS – Accolades
6-track EP showcases Lydia’s poppier side, softening the edges of her alternative Americana. (8)
ANDERSON.PAAK & CORDAE – Heavy Is The Crown
A collaborative album that hearkens back to hip-hop’s comedic heyday (Run DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, De La Soul…), enhanced with some sweet soul-based samples. (8)
THE YAWPERS – Enswell!
It’s been probably over a decade since I last heard these guys, and back then they were playing cowpunk. This is something else, almost like a totally different band – basically I’d call it pop. Weird pop, but pop. (7)
