The Underachievers "Homecoming" (2025)

 

With a golden glossy glow to illuminate prior triumphs in their trophy cabinet, the Flatbush duo solidify a concept hinged on their return. Its a homecoming alright, but this brief twenty minute flash in the pan falls short of a glory its album cover suggests. Its shockingly been over ten years since the peaks of Evermore and Cellar Door with activity dying off in proceeding years. It feels like The Underachievers should have left their collaborative legacy alone. The years of silence have not served them well.

Armed with luke-warm competent beats, the pair step into the booth lacking a sense of hunger or urgency that previously defined them. The grit and vitality is gone, in its absence, signs of age, where earned skills and proficiency carry them by on steady flows running rhymes on routine. Cadences barely shift, the tone is consistent, lacking an emotional attachment to the lyrical content. Things start of fair. Losing Feathers reflects on the past, sharing wisdoms and ripping on the laziness of a stoner lifestyle. Past this firm footing, reflective of the album's theme, songs quickly drift off topic, even straying into marijuana braggadocio, an odd contrast to the uplifting message of ditching this self indulged habit to do something meaningful with your time.

Homecoming is disappointing, a reunion of talented individuals lacking enthusiasm. They step back into their unique sound with no fresh ideas lyrically or instrumentally. After all these years, there was little bottled up that needed to be released.

Rating: 3/10

C418 "Wanderstop FM" (2025)

With fresh flavorful fruits flowing like a faucet, the lengthy quiet since Excursions seems like no absence at all. Creativity has been bottled up and unleashed, as another two hours gets bestowed upon unsuspecting listeners. Complimentary to the traditional, acoustic instrumentation of Wanderstop, a scenic, humble tone setting video game soundtrack, the other side of the coin drops. Caught adrift in nostalgic charm and ambiguous notions, Daniel's melodies arise again with his signature collision of EDM and Ambient. Familiarity runs amuck, as synthesizer tones, bass textures, production techniques and percussive arrangements brood with the fondness of his Minecraft hits and many memorable solo album songs.

 

It is only now, as I fumble over the track listing, I realize the eye grabbing quadrant album art represents four "channels", presumably the games radio stations. These temperament shifts were felt in listening sessions, as its initial run of quirky, upbeat "signature style" songs described above, suddenly pivot to cool mellow ambiences, temporal stints ruminating on the soothing calmness emanating from its core textures. 

 The third channel, "Sugar Cube" takes quite a stylistic leap. Melding its innocent melodies with a rural, farm life flavor. Competent but far shy of remarkable, these themes end up yielding to Daniel's EDM synthesizer instincts, progressing with House inspired beats. We drift further again with the last chapter, which lacks a particular theme or identity, seeming more like the leftovers from ideas explored before.

 

 Wanderstop FM is such a treat for fans. The core soundtrack gave us an particular avenue to enjoy but with these radio stations, we can revel in the broader spectrum of an artist who's set of sounds is always a pleasure.

 

Rating: 7/10

Spellling "Portrait Of My Heart" (2025)

 

Devoid of that alluring magic felt on The Turning Wheel, experimental musician and singer-songwriter Spellling returns with a stiff set songs to lend her hearty, endearing voice to instrumentals simply on a different wavelength. Rife with overt echo's of 90s Alternative Pop, 80s Classic Rock, Glam Rock and flashes of Prog Rock, even Metal in a single moment, these songs crudely show their inspirations. Its rough around the edges, garage aesthetic sounds fantastic yet clashes with a remarkably salient, soulful performance, expressing many personal, emotional themes through lyrical delivery.

I've tried to drill these songs into my mind with repeated exposure, that same gnawing clash barricades a charm clearly aimed for. One can hear the bold conceptual strides these numbers take. Bright ideas, yet lacking novelty in pursuit of convention over experimentation. With this shift in norms, a chemistry between voice and instrument falters, despite either doing nothing erroneous individually, together they lack spark.

This disposition left me with little to say, I could delve into the ideas explored deeper but with a lack of adoration, words for expressing my perception just don't flow. Still one to pay attention to, I hope she finds her way back to the unusual charms again.

Rating: 4/10

Trevor Something "The Shadow" (2025)

 

My introduction to Trevor Something was through his distinct covers of classic songs ranging from 80s Synthpop ear-bugs to 90s Alternative crooners and Industrial anthems. A treacherous terrain to navigate, traversed in complimentary nature to give those oldies a differed flavor. Comprised of original songs, The Shadow has to compete with those high standards. Taking such dreamy aesthetics to his own material, the chasm is felt raw across thirty tracks that fail to illuminate through melody, hook or lyricism. This record falls into the "vibes" category, establishing mood, then ruminating on it endlessly, without any spectacular musical ideas or deviation from the path.

Tracks play slow and sullen like sluggish fever dreams of self indulgent misery. Twisted to melodic might, reverb soaked synths delve into a cold Ethereal melancholy. Soft and soothing by design, these dreary yet absorbing synthetic soundscapes elongate melodies to the tune of sadness. Trevor's ghostly voice echos out above, downtrodden, drowning in the wounds of a self centered lifestyle's emotional loneliness. Heard best in his words, its catchier words echo a crude Manson.

 

The Shadow's architecture lacks diversity, its moods circle the drain. The title track catches an ear with some intriguing repeat cuts, caught between a record skip and digitized glitch, they create a momentary disoriented charm for attentive ears. Occasional vocal warbling encroaches into Mumble Rap vibes. Infrequent but a curious if only brief distinction. Spaced out percussion patterns occasionally go full Synthwave with gated tom drum fills. Once again a brief glimmer of deviation from the overall tone.

 

One can find a few favorite cuts that resonate well within this context. Numb The Pain and Die 1000x stood out for me. They seem a cut above the rest on a record devoid of hooks and memorable moments. Each song tends to melt into the next as feverish aesthetics overpower other fundamentals. A fair and entertaining listen for self indulgence that probably doesn't have the legs to stick in ones mind for too long.

 

Rating: 5/10

Doomsday "Never Known Peace" (2025)

 

A few weeks on from discovering Crossover Thrash outfit Doomsday, a new record drops! In fact, Never Known Peace is their debut "full length", a trim, lean, concise thirty minutes of fiery metallic blasphemy! With a tight production in place, the band straddle Slayer worship with a modernized arsenal of slick sprinting riffs and roaring, evil evoking lead guitars. The latter aspect gets nail to the cross. Echoing King and Hanneman's dueling, unhinged guitar solos, the record's ten cuts flow with melodic chaos as the arrival of spurious shredding illuminates the tone, a consistent high point.

Oddly, its high tempo rhythm guitars chug and gallop chops to a lesser luminosity. They serve as the mood's aggressor, continuously grinding out stomping grooves in a menacing formality. Lacking surprise or novelty to seasoned ears, the ceaseless flow of rhythmic assault runs warm. When set up for a big breakdown, it lands somewhat soft. When the rhythm guitars aren't accompanied by face melting leads, things feel thin despite continuously punishing with notable touches of Hardcore dance groove.

 Stepping back from my analytical dissection, Never Known Peace is a heck load of fun. Despite being one mean best, its tone feels fun and uplifting, a dark demeanor for show, not to be taken seriously. The thirty minutes blaze by without a foot step wrong. Its surprisingly consistent, without a dull moment and nothing truly remarkable to rattle off on, although whiffs of potential linger. Only instrumental interlude track Extinction's Hymn gets a mention for its utilization of a sinister synth to add a textural flare to its main galloping guitar riff. A small footnote on a record that sticks firmly to its design.

Rating: 7/10

Nobuo Uematsu "Final Fantasy VII Original Soundtrack" (1997)

As the peaks of youthful adoration converge on true musical magic, the stars aligned. This form of wonderment, powerful and persistent, has shadowed me like a ghost, unveiling its brilliance at every return to the epic. Mirrored alongside an unforgettable storey told through the medium of RPG, Nobuo Uematsu's genius provided a deep imagination to enrich format constraints. Low polygon graphics and narratives projected through text on cathode-ray tubes, his soundtrack brought the vision to life. So too were orchestrations shackled to the eras technology. Despite compact discs offering outsized audio fidelity, producers opted for MIDI driven synthesizers that have stood the test of time. It speaks volumes to the fundamentals of melody, harmony and rhythm in the face of artificial aesthetics, which do have a charm.

Housed within a mammoth four plus hours, the music is remarkable absence of filler. With intent to imbue the storeys many twists and turns, characters and settings, each of its ninety songs come sharpened by vision and intent. Tone and temperament are always aptly poised to illuminate the emotional narrative told through its charming melodies and emotive backing tracks. From emphatic portraits to mischievous sketches, Nobuo brings these characters to life. Glorious battle tracks and luminous Fanfare victories reign supreme, undoubtedly deeply engrained by there repetitive placement in the game, these galloping riffs and triumphant tunes are utterly iconic.

So too can this soundtrack cut into sombre, shadowy, esoteric corners when called upon. Sometimes with a majestic utilization of minimalism, its often these dark compositions that show the power of balance. Nobuo is wise to hear the strengths of timely quietness. At its opposite end, a large collection of playful, quirky songs, upbeat in nature and warm spirited await within. The delights of the various Chocobo tunes and storeys happier grooves swirl with joyous melody, often dressed up by creative rhythmic hilts and inspired backing instruments. It gives an unusual sense of depth to what can seem simplistic on first glance. A subtle brilliances resonates on every track.

Having heard these songs re-imagined on the recent FF7 Rebirth remaster, I am transported back to that youthful magic that seems ever more evasive as the years grow old. These freshly updated tracks are fun but the originals still hold a nostalgic power. Although I'll yield to the notion that my epoch of exposure greatly amplifies my connection to it, I do not doubt the excellence on display here. Given how many casuals mention this soundtrack in comparison to other games speaks volumes to the genius operating behind it. For anyone who has never heard it before, Its a quirky listen in original form. I only hope you hear the magic FF7 fans were bestowed with.

Rating: 10/10

Krusseldorf "Laidback" (2017)

For now, our Krusseldorf venture concludes at a lower altitude. Distant are those charmed curiosities that drew me in. Laidback is certainly calm in demeanor, easy on the ears but much of its lengthy runtime circles over dulled ideas and bland aesthetics. It suggests the artist enjoyed the subtle details of its sound design much more than this listener. Lacking melody and groove, the focus seems to lay in the textural craft of these dreary downtempo drives. They Fall conjures a soothing mood with its dreamy warmth. The following Rebuilding Icarus flips the script for a lean cut, darkly intent with sharp brittle beat. From those distinctions, the record drifts into obscurity. Tracks drone on, seemingly fixated on strange Industrial like samples and breathy snippets. These ideas are scant, ruminated on endlessly, A tired slump I didn't enjoy much.

Rating: 3/10

2Pac "Me Against The World" (1995)

Some might praise this an instant classic. With an incarcerated 2Pac sailing to the top of the charts, increasing controversies in the public spotlight only fueled its stature. Time has served Me Against The World well. Thirty years on, it plays as a brilliantly articulated slice of life, a moment in time reflecting the duality of man. Caught between a thoughtful, poetic soft-side and hardened realities of a fraught world unfolding around him, our enigmatic artist walks a tightrope, delving into the details of these juxtaposed sides. Understanding the broader context around this record is practically futile given how well his timeless cadence effortlessly walks you through particulars.

 

Songs run as a play by play of dark events, exposing his character and passionate, empathic political views. Tracks individually cut direct into a concept, expressing inspired and coherent without a wasted breathe. Upbeat G-Funk oriented production echoing shades of 70s R&B and Soul music breathes life into the lean, attitude driven vibes. Joining the emerging crisp and clean production style of this era, Shock G and his crew leave loops and samples in the dust. Melodies and beats come tightly arranged through sequencers composing snappy percussion and memorable tunes to stick with you for a lifetime. One will find plenty of favorite cuts among its fifteen.

 

 The album flows superbly. Intro samples snippets of news reporters remarks to firmly establish the setting. If I Die 2Nite kicks off a string of bangers, leading up to the mellowed soulful classic, Dear Mama, a beautiful timeless love letter to his distanced mother. The next couple of songs lean on this smoother temperament, a calm spot before Old School perks the ears with its appraisal of 80s Hip Hop. It plays like a checklist of shout outs. For a young me, this was a treasure trove of names to explore.

Fuck The World and Death Around The Corner have a fearful 2Pac dialing up aggression, turning to a darker side, foreshadowing his paranoid temperament heard loud on the next records. His anger seems righteous but the cracks in his duality start to fray. These songs contrast the overall upbeat mood. The closing track Outlaw serves as an introduction to the Outlaws crew, a concept he would go on to grow. This direction plays a mild blemish on an otherwise superb record, never failing to woo.

What I've always adored about Tupac is his ability to illuminate the problems of crime, poverty and racism from a perspective often ignored. Retrospectively, Me Against The World is the boiling point before his embellishment of Thug Life loses its potency under the pressures of Death Row records. Given the drama and controversy around him at the time, the stakes are raised. He meets it with his words. Me Against The World is undoubtedly a classic, his most consistent and concise record. A must hear.

Rating: 10/10

Krusseldorf "Cloud Songs" (2020)

 

Still charmed by Krusseldorf's curious demeanor, we venture further down the rabbit hole. Cloud Songs' titling nods to its lofty ambiguous nature. Quirky compositions, delving into a haze of softness, lazy, relaxed and inviting. These cozy tracks meander through inconsequential landscapes of melting melody and circling rhythms that evoke Pysbient suggestions when percussion hones in on Downtempo templates.

Despite getting off to a strong start, establishing soothing vibes and cruising through chilled melodies, the tides turn in its second act. Dub For Slouchers hits a high as the records best track, cohering the classic Dub baseline to its whimsical follies, ushering in dazzling arpeggios near its conclusion. After this, the mood shifts, dramatic, subtly sorrowful, with a sense of abandon, proceeded by chemistries brewing unease.

Between them, Dance Of The Sleeper revels in that winning Dub formulae again but otherwise the record fizzles out as emotional narratives fail to resonate within the soft obscurities electronic music can offer. This is oddly punctuated by the arrival of dreamy, Ethereal effeminate singing, which had previously done the music wonders. This outing they played into the diminishing flow. Cloud Songs had immense promise but simply drifts out of focus after a strong start.

Rating: 5/10

Clipping "Dead Channel Sky" (2025)

  

 Leaning hard into their distinct jilted abrasion, experimental Hip Hip trio Clipping return armed with an arsenal of rapid fire razor sharp rhymes, accompanied by cyberpunk dystopian disjointed beats. Its a despairing, paranoid journey, showcasing the unrivaled talents of Daveed Diggs, who blasts vivid lyricism through an effortless cold, monotonous delivery. Poetic and descriptive, he arms this unsettling soundscape of buzzing computer electronics with moments of clarity, cutting through the rumpus and adding a dispirited human element to the already dejected temperament.

 Lyrical themes resonate with defeatism, reflecting current social-political concerns. Early on, dexterous rhymes charm through ambiguous, artistic, storytelling motifs. In its second half, clearer concepts are depicted with plainer language. The emergence of AI, growing wealth inequality, the harms of social media, disinformation and internet related corrosive forces. Its in the latter half that these clearer expressions, the conceptual nature of Dead Channel Sky, takes form for this lukewarm listener.

Mediocrity stems from its dredging, drawn out nature, tediously slow burning through cyber-industrial soundscapes. Short interludes and key songs play drowned in an endless string of aesthetic ideas which only reward when converging upon groove and rhythm. This mostly happens at the heels of 90s House rhythmic energy and signature waveform leads from the era's blossoming electronic scene. In these moments, much is borrowed from the past. The dystopian aesthetic a thin veneer atop what works.

Entertained by a couple of spins, the search for depth has alluded me in becoming numb to its admittedly impressive arrangements of dial-up inspired internet glitch-synth. So to did Diggs' rhymes flourish food for thought initially. That persuasion has swiftly evaporating in this artistic vision mostly devoid of the simple pleasures required to bridge the avant-garde. Dead Channel Sky lacks the curation to drive home its vision, instead flooding us with an indulgent revel, not quite to this fans taste.

Rating: 5/10

C418 "Wanderstop" (2025)

 

Clocking in with a verbose 195 minutes of fresh instrumentation, C418's latest video game soundtrack is understood mostly through its soothing vibes and cosy moods. A safe feeling in which to curl up inside, as its soft fuzzy warmth, painted by classical instrumentation, works claming wonders. Adorning strings, chiming bells, felt pianos, a magical xylophone and lean cello bass, blush harmoniously in delightful ambient reverbs and crafted echoes. All these sounds arrive luscious and clean, with occasional touches of subtle electronic synths woven within its pristine chemistry.

Its a mastery heard before on both Beta and One, now restrained by its core focus on traditional instruments. One will also hear intermittent echo's of the classic Minecraft Alpha soundtrack in its meandering piano motifs. I'm perhaps now re-realizing how much similarity to the likes of The Plateaux Of Mirror this iconic sound of C418's has.

Wanderstop sets itself apart from familiarity through reoccurring themes and melodies that shift with the record. The deeper in you get, those recurrences subside for fresh ones. A few darkly passages emerge mostly between in usual crooning and quirky expressions. All are likely shaped by the timing of their appearances in the game.

Its nice to see Daniel has been busy with no shortage of inspirations. Assuming this has kept him busy for some time, I hope we will hear a new full length original soon. Its been seven years since the last! This however is a separate project, one that stands on its own two feet well and hopefully serves the vision for this game as well.

Rating: 7/10

Spiritbox "Tsunami Sea" (2025)

Once highly anticipated, now sorely devoured, binging Tsunami Sea left me with a simple sentiment - these numbers could take many moons to fully internalize. Often cloaked by its own steely downcast expressions, LaPlante's stealthy Pop inspired vocals play second fiddle to a dominant theme of dejected aggression. Manifesting in temperamental sways between songs, angers climax upon the altar of monstrous hatred that is Soft Spine's mammoth onslaught. Moments before, a tuneful Perfect Soul embellishes their gentler side, reveling in the timbre of a classic pop song's hook.

Front loaded by a heavy assault of elasticated eight string guitar grooves melding with the subtle texturing of eerie atmospheric synths, cracks emerge as tracks occasionally mellow into doleful melancholies. Ride The Wave plays a keen example, cloudy mediocrity overcomes its hurtful emotional resonance. This sombreness leaves me with that aforementioned sense of needing more time to internalize its curious yet depressive persuasion. In conclusion, Tsunami Sea has one to many songs that drift by, failing to wrangle me into its allusive charm, unlike Eternal Blue was able to do.

To sing its praises, Tsunami Sea pushes the envelope of their sound. Seeking subtle inclusions of percussive sounds from the 90s explosion of electronic music, songs arrive fleshed out with links to tie its textural depth through the sways of intensity. Meager drum grooves holdover transitional moments a seamless fit. So to do hidden layers of trancey electronic synths weave in subdued soundscapes around the mostly metallic music that occasionally drifts into a Shoegaze and Ethereal territory.

The construct is masterful, giving listeners added depth to explore on an intensive listen. Seemingly straightforward, the instrumental ideas struck are enriched by this tapestry of passionate sound. Elevating the core of their musical identity, its a step in the right direction. On its best tracks, undeniable. As a whole album, the experience dips in spots. There is much to be enjoyed here. I hope it continues to grow on me.

Rating: 7/10

Doomsday "Depictions Of Chaos" (2022)

 

 

Having recently unearthed a modern scowling scene of Groove laden Thrash, tinged in Death and Crossover, Doomsday stuck me as pick of the crop. Breeding fast, ferocious, fiery bestial incarnations, their hellish forays of 80s inspired Metal re-imagined play a delight to this Slayer fan. With lead guitars wailing demonic sirens and galloping rhythm guitars balancing groove and sprint, Doomsday hit hard.

 

These six songs run an infectious route, endlessly pivoting from one riot to the next. Despite being dramatic, sinister and darkly, with front-man Carlos Velazquez howling graven pains, Depictions Of Chaos is upbeat and fun. The routine stints of groove an invitation to rock out on a hellish ride. Its a vision cast by legends before them, yet this classy updated execution attracts one to revel upon its ripe aesthetic foray into evil.

 

Rating: 6/10

Old Tower "The Trench Pilgrims" (2025)

Commissioned for the "Grimdark Compendium", Old Tower lends their craft to a presumably fitting tone for table top game Trench Crusade. Its setting in 1914 explains the quirky archaic musical sample that aids this five tracks opening Introduction. The sample disappears into a gloomy fog of atmospheric synth and chilling horns echoing a haunting wreckage left by battles carnage. From here, we descend into darkly meditations, spiritual yet steeped in an eerie inclination. Chorals led by loose and worldly percussive instrumentals chain us to its rhythmic trance. The subtle entrance of Berlin School synths paint a suggestion of something cosmic lurching beyond.

A similar spirit guides the lengthy, hovering Anchorite Shrine. Its soft Piano notes, buried in a smokey haze, conjure an alluring crime novel danger akin to Noir Jazz. I heard touches of this motif earlier in the records opening. This mysterious lean is particularly befitting of Old Tower's cool temperament. The closing track Revelations twists that tone to sinister as a calculating drum pattern softly beats its menace. The tension rises but far from conflict, the song suddenly drops its grip, reminding one of the captivating power music, that is often relegated to the background, can have.

Rating: 7/10

Saor "Amidst The Ruins" (2025)

With foundations of extreme and cultural aesthetic resolute and intact, Saor embarks on this latest venture through the shackles of familiarity. Thus initial listens spun a lukewarm drone of routine blast beats exchanging duties with its symphonic layer. Comprised of strings, Violin, Cello and effeminate voicings, this heathen tapestry enriches Saor's music with the spirit of Scottish highlands and its cultural heritage.

The metallic counterpart, comprised of pummeling drums and angular distortion guitars, stands somewhat in contrast as expectant extremities offers little to the embellish narratives and server as obvious amplifications of intensity, swelling energy but rarely feeling warranted in contrast to the rich underlaying musical themes.

Thus we have a record in peculiar imbalance. At a frequent pace, the collapses of roaring aggression give way to stunning arrangements of beloved highland melody. Beautiful in flow and holding grace with mother nature, a reoccurring sense of longing persists in these spirited melodies. They are the highlight in which to endure.

Sadly the majority of these earthly musical motifs rest in tandem between the two, layering in this gorgeous vision with familiar aesthetics that offer little new. Tired of bellowing screams and blazing blast beats, I found myself chiming with the serine acoustic guitar tones and cultured instruments, an aspect stunning on its lonesome.

The records most passionate passages emanate on their acoustic reverberations, often to be enveloped by that roaring beast. My tolerance of its metallic components rested on the whims of personal appetite. Sometimes energizing, at others a drain. Saor has matured strongly on a cultural  front to deeper meaning but foundations strip this expression of greatness in my opinion. However, its still a very enjoyable record.

Rating: 6/10