Jukio Kallio "Minecraft: The Garden Awakens" (2024)

 

Our latest Minecraft update places emphasis on the quiet unsettled atmosphere of its eerie Pale Garden biome. Upon entering, the games music will cease to play, immersing us in the subtle sounds emanating from the biomes pale blocks. So imagine my bewilderment at learning of an accompanying soundtrack from the drop, given that no new music has been added in game, as a record disc or otherwise. The low key nature of its unannounced release seems even more fitting upon hearing this one new track. Its left me wondering what direction our new composer was given about the new content, as the vibes are completely miss the mark.

Things get off to a great start. Tense strings and disconnected tumbles of tom drums and crash cymbals lead into a dirty bass synth brooding beneath, stiring a ghoulish atmosphere. Its strongly reminiscent of the title screen music from Doom. A few keyboard notes of intriguing melody linger and just before the minute mark, the song erupts with rhythm, a hard thudding kick drum, drives the music into Synthwave territory. Melodic wave synths dance with speedy, cheery nightlife vibes before a brief allusion to the errie opening premise is dispelled again as the dancable percussion returns with more animated melodies far from the expectant Minecraft vibes.

 Its a fine song but ill fit along side the games back-catalog and even more baffling considering the tone of this update. The Trumpet version simply swaps out its VSTs for quirkier instrument tones. The sped up version sounding like nothing more than fluff. The slowed and reverbed original amps up the creepy vibes but its far from a saving grace. It seems now rather obvious why this was such a low key release. A cool song but also a total mismatch for Minecraft standards.

Rating 2/10

Marilyn Manson "One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1" (2024)

 Moving on from the catchy Post-Punk period vibes We Are Chaos reveled in, the band trade in those flickers of color for dreary tones steeped in indulgent misery. Bleak, downtrodden and typically anthemic, Assassination hails back to the spirit of Antichrist Superstar with the metallic inclinations of Holy Wood. Manson's lyrics flow potent and cutting. Renewed with a biting anger, his disenfranchised cries come wrapped in religious overtones and social commentaries. Spinning disillusionment into reverence once again, the nostalgic familiarity hailing back to their creative peak sounds fresh. A few tracks further in, words turn inwards, reflecting on addiction and escapism, a new avenue heard since fragilities expressed on The Pale Emperor.

Throughout Assassination, in some of his words linger a sense of martyrdom, spinning controversies of recent years to paint himself the victim. The tensions amass with Raise The Red Flag. Antagonistic lines make a climatic declaration to "wash the bullseye off my back". Through the lens of artistic expression, its a marvelous twist of the arm, however when reality and legal proceedings are a long muddy affair of accusations and defamation, its hardly a black and white case you can rally behind.

Lastly, the instrumentals are well crafted, a consistent aesthetic that serves this album experience well. Shifts in tones can ramp up intensities for aggression and subside into rebellious melodies. It all flows cohesively with their iconic front-mans licks. At fifty five, he can still deliver his knack for devious and catchy hooks. Now lacking the shock and awe he once commanded like a prophet, Assassination's potent expression themed on recent accusations land well but perhaps with an air of doubt.

 

Rating: 8/10