Soul Blind "Feel It All Around" (2022)

 

Stepping back from the metallic grungy raptures of Red Sky Mourning, Feel It All Around plays rather unsurprisingly like its natural predecessor. With less bombast, more shoegaze, fewer grooves and added wallow, the initial shift in intensity ends up churning out a similar emotive tone. Soul Blind have a unique voice emanating through influences from the foundations of well executed songwriting fundamentals.

Similar comparisons to Alice In Chains and the broader Grunge and Alternative Metal scenes can be drawn but within this chapter, their focus turns to dreary downtrodden revelry. Moody, sombre affairs flirting with with both a glum dark and momentary light as chunky power chords inject rhythm between bluesy shoegazing indulgences.

Slower in pace, less theatrical in nature, its songs roll one into the next, each feeling cohesive as its muddy wall of guitar groaning doesn't venture to far from home. Stuck In A Loop and Everyday play as brighter sparks on the journey. Its three closing tracks show the bands hand somewhat. Lead guitar boldly echo The Smashing Pumpkins. Its execution is timely, a fond reminder of the 90s in which these vibes originated.

Rating: 8/10

Danny Brown "Stardust" (2025)

Michigan rapper Danny Brown returns with a highly collaborative record, spotting features to smaller artists on all but two tracks. Still committed to his brand of eclectic experimentation, unhinged noise oriented beats drive the record, contrasted by a brief concept of grandiose sentiment that kicks off and sees out this latest chapter.

Despite affirming his apatite as an artist is intact, I didn't connect with the albums core. Disorienting vibes dominate, snappy glitched electronics and stripped back yet hard hitting jilted percussion dominates. Frequently drifting into the House and Dance lane, a few numbers like Lift You Up brings an easy, conventional energy to the fold. For the most part, Danny's nasal toned abrasive flow paired with frantic instrumentals lacked a charm or even aesthetic intrigue.

Book Of Daniel opens the record with moving 70s Rock acoustic guitar and piano, sentimental vibes, a snug fit for fantastic verses expressing his state of mind as success interacts with apatite in our terminally online environment. A deep reflection reiterated upon through another's spoken word on The End. Its a touch juvenile and fatalistic but offers a curious space for thought emerging from age and success. For me, its the records one merit, a fascinating stem so brief in the albums bigger picture, it couldn't save my lack of connection to Stardust, this one just didn't do it for me.

Rating: 4/10

Blut Aus Nord "Ethereal Horizons" (2025)

 

French outfit Blut Aus Nord have done it again! Sixteen album's deep and still stirring curiosity within Black Metal, a scene which rarely sparkles these days. Ethereal Horizons edges off from the Psychedelic entanglements heard on Hallucinogen. The dense atmospheric design and spiritual melodies abridge an Ethereal realm, obviously suggested in its title. Propelled by frenzied blast beats, the reverb drenched guitar leads shimmer over a haze of dark synths as screams call out from the echoes of this limbic space. This energy between realms, occasionally signals its inspirations as some songs slip into Pagan vibes, a highlands tang, the likes of contemporaries Saor.

All songs lean on its aesthetic construct, tightly woven together, playing as a whole record, setting a distinct mood with each spin. On this journey, plunges into madness and ascensions to melodic glory take place with plenty of luscious interludes to break up the natural intensity. Clean vocals drift in and out of focus like lost souls drifting through the ether. On occasion a stomp of metallic rhythm might rear its beastly head to. Ethereal Horizons has a fair helping of treasures to offer but is mostly subdued by the stretches between its stars. What Burns Now Listens is my favorite track. I also appreciated closer track The End Becomes Grace. It creates a perfect sense of finality, signalling the venture is over as its instruments collapse into an airy descent.

Rating: 6/10

South Arcade "Play!" (2025)

 

Returning with another slice of 00s alternative culture reimagined, this fresh five track struggles to peak the heights of 2005 but builds out the bands setlist with a couple more lively, animated tracks. Supermodels is the standout, a rapid run of semi-rapped verses powered by stop start riffs interwoven with intricate drumming and slamming electronic textures at its crescendo. The influences present from Gwen Stefani's eclectic alternative No Doubt simply can't be unheard from this point onwards.

Fear Of Heights plays on similar vibes with heavy strumming powering forward underneath Cavelle's sailing chorus hook. Oddly it feels underplayed, she has quite the charming voice but sticks to the more casual sing-talk cadence. Drive Myself Home is my favorite, a metallic edged hitter with fantastic production, worming in some timely glitches and dense texture into its wall of sound aesthetic.

Bleed Out plays like a less potent blend of these ideas heard on the aforementioned cuts, its final track Blood Run Warm pivots towards an emotive acoustic torch song. Armed with a country tang on its verses and Emo flavor in its chorus, the band aim well for a diversity that charms despite not being my cup of tea. A sing along for fans who connect with its heart felt lyrics. A decent EP but one step behind the last.

Rating: 4/10

Soul Blind "Red Sky Mourning" (2025)

 

I can't recall the last time I took to a record so swiftly. That's high praise considering my perpetual binging of its ten tracks has yet to dull. Opening up with a classy replica of late Alice In Chains, crunchy guitar grooves and that distinct harmonious singing kicks off a ceaseless run of moody, downtrodden aggressive goodness. With originality absent and familiarities running a mental list of possible mentions, Soul Blind's songwriting speaks volumes. A firm command of atmosphere and momentum seamlessly swings between hazy washes of bluesy grievance and rapturous head banging energy. Tracks tear through by on this engrossing fuzzy guitar noise, with splurges of Shoegaze melody, finding slick pivots into thudding romps of mammoth guitar groove. Sludgy, metallic, grungy and thunderous upon its arrival.

Ultimately, the aforementioned similarities seem skin deep, as emerging through obvious influences emerges a voice shaped to its own expression. Soul Blind house ill emotions. Frustration, sorrow, sadness and melancholy brood within to be exhaled through spurts of channeled aggression. The big riffs are memorable but its magic comes from the moody ruminations between. Early on the record plays these sways within tightly tuned songs. As it grows, more light is given to its aesthetic indulgence, the bluesy side, resulting in some beautifully sullen numbers like its title track. This dynamic keeps the record emotional and engaging till its final note. Its very hard to pick a favorite track, I want to play the whole thing front to back every time!

Rating: 9/10