Cordae "The Crossroads" (2024)

  

Round three, Cordae returns with another fresh bout of life's stories, past and present. The title alone conjure thoughts of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's classic, which the intro tastefully interpolates. Cycling between Trap percussive pallets and nuanced drums grooves, instrumentals play soulful and moody, drifting into R&B territory as guest singers illuminate a handful of tracks with Gospel singing. Samples focus on texture and tone over melody, casting an introspective atmosphere not far from melancholic.

Without a peak or valley, The Crossroads runs through the motions, offering a couple darker bangers early on, then leaning hard into its soulful inflections as the record matures. With Cordae's sturdy cadence holding true, he articulates personal tales, keeping one in the firm grasp of his effortless rhymes. Themes recycle, struggles of balancing success and family shift to the later, as he speaks on becoming a father.

His tales echo familiar feelings of the last two outings, leaving me with little fresh to say. Its instrumental shift to nostalgic soulful samples and plenty of human voices plays good company but lacking melodies and hooks, its staying power has been absent. The Crossroads is a mild, easy going record, doing little wrong yet failing to land a striking blow to grab your attention. Disappointing but only from high standards.

Rating: 5/10

Fief "VI" (2024)

 

I've raved about prior installation's of Fief's exquisite Medieval Fantasy compositions. Often a niche relegated to background music in RPG games, this artist elevates the sound of antiquated royalty with class. Armed with Lutes, Harps, Bells, Strings and Woodwind instruments, a whirl of jovial melodies rapture the halls and courtyards of monastic reign. Earlier chapters ventured towards natures charm, with softer tones cultivating meditative atmosphere. Over time, a sovereign personality has emerged.

VI arrives unchanged, locked in by dancing merry melodies and an eloquence befitting these nostalgic times' royal grandeur. Sadly, it leaves me with little more to remark on, a fine set of eight arrangements conjuring a soothing mood of simplistic pleasures, dance, chatter, fruits and wines in the presence of kings. With little new to offer, it swiftly becomes a familiar shade of music operating in the backdrop.

Rating: 5/10

Dance With The Dead "Dark Matter" (2024)

 

Synthwave aces Dance With The Dead return again with a tight six track EP. Dark Matter strikes firm and fast, dialing in a two pronged approach to sell its concept. Subduing their ever powerful synths, mid-tempo Industrial Metal guitars step into the limelight. Rocking easy grooves on cushioned distortions, a Familiar breed of Metal manifests, akin to the likes of Gothminister and European contemporaries.

The other angle is collaborative, working with a unique band, like Gunship, or singer on each track. The result? A conforming twist of the arm that has their songs yielding to simple song writing oriented around the verse chorus structure. Vocally, Kat Von D resonates sublimely with a solid helping of reverb on her dreamy chorus hook.

Dark Matter starts strong with Cold As Hell and Neon Cross rocking hard grooves around a whirl of nightly neon synth melodies. The instrumentals then tame, toning down, before finding an ironic peak at the records conclusion, its one vocal-less song hitting the hardest. Rust pounds its rhythm guitar chugs and dense synths in unison.

Cole Rolland then lavishes us in one blazing guitar solo after another, a sweet matching of styles, complimenting well and making for a memorable conclusion as he shreds through so many inspired techniques. A roaring end to a brief record that falls shy of a big impact yet is commendable for its stride to be different through the interesting collaborations offered.

Rating: 5/10

Motionless In White "Graveyard Shift" (2017)

 

 

Working back through Motionless In White's discography, I've anticipated hearing amateurish songwriting born of their Metalcore roots but this ain't it. Still reveling in a distinct amalgamation of popular Metal from the 90s and 00s, their musical witchery is effortless to enjoy. At this stage, its beefy Nu Metal guitar riffs that dominate overt influences with the legend Jonathan Davis lending a mild feature on Necessary Evil.

With Trance synths and crunching percussion, flavors of Gothic melody and Industrial rhythm weave into the mix around Chris Cerulli's hooks and downtrodden anthemic lyrics. Sadly, their chemistry isn't as potent. Simple breakdowns, gang shouts and throaty screams break apart these spells with flashes of the aforementioned Metalcore roots. Otherwise all the components are in place, a band steadily maturing.

I'm left reasonably entertained but lacking any enthrallment. Soft serves as a fair highlight, obvious Slipknot influences spin a first pumping riff, jolted into action from the start. "You're mine motherfucker" screamed as if from the mouth of Corey Taylor. Its creepy Korn melody counterpart balances out the energy well. Many of its best ideas feel uncannily close to that era. 570, however, plays like a straight melodic Metalcore banger, something leftover from prior writing sessions? Overall, a fair listen.

Rating: 5/10

Conquer Divide "Slow Burn" (2023)

 

Churning the Pop Metal formula through a dense wall of sound, American rockers Conquer Divide caught my ear with their empowered effeminate vocals sailing over meaty melodic Metal that's far from original, trendy for the times yet endearing. Overt influences present themselves through the likes of Spiritbox akin breakdowns and Bring Me The Horizon's in vogue glitchy electronics. Arriving at obvious intervals, between these blushes emerges a kind beast exercising personal demons. The usual themes of mental struggle and emotional short comings get channeled into cathartic screams and firm singing that spins a tune better than most of their contemporaries.

Slow Burn is far from perfect. A strong succession of bangers dissipates into a mediocre indulgence where cracks start to emerge. Wincing lyrics and underwhelming riffs crop up between an otherwise enjoyable atmosphere. Driven by soft distortion guitars woven with synth, dense floods of brooding, powerful sound wash by. There best moments play purely aesthetic, Castillo's vocal tune often defining its impact. Its a far cry from a captivating opening stint. Songwriting falls of a cliff, much of the preceding music rests on the albums excellent production. Instruments shy from the limelight, leaving the charm to linger on lyrical themes that are hit and miss.

There is clearly a lot of potential here. The opening songs offer much more musically. Although the backing instrumentation on verses mostly paints a blank slate for Castillo, they swell together with big upheavals in the catchy choruses and breaks. This is where Conquer Divide excel every time. A dynamic momentum emerges, propelling the themes of internal battle and personal woe into something antidotal and soothing. Its a very familiar formula yet well executed in their better stride.

Rating: 5/10

Andrew Odd "Visions Of Red" (2017)

Wishing to "scratch the itch" from an artist who's discography is unfortunately light, I've rummaged around the mostly one track singles for Visions Of Red, comprised of three soothing space themed songs. Arcadia is a beautiful "pale blue dot" inspired piece. Leaning into the cosmic perspective, yearning string scale the epic expanse of space in a trance like state. A deep yet soft rumble of bass murmurs below, between them heavenly choral voices subtly emerge to peak the musics blissful tone.

Elysium turns a little esoteric, its fleeting voices steeped in mystery as layers of airy choral synths gradually climb an underlying tension. Piano notes smothered in a dreary reverb eventually arrive to resolve this ambiguous enigma. Tharsis leans Psybient. Embracing upfront melody, pronounced synths exchange, brooding towards a sense of eruption. I always anticipate a harder pivot but when the percussion arrives, its toned down, a distant snare kick groove, with narrow aesthetics.

 

 Visions Of Red delivers on this artists ability to cut past the mediocrity this astral music can often slip into, creating three intriguing songs to fire up the imagination. Fingers crossed for more Andrew Odd in the future, their craft is one with distinction.

Rating: 5/10

Zeal And Ardor "Grief" (2024)

 

Now a seasoned act, Zeal And Ardor's third full length has soured in lack of reverence. I'd previously been enamored with their dreary, foreboding yet somehow colored fusion of Black Metal, Chain Gang chants and Electronics. This re-imagining of the genres anti religion inspirations birthed excitement. Unique atmospheres and musical oddities emerged from this exploration, both in concept and execution. Powerful themes and striking compositions, twisting both aesthetics and melodic expectations, yet somehow packaged for consumption. This promising act delivered some amazing experiences in years but on this outing, those ideas run short.

Grief retreads familiar themes, lacking cunning for the shock and awe that surprised beforehand. Leaning on dreary atmospheres, the album routinely tries to foray into theatrical lullabies, toned down interludes with subtle instrumentation, striding for something grandiose, emotional and impacting. The vision gets broken up by the bands various shades, leaning into particulars rather than fusing them together.

Mediocrity and tone rotation seems to dispel each songs magic. Plenty of interesting aesthetics and compositions individually emerge but rarely do they converge. Clawing Out is one excellent track that does this. Dissonant guitar noise and creepy whispered chats lure us into the eerie as hastening guitar riffs jostle for impact. Increasing tensions loop over, building on prior ideas before striking us with gratifying siren synths and a thudding distorted bass drum. Its a rhythmic oddity that just works.

Une Ville Vide was another unique cut, a cozy yet mysterious keyboard piece more akin to a Dungeon Synth record. Other than those two songs, not much resonated with me. I do however appreciate the craft. This experience strikes me as being more about my own personal mood than the record itself. I expected a lot more but left sadly quite disappointed. I'm interested to look up the broader reception this received.

Rating: 5/10

Eminem "Relapse: Refill" (2009)

 

 

As expressed on the comical Steve Berman skit, a returning from retirement Eminem had enough material for two albums. Refill suggests an overstatement, its nine cuts only treading water with Relapse's weaker tracks. Forever feels like a false start, Em tacked onto one of Drake's pop rap songs. The music starts out strong but gets goofy as Elevator trades a quirky rap romp with its elongated sung chorus. Em reveling in the astonishment that his mansion has an elevator. It's likeable but shy of greatness. Music Box & Drop The Bomb On 'Em drag on, both lack a cutting edge, going through motions, feeling like exercises in creativity that didn't live up to his standards.

 

My Darling goes dark and grisly, a flawed execution of an interesting concept. Wrestling with a demonic voiced Slim Shady, he lives up to the ills of the character that brought him fame. The back and forth echos what he tried to do on The Death Of Slim Shady at length. It rolls into Careful What You Wish For, another dance with the devils of fame, commenting on the hysteria around his rise and how his records have been revisited as classics by critics. These two tracks feel like foreshadowing of an artist unable to escape that monumental moment in time. Entertaining but the last time it will feel fresh. One things for sure, Encore will never be considered an Illmatic.

Rating: 5/10

Dead Can Dance "Spiritchaser" (1993)

 
After a stunning stretch of remarkable records, the Australian duo ventured on-wards one last time before parting ways. Fortunately they would reunite nineteen years later with the well polished Anastasis. Spiritchaser is the last album I'd yet to hear, a critically well received departure I find myself indifferent too. Remaining within the tapestry of Worldbeat aesthetics, they seem to take a new approach to song writing.

 Gone are the emotive swells, gallant melodies and esoteric leanings. Instead, a focus on plain, steady tones. Allowing for simplistic instrumental notation and brief percussive grooves to drone in repetition on top of foundations. Its subdued, simplistic and supposedly aims to find a meditative atmosphere in unclutter compositions.

So to do vocal performances feel restrained, intentionally softened. The cultural roots of fresh singing avenues possibly explain why. With dialectic inflections and native languages I'd not heard prior, the pair appear to aim for a less dramatized tone and certainly achieves that. In the apt setting, it becomes soothing background music.

I've been critical, Spiritchaser is simply a different beast, lingering in the shadows of a luminosity that came before it. The record does little to offend. Its sensibilities are calm, gentle and drift upon lazy tempos on lengthy durations. Highlights reside later on, with The Snake And The Moon offering a beautiful campfire at night vibe fit for tribal chant and dance. Perry leads the first half, Gerrad the second, shifting energies.

The following Song Of The Nile plays deeply cultural and subdued but houses the albums most animated passage as bells chime and some exotic sitar alike instrument offers up a brief but striking swell of musicality. However the rest of the record failed to make much of an impression on me. Maybe more time would strengthen bonds.

Rating: 5/10

Eminem "Encore" (2004)

 

With rap retirement in mind, Encore represents a bow out from the spotlight before stepping away from the mic. Sadly, it seems the writing was already on the wall, Em returns sounding short on creativity at times, lacking his cutting edge wit, becoming a parody of himself in its patchiest moments. Perhaps this downturn in form has some relation to his decision to step away. With retrospection it would seem so.

No longer working with the Bass Brothers, a noteable shift in tone dominates Encore's beats. Sharp attacks and swift decays shape percussive hits into a minimal spacious frame. Striking on marching militant grooves, many tracks feel stylistically sluggish yet firmly driven. On its best cuts, a newish frontier for the times, yet dull when missing the mark. Split between himself and Dr.Dre, the seasoned pro is more consistent.

Big Weenie has got to be one of the best instrumentals, echoing 2001, yet Em rots the song with a goofy hook and immature lyrics. These would be my main critiques. Leaning on sung raps, sometimes hooks, at other times stretching out in verses, Em doesn't have a charming harmony to make it endearing. Equally, his lyrical substance suffers. Lacking sharpness, blunted delivery of familiar characters and topics spin up again through underwhelming rhymes, unable to bring freshness to his limelight.

The record starts strong, reasonable tracks lead to an unforgettable Like Toy Soldiers. That song always gives me goosebumps, a beautiful anthem built around a tragic story. A downturn follows as relevant topicality slides into a string of obnoxious numbers lacking some much needed intervention with the rapper. Ass Like That's crude accent seems pointlessly offensive. Having spent its capital upfront, only the heartfelt Mockingbird picks up a merit on a dragged out crawl to conclusion.

Back when this was released, I barely took notice having become obsessed with Dimmu Borgir and extreme metal. Lead single Just Loose It, was a total goof then and has aged poorly. Its a keen example of Em sliding in the wrong direction. Returning to Encore revealed some merits but clearly a sensational streak came to its end.

Rating: 5/10

Thrown "Extended Pain" (2022)

With Spotify turning me onto the modern Hardcore scene, these German slammers have caught my ear. A no nonsense, straight to the point, meat and bones approach has snappy songs swiftly erupting into frenzies of groovy anger. Roaring riffs, sporadic dissonance and infuriated shouts. These eleven minutes charge head first through spiraling manic intensities. Often, they lead into gratifying beatdowns.

Nothing new but where they excel is aesthetic production. Down tuned guitars froth and revel with a Djent tilted intensity. Dirty obnoxious bass rumbles beneath, adding a gritty texture. Syncopated drums with tight and snappy kicks reinforce the rhythmic drive, pushing much of the music forward on its fist throwing march.

A few cuts of brief atmosphere and layers of dystopian melody spice things up on occasion but their main charm is delivering on that enthralled rage that spews forth unrelenting. A promising debut, it will be interesting to see where they go from this solid introduction. With a string of singles out, looks like another record nearby.

Rating: 5/10

Spiritbox "Rotoscope" (2022)

 

Succeeding their stunning debut Eternal Blue, this lively three track EP stands apart with a unique embrace of dance groove rhythms and EDM. Stepping aside from Ethereal atmospheres, two step grooves and subtle modern synths intertwine to bolster pummeling Djent guitars. Title track Rotoscope embodies this best, concluding with a burly monstrous break down to contrast its persuasive dance floor energy. 

Sew Me Up hints at heavy, guitars start with a stomp but swiftly pivot into the magic of LaPlante's voice, sailing into heavens. It too finds an outbreak of aggression, led by a rhythm section that syncopates to thuds with aesthetic satisfaction. Hysteria withdraws from these ideas somewhat, feeling like the typical track of the bunch yet ends with an utterly filthy and devastating, disgruntled song deconstructing break down.

From the outside listening in, Spiritbox achieve clear creative distinction here, a succinct snapshot of musical vision yet seemingly unfit to develop further into a full album. Its a curious approach for a Metal band, to focus on singles and individual songs. I'd originally glanced over a lengthy list of singles, assuming they were on an album so now I'm going through it all and this one turned up a couple of gems!

Rating: 5/10

Spiritbox "Spiritbox" (2017)

 

Four years prior to the brilliant Eternal Blue, then duo Spiritbox arrive fresh on this self titled debut EP showing glimmers of whats to come. Yet to figure out the nuances of their engrossing Ethereal aesthetics, singer Courtney LaPlante spearheads all melodic magic. Melding over a tempered Djent framework, she steers the dense, chunky guitars to tuneful inclinations, an elevating croon in its atmospheric strides.

These remarks speak mostly to The Mara Effect split into three parts. The other four cuts slip into genre norms. Aggressive outbursts led by frustrated shouts conjure atypical riffs. Powered forth by programmed drums, this writing sounds creatively constrained in counterpart to the shimmering sways of ghostly melody heard early on.

The Beauty Of Suffering embodies this as the sways between their two sides of expression feel detached from one another. As the rhythm section descends into a blatant borrow of Meshuggah's iconic Bleed riffs, it becomes all to obvious they are yet to mature their own identity. I'm not sure I would of heard the Spiritbox spark listening to this record first. Cast out of an evolving Djent scene, its not entirely clear what here would separate them from their peers, despite being a decent listen.

Rating: 5/10

Feldspar "Feldspar" (2024)

 

Executing a curious exercise in inventing nostalgia, Feldspar enters a fantasy driven time machine to re-imagine the origins of "evil" Metal. Sounding fitting of the early 70s, a Psychedelic Rock motif hardens in form. Stiffening groove and hard edges converge on colored esoteric melody. Prancing guitar leads gallop in simplistic loops, notation conjuring an eerie mystique for its tuneful nature. These three songs and short outro piece are a delight, catchy and impactful, succeeding in its inventive intentions.

Despite instrumental excellence, shortcomings lay in the vocals. Lacking charm or charisma, this attempt to aptly tone down some of the manic stylings first heard on the like of Venom or Bathory, sadly land flat. The echoing splats of throaty howls miss the mark of memorability but can be given a nod for picking a suitable candidate for that "evil" direction. I'm not sure what else could be suggested to fit its overall aesthetic.

Feldspar's production is gorgeous and roomy, a cosy listen yet a touch to crisp and clear to truly slip us into the past. On some moments its melodies conjures familiarity to early Ghost, especially when a soft, subtle organ glow can be heard chiming in on opener Glyph Schematic, a reminder of another band to tread similar waters.

Rating: 5/10

Mountain Realm "Greyshadow Ruins" (2023)

Imbued by the powers of thematic suggestion, Greyshadow Ruins' sleeve artwork and track titling aptly fits the dusky, seldom mood that awaits within. An array of Casio and Korg akin keyboard synths greets us, whispering cautious tales of what once lurked in this now abandoned place. Dressed in glum, dusty aesthetics, each of these brief stints ventures upon forgotten tales and mythic settings to fulfill its titles promise.

Mountain Realm takes an even handed approach, an acute balance of mystic synth tones, edging towards a minimalist design at times. I most adored this eerie, curious magical glistening sound that emerged from blurry shadows on tracks like Crystal Pool, Goblin Cave, Pyre & Mana Flask. Its other half, a more traditional castly vibe, conjures familiar nostalgia's with a smidge of Wizzards and Orcs battle fever.

Dungeon Synth has been thoroughly explored by this traveler, not much surprises me now. Competent executions of familiar inspirations like this are enjoyable but leaves me stumped when it comes to finding words. I end up repeating myself, as does a fair bit of this record in terms of retreading territory. There is potential here, yet currently it fits well within the confines of expectation from a genre I adore but lacks progression.

Rating: 5/10

Applefish "Luminous" (2023)

 

This third of three leaves me with less to remark but Applefish has caught my attention and made it onto my coveted Temporal Focus playlist. Luminous is a lighter companion, less suggestive of its theme despite the track titling signaling intent. Lofty ruminations suspend animation and linger within a sparkling display of apt synths and familiar ambiguities. Each song is a flavor of calm, occasionally drifting into serenity.

 A couple of tracks offer some curiosity and mystique but nothing dramatic. The opening Star Trails is my favorite, taking the slow elongated swell of these synth arrangements and gracing them with a looping melody that drags the soundscape reluctantly over a powerful yet subtly delivered chord arrangement. This level of craft seemed lacking elsewhere but each song works with a different energy.

Rating: 5/10

Applefish "Astrosat" (2022)

 

Had I not discovered Pale Blue Dot first, I may have passed up this record. Release prior, Astrosat is milder affair, another set of Cosmic Ambience pieces that dwell on their initial offerings. Soothing, calm and tranquil in nature, its album art suggests a peaceful surrender to the stillness of orbiting a planet. Spacey synths, airy ambiguities and softly droning astral melodies, these arrangements revel in the present and persist with little in the way of dramatics. Snoozey by design, these peaceful ambiences seduce with slumber, a sense of ease and remaining present.

The closing Primordial Soup and Particles both liven up. Mechanical percussive whirls and expansive synth melodies, a hastening of pace that exits this serene setting on an obscure note. Only Into The Aether toyed with unease and tension. Its slight eeriness is a delight, as if on the cusp of curiosity that might suddenly sour. It was my favorite among these stellar temporal tunes. I'm glad I gave this one a go!

Rating: 5/10

Little Simz "Drop 7" (2024)

 

Simz' output is already steeped in creativity. This EP series serve as a niche place to drop any variety of flavor and this seventh installment arrives in shapely form. Working with producer Jakwob, the pair unleash a hypnotic current of cultural instrumentation, conjuring suggestions of Spanish, Mexican and Latino music with selective percussion sounds. Arrangements flow with sharp rhythm and lean bass thudding, fitting for club vibes. Atmospherically sparse, the music feels open and minimal yet the drums shuffle and snap on dense arrangement of complimenting chromatic textures. Its simply slick.

Fever reinforces this cultured embrace, rapping a verse in Portuguese. Mood Swings affirms the club beat as the songs motif drifts through an exploration of escaping into night life. Other lyrics also hint on a therapeutic angle, the music being a means to vent life's frustrations and difficulties, although I didn't dive to deep into them. Drop 7 represents a lean fifteen minutes, one of fruitful creativity that may be a stepping stone to a fresh chemistry. Sim'z masters this new dynamic tone just wonderfully.

Rating: 5/10

Wargasm "Explicit: The Mixxxtape" (2022)

 

Despite grinding out familiar roars of disgruntled anger, this rebellious, antagonistic duo known as Wargasm, might be one of the fresher breaths of air circulating in a stale Metal community. Underneath its chaotic veneer, the fundamentals may have more in common with the likes of The Prodigy and Aggro-Tech. A constant barrage of unsettled, gritty noise pummels through lively drum machines, sharp distortion guitars, rabid screams and screeching electronics. A fun jumble of unabashed offerings.

 The opening explanation of an all too obvious pun the name is feels redundant. The following five tracks never let up on its ceaseless energy. Gristly lulls and melodic breaks feel like soft dressing for the next moment of madness. Fiery outbreaks of crammed aesthetic erupt on every track, gratifying ensembles of noisy oddities and groovy riffs to latch upon. Tinged with hints of Rap and Nu Metal, its my cup of tea.

The pair do all production themselves. Either an individuals vision or fruits of bouncing ideas of one another, the chaotic webs of wrangled aesthetics they weave are wonderfully unhinged, yet latch onto something that clicks most of the time.

Matlock provides the consistent barrage of angered shouts. Way is a touch understated as an effeminate yet mischievous counterpart. Her presence is similar to Poppy and when in a melodic passage, offers an under explored dimension of their partnership. Wargasm are exciting, this short release is a decent appetizer.

Rating: 5/10

The Tiberian Sons "Satan's Office Supplies" (2022)

 
Here's a release I overlooked, The Tiberian Sons' first album re-imagining video game music within the Prog Metal format. Anthems Of Liberation was such a blinder, I had to give this a go. Sadly, little joy has arisen from its Paper Mario origins. Once again, I've not heard the originals but one can attest to their thrilling aesthetics and colorful liveliness. Satan's Office Supplies is given a lavish treatment, layered music with punch clarity. Subtle symphonies and jiving synths bustle between the upfront grooves of chomping, snappy drums and Djent rhythm guitar chops. Often stealing the lime light, the lead guitar wails with excitement, delivering key melodies and running away with dazzling solos, vivacious and vibrant, often serving as a voice of expression.

Why this didn't click with me is somewhat mysterious. Perhaps my Prog Metal clock has been run down for the time being. Maybe its the source material not quite matching the intensity. Although this music works, its jovial melodies run counter to a lot of hard hitting rhythm and stints of nostalgic orchestration that melds with a lack of feeling. Origami Castle is a keen example of its ends not quite sticking together.

 King Olly VS Mega Bowser is a similar composition, flutes and airy chorals coalesce around chomping groove and sinister horns, yet the track rides its devilish atmosphere well. The rest of the songs where somewhere in between, its opening five part set of tracks not feeling particularly special. A lot of the record descended into lively rumblings, were a blaze of passing melodies didn't land as they had done last time.

Rating: 5/10