Avenged Sevenfold "The Stage" (2016)

It was fifteen years ago I first heard Avenged Sevenfold, abbreviated as "A7X", the Californian rockers burst onto the scene amidst the storm of Metalcore's commercial arrival. I remember it fondly, a wild sound, slightly unhinged, with bursts of melody and harmony between a screechy onslaught of groovy goodness and boundless energetic drumming. Their following releases steered away from the heavy aspects of their sound and I lost interest. Over the years Avenged have become a huge name in Metal, Rock and Alternative music, much of it passing me by but the opening song, the title track and single caught my attention. How glad I am that I decided to tune in, "The Stage" may be one of the years best records, an epic, lengthy concept record that delivers a continual level of class across its seventy three minutes, concluding with the fifteen minute epic "Exist" featuring none other than Neil deGrasse Tyson.

So the record takes on the common theme of mankind's potential self annihilation through a plethora of lyrics that unsurprisingly amount to little for me, given my more musically oriented mind most the words are in one ear and out the other. M Shadow's clean voice doesn't particularly resonate with me and he is no annoyance through this record but there were only a handful of moments where his presence helped elevate the music, "Everyone lives on borrowed time". Fortunately the instrumental aspect of the record is so strong it does little to tarnish the theme and direction of the music.

"The Stage" is a metallic treat that stretches its might into a few unexpected crevasses, "Fermi Paradox" showcasing a brief Black Metal blast beat and shadowy riff. For the most part its a generally Progressive Metal record with moments of Thrash Metal intensity, rhythmic moments of Groove Metal with Hard Rock and Heavy Metal antics. Its pulled together with luminous guitar leads that flex melodies and energetic guitar solos seamlessly in the transitional moments. The songs don't just hammer down on the heavy, with gorgeous, bold and slightly metallic acoustic tones the instrumentation comes together flexing its muscles between intensities as songs organically move through the motions. Calming a storm in one moment and blowing up the next.

Each track makes its distinction and on some with the help of additional instruments that sneakily drift into the music, disarming us of their presence. Keyboards, strings, trumpets and the like crop up throughout the record, often to participate in just singular moments of a songs journey. "Sunny Disposition"s chorus has M Shadow softly singing over a Mexican sounding horn section, its astounding catchy. If not an additional instrument, the core music is always exciting with quality riffs and song structures that come together with a lot of fire and energy. It plays through like a true epic.

The albums conclusion "Exist" is an almighty one, starting off with gritty thrash beat downs that are brought to life by fast, colorful sweeping guitar leads, then it bursts into an unsettling tone with looming organs. Once again the gears shift and grooving riffs rhythmically slam before light horns lead the way back to the organs. It plays back and forth a charm, steadily culminating into a storm before the song blows out its steam and calms to an acoustic tone before steadily building towards its grand finale, a stunning, inspiring and deeply meaningful speech from Neil deGrasse Tyson that plays through the music and with each words takes more of the focus.

Whatever Avenged were up to before this record I think it would be a fair assumption to say they have out done themselves. "The Stage" is lengthy, yet without filler. Its production is modern, crisp, clean and balanced for it to never be a concern. The inclusion or rich instrumentation and the general ambition of the record speaks volumes in the quality of each of these tracks, there is never a dull moment.

Favorite Tracks: Paradigm, Creating God, Fermi Paradox, Exist

Rating: 9/10

In The Woods... "Pure" (2016)

Surprises seem to be common this year and there is certainly a contest for most "unexpected". The news of a new record almost passed me by, surely "Pure" is just some compilation record I thought... "In The Woods..." are an obscure Black Metal band who released the remarkable "HEart Of The Ages" in 1995. It was and still is an obscure release, an absolute gem to me in my youth, a distinctly different record for the time that homed in on inspired pagan and nature themes within the stark context of extreme music. It still strikes a nerve with me to this day, unfortunately I didn't get along with the two following records, which moved in an Avant-Garde direction, the band then split in 2003 and here we are thirteen years later. As I look up the history of their lineup I learn that the only change is singer Fogerty, the other three have been in the band since day one, I find this interesting because this record gave me some serious "one man band" vibes, a curiosity in the cover that had me painting the records voice, Fogerty, as a lone musical force. This should be a compliment to how "together" this record feels and how much the identity of their roots is intact.

"Pure" is lengthy, a sixty seven minute epic that has no measure in pace. Its a Post-Black Metal record in the truest sense where traditional values have been further removed as its extremities give way to the vision that Fogerty illuminates with his raw and charismatic, heathen voice which calls out from across the mountains. In its mercy of natural wonder a burgeoning of emotion spills through the music in many moments of this record, there awakening built through lengthy passageways of dense progressive music. With a lot of clarity and volume these instruments carry forth an honesty in the raw, chunky guitar distortions, loose drum environment, nostalgic archaic synths and ethereal acoustics that harbor the authentic, natural qualities of low fidelity without compromise in its audibility.

The band immerses us in rich atmospheres as there songs, one by one, move through the motions, varying metallic intensities, dropping back for acoustic moments and soaring with earthly vocals. Its all a familiar affair as many composition techniques are the same as on that classic debut. "Towards The Black Surreal" has a deja-vu moment where the song suddenly shifts to a seemingly identical piece of music, bar one or two notes, from "Yearning The Seeds Of A New Dimension". There is no moment quite the same, but in seems two parts of guitars and vocals overlap perfectly, capturing the beauty of their early music.

As much as ill rave about this record, it has a flaw. I felt in the right mood it would captivate and transcend yet It wasn't one to make that happen through the music alone. "Pure" has a stunning tone and solid aesthetic to match but mostly it draws through temperate passages that only light up if in the mood, however it is littered with plenty of attention grabbing moments too. Whats most remarkable is how alike to their debut this record is. Overall its got a meatier sound and no breakaway tracks like "Morning The Death Of Aase" and "Pigeon" but they are just differences. I hope this return is not a one off, the band still have a lot to offer.

Favorite Tracks: Cult Of Shining Stars, Towards The Black Surreal, Transmission Krs

Rating: 7/10

Animals As Leaders "The Madness Of Many" (2016)

Further exploring their texture driven acoustic Djent sound, American Progressive Metal trio Animals As Leaders return once again, taking another step towards abstraction with further removed time signatures and strange guitar manipulations for all sorts of mathematical grooves and acoustic breakdowns. Unfortunately its the more conventional guitar leads that make the record light up between there regular intervals of polyrhythms, a string of experimental guitar noises chugging through arrangements of complex, dexterous patterns that spark little emotion within me. Initially they are unusual and interesting, yet quickly become dull.

The record bounces back and forth between these luminous, colorful leads and textural experiments in time signatures. The result has no song reaching its purpose, pursuing any peaks or developing a path. They meander and meddle through the motions settled in the various, tempo, texture and identity of that particular song. Its been quite a disappointment after there last release "The Joy Of Motion", an experiment in Latin guitar sounds that was both inspired and technically brilliant. The technicality of this record is in bizarrely complex breakdown moments and guitar chugging that yields little groove, elasticity or much beyond a curiosity.

I've tried hard to love this record and one place it succeeds is in its pleasantries. Guitar leads are mostly gentle and soothing, aesthetics are gorgeous and in its ambience its a great record to not pay much attention too. One song "Ectognesis" starts with a synthesizer lead that opens a door but its involvement in the music is quickly drowned out. It teases at a subdued element in their sound stepping forward but it seemed to be a singular moment in the record. High expectations have left me disappointed but nothing here is particularly negative, it just feels as if these musicians are capable of more, this is a record that feels more calculated than inspired.

Favorite Track: Ectognesis

Rating: 5/10

Nails "Unsilent Death" (2010)

Pushing the Grindcore sound to its groovy extremes, Nails are an American underground band from California who Ive been noticing over the years have built a bit of a cult reputation. Ive sighted them frequently mentioned as one of Metal's most extreme sounds. To my ears they have re-invented the wheel, taking the core Punk and Metal values of Grindcore and reinvigorating the attitude with a dense claustrophobic wall of sound production that will have you foaming at the mouth in the wake of its aesthetic intensity. Formed in 07, "Unsilent Death" is the bands debut "full length" clocking in at just under fourteen minutes across its ten songs.

And so the album opens like a flood of water bursting through the seems. Our ear drums are pelted with a ruthless pummeling blast beat, furious throaty screams of anger and strangulating guitars that smother and creep into every each of sound with their monstrously dense distortion tones. Its disorienting, fast and nauseous but as the smoke settles and one adjusts a quite simplistic set of grooving riffs emerge as the musical backbone. With hints of Thrash, Punk, Hardcore and Groove Metal the riffs alternate between different intensities and in their short life cycles they steer clear of wearing themselves out. It plays like one big song that's forever shifting gears as the burdening aesthetic intensifies all that's on display.

The records most interesting moment comes on the title track as screeching guitar feedback sounds intimidate over the top of a gorgeously low and textural bass guitar that groans in its over driven tone. It leads into an effective but primitive breakdown that has notable influences from the Deathcore scene and trends of the time. Beyond that its business as usual, with nothing out of the ordinary. Nails's strength is in the aesthetic which is certainly something to marvel, behind it a rather atypical set of riffs that don't defy expectation. They are like Napalm Death on crack, so much so hearing some of their records with this aesthetic would be an interesting treat. The bands overwhelming sound intensifies what might not be as impressive in a regular setting, either way its a fun listen to get you fired up for some carnage and hand banging which ends with a monstrous riff in the closing moments of "Depths".

Favorite Tracks: Unsilent Death, Depths

Rating: 6/10

Navie D "Opra EP" (2014)

Following up on the newer "Post EP" record we check out another seventeen minute collection of five tracks that are very much of the same vein, so much so the two roll off one another. "Opra EP" shows the formula was minutely refined with big luminous leads, synths and ghetto whistles sparking the tracks to life with memorable melodies to mark a climactic moment in the tracks trajectory. This is very much the same record without those moments to kick it up a notch from the mediocrity these ambient, ambiguous beats can fall into when they fall from the forefront of attention.

As mentioned these instrumentals are atmospheric, a collage of dissonance where traditional synth instruments are distorted in ambiguity and oddities that give them an organic feeling of disorientation. When giving it a keen ear the instruments fall into place and seem more traditional. Its this leaning to the unusual that gives the record its dark dystopian flavor that revolves around the mid tempo beats that fade in and out of focus. With steady and stuttering Trap hi hats the pace is marked along with screeching, howling synthesizers and samples of operatic voices eerily drifting in from the shadows. Its melodies are subdued and server to not been seen as much which is where I feel the record looses something its follow up has. Progression for this sound is certainly on a positive path and with Navie D having released his full length debut It will be next on my playlist.

Rating: 4/10

Metallica "Hardwired To Self-Destruct" (2016)

And so the time has come to pass, the moment where the world's most important and influential Metal band graces us with new music. For my generation that's been quite the sour experience, firstly with the bizarre "St.Masterpiece" and then eight years ago with their attempted redemption on the thrashy, over compressed "Death Magnetic". I never gave their collaboration with Lou Reed any attention, its since been snubbed from their discography, which leaves us at a point where expectations aren't even a consideration. If they felt pressure or not, Hardwired certainly shows no signs of it, external or internal, its as if they have found their spark again. Of course time has passed and there will never be a "Ride The Lightning" again but dare I say it, Hardwired is their best sounding record since the "Black Album" in 91.

After many plays through its as if this record could reside between Black Album and "Load" / "Reload". Its got the Dynamic feel of "Black Album", the slower heavy grooves of the "Load" era and between a majority of mid tempo tracks there is a hand full of thrash tracks. "Moth Unto Flame" illuminates as an instant classic with its hard crunching riffs, fluent grooves, catchy leads and James's timeless delivery you can sing along to. It will undoubtedly become a staple track in the bands set list. "Hardwired" shreds as hard and fast as Battery, a short tempered, fast and furious burner. The album closer "Spit Out The Bone" also invests in a faster tempo that grinds through its verses, interluding with a Metalcore riff and leading up to a fantastic sparse guitar chord ringing, then a bass solo before Kirk throws in infectious leads.

The only moment on this record where Metallica don't quite sound themselves is on "Atlas, Rise". Mostly its a grooving song but its lead guitars are very reminiscent of Iron Maiden, to the point where it sounds "lifted", using the same techniques and harmonization. The rest of the records song fall into the mid tempo range with stomping, steady grooves crunching away while James sings similar to the "Load" era. They are far from bad songs but certainly the weaker aspect of the record, which is applicable to taste, depending on your thoughts to their slower style.

Individually each member is where they need to be. James at the fore front finds the fire in his hands and throws many vocal licks down in typical fashion however some of the mid tempo track lyrics aren't going to turn your head. Kirk is stunning with his contributions, every guitar solo is fire, inspired and in his distinct wah style. They are in shorter bursts by nature and some solos sound very similar to old classics but it all works like a charm. Rob mirrors James's Rhythm work with one or two short "solos" but Lars is the only one I'm not entirely convinced about, not the best drummer in the world but certainly has a great chemistry with James which is important. I found every beat and groove here solid, with exception to the fills. Everything is snares... snare, snare, SNARE! The one time he does something other than a snare fill it really adds a dimension, "Now That Were Dead" and its flat, autonomous tom hammering.

Much more could be said but in short its just a great record, not a classic but a solid release, something little were expecting this late into the bands carrier. This could well be there last full length record, which is actually a two disc release but not their longest. When I next see them live Ill be wishing to see at least four of these songs live and hopefully they will stick for the next few years, unlike the last two records of which nothing sticked. The band has found themselves again and in the build up to its release "re-textured" covers were appearing online of musicians playing the new songs in old album aesthetics. Hearing "Moth Unto Flame" as if it were on "And Justice For All" gave me shivers.

It also got me thinking that "Hardwired"s tone, distortion, production etc is not king here, the music is. The albums drums sound fantastic but James's guitar distortion is a little brittle and compressed. It gets the job done though, no complaints just not the most pleasing sound for the albums most prominent instrument, oh and James's voice is, strong, powerful and in its usual persona however live he is struggling to keep up. Possibly the bands last record and a solid farewell, lets hope its not though as clearly they have re kindled the fire.

Favorite Tracks: Hardwired, Now That Were Dead, Moth Unto Flame, Spit Out The Bone

Rating: 8/10

A Tribe Called Quest "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" (2016)

Its been eighteen years... and I doubt anyone saw this coming. The legendary ATQC, innovators of Jazz Hop and creators of one of Hip Hop's greatest records "The Low End Theory", played their last ever shows a few years back and with the sad passing of Phife Dawg earlier this year the groups fate seemed final. Turns out they resolved their differences after the runion tour and decided to record a new record in secret. So imagine the astonishment I felt when I got an email announcing its release, more so at how good of a record it is and what a blessing to hear Phife on the record. How much of this was created with out his input I'm not sure but he came up with the title and the rest of the group aren't quite sure of its meaning.

I can't help but think its a tip of the cap to show the old traditions still have value in today's music. ATCQ sound like a group in the moment, flowing in the waters of inspiration and reinvigorating their identity because "We Got It" feels as if their is no absence. No greasing of the gears, no rough edges, they are in sync and doing what they do best. This is no nostalgia trip though, fresh production ideas and choices dominate this record without deterring from that warm hearted Jazz Hop soul the group always had. They also bring a star studded set of features, from Kendrick Lamar to Kanye West. Andree 3000 of Outkast and even their old friend Busta Rhymes. Speaking of old friends, Jarobi White is on the record, who only took part in the groups their first record.

Split into two sides of eight tracks the record flows effortlessly as a sixty minute piece, due much to its drifting from traditional song structures into artsy organic flows of creative sampling between the verses and chorus's. Some of this manifests with bold intrusive sampling, electronic Kraftwerk alike noises beep away in the start and end of tracks as well as snippets from Willy Wonker and the classic Thriller evil laugh in the records opening track. Q-Tip's production has no boundaries, its as if hes unbottling held back creativity and so many of his choices work. On "Lost Somebody" he lets the drum machine rapid fire like its glitching out. Bold, off key and different. The song even cuts to silence before some guitar jamming noises through into the next track. These experiments are fantastic but between them a set of solid and expressive loops, from the boom bap beat of "We The People" to the Reggae Dub grooves of "Black Spasmodic" Q-Tip finds all shades of Soul, Jazz and R&B to keep the flavors flowing from start to end.

Much of that bottled up creativity speaks to Phife and Jarobi who toy with afrocentric accents between sets of inspired raps. Q-Tip is also on point as the group talk to many relevant issues in the wake of Trump's election, "Muslims and Gays, boy we hate your ways". Id have to hand verse of the record to Kendrick Lamar who drops a impassioned rap on "Conrad Tokyo", his words come so fast with so much weight I feel like each listen adds a new dimension to the wieght of his words. The rest of the track meanders in the echo of his words while a keyboard solo jams away. Its a fantastic choice to let the instrumental take steer of the ship for the rest of the song.

The record rounds up with "Donald" a Phife Dawg track, layered with sampling and snippets of news presenters saying the president elects first name. I can't help but think the songs design is a tip to Phife's classic line "I cash more checks than Donald Trump". It an remarkable record and more so for its exceptional circumstances. One things for sure the substance is there and we have been gifted a wonderful album that must be respected, fans like myself would love more of this I'm sure but the reality is this is a send off, a twilight special and how blessed are we to hear it. One things for certain, the tribe can kick it! Yes they can.

Favorite Songs: We The People, Solid Wall Of Sound, Conrad Tokyo, Ego
Rating: 8/10

Mobb Deep "Hell On Earth" (1996)

As the album opens its purpose is stated with the opening words. "You know how we did on The Infamous album right?", "Well were going to do it again son!". Fitting lines to summarize both the albums strengths and weaknesses, Mobb Deep intentionally attempt to recreate the success of their legendary 95 "The Infamous" record. Just a year later the duo were fast to jump back into the studio, rounding up some familiar voices, Big Noyd returns for a couple of tracks, Raekwon and Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan and Nas once again. Despite "The Infamous" being one of my favorite records, Id never given many of their other records, bar "Juvenile Hell" much of a try and with my conclusion in mind I believe this would be a record Id of really loved had I gotten into it years ago. These days my appetite for more of the same flavor is rather diminished.

"Hell On Earth" takes "The Infamous" blueprint and attempts to twist it to darker territory. Firstly the beats have the same sharp, crisp snappy tones and programming arrangements, with deeper spare baselines backing the kicks. The sampling looks for more upfront, direct sounds, sinister ensemble strings sections with Gambino crime family vibes rub up against the rugged, urban drum loops. It finds itself more involved, removing some of the atmosphere and reverb the drums use to fill between more sparse sample choices. As a result thicker walls of sound bare down on the listener with grimy mafioso vibes. The soundtrack to scarface inspired crime, it creates quite the air of burden, gloom and doom on some tracks like "G.O.D. Part III" where the mood is rather grim.

On the vocal front much not has changed in the duos tone, delivery and flow but lyrically there is less story telling and more gun play, braggadocio and threatening word play as the two make remarkable statements related to crime life and violence. Some tracks run narratives and others not so much but as a lack of familiarity would suggest I didn't enjoy the lyrical side as much as the beats which on a few tracks really hit the mark. "Hell On Earth" is very much a repeat of success that leans into the Mafioso Rap genre that was emerging at the time. Its a solid, enjoyable record but as I said I have a diminished appetite for "more of the same" in this instance.

Favorite Tracks: Extortion, Man Down, Can't Get Enough, Nighttime Vultures, G.O.D. Part III, Give It Up

Rating: 7/10

Old Man Saxon "The Perils" (2016)

Old Man Saxon is a Los Angeles based rapper who caught my attention with his untypical music videos. Staring at the camera with a blank expression, he shows us through his day living out of a car, visiting the cleaners, working as a dish washer and sitting on the john. Focusing on the odd, plain and usually unspectacular he makes a marvel of what is not in the visual medium. Either gauging on ice cream or rapping as a sales man it certainly caught my attention and I was happy to grab a copy of this EP.

The single track "The Perils" is fantastic, unfortunately the rest not so much. Saxon's rap style is dry, pale and steady, practically spoken word there is little oomph in his delivery and emphasis. Without the video his words don't have the same charm, they simply don't convey the same tone in message and story. On the other tracks I really couldn't follow Saxon's train of thought, there's a lot of hot air and foul talk between a string of lines and rhymes that didn't amount to much in my mind. it was in one ear and out the other.

The backing instrumentals were my favorite aspect of the EP. Two numbers were relatively jazzy and sample driven. The other two a lick more spacial and driven by odd vibes. "O.G Ghost" gets minimal with sparse drums and some light singing and has the records most incoherent lyrics, which I really couldn't get along with. Saxon shows a lot of promise with an interesting approach to his music in the singles but the other tracks here feel miles behind. Rather disappointed but it wasn't exactly terrible.

Favorite Track: The Perils

Rating: 3/10

The I.L.Y.S "I've Always Been Good At True Love" (2015)

The I.L.Y.S are an Experimental Rock duo from Sacramento consisting of drummer Zach Hill and guitarist Andy Morin. Essentially they are two third of Death Grips, one of the most exciting new bands Ive heard, this bands identity resembles the group in its attraction to dissonant sounds and odd ball nature, the songs feel similar too however don't carry quite the same weight. This is the first of two records, a short one too at just under thirty minutes, which delves into arty, noisy aesthetic led tangents of Noise Rock and Grunge with a raw Punk attitude. Between it all electronic sounds mingle and intensify, giving much depth to the sound.

At first glance its a noisy mess of oddities but in a similar fashion to Death Grips, strange musical ideas emerge from the chaos. Simple and pleasing rhythms, grooves and riffs are abstracted by crooked distortions, bending and manipulating most aspects bar the drums. "Specalized" takes breathing, half spoken noises as musical samples and the tracks words are indistinguishable in moments. This waves of sounds are heard in excessive vocal revebs and the noisy guitars which utilize very half measured, dissonant, almsot plastic like distortions. Trying to pick it apart is quite the task as each song takes a different approach to the construct of its instruments. Ultimately they end up forming a coherent songs with an musical objective to relate to than its noisy exterior as the guitar riffs, for the most part, lead the songs.

With "Bubble Letters" the energy picks up for a moment as they push into party territory, that song and the following reminding me fondly of early 90s The Prodigy of all things. That's the records best moment as the rest of it is reasonable, to be fair these songs are quiet exciting in your first few listens, there's a lot going on and its all a blur. Getting familiar with them is fun but once the unpredictability wears off and the confusing aesthetics no longer creates a sense of excitement, the core music is rather simple and not particularly grabbing. Personally I feel as is too much focus on exteriors, the internal music is lacking in lasting substance, otherwise it could be a recipe for success.

Favorite Tracks: Articulate, Bubble Letters, Specialized, All She Does Is Kill Shit

Rating: 5/10

Regina Spektor "Remember Us To Life" (2016)

Its been quite some time since Ive checked in with Regina Spektor and its fantastic to hear she is still doing her thing. Born in Russia and raised in the Bronx, she was taught classical piano at a young age and with a fearless spirit for her music she emerged from local clubs and bars to take her music to the mainstream. With a soft, comfy and caring voice her quirky expressive style finds balance in wisdom and meaning with many of her lyrics providing warm insights as well as a sprinkle of humor in her turns of phrase.

On this record Regina has no shortage of inspiration, her words and keys are full of life and with a richer set of backing instruments they work splendidly on select songs to elevate the songs where perhaps the voice and piano may have been limited. "Remember Us To Life" has grander theatrics with the broad strings sections and lively drums kicking songs up a notch where they may but ultimately it is Regina who is the light of the show and she has many tales to tell.

The track listening is thick with songs that make themselves known, whether diving into her emotions, telling tales or remarking on observations, each song gets its point across so charming and eloquently. With heart warming highs on "The Visit" she sings of her re connection with and old friend from times gone by, so humble and genuine. "Obsolete" captivates me with its both haunting and beautiful pianos as Regina drifts like a spirit towards the void, singing of getting old and becoming less capable, a remarkable song. Between the introspection Regina makes social observations in her quirky nature, "What a strange world we live in, where the good are damned and the wicked forgiven" the music breaks with the words for a dose of sanity in an otherwise mischievous and crooked song where pharmacists and lawyers walk side by side.

I could go on, as I said every track is vividly mirrors its purpose with music, both gentle and lively, it becomes a theatrical album hard to take your ears off when Regina engages us with her thoughts. "Enjoy your youth... sounds like a threat" my favorite quote from an illuminated record which I could find little fault with, its all a treat to enjoy.

Favorite Tracks: Small Bills, The Trapper And The Furrier, Obsolete, Sellers Of Flowers, The Visit
Rating: 8/10

Periphery "Periphery III Select Difficulty" (2016)

 Hot of the back of last years double album, Alpha & Omega, Periphery strike swiftly, bringing us another record armed with some of their strongest songs to date. Being relatively new to the band I am not so a custom with their back catalog but if there's one thing I'm certain of, Its that Periphery are a band in the prime of their inspiration. With the third track "Marigold" things swiftly elevate as the music starts to sparkle and shimmer in the wake of moving lyrics, "Death is coming around like a hurricane, swirling, were on the clock and the needle's turning, the misery is killing me, slowly, give me a spine to work it out". Remarkable words which the music follows as string sections crescendo to its metallic, mathematical counterpart. An organic experience that ascends the record to soaring hights for another two truly genius songs with "The Way The News Goes..." and "Remain Indoors".

In this remarkable state the group harmonize and breathe together as the instrumentation comes to its form with vocalist Spencer leading the charge with his strong and softly piercing, melodic voice shining like rays of light over a tapestry of interwoven instruments in tandem with one another. Everything is in a gorgeous flow as minuet bursts of strings and synthesizers absorb into the ever transforming dance between groove laden Djent riffs and complex, lush, exotic acoustics. Gluing it all together the throbbing drums batter away with a measure for respite in the calmer passageways. It finds its apex with a grooving textual treat of a breakdown at the end of "Remain Indoors" as the vocals break for a syncopation of instruments slamming in tandem to take hold.

Unfortunately this trinity of brilliance leaves the rest of the record in its shadow. If the entirety of the album was on this level we may be talking about a modern masterpiece but as it goes they just didn't match this moment of magic and so the album, for me, fizzles out a bit early after such a burst of exuberance. Its mostly Periphery doing what they do best, mixing their lush acoustics and heavy guitar ensemble with fluidity as Spencer dances around them, jumping between his persuading clean lines and dense shouted screams. Maybe a few sparks re-emerge with "Catch Fire" and "Prayer Position" but mostly the feeling of those excellent songs linger and so Select Difficulty is a solid record but one that operates on different wavelengths, making for an odd experience when you find yourself disappointed by solid songs.

 Favorite Tracks: Marigold, The Way The News Goes..., Remain Indoors

Rating: 8/10

Kate Tempest "Let Them Eat Chaos" (2016)

Kate Tempest's debut record "Everybody Down" was a refreshing take on Hip Hop music, a blend of Rap, Spoken Word and poetry readings with character arcs that develop across the record as we follow a group of young adults and their struggles in day to day life. "Let Them Eat Chaos" is the follow up which repeats a similar formula, both lyrically and with a similar set of instrumentals, fortunately its for the better. With a refined approach Kate's overarching story shines brighter than before having a little more potency for social awareness and commentary, providing observations and food for thought which culminates with an "epiphany" on the records final track "Tunnel Vision" as the characters struggles related and transcend into global issues with world events and humanities direction facing crisis.

Revolving around seven separated characters from a block of flats, Kate investigates their lives and mindsets which have fallen into the common traps our urbanized society creates for individuals. In between observations Kate jumps into first person, giving us a direct train of thought from some of the characters shes follows. In sync with the instrumentals, Kate's tales drift between quirky, dystopian commentary and deeply moody, serious vibes as she introduces characters and their inner workings through monologue and dialog. It stirs an ever changing landscape as the album continually shifts gears as we drift from one person to the next. Kate creates a rather unbiased portrait of her imaginary characters, however the earnest in her tone creates quite the sympathetic air for her troubled people.

The instrumentals are very similar , "Grubby" even reuses some identical synth sounds. Despite similarity these beats are better built for purpose. Following Kate's direction they often have build up and a better sense of theme rather than jumping straight into the core loop. With this evolution the albums vision is strengthened and Its melodies and sounds within the instrumentals are easier to digest. I appreciated the odd ball nature of the previous effort but "Let Them Eat Chaos" tones down the oddities for a more thematic progression alongside Kate's moving tale following her seven souls. Listening back to her debut Its clear a big step forward.

Favorite Tracks: Ketamine For Breakfest, Pictures On A Screen, Tunnel Vision

Rating: 8/10

Mobb Deep "The Infamous" (1995)

"To all the killers and a hundred dollar billars"! A Classic line from a classic song on a classic record. In 95 the Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep, consisting of Havok and Prodigy, hammered the nail in the coffin on their sophomore record which time has taught us is a fine moment in the history of Hip Hop. Following up on their patchy debut two years earlier the duo took full control over production with a helping hand from Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. Coming with an inspired set of rhymes their dark and shadowy beats illuminated the pairs lyrics to a level of unrivaled harmony.

Both Havok and Prodigy have clean, concise flows. Likeable, easy to follow and plenty of mind for clever rhymes within conventional flows. Their tones differ and compliment one another as they pass the mic back and forth throughout the tracks. They are both brilliant story tellers, coming with very direct trains of thought as they walk us through the rough and rugged environment they call home. "Temperature's Rising" caught my attention for not only being a story of criminal events but a direct message to a friend locked up, with instructions on what to do. Very real and very direct the two make a point of letting you know they talk the walk they walk unlike the majority of rappers who reflect their environment and the people they know.

When not direct the duo can paint graphic pictures of ghetto life with their vivid word play and violent lyricism which dives into all sorts of drug abuse, crime, conflict and the imminent threat of death. Its an unapologetic picture painted sublimely with words that flow effortlessly. A chemistry oozing with pace and coherence to follow the main tales told through the sixteen songs which span sixty sixty minutes without a second of filler. Quiet the achievement!

Pairing with the lyrical direction, the beats are hauntingly dark, conjuring scenes of streetlamp lit nights in dangerous areas as banging drums lead chilling, eerie samples of guitars and pianos over the deep lurking baselines. Urban, harrowing and unforgiving they set a paranoid stage for their luminous flows to strike. The snare kick grooves are superb, using programed kits a selection of sharp, crisp punching drums that snap, making for banging grooves as they attack fast with minimal decay, even soaked in short reverb they create such a density without the instruments lingering. The result is infectious and repetitious without weakness, as the same sampled drums snap over and over the wild energy of the rappers keeps it feeling fresh through the entirety of the song. For most of the beats they don't go beyond the basic loop, with the occasional dropping of a drum line or sample as the lyrics reach an ample moment. The records best track "Right Back At You", with a momentary exception, is the same six second beat looped for the entire track and with the sublime verses of the duo and their guests its exceptionally banging.

Speaking of guests there's, Nas, Q-Tip featuring as well as Ghostface Killah & Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan. This is a 90s wet dream as New York's finest team up to kill it. All the elements lined up for this record and I couldn't list how many cracking lines have never left my mind, one sticks out though "Your crews featherweight, my gunshots will make you levitate"... Goosebumps! I seem to be drawn to picking out old favorites and revisiting this one really filled me with joy, such an incredible record and brilliant insight into a frightening and entirely different world.

Favorite Songs: Eye For A Eye, Temperatures Rising, Up North Trip, Right Back At You, Drink Away The Pain, Shook Ones Part II, Part Over

Rating: 10/10

Lord Lovidicus "Trolldom" (2010)

The cold autumn nights of November are setting in and I find myself under moody skies of shadows, drawn to my favorite records of a darker nature. "Trolldom" is thee quintessential record of Dungeon Synth, a music scene that around seven years ago seemed to spark renewed interest after gathering dust from its early origins linked to Scandinavian Black Metal. Ive waited some time to talk about this one, as time has taught me its the particular type of record you save for the perfect mood, for then its minimalist, amateurish exterior transforms into magic. The forth of fifteen Lord Lovidicus records, "Trolldom" is the pinnacle of the early era when the sound was purist and tracks were performed on a cheap synthesizer keyboard, captured through a microphone and pasted together in an amateurish spirit that forged much of the albums charm.

Its simple and effective recording technique gave it two key aspects that appeal greatly to the ancient, eerie nostalgic sound associated with Dungeon Synth. Aesthetically the low-fidelity charm is achieved instantly, the imperfections and blurriness of the instruments play perfectly into its antique theme, forging an atmosphere of the forgotten, the mysterious unknowable past. The imperfect performances reinforce this, mistimed drums and key strokes left in create a sense of decay, lost to the half life of time, as if these are the remaining glimmers of a world and time lost forever to the cosmos.

This alone couldn't make the record what it is, its low fidelity faces up against a subtle sense of minimalism as many of the songs phase between two to three synth lines with short, simple melodies which play to grander themes. The power of these tunes playing to its vision lets one re-imagine the songs with a lavish folly of instrumentation sounding equally as impressive. In this inspiration Lovidicus taped into the heart of the shrouded, ambiguous imagination for worlds of might and magic lost. Its an idea, a spirit that only captivates a few minds but for those to whom it makes sense too, a world of fantasy awaits behind these odd, strange and wonderful collection of songs.

Most of the songs have a fairly linear progression, moving through each set of melodies and moving to a conclusion. Most of the tracks tend to have a climactic moment where the song stops in its tracks and breaks to a wash of sweeping synths that amplify the mysterious tone of these songs. The instruments mostly comprise of a deep base synth, some emulated string section and a lead instrument like a bell, harp or somewhere between. Alongside them the ever present thud of a tom drum keeps pace with an unappealing tone. Once again its simplistic and stark nature plays into the mystery and in some moments the beats get a little more complex with snares and hi hats. Mostly though its rigid, sharp and some of the cymbal sounds are rather harsh given there is a single sample being played repetitively. If he has one trick up his sleeve its the use of stereo sweeping which doesn't contrast the records tone.

The only vocal element is the occasional samples from what I believe are pre-Jackson LOTR movies. Many of his records have strong ties to that world of fantasy but it is not the focus here. Track names like "Sorcery" and "Merlin's Tower" make no secret of its wizards and magic theme which spark the imagination for other worlds where nature is imbued with unexplained powers that can be manipulated by those who can will it. For me I see moss swept castles surrounded by fog, like on the cover, hidden chambers, secret passageways held under moonlight and secret knowledge hidden behind lock and key in a world gone by. Undoubtedly his strongest record in a discography that offers such a wealth of variety now.

Favorite Tracks: Sorcery, Crystal Caverns, In The Chamber Of Lord Lovidicus, Merlin's Tower

Rating: 9/10