Not much to say in the intro this time. It’s been a relatively dull July for music. We’ve gotten a few gems, hopefully some that make the year end list, but the volume of releases has tapered off severely. That said, here’s what caught my ear this past week.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Powerwolf - Call of the Wild
We’ve found this year’s Judicator and it managed to come out at just about the same time of year. Power metal doesn’t always connect with me but Powerwolf (phenomenal name btw) gets everything right. The album has a remarkable theme (some sort of holy war between angels, demons and probably paladins) and has one of the most triumphant sounds I’ve ever heard. After listening to this you could do anything. It’s a completely absurd thrill ride that I highly recommend strapping into.
Great Metal from this Week
Just a few gems this week but we’ve got a live album! As always, albums in bold received an 8/10 or higher.
Old Man Gloom / Zozobra - ZOZOBURN: Old Man Gloom + Zozobra LIVE at Fiesta Roadburn - I pretty much never review live albums because, well, they aren’t new music. As far as I know, this collaborative set between Old Man Gloom and Zozobra did contain new songs, and none disappointed. All the strange sludgy goodness of both bands was front and center - it’s an excellent primer if you’ve got any shows lined up for the summer.
Mesa - Collapse - Mesa’s Collapse brings some chunky metalcore style riffs and shockingly beautiful melodies together to make a one-of-a-kind listen.
Downcaste - Pre-Apocalypse - I continue to love doom metal, and these guys get the tone just right. A loud, clattering cacophony sure to break your neck during a headbang session.
Non-Metal AOTW
Midwife - Luminol
Having not heard Midwife’s music before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Going from the cover my only guess was “dour.” That mostly turned out to be correct, but the ways in which Luminol expresses pain and sadness is fascinating. The music sounds not unlike Grouper, another favorite artist of mine who specializes in chilling sadness, but is definitively more accessible. Sad may not be what the world is asking for at this point in time, but you’d be a fool to miss out on this record.
https://midwifemusic.com/album/luminol
Runners-up
Clairo - Sling: Very solid sad indie pop. An all around pleasant listen and metal palate cleanser.
Rodrigo Amarante - Drama: Supremely pleasant music. Sounds like chilling on a beach sipping a beer at sunset.
Eliza Shaddad - The Woman You Want: The theme of the week appears to be indie acoustic. Unwind and get a little sad with this one.
Jodi - Blue Heron: An old favorite of mine finally follows up their excellent 2017 self-titled EP. A great acoustic indie album that’s well worth your time.