THE HARD STUFF
DANZIG – Black Laden Crown
His once mighty voice has been reduced to a pathetic croak and all the songs sound the same but he’s our Glenn, we love him. (7)
DOG FASHION DISCO – Erotic Massage
Mr. Bungle from Lidl. (6)
FATES WARNING – Awaken The Guardian Live
Two complete festival appearances with John Arch on vocals to celebrate that album’s 30th anniversary on CD and DVD and if you’re a fan of progressive metal you know what that means. The playing’s a bit sloppier than that of the current line-up but who the fuck cares. (10)
FUCKED UP – Year Of The Snake EP
Epic 24-minute main track starts out psychedelic, then goes all-out Rush. Also includes a totally mental instrumental that a high-on-peyote Pete Townshend would’ve been proud of. (9)
LINKIN PARK – One More Light
Where the fuck did the guitars go? (5)
MUTOID MAN – War Moans
Supergroup featuring members of Cave In and Converge gets dangerously close to The Metal and IT OWNS. This one will melt your face, seriously. (8)
NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA – Amber Galactic
After the Deep Purple-isms of the sophomore album they’re back to retrofuturistic AOR on this one, channeling everyone from Toto to Boston. (8)
SOLSTAFIR – Berdreyminn
Berdreyminn is to Otta what One Second was to Draconian Times and what Alternative 4 was to Eternity. If you didn’t understand that sentence please move on to the next review. (8)
THE OTHER STUFF
ALGIERS – The Underside Of Power
2015’s debut left a mark with its post-punk/gospel hybrid. On this year’s follow-up they go political and crank up the industrial noise. (8)
DANIEL ROMANO – Modern Pressure
I keep waiting for this guy to create the masterpiece I know he has inside of him, a perfect marriage of power-pop and countrypolitan, but he falls short every time, probably because the sound in his head is much bigger than the cheapo production he can afford. (7)
FLEET FOXES – Crack-Up
A folkier Mercury Rev meets My Morning Jacket, but in a somewhat boring way. (6)
JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT – Live From Welcome To 1979
“Welcome To 1979” is an analogue recording studio in Nashville and Isbell definitely sounds very analogue on this vinyl-only EP covering the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, John Prine and Candi Staton. (8)
SECRET SISTERS – You Don’t Own Me Anymore
Real-life sisters Laura and Lydia Rogers sing close harmony like real-life brothers Everly, offering up a beautiful slice of Americana. (8)
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Gibble Gobble & Sadaba: Exotic Blues & Rhythm Vol. 5 & 6
Originally issued on 10” vinyl, first time on CD, a crazy collection of tittyshakers from the late 50’s/early 60’s. Fun fun fun, put this on = instant party! (10)
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