(31:58; Vinyl, CD, MC, Digital; Warner Records, 15.11.2024) Seven years after the release of “One More Light” and the heartbreaking loss of Chester Bennington, Linkin Park return with their eighth studio album, “From Zero”. This record marks a rebirth for the band, retaining their iconic essence while embracing an evolution evident in both its production and lyrical depth. From the very first moment, the album sets the tone for this new beginning. In the opening track, Emily Armstrong sings, “From Zero, like from nothing”, signaling that this work represents a fresh start, a redefinition after a period of profound challenges.…
Autor: William Deaquiz
(34:00; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Long Branch Records/The Orchard, 24.08.2024) The German band Rising Insane presents their fourth album, “Wildfires”, comprising 11 songs and 34 minutes of intense musical expression that takes the listener on an emotional rollercoaster. This journey is crafted through a fusion of powerful riffs and clean vocals that alternate with potent growls, creating a captivating balance between brutality and melody. Rising Insane have established themselves as a prominent band in the European metalcore scene, and “Wildfires” reaffirms their standing in the genre. In this latest work, however, they go beyond metalcore, incorporating elements of post-hardcore, alternative metal,…
(47:10; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Fantasy Records/Universal Music, 20.09.2024) After a four-year wait, Seether are back with their ninth studio album, “The Surface Seems So Far”. Once again, the album was produced by the band’s frontman, Shaun Morgan, with mixing and sound design by Matt Hyde, who has worked with rock titans such as Slayer, Deftones, and AFI. In this new release, Seether firmly re-establishes itself as one of the key representatives of post-grunge, modern hard rock, and alternative rock. With a runtime of 47 minutes and a total of 11 tracks, the album represents perhaps the band’s most mature moment,…
(31:49; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Rise Records, 11.10.2024) It’s been four years since Touché Amoré released new music, and now they return with “Spiral In A Straight Line”, one of the most anticipated works in the hardcore/post-hardcore scene this year. With 11 powerful tracks, this record invites listeners to walk, dance, and jump while connecting deeply to its emotional core. Recorded under Rise Records and once again produced by the legendary Ross Robinson – who previously worked on Lament and has collaborated with iconic names such as KoRn, Slipknot, and At The Drive-In – the production keeps the band’s signature emotionally…
(51:08; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Rise Records/Petroleum Records/Ada/Warner, 08.09.2023) Do you want a tour through the different genres and styles of rock, from punk to metal? Then Kvelertak’s latest album, ‘Endling”, will be your guide. You’ll enjoy amazing riffs, powerful vocals, fast and heavy drumming, and rhythms that will make you jump, dance, or simply relax and enjoy the musical journey. Kvelertak, the Norwegian band, brings us “Endling”, featuring 10 tracks and a total runtime of 51 minutes. It offers a journey through various musical styles, making it a diverse album that fans of rock, metal, and their numerous subgenres can…
(48:47; Vinyl, CD, Digital; InsideOut Music/Sony Music, 16.06.2023) Two friends, a promise, and a cabin. Martin and Simon, at the age of seven, made a vow to form a band. Twenty-two years later, they fulfilled that promise by creating AVKRVST and releasing their debut album, ‘The Approbation”. This work was recorded in a small cabin deep within a Norwegian forest. The album, composed of seven tracks, is a conceptual prog rock journey that blends prog rock and prog metal, featuring heavy, melodic, and occasionally aggressive elements. Simon Bergseth (composer, guitars, bass, and vocals) and Martin Utby (composer, drums, and synthesizers),…
(26:41; CD, Digital; Eigenveröffentlichung, 31.05.2024) !Gerald! are a French/English band consisting of four members, formed in 2018 with the intention of offering a unique musical and visual experience. They now present their new production: “Music For Broken Elevators”. Although this album consists of only five songs, it is an entire journey and experience for the senses and emotions. It’s nearly impossible to categorize !Gerald! within a single musical genre, as their sound navigates through various styles such as French prog rock, psychedelic rock, jazz-rock, darkwave, post-punk, and eclectic prog. However, what stands out in this album is its theatrical rock…
(1:57:03; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Stunvolume/BMG, 11.04.2005/05.04.2024) In 2024, Garbage surprised us with a remastered version of one of their most iconic albums, the celebrated “Bleed Like Me”. Considered by many to be the band’s most rock-oriented record, this new release expands the original version of 12 tracks (including the bonus track) to an impressive total of 28 songs. This reissue arrives 20 years after the original recording, which took place between 2003 and 2004, although the album was released in 2005. What’s new in this remaster? To start, there are 16 new tracks, including rarities, B-sides, and remixes of some…
(52:21; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Bella Union/Rough Trade, 26.07.2024) I must admit that until a few days ago, I had not heard of or known anything about Humanist, the band led by British guitarist, producer, and songwriter Rob Marshall. However, after listening to their self-titled debut album “Humanist” and now their new album “On The Edge Of A Lost And Lonely World”, they have quickly become one of my new favorite bands. It is impossible to escape the vast array of nuances found in their albums. They take us from industrial and gothic rock to classic alternative rock, even venturing into…
(41:53; Vinyl, CD, Digital; MNRK heavy, 12.07.2024) The British band Turin, formerly known as This Is Turin from 2008 to 2023, has decided to simplify their name and present us with their album titled “The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing”. Released under the MNRK heavy label, this musical work is filled with influences from various metal genres such as deathcore, symphonic death, post-death, melodic death, black, and death metal. Combining these styles results in a sound brimming with fury, violence, rage, despair, and rawness, conveyed through each instrument and the powerful vocals that express the rawest emotions of the songs. The…
(38:11; Vinyl, CD, MC, Digital; Earache Records/Edel, 12.04.2024) Kris Barras Band: A Celestial Impact with “Halo Effect”. In the landscape of contemporary rock, the Kris Barras Band stands tall as a colossus of hard rock and blues rock, not only in Europe but worldwide. Their distinctive sound, a fusion of southern rock, blues, jazz, and country with the vigor of hard rock and blues rock, could deceive anyone into believing they hail from the birthplace of rock, the United States. However, these musical titans come to us from the United Kingdom. Since their formation in 2015, the band has been…
(34:08; Vinyl, CD, Digital; MNRK heavy/SPV, 22.03.2024) Mastiff: A Miserable Band from a Miserable City That Created a Powerful Sound. Are you ready to immerse yourself in an experience of brutality, rawness, and sonic power? “Depricipice,” Mastiff’s latest album, offers that and much more. In this new work, hardcore takes the spotlight, though without neglecting influences from doom/sludge metal, powerviolence, and grindcore. Hailing from Kingston upon Hull, this quintet plunges us into a brutal sonic assault, delving into profound themes like depression and loneliness, conveying the rawness of these emotions in a visceral manner. The album kicks off forcefully with…
(54:24; Vinyl, CD, Digital; Napalm Records, 09.02.2024) Time, it’s an amazing time. Are you a Metal enthusiast? Then “Time”, the latest album by Infected Rain, is just what you’ve been waiting for. This Moldovan band presents us with a work loaded with Nu Metal, Metalcore, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and Progressive Metal, featuring mature and profound lyrics. Additionally, this release marks the debut of Alice Lane on bass, following the departure of Vladimir Babich and Sergey Babich from the band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz7lwQgbUK4 In “Time” we dive into a wide palette of sounds, where drums, guitar, and bass combine with the…
(53:25; Vinyl (2 LP), CD, Digital; Warner Records/Warner Music, 02.06.2023) Avenged Sevenfold’s “Life Is But A Dream…” is a Musical Frankenstein’s Monster. In popular mythology, Frankenstein’s Monster is known as a being created from various parts of different bodies, resulting in a unique creature. Similarly, A7x presents us with their album “Life Is But A Dream…”, which, like the monster, elicits mixed opinions among listeners. But what does this album offer us? From the start, we are immersed in a blend of sounds ranging from 1970s progressive rock to classical music pieces, passing through synthesizers with futuristic intentions. At times,…
(1:03:32, Vinyl, CD, Digital; Silent Room Recordings/Spinefarm Records, 19.05.2023) Sleep Token, the masters of sonic emotions, conclude their trilogy with the release of “Take Me Back To Eden.” Like a skillful storyteller, the album immerses us in a musical experience that exceeds expectations and challenges conventional categorisation. Comprised of 12 tracks ranging from 3 to 8 minutes, “Take Me Back To Eden” ventures into various genres and subgenres, from pop to metalcore, traversing contemporary R&B and Djent. This new album provides a blend of sonic landscapes that delight and challenge our senses. From the serenity of ‘Aqua Regia’ to the…
Of Darkness And Light Tour Gleich drei Bands aus dem Pelagic-Stall tourten in diesem Herbst gemeinsam durch Europa. Interessanterweise waren es allesamt Formationen, die nur wenig Gemeinsamkeiten mit dem ansonsten so typischen Post-Metal-Sound des Berliner Labels hatten: Die schwedische Sängerin Karin Park, die mit ihren Solo-Alben vorwiegend im Electroclash zu verorten ist, der US-Amerikanische Singer/Songwriter Evan Patterson mit seinem experimentellen Solo-Projekt Jaye Jyle sowie das norwegische Noise-Rock-Ensemble Årabrot. Dass diese drei Formationen auch in Nilvange, einem Vorort des lothringischen Thionville haltmachten war dabei ein Glücksfall. Denn das ehemalige Hallenbad ist bekannt für seine gute Akustik. Ein Gastbeitrag unseres kolumbianischen Gast-Autoren…
A Night Of Headbanging Fast genau ein Jahr ist es nun her, dass die Wahlberliner Psych- und Stoner-Rocker von Elder sich mit “Innate Passage” erstmals auf Progressive-Rock-Territorium vorwagten und bei uns prompt den Teapot Of the Week abräumten. Anlass genug, sich die Band auch einmal live zu Gemüte zu führen. Kurzerhand ging es also ins ausverkaufte Frankfurter Nachtleben, wo neben Elder auch die Londoner Band Steak mit fuzzy-groovy Sounds auf uns wartete. Die Eindrücke des Abends, zusammengefasst von unserem kolumbianischen Gast-Autoren William Deaquiz. The Nachtleben welcomed two amazing bands of metal: the British band Steak and Massachusetts-based Elder, currently established…
A Unique Sonic Journey Beyond Familiar Genres Gleich mit drei neuen Veröffentlichungen aus dem Jahre 2023 im Gepäck – der “Love Is Still Alive”-EP, der “Sketches Of The Red Districts”-LP und dem Soundtrack zur finnischen Mond-Nazi-Komödie “Iron Sky: The Coming Race” – machte das umstrittene wie legendäre slowenische Künstler-Kollektiv Laibach im luxemburgischen Den Atelier Station. Verstärkt durch die schwedische Gastsängerin Donna Marina Mårtensson präsentierten die Musiker ihre Kunst in einem Format, das in drei Segmente unterteilt war. Ein 45-minütiges Psychedelic-Set zwischen Space Rock und Country, während dem “Love Is Still Alive” am Stück dargeboten wurde. Ein zweites Set unter dem…