Peaceful downtempo electronics. Music to work by.
nthng – There Is A Place For Me
Unto Others – Strength
Definitely one of my new personal hypes for this year. It is an epitome of a goth rock album that is right in the middle lane of my alley, pretty much occupying the whole street. It’s a perfect, epic record that gives me goosebumps. It’s also interesting how some heavy metal flavor is sprinkled in here and there.
I just checked my Last.fm stats and this album is already on the top of my artist and album lists for 2023. Wow, I knew I listened to this a lot, but I wasn’t aware this much. And with every listen it just grows stronger.
Don Broco – Amazing Things
Part super cool nu metal, part cheesy pop music. I’m back an forth between how much I like the first part and how much the second detracts me. Overall I try to focus on the good bits and those are really-really good. It would be good to see them live to see how this whole things play out, usually on a concert you see their true self.
Slipknot – The End, So Far
I admire that this album starts with a song that’s not typical for Slipknot, it almost sounds like Queens of the Stone Age for the vocals or Nine Inch Nails with the piano. Mature, thoughtful, with lots of fine details. Still I can see how this is a Slipknot song: I can feel how it reflects the journey and experiences that these individuals have gone through. Just looking at the side projects and solo career of Corey Taylor, it is so well reflected in Adderall how he brings back his own development to the band.
Besides this aspect, the record at length has everything Slipknot owns, even pushing their signature nu metal further to heavy metal. Amazing album as always, scratches all my Slipknot itches, it just delivers.
Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance Revisited
Time travel to high school. It was 20 years ago, omg. Still a kick in the teeth and stabs like a blade. Makes me wonder where’s life gone in twenty years and what my teenager self would think or do seeing me now. Would slap me in the face, that’s what.
Gorgonn – Six Paths
Dubstep, like in the good old days.
Bot1500 – Surreal
It’s a little gem on the IDM-techno axis with an ambient mood. Beautifully crafted music.
ONI – Loathing Light
Just the right amount of melodic and hardcore metal.
Skalpel – Origins
Nu jazz grooves, from liquid drum and bass vibes to abstract jazzy arrangements.
JK Flesh – Sewer Bait
This is not necessarily an outstanding album, but it’s been a very long time that I listened to rhythmic noise. So cheers to that! Side note: interesting that this is self-labelled as industrial techno, haven’t thought of rhythmic noise as such, but it makes sense.