Cute and calm acoustic album. Kinda jazz, very light rock, pop.
kanekoayano – 石の糸 (Threads of Stone)
Messa – The Spin
It’s dark like gothic but not black metal or post-punk goth, it’s well-crafted musically but not over the top progressive metal, it’s slow in tempo but not at all doom or sludge. I was a bit confused when they listed things like jazz and dark ambient in their influences, and then, the track The Dress goes into a full-on jazz depart before jumping into a cinematic transition and ending up with a fantastic solo and then the crystal clear vocals arrive… They really have it all. Still, it’s not a mish-mash of things but a perfect amalgamation and genre-bending.
Overall, Messa is just one of those most eclectic dark rock bands that put the sweetest sorrow in my throat. And The Spin is a beautiful album, gives me shivers over and over again. I can easily listen to this on repeat.
Update: I’ve just listened to the previous albums of Messa and now it’s clear why they mention stuff like drone, dark ambient, doom, or stoner as references for their music. There are actual full tracks with these aesthetics on earlier records. However, I think The Spin is a lot more evolved and cleaner version of their sound. It’s not so much all these styles living side-by-side anymore but having a great blend of these sources into one coherent voice.
Getdown Services – Your Medal’s In The Post
Apparently they define themselves as art-disco, but my hook on this record is Dog Dribble, which is rather an upbeat indie rock thing, as I see it. In any case, that song is such a smash hit, and again it’s so not about the fancy technique.
Also, it’s just ridiculous that almost all new records that I listened to and loved this year so far were British ones. The scene is on fire. (Or was at least, last year, since all these albums are from 2024.)
Deadletter – Hysterical Strength
Post-punk sensibility with indie rock vibes and occasional banger hits. The moody songs with the saxophone remind me of Morphine.
King Hannah – Big Swimmer
Honest, calm, heartfelt, soothing, mysterious. Alternative guitar music. The spoken word bits are the extra gold nuggets that I didn’t expect to find.
IST IST – Light A Bigger Fire
Post-punk goth rock vibes.
Fat Dog – WOOF.
Industrial electro-punk, eclectic as it should be. This vibe and zest brings me joy, makes me smile. I’d love to see this band live.
Zeal & Ardor – Greif
Just a couple of months ago I wrote I hope Zeal & Ardor doesn’t sleep on their signature style of “soul metal” and keeps evolving, growing, exploring further. And here it is. The new record has dropped and it’s nothing in line with their previous albums, and that is absolutely the best thing that could have happened to this band. It’s also a great feeling to read the same sentiment echoed over this record’s Bandcamp page from other people, too. It’s rare that a band can innovate and keep innovating so much, and their fan base taking the course with them and supporting their journey.
As for the record itself, I honestly don’t really know what to write or how to articulate my thoughts, rather. It’s fourteen tracks, which is a lot, and there’s an immense diversity. From calm but creepy lullaby, through massive metal road rage, to their usual beats and pulse but with bits of electronics now, ambient outtake with synths, and hard rock banger hits—it is a lot. I will need many more listening of this to digest properly, but I know I love it. Now I kinda feel like I’ll like the individual songs better than the album as a cohesive unit, just because it’s so non-cohesive and not in a conceptual way. Anyways, let’s try and articulate these feelings again in a few months’ time. Until then, I’ll just keep listening.
Raised Fist – Anthems
Angry punk guys playing hard rock. Like someone coming from a hc punk background but evolved and built through the years, playing something more well-crafted today but keeping that punk zest. Especially the singer, I can hear him biting into the mic.
Black Oak County – Theatre Of The Mind
This fits in the row with Mustasch and Motorjesus in the sense that it’s also hard rock and some heavy metal in a blender. I couldn’t name any specific thing why this record should be any standout but still I find myself listening to it repeatedly. These guys sound like those friendly rock and roll dudes, not overpolished, down to earth, honest, just from that next room in the rehearsal place.
(After listening to some album I ended up in this Nordic rock listening spree and still processing the new finds from there.)