Bayonne–Primitives
Genre: Electronic, Synthpop, Indie Rock, Chamber, Ambient
FFO: Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens, Passion Pit
Roger Seller’s debut LP Primitives under the moniker Bayonne is a multi-textured, carefully sketched out landscape of synth-layered ambience. It flows cohesively and maintains a unique intimacy most new artists lack.
Primitives impressed me on almost every level in terms of new releases.
Beastmaker–Lusus Naturae
Genre: Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Psychadelic Rock
FFO: Black Sabbath, Uncle Acid & The Dead Beats, Pallbearer
Sabbath worship has become a genre in and of itself, but it is rare for young band to pull enough creative energy to stand out in this retro-sounding category.
Frenso, California’s Beastmaker proves to be that needle in the haystack with their debut LP. Lusus Naturae blends the youthful energy of modern Doom while still managing to create a 70’s-era sound.
I highly recommend this release to any metal head that wonders what Black Sabbath would sound like if they dropped Master of Reality in 2016.
The Body/Full of Hell–One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache
Genre: Industrial, Drone, Powerviolence, Grindcore
FFO: Dead in the Dirt, Thou, Nails, Godflesh
Only one mere week after dropping No One Deserves Happiness, The Body is back with a collaboration featuring Maryland’s Full of Hell.
This release combines the droney, industrial direction of The Body with Full of Hell‘s ferociously fierce take on noisey powerviolence.
One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache is a tough listen at first and will cause your ear drums to ache if you aren’t prepared.
Cobalt–Slow Forever
Genre: Black Metal, Sludge Metal, Experimental
FFO: Neurosis, Panopticon, Deathspell Omega
Colorado’s Experimental Black Metal project Cobalt has been through a lot the past few years.
They gave their previous, decade-long frontman the boot after he delivered a series of both misogynistic and homophobic comments and remarks towards other bands.
In 2016 such a disgusting act is undoubtedly career suicide (lookin’ at you, Whirr), but Cobalt manages to pick up the pieces, obtain superior frontman, and release their strongest album yet.
Slow Forever keeps a solid footing in traditional Black Metal while skillfully pulling influences from all over the board including folk, sludge, and blues.
Deardarkhead–Strange Weather
Genre: Psychadelic Rock, Instrumental
FFO: Mogwai, Diiv
Previously known as an established shoegazing act, New Jersey’s Deardarkhead made the decision to morph into an instrumental project following their lead vocalist’s departure.
Unlike previously mentioned instrumental bands, Deardarkhead keeps things short, sweet, yet interesting.
The loss of a frontman generated pressure for the trio to create atmospheres and soundscapes far more captivating than their previous works. Long story short: they pulled it off.
Give Deardarkhead a try if you’re looking for vocal-free tunes that are not necessarily cenetered in long, build ups.
Domo Genesis–Genesis
Genre: Hip Hop, R&B, Rap
FFO: Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt
Odd Future veteran Domo Genesis turns over a new leaf with his debut full length.
Genesis is a fun, honest, r&b-laced release setting him apart from the unfair comparisons to his fellow OF brothers seven years in the making.
Horrified–Of Despair
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
FFO: In Flames, Hypocrisy, Asphyx
Hailing from the UK, Death Metal quartet Horrfied channel the sound of Sweden with their sophomore LP.
Of Despair keeps a solid footing in the debut’s brutality, but also experiments with melodic riffage keeping the band’s sound fresh as ever.
Lody Kong-Dreams & Visions
Genre: Sludge Metal, Punk Rock, Noise Rock
FFO: Sepultura, Soulfy, Cavalera Conspiracy
The Cavalera family proves their mastery of the metallic art again and again via their many closely linked projects.
The torch has been passed off to the next Cavalera generation with Lody Kong.
Both Igor and Zyon Cavalera make their father proud with their debut full length blending elements of sludge metal, punk rock, noise rock, and grunge.
Night Moves–Pennied Days
Genre: Psychadelic Rock, Alternative Country
FFO: Youth Lagoon, Portugal The Man, Mazzy Star
Minneapolis duo Night Move‘s sophomore effort is a pleasant offering of soothing psycadelia with a folky twang.
Pennied Days illustrates well-constructed, etheral pop tunes exploring the realm of laid back future folk.
Plague Vendor–Bloodsweat
Genre: Noise Rock, Punk Rock
FFO: Refused, The Chariot, The Jesus Lizard
Epitaph’s Plague Vendor returns for an eleven song collection of dirty, gritty, punk rock anthems.
Bloodsweat lives up to its name showcasing the group’s hard work and effort towards creating an album that matches the intensity of their live shows.
Rorcal–Creon
Genre: Black Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Drone, Experimental
FFO: Deafheaven, Amenra, Oathbreaker, Cursed, Totem Skin
Swiss black metal quartet Rorcal‘s fourth LP is a melodic, deeply layered concept album centered in Greek tragedy.
Creon consists of four movements spanning across fifty minutes of ferocious, soundscapes. Each epic movement deals with the death of an iconic Greek character with Creon serving as their link.
Prepare your eardrums to embark on an intense adventure with a unique, mythological narrative at its core.