Blaqk Audio–Material
Genre: Synthpop, Electronic
FFO: AFI, Depeche Mode, Cold Cave
I identify as an AFI fan so it goes without saying that the past few years of complete silence from Davey Havok and the boys left me scratching my head.
I found Burials to be a marvelous return to form and it left me truly interested to see which direction the group would travel next.
In this great fog of confusion, two silhouettes emerge, synthesizer in hand.
Havok and Puget deliver the third offering to their electronic side project to not only tithe over the fans, but please them. The combination of Havok’s impressive pipes and Puget’s mastery of textured, electronic instrumentation sets the duo apart and expands the sound Burials laid out in songs such as “Heart Stops.”
Blaqk Audio has truly made a name for themselves with a well-structured LP centered in Havok’s dark lyricism and melodic sensibilities that would feel out of place if featured in their fulcrum endeavors.
Horse Lattitudes–Primal GnosisFFO: Pallbearer, Lycus, Hooded Menace
Finnish Doom metal outfit Horse Latitudes return with a strangely crafted addition to the Doom Metal genre.
Absent of guitars, the trio relies on twin bass and synthesizers for their take on the droney, loud atmosphere encompassing the genre.
Primal Gnosis is yet another strange and difficult pill to swallow for 2016’s Doom Metal roster, but it is a uniquely executed one nonetheless.
Howls of Ebb–Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows
Genre: Blackened Death Metal, Experimental
FFO: Behemoth, Chthe’ilist, Entombed
Italian experimental metal act Howls of Ebb storm the scene once more with a horrific sophomore LP filled with strange time signatures, complex riffage, and stoner metal influence.
It is a mammoth of an album wrapped in a cloak of terror and darkness not recommended for the faint of heart.
Lush–Blind Spot
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegazing, Britpop
FFO: Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine,Ride
Shoegazing was at its all time high in the early ’90s but as “the scene that celebrates itself” became a past tense, the bands on the Creation Records roster were mostly forced to pave their sound’s direction in juxtaposition with Britian’s trends.
Lush has taken full advantage of the “Nu Gaze” movement by honing in their strengths from the entirety of their career for their comeback EP. Blind Spot encompasses the dream pop, shoegazing, and Brit Pop stages of the group compressed into four tracks backed by strong writing and a reunion that serves as more than a cash grab.
Primitive Weapons–The Future of Death
Genre: Post Hardcore
FFO: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ghostlimb, Every Time I Die
FFO: Hum, Failure, Pity Sex
The four song follow up to 2014’s Blame Confusion, shows the Solids distancing themselves from poppy, bright, punk-driven rock n’ roll in favor of slower, heavier, and darker songwriting.
The Canadian two piece channels fuzzy, 90’s alternative rock groups along the likes of Hum and Failure.