Aviator–Loneliness Leave The Light On For Me
Genre: Post Hardcore, Melodic Hardcore, Emo
FFO: Pianos Become the Teeth, Touchè Amore, La Dispute
Throughout my college years, I had numerous experiences sharing the stage with fellow locals Aviator.
Watching them progress over the years while many hardcore bands have come and gone has been an incredible experience. There are very few modern bands that capture the emotion, passion, and poetic lyricism the Boston-based quintet puts forth.
Their latest LP and sophomore effort, Loneliness Leave The Light On For Me, feels more raw and angry than their previous works while also progressing forward in maturity both sonically and lyrically. If you are a fan of any of any current trending emotional hardcore acts, you would be a fool to not give this record a spin.
Bison–You Are Not the Ocean; You Are The Patient
Genre: Alternative Metal, Sludge Metal
FFO: Mastodon, Baroness, Black Tusk
After a five year break, the artists firmly known as Bison BC reclaim the throne with their latest LP.
You Are Not the Ocean is not a record that can be pigeon-holed. All different assortments of Metal form together to create this killer album full of tongue-in-cheek lyricism, both doomy and thrashy riffage, and even some epic Neurosis worship incorporating various unique instruments.
If you’re a metalhead of any style whether it be Thrash, Sludge, Death, Post, Doom, and so on, be prepared to have some fun with this one.
Blackenberge–Radiogaze
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegazing
FFO: Lush, Silversun Pickups, Pity Sex
Russian indie rock outfit Blackenberge deliver an LP sonically matching its title in a flawless fashion.
Radiogaze offers track after track of upbeat indie pop tunes drowned beneath reverb and thick layers of sound. Similar to the idea of Silversun Pickups but slightly less radio friendly.
If you’re in the mood for some Shoegaze but don’t want to fall asleep, this is the record for you.
Deafcult–Auras
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegazing
FFO: My Bloody Valentine, Whirr, Ringo Deathstarr
Auras is the debut LP from the Australian sextet known as Deafcult. It is a very similar record to the one listed directly before this but utilized its thick layers of sound to generate a more pleasant, ethereal ambience.
Deafcult would fall quite comfortably in the early 90s Creation Records roster and Auras serves one of my most recommended records this year for that particular demographic.
Elder–Reflections of a Floating World
Genre: Stoner Rock, Progressive Rock
FFO: The Sword, Monolord, Pallbearer
New England Stoner Rock trio Elder stray a bit from the traditional nostalgic doom sound in their latest record in favor of a more progressive, instrumentally impressive effort.
Reflections of a Floating World is an exciting, layered masterpiece with various guest musicians, long track lengths that do anything but bore the listener, and probably one of the best guitar tones I’ve heard produced.
Kamikaze Girl–Seafoam
Genre: Dream Pop, Riot Grrrl, Shoegazing
FFO: Bikini Kill, Pity Sex, Field Mouse
Leeds-based duo Kamikaze Girl storms the scene with their debut LP Seafoam. T
his is undoubtedly the most unique release of the year blending Shoegaze, Dream Pop, and Riot grrl flawlessly..somehow.
Vocalist Lucinda Livingston’s unwavering passion matches with each track ranging from droney, sorrowful emo ballads to upbeat, abrasive punk rock flipping off misogynistic behavior/people.