Asthenia–Nucleation
Genre: Black Metal, Post Rock
FFO: Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, Harikiri for the Sky
Chinese “blackgaze” act, Asthenia, illustrate beauty through their instrumentation in refreshing, unique ways with their sophomore LP.
Nucleation doesn’t rely entirely on ambient, atmospheric build-ups but rather consists of strongly layered, movements a various tempos using a variety on instruments.
Stay away from Ghostbath and gravitate towards Asthenia for an inspiring piece offered to this scene.
Autobahn-The Moral Crossing
Genre: Post Punk, Goth Rock
FFO: Joy Division, Killing Joke, Bauhaus
Leeds quintet Autobahn offer a dynamic sophomore LP exploring the nostalgic sounds of early Post Punk and Goth Rock while experimenting with various instrumental layering and unique strong structures.
String instruments are incorporated adding subtle theatrical flare and the vocal-work alternates between the genre’s signature baritone style as well as occasional spoken word pieces.
The Body/Full Of Hell–Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light
Genre: Industrial, Drone, Noise, Sludge Metal, Powerviolence, Grindcore
FFO: Godflesh, Nails, Thou
Rhode Island-based Industrial Sludge act The Body and Maryland Powerviolence act Full of Hell reunite cross paths once more for their sophomore collaborative LP Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light.
The two drastically different takes on aggressive music once again function like two peas in a pod creating a more extreme yet somehow more accessible take on The Body‘s sound and adding horrifying, Industrial layering to Full of Hell‘s sound.
These bands sound best when they are together and this record shows it.
Death Of Lovers–The Acrobat
Genre: Post Punk, Synth Pop, New Wave
FFO: New Order, Depeche Mode, Nothing
Nothing/Whirr collaborative effort Death of Lovers stray away from the gloomy, primarily Gothic sounds of their debut EP Buried Under A World of Roses shifting towards the brighter, poppy, synth-happy side of the Post Punk genre for the debut LP.
The Acrobat bathes in pure ’80s nostalgia and (as the album art suggests) features a much more bright, upbeat direction and direction for the group.
Desolate–Lunar Glyphs
Genre: Electronic, Dance, Ambient
FFO: Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada
German Producer Swen Weisemann (Desolate) returns after a five year break with a beautiful, tranquil third LP basking in ambience and soothing atmosphere.
I don’t share Instrumental Electronic releases too often, but this release stood out and I highly recommend it for fans of any genre.
Quicksand–Interiors
Genre: Post Hardcore, Alternative Rock
FFO: Helmet, Rival Schools, Shelter
New York Post Hardcore veterans Quicksand return for the first record in over two decades.
Despite mixed reviews, I feel Interiors is a more relaxed, mature take on the group’s stapled sound but still manages to rock hard enough to make it a worthy comeback record in the massive tidal wave trend of nostalgic reunions.
Teen Daze–Themes For A New Earth
Genre: Indie Pop, Dream Pop, Ambient, Electronic, Synthpop, Synthpop, Chillwave, Post Rock
FFO: Explosions in the Sky, Neon Indian, Washed Out
Canadian electronic artist, Jamison Isaak, returns again this year under the Teen Daze alias offering a sister record to February’s Themes For A Dying Earth.
Themes for A New Earth channels lush, atmospheric soundscapes providing further thought-provoking ambience.
YLVA–META
Genre: Post Metal, Sludge Metal
FFO: Neurosis, Isis (the band), Pelican
Australian Sludge quartet YLVA storm the scene with a haunting, powerful debut balancing the sheer power and haunting ambience their inspired acts deliver.
META features six refreshing, monstrous tracks of pure atmospheric sludge and stands as one of heavy music’s most mandatory records this year.