2018 started off right with endless amounts of new music for our listening pleasure. I have compiled a list of eleven albums (covering a wide variety of genres) released this past January that may have slipped beneath your radar.
A Pregnant Light–Lucky All My Life
Genre: Black Metal, Post Rock, Hardcore Punk
FFO: Deafheaven, Wolves in the Throne Room, Askumite
The Michigan-based artist known as “Damian Master” maintains a tendency to flawlessly blend opposing genres in mysterious ways throughout all of his projects.
For those who have been following this blog since the beginning, I did a piece a few years back praising a record Master had released under the Askumite moniker titled Rubber Room. I was heavily impressed by the way the record presented a Hardcore Punk sound with enough elements of Black Metal to make the record unique and more engaging.
With his latest offering, listeners find Master this time revisiting the surname A Pregnant Light; illustrating a similar reunion of Black Metal and Punk in what has been self-described as “Purple Metal.”
Lucky All My Life features Blackened Post Rock with aggressive, Punk-like moments any fan of aggressive is sure to love.
Bloodbather–Pressure
Genre: Metalcore
FFO: Code Orange, Norma Jean, Knocked Loose
Florida quartet, Bloodbather, start the year off with a sophomore EP sure to please fans of the modern, trending beatdown scene known for lately incorporating elements of early 2000s Metalcore a long the lines of Disembodied.
Pressure is a seven song collection of punishing brutality guaranteed to please the hearts of crowd-killing youth across the globe.
Picture Knocked Loose with with more bite and less bark.
Closer–All This Will Be
Genre: Post Hardcore, Screamo
FFO: Circle Takes the Square, Orchid, Loma Prieta
Closer is a New York-based ensemble that thankfully succeeds in keeping up 2018’s momentum for solid aggressive releases.
All This Will Be is a marvelous debut finding that sweet spot equilibrium between lush melody and raw passion.
Poetic, agonizing hardcore punk embraces pristine, Post Rock movements inevitably bringing to mind legendary acts such as Circle Takes the Square or City of Caterpillar.
Evidence–Weather or Not
Genre: Rap, Hip Hop
FFO: Masta Ace, The Alchemist, Dilated Peoples
Dilated People’s very own Evidence keeps the “Boom Bap” take on Hip Hop alive with a third solo offering.
“Weather or Not” is a fun, nostalgic journey with clever lyricism and top tier production.
Flatsound–Hummingbird
Genre: Indie Folk, LoFi
FFO: Bright Eyes, Teen Suicide, Told Slant
Bedroom indie folk artist Mitch Welling (aka Flatsound) presents an EP basked in minimalism whilst preserving a hauntingly intimate atmosphere.
Hummingbird carries seven tracks of eerie yet warm acoustic indie folk ideal for a listening experience on a cold, winter night by the fire.
Ghost Music–I Was Hoping You’d Pass By Here
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Country
FFO: Mazzy Star, Mojave 3, Kurt Vile
I Was Hoping You’d Pass By Here is a delightful debut record composed by a new quartet of musicians hailing from Southend.
Ghost Music shines primarily in their seamless mastery of songwriting. Each individual tune comfortably fits around the three minute mark embellishing warm, dreamy guitar pop with a Southend twang.
Fans of Mazzy Star, The National, Beck, Galaxie 500, and Kurt Vile will find a soothing sense of familiarity upon giving I Was Hoping You’d Pass By Here a spin.
Hooded Menace–Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed
Genre: Funeral Doom, Sludge Metal Death Metal
FFO: Bell Witch, Unearthly Trance, Lycus
Finnish Death Doom act Hooded Menace triumphantly return for a fifth full length record.
Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed continues the group’s streak of melding crushing Funeral Doom with upbeat Entombed-era Death Metal sprinkled in.
If you are familiar with Fulfill the Curse, Never Cross The Dead, or Darkness Drips Forth, you already know this one is a doozy.
Lylo–Post Era
Genre: Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post Punk, Jazz
FFO: The Cure, Killing Joke, Hoops
Lylo is a Glaswegian three piece that brings new flavor to the current trend of jangley guitar pop.
Post Era presents seven tracks of Post Punk with a funky edge allowing the trio to stand out like a sore thumb. Layers of synth and complimentary saxaphone leads add to the melting pot of musical styles Lylo proudly experiments with including (but not limited to) Funk, R&B, and Jazz Fusion.
Post Era is without a doubt the stand out release for January 2018. Give it a listen!
Scallops Hotel- Sovereign Nose of Your Arrogant Face
Genre: Hip Hop/Rap
FFO: Earl Sweatshirt, Cannibal Ox, Aesop Rock
Maine-based MC milo (AKA Scallops Hotel) presents a bizarre LP filled clever lyricism, unorthodox flow, and top-tier production.
Sovereign Nose of Your Arrogant Face serves as the second installment of Scallop’s trilogy of records he describes as “art rap” pulling on abstract imagery to delve into the human psyche and further explore his own “mythoverse.”
If you’re into Hip Hop and yearn for something truly unique, “scallops hotel is the building.”
Shame–Songs of Praise
Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk
FFO: Fucked Up, Pissed Jeans, Protomartyr
UK rock group, Shame, turn heads with a debut record balancing melody and aggression.
Songs of Praise is a diverse collection of angry, youthful anthems with clever lyricism and distinctive instrumentation.
Twin Oaks–Living Rooms
Genre: Indie Folk
FFO: Mazzy Star, Angel Olsen, Cigarettes After Sex
LA duo, Twin Oaks, deliver a hospitable collection of tracks this month guaranteed to melt your anxieties away.
The group chose to record five songs (one of which had previously appeared on the Collapse EP) in spacious rooms using minimal recording equipment.
Living Rooms is a beautiful, intimate collection of music I strongly recommend to anyone.