American Football–LP2 
Genre: Emo, Indie Rock, Math Rock
FFO: Owen, Owls, Into It Over It

17 years ago, an Illinoise trio known as American Football released a self-titled record that has come to gain recognition as a flagship record of the emo genre along with Sunny Day Real Estate‘s Diary.

The group disbanded before any true success was achieved, and frontman Mike Kinsella continued to perform music under the Owen moniker shifting his teen angst towards a more mature, folk-based venture.
2014 saw an unexpected reunion of repressings and sold out, one-off performances.
2016 sees the sophomore LP fans never expected.
Kinsella and the boys revitalize the angst and twinkley, euphoric atmosphere of the cult classic predecessor but find an appropriate way to apply such elements to their adult, family-oriented lives.

Goes Cube–Shadows Swallowed the Flood
Genre: Alternative Metal, Sludge Metal, Hardcore Punk, Post Rock
FFO: Torche, Black Tusk, Deftones

New York-based, Alternative Metal trio Goes Cube drop their third (and sadly last)LP filled with unique genre-bending, rock solid songwriting.

Shadows Swallowed the Flood is a hard record to pigeonhole even for a genre-obsessed blogger such as myself.

The heavy moments are crushing, the melodic movements are pristine and glimmering with etheral ambiance, and the faster pieces display an intense, raw punk rock vibe.

Each of the albums ten tracks boast a different yet cohesive flavor making Shadows Swallowed the Flood one of 2016’s strongest entries to date.

Khemmis–Hunted
Genre: Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Rock
FFO: Pallbearer, The Sword, Yob

Denver-based Doom outfit Khemmis shine with a revtitalized, ironically optimistic take on the genre.

Hunted, the group’s sophomore effort, matches the crushing riffage of their counterparts, but brings about a nostalgically bright classic Rock energy to the mix.

NxWorries–Yes Lawd!
Genre: R&B, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop
FFO: Frank Ocean, D’angelo, Kendrick Lamar

MC Anderson .Paak and beat master Knxwledge pair up for a unique record in 2016’s realm of Hip Hop.

Nostalgia is a key element in both vocal presentation and production ranging from ’90s R&B, Motown, Funk, and even ’80s era synthpop.

Planes Mistaken For Stars–Prey
Genre: Post Hardcore, Emo, Punk Rock
FFO: Coliseum, Harm Wulf, Wovenhand

After a ten year break, Illinois-based Post Hardcore outfit Planes Mistaken for Stars  make quite the comeback with a fourth LP picking up exactly where Mercy left off.

Prey boasts ten tracks of hard-hitting, Post Hardcore tracks laced with melody and equipped with a dark melancholic setting.
The quartet’s take on the genre may be a hard pill to swallow for younger listeners, but fans of the group and the era captured in particular will be more pleased with the quartet’s triumphant return.

The Dillinger Escape Plan–Dissociation
Genre: Mathcore
FFO: Converge, Botch, Every Time I Die

Legendary New Jersey mathcore act Dillinger Escape Plan present to you their final bow.

Dissociation illustrates the twenty year career of the group at full circle capitalizing on the chaos of the earliest material while still subtly working in the bizarre nuances explored in later offerings.

There is no denying the tremendous impact Dillinger offered to the hardcore scene as well as the vast instrumental complexities and talent found both on their written material and live performances.

Disassociation severs the final tie flawlessly to both their fan base and the heavy music scene itself.
Super Unison–Auto
Genre: Post Hardcore
FFO: Drive Like Jehu, Punch, Bikini Kill

Oakland, California Post Hardcore trio Super Unison make their debut with Auto on Deathwish, Inc.

Former Punch frontwoman Meghan O’ Neil takes her vocal performance to new heights initating explosive, emotionally-charged shrieks over nostalgically authentic Post Hardcore in its purest form.

Dreamarcher–Dreamarcher EP
Genre: Experimental Rock, Post Rock, Space Rock, Black Metal
FFO: A Place to Bury Strangers, Deafheaven, The Mars Volta

Norwegian Experimental rock quartet Dreamarcher debut their unique sound to the world with a self titled EP that cannot be pigeonholed.

Each of the five experimental tracks provide a range of progressive, spacey instrumentation, subtle sprinkles of Black/Stoner Metal influence, and a shifting vocal performance neatly pairing with the spontaneous mood of each piece.
Gatecreeper–Sonoran Depravation
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Entombed, Asphyx, Bolt Thrower

They simply don’t make Death Metal like this anymore.

Arizona-based quintet Gatecreeper revitalize the genre with a pounding debut LP finding the supreme medium between Death Metal’s classic and modern era .

Sonoran Depravation is an unwavering beast of a record that continues to prove that Relapse Records is on top for of your Metallic needs.

Alcest–Kodama 
Genre: Post Rock, Dream Pop, Shoegazing, Black Metal
FFO: Deafheaven, Ghostbath, Harakiri for the Sky

“Blackgaze” became a wildy used genre description with the explosive popularity of Deafheaven‘s sophomore LP Sunbather.

The atmospheric complextion of Post Rock combined with the malevolence of Black Metal is often explored, but Deafheaven tends to receive credit for uniting the sound with Shoegazing influences.

Not many know French duo Alcest established this sound years prior (with a tip of the hat from early Ulver) and continue to display a mastery of the art with their fifth studio album.

Kodama returns listeners to the boundless imagination of frontman/multi-instrumentalists Niege pulling influences from Japanese culture such as the Hayao Miyazaki film Princess Mononoke.

Prepare yourself for one of the most beautiful, thought-provoking records of the year.
Hypoluxo–If Language
Genre: Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Post Punk
FFO: Diiv, The National, Told Slant

Brooklyn quartet Hypoluxo introduce a unique sound with their debut LP.

If Language is a melancholic, relaxing experience loaded with pristine guitar licks and a monotone vocal performance comparable to Ian Curtis, Matt Berniger, and Felix Walworth.

Kestrels–Kestrels 
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Noise Rock, Shoegazing
FFO: Silversun Pickups, Ringo Deathstarr, Smashing Pumpkins

Canadian rock trio Kestrels turn heads with a third LP implementing a cutting edge take on ’90s era Alternative Rock with just the right pinch of Shoegazing influences.

The group’s self titled record exhibits ten catchy, diversive tunes nodding to the guitar styles of both Kevin Shields and Billy Corgan.
Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard–Y Proffwydd Dwyll
Genre: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, Psychedelic Rock
FFO: Electric Wizard, Beastmaker, SubRosa

Ignore the fact this band appears as if they snagged their name from the “Metal Band Name Generater.”

This Welsh quartet just dropped perhaps the best Stoner/Sludge offering 2016 has seen (and if you follow this blog that says a lot).

Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard incorporates crushing, fuzzy riffs with an absolutely stunning vocal performance from frontwoman Jessica Ball.

Y Proffwyd Dwyll is the epitome of “don’t judge a book by its cover” because if overlooked, you may be missing out on one of the year’s strongest Metal records.

Oathbreaker-Rheia
Genre: Crust Punk, Black Metal, Post Metal
FFO: Young and in the Way, Gatecreeper, Deafheaven

Belgian Blackened Crust outfit Oathbreaker return for LP #3 this week expanding upon the Post Metal elements introduced in Eros/Anteros.

The standout aspects of Rheia deal with its juxtaposition of ambient beauty and ear-piercing malevolence found in both the instrumentation and the unparalled vocal delivery of frontwoman Caro Tanghe.

Tanghe’s pipes adjust fittingly to the mood of each piece ranging from etheral whispers, lush melodies, and horrifying shrieks guaranteed to catch deserved attention from the metal community.

Merchandise–A Corpse Wired for Sound
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Pop, Post Punk
FFO: The Smiths, The Cure, Eagulls

We all got to see the darker, edgier side of Florida artist Carson Cox via his Hardcore Punk/Goth Rock side project Death Index earlier in the year.

His Morrisey-worshipping pipes and aesthetic surprisingly fit comfortably with the agressive nature of the fast-paced genre, and pleasantly tithed fans over for the 5th LP of his mothership project Merchandise.

A Corpse Wired For Sound further separates the Post Punk trio from their Lo-Fi, Noisey origins and consists of nine tracks of squeaky clean, synth heavy production.

Earlier Merchandise entries pushed Cox’s vocals beneath the mix placing emphasis on the atmosphere and loud instrumentation but the group’s natural maturation utilized the unique performance of their frontman as their songwriting foundation.
Neurosis–Fire Within Fires
Genre: Post Metal, Sludge Metal
FFO: Crowbar, Inter Arma, Godflesh

Post Metal pioneers Neurosis return with an eleventh LP adorned with desire to push forward in terms of sonic progression and experimentation.

The California quintet’s thirty year career began as a gritty, hardcore punk outfit that all but stood out in the crowd. It took years to establish the formula that so many metal acts mimic to this day, but despite maintaining a recognized initation known to function well, Neurosis continues to boldy take steps forward into uncharted territory.
Trap Them–Crown Feral
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Crust Punk, Sludge Metal
FFO: Cursed, All Pigs Must Die, Young and in the Way

Boston’s own Trap Them strikes back with their fifth LP hosting some of the band’s most well written tracks to date.

Crown Feral is all but for the faint of heart featuring ten vicious track of darkened, sludgey, rapidly paced Crust Punk with trace elements of Doom.
True Widow–Avvolgere
Genre: Stoner Rock, Shoegazing, Doom Metal
FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Creepoid, Heavy Sins

The term “less is more” has never applied more fittingly than to Dallas self-dubbed “Stonergaze” trio True Widow.

Simplistic drum beats, pounding basslines laced with Doom, haunting riffs, and the beautiful dual vocal croons shared between Dan Phillips and Nicole Estill have served as the well-functioning cogs in the True Widow machine the past three albums.

Avvolgere takes a slight step away from the Shoegazing elements and dives head first into the Stoner Rock realm. Phillip‘s performance at times delves into the nostalgia of his Slowride days breathing youthful life into the True Widow formula but staying true to darkness, simplicity, and mood that has made them the stand out group they have come to be.

Barishi-Blood from the Lion’s Mouth
Genre: Progressive Metal
FFO: Opeth, Kvelertak, Heaven Shall Burn

Vermont-based Progressive Metal quartet Barishi up the ante with a sophomore LP pushing boundaries further instead of worshipping a past era.

Blood from a Lion’s Mouth is a gritty beast of a record coupled with organic production, hypnotizing psychedelia yet maintains a necessary abrasiveness.

The group’s textured writing style seems heavily inspired by legends such as Led Zeppelin,but their approach is not used to bask in nostalgia. Barishi are on to something here and their undeniable skill is anything but flashy. Even if you are not a “ProgHead”, this is a record suitable for headbangers of all varieties.
Preoccupations-Self Titled
Genre: Post Punk
FFO: Interpol, Joy Divison, Wire, The National

Canadian Industrial Post Punk outfit Viet Cong experienced a whole lot of backlash and controversary for their poor name choice.

Last fall the group announced a new band name citing their desire to simply just play music and pleaded to their fans their original name was not meant to “cause pain or remind people of past atrocities.”

The group now plays under the moniker Preoccupations but a stylistic change in sound also came with the censored title. The industrial rock vibes are stripped in favor of a more linear Post Punk approach but sometimes less can be more. This sophomore LP is a record far more driven by emotion than gritty mood, and such an approach works in the band’s favor for fitting progression.

Blue States–Restless Spheres
Genre: Dream Pop, Trip Hop, Electronic
FFO: Beach House, Portishead, Peace Orchestra

As the summer winds down and autumn peaks its head, we search for the fitting soundtracks/playlists for the pumpkin spiced season of leaf-crunching, hoodie weather.

United Kingdom’s Blue States return from a nine year hibernation with a wonderful LP flawlessly capturing the melancholy mood of the season.

The ethereal beauty of modern Dream Pop captured by groups such as Beach House meets the darkened, beat-oriented atmosphere of Portishead in one of the most ideal Autumn albums to lose yourself within.

Restless Spheres is the ideal comeback LP for Blue States boasting 11 powerfully tracks of endlessly layered songwriting.

Dwell–Innate
Genre: Metalcore, Mathcore
FFO: Converge, Norma Jean, Advent

North Carolina quintet Dwell violently burst through the walls of the hardcore scene with a debut LP so undeniably crushing and intense, I’m still in shock attempting to type this.

The stapled chaotic propensity of Converge and nostalgic zest of Norma Jean shake hands to create perhaps one of the most heavy and ambitious Metalcore records in years.

Do NOT sleep on Dwell. I haven’t been this confident in a young band taking over in years.

inc. no world–As Light As Light
Genre: Alternative R&B, Downtempo
FFO: Frank Ocean, FKA Twigs, How to Dress Well

The Los Angeles Alt R&B artists formally known as “inc.” formally known as “Teen Inc.” strike again with a sophomore LP honing more focus towards songwriting than mood and atmosphere.

As Light As Light is a far more abrasive, soulful record branching outward for genre inspiration including subtle yet surprisingly efficient sprinkles of Alternative Country.

Norma Jean–Polar Similar
Genre: Metalcore, Mathcore, Sludge Metal
FFO: Underoath, The Chariot, Deftones

From their humble Nu Metal origins as Luti-Kriss to their stapled era of picking up where Botch left off blaring in every known alternative youth group teen’s headphones (myself included), Norma Jean hasn’t skipped a beat in their nearly 20 year career.

With their constant lineup changes and fearless experimentations, the Douglasville quintet has undoubtedly shed the Botch imitation pigeonhole and the successful evolution shines brightly despite not having a single original member left on the roster.

Polar Similar successfully blends every experimental branching the Almighty Norma Jean has placed forced with the signature Southern fried Mathcore sensibilities still in place.

The band’s seventh LP borrows from the crushing brutality of Sludge Metal and soaks in the lush atmosphere of Post Metal acts such as Isis, Pelican, or Sumac.

Nots-Cosmetic
Genre: Noise Rock, Art Punk
FFO: Bikini Kill, Refused, Makthaverskan

Memphis all girl Noise Punk outfit Nots unleash a sophomore LP leagues beyond their debut in terms of maturity, writing, and sonic experimentation.

Cosmetic is nine tracks of raw, abrasive, female-fronted Punk Rock featuring subtle layers of haunting synthesizers adding well-functioning elements of Drone.

Yohuna–Patientness
Genre: Slowcore, Dream Pop, Synthpop, Ambient
FFO: Japanese Breakfast, Florist, Foxes in Fiction

Nomadic singer/songwriter Johanne Swanson (aka Yohuna) releases her first LP with some of our friends from the Epoch including Told Slant‘s Felix Walworth and Florist‘s Emily Sprague.

Patientness is a delicate record packed with a soothing vocal performance behind dreamy layers of Synth.

 

Goblin Cock-Necronomidonkeykongimicon
Genre: Stoner Rock, Sludge Metal
FFO: Pinback, Torche, Intronaut

Five years before Ghost and its band of ghouls swept the globe in popularity, San Diego heavy metal outfit Goblin Cook took a slightly less serious approach to an identical gimmick.

Rob Crowe of Pinback fame stars as Lord Phallus and features a cast of hooded unnamed instrumentalists. The band’s third LP showcases a bizarre yet well oiled marriage between Pinback‘s signature sound and the razor edge of Stoner and Sludge Metal.

Helms Alee-Stillicide
Genre: Sludge Metal, Noise Rock, Post Hardcore
FFO: Baroness, Young Widows, Russian Circles

Seattle Sludge trio Helms Alee strike back with a fourth LP plunging further into the darkest of depths than every before.

Stillicide fills the gaps with captivating atmosphete, thunderous pounding riffage, and a powerful dual vocal performance from both Ben Verellen and Dana James.

Harm Wülf–Hijrah
Genre: Indie Rock, Neofolk
FFO: Death in June, King Dude, White Lighters

It goes without saying experimentation can be discouraged at times in the hardcore community. The genre demands emphasis placed in aggression, passion, and overall message and genre bending and boundary pushing is often left on the backburner.

Philadelphia hardcore outfit Blacklisted began to slowly shift to a more broad, dark experimental rock platform as their catalogue increased. Their sophomore and third LP illustrated a natural progression, and a less abrasive vocal performance leaving some fans confused while others wanting more.

After a six year break, the quartet released a fourth LP showcasing a complete return to form and directional 180. The comeback release captured the raw energy of the early work, but laid the unorthodox tendecides to rest. For those who preferred the group’s less linear inclinations, “Hirah” would be your white knight.

Harm Wülf is the solo offering of Blacklisted frontman George Hirsch honing in on all of Blacklisted‘s experimentations that may be considered taboo in the hardcore scene. Hirah is a collection of soft bedroom songs but instead of encompassing delicacy channeled through ambiance, there is a darkened gloom to be found similar to the likes of King Dude or Death in June.
Hoops–Hoops EP
Genre: Indie Rock, Jangle Pop
FFO: Mac DeMarco, Golden Daze, Kurt Vile

Bloomington based indie rock outfit Hoops close the summer out with a beautiful, twinkley, guitar pop EP guaranteed to send waves of euphoria and relaxation through your body upon each listen.

The record channels sterile, feel-good guitar licks with the occasional nod to 80’s synth pop.

This release is highly recommended to fans of the LoFi stylings of Kurt Vile and Mac DeMarco.

SubRosa–For This We Fought The Battle of Ages

Genre: Doom Metal, Dream Pop, Neoclassical, Neofolk, Pscychadelic Rock, Post Rock

FFO: Pallbearer, Cocteau Twins, Altar of Plagues

Salt Lake City Doom Metal outfit SubRosa returns for their fourth and strongest LP yet.

For This We Fought The Battle of Ages demonstrates massive genrebending centered in Doom Metal packaged with classical arrangements, folk breaks, dream pop tendencies, and more.

SubRosa introduces a far more accessible take on the Doom Metal genre while also incorpating gargantuan layers in their songwriting and dystopian-inspired lyricism.

 

Crystal Castles–Amnesty

Genre: Electronic, Synthpunk, Witch House

FFO: Crosses, Health, Grimes

The Toronto two piece’s first offering absent of Alice Glass‘ unique vocal performance luckily maintains familiarity.

Crystal Castles‘ fourth LP cherishes the dark yet explosive electronic instrumentation the duo has become known for but introduces a new take on the obscured yet chaotic vocal performance from newcomer Edith Frances.

Happy Diving–Electric Soul Unity

Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock

FFO: Beach Slang, Dinosaur Jr., Culture Abuse

Recent years show a trend of twenty somethings paying homage to an era they were too young to remember. Such trends mostly find bands especially on the Run For Cover or Topshelf roster combining the elements of ’90s centered genres such as Emo or Shoegazing.

Oakling, California quartet Happy Diving live up to the homage performing a refreshing take on nostalgic, reverb-soaked alternative rock packaged with solos that would turn even the head of Mr. Mascis himself.

Ritual Howls–Into the Water

Genre: Goth Rock, Post Punk

FFO: Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, Cold Cave

Detroit trio Ritual Howl‘s latest offering combines the darkest aspects of Goth Rock similar to the likes of Sisters of Mercy with the subtle electronic and overall upbeat nature of ’80s era Post Punk.

Into the Water plunges the listener into a dark, aquatic void rooted in grim atmosphere.

Skeletonwitch-The Apothic Gloom EP

Genre: Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Black Metal

FFO: Becoming the Archetype, In Flames, Amon Amarth

This week, Ohio metallic ensemble Skeletonwitch decide to give fans a brief yet efficient bite out of what’s to come with a new EP premiering their new vocalist Adam Clemens (Wolvhammer).

The Apothic Gloom is a four song collection consisting of some of the band’s strongest writing exploring various stylistic crossroads.

The centralized sound remains rooted Gothenberg style Melodic Death Metal whilst reaching out and pulling from classic Black and Thrash Metal influences.

Sound Me–Growing

Genre: Trip Hop, Chill Hop, Instrumental, Hip Hop, R&B

FFO: Portishead, Sneaker Pimps, Massive Attack

Irish Trip Hop trio Sound Me inject life into a fading genre with Growing.

This new LP encompasses soulful passion through its vocal performance as well as relaxation and ambiance through a beat-centered instrumentation.

Fans of Portishead, Massive Attack, and Sneaker Pimps will appreciate this refreshing, modern addition to the Trip Hop genre.

Tobacco–Sweatbox Dynasty

Genre: Electronic, Synthpop, Psychpop

FFO: Black Moth Super Rainbow, Flume, RJD2, Crystal Castles

Thomas Flec of Black Moth Super Rainbow fame returns for a fourth electronic solo LP.

Sweatbox Dynasty is just as bizarre as you would expect when observing the artist’s preceding releases, but the emphasis is now placed moreso on production with a minimal, obscured vocal performance.