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| Horns Up |
New Horizons
Nebula – Transmission from Mothership Earth
Nebula needed to make a killer record after 2019’s underwhelming ‘Holy Shit’ blotted their copybook. Thankfully, Eddie Glass went back to basics and came up with this stellar LP. Mixing the fuzzy rock of Blue Cheer, the riffing of Fugazi, the heaviness of Black Sabbath and then meshing these elements together into a blend of early Monster Magnet psychedelic rock, ‘Transmission…’ is a joie de vie in audio form. Listen to ‘Wilted Flowers’ if you don’t believe me.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Mutually Assured Destruction – Ascension
Running in at 30 minutes, this record is a confident and assured blend of hardcore and stoner rock. Opener ‘Seven Crows’ feels like a track Corrosion of Conformity should have written by now, while ‘Got a Light?’ channels Power Trip as it criss-crosses between hardcore punk and thrash metal. Where it stands out is the immense power on display in the riffing and the vocals. It sounds and is world beating. Oh, and Randy Blythe from Lamb of God shows up here as well.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Coscradh – Na Hanagan Stadial
Active since 2015, Coscradh (meaning “blood curdling” in old Irish and “prevention” in Scottish Gaelic) play music that comes from the place where black metal and death metal meld together, with neither being the dominant influence. The whole record sounds utterly chaotic (and the claustrophobic production certainly abates this), but there are little moments that give the songs a certain nuance. Simply put, it’s murky, it’s primitive, it’s bone crushing, it’s harrowing.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
cowman - Slaughter
More known for his work with electronics under the name Coaxial, Ben Heal also plays post punk influenced noise rock under the name cowman. This, the first full album under the name since 2013, is the kind of LP the likes of Imperial Wax should be making: scuzzy, off-kilter but fierce when called for. While ‘Sticks, Stones…’ wins the title of best song on the record due to the plummeting bass, closer ‘Wichita Black Sun’ is a punishing 15-minute listen that will overpower you.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
The Bobby Lees – Bellevue
On their debut record for Ipecac, The Bobby Lees carry on with their love of a particular type of rock n roll: one that is located between the derangement of The Cramps/Gun Club and the arch, all-knowingness of The Fall. ‘Ma Likes to Drink’ embodies this spirit (ahem) in glorious fashion, while ‘Greta Van Fake’ is the kind of half snotty/half scenester takedown that is so cutting it makes you feel sorry for the morons in Greta Van Lake. Highly recommended.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Tension Span – The Future Died Yesterday
With the press pack citing influences “…and inspiration from the dark punk and post punk of the late '70s and early- ‘80s, the sensibility and DIY approach of the UK anarcho-punk movements, and the energy and immediacy of the early-mid-‘90s Bay Area punk scene…”, it’s a pleasure to declare this album a success. There’s a heavy influence of goth punks Rudimentary Peni in the riffing, which is no bad thing at all. ‘Problem People’ stands out due to the ‘awkward’ guitar melodies in the chorus.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
Iron Monkey – 9 13
Hearing that Nottingham’s finest export were to reform (minus the late Johnny Morrow and Justin Greaves) was very unexpected (and definitely not unwelcome). A new album was a trickier prospect, as Morrow’s unfettered nihilism was what gave the band their edge. As you’d expect from these mad men, the playing is top notch but maybe suffers from having too clean a production at times. Thankfully, songs like ‘Moreland St. Hammervortex’ stretch the sludge out to apocalyptic levels.
Sect – No Cure for Death
From Raleigh, North Carolina (the home of the legendary Corrosion of Conformity) and with other members from Portland and Toronto, Canada, Sect play a form of hardcore that is reminiscent of Trap Them at their most pissed off and misanthropic. With the 10-song release clocking in around the 15-minute mark, this isn’t going to be the most in-depth review (for obvious reasons). But if you do take one thing away from this review, let it be this: get this record. Abrasive hardcore at its finest.
Slow Death – Hate Filled World
Spread out around Boston and Connecticut, Slow Death deliver noise rock influenced hardcore that makes the listener envisage The Accused working with Steve Austin (Today is the Day) for an album on Amphetamine Reptile. That can only ever be a good thing. Coming in around the 20-minute mark, this is a record that is crying out for extra songs. Maybe a few longer ones really delving into bass driven post-punk territory. Regardless, it is killer (despite only being available on Spotify).
Boris – Dear
Having explored so many genres from drone to crust to dream pop, one might get the impression that there’s little else for Boris to explore. What they do instead on here is cherry pick moments throughout their catalogue and assemble them in a way that will be immediately familiar to long-time fans without it feeling like a retread. And this has led to a focused, determined record which also works as an introduction to listeners who are perhaps unsure where to start with the band.
Hearing that Nottingham’s finest export were to reform (minus the late Johnny Morrow and Justin Greaves) was very unexpected (and definitely not unwelcome). A new album was a trickier prospect, as Morrow’s unfettered nihilism was what gave the band their edge. As you’d expect from these mad men, the playing is top notch but maybe suffers from having too clean a production at times. Thankfully, songs like ‘Moreland St. Hammervortex’ stretch the sludge out to apocalyptic levels.
Sect – No Cure for Death
From Raleigh, North Carolina (the home of the legendary Corrosion of Conformity) and with other members from Portland and Toronto, Canada, Sect play a form of hardcore that is reminiscent of Trap Them at their most pissed off and misanthropic. With the 10-song release clocking in around the 15-minute mark, this isn’t going to be the most in-depth review (for obvious reasons). But if you do take one thing away from this review, let it be this: get this record. Abrasive hardcore at its finest.
Slow Death – Hate Filled World
Spread out around Boston and Connecticut, Slow Death deliver noise rock influenced hardcore that makes the listener envisage The Accused working with Steve Austin (Today is the Day) for an album on Amphetamine Reptile. That can only ever be a good thing. Coming in around the 20-minute mark, this is a record that is crying out for extra songs. Maybe a few longer ones really delving into bass driven post-punk territory. Regardless, it is killer (despite only being available on Spotify).
Boris – Dear
Having explored so many genres from drone to crust to dream pop, one might get the impression that there’s little else for Boris to explore. What they do instead on here is cherry pick moments throughout their catalogue and assemble them in a way that will be immediately familiar to long-time fans without it feeling like a retread. And this has led to a focused, determined record which also works as an introduction to listeners who are perhaps unsure where to start with the band.
⏩ Christopher Owens was a reviewer for Metal Ireland and finds time to study the history and inherent contradictions of Ireland. He is currently the TPQ Friday columnist.
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