“A lotta homies die, a lotta mothers cry. I watch tears fall down from their eyes/Everybody wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to take the chance/They chose the music so they had to dance/Couldn't tell 'em nothin' was a player, had ta have it/Got caught up in the game now my boy's in the casket.” - Geto Boys
 |
| Horns up |
New Horizons
King of Pigs – After Victory Comes Defeat
On the go now for over a decade, this UK hardcore outfit from Nottingham seemingly become more and more intense with each release. On this new record (running just under 20 minutes) they have refined their metallic hardcore attack into something approaching powerviolence and their sense of humour (‘70% Cunt 30% Human’) remains intact. Short, sharp and superb.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Bad Breeding – Contempt
One of the most exciting acts in the UK are back with some help from tourmate Ben Greenberg (of the equally amazing Uniform). The sound is still noisy industrial punk but the sonics have greater clarity and gleefully attack the listener. Lyrically, the songs question tradition, offer state of the nation addresses and some hope through cleansing anger. Album of the month.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Einsturzende Neubauten – Rampen – apm: Alien Pop Music
Although I enjoyed 2020’s ‘Alles In Allem’ at the time, retrospective listens have revealed a few weaknesses here and there. Thankfully, there is more emphasis on atmosphere, rhythm and melody this time around, creating a late period masterpiece that demonstrates that not only is their creative well truly overflowing but that double albums can also be concise affairs.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Isa Roseid - La Migliore delle Feste
Having reviewed their debut EP last year, it delights me to see this band of Italians bring out a full length LP. The mood is one of introspection due to the prominence of the bass in the first half while the second half picks up with heavier, fuzzier numbers. The scratchy production gives proceedings a lo-fi ambience, but the songs are mighty behemoths of post-rock.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
The Sound – Head and Hearts
Although it has been dismissed by certain band members, The Sound’s first full length after leaving Warners is actually an elegiac, euphoric (how about that for a contradiction) record with Adrian Borland’s minimal, yet highly expressive guitar lines vying for attention as well as Graham Bailey’s throbbing basslines. ‘Mining for Heart’ is a personal favourite.
Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
Infamously beating out OK Computer and Urban Hymns on the NME’s ‘best album of 97’ list, this remains the most complete and engrossing record Jason Pierce has released under the Spiritualized banner. The title track has soundtracked manys a night of unrequited love but the one-two punch of ‘Cool Waves’ and 17-minute epic ‘Cop Shoot Cop…’ is other worldly.
Rollins Band – The End of Silence
Somewhat overshadowed by 1994’s classic ‘Weight’, this release helped thrust the band into the fringes of the mainstream thanks to its influence on alt-metal. Already regarded as Gen X’s drill instructor, Rollins outdoes previous efforts on here by unleashing a variety of venom-tinged tirades on society, fake people and himself. Pulverising but euphoric.
Paris – Sleeping With the Enemy
More known as being the album that saw Paris being dropped from Tommy Boy records (owing to their distributor, Time Warner, censoring any groups with anti-law enforcement lyrics), fresh listening reveals this to be an abrasive, funky hip hop record infused with political anger and a positive social message. There’s a reason Chuck D considered Paris a rapper to be feared.
⏩ 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.
No comments