 |
| Horns up |
20. Public Enemy – Black Skies Over the Projects: Apartment 2025
Five years on from the excellent, if somewhat self-celebratory, ‘What
You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?’, Chuck D and Flava Flav are back with
another fine record to their name. While they’re never going to be as
incendiary sounding as they were in 1987, it’s heartening that they’re still
putting out LPs with humour, anger and groove.
19. Ramleh – Hyper Vigilance
For those of us who have followed Gary Mundy’s musical journey over the
last few decades, it’s not surprising to note that Hyper Vigilance is a lot
more post-punk/post-rock in its outlook as opposed to dissonant noise (of which
there is a fair bit of as well. ‘New
National Anthem’ is a perfect example of this approach and by God it’s
astonishing.
18. 1186 – Histeria
Although released digitally in 2024, the pressing on vinyl from earlier
this year qualifies it for this list as far as I’m concerned. And for good
reason as this record from Colombia is a prime example of deathpunk: goth
played by punks. How could you listen to a song like ‘Ataque Sistemático’ and
not get chills?
17. Coroner – Dissonance Theory
When your labelmates were Celtic Frost, Voivod and Kreator, you had no
choice but to up your game or be pushed aside. For their first album in 30 odd years, the
Rush of death metal have come back with a monster release that gives the
classic sound a modern sheen. ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ gets the nod for some sick
guitar leads.
16. Home Front – Watch it Die
An odd listen in that it combines synth-pop, punk rock riffage, soaring
choruses and vocals that attempt to be both passionate and dispassionate,
somehow all these disparate elements come together to produce something utterly
compelling, not a million miles away from the likes of High Vis. ‘New Madness’
sums up this eclecticism.
15. Hellshock – XXV
Marking 25 years since their formation in Portland, Oregan, these crust
legends have only gone and made their finest record to date. With Todd Burdette
from Tragedy and Nightfell on 2nd guitar, the sound moves closer in
tone to late period Celtic Frost and (unsurprisingly) Tragedy.
14. The Saints – Long March Through the Jazz Age
The final release from Brisbane (by way of Belfast) singer Chris Bailey,
this may not be a raucous album in the tradition of I’m Stranded and Eternally
Yours but it is a damn fine country and roots record, showing that Bailey was
determined to follow his own muse regardless of his legacy. ‘Vikings’ gets the
nod.
13. Laibach – Alamut
Laibach
aren’t strangers to grandiose concepts and this might be their grandest yet. Recorded
with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and several choirs, Alamut is
based on Slovenian novelist Vladimir Bartol’s book which was sarcastically
dedicated to Benito Mussolini when it was published. Over 2 hours long, it’s a
gorgeous and stirring record.
12. Combust – Belly of the Beast
NYHC hasn’t sounded this metallic since ‘Best Wishes’ by the Cro-Mags.
Filled with gang vocals, breakdowns, divebomb solos and oozing menace, this is
a stellar release. 12 songs filled with anger and intensity that runs to 30
minutes with ‘Swallowing Swords’ and ‘Truth Hurts’ being particular highlights.
11. Intensive Care/The Body – Was I Good Enough?
Supposedly, multi-genre legends The Body sent over rough
sketches to death industrial Intensive Care who then added parts before
chopping and screwing the results. The end result is a dissonant, cut and paste
sense which is not far removed from the early Mark Stewart albums.
10. LA Witch – DOGGOD
A shocking five years have passed since the underrated ‘Play with Fire’
and they’re back with more garage influenced post punk, albeit with slightly
more emphasis on the post punk this time around. Songs like ‘777’ give off
autumnal vibes due to the brittle (yet cutting) guitar tone while ‘Eyes of
Love’ perfectly meshes The Gun Club with The Sound.
9. The Young Gods – Appear Disappear
It’s been a rough few years for TYG singer Franz Treichler due to the
death of his wife. However, that seems to have given him and the band a focus to
return to basics after the underrated Data Mirage Tangram and the instrumental
piece In C. Although the ethereal atmospherics are still present, the rock
element is more upfront this time.
8. Cathedral – Society’s Pact with Satan
Apparently recorded at the same time as the underwhelming ‘The Last
Spire’ and recently rediscovered, one would have to question how this was
allowed to be forgotten as it is an utter belter. A 30-minute track that
encompasses what made Cathedral such a legendary band, the blend of psych,
folk, stoner and doom is revitalising.
7. Guiltless – Teeth to Sky
As a follow up to one of the finest releases of 2024, Guiltless are back with a full length release and what a monster it is. Mixing math rock, post metal and noise rock into a powerful, overwhelming and apocalyptic sounding release, Guiltless made the first essential release of the year. In particular, listen to ‘Our Serpent in Circle’ and feel the power on display.6. Drain - …Is Your Friend
The third album from the Santa Cruz crossover thrashers ups the ante
from the previous two records: the riffs are faster; the vocals are more pissed
off and the drums groove in a way that they previously haven’t. Despite the
colourful cover, this is an angry LP that takes aim at the rat race, former
friends and critics. ‘Nothing But Love’ is the daddy of the record.
5. The Ex – If Your Mirror Breaks
Dutch legends The Ex continue their idiosyncratic journey from anarcho-punks to art punks without ever compromising their principles. Although not a million miles away from 2018’s ’27 Passports’, this is no bad thing as ‘If Your Mirror Breaks’ is an immediate, angular and tuneful record with ‘Wheel’ being the standout number.4. Manic Street Preachers – Critical Thinking
The last few Manics albums have been ruminations on aging as the world
you knew collapses. While in a similar vein, this is much more optimistic LP in
its outlook with songs accepting that humans aren’t perfect (‘People Ruin
Paintings’), finding catharsis in reconciling the old and young self (‘Hiding
in Plain Sight’) and standing firm against the madness (‘OneManMilitia’).
3. HAIM – I Quit
Their first album in five years is a little sprawling and a tad confused
in terms of lyrics, but it’s appropriate considering that the theme running
throughout is the end of relationships and what happens next. Musically, a lot
more acoustic and less poppy than previous outings which further the mood of
introspection and confusion. Sampling U2 on the final song? *chef’s kiss*
2. Turnstile – Never Enough
One of the records that will define the summer of 2025, Turnstile return
with another record that blurs the boundaries between hardcore, pop (80’s and
current) and alt rock. Maybe not quite as breath taking as 2021’s ‘Glow On’ but
songs like ‘I Care’, ‘Slowdive’ and ‘Sunshower’ certainly help lift the mood
whenever one is feeling down in this heat.
1. Swans – Birthing
For the final release of this iteration of Swans (according to Michael
Gira), they’ve gone out with a bang. Easily their most astonishing LP since
2014’s ‘To Be Kind’, the power on display throughout is nothing short of
breath-taking: ‘I Am a Tower’ and the title track make the listener feel like
they’re standing on a mountain during a storm, challenging God to deliver more.
⏩ 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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