Photo by Travis Shinn
NOTHING MORE - CARNAL (Better Noise Music)
Texas-bred rock phenomenon Nothing More is riding a high based on the strength of their fifth studio full length, Carnal. The album follows the universal acclaim of the band's 2022 LP, Spirits, propelled by the meteoric success of the mammoth singles, "Tired of Winning". Teaming with producer WZRD BLD (Disturbed, Motionless In White, A Day To Remember) Carnal asserts energized rock anthems that capture the band's infectious live prowess. The 15-track effort emphasizes Nothing More are achieved a new creative peak.
CROSSFAITH - AЯK (UNFD)
Japanese rock powerhouse Crossfaith confirmed their first full length release in more than six years with the announcement of, AЯK. The news marked an important victory for the band, who endured a lengthy stretch marred by the uncertainty of the global pandemic in addition to some significant personnel changes to the line-up. Anchored by a powerful electronic pulse, combined with anthemic lyrics, aggressive instrumentation and an audacious meld of styles, Crossfaith's return has proven well worth the wait.
200 STAB WOUNDS - MANIC MANUAL PROCEDURES (Metal Blade Records)
Characterized by their obvious reverence for the greats of the genre, the band's meld of classic sensibility and contemporary execution has resonated with even the most discerning fan among the death metal purists. Delivering gloriously gory, splatter-house grade brutality, 200 Stab Wounds harken to the genre's heyday, executed with a modern day edge that resonates as ruthless as it does relevant. Among extreme music's emerging class, the Cleveland brutalizers have earned a teflon-reputation for being one of the death metal's most exciting new contributors and this album serves as resounding proof.
ISLANDER - GRAMMY NOMINATED (Self-Released)
Forging ahead as a fully independent, entirely autonomous unit, the collective of Mikey Carvajal, Chris Carvajal, and Lucas Drums have issued their heaviest work to date as Islander. On the album, Grammy Nominated, frenetic guitars, urgent screams coupled with soaring choruses along with explosive percussion make for a series of songs that flout expectation and showcase the full potential of the players. The presentation asserts the songwriting strength of the Brothers Carvajal and serves as an important reminder - do not sleep on the boys from South Caroline.
WRAITH - FUELED BY FEAR (Prosthetic Records)
Harkening a classic era of belligerent speed metal, tinged with blackened thrash, The Hoosier State's own Wraith have issued an emphatic first outing with Prosthetic Records. Issuing their own mission statement in summarizing their objective as a band as "a war of aggression on the dour confines of the modern metal scene and total sonic annihilation," Fueled By Fear is an all out musical blitz defining best by a relentless pace and a skilled execution. Fiery guitars, hellfire vocals and a menacing pace on the drum kit result in a barnburner of a record with old school feel and modern day fury.
SCENE QUEEN - HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA (Hopeless Records)
The long-awaited full length debut from bimbocore practitioner Scene Queen has landed and the project offers a bright, colorful, pointed middle finger to the status quo of heavy music. Loaded with tongue-in-cheek wit, sharp social commentary and plenty of party, the album works two-fold in delivering a necessary message while still offering a damn good time. On Hot Singles In Your Area, Scene Queen talks her shit and backs it up.
