BLOOM - THE LIGHT WE CHASE (Pure Noise Records)
Among Australia's fastest rising collectives, BLOOM prove to be a driving force of modern, melodic hardcore with international implications. The band's sophomore release corrals an effective meld of melody and angst, poured into a stylistic mesh of hardcore, grunge, and shoegaze that results in a cohesive presentation. Also featuring the band's first-ever guest vocal spots, The Light We Chase touts appearances from Void Of Vision’s Jack Bergin, Yours Truly’s Mikaila Delgado and Movements’ Patrick Miranda, adding an all star ensemble into the mix.
CREEPER - SANGUIVORE II: MISTRESS OF DEATH (Spinefarm)
Regarded as one of the most immersive and imaginative rock albums of 2023, Creeper's Sanguivore was hailed as a dramatic rock epic that stylized macabre, depicting a vampiric love story fcomplete with blood and glory. For the second installment in the Sanguivore saga, the Mistress of Death combines the theatric grandeur of Jim Steinman with a metallic NWOBHM backbone for a continuation that underscores the imaginative breadth of William Gould and the goth punks of Creeper. Flawless musical execution, serious heavy metal chops and a compelling, inspired narrative make for a complete album experience that bridges spectacle, style and soundtrack.
DESPISED ICON - SHADOW WORK (Nuclear Blast)
At the forefront of deathcore's most celebrated practitioners, Despised Icon further solidify their rank in extreme music with the arrival of their seventh full length masterclass. On Shadow Work, the band's unrelenting brutality and expert craftsmanship result in a collection of tracks that are as crushing as they are calculated. Unleashing sonic chaos is one thing, to channel that chaos into an effective, succinct attack is where Despised Icon thrive. Amid gargantuan riffs, clobbering breakdowns and rapid-fire blast beats, the sonic assault of Shadow Work translates as equal parts mayhem and methodical - making for a dangerous combination.
AVATAR - DON'T GO INTO THE FOREST (Black Waltz)
The Swedish metal madcaps manage to explore new terrain on their tenth full length album, Don't Go Into the Forest. With the ability to craft rousing metallic anthems, the band confidently leads the charge with a collection of songs that are as lighthearted and fun as they are expertly shaped and dynamically delivered. From the six-minute epic of "Dead and Gone and Back Again" to the brute strength of "In the Airwaves" to sonic journey that is "Captain Goat," Avatar's tenth album is an inspired showing of artistic audacity and veteran musicianship.
NOWHERE2RUN - WHAT DID YOU DO? (Nowhere Recordings)
The next iteration of NOWHERE2RUN, the creative outlet for Jami Morgan and Eric “Shade” Balderose of Code Orange follows the 2024 launch of the duo's Slivering the Senses EP. Bridging elements of industrial, electronic and hip hop executed with the duo's collective hardcore DNA, What Did You Do? further expands the duo's sonic universe with true film score quality. Amid electronic throb, harsh sonics and menacing, dark lyrical delivery, NOWHERE2RUN lives up to their name with the requisite intensity you'd expect from the same guys of Code Orange, just a different means of attack. Bolstered by contributions from H09909, Kamiyada+, Backxwash and more, Morgan and Balderose assert a wherewithal make them a formative tandem in hardcore, heavy music, and beyond.
