Imminence photo by @tobias_sutter_photography
FRONTIERER - THE SKULL BURNED WEARING HELL LIKE A LIFE VEST AS THE NIGHT WEPT (Blood Blast Distribution)
Closing out 2024 with an entry that should be included in the discussion among the year's very best, Scottish-American aggressors Frontierer unleash absolute chaos with their cleverly titled EP. While the destructive quality of the band's music is undeniable, there is an obvious method to the madness that makes Frontierer more than just a heavy band, but rather, a very calculated crew. Every glitch, every pause, every instance of unhinged assault is executed methodically which makes the mayhem on the record that much more impressive.
IMMINENCE - THE RECLAMATION OF I (Life or Death)
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the band's commanding debut, Swedish metalcore innovators Imminence have re-recorded their sweeping debut, I. Refreshed with new artwork and brightened mix, The Reclamation of I achieves the tough task of maintaining the integrity of the original tracks note for note, while giving the songs a fresh sheen. What also becomes evident is just how advanced the band was in their songwriting from the very beginning. A decade in and the tracks revisited on The Reclamation of I still stand tall, relevant and emphatic - a real indicator of the potential Imminence would offer.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA - CLAUDIO COVERS
Among progressive rock's most dynamic, imaginative songwriters, Coheed and Cambria are set to debut their landmark 10th full length album next year with The Father of Make Believe. Ahead of the highly-anticipated release, band architect Claudio Sanchez has delivered a collection of reimagined covers. The album features staples for Claudio including “Under the Milky Way” by The Church, “Your Love” by The Outfield and “Stumbleine” by Smashing Pumpkins. Additionally, Claudio delivers some curveballs with two new entries including “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” by The Smiths and “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift.
JUICY J - RAVENITE SOCIAL CLUB DELUXE EDITION (Trippy Music)
Earlier this year, Three 6 Mafia legend Juicy J stepped into the jazz arena, linking with the likes of Robert Glasper and Emi Secrest on a self-produced effort that would easily be lumped in with some of Juicy's most well-rounded work. For the deluxe edition, Juicy's jazz sensibilities are further actualized with additional cuts that feature legends like Project Pat plus we get smoothed out renditions of some of Juicy J's most iconic work with reimagined versions of anthems like "Slob On My Knob" and the smoothest variation of "Bands A Make Her Dance" you will ever hear.
