NINE INCH NAILS - TRON: ARES THE ORIGiNAL NOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK - (Walt Disney Records / The Null Corporation)

As Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have become two of film's most in-demand composers, it was an obvious choice to have the duo score the newest film in the beloved Tron franchise. What makes this entry especially significant is that the soundtrack is actually billed as a Nine Inch Nails project. Immersive synth, subtle atmospherics and NIN's signature dramatics combined with the Tron universe make for a collection of music that is purely transportive. Reznor and Ross are masters of their craft and while some fans might be disappointed that there are only two tracks with vocals, this is an effort that leans into NIN's well-established ability to stir emotion with their music. 

PARADISE LOST - ASCENSION (Nuclear Blast Records)

Metallic doom goth legends Paradise Lost have unveiled their 17th studio album, Ascension. The follow-up to the acclaimed 2020 effort, Obsidian, the collective leans heavily into the cover art depiction of The Court of Death from renowned British artist George Frederic Watts as inspiration for their melodic macabre. Pointing to death as the great equalizer, a warrior surrenders his sword and a duke his coronet as they both pass unto the Great Beyond - forfeiting their status equally. Operating with that level of poignance, Paradise Lost execute a masterclass of well-polished doom - leveraging their skill and songwriting savvy to construct heavy music with substance and broad scope. Theatric, opulent and expertly assembled, Ascension is Paradise Lost again asserting their prime.

SOULKEEPER - JOIN US IN CREATING EXCELLENCE (Pure Noise Records)

Coining Soulkeeper as progressive metalcore really doesn't do the band justice.  Sourcing elements like the proficiency of mathcore and the polish of djent, their latest EP is a wild showing of dissonance as dynamic.  Fusing glitch, synth and unpredictable transitions into a succinct showing of style, the songs shift from blast beats to big verses to climactic finales in dramatic fashion. Compiled as a transitional EP, bridging the band's last LP Holy Design and their next full length, Soulkeeper's sonic take inspired by Darren Aronofsky’s 2000 film Requiem For A Dream is a promising, progressive show of where artistry and aggression intersect. 

I PREVAIL - VIOLENT NATURE (Fearless Records)

Showcasing a standout performance from Eric Vanlerberghe that underscores his new post at the helm of the band, VIolent Nature is an emotional powerhouse that touts serious technical prowess and proficient songwriting. An emphatic presentation of I Prevail reaching a new creative peak, the title suggests an inherent hostility that delivers - making for arguably the band's heaviest collection of tracks to date evidenced by the walloping title track and towering cuts like "Synthetic Soul" and "NWO". And yet, as the band evolves, there is balance, bringing along the sweeping melody that has anchored some of their favorite anthems. "Rain" and "Annihilate Me" will likely be added to that list of essentials and serve well in establishing Vanlerberghe as one of the most formidable frontman in metalcore. 

CASTLE RAT - THE BESTIARY (King Volume Records/Blues Funeral Recordings)

Surging heavy metal horde Castle Rat construct a dazzling presentation of traditional metal muscle with an over-the-top performative prowess on an album that merits the opus descriptor. On The Bestiary, The Rat Queen, also known as Riley Pinkerton, fronts a masterful collection that showcases spellbinding metallic sorcery, equally immense and imaginative. Illuminating a hidden world of mystical creatures, wizardry and wonder, Castle Rat understand the value of spectacle and manage to take listeners on a journey the way all good albums should. Currently shining as metal music's wild card, Castle Rat pair theatrics with meld of doom and trad metal in a way that resonates with fans from all walks - The Bestiary is the crowning achievement thus far.