Nightlands - Oak Island

Nightlands - Oak Island
Secretly Canadian




This is some dreamy music. Singer and composer Dave Hartley has made something masterful here by combining elements of chillwave and shoegaze pop into an absolute delight of sounds. There are even R&B and IDM influences thrown into the mix, as the tracks seem to vary widely yet somehow coalesce through a signature sound that is constant throughout the playlist.

If you're looking for something that is both refreshingly relaxing and inspiring, this album will deliver in a surprising way; sounding vintage at times and contemporary at other times, each song is a real treat to hear. Many of the moments sound influenced by Brian Wilson which might sound daunting to the experienced listener, but proves immediately satisfactory from the first listen.

Some of my favourite parts are when funkier dance beats come into play, and the ethereal crescendos delve into darker expulsions of primal energy. This album is enjoyable from beginning to end, suitable for many occasions and will definitely present a promising experience to the listener.

Torchbearer - The Dirty Swagger

Torchbearer - The Dirty Swagger
All Ears Music




Charging out of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Torchbearer step up to the plate with some incendiary hardcore/noise rock meant to kick in teeth. Made up of members of past hardcore/metalcore outfits like Ensign, Low End Theory, For The Love Of, Hellhole, Nora, and Mother Night, Torchbearer manage to lovingly collide some of the best things 90's hardcore had to offer with some punchy, ear bursting moments of noise rock and metalcore ferocity.


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Cara Neir - Stagnant Perceptions

Cara Neir - Stagnant Perceptions
Independent




Cara Neir are a two-piece band out of Dallas, Texas playing an intense blend of black metal, hardcore, crust, screamo (old school) and even some sludge influences. Their latest effort is self-released and will melt your face off with harsh despairing vocals, buzz saw guitar work and some seriously pummeling drums. The production here isn't the best, but with such an aural assault being laid down coupled with the group's adherence to the raw nihilism of black metal, perhaps it's just right after all.

What surprised me was the groups softer, even contemplative moments that show up out of nowhere like a post-rock birthday party. Hello, wasn't expecting to see you here in the dim dusk of all this misery.

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Cloudkicker - Let Yourself Be Huge

Cloudkicker - Let Yourself Be Huge
Independent




Cloudkicker is a post-metal project that stands head and shoulders above most of its contemporaries; only, B.M. Sharp is just one person. His output is prolific to say the least, and his style is varied. One minute it's a slowed down acoustic riff, the next it's a barrage of tone that leaves your ear searching for the route you took into this land, and unable to find it, the mind relaxes and starts to drift. Exclusively instrumental, epic, monstrous and grand, Cloudkicker will not disappoint fans of post-metal or progressive music in general.

Let Yourself Be Huge is a far more subdued mathy album from Cloudkicker. Past albums have had an almost assaulting feel from front to back; walls of guitar were the norm. LYBH, however, has opened up a softer side of Sharp's writing and recording style. I recommend this album if you're a fan of cheap red wine, cigarettes and writing poetry alone in a darkened room.

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Atlas Sound - Parallax

Atlas Sound - Parallax
4AD




This is my first time hearing Atlas Sound, the solo project of Deerhunter's Bradford Cox, and the first thing that has me hooked on its sound is its versatility. The vocals are quite shogazerish for the most part as the music rolls along sweetly with a predominantly light, indie, pop rock. Occasionally peppered among the songs are electronic effects and percussion, impressing a dreamy and at times almost tropical feel.

While much of it plays as an easy-listening endevour, the mood sways from gloomy and pensively comfortable to upbeat and drivingly inspirational. This is definitely an album worth many repeated listens.