Statues – Black Arcs Rising Big sounds arise from lead off “Underground”, something like a melodic set of trash can lids, a fire engine and the sound of hearts breaking amid the satisfying clicks of the switchblade. Anthems, true stories and tall tales are here throughout. In a song you might get all that and more. (See Chemicals). In a few spots I thought I heard Pete Shelly in the other rooms as the party raged on….”Sardonic Grin” really does say it all on short notice. Though about what, I dunno. “Agony” is an old school style straight laced, heavy on melody and drive, as most are on the album. Another rave up follows with Phantasm, showing the boys know how to corner a rager after midnight. They tone and slow it down next on Eyes In The Sky, enough to where I skipped out a bit after a minute in. They bring back the kick ass with “Hiding In A Hole”, a stooges type of slam jam, sans Iggsters wailings. Slam crews go pogoing to the stars taking flight on “Meteorology”, maintaining melodic interludes & punk rock attitude, but it’s really a ruse for a manic episode as the pogoes go ever higher, and higher, and higher still! They don’t stop till something sounding like it’s outta Athens slices in on “Dead Of Summer”. My feelings the energy was running down was denied when Perfect Storm kept the pace with the mighty riffage nicely. They also picked a cool closer with “Bestiary”, sounding all dark and steady rocking with a Dublin style bridge and a New York break free. All that’s left is a cherry on top, but think someone with major munchies ate that. Maybe just get a salad….. 7 outta 10

Sanjay Michael - Rocking Into Midnight Minimalist, straight ahead rock. Lots of power chords mostly. Few anthemic shouts, subject matter is almost all rock, and then rock n roll, or more rock. I think I hear him mention a few other genres a few time. But SM is pretty much about the rock. Dude could go with a tight band behind him and a second guitar. City Blues is probably the standout here.

Vermisst - Night and Fog Trippin' black metal. Turbo proppin' through some haunted swamp as the chains bind and the whip strikes. Some motherfucker is screaming bloody murder and the demons have their day. Authentic and true. "Ocean of Viscid Fog (Slurry of Dead Greyness)" is if Pink Floyd were black metal. Destroyer Of Lives is pure black dirge. Theres more darkness in A Kingdom in Disarray, riding a sea of driven feedback, only interrupted to side road deeper into the murky madness. The indulging Harvesting the Funeral Pyre spark embers of the cremation unto ashen figurement. It is what it is. https://youtu.be/244-QU5BdYA

Kabaka Pyramid x Buju Banton - Faded Away hybrid reggae / hip hop beat and a bass line weaving in and out the music composition is top mark.

Aelvica - Corpsewyrm Grave Ritual Black metal with heavy atmospheric and thrash flavorings. Out of the box On the Path of Those Who Came Before, Damp With the Dew of Distress is a showcase. Which is always good to put early on an album. Coming in at a bit under an hour, album this definitely is. The band does well on keeping your attention and changing gears with add ins, blast bet and slams. Boring formulas be damned!! Aelvica is well old school vetted. Cut #2 Flagellum Raised Towards Heaven (Prostrate Yourself Before the Titans of Kâznus!) is proof! Hints of old Venom & Slayer mingly freely with more progressive thrashing segments, so the band's pedigree is established! It's also established they have some hellacious song titles! Yet they will deny youthat, kinda, on the next cut, the album titled Corpsewyrm Grave Ritual. Which up to this point is also the most standard metal fare. Still, damn good name for an album. They shift gear back into the good stuff, with the driving Hâshekht! Hâshekht! (Priestesses of Nyxiâ in Prayer). Combining all the best things about the band. In fact the best numbers on this album all reflect that. However, most of the album the music doesn't rise albove averages. For the half of the album that is killer though (see additional besides already mentioned - The Black Priests of Taiferâ (Clerics of the Old Blood), whch woulda been a great EP by themselves, the burnt offerings are in deed, exceptional.

Speed Limit - Cut A Long Story Short Stirring rebouts, inspiring harmonic shape shifting. Pretty elemental bluesbased metal but a flair progressive. Victory is not only inthe commission, but also of the execution. Kinda a lotta words and cliches someplaces, but things tend to be so, often anyways. A sensing element of hard rock mainstream experiments of lets say, mid to late 70's, but it's definitely only retro in face value. Some good guitar parts, especially leads if and when they appear. There are also hints at vintage era Queen (that too 70's) even metal of a decade later in the late 80's. None of this really hurts tha band though, more it's an essential part of their character shooting these hints of memories across time and space. While slamming a pretty good backbeat and some cool riffs along with those too sparsely used leads. Give em mid scale originality, a bit better on the overall.

David Van Auken - American Harmony Reminds me a lot of classic classical guitar at university. Though Van Auken's work has a definite modern streak, it is based in modal frameworks but added melodic lines makes it feel very much more 20th century. His music is soothing, creative and technically textbook. Challenges are transcendent here, between the shearing of the lambs to making stew later on down the line. Ahh, the fjord smells nicely as the crisp cedar mixes with the coming night. Upon the forrested hills beyond the plateaus sounds abound, as the elves begin their dance. It's all there, as the arpeggios wash over your mind. It is time. You too begin the dance. Slowly at first increasing in passion as you go....and then, you too begin to lose clothing. Amercan Harmony has come over you. Now you feel it, hear it, the peeanners begin to twinkle, and the lair comes alive with hooven laughter, waiting for the bagpipes and church organs to join in. Ahh but it is a special time. Soundtrack included!

2 Pistols - High Today Feel good number, as the title says, High Today. Peeanner strikes recalling early minimalist bebop underneath a spinner going on between and within the big phase beat. A few things are talked about as well, sex, gangsterin' and life goals. All the parts fit with a 70's sitcom flavored vibe. May the creeper hit you right!

Drifting_In_Silence_-_Timeless One can experience the essence of time throughout these soundscapes. Drifting, floating, dreaming. The cold hard slap of reality usually comes only between songs and in those special moments. Both the cover and the title are examples of truth. WRAS in Atlanta used to, and might still have, a show that played ambient music like this. It's great for reflections, driving, meditation and life soundtrack. Some say t's background and indeed you have to be in the mood for it BUT if you appreciate this TYPE of music it's excellent.

Cj - Gangsta Kicking off with a storm & family inspired melody, CJ's Gangsta brings up a few strings floating on a double kick bass fold tallkin' about not breaking the code. Real shit read through. Though familiar name wise, kinda, I cannot speak for the man's credentials. Though at least on this piece, he is rising on a strong ride.

Neek Bucks & Ivory Scott -Count On You Smooth build to a slide-step-bass intertwinded with a headboard kick. The spits are smooth and timed clean. Speaking of love, selfishness and even disdainment, the subject matter remains rift with complexity,, though mostly what is being talked about is repsect and friendship. Making the grade like a cool summer shower.

Papoose - Makin Plays (featuring Jaquae and Jim Jones) Hard hitting street dope made clean by the blood on the scene. These cats talk about shit lived, not so glamorous odes to reality lived by the code of stand back motherfuckers, unless you wanna piece of this lead. We slingin. Motherfuckers gonna rule the game to live, or die by it. Word.

Young Francis HIFI – The Young Generation Pure fire on the turntable knockin’ hell out the needle. Practice is at 4am just keep it to yourselves & BYOB. Both sides spin at a fury translating finely tuned punk rock slammers. It’s a drink the experienced find satisfying, to the unknown it sounds like somebody else singing for some other band. Yet these boys are solid. It’s straight ahead pushing a rave up almost every song and just pounding head otherwise. If modern FM radio was worth a fuck this album would be all over it. No doubt a college darling, this kinda strong comes around every couple years, maybe more if you listyen to a sht ton of music. But the whole basket being goodies and surprises is still a rare bird. Good to see and hear it fly. Contact Dirtywaterrecords.com

LIVEKILL - THE CROWN A Killer riff and monstear beat kicks off this banger. The vocals come in like a phantom death machine. This song is about what rules you in the end, the mastery of force that propel the king into battle, his servants slaughtering the enemy. Blood dripping from the crown flooding the fields of war. "look into my eyes as you expire!" YEAH BOY....