Over the last year or so, I’ve received a handful of emails asking why my site doesn’t have a search function. The short answer is that WordPress wants more money for it than I’d like to spend.
As a workaround, I’ve compiled links for every review I’ve written for this site into a new Page: the Post Archive! It’s got all my reviews in chronological order, newest to oldest.
I’ve got it organized by post type, album and artist, and genres covered in a given post. I may not have a proper search bar, but now you can go there and Ctrl+F for whichever artist or genre or post type you like.
The Magpie Arc is a British quartet that spins traditional folk songs of the British Isles into hard-hitting, proggy folk rock, and Gil Brenton is their second full-length album. Where many bands I describe as folk rock are primarily rock acts with some folk influences, this band is the inverse. Their vocal style and instrumentalism belie a deep love of British folk music, and that helps give their music a character that stands out from other acts in a similar space.
Apparently Tusmørke put out an album last year that I missed, but they’re prolific enough, there’s never that long a gap without them on this site. Balderdom (Baldness) follows in a template similar to Dawn of Oberon, in that it consists of a handful of shorter songs and a side-long epic. Tusmørke’s unique Norse-folk-prog is on proud display here, and this is another strong entry in their catalog.
I will be totally honest. Neurosis is one of those bands that I know has been massively influential but which I’m simply not that familiar with. I’ve listened to Through Silver in Blood, and that is a fantastic record. I also know they’re considered one of the primary progenitors of post-metal as a distinct genre, along with Isis, whose former vocalist and bassist has joined the band. (I have run across folks trying to insist that post-metal and atmospheric sludge metal (another term frequently used to describe Neurosis’s work) as being distinct. There may be a technical argument to be made there, insofar as there is non-sludgy post-metal, but I don’t think there’s any atmospheric sludge I’ve heard I couldn’t also describe as post-metal.) That is to say, I went into this record blind.
An Undying Love for a Burning World is Neurosis’s 13th full-length release and their first in a decade. I’d heard it getting some positive buzz, so I decided to give it a spin. And boy, am I happy I did!
Band: Czyszy | Album:Aftermoon | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp
On his latest release, one-man Polish experimental rock act Czyszy (pronounced “chih-shih”) draws heavily from classic ‘70s prog sounds. Yes, ELP, and Camel are all obvious influences, as are more recent emulators of that sound, like Wobbler. The playing is nimble and creative, and the compositions are generally lively. The structures of the songs can feel slightly disjointed at times, and reading about how this record was written and recorded, that makes sense. This work evolved out of plans for a rather short EP. Despite the occasional lack of coherence, this is a fun release with a lot to like.
Score: 75/100
Band: Gondhawa | Album:Täkomā | Genre: Heavy psych | Bandcamp
This French trio plays high energy, muscular psychedelia heavily suffused with “oriental” (their phrasing) scales and melodies. Just how far east “oriental” encompasses varies from song to song. Some tracks draw influence from Central and South Asia, while others take cues from Anatolia and the broader Middle East, and yet others head (south-)west of France to draw sounds from the Sahel and Maghreb. This transcontinental musical sampler platter may not have a ton of geographic consistency to it, but Gondhawa’s musical pillaging results in something pretty fun. They demonstrate a good ear for catchy melodies and infectious rhythms, as well as a knack for powerful and engaging jams.
Witch Ripper is one of my favorite local acts, and they’re always near the top of my list of bands to recommend. Through the Hourglass is this quartet’s third full-length release, and it is a direct sequel to their last release, 2023’s The Flight after the Fall. The shared story of these records is obvious, even without looking at the lyrics, with the music here bearing clear throughlines from TFATF.
My first exposure to this record was at Witch Ripper’s album release show earlier this month. They played it in its entirety, and it was a killer performance. On subsequent listens, the album has grown on me even more.
I briefly touched on Gong’s convoluted history and past output in my review of their last album, 2023’s Unending Ascending, so I will not go into it in depth here. But this lineup–long bereft of any original members but operating under the blessing of the band’s late founder–has just put out its fourth full full-length release, Bright Spirit. In general, this album largely stays in line with this incarnation of Gong’s modus operandi. It’s fun and lighthearted prog with heavy psychedelic infusions.
I like the Canterbury sound a lot, but the modern practitioners of this sound can be a bit like zeuhl. Where zeuhl often devolves into rote Magma worship, so too do many neo-Canterbury acts slavishly strive to sound like Soft Machine or Caravan.
Legs on Wheels is a Mancunian quintet that does an incredible job of taking classic Canterbury influence and melding it into more modern sounds. The band dabbles in punk, psychedelia, and art rock alongside more progressive strains of rock. The music is consistently energetic and varied, and Gobble, the band’s third full-length release, is a delightful listen.
Band: END! Begin | Album:The END! | Genre: Progressive folk | Bandcamp
This collection of four instrumental pieces is a solid follow-up to END! Begin’s fantastic debut LP. The overall mood is a bit more energetic and less torporous here, and I really appreciate getting to see this other side of the band. “Cherry Blossoms” in particular draws a lot from rock music, which is a very exciting blend.
Score: 78/100
Band: Mellow Beast | Album:Grimble, The Worm | Genre: Psychedelic rock | Bandcamp
Mellow Beast’s latest record sees him expand upon the musical universe he has established. The story of this record takes place right after Reactor, his 2023 release. Throughlines are obvious in the music, and there are even connections to earlier releases. The mood is spacy and often-hypnotic while also imbuing some Gong-ish fun and whimsy.
Brighton’s Plaintoid are black with their sophomore album, Flare, two years after their debut. The band maintained their lush, jazzy air while also imbuing their sound with a bit more muscle. On repeated listens of Terrapath, at times I do wish the band had a bit more contrast in their sound. Here, they’ve successfully added a bit more while also maintaining their unique character.
Holotropic is a Slovak extreme metal five-piece that skillfully weaves a base of technical death metal with elements from further afield, ranging from classic prog to ambient to Middle Eastern folk. Individual is their second release, and this short-but-mighty album demonstrates impressive breadth and depth of skill.
The Elite Extremophile 