Editor’s Note: Longtime reader Remi VL is a regular guest contributor to our Release Day Roundup posts! He submitted several of the albums listed below. Join his Facebook group for more recommendations.
Each month, we always seem to come to the same conclusion when it comes to our Editors’ Picks column: Friday release days open the floodgates and unleash a seemingly endless stream of quality new music. But while some of our Editors and Contributors sit down gleefully each week to dive into this newly stocked treasure trove, others find themselves drawing a blank at the end of the month due to the breakneck pace needed to keep up to date with what’s been released. Which brings us to this Heavy Blog PSA: a weekly roundup of new albums which pares down the week’s releases to only our highest recommendations. Here you’ll find full album/single streams, pre-order links and, most importantly, a collection of albums that could very well earn a spot on your year-end list. Enjoy!
Top Picks
The Armed – Ultrapop (noise rock, post-hardcore)
Did you enjoy the new Genghis Tron but miss some of their noisy abrasiveness? The Armed‘s new album Ultrapop might be for you. With their lineup intentionally always in flux with an ever-changing line-up of collaborators, you never totally know what to expect from The Armed, just that it will be distinctly them, and distinctly good. More digestible than 2018’s Only Love, Ultrapop takes a well, more “pop” direction without compromising their sound. Elements of synth punk, post-hardcore and noise rock are still at the forefront, with spastic contributions from their mathcore roots and chaotic digital hardcore drumming and electronics. Definitely one of the standout albums of 2021 so far, and a uniquely rewarding listening experience.
See Also: Suffocate for Fuck Sake – Fyra (screamo, post-metal)
–Trent Bos
Motorpsycho – Kingdom of Oblivion (progressive rock, psych rock)
To say that Motorpsycho is my favourite band, and that this is my most anticipated album of the year is kind of an understatement. No one else comes close, and no other albums comes close.
Over 30 years, MP has put out a steady release of albums, near an album per year, often double albums, with half as many EPs during the first half of their career, and most of it is amazing.
Depending on who you talk to, their favourite era may vary, but for me, they haven’t put out a less than amazing studio album since the mid-90s. Consistently near the top of my top albums every year.
Kingdom of Oblivion was partly written and recorded during the sessions for their previous album, The All Is One, which might explain the less than 8-month span between albums this time around. All signs point to this being another amazing release from a band who apparently can do no wrong. If you like progressive and psych inspired heavy rock, and haven’t taken the time to check these guys, this will surely be as good as any point to jump in! Work your way backwards from there. It’s all great!
Last Week’s Biggest Surprise: Tunic – Exhaling (post-punk, noise rock)
–Remi
While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society (melodic metalcore)
I’ll have a full review for this album for the next drop, but the skinny version is that While She Sleeps continue to be one of the best and most passionate bands in modern metalcore.
Sleeps Society feels like more of a natural continuation of modern masterpiece You Are We (2017) than 2019’s So What?, while still managing to incorporate some of the more successful electronic experiments from that record as well.
It’s a great starting-point for those new to the band, while being sure to satisfy longtime fans as well.
-Josh Bulleid