Editor’s Note: Do you think we “missed” an album this week? Click here.
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
Psychic Hit – Solutio (proto-metal)
Every so often I think to myself, “At some point, this genre is going to get a little repetitive,” and then a band like Psychic Hit comes along and just reinvigorates me to that proto-metal, ’70s heavy rock throwback sound… although if I’m being honest with myself, that tends to happen more often than I’d like to admit.
Ok, there certainly are a lot of repetitive, unimaginative bands paying tribute at the altar of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, but Psychic Hit, in the two singles I’ve heard from, know how to write a riff and a hook! The first single the band dropped, “Livin’ On,” feels like the biggest Deep Purple jam out, packing a ton into its under 3-minute runtime, with singer Ariana Jade reflecting out on her Taino roots. This will be a proto-metal, doom-prog band to watch out for I’m sure, and fans of modern bands like Kadavar, Hallas, and Blues Pills should pay attention!
–Remi VL
Telomēre – Where Are We Still (prog metal, mathcore)
Who and what are Telomēre? Well, trusty reader, they’re just the newest fresh prog group from my nearby stomping grounds of Toronto. Following the likes of Autocatalytica, and Parliament Owls who have put out some great releases from Toronto’s prog scene of late, Telomēre bring their own fresh spin on the genre while wearing some influences on their sleeve.
As a youtube comment surprisingly aptly put, it’s like if Good Tiger went mathcore. There’s that notable higher-range clean vocals reminiscent of GT’s Elliot Coleman and spicy prog riffs, but their fearless venture into the heavier side of things is why this really stands out. Sure, pure clean prog metal has it’s place, but that willingness to bring some brutality and chaos is refreshing in both the effectiveness of the contrast, and just that well, they do a good job of it. It’s unpredictable and hectic, yet still approachable. Breakdowns are fun, noodly guitars are fun, Telomēre lets them thrive together. Check out their debut EP out today and get in the know before they blow up, because it’s quite possible that they will.
See also: Structures – None of the Above (prog metalcore, djent), and fallfiftyfeet – Twisted World Perspective (chaotic hardcore, metalcore); A surprisingly great week for metalcore-adjacent stuff!
–Trent Bos