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
Bent Knee – Frosting (art rock, prog rock)
One of Heavy Blog’s favorite rock bands is back! Despite the fact Radiohead are reissuing two of their most well-regarded albums, Frosting is actually my most anticipated art rock release of the day. We’ve heaped plenty of praise on Bent Knee over the years, including multiple reviews and interviews and a top 10 AOTY rank for their last album, You Know What They Mean (2019). While that repertoire alone would be enough to stoke anticipation for Frosting, the album’s two lead singles took my excitement a step further. The band chose two samples from opposite ends of their musical palette — a tender, gorgeous piano ballad (“Set It Off”) and a glitzy, shimmering art pop banger (“Queer Gods”). Suffice it to say, I can safely speak on behalf of everyone and express just how stoked we are to hear Frosting in full.
See Also: I know I just wrote them off a minute ago, but I’m actually interested in what Radiohead has to offer with their expanded edition of KID A MNESIA (that title kind of wrote itself, huh?).
–Scott
Crazy Lixx – Street Lethal (hard rock, hair metal)
These Swedish sleaze rockers are back in fine form following a few sub-par releases. In fact, Street Lethal might just be the best Crazy Lixx album since modern classic New Religion (2010). The sense of irony and self-parody that’s crept in over the last couple of records is still there, but this time the band and everyone around them seem like they’re far more consistently in on the joke more than being the butt of it. Opening tracks/lead singles “Rise Above” and “Anthem for America” are among the best the band have even put out and the rest of the album isn’t far behind either.
See Also: Limp Bizkit – Still Sucks (nu-metal); it might not be Stampede of the Disco Elephants, but Still Sucks is still probably the best Limp Bizkit release since Chocolate Starfish (2000). Sure, the second half gets a bit silly, but its first half is surprisingly solid for what essentially feels like a novelty album at this point. “Out Of Style” alone is worth the price of admission and the shorter, self-aware style displayed suits the Bizkit to a tee. Let’s hope they… never change.
And hey, that new Bullet For My Valentine album ain’t half bad! And there’s always the new EP from Extinction A.D., who like their thrash a little more traditional. New Seeyouspacecowboy is out as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC8d37bACUE&ab_channel=FrontiersMusicsrl
–Josh Bulleid