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
Conjurer – Páthos (blackened sludge)
Back in 2018, Conjurer emerged as one of the UK’s premiere new metal bands with the release of their outstanding debut Mire. Since then, they’ve put out a covers split with Palm Reader, and the amazing collaborative Baroness-worship EP with Pijn, Curse These Metal Hands.
But now Conjurer are back at what they do best: highly original, genre-fusing blackened sludge metal ranging from the meatiest of death metal to soothing acoustic passages. Páthos builds and expands on the qualities of Mire, maintaining the massiveness of their sound but with more dynamics. There’s From Mars to Sirius riffs blending with dissonant-black metal and a variety of menacing harsh vocals from the two guitarists, yet with a seamless flow between their extremes that’s almost early-Opeth-like.
I’m sorry if you don’t like this album, because you’re going to be hearing a lot about it.
See Also: Satyr – Totem (progressive post-hardcore)
–Trent Bos
Greg Puciato – Mirrorcell (alt-rock, grunge wave?)
This album was technically surprise released last week. But, in this age of bands streaming their albums in full weeks before they actually “come out”, what does a release date even mean anyway? What even is time, man?
Either way, the ex-Dillinger Escape Plan frontman is back with a second and far more refined solo effort. In contrast to the eclectic and experimental statement of intent of Child Soldier: Creator of God (2020), Mirrorcell hones in on the post-punk-tinged alt-rock sound that has so far made up all the strongest aspects of his solo output.
Puciato’s time spent recording and touring with Jerry Cantrell has also certainly rubbed off on him, with the album’s first half being packed with some A+ Alice in Chains imitations. It’s the second half though that really shines, with songs like “Lowered”, “Rainbows Underground”, and the second half of “All Waves to Nothing” numbering not just among the strongest moments of his solo output so far, but also among the best of his entire career.
–Josh Bulleid