Content Breakdown
What is out on this #NewMusicFriday?
Take me to the Playlist
I’ll admit this week’s round of #NewMusicFriday releases are rather thin, so I’m going to take a slightly different approach to our round-ups usual format.
Despite there not being much of note released today, there’s sill (just about) enough to talk about. The list of releases is led by Dream Theater. As always, the prog metal masters provide plenty to sink your teeth into, if, of course, that’s your thing.
‘Parasomnia’ sees the prog metallers mark their 40th anniversary by reuniting with drummer with Mike Portnoy. Sixteen albums deep into their lengthy career, ‘Parasomnia’ is your usual marathon-long exploration of brilliantly crafted prog metal. Completed by vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist (and producer) John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, this could be considered a return to form for Dream Theater. Even for the most casual of prog metal fan, tracks such as ‘A Broken Man’ and ‘Dead Asleep’ have an immersive quality. That’s down to the intricate musicianship of those involved. It results in an ever-shifting soundscape that demands to be absorbed.
In other metal releases, Ukrainian metallers Jinjer continue their rise with their angsty fifth album – ‘Duél’. Fueled by the ongoing Russian-instigated conflict in their homeland, ‘Duél’ promises to be an intense and fiery outing with technical proficiency to match. Whereas Obscura delivers their seventh album. ‘A Sonication’ is the second part of a trilogy from the German outfit. The follow-up to ‘A Valediction’ proves to be equally brutal and melancholic, while maintaining their thematic complexity.
On the routine rock front, this week gives emerging UK bands Call Me Amour and Dead Air to take some of the spotlight. The former’s self-titled EP confidently strides in the shadow of energetic Britrock bands such as Lower Than Atlantis and Mallory Knox. Coincidentally, Mallory Knox’s Mikey Chapman pops up ‘Good Day’. Along with tracks such as ‘Where’s the Chemistry?’ and ‘Happy Hell’ are straight-up bombastic in their execution. However, it is Dead Air‘s offering that is more promising. ‘Elements’ is a dynamic four-track collection of alt-rock that confidently shifts in mood and approach.
If you’re looking for a singer-songwriter for your weekend listening pleasure, then you might want to give Michigander a go. The acclaimed indie rock project led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jason Singer releases his eponymous debut full-length today. It’s 12 tracks of heartfelt and earnest songwriting delivered with a mix of warmth, vulnerability, and underpinned catharsis. Stylistically, the fuzz-laden guitars of ‘Letterman,’ along with ‘Emotional’ and ‘Episodes’, have hints of past collaborators Manchester Orchestra. While ‘Giving Up’ shows Singer’s ability to provide indie-pop hooks. Meanwhile ‘Breaker Box’ tinkers on something far bigger than the hushed indie rock tones. The same can be said for the jangly ‘Spitting Image’.
What is out on #NewMusicFriday?
Dream Theater – Parasomnia
Jinjer – Duél
Obscura – A Sonication
Youth Fountain – Together In Lonesome Acoustic EP
Call Me Amour – Call Me Amour
Days Of Jupiter – The World Was Never Enough
Dead Air – Elements
Michigander – Michigander
Ben Seretan – astral projecting into flavortown
FACS – Wish Defense
Majestica – Power Train
Marko Hietala – Roses From The Deep
The Jellybricks – Dreaming In Stereo
Heartwork – Revisionist History
One Hundred Thousand – Liminal
Pulse – Body Is Reality
Saor – Amidst The Ruins
Daze Of June – Stages Of Erosion
The Defect – Death X Destiny
Honesty – U R HERE
Piston – Capital Crime
If you think I’ve missed something or have a new album/EP/song to tell us about, tell us about it here.
If you’re looking for the latest tracks focusing on rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, then check out our ‘Newish Music’ playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
