Yes, it's quite possible that these kinds of all over the place monthly previews become a regular series. But then also maybe not. Really depends on how much promos I find attractive. These four definitely fit the bill:
MINERALL - Strömung (release: March 14th 2025)
I recently listened to Minerall's debut "Bügeln" again after a hiatus of give or take two months - and I must admit I had forgotten how good that stuff is. The two new longtracks from the Krautrock "super trio" consisting of Marcel Cultrera (Speck), Tommy Handschick (Kombynat Robotron) and Dave "Sula Bassana" Schmidt have been glued together and pimped with synths and effects by the man behind Sulatron Records from material recorded on the same weekend in January 2023 which birthed "Bügeln".
Appearantly the three were in a glorious jam mood back then, because these new forty minutes are just as strong. Even while not basically being one uninterrupted recording like the predecessing record, this doesn't feel like an assemblance of leftovers at all. "Strömung" ("current") and "Welle" ("wave") seem to have more variety and cosmic vibes - and damn, do I dig the Noise Rock attack in the last third of the finale! -, but ultimately it's close to impossible to judge which album is better than the other one. And who cares? For fans of improvised powerful Psychedelic Rock checking this out should pretty much be a no-brainer.
Appearantly the three were in a glorious jam mood back then, because these new forty minutes are just as strong. Even while not basically being one uninterrupted recording like the predecessing record, this doesn't feel like an assemblance of leftovers at all. "Strömung" ("current") and "Welle" ("wave") seem to have more variety and cosmic vibes - and damn, do I dig the Noise Rock attack in the last third of the finale! -, but ultimately it's close to impossible to judge which album is better than the other one. And who cares? For fans of improvised powerful Psychedelic Rock checking this out should pretty much be a no-brainer.
GHOSTSMOKER - Inertia Cult (release: March 21st 2025)
On a heavier note from the other side of the globe Australian Sludge crawlers Ghostsmoker combine their bonecracking take on primitive Conan caveman battle Doom and colossal Bongripper riff worship with sick bodyvoidish throat disease vocals and atmospheric Ambient / Post Metal influences, Drone and Noise for good measure. The bass sound of this album alone - purring like a galaxy-sized space cat resting inside a black hole - would make listening to "Inertia Cult" a satisfying experience.
But fortunately that isn't quiet enough for the quartet yet, so they also filter their eery brutal sound into six well-written songs. Asphxiating and cathartic. That's probably how it feels to actually smoke and inhale an undead spirit.
But fortunately that isn't quiet enough for the quartet yet, so they also filter their eery brutal sound into six well-written songs. Asphxiating and cathartic. That's probably how it feels to actually smoke and inhale an undead spirit.
ALITILA - Spruce (release: March 25th 2025)
The most abstract and puzzling album of this bunch comes from the Finnish-American Electronic trio Alitila. Glitches and waves of Ambient weaved together in progressive experimental arrangements are equally as important as chaotic Noise, brutal uneven rhythm attacks and harsh vocals of the Blackened Industrial variety.
Clustered and fragmented it's hard to definitely make sense of what these seven tracks might mean, but they carry a self-consistent, demanding yet not unnerving dark energy in them, which I just find very compelling, especially since half an hour is just the right length for this sound not to overstay its welcome.
Clustered and fragmented it's hard to definitely make sense of what these seven tracks might mean, but they carry a self-consistent, demanding yet not unnerving dark energy in them, which I just find very compelling, especially since half an hour is just the right length for this sound not to overstay its welcome.
ODDATEEE - Rabbit Season (release: March 26th 2025)
Oddateee is an ex-member of crushing Hip Hop crew Dälek, so even though his solo work surely isn't home in the Industrial / Drone / Harsh Noise realm of heaviness, you can be sure the rumbling bass on this twelve-track album will still make your stomach vibrate in synchronicity with the Earth's core. You can also be assured that "Rabbit Season" is as real and political as anything the group has ever done. The flow of Oddatee and his guests, and the groove and production of the beats however feel very much more like a throwback to the Nineties.
Now please don't accuse me of pretending to be an expert, because I'm clearly not and know it. The genre as a whole is not my comfort zone. But there have always been those artists that immediately made my head bop and think yeah. And what those - from the "Judgement Night" collaborations to Clipping. - ultimately all have in common is what a lot of mainstream Hip Hop lacks: compelling instrumentals. Usually if the music cannot stand on its own, the best raps won't save it for me.
And damn, this shit is on fire: The raw, often minimalist Golden Age foundation is not only produced satisfyingly fat, but also adorned with purposefully placed atmospheric sounds from pianos, synths, samples and guitars, providing gripping eeriness and elevation. So yeah, this "Dumb Shit" comes with a "Bang". There's serious sonic depth, a dangerous rabbit with plenty of meat on the bone.
Now please don't accuse me of pretending to be an expert, because I'm clearly not and know it. The genre as a whole is not my comfort zone. But there have always been those artists that immediately made my head bop and think yeah. And what those - from the "Judgement Night" collaborations to Clipping. - ultimately all have in common is what a lot of mainstream Hip Hop lacks: compelling instrumentals. Usually if the music cannot stand on its own, the best raps won't save it for me.
And damn, this shit is on fire: The raw, often minimalist Golden Age foundation is not only produced satisfyingly fat, but also adorned with purposefully placed atmospheric sounds from pianos, synths, samples and guitars, providing gripping eeriness and elevation. So yeah, this "Dumb Shit" comes with a "Bang". There's serious sonic depth, a dangerous rabbit with plenty of meat on the bone.
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