The Body - The Crying Out of Things (2024)

The Body have been sucessfully experimenting in collaborations with many artists, but it's also good to have them back with a new album on their own (their ninth). The Crying Out of Things sounds a bit like a return to the basics of their  industrial / noise with drums, guitars, screams and electronics sound. But like always they also introduces something new, and I'd say here it would be the use of background synths, bringing at times discreet melodies and at times an additional layer or colour to the overall atmosphere of the song. But no worry, it is enriching their sound, but without making it losing its raw and noisy feel. 25 years after their beginning, The Body keeps on evolving and delivering albums as good as ever. Thank you guys! Keep going!

The BC page.

 

Ingested - The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (2024)

Ingested is a band I always respected, even when I wasn't at all into modern death metal (they mix deathcore, slam, and even sometimes add some bits of nu metal and djent). I felt they were among the best doing it. The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams is their eight album and I think it will stay among their most memorable, keeping on, like the two previous album, writing more cactchy songs, with some clean vocals here and there and some melodic lead guitars. But don't run, they do it with a good balance between more catchy songwriting and keeping a massive and brutal groove. Good stuff.

 

The BC page.

 

Handsome Jack - A Good Thing (2024)

I enjoy A Good Thing as well as the previous Handsome Jack album, but what really won me was seeing them live (at my usual lair the Bar de l'U in Besançon a few month ago), where their classic / boogie rock with a soulful feel really get an extra dose of warmth and groove. A Good Thing indeed! I recommended it.

Their BC page

 

Liberosis - Hedonismo Nihilista (2024)

Hedonismo Nihilista is the third album from Costa Rican band Liberosis, and another excellent piece of old school grindcore. Previous album was a good discovery for me, and I'm happy to said this new one is a good confirmation, I'll definitely keep on following their releases! Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Grave Pleasures - Plagueboys (2023)

After two albums that were good, but not as memorable as I expected from people coming from Beatsmilk/Hexvessel (singer Mat MacNerney, and for Beastmilk bassist Valtteri Arino) and Oranssi Pazuzu (guitarist Juho Vanhanen), Grave Pleasures released last year Plagueboys, which this time lived up to my expectations, even exceeding it. Plagueboys is less gothic rock and more post-punk/new-wave, in terms of writing and sound. Stripped-out songwriting, and sharp and/or echoing guitars, basslines pushed forwrad, simple and catchy beats.It reminds The Cure/Joy Division more than previously. But the main point, the key tot he improvement is the songs, they are more memorable, and just better. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

Mammoth Volume - Raised Up By Witches (2024)

Raised Up By Witches is the second Mammoth Volume album since their return and it's another epic piece of finely crafted progressive heavy rock. Once again they deliver a unique mix somewhere between doom metal and stoner rock, with a strong progressive component. They can remind Mastodon as much as QOTSA (or for those stuck in the previous century we could say they sit between Black Sabbath and Yes). Very nice!

The Bandcamp page.

 

My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (2021)

I've been liking My Morning Jacket for close to a quarter of a century, and their latest, self-titled, one is probably my favourite. So I think we can say they really earned their review on Blasting Days... In the meantime their music evolved from indie rock/americana to indie/soul/progressive/psych rock (now evoking band like Pink Floyd or Yes at times, and the quality remained and even improved. Highly recommended!

The Bandcamp page.