It’s that time of the year again where we tell you what we’ve liked so far this year and try to mind-melt you into liking the same thing. Vulcan mode on!

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Alterium – Of War and Flames
An infectious collection of power metal songs that will stick to you from the first listen and a highlight for the genre this year (RP – SftDS review).

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J Mascis – What Do We Do Now
What Do We Do Now features ten tracks of introspective lyrics, mid-tempo grooves, and sprawling guitar solos. It all leads to a comforting familiarity we all need every now and then (WRM – SftDS review). 
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Magnum – Here Comes the Rain
A bitter sweet end to the career of a British rock institution after the death of Tony Clarkin. A truly inspired swansong (RP – SftDS review).
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BEAK> – >>>>
Beak> takes you on a captivating journey with their mastery of krautrock rhythms and analog synth explorations and brings forth something for your mind, body and soul (WRM – SftDS review).
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Týr – Battle Ballads
Fun upspeed folk metal from the Faroe Islands. Sing along, horns up high.
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Jane Weaver – Love in Constant Spectacle
It’s her most heartfelt work as of yet. Together with John Parish, who adds a down-to-earth touch to the tracks, Weaver still retains her signature sound of experimental space pop (WRM – SftDS review).
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Ponte del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb
Occult doom, rock and postpunk from Italy’s Turin. A truly inspiring work and one of my favourites this far (RP – SftDS review).
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BIG|BRAVE – A Chaos Of Flowers
Big Brave evolves their sound by balancing raw energy with delicate restraint, pushing their signature alt-metal into new territories (WRM – SftDS review).
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Perchta – D’Muata
Perchta‘s sophomore album is the ultimate combination of Wardruna, Heilung and raw black metal, and probably the most insane, unhinged thing you will likely hear this year (RP).
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Vera Sola – Peacemaker
If you’re craving for some dystopian world-building with an Western legacy twist, Vera Sola’s second album, Peacemaker, delivers a mesmerizing blend of folk, alt-rock, and Americana and thus won’t disappoint (WRM – SftDS review).
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So there we are! Now you know what you have to buy at your local record store, and let’s hope the rest of the year will be just as musically fruitful.

Wander (WRM) & Ralph (RP) – 070724

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