the Killers : "Pressure Machine"

 

This album had been sitting in my computer, just now getting around to listening. I had been iffy on these guys as when they hit big on the radio they were not my thing, though now when they come on I am ok with them or even like some songs as the melodies are catchy, then I heard how the singer is a devote Morrissey fan and that made me more curious so this is the first album I have given a listen, I really liked the opening track and the story it told about small town drugs was cool. The second track is more Bruce Springsteen than I expected, more folk, than post-punk influenced pop. I guess this is an interesting time in their career to check them out as they peaked popularity wise so that gives them more room to play around with what they do. It seems here on their 7th album they have decided to do just that write a folk-rock album about Flower's childhood in the heartland.  

Harmonica driven ballads is not what they are known for so imagine my surprise finding this out. I like Ryan Adams and country music so not opposed to this, and I do have a thing for artists and their weird phases like disco Kiss and new wave Alice Cooper, so add country Killers to the list. "Cody" is more driven by the drums, allowing them to amble on not quiet into a groove, but something that is more moving. "Sleepwalker" seems a little more like what they do just run through the more Neil Young or Ryan Adams like filter. It does work off more of a groove and catchier melody more in line with what i have like from them previously. Phoebe Bridgers joins them for "Runaway Horses" which proves to be an effective use of her in this duet. The first electronic elements that do actually sound like them emerge on "In the Car Outside", so they have not forsaken it altogether and marry them to the more folky thing they are doing pretty well. 

"In Other Life" works pretty well it sort of splits the difference between the sonic theme of this concept album and what they normally do.  "Desperate Things" is a Bruce Springsteen like ballad that is so fragile the melodies are more musing as if they are afraid to take form. The title track is more substantial. Flowers uses his falsetto to good effect here. The last song kind of meanders but sounds good for what it is. The bulk of this album might not have been what I was expecting but I like the melancholy thoughtfulness to it I will give it a 9.

Face to Face : 'No Way Out but Through"

 I have not listened to these guys since the 90s, well at least on a regular basis there might have been a moment of weakness or three where I got nostalgic for this kind of 90s punk or perhaps was making a list for one blog or another that asked me to dip back into these years. Not much has changed and it plays to their favor. The first song with hookier and more melodic than when they default to the faster though more punk sound. The third song confirms we are not getting much in the way of new tricks but not sure much of that would have been wanted in the first place.  It is like the average between the first song and the second, though with an almost ska like bounce to it. The bass player seems to be the most on it He adds an underlying melodic sense , the vocals fall where you would expect them to most of the time. This is the sort of thing that became emo, 

"Anonymous" has a much more straight forward feel to it. It works for what they are doing but is not what I call their strongest song writing. This reminds me more of the path the Get Up kids went down. Though they are not as emotive. I think what I liked about this era of punk was the more emotive feel since it was less happy sounding than most punk. Once again, this bass player saves the day.  Some of this darker sound perhaps tempered with a Bad Religion feel can be heard on "Ruination Here We Come", this works better for me than the happier sound of "Long Way Down" . It sounds like the bass player came up with the riff to "Vertigo-go" , if that is the case, they need to let him write more of the songs.   It is more upbeat than some of the other sounds I have preferred from them, but it works. "You Were Wrong About Me" works off the kind of winning formula that made this music memorable in its heyday. 

"Spitshine" is drum driven and runs on the kind of gas that flows through more rock influenced blue collar punk like Social Distortion , so they are showing they can do a little bit of it all. The bass player once again shows that he is the glue along with the drummer to give this band one of the strongest back bones from the 90s. punk scene. Even with all of this "This is My Vanishing Act" could use vocals that do a little more as everything begins to take on almost too uniform of a sound. The last song is more up-tempo, but with textured guitars and vocals that a little more room to breathe.  I will give this album an 8.5, wish I had more time before the end of the year to see how this grows on me.  They do prove they were one of the better bands from this era.

The Top 10 Shoe Gaze / Post Rock Albums of 2021

 Post rock is about atmosphere, much like shoe gaze just less narcotic and more cinematic place. Thus, making them a good fit for another on this list. As much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year.  most. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure, you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However, I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Shoe gaze and Post-rock albums of 2021 

10- Midwife - "Luminol" 

Droning shoe gaze dream pop with smart lyrics, Less is more here as melody and ambiance are given enough room here so when the pulse comes in it all works together. The lyrics are pretty clever as well. 

Abysmal Hymns: Midwife - "Luminol"

 9-Doused- "Murmur" 

Shoe gaze if it is dark enough to cross over into goth, but th focus here is more on atmosphere than the darkness.  It opens much darker with an instrumental than when they kick into their more standard songs; The muffled vocals against the sonic wall they kick up is brighter than most post punk, but you can hear how the Cure has influenced this genre of the years.

Abysmal Hymns: Gothober - doused : "Murmur"

8-Candelabre -"For to have time is to have wings" 

 This collection of sounds swirl around in such a way that it might take a few listens to catch what is going on. . Shimmering guitar and manic siren vocals. The drums are mixed into the background. This sounds like a combination of a lot of female fronted indie bands from the 90s run through a filter of mushrooms 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- CANDELABRE : "For to have time is to have wings"

 

7-An Autumn For Crippled Children - "As The Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes"

These guys bust them out pretty quick, been a year since their last one. Their 9th album overall. Their last album saw them returning to more of a black metal sound, this one only flirts with that but is the most aggressive album on the list even if it is not metal, the only dark and angry element is the vocals, aside from that is atmospheric enough to fit here. 

Abysmal Hymns: An Autumn For Crippled Children : "As The Morning Dawns We Close Our Eyes"

 

6-Bruit -"The Machine is burning and now everyone knows it could happen again "

Post rock is the version of prog for coffee swilling hipsters. This band from France, veers from the normal sounds and expectations of what this sub-genre can be. Lots of band's could learn from what goes down here. Yes, there is plenty of atmosphere but it has an excellent beat so the song has a sense of movement, so it is ok to listen to after your first cup of coffee rather than just drone you to sleep They have an excellent grasp of dynamics here as well.

Abysmal Hymns: Bruit : " The Machine is burning and now everyone knows it could happen again

 

5-Godspeedyoublackemperor! - "G_d' Pee - AT STATE'S END!"

You cannot mention post rock or any of its sub-genre's without mentioning these guys. Sometimes they are more song oriented than others. There is always more of a cinematic quality to what they do. After a few minutes of bubbling ambiance, they do kick into some along the lines of Early Pink Floyd that glides along with more of a prog rock majesty than what might first come to mind when trying to gauge your expectations with this band.

Abysmal Hymns: Godspeedyoublackemperor! :"G_d' Pee - AT STATE'S END!

4-Comatose- "A Way Back" 

 This band is comprised of guys from Chrome Waves and Fall to Decay. Melodic with a narcotic pulse and a more 90s rock like vibe with Catherine Wheel like moments shining through, though they are also capable of summoning, Jesu inspired pulses of woozy wonder.  

Abysmal Hymns: Comatose :" a Way Back"

3-Svarts-"Geography"

The sugary vocals that glaze the otherwise downtrodden haze of this rainy take of dream pop, give you a focal point. As the singer's meds wear off so sharpens the keen focus on hooky song writing,

 Abysmal Hymns: Svarts- ' Geography"

2-Chrome waves -"Rain Will Cleanse" 

Further stepping away from metal has forced the vocals to improve, which strengthened the songwriting even when the mood is more the more uniform.  Not as dark as the previous album, but not upbeat either, moody, but shy of sullen. The vocals are a little lower and more droning which is also a nice touch. The melodies are subtle

Abysmal Hymns: Chrome Waves : "Rain Will Cleanse"

1-Deafheaven - "Infinite Granite" 

If you are shocked that this band has crossed over and made a total shoe gaze album, then you have not been paying attention. George Clark is a better singer than he was a screamer, as with a few exceptions while emotive his scream was always more of a one trick pony. More melodies than the normal breathy cooing along with more drive and dynamic than your average shoe gaze band

Abysmal Hymns: Deafheaven : "Infinite Granite"

Cynic : " Ascension Codes"

 I love Cynic but very surprised Paul Masvidal is carrying on after the death of of both Sean Malone and Sean Reinert. But drummer Matt Lynch who plays on this album was recruited by Masvidal and Malone, before Malone died Rather than replace Malone, the bass lines are done by a bass synth since his style of playing was untouchable. They are continuing more where they left off with "Traced in Air" as it is a return to heavier sounds than where they went into the more elf like prog of "Kindly Bent to Free Us". I think on "Mythical Serpents" they capture their sound again better,as Masvidals vocals did not connect in the same way on "Elements and Thier Inhabidents".  Lyircally this album is pretty powerful as it goes into a metaphysical exploration of the myths surrounding aliens. By myths I mean truth that has come down through the various cultures over the years, everyone just has different words for explaining the universal truth.

"6th Dimensional Archetype" goes back to the more "Traced In Air" feel that is what I want from these guys. They do it in a way that is not stagnant and as a whole this is way more progressive in an almost jazz like manner while also being the most metal thing they have done since "Focus" or at least as metallic in it's attack at times as "Traced in Air". There is also a ton of very sci fi influenced new age meditation passages through the album. While these would be great for tripping on mushrooms, not something I plan on having in my iPod for a jog to the gym. The kind of split the difference and add an instrumental jam to the third act of "DNA Activation Template".  If the song "Architects of Consciousness" is not what you were looking when it comes to this band, then you obviously have these guys mistaken for someone else, as it delievers everything a fan of this band might want from them in 2021.

Fans of more mainstream forms of progressive metal, might appreciate the guitar interplay of "Aurora" . They get even more aggressive on "In a Multiverse Where Atoms Sing".  To close this album they go off on a more atmospheric jazz prog space odyssey.  It weaves and winds in a very majestic fashion perhaps coming closer to the machine elf tendencies of "Kindly Bent to Free Us". It over all serves the legacy well, if just falling short of the high bar "Traced in Air" set So I will give it a 9.5, putting it above most other prog that came out this year and uit should make long times fans happy about the return to a heavier direction.  

 

VHS : " I Heard They Suck... Blood"

 

 A death metal band from Canada who made an album about vampires, how could I not give this a listen. In my head I hoped they would be more committed to creating the kind of eerie moods that Acid Witch does but despite being a little more song focused on the opening track they kind of fall into what might as well be another Cannibal Corpse clone on "the Frog Brothers". While the title of the song implies the Lost Boys connection there is little else in the grunting to clue you in on this. They do improve on this with "Undead Casanova" and by improve make it more song focused nots scarier sounding though metal in and of itself invokes a scary feeling.

Trevor from the Black Dahlia Murder lends his growl to several songs one of them being " Horror of Dracula" , which to honest, once we get into this kind of guttural vocalization it is hard to tell him apart from this bands own growling.  I do like what these guys are doing better than any BDM album I have heard in recent memory. I always found that band underwhelming. These guys to their credit do not get so consumed with their need for speed that everything sounds the same, " Horror of Dracula" grew on me in my second listen. 

Rock n roll influences rear their head on " a Town Called Purgatory".  The song however does go down a more color by numbers death metal formula. Dave takes over the growling on "Immortality Comes With a Price" , The growls are a little lower is the only real difference. I like the groove to this one more every 90s sounding.  They finally deliver something closer to what I was hoping for on "Martin, Martin".  This also comes with them slowing down into more of a death doom pace. They kind of carry this over into the next song thought it is not done as perfectly. The last song has some heart to it's songwriting so I can live with that as it is catchier than just pounding straight ahead. I will give this an 8.5as it works and catchy enough that is is a fun listen for sure.  

7

Portrayal of Guilt ; "Christfucker"

Most bands would be lucky to release something as dark and beautiful as " We Are Always Alone" , but no, these guys had to go and get even heavier and more dissident with this album that sounds like a discordant blend of indie rock with black metal vocals before the aggression overtakes it.  There no abbreviated grind core blasts of songs that are under a minute, at this point they are fully committed to song writing, even when it's a feral thrashing that they give you with the deliberate chug of "Sadist". They album is produced in a much rawer fashion. This finds the vocals distorting as they collide with the guitars. 

You hear a more punk influence on "Fall from Grace" though it does slow into a creepy section. By the end of the song hard core tendencies are beginning to win out. "Dirge' is like many of the other songs here where it sounds like there is more of a black metal sound until the song unfolds and spits out angular grind core tendencies. "Bed of Ash " works more off noise in its deliberate stomp. 'The Crucifixion" is more overt in the punishment it deals to your ear drums.  It is darker than the previous song, though hard to sort through the layers of heavy on this album as a whole. There is a demonic layer of ugly coating this song. The vocals go into a lower gurgle for "Master / Slave".  This is a slower more groove-oriented flow of death metal they hit you with. 

The riff to "...Where the Suffering Never Ends" reminds me of Bloodlet. They sludged out danger in how they ride the chug is pretty eerie. "Possession" starts off heavier handed, and then they develop the dynamics and give it something to ebb back down into. They work their way around to a pretty powerful riff that crushes skull of all who listen.  It is more death metal at first before into the kind of creepy excursions they have become more fluent in over the years. This builds into a devastatingly heavy riff.  This feels like they are either recording older songs or intentionally going back to what they used to sound like while this is still great and I will give this a 9 it is not as good as "We Are Always Alone" but what is?  

Idles : "Crawler"

 The opening of this album makes you re-think what kind of punk you might be expecting from these guys.  The vocals are much improved, the belt out 'are you ready for the storm' with the kind of whiskey fueled passion Nick Cave would be proud of. Then things take a booze drench punk into a more meat and potatoes British pub punk feel. They split the difference between the first two songs, remaining angry, but using more subtle sonics with a darker feel. The more experimental side comes out with the almost rapped "Car Crash". The production is more dialed in even when they are taking an intentionally lo-fi turn.  'the New Sensation" sounds the most like their previous album of the first five song.   Chanting the same phrase to a fever pitch is part of this album's formula for sure. 

"Stockholm Syndrome" is my favorite song so far as it takes his ranting and channels it in the most effective manner yet. It proves they can still do what they do and be catchy.  The singing has a little more passion on "the Beachland Ballroom" though not as catchy as the previous song. The same thing could be said of "Crawl" which has more of a rock n roll drive. " Meds" thrives off the bass line and they get weird enough to bring a sax. Which is still punk if you think of the Stooges. Things break down to acoustic guitar going into the almost Doors like "Progress". I think it because that means it is darker, more melodic and soaked in atmosphere, as well as one of the better vocal performances.   

"King Snake" works off another drunken groove while almost being too British for their own. good. While the have a bigger sound that owes more to the Clash, they are also more aggressive on the last song. It works pretty well, and finds them once again falling into the rock side of the punk rock equation which I do not have a problem with at all, it means they are once again refining their song writing. I will give this album an 8, it is better than most punk you will hear these days Though maybe not the best.