Album Reviews

Aatocaster – superstition (studio works ’23-’25)

October 14, 2025

From the underground corners of Los Angeles, the enigmatic Aatocaster rises from the shadows. In the pursuit of a cult-following as opposed to mainstream hubris, Aatocaster forms jagged soundscapes of crystalline digitalization, where post-punk rhythms and shoegaze ambiance collide with glass-shattered electronica. The result is the mind-bending superstition (studio works ’23-’25), an abrasive but eye-opening dance through fields of data compiled together into some sort of experimental world. Even the artwork surrounding this release is noisy and degraded. Intentionally unsettling, superstition challenges us to push our boundaries past surface level – a deeper dive into this album will reward the listener with a mysterious, but cerebral lyrical presence.   superstition opens with “the mirror,” a song that floats into your sub-conscious like a half-remembered memory. “the mirror” is a perfect title, because alongside a spooky vocal presence, this song sounds a lot like a mirror shattering. Glinting keyboards ding like shards[...]

Loser Demon – EP2

October 9, 2025

The only constant in life is change, and Loser Demon seem to have embraced that with fervor on their most recent release, EP2. It’s often a bigger leap than people realize to go from a raw, lo-fi energy to something that feels produced and intentional; in fact, you’re almost putting yourself in a much harsher spotlight because you don’t have the “well, it’s supposed to sound raw” defense to fall back on anymore. Luckily for Loser Demon, they don’t have to ponder on their self-worth too much – their new six-song release is a master class in growing as a band, full of powerful, self-propelled indie punk that feels explosive, powerful, and poignant in all the right ways.   Rather than start with the album opener, we’re going to highlight “Reliance,” one of the album’s most blood-pumping songs. Get used to the hallmarks found here – buzzsaw guitars grind with a guttural[...]

Ole Anders Winge Walseth – Borodino 1812

October 9, 2025

Ole Anders Winge Walseth (OAWW).   An epic name tied to an epic new EP – Borodino 1812, a six-song offering that feels like a clarion call for war. Even just the mention of “1812” evokes images and feelings of a battle long since past, and OAWW brings it to life with a passionate blend of alt rock and metal. Written over the course of 8 years (2017-2025), Anders Winge Walseth and Erlend Naalsund teamed up to write the majority of this Norwegian rock EP, with the exception of “Death on the Horizon” and “Ocean Liners,” which come straight from OAWW’s brain.   We’d be remiss without starting with the title-track and opening track, “Borodino 1812.” Through epic guitars, snarling vocals, and a 5+ minute runtime, the band delves into a powerful soundscape that copes with themes of conflict, valor, and what it truly means to be “human.” These themes[...]

Love Ghost – Gas Mask Wedding

October 7, 2025

If you’re familiar with Love Ghost (and you should be, we’ve reviewed his albums here and here), you already know what a personality Finnegan Seeker Bell is. The enigmatic frontman/musician/songwriter/content creator is always pushing boundaries – whether that means writing songs about death and drugs; bounding from genre to genre without a care in the world; or just generally having a fuck-it-all attitude toward life – Bell’s devil-may-care attitude belies his genuinely prolific songwriting output. He’s back with another full length; to our knowledge, his second of the year. He’s calling it Gas Mask Wedding – here’s a little bit about the album from Bell himself:   “These songs are about finding intimacy in the middle of chaos. I wrote songs about loving something that could destroy you – because that is the world I live in. If you live in this world too then welcome to the wedding.”   Right[...]

Chris Portka – The Album Everyone Wants

September 25, 2025

Chris Portka was originally going to release his latest effort, The Album Everyone Wants (TAEW), exclusively on vinyl. There’s some sort of irony about releasing an album hyped up as “the one that everyone desires” on such an intentional media like wax, but maybe that’s the point. Chris Portka does whatever the fuck he wants – evidenced by his previous effort, the noisy and experimental Trash Music (that we reviewed here), and further bolstered by the not-quite-180-degree turn taken on TAEW. Portka leans harder into the American songbook here on TAEW, never eschewing his noisy indie rocker tendencies, but instead, mashing them together with gentler folk rock backbones; sighing pedal steel guitars; and delightfully weird psychedelia.   While the vinyl of Trash Music ramped up feelings of nostalgia and anxiety, it has a different outcome when listening to the broader, “songwriter” appeal of an album like TAEW. Chris’ left-field shenanigans feel like the flourishes that make this[...]

SOZI – DREAM

September 25, 2025

SOZI is LA-born and raised, and her latest EP, DREAM, is a glittering reflection of that upbringing. Written and produced by SOZI, this end-of-summer blitz is a celebration of all things glitz and glamor. Here’s a little more about DREAM from SOZI herself.   “The ‘DREAM’ EP is all about the illusions we chase, the fantasies we fall into, and the moments of clarity that wake us up. It’s the sound of summer seen through a hazy lens: warm, glittery, emotional, and a little surreal.”   SOZI smartly opens the album with “Superstar” – an archetypal SOZI jam that combines retro disco throwbacks (think Bee-Gees-type staccato strings that sigh and burst) with a modern-day pop sensibility. SOZI’s voice is powerful, but not overwhelming, acting as a lilting presence that floats perfectly overtop the electropop instrumentals… And while the phrase will be forever associated with Molly Shannon as Mary Katherine Gallagher,[...]

CAR287 – Looking Through the Lens

September 17, 2025

On their latest album, Looking Through the Lens, the Canadian rock band CAR287 takes us on an wild journey. Feelings of both hopefulness and hopelessness, anger, and heartbreak bubble up – examined from multiple lenses, both within the self and others. Here’s a little more from frontman Jay Yarmey about how the album came to be:   “This album is about perspective – how we see ourselves, our families, our city, and the memories that shape us... It’s rooted in Winnipeg and in the experiences we’ve lived, but the themes are universal – everyone can find a piece of themselves in it.”   “Opening Song” is, self explanatorily, the first track on the record. It intrigues the audience with the anticipative hook, “dreaming of pulling away from here.” The passion within the track could inspire just about anyone to make a positive change in their life. In fact, while you[...]

Jake Cassman – Idling High

September 9, 2025

On his 2025 debut album, Idling High, Jake Cassman displays his solicitude, profound lyricism, and satirical humor. The heart of this record has a nostalgic, yet modern feel to it, which Cassman exhibits beautifully. His eclectic style is a mix of indie rock, Americana, and even power pop, an accessible blend that keeps listeners engaged and excited. He often writes with a dark sense of humor, using it to tackle heavier topics like depression, stagnation, and self-esteem.   Cassman attended the University of Pennsylvania for a brief two years before he transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston to pursue his music career. While music is his main forte, Cassman also expresses his comedic side in tracks such as “Asking for a Friend”, and “I think I’m Happy.” Both songs present his wry sense of humor through blunt, shameless, and sarcastic lyrics – “Ever look in the mirror, hate[...]

Freidrich$ – Wish

August 29, 2025

Who is Freidrich$? What is Freidrich$? Is it even possible to know Freidrich$? We’re not exactly sure either, but the enigmatic individual known as Freidrich$ (F) is hot off the release of their latest offering, Wish. Clad in smeared and streaked face paint, Freidrich$’s existence may seem like it lies somewhere between Slipknot, ICP, and/or Ghost, but the 10 tracks on Wish are actually a lot more grounded in heartfelt emotions, blending elements of trap, bedroom pop, and dreamy atmospherics to create something all his own.   “The Moviegoer” is our introduction to Freidrich$’s unique style. A crushing Red Hot Chili Peppers (!) sample forms the backbone of this song; Freidrich$ goes as far as to call them out by name mid-track, a fun and interesting way to reference where his sample came from. Moreover, we start to vibe on F’s vocal style – haunting, self-referential, and incredibly personal lyrics, delivered[...]

Tabloid Nation – They Never Told Us Why

July 30, 2025

NYC based alt rockers Tabloid Nation (TN) have a foundation built “pre-9/11.” Whether that’s a testament to their politically-charged leanings, or an unshakeable bond 20+ years in the making, it certainly informs the energy found on their latest offering, the 11-song They Never Told Us Why. Channeling a muscle car abandon (their words, not ours, but apt words nonetheless), these songs certainly sound muscular – expect rip-roaring guitars, honeyed melodies, and an accessible rock ‘n roll sound that sounds equal parts Alkaline Trio and Rise Against, with a not-so-subtle nod toward the foundational 1990’s sound where they laid their first bricks.   The band slams into your consciousness with opener “I’ll Make It Up To You.” There’s a Matt Skiba-esque drawl found here, soaring overtop their aforementioned rock ‘n roll backbone… And while the band is certainly rooted in a pleasantly accessible alt rock formatting, there are hints of other[...]

Liquid Pennies – Fore

July 25, 2025

You gotta love a band that describe themselves as “psychedelic explorers;” that’s exactly how St. Petersburg-based act Liquid Pennies introduce themselves… And honestly, it’s a pretty apt description. The power trio specializes in a hard-to-describe sound, combining elements of prog, psych rock, and indie with a little bit of je ne sais quoi powder sprinkled overtop. They’re proud to announce their latest offering, Fore, which explores all of the aforementioned elements in a tight-but-expansive collection of eight intriguing songs. With a laundry list of wild influences – think The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio, The Smile, and King Crimson (and anything and everything in between), it’s not hard to imagine that Liquid Pennies are here to push a few boundaries. Luckily for us listeners, they do it in an exquisitely listenable way, a challenge for some prog-ish acts, but not this talented trio.   The album opens with “Tapered Scape,”[...]

Eli Lev – Past Lives

July 20, 2025

Eli Lev included the voices of his actual ancestors on his upcoming release – the tellingly-named Past Lives… And when we say that his relatives are “included,” we don’t just mean as an iPhone voice memo clip, or some random interlude. Eli actually works their essence into this five-song collection of folk-coded indie pop in a way that feels poignant and reverent. You can call it a concept album, but Past Lives is more than that – it’s a celebration of Eli’s foundation as a person. Here’s a little more about what their inclusion means to him:   “This album honors my ancestors… Their voices and stories are the foundation of who I am. I wanted to bring them forward – not just in memory, but in sound, in rhythm, in life.”   The album opens with “Echo,” in this case, an introduction to both Eli and his family. Eli’s music[...]

Tristan Turdean – 5 SONGS TO GET OVER YOU

July 17, 2025

Tristan Turdean aims to tug at our collective heartstrings with a brand new breakup EP that traverses all the different stages of grief… From denial all the way through acceptance (we omitted anger, bargaining, and the all-encompassing depression, but Tristan sure didn’t), 5 SONGS TO GET OVER YOU is a nu-age pop-punk journey that aims to assault all of your senses with powerful musical compositions, heart-on-your-sleeve vocals, and excellent production.   Normally we’d start with the opening song, but we’re giving our nod for album favorite to album closer, “Leave You In The Past.” While the rest of the EP is an incredible ride, there is something special about hearing Tristan’s acceptance of his situation. Especially since, as per his words: “This project is about feeling everything, surviving it, and moving forward stronger.” on “Leave You In The Past,” Tristan delivers vocals that are restrained yet emotionally resonant, while the[...]

Plàsi – Camino

June 23, 2025

“Scandinavian clarity and Mediterranean warmth” – a design element that fits oddly well when describing singer/songwriter Plàsi. On his latest EP, Camino, the Greco-Swede explores gentle, acoustic-folk with his trademark vulnerability. Hushed and intimate while simultaneously exploring the genre’s infinite bounds, Camino is an album that encourages you to break free from expectations and societal pressures. Instead, project mastermind Mikael Bitzarakis crafts natural-sounding songs that are the aural embodiment of following your passions and retaining a childlike sense of wonder.   Even when Plàsi is exploring heavy topics, like a rough father/son relationship on album opener “Father’s Eyes,” his music sounds warm and inviting. It speaks to his talent as a writer – exploring these hard-to-breach subjects with an underlying musicianship that makes them feel approachable and normalized. Here’s a little more from Bitzarakis about the powerful message beneath the song:   “… We don’t want to see or learn from our similarities.[...]

Zach Tabori – Attack of the Clout Chasers

June 17, 2025

For once, we may have found ourself at a loss for words… But we’re still going to pump out about 400 of them regarding Zach Tabori’s latest offering, Attack of the Clout Chasers. This album is a wild ride – a kaleidoscopic, genre-defying, Zappa-esque grind that’s equal parts progressive experimentalism, sci-fi dystopia, and political satire. Tabori throws listeners head first into this ten-track, 40 minute concept that whirrs with chaotic energies – a meticulously-crafted opus that has a hawk-eyed glare (and eagle-taloned grasp) on today’s modern dystopic existence… And while you think Tabori might be all-Zappa-all-the-time (and we wouldn’t be surprised, seeing as how he’s a member of Dweezil Zappa’s band), he’s got an impressive pedigree, having written for pop luminaires like Téo and Jaden Smith. Are you as bamboozled as we are? It’s ok – Tabori is probably reveling in your wide-eyed stupor.   In what I can only[...]