Ahead of the holiday season, four of the year’s best releases arrive in time for all your gift-giving needs.
Life will probably never be the same as it was before the COVID pandemic took the world by storm. Mourning the loss of the world we knew is normal, but it’s important to recognize all the good that continues to exist. Each new week brings us music that has the potential to change countless lives, and this week’s batch of new releases is no exception. There are too many good records for us to mention, but here are four we believe everyone should experience.
Bearings – Hello, It’s You (Pure Noise Records)
Canadian rock band Bearings deliver a large amount of heart and hooks with their latest full-length record. Hello, It’s You captures the epic highs of young love and our deep-rooted longing to belong in a manner that never ceases to captivate its audience. Do you wish you were anywhere else doing anything else right now? Have you found yourself yearning to find a way back to a simpler time? Are you embracing the endless possibilities of adulthood with wide-eyes and a cautious spirit? If one or more of these questions hit home, then there is at least one song on this record for you.
Refused – The Malignant Fire EP (Spinefarm)
Refused is as close to an iconic group that you can find in punk today. They literally wrote the record that shaped the future of the genre. The Malignant Fire, which arrives thirteen months after their last album, combines covers and new originals to create a fiery burst of anarchic energy. Tracks like “Malfire” will have you driving 80 in a school zone, while the rambunctious “Organic Organic Organic (Go Fuck Yourself)” will have you ready to riot. You will long to hear these songs live, but with the right wireless headphones, you can still mosh in the comfort of your home.
Tombs – Under Sullen Skies (Season of Mist)
Tombs fall into an incredibly rare space where music fans are undeserving of their talent. Under Sullen Skies reinforces this idea with twelve songs that serve to unite the metal and hardcore communities with apocalyptic anthems tailor-made for the end of all things. It’s the kind of album best experienced while riding atop of white stallion through the remnants of fallen empires while thrusting your battle-ax as far into the sky as your arm will reach. We know many of you may never get to do that, but Under Sullen Skies will make you feel like you did.
Jinjer – Alive In Melbourne (Napalm Records)
Jinjer spent 2019 ascending through the metal hierarchy at breakneck speed. Strong music, coupled with critical and fan acclaim, set the group up for a massive 2020 that was, unfortunately, derailed by COVID-19. Before the global lockdown, the band’s final bow was a wild and unpredictable performance in Australia that is now available for fans worldwide. Alive In Melbourne doesn’t completely replace the live experience, but it’s the closest many of us will come to engaging with a concert until mid-2021 (at the earliest).
