70+/100 Genre: Ambient, atmospheric downtempo, vaporwave , electronica On the whole, I can still tolerate the beats used by this Queens, New York artist because they are kept at a low intensity. The additions of synths, basslines, and hums give it texture, and there are vaporwave elements on tracks like " Emerald Transport " and " Nocturnal Theme "—which feel like a rustling breeze right as you're going to sleep, complete with minimal piano notes. Meanwhile, " Jersey Devil " is accompanied by ambient swells and a sort of low-frequency glitch or stuttering sound that feels like the early onset of a windstorm. "Send You Off" could be considered a bright opening track, containing the most prominent electronic pulse. However, as usual, the purest ambient piece untouched by other instrumental interference remains my top pick, namely " p2p.waves ." This Great Ghost album might be best experienced during the early morning hours or used ...

70/100 Genre: avant-garde, musique concrète, improvised jazz This is a live album recorded at Neverending Books in New Haven, Connecticut. Structurally, it is naturally dynamic and experimental, blending accordion, soprano and tenor saxophones, percussion, cello, and bass. As a result, the performance feels quite close to contemporary classical music—or whatever you want to call it—since it carries a classical impression that remains perfectly tolerable to the ear. This recording is also clearly suited as a backdrop while sitting in a room reading a classic novel, historical romance, or European history. The title itself says it all. It is not a collection of songs, but rather the atmosphere inside a chamber. At least, that is how I see this Adam Matlock 's live album. Didn't quite catch the meaning after reading this commentary? That's perfectly fine. Tracklist: 1. Samantha Hell 2. Rhysek 3. Superconductor/Artichoke/Superconductor 4. The Eve out of Revelation

70/100 Genre: post-rock/metal This Spanish post-rock outfit, El Altar del Holocausto dedicates their third album to the Holy Spirit , utilizing a horizontally flipped image of Carlo Crivelli ’s Pietà painting (1476) depicting the death of Jesus for the cover art. It instantly reminds me of Thumos , who also frequently uses classical artwork. Furthermore, each track title consists of a single, long sentence sourced directly from the Bible—such as Romans 1:18 and Luke 6:27-36—making this a Christian post-rock release despite being entirely instrumental. Musically, they remain highly relevant to Thumos , Pelican , and Russian Circles , as well as Caspian and their close peers, Dûrga . Tracks one, two, and five follow roughly the same formula, churning the earth with heavy riffs during the first half and final minutes, while the middle sections are handed over to melodic passages and the quiet, clean guitar work typical of post-rock. The sixth track features an inverted structure, su...

75/100 Genre:  progressive/power metal A year later, Wardrum released a new album, Desolation , featuring a robed figure on the cover just like its predecessor. The energy channeled here is arguably greater, and I catch a hint of Serenity 's Georg Neuhauser in the bridge of "Sign of Treason." Meanwhile, the humming chorus of "Unforgiving" feels almost like an alternative counterpart to "Parental." The progressive elements finally emerge upon reaching "Tide Lakes," which shares a similar tempo and character with "Yesterday" from their debut album, followed immediately by "Urban Storm." This classic proggy style persists through the remainder of the journey, broken up only by the mid-tempo track "Abound in Nothing." Consequently, I feel much more confident citing Vision Divine for this album, proving that they aren't merely playing straightforward power metal. As for the standout tracks, I highly recommend th...

70/100 Genre:  progressive/power metal Wardrum (Greece) plays a brand of power metal that I feel leans toward the classic sounds of Judas Priest and Helloween , as heard on "Crest of the Wave," making precise comparisons somewhat tricky. However, this debut album also carries a distinct progressive flavor, even if it feels a bit subtle at times. For instance, "Yesterday," "Circle of Hate," and "Inner God" can be traced back to the likes of Symphony X , Angra , and Fates Warning , whereas "The Meaning of Forever" feels closer to Vision Divine.  As for the title track, I think it merely utilizes dynamic guitar riffs with an intro characteristic of Orden Ogan , though I'm still debating whether it leans into neoclassical territory or not. Another highlight that stands out as their fastest offering—delivering a USPM or power/speed metal edge—can be found on "Soultrip." Ultimately, the extra appreciation here is solely due t...

65/100 Genre: Melodic power metal This Finnish power metal band returns two years after the release of Beyond Reality . Based on the album title they chose, it only clicked for me halfway through that they were trying to say this album is different from their previous work. There’s no hint of a conceptual flow here; it dives straight into the fast lane, but the hook is held down by "Wings of Icaros," which utilizes those signature Stratovarius -style keyboards. Unfortunately, the subsequent run of "New Life," "Lucid Times," and "Mirror" completely collapses the high-energy atmosphere that had been built up. "World's Child" heats things up again, but it’s immediately followed by the ballad "Sail Away," and the acoustic "Green Fields" as the closer. "Fly" and "Secret Door" sit at a mid-tempo pace, while the most memorable final moment belongs to "We Are One," which features vocal choi...