Nate Tower
Failure – The Heart is a Monster
In the 19 years since Failure last released a proper studio album, little seems to have happened in terms of space exploration. Perhaps it is fitting then, that Failure picks up exactly where they left off by opening The Heart is a Monster with ‘Segue 4’, a nod back to what is possibly the greatest space rock album of all time. Just a minute later, the band launches into what sounds like classic Failure, with the heavy riffs of ‘Hot Traveler’. From there, Failure explores plenty of new territory with a slightly more polished sound than they’ve heard before, but it works incredibly well in the context of this album. With 18 tracks, this is hardly light listening. The 6 ‘Segues’ help tie the album together, while suggesting Failure could be a great post-rock band. Halfway through the album, we get the phenomenal ‘Mulholland Dr.’, a song that’s part Pink Floyd and part ‘The Nurse Who Loved Me’. This is an album of epic proportions, and it feels like Failure is taking us to a new frontier.
Faith No More – Sol Invictus
It’s hard even to fathom Faith No More releasing an album in 2015. The influence of Mike Patton and Faith No More has been obvious in alternative rock during the past two decades, but the need for a new FNM album seemed pretty lacking. After all, what could this band even do anymore? It doesn’t take very long for Sol Invictus to show us. Mike Patton, once dubbed the greatest singer ever, immediately takes us into a new realm with his folk hero impression on the opening title track. Then the band quickly launches into ‘Superhero’, a bold and powerful song that lives up to its name. The rest of the album doesn’t miss a beat, and the band never settles in to safe territory. It’s obvious from the first spin of Sol Invictus that this is no forced reunion. Faith No More had something to say, and they say it damn well.
Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor
Until this year, I hadn’t listened to a full Marilyn Manson album since Antichrist Superstar. I thought I’d outgrown Manson. After all, I’m not an angst-filled teenager anymore (and haven’t been for quite a while). The Pale Emperor proves me wrong. This certainly isn’t your standard shock rock affair. This is Manson doing his best impression of David Bowie kicking serious metal ass. Marilyn Manson sounds simultaneously more mature and more pissed off than ever before. The music is bold and powerful, and Manson’s voice is strong and seasoned. It’s the type of album that can save a career. You can hate Marilyn Manson all you want, but this is one of the best pop-metal albums you’ll hear this year.
Nathaniel Tower
Nathaniel Tower spent 9 years of his life teaching high school English in Missouri. Now he writes and juggles in Minnesota with his wife and two daughters.
Alex Mitchell-Fox
As It Is – Never Happy, Ever After
For all familiar with YouTube musicians, Patty Walters, an American based singer, will be familiar to quite a few. This is his band, the rest hail from Brighton, and they’ve released their debut album this year. This is one which belies their youth, an album crammed with hooks and lyrics about regret, ‘Sorry’, strained relationships, ‘Silence (Pretending’s So Comfortable)’, and the perils of being away from loved ones on tour ‘Dial Tones’. It’s not just the immediacy and hooks of the songs that are on display here, the musicianship is extremely competent, the drumming especially is excellent, and the dual vocals of Walters’ clean, New Found Glory-esque tones balance out Ben Bliss’s more gruff, rough and ready tones to create a brilliant call and response, and light and shade to each song. Overall a brilliant pop punk album, that hints at an incredibly bright future to come for this band. Highlights: ‘Cheap Shots And Setbacks’, ‘Dial Tones’, ‘Sorry’.
While She Sleeps – Brainwashed
Following up 2012’s breakthrough, This Is The Six, was never going to be easy. However, Sheffield metalcore mob While She Sleeps have done exactly that this time around. Having honed their songwriting chops, each song seems more focused than before, and there are a lot more melodic vocals this time; showcasing Laurence ‘Loz’ Taylor’s ever growing vocal talents. This doesn’t mean the album doesn’t still hit hard though, tracks like ‘Trophies of Violence’ and ‘Brainwash’ absolutely slay, while the new sung vocals make tracks like ‘Four Walls’ and ‘Our Legacy’ sound absolutely huge. The musicianship has arguably improved as well, and this new sound can only help in separating While She Sleeps from the herd of screamo bands they could have become lumped in with, had they remained stagnant. Overall, this is a fantastic album that doesn’t stick to a formula and constantly surprises with breakdowns, melody, and sung passages throughout. Highlights: ‘Four Walls’, ‘Our Legacy’, ‘New World Torture’.
Enter Shikari – The Minesweep
Enter Shikari’s new record sees a continuation of their signature sound, but this time they seem to be a lot more pissed off than usual. The heaviness some say was missing from recent efforts has been amped up no end with songs like ‘There’s A Price On Your Head”s System of a Down-style assault, and ‘Minesweeper”s deafening, opening call-to-arms, proving that there is still fire in their bellies. The lyrics pull no punches as usual, with the economy, ‘The Bank of England’, and the treatment of the NHS, ‘The Anaesthetist’, in particular drawing Rou’s ire this time around. There is let up mind you, the calming piano tones of ‘Dear Future Historians’, gives the listener time to reflect on the maelstrom which has just passed. Overall, this is another great record from a band rapidly becoming one of the most versatile and, especially in message, most important of our generation. Highlights: ‘The Last Garrison’, ‘The Anaesthetist’, ‘The One True Colour’.
Alex Mitchell-Fox
Popular music and Journalism graduate turned Wetherspoons barman. Football obsessed. Not a fan of mornings.
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