Album: Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes

Grindcore originators show no sign of slowing down or mellowing out

Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes is not so much a brand new album from Napalm Death, but a collection of tunes that were recorded during, but left over from, the sessions for their last disc, Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism. That said, there is nothing in its grooves to suggest that it might be a mere ragbag of off-cuts, put together to fulfill contractual obligations.

Album: Boris - W

★★★★★ BORIS - W The Japanese doom metal / dreampop trio on the form of their lives

The Japanese doom metal / dreampop trio on the form of their lives

This is just boggling. The Japanese rock trio Boris have been together in the same lineup for over a quarter of a century – and it’s longer still since their original formation – but they’re outdoing themselves record by record. Their last record, NO, was the most energetic record they’ve ever made.

Album: Iron Maiden - Senjutsu

★★★ IRON MAIDEN - SENJUTSU A slightly portly old Maiden has still got some sizzle in her

17 albums in and a slightly portly old Maiden has still got some sizzle in her

Iron Maiden are in very many senses as English, as camp and as ridiculous as Christmas pantomime, even down to the “HE’S BEHIND YOU!” looming of their vast onstage zombie mascot Eddie. Which is not to say there’s nothing to them: far from it. Just like pantomime, their durability shows how much they speak to something deep and archetypal in their audience’s spirit.

Album: Willow - Lately I Feel Everything

Scion of Hollywood royalty goes punk

Willow Smith has done more during her life than the average 20-year-old. The daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, she bounced off her childhood appearance in her father’s film I Am Legend to a No 2 UK hit with “Whip My Hair” a decade ago, and has since released a bunch of music.

theartsdesk on Vinyl 65: Solomun, Black Sabbath, Trojan Records, The Creation, Seefeel, Motörhead and more

THEARTSDESK ON VINYL 65: Solomun, Black Sabbath, Trojan Records, The Creation, Seefeel, Motörhead and more

The biggest, most wide-ranging regular vinyl reviews in the universe

The latest edition of theartsdesk on Vinyl combines the best new sounds on plastic with the vinyl reissues that are pressing buttons. Ranging from heavy rockin’ book-style boxsets to the funkiest summertime 7”s, all musical life is here. Dive in.

VINYL OF THE MONTH

This Is The Deep The Best Is Yet To Come (Part 1) (B3)

theartsdesk on Vinyl 64: Chet Baker, Lava La Rue, Bob Mould, Krust, The Yardbirds, The Fratellis and more

THEARTSDESK ON VINYL 64 Literally the largest fresh set of vinyl reviews on the internet

Literally the largest fresh set of vinyl reviews on the internet

Things got out of hand at theartsdesk on Vinyl this month and these reviews run to 10,000 words. That's around a fifth of The Great Gatsby. It's because there's so much good music that deserves the words, from jazz to metal to pure electronic strangeness.

Album: Gojira - Fortitude

★★★ GOJIRA - FORTITUDE French metallers deliver a sonically crafted pummelling

French metallers deliver a sonically crafted pummelling their fans should enjoy

Chances are many will not have heard of Gojira. At best, as a music lover, theirs may be a name seen among the line-up of metal festivals. As ever with metal, perceived as niche but with a vast audience, this is misleading. Gojira are globally successful, quarter of century into their career, with proper hit albums under their belt. They are also that rare thing, a French heavy metal band.

Sound of Metal review - hidden depths behind the decibels

★★★ SOUND OF METAL Absorbing story of hard choices and self-knowledge

Absorbing story of hard choices and self-knowledge

I once went to see Motorhead, back in the days when real men didn’t wear earplugs, and afterwards it was if somebody had completely sawn off the top half of my hearing register. Weird and scary, and the band were putting themselves through that every night.

theartsdesk on Vinyl 63: KMFDM, Laurie Anderson, Seratones, The Telescopes, Black Sabbath, Conrad Schnitzler and more

THEARTSDESK ON VINYL 63 KMFDM, Laurie Anderson, Seratones, Black Sabbath and more

The biggest bumper crop of vinyl record reviews out there

Rumours keep swirling of pressing plants stumped by the effects of COVID-19 lockdown, and it’s true that vinyl editions of many albums have been delayed, yet still those records keep arriving. At theartsdesk on Vinyl, no-one cares if an album was streaming or out in virtual form months ago. Vinyl is the only game here and when those albums arrive, they are heard, and the best of them, from hip hop to Sixties pop to steel-tough electronic bangin’ to whatever else, makes it into 6000 words of detailed reviews. There’s no shortage of juice or opinion here. Dive in!