J-Smiff - Black Magic (2021)

I don't know much about J-Smiff, but seems Black Magic isn't his first release. Basically it's blues with a machinedrum for the beats, or a kind of blues/hip/hop crossover, with vocals and guitars from the blues and hip-hop for the beats. Not very far away from what Everlast is doing. On Black Magic this mix is really producing excellent results, and the good songs and vocals are doing the rest, making it a really enjoyable album. Time to do another one!

Beastwars - The Ship // The Sea (2025)

Beastwars (from New-Zealand) has been around for fifteen years now, and each time they release a new album it's a pleasure to listen to their epic heavy metal with a strong stoner/doom feel, and The Ship // The Sea is again a masterpiece, with again great songwriting and powerful vocals. Somewhere between early Mastodon and High on Fire, with bits reminding also Alice in Chains or Soundgarden as well. But always very Beastwars. Highly recommended!

 

The BC page.

 

Iron Lung - Adapting // Crawling (2025)

Maybe younger readers only know Iron Lung through the (always excellent) releases of their record label, but with Adapting // Crawling the bass/drums duo from Seattle is releasing a new album (previous one was twelve years ago!). And once again they deliver some great powerviolence, with bleak bits of sludge and noise. If you don't know Iron Lung, the band, it's time to discover it.

 

The BC page. 

 

Goat - Goat (2024)

As is spot on for a self-titled album, this new Goat album sounds very Goat, and I feel that, more than on the previous albums, it put the emphasis on what made the specificity of the Goat sound : the inclusion of afrobeat/world music in heavy psych music, sounding like Black Sabbath, The 13th Floor Elevators and Fela Kuti jamming together, and making a very cohesive and catchy music out of it. Goat is an album as good as it is quintessential Goat! 

 

The BC page. 

 

Grave Infestation - Carnage Gathers (2025)

Carnage Gathers (a joint release by Invictus Productions and Dark Descent Records) is the second album Canadian Grave Infestation and will be a feast for anyone into old school death metal. Think a mix of old shool US DM, bits from early Slayer (circa Hell Awaits / Reign in Blood), and a touch of war metal for the additional chaos and aggression. Good stuff!

 

The BC page. 

 

Marta & Tricky - Out The Way (2025)

You probably already know that Tricky (with Massive Attack and solo) has been one of the leading character in trip-hop music for more than thirty years now. And if you know Tricky you probably also know Marta's voice since she collaborated on many albums with him since his first solo, Maxinquaye in 1995. On Out The Way, the first album released with both their names, they prove they still got a great chemistry together and are as inspired as ever. If dark & dreamy electro/dub music is your thing, you'll feel at home and very pleased with Out The Way. Highly recommended! (but comes with a warning : highly addictive stuff!)

 

the BC page. 

 

Stimulant - Sub-Normal (2025)

Five years after their previous release, the guitar / drums duo Stimulant (formed by ex-Water Torture) is back with a new album called Sub-Normal. And it was worth the wait, once again they deliver some high quality and high impact powerviolence / noise. Good stuff! 

 

The BC page.