Germany’s Kadavar harkens back to a time before heavy metal fully distinguished itself from rock. Almost half a century ago, bands like Black Widow, Goblin and, of course, Black Sabbath pushed the boundaries of hard rock with distorted, theatrical occultism. Alongside Sweden’s Witchcraft and Graveyard, the trio reverently revitalizes…

It’s ironic that doom metal has only recently become the new post-black-metal, considering the subgenre’s roots trace directly back to Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut. Bands like Sweden’s Monolord carry the torch for a more traditionalist take on the stoner and sludge end of the spectrum, in contrast to boundary-pushing…

Clockwise from top left: Claire George, Jen Dior, DEYO, Ricky Remedy featuring Smokepurpp and Zay27, Puma Blue and Caitlyn Smith. Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips. Artists on platforms like Spotify and Bandcamp are plentiful, and the radio offers a steady deluge of new…

With the release of her goth-doom masterclass Hiss Spun, it appeared that Chelsea Wolfe had reached the precipice of her heavy side. The Sacramento songwriter has spent the last few years embellishing her occultist neo-folk with crushing riffs and experimental electronics. It resulted in her best material, begging the…

While many see him as another nail in the coffin of hip-hop, it can’t be denied that Frank Lopes, Jr.’s unique style has brought him a long way. As Hobo Johnson, the Sacramento musician began his rise from a life as his namesake with his 2015 debut, Hobo Johnsons 94 Corolla.…

For the past 40 years, Malian “guitar music” collective Tinariwen have told the oft-overlooked struggles of the Tuareg people through an entrancing stylistic blend. Within a cross section of the Middle Eastern resistance music known as Tichumaren, with more recognizable elements of folk rock and blues, the collective has…

With the release of Miles Davis’ 1986 Warner Bros. debut Tutu, the jazz icon divided his audience like he did during his ‘70s electric era. Younger fans appreciated his incorporation of drum machines and synth, but purists saw the departure as dumbed down. Either way, Tutu began a new…

Clockwise from top left: Choir! Choir! Choir!, Peach Tree Rascals, Aubrie Sellers, Trentemøller, Deb Never and Grandma. Every week, there’s a plethora of new music at our fingertips. Artists on platforms like Spotify and Bandcamp are plentiful, and the radio offers a steady deluge of new singles, but who…

Tool, “Fear Inoculum.” Tool has a distinct advantage of desaturation. The band established a sound beyond duplication, released a handful of well-received albums, and then went silent for 13 years. Fiercely progressive yet entrancingly visceral, the quartet played by its own rules since day one—which apparently extends into its…

Formed by Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek from the ashes of the Smith Westerns, Whitney’s lineup and sound has since vastly expanded. String and horn accompaniment elevated the Chicago band’s 2016 debut, Light Upon the Lake, but a subsequent demo collection spotlighted the songs’ organic core. Ehrlich and Kakacek strengthened…