After writing those intros for years, I sometimes struggle to come up with something cool or witty. I think this is a natural process, since this intro seems necessary, but basically we all just want to cut the crap and nerd out about the best releases of the past month. Reflecting upon the meaning and necessity of those texts which welcome the reader to an extravagant journey through the wildest aural landscapes is a good excuse to weasel my way out of the duty of coming up good intro. Or did I just turn everything upside down? What’s going on April 2021?
I’m confused. Let’s calm down and talk about some music.
Bridge Burner – Disempath
April 2 // Hibernation Release
BRUIT ≤ – The Machine Is Burning And Now Everyone Knows It Could Happen Again
April 2 // Independent
BRUIT ≤ did not only release one of the best post rock records of the year, they also put everyone in the genre to shame who claims to have a ‘cinematic’ sound. Their incredible sense for arrangement and sound makes The Machine Is Burning And Now Everyone Knows It Could Happen Again a fantastic experience.
Céline & the Blue – Within & Without
April 2 // Independent
There is nothing more lovely to stumble upon a small gem which really hits the right notes. Within & Without isn’t revolutionary, but it does so much stuff right on just six songs. Tightly produced neo soul with great performances from every member of the band, and I’m looking forward to listen to those tunes when summer comes.
Olhava – Frozen Bloom
April 2 // Independent
Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END!
April 2 // Constellation Records
GY!BE are always a force to be reckoned with, but they definitely lost me a bit after they came back from their hiatus, and with the overbearing shadow of Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven, it was hard to connect to them. Their newest album rekindles some of the seemingly lost magic, and I’m sure that spark can progress even more.
Radura – Effetto Della Veduta D’Insieme
April 7 // Clever Eagle Records/Dischi Decenti/various others
It was about time that we come to our first skramz release to grace this list. 2021 is about to be yet another fantastic year for the revival of the genre, exampled by the intense and marvelous Effetto Della Veduta D’Insieme. This album fills a spot which is usually reserved by Raein, which is the highest form of admiration I can give them.
Caoilfhionn Rose – Truly
April 9 // Gondwana Records
Hiraki – Stumbling Through The Walls
April 9 // Nefarious Industries
Vientre – Estado de Imago
April 9 // Carne Débil
After every spin, this album gives me more. Estado de Imago is not only one of the best skramz records of the year, it’s simply one of the best records the movement has produced since its revival. Vientre carry melancholy as their shield and hope as their sword, creating the most beautiful melodies within their never-ending drive.
Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey – Uneasy
April 9 // ECM Records
Vijay Iyer is one of the finest jazz pianists right now, and when he teams up with such an illustrious bunch of artists like Linda May Han Oh and Tyshawn Sorey, you know there will be quality. If you are looking for a playful, dynamic jazz experience, take that.
Brockhampton – Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
April 9 // RCA/Question Everything
Brockhamption had some great momentum with their Saturation trilogy, but after the well-deserved kick-out of Ameer Vann, they couldn’t manage to get back to their feet artistically. Roadrunner hit me by surprise, being probably the best album of their career.
Orange and Mountains – Drawers
April 16 // Rhodium Publishing
Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
April 16 // Sharptone Records
Holding Absence were always an incredibly promising act in the UK scene, and they proved themselves capable of fulfilling those promises with their newest release The Greatest Mistake Of My Life. While not really adventurous stylistically, their great sense for songwriting and an utterly charismatic performance by vocalist Lucas Woodland are more an enough to make this album outstanding.
Suffocate For Fuck Sake – Fyra
April 16 // Moments Of Collapse Records
Son Lux – Tomorrows III
April 16 // City Slang
Motorpsycho – Kingdom Of Oblivion
April 16 // Stickman Records/Rune Grammofon
Altarage – Succumb
April 23 // Season Of Mist
One of the best death metal bands around are back with yet another fantastic record. Altarage mastered their slightly dissonant and vastly atmospheric approach to death metal on their critical acclaimed album The Approaching Roar, and continued their journey into the hellish abyss with Succumb.
Spectral Lore – Ετερόφωτος
April 23 // I, Voidhanger Records
Neptunian Maximalism – Solar Drone Ceremony
April 23 // I, Voidhanger Records
I, Voidhanger Records put out not only released one groundbreaking metal record on April 23 with Spectral Lore, they also released Solar Drone Ceremony, the newest addition to the fascinating catalog of Neptunian Maximalism. If you are not familiar, imagine Devin Townsend, but twisted, kinda occult, way more experimental and pretty black metal-ish. And, from my perspective, way better.
BIG | BRAVE – VITAL
April 23 // Southern Lord
I really enjoyed BIG | BRAVE‘s previous record, A Gaze Among Them, but felt it was lacking somewhere. Whatever it was which they needed, the band found it for their newest output, VITAL, marking it the best release in the band’s career. For those who aren’t satiated with doomgaze quite yet, prepare for one of the very best releases in that vein!
Capra – In Transmission
April 23 // Metal Blade Records
I wasn’t aware of this record until the day it was released. As usual, browsing through some records, I immediately knew that In Transmission was special. While having a relatively clean and modern sound, Capra capture a raw and infectious energy throughout this hell of a record, which will bring them far in the future.
Yellow Ostrich – Soft
April 23 // Barsuk Records
Satomimagae – Hanazono
April 23 // RVNG Intl.
Porter Robinson – Nurture
April 23 // Mom + Pop
Nurture hit all the right notes for me. All the good vibes, all the good feelings. It condenses the first warm sunbeams of the year, first green meadows. I’m already in love with this album, and I will fall even more for it in the summer.
Monobody – Comma
April 23 // Sooper Records
Alfa Mist – Bring Backs
April 23 // Anti- Records
Rachel Chinouriri – Four° In Winter
April 23 // Parlophone Records
Smooth as fuck and delicately arranged alternative r’n’b, led by an overall impressive performance by Rachel Chinouriri. Nothing more to say than to highly recommend this powerful EP.
BLACKSHAPE – BLACKSHAPE
April 23 // Independent
Stone Healer – Conquistador
April 30 // Independent
Not enough good metal in April? No worries, Stone Healer is here to save the day. It’s hard to describe, let’s just say Conquistador hits a sweet spot between Gorguts and Ne Obliviscaris, while being unique and fresh. The really earthy and old-school production adds to the very cohesive image the band establishes on their debut. Super excited for the future of this project.
Oryx – Lamenting A Dead World
April 30 // Translation Loss Records
Last Hyena – How Soon Is Mars
April 30 // Stereo Brain Records
I’ve developed a complicated relationship with math rock during the years. At first, I ate up everything the genre threw at me, but I got bored by all the mindless noodling, since the majority of bands forget how to write proper songs. Gladly, Last Hyena stand out with superb songwriting and some awesome sound ideas!
Ben Seretan – Cicada Waves
April 30 // NNA Tapes
Crumb – Ice Melt
April 30 // Independent
Thanks for scrolling!
