There is so much good shit that came out last month that I won’t waste time and space for some elaborate intro. Let’s fucking go.
Merc – DEHUMANIZED
May 1 // No Time Records
BLEED – Bleed
May 2 // 20 Buck Spin
With all the Deftonescore dropping left and right, not to mention the altgaze and ’90s nostalgia, it’s easy to get oversaturated. It’s lame when bands just go for an aesthetic to synthesize and emulate without adding anything to it. BLEED isn’t like that. Yes, they dabble in those aesthetics, but their songs have character and life. This is good nostalgia.
SHIBUYA – Bravura y Firmamento
May 2 // Through Love Records/Zegema Beach Records/Exit Row/more
Mei Semones – Animaru
May 2 // Bayonet Records
Model/Actriz – Pirouette
May 2 // Dirty Hit
A Flock Named Murder – Incendiary Sanctum
May 2 // Hypaethral Records
Enji – Sonor
May 2 // Squama
Eli Keszler – Eli Keszler
May 2 // LUCKYME®
It’s a wild assault on the senses. It’s best to give in and let it wash over you. I’ve been a fan of Eli Keszler‘s work since his 2018 album Stadium. I’ve followed his sonic world of twisted electronica and pulsating jazz for years. Unsurprisingly, the album named after himself is also his boldest effort to date. Fitting.
Labyrinthus Stellarum – Rift in Reality
May 2 // Independent
Men I Trust – Equus Caballus
May 6 // Independent
La Lune – everything is an eternal circle and it repeats and repeats itself
May 8 // play dead records
Quinquis – eor
May 9 // Mute
Erika de Casier – Lifetime
May 9 // Independent Jeep Music
Billy Woods – GOLLIWOG
May 9 // Backwoodz Studioz
With each release, one thing becomes clear: Billy Woods is one of the most fascinating and influential rap artists of the last 10 to 15 years. Each release is so creative and full of storytelling that, even when it’s not as accessible as others, you simply can’t turn it off. I definitely can’t.
Alien Boy – You Wanna Fade?
May 9 // Get Better Records
Godot – Fever Songs
May 9 // Independent
A whole new wave of sludgy noise rock, or noisy sludge, is happening right now. Fortunately, I’m cherry-picking the very best gems in that realm. Godot is one of those gems — raw, yet pleasantly artsy and intricate.
Triathalon – Funeral Music
May 16 // Lex Records
The Callous Daoboys – I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven
May 16 // MNRK Heavy
I never thought something by The Callous Daoboys would end up on THE NOISE OF. I never liked this project’s goofy, overly ironic, and tongue-in-cheek mathcore, but with their new album, I Don’t Wanna See You in Heaven, they toned that down and established a more mature, subtle approach to their sound — and it worked out fucking great.
Slow Joy – A Joy So Slow At Times I Don’t Think It’s Coming
May 16 // Mick Music
Emotional Oranges – Orenjii
May 16 // Avant Garden
Lástima – A Pain Bloomed from My Lungs
May 16 // Liminal Dread Production/Tomb Tree Tapes
Among the many great things about the skramz revival is the variety of styles the genre encompasses today. Lástima plays an unusual, slightly folky, and dark version of skramz. Their album, A Pain Bloomed from My Lungs, is one of the most interesting releases in the genre so far this year.
Arm’s Length – There’s A Whole World Out There
May 16 // Pure Noise Records
After releasing the modern day masterpiece Never Before Seen, Never Again Found, any follow-up would have a hard time living up to it. With There’s a Whole World Out There, Arm’s Length debuted on their new label and continued their streak of writing some of the best post-hardcore/emo music around.
Snowpoet – Heartstrings
May 23 // Edition Records
These New Puritans – Crooked Wing
May 23 // Domino Recording
Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film
May 23 // Warp Records
Smerz – Big city life
May 23 // Escho
Revival Season – Formless
May 23 // Heavenly Recordings
Home Is Where – Hunting Season
May 23 // Wax Bodega
International Anthem is, hands down, one of the best places for modern jazz. When Will Miller, known as Resavoir, teams up with Matt Gold for a collaboration, you know you’re in for a treat. It’s a really smooth and elegant affair. I’m looking forward to hearing more from that duo in the future.
OTHIEL – World’s Fastest Car
May 26 // Zegema Beach Records
Bleeth – Marionette
May 29 // Independent
The more time I spend with Bleeth‘s new album, the more I love it. It has heavy riffs and moments that remind me of Pallbearer or Elder, but it’s all wrapped up in a driving, fuzzy rock vibe. Cool stuff. I had never heard of this band before, but I will keep an eye out for them from now on.
Body Minus Head – An Exercise In Self-Sufficiency
May 30 // No Funeral Records
Shit’s just nasty. Thankfully, we have a plethora of ugly, nasty albums this year, to properly reflect the state of the world. To find catharsis and escapism in spots like An Exercise In Self-Sufficiency is a beacon of glimmering hope, even if most of its beauty stems from the bleakness.
Indifferent Engine – Speculative Fiction
May 30 // Church Road Records
Planning For Burial – It’s Closeness, It’s Easy
May 30 // The Flenser
Retirement – Attention Economy
May 30 // IRON LUNG Records
Quedronol – Together
May 30 // Independent
Other Nothing – Lr
May 30 // Independent
Obongjayar – Paradise Now
May 30 // September Recordings
Magnolia – Omaha
May 30 // Independent
Léa Sen – LEVELS
May 30 // Partisan Records
Lionmilk – WHEN THE FLOWERS BLOOM
May 30 // Stones Throw
Kathryn Joseph – WE WERE MADE PREY.
May 30 // Rock Action Records
Invariance – Wish You Well
May 30 // Oracle
It’s a very playful take on jazz fusion — no shredding, but rather a wild mix of ideas and influences ranging from art rock to hip-hop, all backed by crisp drums and mesmerizing piano loops. I hadn’t heard of the Invariance project before, but of course, they are from London. Figured.
caroline – caroline 2
May 30 // Rough Trade
How many London artists have we had here so far? I lost count. This city is buzzing. Experimental post-rock band caroline is back after their genre-bending debut album, and, in a long-overdue move, they recruited Caroline Polachek to sing on one song. They have to stay true to their name.
Athletics – What Makes You Think This Is How It All Ends?
May 30 // Deep Elm Records
Kyle Dion – SOULAR
May 30 // Position Music
Kyle Dion produced one of my favorite songs in recent years with “Let’s Get It On.” I was already a fan, but this song elevated him to the top of my watchlist. Now, he’s back with his third full-length album, SOULAR, amping up his awesome mix of pop, funk, and R&B to create his most complete album yet.
Alan Sparhawk – Alan Sparhawk with Trampled by Turtles
May 30 // Sub Pop
Thanks for scrolling!
