andconham's Diary

This is pretty good pop rock. I think with time if Sombr can expand on this sound a vary it up a bit, we might have a great artist emerging. As it is, it's catchy and vibey, with easy relatable lyrics. Favourite Tracks: - 12 for 12 - i wish I knew how to quit you - back to friends - undressed

Orchestral renditions of what is pretty much Metallica's greatest hits. It works quite well for the most part, giving a lot of songs an epic feeling. I think some renditions don't quite hit the mark (Sad But True, Hero of the Day), but some really hit it, particularly on the first disc. I do find He…

First time listening to this band, and I think this is pretty good commercial Hardcore. I was surprised to see these guys have been active since the early 2000s, as there is pretty good energy on this album. They alternate between the heavy and the easy, and there is some good catchy hooks. Lyricall…

I think Morrissey borders on self parody here, but it works for the most part. Instrumentally this album is great, and I do enjoy Morrissey brand of crooning. It's a bit hard to take stuff like 'Meat Is Murder' seriously though. Favourite Tracks: - The Headmaster Ritual - I Want the One I Can't Ha…

A good debut for this legendary band. There's hints of their defining sound in here, albeit with a rougher mix than later releases. There's a bit of a dip in quality during the middle section, particularly the Foxey Lady cover, but for the most part this album is a successful debut. Favourite Track…

The first half of this supergroup album goes hard, with each member bringing a taste of their main bands sound together to make some kick ass tunes. The album does lull a little in the middle, but there's some more good tunes towards the back end too. Favourite Tracks: - Wings of Feather and Wax -…

Chino's side project at times feels like toothless Deftones, but mostly it creates a good vibe throughout. Some great production here, that pairs well with Chino's vocals to create some great soundscapes. Favourite Tracks: - Bitches Brew - The Epilogue - Nineteen Ninety Four - Option

A7X goes big on this album, with the scope being larger than their previous album. It doesn't all land for me, with the back end of the album dragging a little. When they keep it simple, the album works much better. The singles are all great, anthemic rock tunes that were staples of my teen years.…

Quality introspective rnb album here. More streamlined than his previous album, with mood setting tracks all throughout. The production is great, and 6lack's vocals croon over the beats well. Favourite Tracks: - Bird Flu - All That Matters - I Guess - Sunday Again - Running Lare Freestyle - Bear

I found this more enjoyable than their most recent effort. Nothing stellar but a pretty solid debut with fun pop punk energy. Favorite Tracks: - Guilt Trip - Reservoir - Never Try - Yukon - Dark Days - Cul-De-Sac

Slightly Above Average Post Punk Pup is a group I have listened to on the side, but never a full album. This album was okay, but might prove to be a touch forgettable. Still there is some fun songs on here worth listening to. Favorite Tracks: - Concrete - Get Dumber - Paranoid - Hallways

A cheeky peice of self-deprecating pop punk here. The energy is great throughout, and the lyrical content contrasts with the upbeat vibe well. Favourite Tracks: - Morbid Stuff - Free at Last - See You at Your Funeral - Sibling Rivalry - Full Blown Meltdown

A bit of a step down from their previous albums, in my opinion. I feel a bit of character has been stripped, leaving this sounding more like a Rise Against album. Still a passable punk album, just not my favourite from the boys. Favourite Tracks: - Fedallah's Hearse - Cut Into the Earth - Life At D…

Grungy, Punk inspired hip hop that only Slowthai could come out with. It's not a perfect album, but it is full of character and shows an artist reaching beyond his usual style of music. Still patiently waiting for the follow up that hopefully continues down this road. Favourite Tracks: - Selfish -…

Another case of an established artist returning in 2026 to release a great album, again showing bad times makes good music. The crackley sampling, over clean production sets a great mood throughout. Longevity remains to be seen, but first impressions are great. Favourite Tracks: - Prophecy at 1420…

Great production throughout this album. Vince flows over these live music inspired beats well, and the lyricism is mostly good too. Score will likely go up with further listens. Favourite Tracks: - Blackberry Marmalade - White Flag - Big Bad Wolf - Cotton

Heavy, catchy, and infinitely relistenable. The two-piece put out a big sound, considering. Pretty good hit-rate too, with 5 of these tracks getting regular rotation when they were released. They don't deviate from their formula much, but the riffs and drumming are on point. Favourite Tracks: - Ou…

Mastodon at their sludgy best here, before they went full prog metal. Riffs are great, and the drums rule throughout. Being a concept album, they lyrics all follow the same great theme, Moby Dick. The album kicks off on the higgest point possible with Blood and Thunder, though I do thing it loses st…

Huge album, a near-perfect debut. Timeless songs all over this, not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said 1000 times. Essential listen for rock and guitar fans. Favourite Tracks: - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - You Shook Me - Dazed and Confused - Your Time Is Gonna Come - Communication Bre…

I didn't expect much given this is a very early release in their catalogue, but this sits well amongst their latest releases. They had already curated their sound, and the instrumental and vocal performances here are great. Some tacky lyrics aside, this is quality. Favourite Tracks: - If You Had Sp…

Transportative psychedelic blues rock, that sounds classic but still ahead of its time considering this is from the 60s. Hendrix is undeniable on the licks, and the songwriting is great here too. A pair of 15 minute epics immerse you in his sound, and they are separated by a great run of rock tunes.…

There's not much for me to come back to here. It's skate punk/Ska that has been done better by many others. I can't be too harsh though, as it's a debut from a young band still finding their feet. I'm sure the following releases will improve on this, given they are inspiration few some of my favouri…

Pretty good Metalcore album here, with a bit more nuance and variety than their contemporaries. The transitions between songs are seamless, and flow and pacing of the songs themselves is great. Rating mat increase with further listens. Favourite Tracks: - Nurture - The Haze - Coven - Where We Go Wh…

A pretty fun psychedelic rap album. Bronson laid back delivery flows well over these unique beats. His lyrics are goofy and charming as ever, and there's some pretty good features throughout too. Favourite Tracks: - OLYMPIC VINCE CARTER - TRICERATOPS - PEPPERS - MANDEM

Classic Thrash album that sits comfortably in second place in Metallica's discography for me (behind Puppets). Great pace on all of these songs, with great reprieve in Fade to Black. Great riffs, great solos, the only thing for me that could be improved is the vocals. Not so much the performance, bu…