album-a-day-project

[album-a-day-project]

6/25/25

Khatia Buniatishvili

Labyrinth: Ephemera

====

This is Khatia's 2024 album. Its 7 tracks long and she's playing composer's pieces like Bach, Tchaikovsky, Rachmanioff all done at the highest level. Theres absolutely nothing to hate here. She's one of my favorite pianists since I found her on YouTube and even reviewed her earlier showing, Schumann: Klavierkonzert ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Khatia Buniatishvili ∙ Paavo Järvi back in January. As I said back then, this is the pinnacle of perfection. She has perfected her craft.

AAD Recommends: 91%

[album-a-day-project]

6/24/25

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Ire Works

====

Essential metalcore from 2007. I think this is more hardcore than anything else. For some reason this is one band that I never really got into. I'm sure I have even seen them at Warped Tour a couple of times, but even when listening to this now it's still not hitting for me and I feel the same type of way about them now as when I was back in 2007 at shows. They're tweening between metalcore and hardcore and when its in an album together it's conflicting. I respect Dillinger Escape Plan; this ain't for me.

AAD Recommends: 65%

[album-a-day-project]

6/23/25

Rivers of Nihil

Rivers of Nihil

====

I never realized that they are from Reading, PA. I reviewed their Hierarchy EP earlier this year and 'The Work' back in 2022. This sax is smooth and a surprise. Talk about something unexpected and different. It's exactly what I needed. The single 'House of Light' is probably one of the best metal tracks, if not the best of the year.

AAD Recommends: 86%

[album-a-day-project]

6/22/25

Mugshot

All The Devils Are Here

====

I listened to their EP recently, I Will Be Here Forever. I'm not sure why they released an EP so close to the full-length? Also, and this is something I've never seen before, why would they have the exact same artwork? This is a miss. Although this is a solid LP it does little to add any additional value whatsoever from the EP. It just feels like the EP was the prime cuts.

AAD Recommends: 63%

[album-a-day-project]

6/21/25

Anthony Green

So Long, Avalon

====

This album is a re-record from his debut 2008 album, 'Avalon.' There aren't any new tracks here, rather I think he just wanted to rerecord with some updated production and altered lyrics. This is a reflection piece. He's the most nostalgic artist for me and he has me hook, line, sinker every time no matter what he puts out.

After I listened to this I went back and re-listened to his 2008 version. There are elevated production elements to this one for sure, but even after 16 years he still sounds as good as ever. No drop off whatsoever.

I'll shout it from the rooftops, he's one of the best band vocalists of all time, if not the best.

AAD Recommends: 84%

[album-a-day-project]

6/18/25

Midwife

No Depression in Heaven

====

2024 album. There may be no depression in heaven, but there is on this album. This is straight downtempo sad girl music. I reviewed her Luminol album back in 2022 and uhh wasn't a fan then either. This style of music is ok for a song or three, but for the entire 30 minutes its pretty tiring and exhausting. I can't imagine seeing this live. At least the quality here is very good and its produced quite well. She certainly has created her own sound, but it's not meant for me, even for someone who is depressed and liked depressed music.

AAD Recommends: 40%

[album-a-day-project]

6/17/25

Psychonaut

Violate Conscious Reality

====

I discovered them through their latest single, Endless Currents, which is a great progressive metal track.

This is their 2022 LP. It's a watered down progressive and industrial metal and to me it doesn't flow well. It doesn't feel like any heart. Right now I'd just listen to their single and looking forward to hearing more new music, as it looks like they've evolved quite a bit.

AAD Recommends: 52%

[album-a-day-project]

6/16/25

Roving

Spindrift

====

Shoegaze album from 2024. Shoegaze is now falling into the category of metal for me in the fact that I've been listening to the genre so much that it's warping the way I listen to the music and its all starting to feel the same. I can identify so many trends, riffs and that's becoming the problem. I need a true reset. I need to understand why this album feels unique, right now it doesn't in any way.

AAD Recommends: 65%

[album-a-day-project]

6/15/25

Sunrot

Passages EP

====

My intro to Sunrot. A quick metal EP all of 16 minutes. Blends some different genres of sludge, death metal, industrial and even some atmospheric elements. I wasn't expecting female vocals with this, but it rips. It really still does feel like an elevated DIY band so if you're into that as I am this is meant for you.

I'm also weak with the interview at the beginning like they have on the last track 'Ra'. It features a recording of the late musician Sun Ra speaking about the positivity of music and its ability to create new worlds and dreams--I wasn't expecting that as its usually more morose and sinister than this.

AAD Recommends: 72%

[album-a-day-project]

6/14/25

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Are You Experienced

====

From 1967, which is wild to me. This has some of the best songs of all time--timeless tracks like Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Fire, Stone Free. I can't believe all of these are on the same album. Anything lower than this would be disrespectful to Jimi and music in general. Should be required listening.

AAD Recommends: 93%

[album-a-day-project]

6/13/25

Annahstasia

Tether

====

This is a debut album although Annahstasia has been in the music business since she was 17. This new piece is categorized by 'modern-folk'. If this is what modern folk sounds like, I'm all in. A true diamond in the rough; it's crazy that talent can be hidden for so long.

A really unique voice and lane. The album is known for the last track, 'Believer' which is her more industry single. It's an easy sell especially when she has an album that is so different in the first 10 tracks and ends in this epic. It could easily go down as one of the top songs of the year by music nerds like me.

AAD Recommends: 85%

[album-a-day-project]

6/12/25

Mugshot

I Will Be Here Forever EP

====

Metalcore from California that debuted back in 2016. This is my introductory to them and now I'll go back and listen to their older music now to see how they evolved and how they got to here. This is only a review of the EP in a silo.

A quick 5 track, 10 minute EP which I actually quite enjoy sometimes and this is certainly that case. My problem here is what makes this unique or them in general? I can't fault this EP, but it's not making any groundbreaking evolutions this space especially in metalcore--my theme for the last couple of years. They're touring with Orthodox and in my city, which I should definitely go see live. More to come regarding Mugshot.

AAD Recommends: 68%

[album-a-day-project]

6/11/25

Slayer

Show No Mercy

====

First album from Slayer in 1983. I really wanted to see the evolution from Slayer and how this because a key piece of music for Black Metal bands that is referenced a lot. If I listened to this without knowing what year, I would have never have known it was done in 1983. Decades ahead of its time. Slayer always seemed to be one of those bands that I've always written off as being really commercialized now in a similar way of Misfits or Guns & Roses. This album is outstanding and hearing that Darkthrone and Mayhem has referenced their first albums as an influence to Black Metal has significantly changed my opinion and for the better. This is easily still relevant and fresh today--I can't imagine what this would have been like in 1983.

AAD Recommends: 87%

[album-a-day-project]

6/10/25

Planning For Burial

It's Closeness, It's Easy

====

OMM. Really atmospheric and depressive. The vocals are pretty horrendous and its because they're trying to be melodic and he's not a melodic type of vocalist. It clashes and just doesn't sound too good. When you take that out of the equation the riffs are actually interesting and sludgy and mesh well with the overall album composition. Theres still something off-putting of the album. It's definitely unpolished, while trying to seem polished. I always give my respects to OMM as if I was any way talented I would approach music in the same way. Much respect to Planning For Burial.

AAD Recommends: 71%

[album-a-day-project]

6/9/25

Bleed

Bleed

====

LOVED their 2021 EP, 'Somebody's Closer.' This full length is a major step down. After listening to this a few times on repeat there isn't one singular track that sets this apart or actually IMO could be considered a single. Nothing like 'Silver.' Their aesthetic and sound on the EP is some of the best as it reminds me a lot of something like Incubus, but this LP falls so fall so unbelievably short of that.

AAD Recommends: 65%

[album-a-day-project]

6/8/25

Orthodox

A Door Left Open

====

This reminds me of an early Emmure. I recently reviewed their EP which I loved. Theres so much potential with this group and is easily one of my new favorite bands now. I really hope they continue to improve with their music. I think maybe they need some help with their branding, but thats an easy fix. Seeing them live should really put them into another tier for me, I hope.

AAD Recommends: 75%

[album-a-day-project]

6/7/25

Ashbringer

We Came Here to Grieve

====

Black Metal that I am seeing tonight. live. It doesn't really feel like any of traditional black metal nor do they play fast, so I'm struggling to find the correlation. I'm open to giving them a shot though. The singing is pretty brutal and the production is elementary, but moving past that theres something cooking in the background. However, at their current state I cannot really recommend as-is. I can see the potential with Ashbringer--godspeed in hell.

AAD Recommends: 32%