Odds & Ends: September 2, 2024

Band: Burnt Log | Album: Time Is a Heron Waiting for Prey | Genre: Progressive rock, Dream pop | Bandcamp

Burnt Log is a one-man project based out of Scotland. The songs skillfully combine intelligent, progressive song structures with floating, dreamy atmospheres. Melodies are smart but accessible, and there’s a vague sense of nostalgia to much of the music here. Touches of post-punk, new wave, and even post-rock crop up here and there. Some passages are perhaps a bit too dream-poppy for my taste, but this is still an overall solid and interesting release.

Score: 72/100

Band: FILESHAREMAIDEN | Album: Veuve | Genre: Progressive metal, Technical death metal | Bandcamp

The first full-length release from Quebecois death metallers File Share Maiden is a swirling, tangled thicket of finger-twisting riffs, guttural vocals, and even moments of surprising lightness. There are many exciting, fun passages that demonstrate both technical skills and songwriting smarts. However, this band also falls victim to the common excesses of other tech-death acts. Many songs are longer than they need to be, and a number of cuts border on purposelessness. That said, there’s still plenty of great material here.

Score: 70/100

Band: Krallice | Album: Inorganic Rites | Genre: Progressive metal, Progressive electronic | Bandcamp

I could’ve fit a few more genre descriptors in, but I didn’t want the heading to become too cumbersome. This new Krallice album is a continuation of their other recent synthesizer experiments, but there’s also a significant influence from ambient music and atmospheric black metal. The synths and guitars are more balanced here, in contrast to the very-synth-heavy Porous Resonance Abyss, and I really like how many passages allow the bass to get some time in the spotlight. At times, though, the production can sound a bit thin, or riffs can drag on for too long, nearing monotony. The album is longer than it needs to be, but none of the songs are bad in isolation. Overall, Inorganic Rites is another solid entry into Krallice’s discography.

Score: 74/100

Band: Magic Fig | Album: Magic Fig | Genre: Psychedelic rock, Canterbury sound | Bandcamp

The debut record from these San Franciscans does an amazing job of melding the jazzy sounds of early ‘70s Canterbury with their hometown’s psychedelic pop sounds of the late ‘60s. It’s a sunny, fun release that deftly balances pop hooks and flashy instrumentalism. The vocals are great, and I like the many different keyboard tones. (I also recently got to see them when they swung through Portland and I happened to be in town, and they put on a great show. Check them out if you get the chance!)

Score: 79/100

Band: Moura | Album: Fume santo de loureiro | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp

This new EP from Galician prog/psych-rockers Moura was originally conceived of as the soundtrack for a short film, and that origin is borne out in the release’s strong focus on atmosphere. It consists of three strong cuts (and a one-minute intro you can ignore). “Agoiro/Pranto” features the band’s signature blend of Celtic folk and psychedelia. “Contra os males de aireada” mixes heavier riffs and mellow, multilayered vocals to great success, while also pulling off a very satisfying slow-build. The EP ends with “Canto de berce”, a slow, mournful, and ominous piece.

Score: 81/100

Band: Shadow Limb | Album: Reclaim | Genre: Progressive metal, Post-metal | Bandcamp

Chicagoan four-piece Shadow Limb returns with their second-full length album five years after their debut. I liked Burn Scar, but this is even better. It’s full of lurching, unorthodox riffs, menacing auras, and enough instrumental showmanship to keep things interesting. The music is dark and dramatic with powerful climaxes and haunting atmospherics.

Score: 81/100