Band: END! Begin | Album: The END! | Genre: Progressive folk | Bandcamp
This collection of four instrumental pieces is a solid follow-up to END! Begin’s fantastic debut LP. The overall mood is a bit more energetic and less torporous here, and I really appreciate getting to see this other side of the band. “Cherry Blossoms” in particular draws a lot from rock music, which is a very exciting blend.
Score: 78/100
Band: Mellow Beast | Album: Grimble, The Worm | Genre: Psychedelic rock | Bandcamp
Mellow Beast’s latest record sees him expand upon the musical universe he has established. The story of this record takes place right after Reactor, his 2023 release. Throughlines are obvious in the music, and there are even connections to earlier releases. The mood is spacy and often-hypnotic while also imbuing some Gong-ish fun and whimsy.
Score: 76/100
Artist: Renatto Olivares | Album: Aguas Raras | Genre: Jazz-fusion, Progressive rock | Bandcamp
Aguas Raras is the sophomore solo release from Hesse Kassel guitarist and vocalist Renatto Olivares. Where Hesse Kassel focuses on slow build-ups, Olivares’s solo work is more immediate. It’s full of energetic, jazzy guitar licks, nimble percussion, and madcap vocals. The mood is tense and anxious while also maintaining some sense of playfulness. The influence of acts like The Mars Volta and Mahavishnu Orchestra is obvious. This is a tight 30 minutes of highly technical jazz-rock that artfully traverses a wide spectrum of moods.
Score: 84/100
Band: Perfect | Album: BodeNote | Genre: Avant-prog | Bandcamp
I’ve covered Perfect once before, and I really liked that record. This Ohioan ensemble continues their uncompromisingly bizarre style of avant-garde rock on BodeNote. This leads to some moments of brilliant, insane instrumentalism, like on “Oh…Yes!” and “Machine Termite”. Unfortunately, it also leads to some moments which bore or irritate me, like the first two songs or other parts of “Oh…Yes!”.
Score: 69/100
Band: Rostro del Sol | Album:Universo 25 | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp
Rostro del Sol’s second full-length release is an energetic and engaging instrumental album. It’s full of fun ideas that range from hard-rocking, acidic guitar-led passages to mellower moments of Latin jazz. Ideas coalesce well and complement other moments on this record. There’s a great balance of songs that take you to outer space and others that keep you grounded.
Score: 77/100
Artist: Bobby Shock | Album: Horny | Genre: Progressive rock | Bandcamp
Bobby Shock sticks to his usual stylistic guns on Horny, but the songwriting here feels stronger than on his last couple releases. Melodies are catchy and inventive, and textures are rich without being needlessly syrupy. Earworm pop elements are woven in seamlessly, and the influence of some of Yes’s lighter moments is obvious.
Score: 80/100
The Elite Extremophile 