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yes that’s right, news time! a short selection of links to all things going on in the music biz:

a song that actually made me say holy shit out loud on the train and everyone looked at me

this is a gorgeous track that has some of my favourite piano work i’ve heard recently

so, i said that about the piano in the last song, and then heard this, and went goddammit. because this, also really really good. although in my defence, this is keyboard.

this is an exciting week for me in particular. you see, i’ve known about this song coming for a hot second and i’m really excited it’s here for two reasons. one, it’s a banger, i’d heard bits and bobs here and there and i knew they were cooking on it, so now that it’s out i am so stoked to share it with you all. i think you’re going to really like it. but also for another very personal reason; you see, the last time i reviewed a track from this band was all the way back, and i mean, all the way back. in fact, it was issue number 1 of a single song review. yes, that’s right, back in the day, back when we used to have issue numbers! i used to count these, and then i lost count, and then several years went by with a review out each week, and here we are now. having a great ol time checking out the aboslute shredding going on in this track. meet crownpoint, a metal band from scotland, and their new track; acid cowboy.

going to do what this song does, and build my way up to the big stuff by laying out the little things i really like about this, and going from there. right from the off, this track wastes no time at all setting a mood and building a world that is both rich and interesting that you can’t help but get hooked on it. from the countering guitars to the washed out vocals in the first few seconds, the world of this track is defined so clearly and it works so well. the components that go into that worldbuilding are all firing on all cylindars throughout, whether it’s the composition and construction of the sections, or the crystel clear production. but this isn’t clarity of production for it’s own sake, there’s ton of artistry going into each decision. take the vocals, there’s a really clear vision at work going in to making the vocals their own thing. again, not just a great performance, but when the last minute or so hits with the solo and the totally washed out vocals soar over the top, it all comes together into something so disntinct and cool. okay that’s enough preamble, let’s talk for a second now, about that solo. because man, it rips. it’s so good, it comes out of nowhere with just a bit of build up and blammo, we’re in it, it lasts for as long as it needs to, and as it leaves, your face metled in it’s wake, you have a killer outro to the whole bridge section. god bless.

i’m coming up a bit dry here i won’t lie. not a huge amount i didn’t like as there’s a lot of stuff to enjoy in this. one thing i did think which is that when the song picks up during the solo, it really does come alive, and i feel like some of that energy is held for the latter sections, but it loses steam a bit in the last chorus or so after having shown what it can do. that also does feel very much intentional, so what can you do!

this song firmly landing itself in the hell yeah brother category through no fault of it’s own

i kinda hunted around for a bit to draw a strong comparison to this track, and i landed on this one, more out of sheer nostalgia than anything else. i think the ingrediants are all here; melodic songwriting, stylisation that creates a distinct sound andof course, a ripping solo. it is, of course, welcome home by coheed and cambria, who i haven’t listened to in yearssssssss.

so, a little birdie told me there are more tracks to come from this here release. so if this is your jam, then strap yourself in and get ready to be fired in the sky, there are big tunes on the horizon.