MicShazam

I pray that my mom never learns of this band's existence.

Trollheart

Album title: Shut it Down
Artist: Rawsrvant
Genre: Hip-hop/Christian Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Fifth EP; twelfth overall
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: N/A
Well, during the course of this project I've come across some crazy subgenres and crossovers, but I've never yet heard of such a thing as Christian hip-hop. Well, until now that is. I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised: black culture is rooted in faith and of course this is where gospel music originated, but I just haven't heard any other artist use hip-hop to praise the Lord. It's good stuff though, even if it's only a five-track EP, have to admit that. “Ice” has a lot of trap in it, very dark, as is the title track and the closer is another good one. Very impressed.
Check out more from this artist? Yup
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? May do indeed

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Trollheart

Album title: In a World of Fear
Artist: Scale the Summit
Genre: Progressive Rock/Progressive Metal
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Sixth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.00
Instrumental prog rock/metal sounds like it should be right in my wheelhouse, but damn me if this isn't boring. I'm surprised, and disappointed. I knew going in that this would be all instrumental, of course, but it just isn't making any real impression on me at all. It's not even that the tracks are overlong or anything – nothing much over six minutes so far as I can see – but I'm more than halfway through now and I'm honestly considering bailing. I won't, because I want to see if it gets any better (or worse) but I'm certainly not anticipating the high rating I had envisaged originally. Yeah, there's nothing here. Bored stupid. What a let-down.
Check out more from this artist? Unlikely now
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Always

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Neva Left
Artist: Snoop Dogg
Genre: West Coast Hip-hop/Gangsta Rap/G-Funk
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Fifteenth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.80
Who would have ever thought (least of all me) that I would be actually looking more forward to hearing a hip-hop album than a prog metal one? But I'm anxious to put the extreme disappointment of Scale the Summit (which they most decidedly did not) behind me, and at least if I hate this it won't be another disappointment, whereas if I like it it will be a nice surprise. Isn't Snoop Dogg one of the original rappers? Even I've heard of him, something of a legend in the hip-hop community, and I can see why. This is just pure perfection from the first track. I love “Moment I Feared”, “Promise You That”, “Swivel”, “Go On” - Hell, I think I may love this album end to end. I ****ing LOVE “Big Mouth” - may be one of the only hip-hop songs that's actually gonna stay in my head and I might even embarrass myself and everyone around me by going around singing “Ya got a big mouth!” Good way to get your head kicked in, of course, but man what a fun song! Nothing – I repeat nothing – here I haven't loved so far. And there still isn't. My favourite hip-hop album this month for sure, possibly of the year. Superb. The master shows the young guns how it's done round the hood. Da Dogg is back. Or something. Yo.

Check out more from this artist? Ooh yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Renaissance
Artist: The Underachievers
Genre: East Coast Hip-hop
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.20
Another great hip-hop album. Two in a row: what's going on? It's just fun all the way through. Songs like “How We Roll”, “Gotham Nights” and “In My Zone” just make me want to continue listening. Great interplay between the two guys, and some seriously fast rapping on “Any Day”. Another standout is “Kiss the Sky”, and again, well, it's another album where basically every track seems to be not only good, but great. Yeah, absolutely superb, right to the last note.

Check out more from this artist? Yes
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Dunedevil
Artist: Wear Your Wounds
Genre: Ambient/Electronic
Nationality: American
Release date: May 19
Position in Discography: Second
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes
Average RYM Score: 2.85
Having heard the superb solo project from Converge's Jacob Bannnon last month, I'm amazed but quite delighted to find another album released by Wear Your Wounds this month, and whereas I approached WYW with trepidation, given my aversion to Converge's music, I'm now expecting big things from this followup album. Bannon's solo music is about as far removed from the likes of what he does with his parent band as it can be, the difference so stunning that you would be tempted to believe it was not the same guy. So far, this album does not disappoint. Two lovely gentle piano tunes followed by a wash of soft synthy soundscapes, more piano and ambient effects, with the only vocals at all being on the last track. Only seven tracks, but a great successor to WYW. Whether it will appeal to fans of Converge or not I don't know, but it certainly appeals to me, and shows the deep musical and songwriting talent of this man.

Check out more from this artist? Absolutely
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: More Than You Know
Artist: Axwell Λ Ingrosso
Genre: Dance-pop/Electro House
Nationality: Swedish
Release date: May 24
Position in Discography: Debut
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 2.75
Kind of an odd mix: dance, techo, some hip-hop (or a rap anyway on one track) and a sort of indie rock/pop thing as well, a few interesting tracks. “Sun is Shining” is fun, “Thinking About You” is basic dancy pop goodness with a slice of Daft Punk added in for good measure, while “Can't Hold Us Down” is top-grade progressive trance to the max. “Dawn” is a nice instrumental, and it's all good dance music if you're into that sort of thing. No doubt, some of it is quite decent but overall, for me, not really something I'd be into.

Check out more from this artist? No
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Trollheart

Oddly enough, with Ped and GD's single recommendation for last month completed, and Qwerty seemingly forgetting to adjust his selection for April and not May, I have only two albums left to do that were suggested by members, and they're both by Frownland. So, as we're getting to the end of this month anyway, may as well do them together now. So, what has Frown suggested I listen to that is


Album title: Synchromysticism
Artist: Yowie
Suggested by: Frownland
Genre: Experimental/Math Rock/No Wave/Noise/Post Rock/Prog Rock
Nationality: American
Release date: April 20
Position in Discography: Third
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? No
Average RYM Score: 3.34
I have to say this is a blast so far. I loved the opening track and the second one just keeps the fun going. All instrumental, I guess, as I have yet to hear any vocals, pretty frenetic but kind of not in a jazzy way (I guess this is math rock, perhaps?) but certainly engages your attention. Wonderful, intricate guitar work and the band are really tight: takes a lot of skill I would imagine to play this kind of music. The drummer in particular is really excellent, and I don't often say that (or indeed, anything) about drummers, but this guy stands out. Only five tracks, not enough. Great, great stuff. Really enjoyed that.

Check out more from this artist? Oh yeah
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Aye

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart

Album title: Async
Artist: Ryuichi Sakamoto
Suggested by: Frownland
Genre: Abstract/Ambient/Experimental/Modern Classical
Nationality: Japanese
Release date: March 29
Position in Discography: Twentieth
Estimated Rating:

Have I heard of this artist? Yes
Have I heard anything by this artist? Yes
Average RYM Score: 3.28
Now hold on just a damn moment here: I've heard this! I remember, as it begins, that beautiful piano and organ piece, and I recall now having bought this, listening to it and I think uploading it to the “What Are You Listening To Now?” thread. Also, it seems to have been released at the very end of March, so technically not an April record, but for the sake of not being bloody-minded about it, I'll let it through. I'll certainly enjoy listening to it again. “Walker” and “Stakra” are two particular standouts in an album of standouts, and “Ubi”, with its constantly repeating bell or sonar or whatever that is, is both majestic, gentle and hypnotic. Some of the tracks are a bit odd – one seems to be nothing more than electronic noises and signals, and some have speech on them – but overall this is a very deep and enjoyable album by an artist who is a true master of his craft. Need to check out more of his work.
Check out more from this artist? Didn't I just say I would?
Check out more from this genre or subgenre? Yes

Actual Rating:

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard

qwerty did forget. oops.

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