![]() Cervanté Pope Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking MindĬoheed and Cambria – Vaxis II – Album Cover – LOĬoheed and Cambria are back with their tenth studio LP, Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind, and the album’s slick, melodic songs fit well inside the band’s growing catalog. They may have been knocked down before, but they’re not a band to stay down, and Heavy Pendulum proves it. There’s a bit of grunge, sludge, blues - you name it - and Cave In probably managed to work it into the incredible hooks and rhythms throughout the record. Greg Prato Cave In – Heavy Pendulumĭespite all the ups and downs Cave In have gone through as a band, Heavy Pendulum is a record not of scorn or remorse, but of prosperous experimentation and expansiveness. Starting things off decidedly experimental and rather softly (particularly the album-opening “I Want to Go to the Side Where You Can Touch…”), it is not until the middle of the album (“The Fallen”) that the amps finally get properly cranked… before the remainder of the album falls back into mesmerizing mode. But the Japanese trio Boris continue to lean heavy on the entrancing side of things on their 27th (!) studio album - the mysteriously titled W. “Hypnotic” is not used often as a descriptive term within the realm of heavy metal. Really, each track accomplishes a typically inventive balance between the djent abrasiveness and soothing respites, with plenty of quirky changeups and lovely nuances to give each piece as much personality as possible. Conversely, “Red Miso” and “Asahi” lean toward cosmic calmness. Specifically, tracks such as “Gestaltzerfall”, “Micro-Aggressions,” and “Conflict Cartography” brandish an almost non-stop frenzy of interlocking rhythms and riffs. The eccentrically aggressive Parrhesia further solidifies Animals as Leaders as masters of instrumental progressive metal. This is music made with intent, seemingly in spite of a growing, pervasive nihilism within the cultural consciousness. But what also stood out was the sheer urgency of the artists themselves. Every entry here possesses its own idiosyncrasies. ![]() When building our list of the best heavy albums of 2022 thus far, we were struck by the sonic diversity of the selections - from the vitriolic hardcore of Soul Glo to the arena rock leanings of Ghost to the metal-meets-blues of Zeal & Ardor. But there’s something about heavy riffs and loud volumes that can invigorate the heart and mind during times of utter bleakness. Of course, any genre of music or art can serve this function. The catharsis of these times demands music that can satiate the anger, the disillusionment, and the despair - or at least momentarily distract us from it. One thing’s for sure: Heavy music remains as vital as ever. War broke out in Ukraine, climate change seems like a ship that’s sailed, and there’s uneasiness and unrest abound. That said, the world feels no less dystopian. Album cycles and tours have been less affected by delays and postponements, as we all cautiously move forward with a general sense of resignation. The pandemic rages on, but the music industry has finally settled into some semblance of normalcy in 2022. Our 2022 Midyear Report continues with our favorite metal and hard rock albums of the year so far.
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