It feels incredibly safe to say that ‘Seven Horses for Seven Kings’, the latest record from German sound designer Marc Richter, won’t be for everyone. For some, just the haunting, harrowing drones of the opening track will be too much noise terror to handle. Others though, those brave enough to go on, will experience an unforgettable hour of music. ‘Ten […]
Read moreI mean, obviously. Always listen to worriedaboutsatan. Gavin Miller and Tom Ragsdale have been exploring uniquely organic electronica for over a decade now, never really putting a foot wrong, and if you haven’t been listening to them this whole time already, you’ve missed out. This reminder is timely though, as both halves of the Yorkshire outfit have new solo material […]
Read moreZao are a mess. Ok, that’s harsh. The West Virginia outfit are a pioneering hardcore band responsible for some of the most intense sounds the scene has ever produced. But they’re also the flaky dudes with an exhausting former members section that once broke up in the middle of a show, and untangling the band’s history and discography can be […]
Read moreIt would be a damn shame if this got lost in the annual listmageddon and new year turnover period- ‘The Absurd Man’ is essential listening. In just under a quarter of an hour, Brighton-based four-piece Earth Moves pivot from slow-moving post-rock, past cinematic quiets and furious louds, to a searing instrumental ending. Actually one epic track cut into four, you […]
Read moreA Swarm of the Sun may need no introduction. The Swedish post-rock outfit have released three increasingly-good albums already and played with some of the titans of their genre. However, their long-form, melancholy, mostly minimalist sound doesn’t scream hype or hard sell, and their fourth full-length, ‘The Woods’, absolutely should not be missed. Out next week, it’s comprised of three […]
Read moreThis month’s playlist was the first to hang together on something of a theme. At least more of a theme than the usual ‘these are great songs in an order that sounds good’. As December stretched on while the days shrunk, it demanded a focus on the quieter, more ambient and atmospheric corners of Moderate Rock’s world. It’s not very […]
Read moreHere we are again. Another December’s end, another Album of the Year list, and another note to say that there’s no way this particular list is definitive. But then, with so much music released in 2018 and so many different ways to hear it, I’m not sure that any list, even those that stretch to a top 100 releases, can […]
Read moreThis is quite rightfully being talked about as an important record. The debut proper from London outfit Itoldyouiwouldeatyou is a searing and personal examination of gender, sexuality, politics, and philosophy. Track by track, band leader Joey Ashworth delves into a life of discrimination and isolation for inspiration. It’s heavy going at times then, but ‘Oh Dearism’ rarely threatens to buckle […]
Read moreWhile Hammock’s last album was born from tragedy and cast in shadow, ‘Universalis’ is about survival, recovery and hope. It looks towards the light. Andrew Thompson and Marc Byrd continue to employ the neoclassical sound they’ve so brilliantly evolved over the last few years so some of this is a little sombre by default but strings now seem to soar instead of swirl, […]
Read moreIt seems Spanish Love Songs have been around a while now but somehow the LA-based outfit and I have never crossed paths until tonight- me: up too late for a workday, knowing that going to sleep means waking up, and them: blasting through ‘Schmaltz’, a wordy and wonderful collection of anthemic indie and killer punk rock. The adrenaline and melodies […]
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