Empty Hands - Poppy
3.75/5, Hey, This Kinda Slaps. A polished but somewhat formulaic follow-up, rescued by brutal standouts that rank among Poppy’s heaviest work. When it swings, it hits hard.
Genotype - Textures
3/5, Hey, This Kinda Slaps. A strong prog-metal opening and killer drumming, but the back half runs out of gas and plays it too safe.
Phantom :: Phoenix - Stellar Circuits
3.5/5, Hey, This Kinda Slaps. Tool- and Deftones-flavored prog metal with engaging songs that occasionally blur together. Headphones strongly recommended.
Inveighing Brilliance - Tribal Gaze
3.5/5, Hey, This Kinda Slaps. Modern death metal that captures old-school 80s/90s rawness with contemporary polish. Grimy in all the right ways.
A Dying Light - Arson Charge
4/5, Put This In Your Rotation. An energetic thrash-punk debut that rekindled my love for the genre, even if a few songs sound like siblings.