5 Hidden Gem Albums That Totally Rule

Intro:

Greetings, Goatheads! How I’ve missed thee, my beloved readers! Sorry for the months-long hiatus. I don’t think I was in the best mindset for blogging, on account of *gestures broadly at everything all around*. You know straits are dire when I’m too depressed to write! That’s like being too depressed to drink, or too depressed to smoke. All dark humor aside, I appreciate it when other writers are open and honest about their struggles with mental health, so at least there is some cold comfort in knowing it’s not just me.

Oh, also, I somehow managed to lock myself out of my own WordPress account for several weeks, because I’m an incredible genius. But everything worked out eventually, as it usually does, with a bit of patience, grit, and community. (Thanks, friends and fam!) Anyway, now that I’m back on the straight and narrow path of righteousness, let’s get back to the good stuff that truly matters: Music!

Black Out Pictures – For Nothing

Each track on this album is unique, but I still have a few special favorites. For example, Wait to Slip Away, which reminds me of Judy Garland’s iconic rendition of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, in the Wizard of Oz.  I’m pretty sure her vocal range traversed at least an entire octave, in a single interval. And the melody and lyrics convey an otherworldly quality. I feel whisked off my (ruby slippered and striped stockinged) feet, to a fantasy world.  This track also reminds me of Neverending Story, or a Studio Ghibli film. Campy, yet creepy. There’s dark symbolism and whispered secrets hidden behind these catchy tunes.

Reticula is another complex ode to virtuosity. And, possibly, an allusion to Zeta Reticuli, by Fields of Elysium? Like the visual juxtaposition of a galaxy resembling a human eyeball,  this technical intricacy exemplifies the contrast of the macrocosm and the microcosm. As above,  so beneath. Also, I can’t believe I never noticed this before, but singer Lindsay Payton really gives Siouxsie and the Banshees a run for their money. Damn, that powerful voice gives me chills!

Unfortunately, as of May 05, 2022, The Blackout Pictures have disbanded. Band breakups hurt just as bad as romantic relationship breakups: The denial, the crying, the wine, the eating an entire gallon of ice cream straight out of the carton while watching black and white French romance movies from the 60s… No? Just me? Well alrighty then. Seriously though, Blackout Pictures were one of my favorite bands. This loss really stung. It especially made the album title, For Nothing, particularly bittersweet. I haven’t been so devastated, since Blood Wolf split up. There is some good news, however: Payton is still illustrating cryptids, making art, and even opening up a new gallery! That’s seriously awesome!

For Nothing is available on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Midnight 76 – Midnight 76

New and improved! The artist formerly known as the Salvage Retrograde, has been rebranded as Midnight 76. And, in their first act of sovereignty, they have re-released their debut album, Bringer Of Light, as a souped up self-titled remix. Then, as now, the songs were thrashy rock and roll, with a hearty blend of both punk and metal. But these newer versions are even louder and nastier than ever!

I obviously enjoyed Bringer of Light by Salvage Retrograde. However, this re-release is so radically different. It’s even better than the original. It’s more rowdy, raunchy, rambunctuous, and raucous. The perfect ruckus for a rapscallion ragamuffin like myself.

There are so many diverse subgenres in Midnight 76, including, but not limited to, desert rock, grunge, and prog. What’s not to like? There’s something for everyone here. Whether you’re into aggressive guitars, catchy basslines, or energetic drumfills, there’s definitely a lot of musicianship to appreciate with this talented band. Check it out on CDBaby  Soundcloud, and Bandcamp.  Four stars out of five!

Venom Prison – Erebos

Alright, I don’t know where to begin with this one. So we’ll just start with the stunning album art. I’ll be honest, my first instinct was to make a dirty joke about the album art looking kinky. But something deep inside me knew, that, while I can usually get away with my naughty jokes the overwhelming vast majority of the time, this was one instance where I was clearly using snide sarcastic dark gallows humor, just as a coping mechanism, in order to deflect from my own heavy human feelings of regret, remorse, horror, loss, and grief. It turns out that this rare moment of shame was well warranted. The reason why, is because this artwork was directly inspired by the Holocaust. So my inclination toward bathos and irreverence, would be highly inappropriate, tonedeaf, and tasteless in this particular situation.

This interview with the artist, Eliran Kantor, shows his meticulous, almost surgical, attention to detail. The shapes. the lighting. The textures. But especially, the composition of those terrified eyes! The fear, the tragedy, the disgust, the strange beauty… It is all laid as bare as blood and bone. This album isn’t just confrontational: It is unapologetically and unflinchingly so!

The music challenges the listener to question their own beliefs, to use critical thinking skills, to introspect, to do the shadow work, to acknowledge the fact that if they’re not part of the solution, then they’re part of the problem. This is apparent with song titles such as The Comfort of Complicity. This single, in particular, is a beautifully aggressive track of justified righteous indignation. This is riot music if I’ve ever heard it. Pain of Oizys is much more melancholy and lachrymose, but still packs a punch with those gorgeous piano fills and screamed vocals. Speaking of which, their lead singer is female. How did I not know this until just now! This hits hard, this hits heavy, especially because it’s so heartfelt. It is available on Bandcamp and Spotify.

Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum

Fear Factory is so badass. I love their weirdly uplifting lyrics, their steady rhythms, and their catchy beats. Total headbanger fuel! Aggression Continuum, their latest offering, lives up to their legendary reputation. Each song is full of satisfying hooks, but also chromatic dissonance and harmonic tension.

This album has the same dark beauty as brutalist architecture. The 5th track is especially clean and smooth, befitting the name Refinery. It’s as silky and shiny as stainless steel, and as hard and heavy as a gear in a massive machine. This is exactly what industrial music is all about. Efficient power chords, technical drumming, and groovy bass.

Another hit single was Fuel Injected Suicide Machine, which enjoyed significant airtime on Liquid Metal. Great song for cruising down the highway, or working out at the gym! The infectous energy always got me feeling pumped. Something about Fear Factory’s music is kind of… Motivational? Inspiring? I don’t know how else to describe it. Aggression Continuum is available on Spotify.

Soilwork – Övergivenheten

This album is named after the Swedish word for “Abandonment.” The album art evokes this lonely feeling perfectly, with an illustration of a flower growing out of a dead bird, with a desolate wasteland in the background. This morbid landscape and dark scenery are expressions of grief and loss. Similarly, the sorrowful songs are sensual, sordid, and sentimental. Soilwork is as emotive and powerful as ever.

Dead birds are especially symbolic. In my own experience, I often come across dead birds as a solemn omen. For example, I often see bloody eviscerated decapitated doves on the sidewalk. Is it a dark augury, a prediction of doom and gloom? Or are the local stray cats around the neighborhood just acting even more feral than usual? Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that the sight is a disturbing spectacle to behold. Regardless, the blooming flower, growing out of death and decay, is just as powerful. Life goes on, with or without you, before and after you. This concept is equally inspirational and terrifying. The circle of life is just as cruel as it is beautiful.

The late David Andersson, Soilwork songwriter and guitarist, passed away on September 14th, 2022. His tragic death happened mere days after the release of Övergivenheten. He had been with the band for over 10 years. He was only 47 years old. May he rest in peace.

This album is available on Spotify.

Outro:

Even during stressful, overwhelming times of hardship and adversity, there is almost always something to look forward to. New bands to discover. Different songs to hear. Fascinating albums to explore. Despite the fact that society kind of sucks, I still appreciate the music that makes it all worthwhile.