05) Pupil Slicer, Fleshwork (Prosthetic)

Pupil Slicer’s latest album somewhat tones down the mathcore trademarks that made their debut Mirrors (my top album of 2021) such a nasty piece of work, but in exchange they’ve offered up a thick atmosphere of rage. If their follow-up, Blossom was a testament of the band’s versatility, Fleshwork is a refinement of that path, never skimping on the killer riffs while beefing them up with some fat, clanky bass. At its core, the band’s sound is much the same, but they’ve managed to sidestep stagnation and continue their momentum as one of the most exciting bands out there.
Key Track: “Nomad”

04) Steven Wilson, The Overview (Fiction)

Steven Wilson has spent the better part of 15 years building a solo career that now rivals his lauded work in Porcupine Tree, distinguishing himself not just in the vast realm of prog but as a prolific songwriter who has spent time expressing himself through various subgenres rather than simply sticking to his guns. The Overview feels like something of a return, though that’s not to say Wilson is phoning it in. On the contrary, this new concept album is another gem in the crown of his prog rock oriented work. Just shy of 42 minutes, the album is such a smooth, effortlessly enjoyable listen you’ll blink in surprise when you realize it’s over already.
Key Track: The Whole Album

03) Ghost Bath, Rose Thorn Necklace (Nuclear Blast)

Ghost Bath’s previous album marked a return after a five-year gap, and they brought a sharper, blistering sound with it. I enjoyed Self-Loathers’s new direction but I did miss some of the most atmospheric, gloomier moments of the band’s previous albums. Rose Thorn Necklace further refines the band’s direction by sticking to shorter songs but brings back a bit more of that blackgaze sound from their earlier albums, complete with those punctuated instances of crying, shrieking, and coughing. If there was ever any doubt that Ghost Bath is in top form, this album solidly says otherwise.
Key Track: “Dandelion Tea”

02) Cave Sermon, Fragile Wings (Self-Released)

Cave Sermon came out of nowhere last year and strong-armed its way onto my top 10, so imagine my surprise and pleasure when they came out with another album after just sixteen months. Now, there is such a thing as too much too soon, too much of a good thing and yadda yadda, but Fragile Wings is neither of those things. Nor is it fragile; this is more of that dissonant mix of furious sonic emotion—mixed with a bit more of the melodic this time around—that defies an easily applicable genre tag. If Cave Sermon puts out an album every year, I’ll be a happy lad. If not, I’ll eagerly await their next release whenever it comes.
Key Track: “Hopeless Magic”

Matt Brown

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