Oakland metal trio melts their own faces.
High On Fire gets countlessly compared to Motörhead, Celtic Frost, Slayer, etc. But their 2015 masterwork Luminiferous will change all this. From Matt Pike’s relentless fretboard wizardry to the band’s well-oiled rhythm section chugging throughout, Luminiferous is so godhead that from now on, other (worthy) bands will be compared to High On Fire. –Eric Shea
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CURATOR’S DISCOVERY
Taylor Negron lives on with UnCabaret Presents.
In the wake of his untimely death earlier this year, ‘90s alt-comedy showcase UnCabaret has released a compilation of beloved comedian’s Negron’s finest sets and “UnCabaret moments.” Tales include bumming cigarettes to Jude Law and Heath Ledger at an Oscar party, adventures with his childhood pet monkey and discovering a cult for models. –Kelly Anneken
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Vince Staples starts off 2015 by looking back on Summertime ‘06.
In his debut album, Staples sharply reflects on his checkered upbringing through his laid-back yet joyless delivery. Heavily contrasting (and complimenting) Staples’ dreary tone is renowned beat-maker NO I.D. who handles the bulk of the album’s stripped-down and distorted production. –Z. Mack
Death becomes these Norwegian black metal legends.
The furious onslaught of Instinctus Bestialis, Gorgoroth’s ninth full length, often sounds more death metal than black metal, due in no small part to the deeper, growled vokills of new singer Atterigner. And while only one original member remains, Gorgoroth’s demonic din holds up amazingly well against classics like Destroyer and Incipit Satan. –Andee Connors
The Internet returns with Ego Death.
The Internet is back with their third studio project after an almost two year hiatus following Feel Good. Janelle Monáe, Vic Mensa, James Fauntleroy, KAYTRANADA and some Odd Future favorites help Syd and crew ride out some chill vibes — helping Ego Death do a good job of inducing its name. –Kike Aluko
An ambitious sonic masterwork from these oddball prog-pop geniuses.
It’s been almost a decade since The Velvet Teen’s 2006 classic Cum Laude!, a gloriously rambunctious slab of electronic flecked indie rock. On All Is Illusory, the group return with a more refined sound that lands somewhere between the introspective, art-rock innovation of Radiohead and the stadium prog bombast of Muse. –Andee Connors
MATRiXXMAN ventures beyond the singularity on Homesick
Decades after the innovations of Detroit and Berlin techno pioneers, machine music is no longer inherently “futuristic.” But on Homesick, San Francisco producer MATRiXXMAN (aka Charles Duff) explicitly crafts an hour-long cinematic vision of a dystopian future, by turns menacing, ecstatic and even groovy in a warped, “Windowlicker” sort of way. –Party Ben
