Last year, I attempted to post a list of all the albums and EPs I heard about. I split this compilation into two parts, posting the first at 6 months and the second at the end of December. I didn’t really like the way it worked out, so I’m trying something different for 2025 and sharing new releases quarterly. I am dividing albums and EPs into separate posts, though. That much is staying the same.
Also, in as many cases as possible, I am linking Apple Music profiles. While I continue to use Spotify when building my playlists, I do understand that many artists have conflicting emotions in regard to that particular streaming service. Therefore, I will attempt to send traffic to your alternative platforms. (Release dates may differ, depending on when the album hit Apple. I have used the dates posted by the bands/artists.)
There have been several albums released so far in 2024, and I decided to compile them in a post separate from the EPs. Much as with the other list, I am sure I’ve missed a few, so if there are any you know of that are not shared here, feel free to tell me in the comments!
Be sure to check out my list of EPs that have dropped over the past 6 months, as well!
Alternative/trap metal artist Seethe has never been one to shy away from the darker side of the human condition, and his forthcoming EP Schisms & Pendulums is yet another testament to this. Set to be released May 15th, the three-song record takes on the harrowing subjects of modern organized religion and the battle with cancer.
“I was listening to Deftones’ self-titled album and Nirvana’s In Utero quite a bit while writing this EP,” Seethe explains. “Not that it can necessarily be heard [musically], but I feel I caught the vibe and essence of both albums. Dirty, yet clean enough to not sound like garbage. This is also thanks to the production by Vixlence Beatz and Gus Wallner’s mixing and mastering.”
As with much of Seethe’s creations, Schisms & Pendulums is an EP meant to be felt as well as heard. The first track, “Coalesce,” is filled with disgust and rage, which colors every lyric, intonation, and the stylings of the accompanying music. “It’s a stab at modern day religion,” Seethe says. “Not that God and Jesus don’t exist, but more how modern religion is propagated toward political welfare and also the alarming number of cases of sexual abuse and misconduct from clergymen over the last 20-30 years.”
“Coalesce” is followed by “Cascade,” a heart-wrenching ode penned from the point of view of a person witnessing a loved one struggle with cancer. Seethe wrote the song about his mother’s second fight with the illness, and the raw pain bleeds through in the words and the way in which he screams out the emotion from within. “Lights gleaming with a sense of purpose, dimming out over the cascade/Burning out without a purpose, crashing down to one’s knees…” It is an unflinching dose of reality, the bitterness borne from watching somebody wither away while trying so hard to stay strong.
“Dreary” is the other side of the same coin, a story told from the patient’s point of view. Fraught with frustration and anger, the narrator looks back on life and wonders “Why me? I’m a good person.” The sentiment is echoed in a line that is repeated throughout: “Cure me, please, you owe me this.”
Schisms & Pendulums will hit all major streaming platforms on May 15th! You can presave the EP here, and visit Seethe’s other socials to make sure you never miss an update!
Alternative/trap metal artist Seethe surprised his followers by abruptly releasing an EP, entitled Cavalier Dualities, to Bandcamp on January 29th. (It has since gone live on all major streaming platforms.) Staying true to the glitchy, yet melodic, sound that I have come to associate with Seethe, this trilogy of tracks is an eight minute, thirty-four second emotional purge – for both artist and listener.
Cavalier Dualities is a brief glimpse into the repeating cycle of various mental health issues, depression prevalent among them. Seethe never backs down from addressing darker subject matter, and this is again apparent in all three songs.
“Medicate” is the beginning phase. Whatever the struggle is with – mental health, addiction, etc. – this track references the attempt to best it, to medicate and cope and hopefully ascend from the depths, maybe even defeat it one day.
This is followed by “Smile.” In Seethe’s own words, “Smile” is about how, in life, sometimes all one can do is smile and move forward. Throughout the fight with one’s own personal demons is the occasional necessity to fake it ’til you make it, as they say.
The EP concludes with “In Two,” a heart-rending song in which our narrator realizes (s)he is back in the hole, that (s)he had a brief moment in the light but has yet again fallen into the rut. This brings us back to the start, the need to medicate, and the cycle continues.
The discordant music and vocal stylings seems to reflect the frustration and hopelessness that colors the whole sordid tale, a cry of “I’ve been here before and failed, but I have to keep trying.” And while Cavalier Dualities may be a story borne from the artist’s own battles, it is relatable to anyone who has ever persevered through a private, often unseen, war with oneself.
You can listen to Cavalier Dualities on your favorite streaming service! And once you’ve checked out the EP, ready yourself for Seethe’s next release: the new single, “Away,” which is dropping on Valentine’s Day!
Alternative/trap metal artist Seethe has released his latest album, Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph. Carrying the listener through the subjects of mental health and a real-life hospital stay, Seethe has bared his soul to the world in these nine tracks.
Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph is an interestingly composed record, musically. It is comprised of a style that is not only heavy, but purposefully harsh and glitchy, with anguished vocals that resonate with rage and frustration. This raw and unfiltered emotion is contrasted with the occasional catchy, more melodic break, featured mostly in the choruses. The play of an almost lighter offering amongst the darker standard grabs the attention, keeping the ear intrigued.
The atmosphere that Seethe has created is often jarring, sometimes uncomfortable, an echo of the true story of his struggles with his mental health and the decision to sign himself into a psych ward. However, the overall message of Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph is one of hope. By sharing his own personal story and tackling a topic that most seem content to ignore, Seethe is breaking an invisible barrier. He is telling his listeners – and everyone else – that there is no shame in the struggle, that it does not mean you are weak, and that asking for help is the strongest action you can take.
The two singles showcase the lowest and highest points of this autobiographical story. “Can’t Breathe,” the second track on the record, is the hopeless beginning, the bleakest moment, feeling overwhelmed and trapped, both by the four walls of the hospital and your own mind. However, by the time one reaches “Linear,” track eight of nine, a sense of balance is slowly being gained, a clearer headspace in which you are starting to take control of your life, having a better idea of what to do for your version of normal…because each of us is different, and what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for all. The songs in the middle are the journey between despair and the start of catharsis.
Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph is a triumph. Seethe grants his listeners a glimpse into the shadows, a foray into territories not often explored, and he reveals a message of solidarity, support, hope, and victory, both big and small. He has expertly crafted his music, lyrics, and vocals in the shape of the story he is sharing. This is a 2023 must-hear album.
You can listen to Delenda: A Black Rose on the Epitaph wherever you stream music!
When I say “soon,” I mean soon. As in, August 25th. Four days from now.
I had heard the covers of “Feuer Frei!” by The 69 Eyes and “Engel” by Priest, and I thought it was kind of odd (and awesome) that suddenly everyone was releasing their take on infamous Rammstein tracks. Then, I stumbled across a post on a Front Line Assembly fan page and saw that those two releases are part of a bigger project.
I’m pretty excited about this! The album features versions of songs such as “Du Hast,” “Sonne,” “Radio,” and “Deutschland,” by a slew of artists, including Front Line Assembly, Skold, Julien-K, and more. I will include the full track list below. You can order your copy on Cleopatra Records’ site.
1. “Du Hast” – Burton C. Bell, Paul Ferguson, and MGT
The infamous Rammstein is gracing us with a new album this year. The record, entitled Zeit (Time), is set to be released on April 29th. The first single – the title track – was shared only five days ago and already has over 7 million views on YouTube. It is a poetic piece that addresses age and the passing of time. Check it out here and preorder the album via rammstein.lnk.to/Zeit.