The album kicks off with the versatile and multi-dimensional track “Well Made Play,” which immediately sets the tone with its cacophonous noise, featuring a wailing saxophone, yet it still manages to be catchy enough. The next two tracks, “Purity Drag” and “Kingbreaker,” are among the most accessible on the album, but they are still far from being radio-friendly or predictable. 

Following these, the album dives headlong into a blend of traditional aggressive hardcore and noise rock, perhaps reminiscent of the band’s roots and style. The guitars in “Broken Mirror” are magnificent, and the vocals create an apocalyptic feel with their pathos. “I Steal What I Want” could be material from Queens Of The Stone Age. It’s incredibly catchy and perhaps the most distinct track on the album, yet it finds its place amidst everything else. Towards the end of the album, “Heathen” stands out, which could be the work of post-rock/shoegaze pioneers. It would be easy to end the album here, but I appreciate the idea of one last chaotic ride with “A More Perfect Design.”

The description above may sound confusing, and in part, it is, but this is precisely The Armed’s strength. They can do almost anything, beautifully combining different elements and genres while maintaining a cohesive whole. You never feel the need to skip a track; each one has its own strength and place. The album is full of the finest details and withstands multiple listens because of this. The geniuses were at it again, and everything else surrounding this album has been destroyed!

Release Date: August 1, 2025

The Armed – THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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This was followed by “GREY Area,” which was much more experimental and diverse, with a somewhat darker tone. The 2021 release “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” was truly massive with its orchestral arrangements. “NO THANK YOU” came relatively soon after and felt much simpler, leaning heavily into the traditional hip hop realm. “Drop 7” was once again highly experimental and diverse. This list is just to show that you never really know what Little Simz will offer, but regardless, her music always delivers strongly, no matter the direction she chooses.

“Lotus” is a versatile album that leans heavily on organic soundscapes and band performances. The backgrounds are stunning, and Simz’s flow is once again remarkable. The opening track, “Thief” almost sounds like it could be a masterpiece from a British rock band, but instead of singing, the vocals come out with an incredible flow. “Flood” continues the somewhat rocking line with a strong bassline and drum track. The creeping track strongly reminds me of Young Fathers’ droning and intriguing soundscape. “Young” is something I don’t recall hearing from Simz before. 

The spoken-word verse and vaguely British punk-like chorus remind me of The Streets and Gorillaz. “Only” stands out from the first tracks as a beautiful, soulful, summery piece. The rest of the album continues to balance different genres. Despite its diversity, the album is a cohesive whole and one of Simz’s best and most interesting releases. Simz is undoubtedly in the lead role, but the diverse and extensive list of guest artists definitely adds to the interest. Special mentions go to Moonchild Sanelly, Obongjayar, Lydia Kitto, and the always reliable Michael Kiwanuka. 

Little Simz also brings a lot of influence from modern African music into her work, making her productions even more diverse and interesting. Her ability to blend elements from different cultures and musical styles is one of the reasons why her music resonates so widely with various audiences. In Simz’s music, you can hear influences from afrobeat, afrofuturism, and other African genres, which bring a unique rhythm and energy to her tracks. 

This multicultural approach not only enriches her music but also highlights the diversity and vibrancy of modern African music. Simz has managed to create music that honours her roots while being innovative and fresh, making her one of the most significant artists of our time.

The most incredible thing about the album, which continues to amaze me time and time again, is how artists can reinvent themselves and release something this great even after so many releases.

Release Date: June 6, 2025

Little Simz – Lotus

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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The album is a beautiful whole in terms of its soundscape, blending electronic ambient moods with more melodic, grand moments of post-rock and dreampop. The concept of a soundtrack might first bring to mind massive, cinematic arrangements—but this one actually includes many relatively traditional song structures and a band-like approach.

At nearly 50 minutes long, the album never becomes boring—largely thanks to the impressive balance between cinematic scoring and more conventional music. The tracklist and transitions are also extremely well-crafted, building—unsurprisingly—a film-like experience without the need for any actual visuals. Still, A Necessary Escape manages to paint magnificent landscapes for the listener, where only the imagination sets limits once you close your eyes.

One of the most stunning moments is the emotional swell of the track Echoes. Until that moment, the album has been subtly building up, with only a few brief interludes offering glimpses of what’s to come. But when Echoes finally erupts with breathtaking beauty, it feels as if previously unseen galaxies are revealing themselves to us.

One of the album’s strengths is also its small sense of playfulness amidst all the emotional weight and atmosphere. A good example is Artificial Infinity, where horns, flutes, and bass lines playfully compete with each other around a catchy drum groove.

A Necessary Escape is an album that, in the midst of all the shit in the world, can bring something truly beautiful and positive into it.

Release Date: May 9, 2025

M83 – A Necessary Escape (Dakar Chronicles Original Soundtrack)

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In 2021, however, the band took a bold step towards a lighter sound with Infinite Granite, leaving behind the black metal growls in favor of melodic, stunning vocals. The album balanced elements of shoegaze, dreampop, and post-metal. It didn’t seem to be particularly well-received, and perhaps because of that, Lonely People with Power marks a return to a somewhat more brutal approach.

The album is a strong, cohesive work from start to finish, with hardly any weak or dull moments. The songs are emotional and catchy, easily sticking in your mind even though they occasionally unleash full-on sonic assault. The guitar melodies grow into massive, towering waves, and just when you think they’ve reached their peak, they climb even higher.

The record manages to be both tight and brutal, yet also beautiful and sensitive at the same time. Magnolia delivers the heaviest material on the album from beginning to end — a track that could almost have been written by any black metal band, complete with classic heavy metal guitar riffs. Heathen occasionally flirts with the melodic and clean vocal elements of the previous album. It’s a song that encapsulates everything that makes Deafheaven such a remarkable band: stunning melodies, grand emotions, sensitivity, and ferocity.

One of the band’s strengths has always been their ability to combine memorability with unpredictability. At times, especially in the longer tracks, you find yourself completely immersed in one section — only to be pulled back up by a surprising detail or a full-on shift in direction. Incidental II, featuring Jae Matthews from Boy Harsher, offers a refreshing detour amidst the intensity, embracing a more industrial and noisy soundscape. It would be fascinating to hear Deafheaven explore more of this territory in the future.

The way the band’s latest album weaves together various elements from their earlier work makes it perhaps the most cohesive and best overall record in their entire discography.

Release Date: March 28, 2025

Deafheaven – Lonely People With Power

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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Honningbarna has already had a relatively long and productive career, evolving album by album into an increasingly unique and innovative group. Up until the 2017 album Voldelig lyd, the band made relatively pure hardcore punk, characterized by rock energy, melody, and a hefty dose of aggression. Their previous album Animorphs retained much of the band’s original style but also took steps in a completely new direction, introducing more experimentation, at times even a mechanical feel, and a greater sense of unpredictability.

Soft Spot strongly continues down this path. The album is full of surprises and unusual rhythms that are oddly difficult to grasp, yet at the same time incredibly intriguing and inviting. Schäfer, which kicks off after the intro, is probably one of the heaviest tracks the band has ever produced, both in sound and arrangement. The album is clearly built on the foundation of experimental hardcore rock laid by Refused. Each instrument shines in its own way, and the vocals sound absolutely amazing. Still, it’s the drum arrangements and groove on Soft Spot that stand out the most—they’re simply phenomenal.

Here and there, Soft Spot introduces even more machine-like effects and soundscapes, at times evoking a distant industrial vibe. The band really seems to be delivering their strongest and boldest performance yet with Soft Spot, without worrying about what traditional hardcore fans might think. This is a major strength that sets Honningbarna apart from many other hardcore groups today.

Amidst all the experimentation, the album still features accessible, so-called old-school Honningbarna bangers. All in all, the band sounds and feels stronger and more relevant than ever. I’d be lying if I said Soft Spot wouldn’t be on my end-of-year best albums list.

Release Date: February 28, 2025

Honningbarna – Soft Spot

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The duo has an incredible ability to blend electronic soundscapes with more organic instruments, like unforgettable guitar patterns, string arrangements, and various percussions. Their sound is effortlessly smooth, flowing forward like a sailboat in perfect sunny tailwind.

This time around, their arrangements are a bit more engaging, and at times, the groove even brings to mind Jungle’s upbeat, danceable tracks. A great example is Otherside, where Holly Walker’s vocals are absolutely mesmerizing. Another standout is Dance on the World, featuring North Downs’ slightly soulful and smoky vocals.

That said, Maribou State certainly hasn’t lost their touch when it comes to evoking deep emotions. The album is packed with beautiful melodies and intricate details, especially in the guitars—something that has always been a signature element in their music. My personal favorites from the album are Bloom, where the soundscape and Gaidaa’s vocals create a stunning combination, and Eko’s, an incredibly hypnotic, forward-driving track that I could listen to forever.

All in all, this album is an absolute pleasure to listen to. But hopefully, we won’t have to wait another six years for the next one!

Release Date: January 31, 2025

Maribou State – Hallucinating Love

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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It immediately caught my attention with its playful sound. Phases was quite long, featuring 19 tracks, many of which explored multiple genres. Compared to Phases, Full Moon feels like a more cohesive package. With this album, it truly feels like Moonchild Sanelly has found her artistic identity. It is full of playfulness, yet everything is well crafted, with every detail carefully placed. The production, both soundwise and in terms of arrangement, is spot on.

At times, Moonchild Sanelly’s music brings to mind the visionary M.I.A. and the genre-blending Santigold. Her unmistakable voice, combined with an incredible flow in both singing and rapping, undeniably leads her music. Additionally, her seamless mix of English and Xhosa in her lyrics adds a unique layer that few can replicate. The way she switches between these two languages is so organic and fluid that listeners might not even notice the transition.

Beyond her distinctive vocal delivery, the album is packed with punchy basslines that stand out beautifully throughout the record. Full Moon manages to be bold and compelling amidst all its playfulness. This is particularly evident in more melancholic tracks like In My Kitchen and Gwara Gwara, where a deeper emotional tone emerges.

As The Guardian describes, “Full Moon showcases her signature style, blending South African dance genres like kwaito, amapiano, and gqom with global influences, resulting in what she calls ‘future ghetto funk’.” 

Moonchild Sanelly’s ability to fuse pop sensibilities, hip-hop, electronic dance music, and South African elements ensures that Full Moon is a unique yet irresistibly catchy record.

Release Date: January 10, 2025

Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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The album’s sprawling instrumentation takes center stage, delivering lush, layered arrangements that range from orchestral sweeps to disco-funk grooves. Tracks like the nearly ten-minute opener Mahashmashana establish an epic tone, filled with unpredictable shifts that keep the listener engaged. Other highlights, such as She Cleans Up and I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All, showcase a variety of styles without losing cohesion.

Father John Misty’s sound has evolved here, offering a sense of cinematic scale while maintaining his trademark nuances. Strings, horns, and vibrant percussion are masterfully interwoven, creating an experience that’s as hypnotic as it is compelling. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his work, this album demands—and rewards—close listening.

With Mahashmashana, Father John Misty once again demonstrates his ability to create music that feels both timeless and fresh, making this a standout addition to his discography.

Release Date: November 22, 2024

Father John Misty – Mahashmashana

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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Muutaantuja marks Oranssi Pazuzu’s sixth album, and the band has certainly not stagnated; they continue to evolve, breathing life into their music with inventive new elements. This album possibly embodies the highest dose of electronic and psychedelic influences they’ve ever woven together. At times, you might feel as if you’re immersed in the dark trip-hop textures of Massive Attack or Tricky, only to be jolted by the band’s signature black metal-infused, raw vocals.

Oranssi Pazuzu’s innovation is awe-inspiring. The soundscape is incredibly fine and beautiful, filled with magnificent details that emerge with each listen, yet it remains raw, violent, and terrifying at the same time. The balance between psychedelia, black metal, post-metal, and trip-hop is a breathtaking. Muutaantuja is an album best experienced in full sessions rather than through isolated tracks.

One highlight of the album is Voitelu which is an astonishing, hypnotic masterpiece that begs to be heard live, with pounding bass drums and basslines that would shake your heart into arrhythmia. Amidst all the madness, a surprisingly delicate piano emerges, creating a sublime contrast. Muuntautuja can be heavy in every sense of the word—such as at the end of Voitelu or the intense start of Valotus—but, in a strange way, it also manages to feel heavy even when the soundscape is not conventionally dense. This ability to craft worlds and atmospheres speaks to the band’s exceptional talent, a feat few can match.

Release Date: October 11, 2024

Oranssi Pazuzu – Muuntautuja

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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Right from the first track, you can sense a new style emerging in its sampling and strong club vibes. In my opinion, the playful and imaginative use of samples ties the whole album together. DJ Shadow is known for sampling from vinyl, and in a way, this album shares some modern similarities with his music, although both artists have completely different styles.

The album is hectic in many ways, but it keeps you hooked. If I had to describe the album in one word, it would probably be “ADHD.” You never really know where the songs will go. Most of the tracks gradually build up layers of different elements, the beats change, and sometimes the music calms down briefly before ramping back up again.

However, the album includes some elements from Mura Masa’s earlier work. *We Are Making Out* is a poppy and easily followable melodic song that reminds you of his previous three albums.

Personally, I like this new direction Mura Masa is taking because of the unpredictability and diversity. The album holds up to multiple listens and keeps drawing you back in!

Release Date: August 23, 2024

Mura Masa – Curve 1

Album of the Month by Cuberat

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