Back catalogue: Rock (All)

Review: Jonsi's third studio album, Obsidian, is now available on vinyl for the first time, following its initial release alongside his installation at the Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in NYC. Co-produced and mixed by Paul Corley and Nathan Salon, Obsidian delves into darker themes compared to its predecessor, Shiver. The album features ten tracks with evocative titles inspired by ashen landscapes, taking listeners on a sensory journey through erupting flares. Jonsi's masterful layering of vocals over orchestral passages blurs the boundaries between senses, creating a profound and immersive narrative experience.

Review: Captured during their World Wide Blitz Tour at The Palladium in New York City on 22nd July 1981, this double live LP from British heavy metal royalty Judas Priest showcases the band at the height of their prowess, touring in support of their seventh album Point Of Entry. Following the Platinum selling success of British Steel which saw the members refine their speed metal gallop into mainstream crossover appeal with glossy production and hook-laden anthems such as 'Breaking The Law' and 'Living After Midnight', this set also features first-time road tests of later bangers including 'Solar Angels' and 'Heading Out To The Highway', while the epic rendition of closer 'Tyrant' offers up a far heavier and fester counterpoint to that of its studio version.

Review: Judas Priest's groundbreaking debut, originally released in 1974, has been meticulously remixed and remastered for its 50th anniversary. This edition of 'Rocka Rolla' delivers the raw energy and heavy metal thunder the band always intended. As Rob Halford himself proclaims, this album "lit the eternal metal flame," and five decades on, it still burns bright. Featuring classics like 'One For The Road', 'Winter', and the epic 'Caviar And Meths', this reissue captures the band's early sound in all its glory. Experience the genesis of heavy metal with this essential piece of music history.

Review: A true classic, British Steel would serve as the sixth full-length from British metal titans Judas Priest and is often considered to be their crowning achievement. Referred to by Max Cavalera (Sepultura, Soulfly) as the "essential thrash metal; I'm sure you can ask Metallica, if it wasn't for British Steel they wouldn't be here", and with notable footage of the aforementioned Metallica members James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett rocking (nerding) out at a recent Priest headline show, it's really no big secret how lofty of regard this razor-riffed gem is still held today. Boasting their iconic hit single and easily one of the best metal openers of all time with 'Breaking The Law' (which due to the lack of digital sampling at the time the band had to use analogue recording of smashing milk bottles for the desired sound effects), as well as mammoth cuts such as 'Metal Gods' (a subtle omen), and 'Living After Midnight', British Steal still breathes the like giant it is that welcomes all subsequent thrash metal acts to rest on their intimidating shoulders. Repressed on limited lush black and white splattered vinyl for National Album Day 2024.

Review: A mere 19 albums, not out. It's almost unfathomable how long Judas Priest have been making noise, with their first steps into heavy metal megastardom taken in the late-1960s, a time when the genre was really just a glint in the eye of hopeful upstarts, including this troupe. More than 50million LP unit sales later, and it's safe to say their legacy is more than written, yet the most defining aspect of their tenure - unstoppable, unflappable - is only really apparent in their continued output. Well, OK, this is the first we've heard from them since 2018's Firepower, but nevertheless, across five decades they've barely taken more than four years off before coming back with new material. In this case it's been six, but there was a 24 month pandemic in and among, meaning you can let them off. So, what does it sound like, this long-awaited 19th long form from the deities of power riffs and juggernaut rhythms? Well, Judas Priest, of course - as if there was ever going to be another answer.

Review: Just Mustard's second album is her first for Partisan Records. It is a coherent but widescreen exploration across 10 tracks that all add up to a great whole. Her magic vocals, scything guitars and brooding rock drums all make for intense and scintillant listening. Tracks like 'Seed' roll up and down on lumpy drums with gauzy guitar textures, while there is a more ethereal sound to 'Early' which floats up amongst the stars. 'In Shade' has a catchy post punk rhythm and 'Sore' is dense and caustic shoegaze style rock that drags you with it into a world of questions.