With so much new music coming out every day, we thought we’d help you pick up a few fresh music releases from the last week that you shouldn’t miss. We have compiled a list of music from various styles, genre no bar. Keep watching this space for your weekly dose of fresh music!
Korn – Start The Healing [Single]
Their first release since 2019’s album ‘The Nothing’ and post a grueling lockdown, nu-metal flag-bearers Korn dropped a new single ‘Start The Healing,’ announcing their upcoming album ‘Requiem’, which comes out on February 4th, 2022. Trademark Korn, in keeping with the sonic structure of the past 3 to 4 records, vocalist Jonathan Davis’ nervous soft vocals and catchy choruses with a hint of the intense side are brought out by the jarring down-tuned guitar riffs and groovy pounding drums. A record to look forward to for sure!
Swadesi – Salaam [Single]
The real face of conscious music and conscious living, more than just a rap crew and more of a movement, Swadesi released ‘Salaam’, a single that pays tribute to the Indian working class. The accompanying music video is as truthful as one can get, portraying the diverse and inhuman conditions in which most of these people have to bear in order to be able to put food on their table. Bestowing upon them a rightful and dutiful ‘Salaam’ (salute), the boys of Swadesi with their hearts on their sleeves – MC Mawali, TodFod, Maharya, BamBoy and Raakshas show respect to those who get none of it for literally take shit from the world.
Bloodywood – Gaddaar [Single]
Leaving no stone unturned where the lyrics and straight out political angle are concerned, Indian folk metal band Bloodywood tear down corruption and fear adopted by the current government in their new single ‘Gaddaar’ (betrayer). The folk element they bring in is the groovy Punjabi dhol, which, with it’s typical balle-balle groove, they have amalgamated perfectly well into their heavy brand of modern metal peppered with some intense growls and melodic shout style vocals from massive front-man Jayant Bhadula towering over some chunky sounding guitars from the band’s main composer and producer Karan Katiyar. Also accompanying the release with a music video, the band announced pre-orders for its debut album ‘Rakshak’, dropping on February 18th, 2022.
Madmast – Kaisi Ye Maaya [Single]
Seems like a political uprising happening with independent artists! Adding to the two above, on come Madmast with a song full of truth bombs, dropping ‘Kaisi Yeh Maaya’, questioning the principles of politicians who are elected into power, going back on those very principles, selling their souls to fill up their pockets. A completely new sound for the band as compared to their two previous singles ‘Ae Dil’ and ‘Aaj Phir Tera’, in keeping with the sentiment in the lyrics, this single is much heavier, bordering on metal, with a story-telling bridge and some tasteful synth lines and great use of harmonizing backing vocals. It’s time to speak up and these guys are doing it! What about you?
Silent Planet – Iridescent [Album]
Sonically, acquired taste, what can be described as atmospheric technical metal-core with a gritty slime in the overall tonality, Silent Planet released their album ‘Iridescent’, which is a completely unique mixture of textures, taking inspiration from the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Slipknot, Deftones and the like. As you listen to the album from start to end, each song keeps you on the edge of your seat, not being able to predict what’s going to go down next, just like the state of this apathetic post-pandemic world.
Kiss Nuka – Dakini ft. Rākhis [Single]
Kiss Nuka (Anushka Manchanda), along with Rākhis (her younger brother Shikhar Manchanda), dropped a new single ‘Dakini’, inspired by Tibetan Buddhism, representing the most important elements of the enlightened feminine. On her mission towards spreading positivity, Kiss Nuka uses the accompanying music video to express the power of femininity, the importance of inner engineering and the potential it has for heightened awareness and awakening. Musically, song has its roots in a calm drum ‘n’ bass influence, layered by some guitars from Rākhis.
Sahala & Strategy – Bring Out The Best [Single]
Granddaughter of Ghanaian giant and Jazz legend George Lee Larnyoh, Sahala is the Mancunian community’s best kept secret. While MC Strategy is a straight up legend of UK’s Bass music circuit through his work with Dub Phizix, Skeptical and many more. Their debut release on Tru Thoughts comes with “Bring Out The Best”, a shiny 2-step stunner embedded with percussions and a weighty bass-line.
Breaka – Solaria [Single]
A trained drummer who eventually found his love for the UK Underground in 2014, Breaka’s distinctive style of music is a concoction of Jazz, Samba, Jungle, Footwork and Techno. His latest exploits come through his self-release project and the name of the tune depicts a fictional planet, dreamt up by Isaac Asimov for his book ‘The Naked Sun’, while tune is a vaporous and skittery mix of Juke and Jungle.
Killjoy – Shake Junt [Single]
Another UK Underground champion, Killjoy’s contribution as an artist and a label owner has been instrumental in crafting the avant-garde underground sounds that we hear today. His latest release comes on a Sydney-based Extra Spicy imprint for a 3-track EP of which of our pick is ‘Shake Junt’ which focuses on the wobbly while offering equal importance to rhythm and texture through its energetic bass-catches.
Auris – Sugarcoating [Single]
Fasten your seatbelts and gear up for a jazz-fuelled ride on the ‘Metro 54’ EP with Amsterdam-based Drum & Bass producer, Auris. After an appearance on Goldfat Records’ Full Fat compilation, Auris has returned to the label for a gorgeous slice of D&B music featuring 2 solo creations and 2 charming collaborations with Ruth Corey and Sydney Chapman. Our absolute favorite from the EP is ‘Sugarcoating’, which is a tune caressed with lush soundscapes over a water-tight bass line.
Willie Rosado – Why Not [Single]
One of the pioneers of Chicago’s earliest exploits with House Music, Willie Rosado’s unique Freestyle, Latin House & Disco led DJ sets have landed him residencies in some of the most iconic clubs in North America since 1979. His production style also takes similar terrains with a mix of Latin-tinged & Bass-heavy House music but with a fresh and Tech-y outlook. Willie Rosado’s latest offering on BIG Speaker Music is an ode to the golden days of the House genre that Chicago birthed and the genre that we all grew up loving.
We’ll be back next week with more interesting recommendations for you to listen to and/or groove to!
Featured Image Collage – Image credits –
Korn – Roadrunner Records – Jimmy Fontaine | Swadesi – Samarth Shirke | Silent Planet Instagram | Bloodywood Instagram | Madmast – Umesh Mittu | Kiss Nuka Instagram |
