Did the Air Canada strike mess up your summer travel plans? I can’t help with that–I got screwed, too–but I can offer some interest stuff for New Music Friday.
Singles
1. Bad Omens, Specter (Sumerian Records)
I missed this one when I was on assignment in Asia last week, but I do want to bring it to your attention. Bad Omens is a Virginia band that’s been operational since 2015 and prowls the world of metalcore, alternative metal, and industrial metal. This track, most likely from an upcoming fourth album, approaches anthemic symphonic metal territory. Into bands like Ghost, Bring Me the Horizon, Sleep Token, and the softer side of Alexisonfire? Then is probably of interest to you.
2. The Engagement, Closure (The Engagement Music)
The Engagement is an Australian queer alt pop/rock band with a gift for melody. This single is from a new EP entitled Shattered Illusions that took about five years to make. If COVID busted up some friendships for you, this song–inspired by just a situation–is all bout betrayal and forgiveness. The guest vovalist is Kaiyah Mercedes.
Albums
1. The Blow Monkeys, Birdsong (Creation Youth)
Yes, those Blow Monkeys, the English sophisti-pop/soul-pop band who had a worldwide hit with Digging Your Scene back in early 1986. They broke up in 1990 but reunited in 2007 and have been at it ever since. They’re now up to 13 studio albums. And yes, Dr. Robert is still in charge.
2. Chevelle, Bright as Blasphemy (Alchemy Recordings/BMG Rights Management)
Chevelle (est. Illinois 1995) are now up to ten studio albums, although it’s been five years since the last one. Then again, they did have to find a new home since leaving Epic Records. Now that they’re independent, they approached this album in a more “musician-focused” way, whatever that may mean. The record was supposed to have been out last fall, but was delayed because of an apparently “tortuous” recording process. The current single digs into the Jonestown massacre of 1978.
3. Alison Goldfrapp, Flux (A.G. Records)
Alison has been a staple on the English electronic/synth/trip-hop scene since the late 80s, first fronting a band named after her who released seven albums. When they parted ways, Alison reactivated her first name and began a solo career with a debut record in 2023. This is her second outing on her own indie label. Four singles preceded the album, including this one.
4. Orianthi, Some Kind of Feeling (Woodward Avenue Records)
Orianthi is one of the world’s great female guitar hero from Adelaide who has some mad skillz, allowing her gigs with artists like Alice Cooper (she was a the first female member of his band) and Dave Stewart (of Eurthymics fame), Fefe Dobson, Hollywood Vampires, Joe Bonamassa Ritchie Sambora. Now on her fifth solo album, she continues to lay waste to the myth that women can’t rock a six-string as well as a guy.
5. Rise Against, Ricochet (Loma Vista Recordings/Concord)
Rise Against, the political punk band from Chicago, is exactly the kind of band we need right now. Of note is their choice of a female producer. Catherine Marks is Australian and has worked with bands like Manchester Orchestra and Boygenius. Frontman has this to say about the band’s 10th album: “”Ricochet is about our collective inter-connectedness. We started with the title track and that being about how we’re all —whether we like it or not —stuck in the same room, so to speak. Everything you do is going to affect somebody; everything you throw will affect the next person. We’re connected to other countries, other economies; we’re connected to undocumented immigrants. We’re connected to every decision our leaders make. It’s all one big ricochet effect.”
© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices