Softcult, FRANKLIN, Burnt Black, and The Fake Friends
Softcult - When A Flower Doesn’t Grow
I’ve been eagerly anticipating Softcult’s debut album since I heard their 2023 EP See You In the Dark and When A Flower Doesn’t Grow exceeded my, admittedly very high, expectations. The riotgaze duo, made up of twins Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn, are at the top of their game, striking the perfect balance of etherealness and heaviness, both sonically and lyrically, as they tackle topics including trauma and the true meaning of growth. Songs like “Hurt Me” and “Tired!” showcase the duo’s penchant for fuzzy punk-infused songs, while their knack for pulls-no-punches lyricism shines on tracks like “16/25”, “She Said, He Said”, and “Not Sorry”. Softcult are in full bloom on When A Flower Doesn’t Grow.
FRANKLIN - decay
FRANKLIN make music that you can feel in your bones on their debut album decay. The Whitehorse-based duo, made up of Kirsty Wells and Evan Joel, kick out ten gorgeously textured, doomy, sludgey tracks chock full of head-banging, face-melting riffage. Kirsty and Evan’s voices weave together perfectly, especially during the clean, melodic, and goosebump-raising opening of “NLMD”. “Smolder” is heavier than a blue whale and showcases the band’s interplay of soaring melodic vocals with ferocious harsh vocals perfectly, while epic album closer “Black Circles” takes you on a journey through the North. decay bursts with life at every turn. .
Burnt Black - Heretical
Nova Scotia’s Burnt Black come out swinging on Heretical, their first album in 27 years. With hard-hitting arrangements that effortlessly blend ‘90s alt-rock with the unique heaviness of Canadian metal, the band kicks out eight of their most high-octane tracks to date. “June” boasts pummelling instrumentation and soaring melodic vocals that make your lungs yearn to sing along while the instrumental title track gives voice to emotions left unspoken, creating a beautifully introspective sonic landscape that sums up the album perfectly. Here’s hoping that it won’t be another 27 years before we hear new music from Burnt Black.
The Fake Friends - Let’s Not Overthink This
Montreal’s The Fake Friends get you moving right out of the gate on debut album Let’s Not Overthink This with “Ministry of Peace”. The new wave-y punk rock dance party continues following a seamless transition into the driving, post-punk flavoured “Sucker Born Every Minute” and into “The Way She Goes”. It is also impossible to be still during the riotous “Hyperconnecton”, which contains one of the best lines on the album, “What the fuck is a Capricorn? / It’s a horse!” Their dedication to inventive arrangements is apparent throughout the album whether they are kicking out epic layered rock on “Dance on my Grave” or slowing things down on the piano ballad “Good Friends”. “Five Star Review” deserves a special shoutout for being one of the most fun songs I’ve heard in a while. Don’t overthink it, turn The Fake Friends up loud.
