Widows
Oh Deer God
UMC Recordings
Release Date 14th April 2017

Morass of Molasses
These Paths We Tread
Hevisike Records
Release Date 19th May 2017

Let’s start at the end. These Paths We Tread is a remarkable album, and you should definitely buy it. Whilst there are some great bands out there playing sublime riffs only a few are likely to elevate themselves above and beyond “the scene” and gain wider attention. Morass of Molasses are a prime candidate for bigger things.

1968
Fortuna Havana EP
Black Bow Records
Release date: 10th February 2017

27 years and 8 days ago I saw Motorhead at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. I was 18. I drove there on my motorbike in freezing fog, realising as I passed the Royal Albert Hall that I’d forgotten my ear plugs. Walking through the Odeon foyer I bumped into Kerrang! journalist Morat and Barney Greenway from Napalm Death and had a quick chat. I told them this was my first time seeing the band and they told me they were envious. “You’re in for a treat”.

Foetal Juice
“Masters of Absurdity”
Grindscene Records
Released 2.12.16

I made the schoolboy error of publishing my Top 10 Albums of 2016 on the last day of November. No one of worth releases new stuff in December, surely? I thought I was safe. Then on 2nd December Foetal Juice dropped this little bombshell, and the list went out the window.

Silverchild
The Red Desert EP
Self-Released
November 2016

Back in the good old days bands built their fanbases from the bottom up, playing every provincial bar and dive to properly hone their craft. By the time they caught the attention of a booking agent or A&R man the goods were in place: killer songs, catchy riffs and – most importantly – stage presence.