With a sweet and sultry voice, this songstress crafts a fantastic debut album. With a touch of twang and a dash of heartbreak, Maura Weaver releases an album I keep returning back to for more

This is a great Compilation of the Cincinnati punk scene of the 90's. A wide range of styles, some interesting sounds, and a lot of energy

The Harlequins take their psychedelic song writing up a notch on their latest album, stitching together a variety of moods throughout. Known for their passionate live shows, they craft a succulent slab of psychedelica on this release that is as tasty as it is varied

Sylmar get better with each release, and their latest offering shows more shades to the band than ever before. Starting with the subtle opener Kinks, which builds throughout the song to a trademark raucous finale. On through Enniskillen Family, the title track, and Isle of Mann, Glass Ladders showcases Sylmar at their most mature to date without sacrificing the energy they’ve become known for

Nithing wreak havoc on your sound system with their twisted blend of blackened death metal. On this latest release Nithing capture the wild energy of their live performances. A standout is the dual riffing of guitarists Andrew Yankosky and Zach Determan. The tasty grooves of bassist James Drewyor and the pounding drums carry the rhythm section throughout the release. The shrieks of vocalist and drummer Kory Shumard pierce one’s core, further emphasizing the atmosphere of tortured nihilism

What an incredible release by The Ophelias. Their poignant lyrics cut deep while the music makes me bop around the house

Sungaze capture my imagination with the hazy shoegaze stylings of their latest album This Dream. Their sound is reflective and visceral

What stunning, dissonant death metal by Ad Nauseam. This album does weird things to my brain. Easily AOTY material

Known for their exciting and energetic live shows, Sylmar capture what makes them great on this debut. Dynamic guitars, strong rhythm sections, and passionate vocals make this an excellent offering

This is a truly special album with some great indie rock jams. Fantastic debut by Carriers with notable collaborators from The National and The Afghan Whigs

I love the incorporation of the synths and atmospheric passages here. The emphasis on these dimensions combined with the more blackened approach makes this my favorite Valdrin album to date and a serious AOTY candidate

Another incredible offering from Blood Cultures. I love the way they slowly layer the different electronic elements, particularly in 'Dunk On Me'. So many good vibes on this album and the often dark undertones of the lyrics is a great touch