Hey, everyone. Sneezethony Stufftano here, the internet's busiest music nerd. Hope you're doing well. It's time for a great albums video. I'm going to go over a bunch of records that have dropped over the month plus of time that it's been since the last one of these videos. I've reviewed all these projects. I think they're great. I don't want them to slip through the cracks on you.

We've just made it through the first quarter of the year, and honestly, it's been a very fruitful Wonderful 2025 thus far, musically speaking. There's been a lot of exciting records to talk about, a lot of great records to champion, and I'm going to start listing some of those off right now for the month of April.

All right, let's get into it.

Most recently, I dropped a glowing review for the new Backxwash album, Only Dust Remains. This Canadian rap artist and producer is just absolutely smashing it creatively, aesthetically, taking a big risk on this album, drifting away from the metal and industrial influences of past records, and now instead is embracing, I would say, maybe more traditional or classic hip hop production aesthetics in some respects.

It still sounds fresh and new, though, with lots of just over the top and glorious and sometimes heavenly arrangements and instrumental layers throughout these tracks that really maximize the emotional impact of the pain, the depression, the self-isolation, but eventually the growth and maturity and acceptance that the album moves to toward the end. There's really an emotional evolution to this record that I think makes it one of Backxwash's most interesting yet. Definitely worth a listen, definitely worth your time as a concept album, as a lyrical exercise, and also for those who may just prefer that industrial hip hop style, even if that is more your bag, I think you're still going to get a lot out of this album.

Next in the list, we have the Bon Iver album, SABLE, fABLE. Honestly, did not think in 2025, I was going to be giving a super duper glowing review for a Bon Iver record. Obviously, I have covered Justin's work multiple times up until this point. Much of it, I have thought, is okay or a little underwhelming, but he is really back in his indie folk singer-songwriter bag on this record, stacked the project with that SABLE, EP he dropped last year, which I thought was great.

But then the rest of the record or the second disk, as it were, goes into this whole short story about a love and a relationship that's falling apart, but things in a hopeful fashion eventually get put on pause. And across these tracks, Justin comes through with numerous beautiful songs with amazing instrumental arrangements that touch down on country and folk music, on soul and RnB, on a bit of hip hop, also on a bit of gospel music, too. A lot of songs on here feel a little spiritual.

The record narratively did leave me on a bit of a cliffhanger, but a good one all the same. I just think there's a lot to love about this album and was just pleasantly surprised with what Justin was able to pull off with it.

Next, I want to give a shout out to the new Jane Remover album, Revengeseekerz. Jane coming through with that abrasive, in your face, insane digicore sound, fusing it with elements of hyperpop and pop music, generally, rage and hip hop music, too. There's a lot coming together on this album, and it sounds like it as the production on this record is just so chaotic and so intense and so exhilarating and brain-frying.

In fact, in a way, I would say a lot of the music on this record is like if you took just brain rot, but were somehow able to elevate it artistically in a way to where it was actually engaging and thoughtful. A lot of energy, a lot of explosivity on this record, unique and stand out. Mostly it was definitely one of the boldest listens that you will have this year if you give it the time.

Also want to give a shout out to a Black Country, New Road on their new record, Forever Howlong. The band came back after a very tough and surprising lineup change, and they pulled through with a beautiful and fantastic record where they really gear their sound toward, I would say, a lot of chamber pop and a lot of indie folk tunes, some great and compelling narratives in the lyrics on these tracks, too. Love that they divvied up the singing and songwriting responsibilities as well. The performances and production are great. There's a fantastic collective feel to the music on this record. Such a positive record, so full of hope, but simultaneously when it does run into emotional snags, it deals with them in ways that are really compelling and moving.

But yeah, just absolutely spellbinding instrumentation. Gorgeous record all around, and I hope all of you are listening to it. I'll say that.

All right, next, we're getting dark and grim with this latest one: Deafheaven, Lonely People with Power. The band really goes back to their black metal roots on this record, and they sound fantastic in the process. There are tracks on this LP that don't even go into that shoe gaze or post-hardcore screamo pretense. It's just straight up vicious, multi-phase black metal.

The performances are amazing. But also, I feel like the band is doing a better job on this record of working in of those indie and dream pop influences that they've been dabbling in in their past couple of records, but I think didn't quite meld that well with the metal aesthetics or just were not implemented that fantastically to begin with or just not implemented in a way to where it was actually doing something for me. But no, this time around, it really is clicking. This record not only feels like a great culmination of really all the sounds the band has dabbled in thus far, but just better than ever. But the record is also filled with long, winding, thoughtful songs that deal in some pretty dark themes.

But yeah, really great to hear the band drop their best record since Sunbather. I think a lot of fans were thinking at this point, Oh, that's really going to go down as their best and most impressive LP. And while this record didn't necessarily feel superior overtly, I feel like there is an argument to be made here that the band has crafted their masterpiece here.

Next, shout out to the new SPELLLING album, Portrait of My Heart, which is a really impressive switch up from Chrystia and the band. Rather than the whimsical string-heavy art pop of The Turning Wheel, which obviously I love to death, gave it a 10 out of 10. Amazing album. We are instead getting a pop rock experience on this one, an alternative rock experience, but still all those magical and mystical strings and keys popping up in the mix again in a series of songs that are about feeling out of step the world and also love the highs and lows of a relationship. Very passionate record, very beautiful record. I love that in such a short amount of time, the band was able to switch up their sound in this fashion and just drop another impressive and really enjoyable record.

Next, Imperial Triumphant, who I think has arguably made their best record right here with Goldstar. If you're into avant-garde metal, if you're into death metal, if you're into black metal, any extreme and fast dense and discordant genre of metal, you got to check this album out. Not only are the riffs and guitar work across these tracks insane, but I'm absolutely loving the numerous themes across this record when it comes to wealth inequity and hierarchy and power. Also, there's quite a bit of thematic inspiration being borrowed from old cigarette commercials and that thing. Exploitative and deadly business practices, products and the like.

So yeah, really impressive album here from Imperial Triumphant, for sure. Also appreciating the fact that the band condensed a lot of their songwriting on this record, too. This thing is like a trim 38 minutes or so, which I feel like is a really ideal length for an extreme metal album of this shade. It's just like pummeling you. It's hitting you. It's exciting. It's thrilling. It's not overstaying its welcome. It's in, it's out. You're on with your day. And yeah, again, super impressive record. Mindblowing, in fact.

Next, A shout out to Panda Bear for the album Sinister Grift, which – was not at all anticipating enjoying this album as much as I did, but I did. This is my favorite Panda Bear album, period. A lot of throwback pop rock inspirations on these tracks as far as the songwriting goes. Also some bits of reggae here and there, too, which, considering his musical background, I'm not really surprised to hear stuff like dub is a huge influence on this guy.

But yeah, just a very fun, beautiful record that I would say is quite summery. It's a great album, but maybe right now this month is not quite the time for it when things warm up a bit more. Start throwing this one on. You're going to love the hell out of it.

A few shoutouts to some shorter projects, some EPs.

I did a review for the new Paris, Texas EPs that I thought were really great. Definitely that duo's best material so far in terms of their very unique and bold and quirky and funny and irreverent fusions of hip hop and punk, more specifically, some trap and alternative rock. Yeah, these tracks are chaotic. They're fun. They're in your face. Very early ODDFUTURE energy radiating off of these cuts.

I've also been enjoying the new EP from PartyOf2, who were formerly Group Therapy, now they've changed their lineup and changed the name, and they're dropping some very strange, fun left field rap bangers. If you're big into groups like Brockhampton, you are most definitely going to want to check them out. I feel like they are carrying the torch for that sound with a lot of what they're doing.

Finally, shout out to this group who I just found out about recently named Touchdown Jesus. It's All Feast or Famine is the name of a new EP they have just dropped. This thing is blistering, fast, fun, exhilarating for the punky, weirdo, prog rock fans, the big Black Midi heads. This is an EP you are most definitely not going to want to miss. Yeah, you heard me. All you windmill scene weirdos give this EP a listen. You're going to have a lot of fun with it. The synced up drums and riffs and very wild over the top vocals. A lot of King Crimson vibes, I would say, on some of these tracks, too. It's all something to behold. Sure, at some points, it is a little derivative and rough around the edges, but the band with this EP, I would say, is starting off on a really strong foot. I mean, if this is what we're getting hit with at this early stage, I can only imagine what an entire album is going to sound like. Just absolutely killer stuff. Definitely going to be one of my favorite EPs of the year, I will say that.

And there you have it, our great albums video for this month. Hopefully, you got some good recommendations out of it. You guys are the best. Love you.

Anthony Fantano. Great albums. Forever.