Amoeba Music

When punk rock needed a new hero, Fake Names answered the call. Expendables is the latest album from the supergroup, comprised of Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, INVSN, The [International] Noise Conspiracy), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace), Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) and new member Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Rites of Spring). With a crew like that, you'd expect this to be good, but even so, you wouldn't be prepared for how instantly likable this album is, how instantly the songs get under your skin. Expendables has the energy and ethos of classic punk with the genre heritage of hardcore, post-hardcore, and post-punk to keep things fresh, urgent, and impactful.

The originators of kawaii metal, Babymetal, return with a smashing new album, The Other One. Fusing J-pop (albeit with a darker, more melancholy bent) with heavy metal, the songs feature ripping, brutal guitar riffs and honey-sweet yet powerful vocals from main vocalist Su-metal. Be assured that while "kawaii" (or "cute") is often associated with this band, they truly, truly do kick ass. The Other One is a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride of an album from one of the most innovative, exciting, and just straight-up fun bands pushing the typically dude-heavy genre into new territory.

Multi-instrumentalist, olde time music expert, and erstwhile member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Dom Flemons returns with another rousing and riveting solo album, Traveling Wildfire. On this collection of original songs, Flemons' ability to conjure the mood of a different time and place is spotlighted, as he melds bluegrass, folk, country, and Americana into timeless tracks that could be from today or 100 years ago. Opener "Slow Dance with You" is a heartfelt, one-moment-in-time ballad. "It's Cold Outside" is a haunting, melancholy charmer. And "Guess I'm Doing Fine" feat. Sam Bush feels like a true stomper, with fast fiddle and lyrical banjo. An excellent album from an artist who deeply understands his chosen genre.

Shalom’s Sublimation is one of the most enjoyable, most assured debuts in recent memory. The Brooklyn-based, South Africa-raised artist creates urgent yet catchy-as-hell music that combines elements of power pop, punk, garage, indie, and even ‘90s alterna-pop. Shalom and producer Ryan Hemsworth (Quarter-Life Crisis) have crafted a super tight album that chronicles the ultra-loose and messy experiences of self-medicating, watching creative opportunities fall apart, and getting sick of being yourself. The joy of Sublimation, though, is the journey listeners go on as Shalom finds herself and her will to fight once again. Shalom is one to watch, to be sure, and this album will likely be on many year-end “best of” lists.

Fever Ray is back with their first album in five years, Radical Romantics. The album title is an accurate synopsis of this left-field electro-pop production; as you’d expect, the songs are glittering and strange, filled with twists and turns both lyrical and melodic, all rooted in a deep love for both the darkness and the (heavily filtered) light. Fans of The Knife will rejoice to hear that Karin Dreijer has recruited their brother and The Knife bandmate Olof Dreijer for the first several songs, creating a vibe that eventually shifts into more buoyant, technicolor sonic territory as the album goes on. Fellow travelers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross contribute, as do Nídia, Johannes Berglund, Peder Mannerfelt, and Vessel.