MAY SHOUT-OUTS: MOONCHILD SANELLY, ONE STEP CLOSER, ANNALYNN, LAKEVIEW x GIDEON

Moonchild Sanelly-"Scrambled Eggs"

The South African Moonchild Sanelly reminds me of M.I.A. or early Poppy in terms of fearless genre-blending and experimentation. In Moonchild Sanelly’s case this is with the incorporation of kwaito, hip-hop, dancehall, pop, and more in really creating this unique sound she describes as "Future Ghetto Funk." "Scrambled Eggs" from earlier this month follows her upward trajectory as she further embraces this vision, at once refining and expanding it, crafting an earworm of a track that continues to push the boundaries of experimentation while perhaps paradoxically also leaning into accessibility. It’s an impressive accomplishment and a great song.

One Step Closer-All You Embrace

With the energy and edge of hardcore, the rawness of emo, and an ear for the melodic, One Step Closer sits at the nexus of multiple genres on All You Embrace, a release that fans of bands like Crime In Stereo, Title Fight, Koyo, Shoreline, and Troubled Coast will almost assuredly dig. Representative highlights include "Leap Year" and "Your Hazel Tree." This is a very strong record front-to-back that also has a few wrinkles up its sleeve. "Giant’s Despair" is one such instance, with its more expansive soundscape interlaced with alternative rock; album concluder "So Far From Me" is another, bringing more of a shoegaze element into the band’s sound.

Annalynn-Failure Will Find Me

Over two decades into their career, the Bangkok, Thailand-based outfit Annalynn return with this four-song EP of super heavy, electronically-reinforced modern metalcore in a style that would fit in on the Arising Empire roster alongside bands like Defocus. Their new home in Greyscale Records (Alpha Wolf, Diamond Construct, Paledusk) is also a perfect fit. Very much a take-no-prisoners affair, yet balanced out with some melodic elements, this is a strong offering fans of the above-mentioned bands should gravitate to.

Lakeview & Gideon-"Money Where Your Mouth Is"

This is what we call "getting in touch with your roots." Best described as "Octane countrycore," this catchy yet belligerent track is an absolute banger I can’t get enough of.