Back in the day, it was common practice for bands to release an album every year. Some were even known to release more than one. Over time, however, the space between records has grown, sometimes to the point where a decade can pass without new material.
Blending industrial sampling, New Wave techno beats, Hard Rock guitars, and spoken-word poetry, Meryl Streek’s Songs For The Deceased (Venn Records) puts you in front of the most ardent liberal soapbox speaker since Eugene V. Debs. The single “Rags To Riches” delves into the emotional turmoil that is life under modern capitalism. I’m glad I got to review this one, because I’m politically aligned and probably most sympathetic to Meryl’s message. Fortunately, it’s also quite danceable.
Founded in 2023, Norwegian act Avrak is the brainchild of guitarist Ted Skjellum (aka Nocturno Culto of legendary Black Metallers Darkthrone) and vocalist/guitarist Anders Hegna of Nød, and El Kayenne. With their name rooted in Norse mythology (Avrak and Alsviðr were two horses that drew the chariot bearing the sun) you could be forgiven for thinking the band’s primary subject matter would be derived from Nordic history and folklore. However, while those themes and inspirations may be present, their eponymously titled album focuses more on personal empowerment, fighting back in a time of increasing corruption.