STAFF PICKS: Dave Keevill’s Top Albums of 2020


In a year of great tragedy and upheaval, where the word ‘unprecedented’ became a mantra spoken around the world, music has been a stabilising force for millions of us. It has been a consistent power for good at a time when many of us have struggled with unemployment, illness, and bereavement. Whether providing companionship during stretches of isolation, rallying us to fight for change when faced with corrupt political machinations, or even just handing us a convenient distraction from the horrors outside our window, never have I felt such a kinship with music and the people who dedicate their lives to the art.

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Asomvel – World Shaker


To be able to get away with shameless imitation, you need to do two things; be remarkably accomplished – i.e. not your dad’ s Exodus cover band – and be able to pull off a knowing wink that says ‘ hey, sure, you and I know this is incredibly derivative but is that really going to stop you banging along!?’ Continue reading


The Picturebooks – The Hands of Time


The relentless push for originality can be as paralysing as it is focusing. For bands that stake their entire existence on pushing the boundaries sonically, every new release is another chance to be skewered by their own need for clear and evident advancement.Continue reading