In May 2025, electronica musician KPT shared the ‘Claw’ EP. Taking a massive sidestep from some of KPT’s more “pulse” oriented sounds and tracks with a distinct melody, the EP’s trio of tracks ventured into bleaker territory. With one number presenting six minutes of industrial noise, one blending drone with a collection of found sounds and field recordings, and one splicing dark ambient elements with unforgiving, machine-like industrial sounds (taking industrial right back to its origins) it certainly wasn’t a lightweight listen.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
FLIPPEUR – Plastique / Pour de l’Avion
In June 2025, French punks Flippeur released ‘Pacman’, a frenetic single that took punk’s energy, added a bunch of bending synth sounds and a relentless jangle to create a really punchy track that hit its audience so hard that, even for those non-French speakers, it couldn’t fail to impress. In and out in just seventy nine seconds, it barely gave the listener time to over-think what they’d just heard, and that feeling of pure, unrestrained energy went a long way to suggesting Flippeur would be worth keeping an ear for in future.
ROT FESTER – Death Row EP
Rot Fester’s debut EP – 2024’s ‘Condone Or Condemn’ presented eighteen minutes’ worth of old school death metal fury. With the bulk of the material adopting a bass heavy approach coupled with a guttural roar, the Swedish duo were certainly heavy, but the sludgy tone of the recording ensured they didn’t just sound like they were casually retreading a traditonal death metal path.
Watch: Marillion vocalist Steve Hogarth covers Leonard Cohen’s ‘Famous Blue Raincoat’
Steve Hogarth is a legend in melodic rock and prog circles. He’s been the Marillion frontman for over thirty five years, and has also had a critically acclaimed solo career. In January 2026, Ear Music will release ‘SPQR’, a blu ray and CD set capturing Steve’s 2024 live show from Rome.
A brilliant set takes in a few Marillion deep cuts, some well chosen covers, and even a nod to H’s breakthrough band, Europeans.
TIBERIUS – Troubadour
With influences ranging from indie, alt-country and psychedelia, Boston rock band Tiberius (not to be confused with the Scottish metal band of the same name) have labelled their sound “Farm Emo”. The fusion of styles colours most of their debut album ‘Troubadour’ in such a way that their music feels inherently “90s”, yet at the same time, the record’s finest tracks feel so much grander than mere throwbacks to that plaid dominated era.