VICIOUS RAIN, The Anatomy of Surviving (Arising Empire). Avenge Sevenfold meets Slipknot with a splash of Nine Inch Nails. It makes for accessible black metal with thunderous grooves, heavy guitars, and earnest (to say nothing of quite growly) vocals. De-tune those guitar strings and get to head-banging. Stage diving is optional. It’s completely accessible for those tentative about exploring this style. If you’re into metal, welcome home.

ARIN AKSBERG, Solskinn (Projekt: Archive). Ambient keyboard explorations in the mindset of Brian Eno. The compositions are full of grandeur, like a voyage to another solar system. Multi-layered keyboards carry the day throughout this lovely and ambitious work. We are GO for launch!

THOSE SAINTS WERE SAILORS, “Alone In The Middle of the Ocean” (Saints & Sailors). James Lombardo has created a marvelous (albeit brief) bit of post-rock that comes out smoldering and gradually gets hotter without things getting out of control. Tragically, this is only a three-minute single. But it leaves a mark. The title is completely appropriate, as that very image is conjured almost immediately. Here’s hoping there’s an album of this coming our way.

14KT, Morning Meds (Karat Gold Music). Ambient smooth jazz? Perhaps. But devoid of the sap. Each composition seems to add a new layer to what was used in the previous tune. Intensely chill and forward thinking. The production makes great use of space and reverb. Everything has room to breathe. “Quiet Storm” fans will no doubt appreciate the vibe.

GIGABULL, Ox Send (Oxide Records). An appropriately named band let loose in the China shop, flexing Animals as Leaders and Polyphia-type riffs with hardcore vocals. Destined to knock the breakables off the shelf, the band seems to be going in several directions at the same time, which can be a little off-putting. But then they settle in and all the sounds head in the same direction, even if they’re on slightly different rails. It’s prog-oriented metal made accessible, and that accessibility is indeed possible. Wear a helmet.

ROBBEN FORD, Two Shades of Blue (). There has never been a question about guitarist Robben Ford’s skills. What’s most appealing is what he does with them. It would be easy to let his chops step to the fore and bulldoze their way through the mix. Ford does just the opposite, with great effect. There’s a time to flash, and there’s a time to lay back and groove. Ford walks that tightrope with ease. There’s more than a little soul emanating from his voice and fingertips. Ford has been around. The proof can be found here.

MAMMAL HANDS, Circadia (ACT Music). The music of Mammal Hands is more than just jazz. It’s a vibe. A calm, cool, low-key, laid back in the cut kind of vibe. Call it fiery chill. The piano, sax, and drums lineup makes for an interesting sound. The low end of the bass is carried nicely by the keyboard, while the band uses Aphex Twin-like rhythm patters to give and old school style a more modern groove. Even at its most intense, things never get out of hand. When it comes to this band, things never should.

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If you would like your music reviewed or would like to have your band photographed while in Chicago, contact me at cirdecsongs@gmail.com