The air crackles a bit differently when a new track from DJThriller arrives. There’s an expectation, a certain hum that suggests you’re not just about to hear a song, but perhaps a piece of someone’s mind, meticulously laid bare. With “Ain’t Asking,” that hum amplifies into a clear, resonant signal. This is a front-and-centre declaration, a modern alt-rap piece that feels less like a request...

North Star Union has released "Echoes of decay", a slice of melodic heavy metal that feels less like a standard studio tracking and more like something dug out of the permafrost. There is a curious quality to Icelandic composer Myrmann’s work here; because he handles all the instrumentation and composition himself at Midgard Studio, the track possesses a singular, frighteningly cohesive nervous system. It...