Jake Vera’s “Purgatory”: A Raw Ode to the Afterlife and Beyond Putting out a first song called "Purgatory" seems almost radical. Even though it is not exactly roses, Jake Vera is not here to play it safe. Coming from Dallas, Texas, this self-made artist has made a song that hits you hard emotionally and sounds rough. Working with producer AfwulDrama, Vera crafts an introspective exploration of...

With the arrival of Archers New Rival and their single "Direction", I found myself tracing the jagged line of a crack in my ceiling, letting the melody dictate exactly how much that imperfection bothered me. The track initiates with a deception a clean, resonant melancholy that feels safe before suddenly mushrooming into a thick, distorted wall of heavy texture. It reminds me, oddly enough,...