You hit play, and immediately, the atmosphere shifts. Boey does not waste time easing you into his new album, "The False Prince". The Ipoh-born, UK-based singer-songwriter grabs your attention by doing the exact opposite of what you expect. Instead of loud, aggressive anthems about the state of society, he offers a masterclass in quiet intensity. This 13-track record is a bold, beautiful exploration of modern...

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...