There is a peculiar alchemy happening with Jimmy Eff and the Sundogs on their new single, "Better Like Before". It sits in the air like the smell of ozone right after a lightning strike charged, crisp, and signifying a sudden shift in the atmosphere. You listen to it, and you sort of expect the industrial gray of their Birmingham home base, yet the sound...

You can tell by their demeanor and tone that they are coming from a sorrowful background. It's plain to see that this is not a pleasant place under any circumstances. The new single "Abyss" from Apollod deals with themes like loneliness, alienation, and complex love. Their voices are like an ensemble of emotions, and the production is dark and sad; it's enough to leave music fans...