If the Pac-Man arcade cabinet at the corner of a musty Scottish pub could talk, it might recount something akin to Rok's self-titled odyssey. Nigel Dunn, the one-man conductor behind this electrified locomotive, paints in phosphorescent streaks of emotion while clutching an aesthetic pulled straight from the neon abyss of ’84. Yet, “Rok” isn’t content with cosplay. No, this album doesn’t merely wear the...

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...