Ultan’s single, "The Tempest," erupts not so much into the room as it does through the floorboards, dragging with it the scent of wet wool and imminent confrontation. This Dublin solo musician, a cartographer of past agonies, presents an energetic rock piece that feels less like a song about history and more like a fragment of it, throbbing and urgent. The main riff careers...

This track 'Blue Honey' hits with the bracing impact of a slushy projectile hurled directly at your jaw. From the very first chord, Conor Maradona grabs your attention and refuses to let go, establishing an immediate, undeniable vibe. It is the sound of someone who has stopped trying to impress the cool kids and decided to just throw a party for the misfits instead. You...