Micah Rose-Trespeuch’s new album, "Coughing Up Blood," feels less like a listening experience and more like witnessing an urgent, almost involuntary act of transmutation. Rose-Trespeuch (piano, vocals), with Julien Baraness masterfully texturing the soundscapes and Gaetan Allard providing the often-fractured, sometimes thunderous pulse on drums, has crafted something akin to a diary written in volatile ink. One moment, you're amidst Chopin-esque piano runs that...

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...