This album is a soundscape of emotions, perfectly executed in the most eloquent way.

Sometimes, one can potentially forget just how varied the post-rock genre can be at times, and it takes a band like Often The Thinker to come along and show that there are other ways of doing it!

Another Russian band to watch out for, Dvanov’s latest album has all the dark sophistication of 1980s Goth but with all the verve of modern Psych-Rock. Well worth a punt if you have the time.

A few more tunes like ‘Age of the Raven’ and a tighter editing on the songs and shorter track listing and this could have been a much more impressive debut.

‘The Night Siren’ is perhaps Hackett’s most openly political work from his entire five decade career: not the politics of parliament, but the politics of humanitarianism. Clearly the current dramas being enacted in countries across the globe have had a powerful impact on Hackett, and this is reflected in what feels like one of his most dynamic and powerful – and personal and emotive – records.

Whether Orange Clocks are the band for you or not you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more original album this year.

Inferno’s ‘Gnosis Kardias’ is not mainstream trend worship, nor is it crafted with contrivance and repetition. It is sacred art for lovers of the dark crafts.

My new favourite band. A 23 minute punk epic. It’s Fucked Up and it’s Fucking Essential.

This music is born in the fear, shame, confusion, anger and ultimately strength and empowerment that comes with facing and then overcoming something terrible. It is deeply personal and to listen to it is to suffer with her.

If Slowdive and The Cure were to collaborate, Endless Grey could possibly be the result of such a collaboration.

‘Inerte’ is the kind of album that creeps up on you. It’s inbuilt familiarity brought on by the obvious influences enables you to fall in step with the band easy enough.

Grün have created a worthy addition to a growing catalogue of world-class instrumental rock coming out of Sydney. There’s a sublime subtlety that carries you through each story that ‘Manyana’ tells. The songs are alive. They breathe.

Cold and calculating, ‘Slaves of the Vast Machine’ moves with unrelenting force over its monolithic 45 minute runtime, with each minute passing fluidly and not in any way dawdling by. No filler all fucking killer.

Porta Daemonium plays music with conviction, tenacity, and quality hard for most fans to appreciate simply because they don’t claim to be the biggest and baddest out there. Get ‘Serpent of Chaos’ on LP and experience armageddon.

To put it into general terms, this is like a modern take on the classic jazz fusion and prog heavyweights of the 1970’s. It’s reminiscent without veering into copycat terrain.