Thirstier marks a turn towards a bigger, more bombastic sound for Torres. Guitar-driven walls of sound, reminiscent of producer Butch Vig’s work with Garbage and Nirvana, surge and dissipate like surf in high winds, carrying Scott’s commanding voice to the fore. From the sparkling country romp of “Don’t Go Puttin Wishes in My Head” to the sour grunge bite of “Keep the Devil Out” and the unabashed, overflowing devotion of the album’s title track, Thirstier clasps together love songs from all angles.

Mega producer of the stars (T. Swift, Lorde, Clairo) Jack Antonoff's third album as Bleachers, is a heartfelt batch of tracks written with boundless enthusiasm for those grand, euphoric moments of our lives. Unstoppably catchy hooks push their way through boisterous, stadium-rocking arrangements, making it an all-caps endeavor. When he’s not serving some of pop’s most visionary artists, Antonoff is someone earnest who knows how to translate his nostalgic longing into passionate sing-alongs.

Electro Melodier takes a slight turn from 2019’s politically pointed Union to a series of songs that asks questions rather than demanding answers – think of “Living in the U.S.A.” as Farrar’s version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” or Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power,” an anthem to unite the populace. It all helps remind us to be thankful of what we still have – new music from Jay Farrar and Son Volt, 25 years on.

LA’s Los Lobos are influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk and traditional music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños. With Native Sons, the band set out to showcase all of these influences with their own take on the songs of Los Angeles. Featuring 13 songs from well-known LA artists such as Buffalo Springfield, WAR, Jackson Browne and the Beach Boys as well as deep cuts from the Jaguars, The Basters and The Premiers.

Leave A Scar is an illuminating plentitude of angst etched in time, serving as a musical refuge and expressive output for the legendary heavy metal vocalist and pop culture pillar Dee Snider. This auditory time capsule written to express the anger, unease and pain he experienced during lockdown emerges as not only blisteringly heavy, but relentlessly powerful. If 2018’s For The Love Of Metal ignited Snider’s eminent surge into a new era, Leave A Scar sets it ablaze.

Game Changer opens with all the subtlety of a kick to the throat. “On the Horizon’s” bombastic drumming (Chris Lepre) pummels while the twin guitars’ (Tony Lepre and Billy Sablan) one-two punch set up a snarling detour into old school Testament thrash riffage. The tone is set – pure, melodic mayhem. 70’s riff rock to early 80’s east and west coast metal, Game Changer is a work of art the appeals to al metalheads, old and new school fans alike.