New releases last eight weeks: Indie/Alternative

Review: Light Verse is the seventh studio album by the American singer and songwriter Iron & Wine. The album was announced on February seventh 2024, simultaneously with the release of the lead single 'You Never Know' which showcases Sam Ervin Beam's great songwriting and arrangement skill, with his blend of folk and pop music has been compared to greats like Simon & Garfunkel, Nick Drake and Neil Young. Sam has been loyal to the Sub Pop label since first being signed there over 20 years ago. This (Loser Edition) comes on transparent yellow vinyl and will hit stores in late April.

Review: Canadian noise-rock trio Metz deliver their fifth full-length LP for their home label Sub Pop. Expressing an exponential graph of maturity, that has grown over their decade or so of recording and releasing, Metz' sound on Up On Gravity Hill veers more towards an almost black-metallic atmosphere, to counterpoise their originally stark, rageful sound. Conceptually, the album's change in sound matches its thematic content, with the band having found more peace in contrast, and the life-promising realisation that one can only experience its most joyful moments on the sole condition that one has also suffered its worst vagaries - there is no paradise without the fall. On the likes of '99' and 'Entwined', we're met with a driving, repetitious howl set against a sludgy axe-y backdrop, as vocalist Alex Edkins performatively laments and celebrates the ways of the world at the same time.