Mountain

Ritual's third album came out in 2003 and marked a turning point for the band. Since 2000's Superb Birth, lead singer Patrik Lundström had raised his international profile thanks to his association with Kaipa's comeback. The group's signing to InsideOut Music also meant more money for the recording sessions, and it shows. Think Like a Mountain is very much in your face, drums leaping and guitars shredding. The music also bends toward the InsideOut sound, dropping the more complex elements of Ritual's music to focus on shorter, more accessible rock anthems. It means that the music loses part of its Scandinavian prog atmosphere and comes closer to, say, Spock's Beard, but Ritual manages to make the transformation convincing…

One song about preparing to exact bloody revenge begets another song about the act of exacting bloody revenge and then more songs about the causes and the aftermath of being driven to exact bloody revenge, each delivered with the urgency and desperation deserving of their narrators and circumstances. John Darnielle & the Mountain Goats present Bleed Out, a brand new collection arriving on August 19th.

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, while not being the most successful country-rock outfit, had released five fine albums prior to Don't Look Down. Their sound had changed little over the years, which suited most fans who frankly wanted more of the same…

Deerhoof have announced their follow-up to 2016’s The Magic. It’s called Mountain Moves and it’s out September 8 via Joyful Noise. The album is the result of their residency at the indie label. In addition to Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak, Mountain Moves features Stereolab’s Læticia Sadier, Awkwafina, Juana Molina, Xenia Rubinos, and Matana Roberts. It was produced by Deerhoof along with the Children of Hoof Radio & Television Orchestra.