Various – New Heavy Sounds Volume 2

New Heavy Sounds does exactly what it says on the tin. The second in a series of compilations produced by a Londonian imprint of the same name, it contains 18 tracks, largely taken from across the British Isles, adeptly charting the riffier end of the musical spectrum.

 

Bigger profile American imports like The Sword, Tweak Bird and White Hills are of a predictably high calibre but in no way eclipse the likes of filth-tongued Irish rascals Lafaro and vibrant English outfit Mojo Fury whose recent progress has seen them both acquire a slicker sound whilst thankfully sacrificing none of the balls.

 

Special mention is deserved by Croydon-based Slabdragger. Their Splice The Mainbrace is a terrifically ugly mulch of tight, throaty doom. Likewise, TannkJott by the enigmatic Gum Takes Tooth is a deranged and propulsive volley of electronically enhanced alt-metal which might not even alienate the average Aphex Twin fan (if there is such a thing) and makes them well worthy of future scrutiny.