March 2025 Release Radar
At least there are no tariffs on music
Spring is almost here, and new albums are starting to pop up like daisies!
Albums On Deck
The release schedule is going to get busier in March, but first we have to deal with the remnants from January and February. The first two months have put a total of sixteen albums on my plate, and five of those — practically a third of them — came on the literal last day of February, which is why my backlog is in the double digits:
Ethel Cain - Perverts
Dream Theater - Parasomnia
Jinjer - Duel
Marko Hietala - Roses From the Deep
Lacuna Coil - Sleepless Empire
Tate McRae - So Close to What
Architects - The Sky, The Earth & All Between
Avantasia - Here Be Dragons
Lisa - Alter Ego
Arion - The Light That Burns the Sky
Rebecca Black - Salvation
Yeah, those last five are basically March releases that are trying to get an early start on the season. Though, to be fair, Rebecca Black had initially been looking to release in January. So instead of being my first review of the year, she’s in the queue for 16th. Her last album was decent, especially for Hyperpop, so I’m curious about this one.
Next up on my list, though, is Ethel Cain, whose Perverts is a bit of an outlier. She bills it as an EP, but it’s an hour-and-a-half long, and I’ve seen some saying that regardless of how it’s billed, it ticks the boxes better for an LP. So I’m leaving it.
Dream Theater and Lacuna Coil are among my all-time favorite Metal acts, and they’re joined by Jinjer, Architects, and Arion. So there’s no shortage of Metal on this list.
Tate McRae is an up-and-coming Dance-Pop artist who has been blowing up lately. Her music is very upbeat, and I figured it’s time to check her out. I’m also overdue on Lisa, along with the rest of her squad in Blackpink; I didn’t have time to review Rosé’s album last year, but you can’t escape “APT”. It’s about time I get some K-Pop on here.
Marko Hietala and Avantasia are bringing a sort of classic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock sound to the table, based on my initial, casual listens of those. But there’s quite a bit of star power there — at least, fans in the Metal sphere will definitely recognize a few names instantly from the guest list on Avantasia’s Here Be Dragons, not to mention Hietala, himself.
March Release Radar
3/7
Spiritbox
The Cat Empire
Sasami
Jason Isbell
Lady Gaga
Jennie
3/14
Coheed & Cambria
Steven Wilson
Rwake
3/21
Japanese Breakfast
Bloodywood
Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco
3/28
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Weirdly enough, March 2025 has the same number of flagged releases as March 2024: 13. Last year, the headline release was definitely Beyonce (with notable releases from Ariana Grande, Kacey Musgraves, and Judas Priest); this year the highest profile release here is probably Lady Gaga — and that’s just cause everybody knows who she is. I’ve always liked her, but (let’s be honest) there’s nothing inherently exciting in a new Gaga at this point. It’ll be Poppy and raunchy, but unless she takes a big step forward, she’s way out of date on both fronts.
There are several artists who I’m more excited to listen to and discuss — starting with Spiritbox. This Canadian Prog and Metalcore group made waves with their debut album, Eternal Blue, in 2021. It was one of the last albums I listened to that year, and I had to supplant another album to include it in my Top 40. I have foregone the EPs they’ve released in the interim (just in case any songs are recycled), so I am hungry for this one.
Other albums due out this first Friday of the month include Aussie Jazz and Funk Fusion group The Cat Empire, Alt Country artist Jason Isbell (this time sans The 400 Unit, alas), and yet another debut solo album from a member of K-Pop group Blackpink — this time, it’s Jennie who will own her own stage.
Two of the three albums coming out on March 14th have been high on my anticipation list. I had heard of Coheed & Cambria years ago, but I was an instant fan with 2021’s incredible Vaxis II. I loved it so much that I bought into a Kickstarter the band was running to produce some compilations of the comics that run alongside the albums.
Still waiting on that.
Then, there’s Steven Wilson, an aging prodigy who just keeps going and producing and creating. He’s been in more projects than I can name off-hand (and I actively track what Wilson does; he’s one of my favorites). He’s probably best-known for his work with Porcupine Tree, but you can bet that whatever he decides to spend his time on is going to be inventive and unique. His solo albums rarely sound like anything he’s done before, so there’s really no telling what to expect here except that it’ll be some variation of Progressive Rock.
The last album coming on the 14th is from a group I haven’t heard before: Rwake. And, no, I do not yet know how to pronounce that. What I do know is that the group has been on a lengthy hiatus, something like 13 years, and they’re from Little Rock, Arkansas. Their bandcamp describes their sound as “ethereal sludge/doom and progressive metal”. I can’t say no to that.
Japanese Breakfast will give us some Indie/Dream Pop on the 21st, and Selena Gomez will contribute to the poppy vibes, though I’m a little apprehensive about what Benny Blanco will bring to the album, seeing as he is a Record Producer and Executive.
Also on the 21st, Bloodywood’s new album should bring the raaage. They’re a very aggressive blend of Indian Folk Metal and Nu Metal. I was introduced to them through a round of Music League with “Dana-Dan”, which is about treating rapists and SA-perpetrators with the (lack of) civility they deserve (hint: “Dana-Dan” means “bring the beatdown”). I have yet to get any albums which feel appropriately angry in 2025, so maybe this will be it.
The final album of March definitely won’t carry that level of anger or rage: Alison Krauss & Union Station are a legendary combination in the Bluegrass world, and their material will definitely be on the lighter side, though I expect it’ll be plenty technical. Krauss has one of those timeless voices — I will always want to hear her sing, and it doesn’t matter what style she’s performing in.
A Major Milestone
I have received my first ever advance copy of an album!
To be clear, this just means that I have access to the album now, despite that it isn’t due to be full out until December — according to the band, they plan to release songs gradually over the course of the year, so there doesn’t seem to be anything resembling a standard release date.
The band in question is Messengers From the Empire — they’re active on BlueSky and their music is available to stream on multiple services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. They’re also on Bandcamp. Feel free to check out their singles, as several have already launched.
The group is a Hop-Punk duo based in northwest Indiana with roots in New York. They have stated on Bluesky that “…this is a 2 Dad operation who both have day jobs and we do everything DIY.” Their more official statement reads as:
“Messengers From The Empire are a sonic rebellion led by Fake-Bit Rebel and J.M.A.D., fusing pop-punk energy, underground alternative hip-hop grit, and chiptune futurism. Both members were born and raised in the New York Metro Area but met in Northwest Indiana, which is their current home. With deep roots in the DIY scene, the duo refuses to be boxed into a single genre.”
It’s clearly a passion project, I’ve enjoyed chatting with them thus far, they’ve got solid branding going on with the concept (they refer to fans as “Couriers”), and I’m excited to get into it. With all of that said, I feel it’s necessary to restate here that I do not and will not take paid review requests.
But I’ve enjoyed my interactions with these guys, so I’m gonna be upset if I don’t like the album.
That would just be awkward….
But one of the songs is called “Eat the Rich” and they credit Run the Jewels, my personal favorite Hip Hop act, as one of their major inspirations. So I’m feeling optimistic.
Anyhow, that review will be released in a few months, most likely. I’ll be able to take my time with this one. That’s a nice change of pace.
Release dates for the songs from Lost & Found are listed below:
“Eat The Rich” - 1/17/2025
“Numb To It” - 2/14/2025
“Pity Party” - 2/28/2025
“Parachute” - 3/14/2025
“I’ll Find” - 4/18/2025
“Supersonic Motion” - 5/9/2025
“I Won’t” - 6/13/2025
“Let Me Go” - 7/11/2025
“Karma” - 7/25/2025
“Forest Hills Punk” - 8/8/2025
“Nothing Comes Easy” - 9/5/2025
“Don’t Say” - 10/10/2025
“Jack” - 11/28/2025
“Grown Up” - 12/19/2025
Beyond March
The full radar is always available, and lists offerings which are still months away. Here are five things to expect in the coming months:
April is currently off to a delayed start, as I have zero releases flagged for the fourth, but Bon Iver is dropping an album on the 11th!
There are three other, much louder, albums on the 11th, as well: Elvenking, Epica, and The Man-Eating Tree. All Metal
The freaking Wu-Tang Clan is dropping an album on April 12th! That’s a Saturday, so you might see it clustered with releases on the 18th, as I go by Fridays.
Electropop sensation Lights is bringing us new music this year, with her next album dropping May 2nd.
Lil Wayne’s The Carter VI is on its way, with the aptly-chosen release date of June 6th.