In recent years, noisy Canadian experimentalists, New Age Doom have shown themselves to be unafraid to engage with musical genius from all parts of the sonic pallet and have collaborated with the likes of Norwegian singer/songwriter Tuvaband and, on one of his final albums, the great Lee “Scratch” Perry. This is as well as having been remixed by musical mavericks from South Africa’s BLK JKS to US post-hardcore types, Quicksand.
Their new disc, however, sees them go directly to the source and team up with the mighty HR, long-time vocalist of US hardcore punk originators Bad Brains – a group that has been lionised by the likes of Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl and the Beastie Boys for many years. Indeed, not only are bad Brains generally considered to have been the first US hardcore punk band, but they are certainly the first to have added reggae grooves to their sound and tracks like “Banned in DC” and “Pay to Cum” still pack a significant punch almost 50 years after being unleased on an unsuspecting public.
So it is with Angels Against Angels, as Greg Valou and Eric J Breitenbach’s newly expanded ensemble, which now includes Bowie’s Blackstar keyboardist, Jason Lindner and Pussy Riot’s Alina Petrova among a host of others, venture forth with their heaviest, most hard-hitting album yet.
Punk, metal and kronky jazz bleed into each other in the sonic tsunami of “Life on the Other Side”, as HR calls for an acceptance of truth, love and equality through Rastafari. “Angels Vs Angels” is a mosh pit-friendly musical eruption and “Time Gets So Hard” is a soul shaking blend of howling punk rock and fearless free jazz. Meanwhile, “Radio On” brings immersive, laidback, trippy and woozy sounds and “Amaseganalo” is a seascape of chamber dub, flowing and rolling with a weird percussive gait. In fact, while it may still be early in the year, Angels Against Angels could yet prove itself to be one of 2026’s major musical highlights.
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