Curtis Allen

Well, there’s not long until it gets superceded on Friday, but my Spotify Release Radar on Spotify this week didn’t exactly set my world on fire, but there were a few tracks that stood out and made the playlist worth a listen. Overall, it was a bit of a mixed bag—nothing too exciting, but a handful of songs caught my attention for various reasons.

Marilyn Manson’s Return: A Controversial Comeback I’m Not Thrilled About

Let’s start with the elephant in the room—Marilyn Manson’s latest track, “As Sick As The Secrets Within” , his first in four years.
While the music itself might still resonate with fans of his dark and theatrical style, I can’t help but feel uneasy about the celebration of his return to the music scene.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Manson. He and they were always around as I was growing up in the scene, but besides Speed of Pain, I’ve never been a colossal fan. Of course, Fight Song, Sweet Dreams, Angel with the Scabbed Wings, Nobodies, and many other Manson tunes were and are iconic and I’ve rocked out to them all and looked forward to seeing what he would do next.

However, as he releases this new track, Manson is still under the cloud of serious accusations, and it feels pretty poor of the industry to be welcoming him back with open arms as if nothing ever happened. The cultural conversation around separating art from the artist is complex, but in this case, it’s hard to overlook the gravity of the allegations. As much as I appreciate his influence on the music world, this comeback leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If you’re curious about the wider implications of his return, my friend Merlin’s article in Louder Sound has an insightful take on it.

Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” – A Shorter, Epic Twist

Moving on to something a bit more uplifting—Madonna’s “Like a Prayer – Battle Royale Mix“. This song has been a staple in my playlist for years, and I was pleasantly surprised to find a shorter, 3-minute version on this week’s radar. This version, which features in the new Deadpool and Wolverine movie, offers a more epic feel while retaining the powerful vibe of the original. It’ll be perfect for when I’m DJing a wedding and need that nostalgia and emotional punch but where the full 6-minute journey might not be quite the vibe.

Speaking of the movie, I saw it earlier this week, and while it was decent, it didn’t quite live up to the hype or the previous films in the series. It’s worth a watch, but probably the least engaging of the three for me.

Jinjer: Always Delivering the Goods

Jinjer’s new track, “Someone’s Daughter,” was another highlight this week. They’re one of those bands that I always look forward to, and they didn’t disappoint. The new track is everything I love about Jinjer—intricate instrumentals, powerful vocals, and that perfect blend of progressive metal and metalcore that keeps you on your toes. Tatiana Shmailyuk’s dynamic voice is as captivating as ever, making this track a standout in an otherwise lackluster playlist.

Peyton Parrish: Stripped-Back and Soulful

Peyton Parrish’s new song, “Viking Slayer,” was a nice surprise, offering a stripped-back vocal performance that really hits home. It’s exactly the kind of raw, powerful delivery that I’ve come to expect from him. There’s something about the simplicity of the track that makes it incredibly effective, and it’s definitely one of the better songs on this week’s radar.

Mandragora UK’s “Godspeed” – Female-Fronted Doom Metal Done Right

Last but not least, Mandragora UK’s “GODSPEED” deserves a mention. I’ve always had a soft spot for female-fronted Doom Metal, and this track is a perfect example of why. The haunting vocals combined with the heavy, atmospheric instrumentation create an intense and captivating experience. There’s something about the way the slow-tempo riffs and ethereal vocals come together that really resonates with me. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is definitely a track worth checking out.

Check out the Rest of my Spotify Release Radar

Feel free to dive into these tracks on Spotify and see which ones resonate with you the most! While the overall Release Radar might not have been the most exciting, these songs definitely stood out and made it worth the listen.

Here’s the rest of my Release Radar playlist for this week:

As Sick As The Secrets Within – Marilyn Manson
Minority – Live at Irving Plaza, NYC – Green Day
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley
Goblin Valley – Audiotree Live Version – Stellar Circuits
Rocky – Alternate Version 2 – Thin Lizzy
Like a Prayer – Battle Royale Mix – Madonna, Rob Simonsen
Imaginary World – Chromes
GODSPEED – Mandragora UK
BURN – Poe the Passenger
Afterlife – MOTHICA
Someone’s Daughter – Jinjer
Song 2 – Live at Wembley Stadium – Blur
Lonely is the Muse – Halse
Teenage Dirtbag – Sega Bodega, Dorian Electra
Rush Of Blood – Rag’n’Bone Man
Unbroken – Adelitas Way
Prequel – Falling In Reverse
The Black – Live at Ystad – Imminence
Gone Fishin – Grieves, Prof
Viking Slayer – Peyton Parrish
JUMP – Base Hollow, Krypy, Paige Boyd, Marshall Vincent
Light It Up (feat. MC Ambush) – Tiësto, AFROJACK, MC Ambush
Pyromaniac – RedHook
Gravity – Pale Waves
At the Fortress Gate – Heriot
Show No Signs (P.E.) – Kyle Smith, (Hed) P.E.
MIRACLE – trave remix – BOYS LIKE GIRLS, trave
Nobody’s Soldier – Hozier
Veneficium – Xiu Xiu
De Vuelta Y Vuelta (feat. Chetes) – Ronda Macheteta, Chetes