Reviews of the latest albums available for streaming.

Suicide Silence / Suicide Silence

Jennifer Russo

Suicide Silence recently released their fifth album, a self-titled offering that gives us a different interpretation of the band. Past albums have been pure energy and necessary roughness in concept; this time, I feel like the band scaled back and ventured to experiment a little more with different possibilities. A lot of fans were not happy about it at all, scratching their heads and offering up some pretty harsh social commentary. Overall though, as a longtime fan, I would encourage the die-hards and prospective fans alike to be open-minded and forgiving.

Frontman Eddie Hermida certainly took a risk in using a lot of clean vocal on this album. And though Suicide Silence received some backlash for this decision, I think he did a good job at planting his feet in the idea. I certainly heard some Slipknot inspiration in the song “Doris,” but it isn’t badly done by any stretch. “Dying in a Red Room” was an outright ballad with a pretty intro, which I didn’t expect, but at the same time, I was impressed by it. The vocals are a great showcase of Hermida’s ability to sing, and it has a nice flow to it with some interesting variations.

Overall, my biggest criticism of this album is that it feels like the band put a lot of different kinds of songs on one album, making it feel a bit inconsistent and confusing. The production wasn’t done well, either, which saddens me because other albums don’t have this issue. Having heard the band live several times, I know what they are capable of, and this album doesn’t highlight that.

For more information, visit SuicideSilence.net.

Zara Larsson / So Good

Mike Wood

Chances are you’ve heard 19-year-old Zara Larsson before and you just didn’t know it. The Swedish pop star emerged on the scene almost a decade ago as a wee 10-year-old and the winner of that season of Talang, the Swedish version of America’s Got Talent. Her show-stopping numbers went viral. Now, she’s all grown up and offering an assist to groups like Clean Bandit on “Symphony” (included on this album), which is already emerging as a strong contender for song of the summer.

Larsson does seem to be at her best when blending with other artists because she can play off their strengths as she tries to figure out her unique sound. She’s got the voice and the swagger, and we predict great things to come, but So Good is more “Kind of Good,” or “Hit and Miss Good.” There are some great songs on the album and some duds. “Lush Life” oozes pure pop joy, but then there’s “Only You,” with lyrics that seemed ripped from an angsty teen’s journal: “I don’t wanna shower even when I stink…because I don’t wanna wash you off.”

But don’t worry; Larsson’s got time – and the talent – to succeed. And since we live in an age where buying an entire album is no longer the reality, fans can stick to the nuggets that pop and forget those that, well, stink.

For more information, visit zaralarssonofficial.com.

Maps to the Hollywood Scars / Volume 1

Jason Savio

Maps to the Hollywood Scars’ debut EP, Volume 1, provides a sampling of modern rock with a large helping of ’80s metal flair. A team-up between Quiet Riot guitarist Alex Grossi and American Idol finalist James Durbin, Maps to the Hollywood Scars is the result of what happens when you take two different generations of musicians and put them together.

Recorded at Desert Moon Productions in Las Vegas, Volume 1 certainly has that rock-star glamour to it, thanks in large part to Grossi’s presence. But Durbin isn’t one to be outdone and holds his own. On this short, five-song EP, many of the songs are extremely melodic, especially “Roads.” You can’t help but hear the ’80s metal influence, as Durbin really goes for it with the high-pitched vocal deliveries on “Lost Boys.” Unfortunately, “Till Death” is an obvious color-by-numbers power ballad in the same vein as some less-liked predecessors. But, luckily, there is a modern appeal here, with a rougher production quality that saves it from being too glossy and aged.

This collaboration may have come out of left field and caught some off guard. Grossi and Durbin both gel well together, however, and complement each other nicely. With Volume 2, expected to be released soon, it will be interesting to see what they come up with next – and if they can step out of their comfort zone with something more original.

For more information, visit facebook.com/hollywoodscars.