SINGLES
Velveteen Queen - "Too Far Gone"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDHxvI_IcZA
Kind of cheating since the Swedish sleaze-adjacent rockers initially released the song last year, but they re-released it in early August as part of the build-up to their new album that's due out in September. Cool tune.

Crossbone Skully - "Thunder Love"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7uqD_sEzTA
The "Hysteria" b-side we didn't know we needed! Having Mutt and Phil Collen involved is icing on the cake. A fun blast of sonic nostalgia.

Rodrigo y Gabriela - "Akatsuki"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CLNrSB8SQo
Third preview track from the acoustic guitar duo's new record.

Kissin' Dynamite - "I'll Be"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHpKh8fWIW0
Anthemic and epic. Can't wait to hear the new record in another few weeks.

Castle - "3 Knocks"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFtk6INoAbA
One of metal's most underrated bands goes pedal-to-the-metal on the third preview track from their new record.

ALBUMS
Wicked - "Go Rebel"
As a whole, a bit too poppy and squeaky clean for my tastes, and at 13 songs, also a bit long in the tooth, but it has a couple of great moments -- namely "Obsession" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCW3YKsLiVA), which sounds like a cock-rock version of Ghost's "Dance Macabre."

Sha-boom - "Another Nail In The Coffin"
A very pleasant throwback album of melodic hard rock. I'm a sucker for a good kiss-off song, and I'm not sure I've ever heard one quite as happy-sounding as "Walk (Far Away)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAUsnjkL66U).

Led By Vultures - self-titled
On which drummer Brian Tichy (Ozzy, Foreigner, Slash's Snakepit, Pride & Glory, Billy Idol, Whitesnake, The Dead Daisies) apparently decides he's not accomplished enough behind the kit. Turns out he's a pretty good singer/guitarist as well. "Get It Right" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry-0M6A_IA8) is one of my favorite songs of the year.