I could keep this review short by saying: my friend Maik — whose taste in music I trust more than most things in life — only bought two albums this year. One of them was the new record by Appalooza. For me, that’s already the ultimate seal of greatness.
But The Emperor of Loss deserves more than a quick nod — it’s a colossal piece of work: dark, intense, and utterly uncompromising.
On their fourth full-length, the French heavy rockers open a gateway into a world built on weight, pain, and catharsis.
Where The Shining Son still burned with desert light and warmth, The Emperor of Loss turns that sun into a dying star. The air here is thicker, the gravity stronger. Everything feels heavier — emotionally, sonically, spiritually. "Grieve" sets the tone with a doom-soaked crawl, its riffs dragging through the dirt like wounded beasts. It’s a song that doesn’t just open the record; it establishes the emotional core — grief as both destruction and transformation.
"Cradle to the Grave" where all that tension, pain, and dooming weight collide in one towering, cathartic collapse. One of the best Appalooza Songs ever.
"Adios Maria" takes a left turn into psychedelic territory, flirting with flamenco textures and ghostly melodies, like a mirage on the horizon that turns out to be real.
Appalooza don’t just play songs — they summon storms. The vocals sound like a ritual chant, deep and fractured, while the rhythm section pulses with primal life. The production is thick and tactile, every riff vibrating with dirt, sweat, and conviction.
The Emperor of Loss isn’t meant to please — it’s meant to pull you under, to make you feel. It’s a record of pure immersion: heavy, human, and honest. With this album, Appalooza haven’t just refined their sound — they’ve conquered it.
Another Killer Record by Ripple Music!
-Helge Neumann
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