This is the fourth album from French heavy rockers Appalooza.
The successor to 2023’s The Shining Son, The Emperor of Loss contains 50 minutes, (with bonus track), of Appalooza’s characterful hard rock. Blending the classic rock, stoner, alternative, and grunge styles together into a collection of compelling songs, Appalooza have once again hit that sweet spot that most modern rock bands easily miss.
The Emperor of Loss is a dark, brooding beast. Moreso than its predecessor, and it is also the heavier, more metallic, and doomier release too. Darkness and heaviness alone do not necessarily a great album make, of course, but when combined with the fact that these new songs are some of Appalooza’s strongest, it’s a winning combination. For me this makes it the superior record out of the two, and the best Appalooza album yet, In fact.
This is a record filled with feeling and affecting worldbuilding, while also benefiting from infectious hooks. The songs have an easy charisma, which is a credit to not only the songwriting, but the performances of the band members too. Similar to their last album, a notable aspect of Appalooza’s songwriting revolves around percussive drumming that adds texture and rhythmic depth to the songs. The thick riffs complement this foundation well, allowing the band to kick out the jams in a few different ways. Whether it is a meaty groove or a mood-focused build-up, or anything else, Appalooza approach their music with passionate execution.
The Emperor of Loss finds Appalooza at their most potent. The songwriting, performances, and production values mean that the band’s overall package is a strong, well-rounded one.
Highly recommended for fans of bands such as Alice in Chains, Cobra the Impaler, Gozu, Huntsmen, Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, Sheev, Somnuri, Sunnata, etc.
Wonderbox Metal 