The music industry is a big lethargic animal. It does not like the winter and the early spring, and if you try to rush it to wake up and get back to work, you might get your head bitten off. That is why these dark months are usually left to the reign of super niche and underground artists with very few comebacks of some of the greatest — and also why this week’s selection is focused on eclectic picks to reflect the dark side of the moon of the music industry.

Cuts & Bruises by Inhaler

Inhaler are a young band from Ireland and, boy, do they represent the legendary rock tradition of the country well. Having seen them live over the summer, I can only say that they are more than promising: they might as well be the future of Irish rock. Cuts & Bruises is only their second full album, but they already showcase so much depth and craftsmanship, it leaves you wanting to hear more from them. Musically, they have settled for an interesting disharmonic sound: mixing pop beats with punk and post-hardcore rhythm guitar riffs, garnished with crispy blues-y solos and boyishly high-pitched but powerful vocals, the songs on the tracklist of Inhaler’s latest record are just everything all at once. Lyrically, they take a safer route. Love, hope, and adventure radiate with the intensity of gamma-rays, so caution to the listener: if you are in the mood for something simpler, angrier or sadder, turn to the next new recommendation. For the rest, enjoy these instant indie rock classics.

Quest for Fire and Don’t Get Too Close by Skrillex

Skrillex used to be one of the freshest electronica and EDM artists out there… once upon a time. His sound was like an alloy of quintessential industrial EDM with post-hardcore and emo rock. I must admit, he was my introduction to the genre as a whole because little emo me felt understood by this outcast DJ (any avid emo enjoyer chooses their favorite artists only based on vibes and “feeling seen”…). His unexpected comeback with not one but two new albums released a day apart feels both like a breath of fresh air and an old jar of pickles. Quest for Fire is exactly what you would expect from Skrillex: the good old industrial EDM with some new sounds he created on his computer and a typical pop beat. Every song is a certified banger for a trap night at an Eastern European club. Don’t Get Too Close is a big departure for Skrillex with most songs being soft rap tracks with emo-y lyrics. The songs blend in one big mush of electronic sounds, almost in the style of a lo-fi playlist, making the album perfect for a study session soundtrack.

To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey (released Feb. 28, 1995)

The grunge-y indie rock album To Bring You My Love by PJ Harvey is a sensual, anxious and intimate record. It is a record that could be used to explain the sudden creation of two streams of popular music in the mid- and late 90s: the grunge rock and the RnB/pop music. It is one of these albums that makes you understand why grunge turned into a whole aesthetic. The clear influences from predecessors of feminist rock, like Patti Smith and Joan Jett, are mixed flawlessly with PJ Harvey’s original dark and mysterious vibe. Each song is both electrifying and stupefying: an almost trance-inducing noisy rock. I would not be surprised if the album itself was trance-induced or PJ Harvey’s own Mendelian Dream.

UGLY by slowthai (to be released on March 3) It is difficult to describe slowthai’s music. The few singles the artist released to promote the upcoming album UGLY promise more of the typical uniqueness. It is Dua Lipa meets The Smiths. It is Joy Division meets David Guetta. It is EDM goes rock, goes rap… goes down a spiral of intrusive musical thoughts. UGLY might become one of the most exciting projects of the season, so do not miss it.