Not reinventing the spinkick or anything but some good points for that metallic hardcore throwdown to start off 2026.

I know I'm repeating myself, but if you were just willing to look for new music and artists (or knew people who did it for you), this has been an amazing year across ALL genres. "People don't make good music anymore" my ass. You couldn't throw a peble without hitting something great!

Finally released the second part of IV a little before the change of the year, as usual by now. It's still a work in progress, yes, but I'm very happy that I've reached this point. Thanks to everyone for the support. spectrallore.bandcamp.com/album/iv-par...

Gonna check out what Ludicra was up to on the black metal side of things in 2002.

And is not AI imagery exactly what the fascist techbros would gravitate towards—images that have all the markings of being made by dull people using lifeless tech?

Couldn’t figure out what sounded good, so ended up with Chapter I from Panzerfaust’s Suns of Perdition. It’s just so freaking good.

This is the first Transgressive short I posted on YouTube that has gotten 1k views. Can we keep it going?! We gotta get our band out there. Thank y'all so much for watching!! youtube.com/shorts/48rQ5...

And here’s the final 12 month overview: most played album of each month.

First Friday drop of 2026 and my first listen: new atmoblack from Fuath (Saor side project).

Yeaaaaah. After several listens today, I can confidently confirm that Anna Pest has once again delivered an absolute banger. Much like its Part I predecessor, Dark Arms Reach Skyward With Bone White Fingers II: Best (Not) Afraid is a vibrant and exciting listening experience.

It’s fascinating that both the rhetoric and aesthetic are designed to confirm that they are the stupidest, least imaginative, most hollowed-out people in existence. Nothing but spite all the way down. No greatness to speak of, and they know it, and try to shield themselves with utter contempt.

I got theatrical, which honestly scares me a bit.

First listen in the new year: no better way to start than with some of the best neocrust. Might do the whole set from Morrow. morrowpunx.bandcamp.com/album/covena...

My hope and resolution is to keep softening into the fullest and most fearless version of me. I wish the same for y’all.

Quick, before the year is over and and we can’t listen to 2025 music anymore—as @sleepingvillage.bsky.social says—check out this blackened funeral doom a lot of us on here missed. Spiine from Australia in March.

My hope and resolution is to keep softening into the fullest and most fearless version of me. I wish the same for y’all.

Being stopped by a total stranger who said, “you remind me of someone famous, oh shoot, I can’t remember, my mom would know….hmmm…oh yes, the Dalai Lama. I mean that as a compliment.” I was like 25 at the time.

Love coming back to things that were a bit disappointing when they dropped and finding that they really click now. This was both less aggressive and more raw than I was hoping back in March. But nailing the vibe for me today. Euphrosyne, Morus.

Raise your hand if you’re entering the new year with some kind of cold / flu / general sickness? 👋🏻

One of my favorite songs of the year, the opening track “Sorg” on Illvilja’s album, Döden. Nothing fancy, just epic as hell.

Y’all listened to the 20 min preview track from the upcoming Olhava yet?

Get on it!

Didn’t make my list but was on my midyear highlight list and still a great listen esp for your somber sludgy dark folk moods. Fantastic cover art, too. Kazea, from Sweden in March

Best albums of 2024!

Also got my nose pierced and first tattoo and have the next tattoo scheduled for later in January!

End of the year life recap: •Embraced being nonbinary •Promoted at work •Zen meditation retreat and ongoing practices •Kept 3 neurodivergent kiddos alive and moving through autistic burnout (for two) •Lots of tenderness in marriage •Support for mother in law through ongoing health problems

How many demons do we need? 100. Cannot fucking wait.

Bolt Thrower!

The joy this restoration continues to give. What a surprising gift to us all.

The real sign things went bad culturally is when they started doing “emo nights” with cover bands playing Blink-182 and My Chemical Romance.

I missed this one when it came out but it probably would have been high on my ep list. Damn good German black metal from Nimbifer.

Improve two bands by combining them: Job for a White Zombie

Seen a lot of backlash to this article (Atlantic reposted recently), and I think it’s generally misplaced. The problem I think is that the article briefly notes but never engages that this idea of a common universal human experience has been critiqued esp by postcolonial scholars for decades.

What must this be like?!?! I’ve been a melancholic and pensive new years person for as long as I remember. Even crawled out of the window of my house where we had the party once to walk around the streets alone and drunk.

It’s a really great and addictive short listen.

My AOTY video celebrating my 5 favorite albums of 2025 #Metalsky

More black metal December: really enjoying this 2nd wave inspired album from Brazil, debut released on Dec 20. Vornnath, Litany of the Serpent Wind.

Almost every time, the best thing you can say about the spoken word part of a metal song is that they kept it short or in a language you don’t understand.

Seen a lot of backlash to this article (Atlantic reposted recently), and I think it’s generally misplaced. The problem I think is that the article briefly notes but never engages that this idea of a common universal human experience has been critiqued esp by postcolonial scholars for decades.

It’s still December and list time, but make sure you add this to your wish list for January: some pretty delicious melodic crust from the two preview tracks. Arüspex, The Death Instinct.

Once again listening to this banger of an album: Finnish black metal with guest vocals from Trevor Strnad. Sarastus, Agony Eternal, released in July.

Why be talked at with podcasts when you can have people literally screaming at you while playing riffs?

Home from holiday travels and now in that worn out and moody phase that is the new year gap. I really wish I didn’t get all introspective at this time.

I love how good December has been with new releases. Another one to check out: occult black metal from Mexico, released the 12th. Hierophany.

In-flight tunes. vorgaband.bandcamp.com/album/strivi...

I don’t normally post my family but here we all are, some lovely neurodivergent weirdos with fresh Christmas gear.

So. Damn. Good.

What’s high up on your list that you haven’t been seeing on other lists? For me, Thormesis I think (#3 for me).

Damn I’m gonna miss the sunlight. Quite literally hits different in these desert mountains.

Some late-December and Panopticon-connected black metal for your ears. Weft, The Splintered Oar.