Also put on the new Ruins of Beverast album. It's pretty good. Felt quite a goth vibe to this one, particularly the cleaner vocals. And I do like the cosmic/psychedelic tinges at the edges too. #metalsky #blackmetal

Continuing to check out small bands playing upcoming local gigs. They tag themselves prog metal, but had moments that brought Evanescence to mind... I still kind of liked them. #metalsky

I also did some #arctangent research into Agent Fresco. I’d really like to be into this, but the vocals aren’t my thing. Or not quite. There’s something there that keeps me wanting to like it more! #progrock #progmetal

Working backwards through my day I also put on some High as Fire as part of my #Arctangent preparation. Not that they’re new to me but I’m thorough. This is pure, unadulterated doom/stoner goodness. #metalsky #doommetal #stonermetal

This post/black metal/folk/blackgaze EP is beautiful and haunting. A great discovery as I check out my upcoming small gig options. Hearing this I definitely want to see Æl Frierien in a tiny venue. #metalsky #blackgaze

No shortage of heaviness from Nyrak though. Pounding black metal, probably a bit much bass for me. Intense, but I’m pondering seeing them play next month. #metalsky #blackmetal

Continued listening to Mondo Drag with their most recent album. Not my favourite, prefer less vocals and a little heavier sound. Still excellent. #musicsky #heavypsych

And I’ve also been listening to Zutomayo. Japanese rock/pop that fuses a lot of styles, feels light and uplifting and is just quite fun. Started with their most recent. #musicsky #jpop

Listened to another Mondo Drag album today too. Damn, they are good. Consistently on the mark heavy psych/prog rock. #musicsky #heavypsych #progrock

New vinyl today, bought on a family post-Xmas shopping trip (kids spend Christmas money, I bought a record). Reissue of Engravings by Forest Swords. Fine, chilled electronica bought on an impulse. #musicsky #vinylsky #nowplaying

Second day of the year started with some Japanese garage punk. Stumbled on a video about Sorry No Camisole and they’re not bad. #musicsky #garagepunk #altrock

Wanted to start the year loud and heavy so listened to some Ruins of Beverast on New Year’s Day. Fits the bill well. #metalsky #blackmetal

No beers. New Year’s Eve family Cocktails/Mocktails. Mine’s a Negroni. #newyears #cocktails

More heavy psych rock with that retro feel. Bit more prog in Mondo Drag too. So easy to listen to. #musicsky #psychrock #progrock

Been quite a while since I put on some Sacri Monti. They never disappoint. There's an old-school feel to their sound that hits exactly the right spot. Some of my favourite heavy psych/stoner rock. #musicsky #stonerrock #psych

My first experience of Chinese post rock - Summer Fades Away. Sometimes it felt al little lost, drifting through a track, but pulled back to powerful climaxes. #musicsky #postrock

Giving a first spin to one of my Christmas presents. A Talking Heads classic that defined my teen years. If cassette players had play counts I’d have racked up 1000s. #vinylsky #nowplaying #musicsky

Between the Christmas music I managed to listen to this bit of shoegaze. Muted vocals lie under a distorted, grungy soundscape. Pretty good. #musicsky #shoegaze

A Christmas treat. Splashed out on a small can of Gold Standard. Rich enough I’d not want more and less boozy than I expected at 15%. #bskybeer #imperial

Merry Christmas! Making lunch with a nice porter - Black Forest from Vibratn Forest. Nothing to see here but a straight up porter. #bskybeer #porter

One last beer for Xmas eve. Or had Duchesse de Bourgogne before. Quite an experience. Sharp, sour, quite an intense beer. But I’m enjoying it. #bskybeer

Final beer at Bruhaha - a pint of their Santa’s Slice. A fruity Christmas porter. Seasonally appropriate and rich. Not a regular choice. #bskybeer #porter

Cranberry sour? Well it’s Christmas. And I will not drink this at any other time. Fine for the novelty but not a sour I’d indulge in. Arbor Ales’s Source Code (I approve the pun name). #bskybeer #sour

The just-about traditional Christmas Eve trip along the road to Bruhaha Tap Room. A half of their very tasty Tripel Trouble, enough at 9.5%. #bskybeer #tripel

And a beer tonight. A simple bitter, nothing too heavy. Quite enjoyed this one. Blackjack Brew Co’s Pub Ale Best Bitter. #bskybeer #bestbitter

Because everyone slept in I kept on working and listened to True Widow for the first time. Hefty shoegaze, I liked this a lot. #musicsky #shoegaze

This morning, the dog got me up early, so I listened to some Briqueville and did a little work. What a great album. Heavy, thick, doomy post-metal. #metalsky #postmetal

Caitlin & Brent is an unexpected delight. Discovered in my weekly New Music feed. Not what I usually listen too. A blend of country/60s pop duets. Weirdly uplifting but also slightly unsettling. Loved it, want more. #musicsky

Getting heavy. The kind of beer you don’t want too much of. Vault City’s Gingerbread Latte Imperial Stout. Intensely decadent. #bskybeer #imperialstout

Beer number two for pseudo Christmas, Northern Monk Faith in Future DDH Hazy IPA. Think I’ve already had this recently but I like the can and it’s a juicy IPA inside. #bskybeer #ddhipa

Early, pseudo Christmas Day at the in-laws, so I think I can start the beers now. Chalky’s Bite from Sharp’s Brewing. It’s got a little bit of punch to it and a pleasant, sweet taste. #bskybeer #paleale

Helles didn’t last long. Onto an M&S Nitro Stout from Siren. It’s a decent stout. This brings tonight’s beer to an end was a rich job picking things up. Onto wine after this. #bskybeer #stout

Tonight’s beer selection is courtesy of a service station M&S. Starting with a can of their Helles lager from Harbour Brewing. The can doesn’t lie, it’s light and crisp. #bskybeer #helles #lager

Not often I’m happy the car has cost us 600 quid. A failed injector has been replaced and it moves again. Beats Christmas without a vehicle and one of the cheapest failures this car’s had.

Not the best start to Christmas break. 30 minutes on the hard shoulder of the M5. Rescued to Exeter services. Now sitting waiting to see if it’s a quick 600 quid fix or even worse…

Coming to the end of year is a hectic time. Squeezed in some more Amenra today. Mass V. Later in their development, subtler but still got sludgy punches. #metalsky #postmetal #sludge

I often pick an album by its cover as was the case here when I saw it in my feed. And overall I wasn’t disappointed. Maybe that’s faint praise but this is decent doomish black metal. #metalsky #blackmetal #doom

And made dinner listening to the new Dumbo gets mad album. Eccentric psych pop with Indian themes running through it. #musicaky #psychpop

Then Peneolope Trappes - dark ambient and fitting for a requiem. It’s lovely and sad. On Apple Music came paired with Æternum. #musicsky

Three very different sounds today. Starting with The Spyrals and some old school garage/psych rock. Hints of blues/americana. I find this such an easy listen. #musicsky #psychrock #garagerock

Playing Amenra led me to Downfall of Gaia. We’re talking more black metal/post metal goodness here. #metalsky #blackmetal #postmetal

One last beer tonight. Should have had it before the pastry sour. A flavoursome IPA - Junimo from Eliaive Brewing and Castle Rock. #bskybeer #ipa

Back on the Yonder. A whole can of Maple, Banana & Blueberry Pancake Pastry Sour to myself. Still amazed at the witchcraft that makes a 7% beer taste like a smoothie. #bskybeer #pastrysour

I like a DDH NEIPA and Up Front Brewing’s Pomona is a good one. Tasty stuff. #bskybeer #neipa

Early beer at the local Christmas market. Local brewery, Bruhaha’s Dead & Berry’d, a fruited porter. A sharper taste than I expected. A pint is enough of this one. #bskybeer #porter

I'ver also been catching up on more Amenra. Starting with Mass II. An earlier album with a rawer feel to it. Sludgier. Can see how they've evolved. I like both new and old. #metalsky #blackmetal

Sounds of fuzzy, warm psych pop accompanied me this morning. A release of Magic Castles debut album. Relaxing and chilled. #musicsky #psychpop

Heard this today. It’s a great piece of goth-y, new wave-y post punk. #musicsky #newwave #postpunk

I find myself indifferent to the new HEALTH album. Not noisy or chaotic enough for me. #metalsky #industrial

Over compensated for my lack of Amen Ra experience. Starting with Mass VI. #metalsky #blackmetal #postmetal