One Louder Magazine… RESURRECTED
Happy New Year!
Hey, if you’re here, then that means that the blog worked, huzzah!
After a lengthy fiesta, it feels great to be back! On one hand, I feel as if there’s nothing much to discuss since most of my time off was spent either relaxing (ahhhhhhh) or doing “busy work,” and neither is really worth discussing, much less mentioning… right?
But on the other hand, there are a few cool things that happened over the break. For starters… hey, is this the weekly mailer… but in blog form?! Glad you asked because, yes, yes indeed it is! This is simply my attempt at releasing it via blog instead of via weekly e(mail)er. It was one of the goals I had for myself over the break. Hopefully the layout looks nicer as I learn more about it, but for now the information will be delivered this way 🥳
Please be gentle with me, as this is a new adventure and I’ve just gotten my feet wet.
Here’s another wicked cool thing that happened over the break. Many of you here are already privy to the fact, but for the rest of you, Mackie had a massive Winter cleaning. One of the things that they were going to trash was some 6-8 odd totes – the huge black and yellow ones! – PACKED with all sorts of media from years past. Photos, slides, film, Betamax/VHS tapes, and much, much more!
Was there trash in there? Abso-fucking-lutely! But there was also some amazing footage of my friends and me from the ’90s to the early ’00s (and fantastic footage of Greg Mackie at the Grammys, with Les Paul, Tony Bennett, Ringo Starr, and more!!). I used my phone to take shots of the pics/slides/film to share with several of you, but I think there needs to be a book, a historical document, with the photos professionally digitized and a caption of who’s in the pic, what the event is, and more. What an incredible look at the history of Mackie, the people, the place… Fun fact: some of my friends in these pictures actually left Mackie before I even started (nearly ~29 years ago!), yet our paths still crossed… and it was due to the power of Mackie.
Here’s a pic of me final testing a Digital 8*Bus (D8B) for quality control, circa 1999-2001-ish-ish.
Now, you would think that after such a long break from work that I would’ve caught a show or two to recommend, perhaps a movie, but (almost) nothing… tv shows/movies have been a little underwhelming lately, but I am a huge fan of comedian Ricky Gervais. He delivers another banger on Netflix’s Mortality. If you’re already a fan of RG, this is a no-brainer… the opposite is also true. If you weren’t a fan to begin with, I don’t see this release changing your mind. Enjoy!
What would the first issue of 2026 be without a concert recommendation? How about Master Boot Record? MBR plays some wild shit, and I could totally be coerced into catching these fellas at El Corazon on May 12th. Hit me up if it sounds like a gig that might interest you, as well!
Italy-based computer metal project MASTER BOOT RECORD (MBR) will return to US and Canadian shores this coming Spring for an extensive North American headlining tour after completing their very successful European tour with labelmates IGORRR plus openers IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT! The group’s North American journey begins on April 24th in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and runs through May 30th in Brooklyn, New York. Tickets are on sale now at: mbrserver.com.
https://app.opendate.io/e/master-boot-record-may-12-2026-650803
MASTER BOOT RECORD outputs:
Computer Metal strikes back in North America with a full coast-to-coast tour. We’ll return to many of the cities we’ve played before, while finally hitting several cities for the first time.
The show will feature brand-new synced visuals and a full set, including Tenebre Rosso Sangue by Keygen Church, as already performed during our European tour supporting Igorrr.
We can’t wait to see you all.
SPREAD THE CODE
MASTER BOOT RECORD Live:
5/12/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
“Their set is a relentless stream of instrumental metal fused with retro computer game bleeps, bloops and aesthetics… It’s a hybrid of 80s power metal, thrash, and chiptune, delivered via two guitars and live drums, with a backing track filling in the synthetic layers. The guitar work is technically dazzling with tapping, sweeping, and shredding” – Rock Flesh
“Clutching a keyboard and flanked by a loading screen, Master Boot Record are loaded and ready to execute. Their sound is crushing. It has an industrial sense that pummels and pounds. ‘This is computer metal!’ is the cry – the crowd are fully onboard.” – At The Barrier
MASTER BOOT RECORD will be touring in support of their HARDWAREZ full-length, released in 2024 via Metal Blade Records.
HARDWAREZ explores the duality of technology. The LP, which follows 2022’s Personal Computer and 2020’s Floppy Disk Overdrive, comes from the expansive mind of multi-instrumentalist and MBR mastermind Vittorio D’Amore (aka Victor Love), an Italian producer who emerged from the underground as an anonymous project in 2016 to create the soundtrack for the cyberpunk point-and-click adventure game VirtuaVerse. The project seamlessly evolved into a standalone entity, releasing over fourteen albums in just a few years.
To create HARDWAREZ, the technologist worked by live-streaming his desktop on YouTube while composing new music. Everything is programmed via MIDI. Intensive touring augmented with live musicians helped Love make the decision to include real guitars to achieve a massive sound and boost the enhanced frequency spectrum of the instrument. Additionally, the tracks feature sections without overdubs and with updated drum samples and a new mixing approach, creating a more vibrant and punchy drum sound.
HARDWAREZ, earned the #3 spot on Billboard’s Current Electronic Albums chart upon its first week of release. Elsewhere, the record took the #11 position on the Current Hard Music Albums chart, #17 on the Top New Artists Albums chart, and more!
My $0.02 review of HARDWAREZ:”I figured this might be a little weird – and it is – but it’s surprisingly not as weird as I thought it would be and, frankly, it’s kinda cool! It’s like industrial metal, but done in video game style sound, if that makes sense?”
Hey, let’s talk football, hahaha! Did anyone miss my football talk? Yeah, I’ll bet there were a couple of you! Let’s begin with fake Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Football first, then the real thing…
I have been in the top-5 in fantasy football since 2016 [aka bridesmaid], with the exception of my first Fantasy Football Super Bowl in 2022, my first (and only) last place finish the following year (2023), and now this, my second Fantasy Football Dungeons & Dragons Lombardi Trophy! So what do I get? Eh, it’s a couple hundred bucks or something like that, but the real prize is pride and bragging rights… me, #1, best-of-the-best (or rather, luckiest-of-the-luckiest). Regardless of how I got there, I’ll take it, and I’ll do my best to defend the title next season 💪🏼💪🏼
Speaking of sportsball, the 2025-2026 NFL playoffs are upon us… and you didn’t have to suffer through ‘Hawk talk the past several weeks. I’m sure that was a nice holiday gift for some of you, haha!
The Seahawks wrapped up the #1 seed and get a first-round BYE, so I’ll just mention the upcoming games and who I’d like to win, who I think will win, a look at match-ups earlier in the year, and perhaps a fun fact or two. One fun fact is that there are six games (12 teams) lined up this Sat-Mon. FOUR of the six games include matchups that did NOT occur this season!
Another fun fact: Eight of the twelve teams (and both #1 seeds) feature QBs taken in the top-12 of the NFL Draft… wow! So you don’t necessarily need a top-12 drafted QB, but based on history, it sure seems to help.
In order by most recent draft year:
2024 – Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams – 1st overall draft pick (and 1st playoff appearance)
2024 – New England Patriots QB Drake Maye – 3rd overall draft pick (and 1st playoff appearance)
2024 – Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix – 12th overall draft pick (and 1st playoff appearance)
2023 – Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young – 1st overall draft pick (and 1st playoff appearance)
2023 – Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud – 2nd overall draft pick
2021 – Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence – 1st overall draft pick
2020 – Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert – 6th overall draft pick
2018 – Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold – 3rd overall draft pick
2018 – Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen – 7th overall draft pick
2009 – Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford – 1st overall draft pick (and former Super Bowl winner 🏆)
Playoff bracket below:
Saturday, January 10th at 1:30 PM PT
(5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers
Rooting (hard) for the Panthers, but expecting a Rams win.
<These teams squared off in Carolina in Week 12 (about six weeks ago) with the Panthers victorious, 31-28.>
Fun fact: this game features two NFL QBs drafted #1 overall a decade and a half apart from each other. Stafford has played in 10 career playoff games, but this will be the first go-round for Young. This is the first playoff game for the Panthers since 2017. The Rams have missed the playoffs only twice since 2017.
Saturday, January 10th at 5:00 PM PT
(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears
Rooting for the Packers so that’s who the Seahawks face first (although… be careful what you wish for…?).
<These teams are both in the NFC North and face each other twice a season, zzzzzzzzz. Each team was victorious at home.>
Fun fact: The Chicago Bears have not played a meaningful playoff game in 15 years. The Packers have missed the playoffs only thrice since 2010.
Sunday, January 11th at 10:00 AM PT
(6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
Rooting for the Jaguars, but expecting a Bills win… barely.
<Have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: This match-up features two former first-round QB picks in Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (1st overall draft pick in 2021) and Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen (7th overall draft pick in 2018). Lawrence has played in (and won) one playoff game, while Allen has been in the playoffs every single year except his rookie season. He’s made it to the Conference Championship twice, but never the big dance. These QBs have faced off three times… with the Jags victorious in two of the contests.
Sunday, January 11th at 1:30 PM PT
(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles
Rooting (hard) for the Eagles, and expecting an Eagles win.
<Have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: neither of these teams has a first-round QB on their team; Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (2nd round, 53rd overall) and 49ers QB Brock Purdy (7th round, 262nd overall <– final pick of the 2022 draft, “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Sunday, January 11th at 5:00 PM PT
(7) Los Angeles Chargers at (2) New England Patriots
Predicting a Pats victory, but rooting for a good game.
<Have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: here’s another fun matchup featuring two top draft picks who have faced each other only once – December 2024 with an easy 40-7 Chargers victory.
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye – 3rd overall draft pick in 2024
Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert – 6th overall draft pick in 2020
Monday, January 12th at 5:15 PM PT
(5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers
Rooting for the Texans, and expecting a Texans win.
<Have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: this match-up pits the oldest player in the entire NFL (Steelers’ 42-year-old QB Aaron ‘Ayahuasca’ Rodgers) vs the youngest (tied) starting QB in the playoffs (Texans’ 23-year-old C.J. Stroud).
Even with three weeks in a row, there simply is not an AOTW… but hey, don’t fret. That’s kinda the deal during Wintertime. We (likely) won’t see an AOTW in all of January, either. Hopefully… but don’t count on it.
And sure, there aren’t many albums listed below, but I’ve been busy re-listening to some of my favorite 2025 AOTW winners to crown an AOTY champ. It’s been a ball listening to these albums again… soooooo good!!
😁 BE THE REASON SOMEONE SMILES 😁
Be sure to let me know what you agree / disagree with, etc… always fun to hear your opinions, too. Happy listening… and see you next week!
Cheers,
Troy
Album(s) of the Week** – December 19th + December 26th, 2025 + January 2nd, 2026:
None.
Honorable Mentions (in order by “popularity”*):
9,126,076 – $uicideboy$ – THY WILL BE DONE – Most contemporary rap and hip-hop albums don’t do much for me, but this one tickled that itch, especially the production. Like their previous releases, I thought this one was pretty bangin’, too… gonna continue to keep my eyes on ’em!
4,524,804 – Motörhead – The Löst Tapes, Vol. 7 (Lemmy’s 50th Birthday, Live in West Hollywood, 1995) – Can’t go wrong with Lemmy and the boys from Motörhead! I love their raw rock-punk-metal delivery, and they always put on an outstanding show! As the album title indicates, this show was in celebration of rock icon Lemmy’s 50th Birthday bash in 1995. Furthermore, it was released on what would’ve been his 80th birthday. RIP Lemmy :-(
1,157,965 – Max Richter – Vivaldi By Max Richter – I got turned onto Max Richter earlier this year. He’s a composer who typically releases all-instrumental, ambient, soundscape-y albums (which are f’n amazing!), but he released a soundtrack earlier this year, and now this: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons… *recomposed*. I listened late at night while working on this newsletter, and it… It could’ve kept going. It was great! Check out anything released by Max Richter. He’s a talented composer who can release numerous albums across various genres.
193,291 – Ulver – Neverland – I fucking love this “Norwegian avant-garde black metal/electronic” band! They have this ambient (yet still heavy) electronic synth rock thing going on. It’s very dark and brooding. They usually have prog-rock elements a la Pink Floyd and early Porcupine Tree, but this release sounds somewhat like a “heavier” Dead Can Dance (in a very good way!) These dudes are for reals!
From their bandcamp page: “Neverland, the fourteenth studio album by Ulver, is the sound of an escape. A journey into undiscovered lands.
Following three albums – The Assassination of Julius Caesar (2017), Flowers of Evil (2020), and Liminal Animals (2024) – rooted in more traditional song and production structures, Neverland marks a new chapter in the revered Oslo band’s history.
“With Neverland we embraced a more ‘punk’ spirit – more dreaming, less discipline – freer, quite simply,” the band comments on the creative process behind the album.
Bursts of daybreak synths and whooshes of sound set the atmosphere, before the wolves start digging into the dynamics of ambient calm and anarchic mysticism. Dreamy and transportive textures develop into trippy percussive energies, and as the album unfolds, a lush and vibrant, and at times exotic space opens.
Apart from a few recurring distant voices and vocal chops, Neverland is a largely instrumental record, reminiscent of the mood and structure of that place where late ’90s IDM sounds met the meandering structures of post-rock. The ghost of premillennial sample culture surely haunts Neverland, and some might even hear echoes from earlier acclaimed works like Perdition City (2000), or the Silence EPs (2001), or more recently ATGCLVLSSCAP (2016).
Still, Neverland sounds and feels like something else, something fresh in Ulver’s continuous journey of perennial reinvention. Pop music from in-between worlds? A sonic hallucination? Or better: a collage of dreams. It’s up to you.
Tore Engelsen Espedal, Oslo, October 2025″
From metalsucks: “Norwegian avant-garde black metal/electronic outfit Ulver had a rough latter half of 2024. The loss of their keyboardist Tore Ylwisaker forced them to take a leave of absence to grieve, but time heals all wounds. More than one year later, the band is back with a new album titled Neverland and a new single in the track Weeping Stone.
As the band’s 14th studio effort, its writing process is being described by the band as having a “more ‘punk’ spirit” that dares to dream without the shackles of rules or discipline. It’s a new chapter for the band.
Sporting 11 new songs, the album will first get into people’s “hands” when the digital version drops on New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2025). For those who want something more tangible, the physical version will be available on February 27, 2026.
In a bid to give fans a taste of what’s to come, you can check out Weeping Stone. It sounds big, albeit with a bit of an ethereal flavor to it. The darker sound featured on the track belies the tropical album art, that’s for sure.”
84,765 – The Sherlocks – Unplugged Vol. 1 – English indie/alternative rock band featuring brothers Kiaran (lead vocals, guitar) and Brandon (drums) Cook. Normally this would fall outside of my jurisdiction, but I found it to be a wonderfully upbeat, positive-sounding, high-BPM rock album! I don’t know if I’ll dig into their back catalog or anything, but I’ll keep an eye on future releases. As you might’ve guessed by the album title, this release contains acoustic versions of some of their favorite original songs!
Missed the Cut (in order by “popularity”*):
260 – Aurelia Anne Cohen – The Magnolia Sessions – Singer-songwriter album in the vein of folk meets Americana. I enjoy the idea of these The Magnolia Sessions releases, yet I haven’t really caught on with them, unfortunately.
160 – Chris Emmert – The Magnolia Sessions – Singer-songwriter album in the vein of folk meets Americana. I enjoy the idea of these The Magnolia Sessions releases, yet I haven’t really caught on with them, unfortunately.
0 – Various Artists – Yacht Metal – I had high hopes, and, unfortunately… high expectations. I LOVE the idea on paper: Yacht Metal – Yacht Rock Goes Heavier & Louder! = Metal bands covering yacht rock tunes… killer, right?! Well, this release is packed with mostly duds. There are a couple of “fun” tracks, but for the most part, this was a disappointment. Pass.
From Cleopatra Records: “The long-awaited SS Iron Yacht finally sets sail with a crew of metal and rock legends navigating the seas of America’s most popular music genre, yacht rock!
Your captains include Cherie Currie of The Runaways, Joe Lynn Turner and Graham Bonnet of Rainbow, Chris Poland of Megadeth, BulletBoys, Steve Morse, Vinnie Moore, and lots more!
Each of these incredibly popular yacht rock anthems are completely rebuilt from the hull up with powerful guitars, soaring vocals, and thunderous drums to create a listening experience like no other!”
Track Listing
1. Lotta Love [Nicolette Larson] – Kim McAuliffe, Leader Of Down
2. Magnet and Steel [Walter Egan] – Cherie Currie, Mick Box
3. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) [Rupert Holmes] – Ronnie Romero, Britt Lightning
4. Ride Captain Ride [Blues Image] – Joe Lynn Turner, Marcus Nand
5. Just the Two of Us [Bill Withers] – Graham Bonnet, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
6. Takin’ It To The Streets [The Doobie Brothers] – Bullet Boys, Bob Daisley, Mick Box
7. Love Will Keep Us Together [Neil Sedaka, Captain & Tennille] – George Lynch, Femme Fatale
8. You Can Do Magic [America] – Phil Soussan, Mick Box, Marc Lopes
9. Kiss You All Over [Exile] – Tim “Ripper” Owens, Vinnie Moore
10. Sailing [Rod Stewart] – Babylon A.D.
11. Moonlight Feels Right [Starbuck] – Chris Poland, Tantric
12. Fooled Around And Fell In Love [Elvin Bishop, Mickey Thomas] – Ross The Boss, Doogie White
13. Thunder Island [Jay Ferguson] – Thor, Steve Morse
Addendum (in order by “popularity”*) – Albums that were released earlier in the year (or previous years) that I missed, but are worth mentioning, anyhow:
3,019 – The Tea Club – Chasm – [November 24th, 2025] – I read somewhere that this album was on a short-list of “best prog-rock albums of 2025”. Is it good? Sure! Is it mindblowing? Eh… There are definitely moments throughout, but as a whole, it kinda falls flat. Good, not great.
1,663 – Fernando Perdomo – Waves 8 – [August 1st, 2025] – This dude is incredibly prolific, releasing an album every month in 2025. It’s packed with tasty all-instrumental guitar shred… that’s mellow. Diggin’!
1,663 – Fernando Perdomo – Waves 10 – [October 1st, 2025] – ^^^See above.
1,663 – Fernando Perdomo – Waves 11 – [November 1st, 2025] – ^^^See above.
1,663 – Fernando Perdomo – Waves 12 – [December 1st, 2025] – ^^^See above.
778 – Edensong – Our Road To Dust – [May 9th, 2025] – Edensong is a “NYC-based Eclectic Prog-Rock Quartet” that got its start in 2004. This is their fourth release, yet my introduction to them. I’d say that I liked about 75-80% of the album, so I don’t totally love it, but I am definitely happy to be aboard the Edensong train. I look forward to hearing future releases and likely digging into their back catalog, as well.
From Earsplit PR: “Hailed as a “great example of contemporary Progressive Rock” by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, EDENSONG has delighted audiences throughout the US and abroad with their genre-bending blend: a hard driving rhythm section, flute playing that ranges from serenely melodic to avant-garde, lush vocal harmonies, and more than a touch of orchestral ambition. They have supported diverse acts including Kings X, Ozric Tentacles, Pain Of Salvation, Neal Morse Band, and Anglagard, and have headlined their own tours throughout the US, UK, and Canada.
EDENSONG now returns with their long-awaited new album Our Road To Dust in 2025, their first since releasing the critically adored Years In The Garden Of Years in 2016. Their first album to be crafted as a quartet, the record embodies the ambitious, detailed, and eclectic sound they have cultivated over the years, but is far heavier, more focused, and full of infectious melodic hooks.
With additional recording, sound design, and production elements handled from allies across New York, London, and more, Our Road To Dust was produced and recorded by James Byron Schoen at Firecat Audio in New York City, and mixed by Johan Martin/mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden (Katatonia, Opeth, Amorphis). The record is completed with photography by Kelly Robertson and artwork by Nate Dorr and Ben Wigler.
With the lead single from Our Road To Dust, the epic title track which closes the album and features guest performances from Shelby Logan Warne (Kyros) on keys and Chris Baum (Bent Knee) on violin, James Schoen offers, “‘Our Road To Dust’ is EDENSONG’s first ever ‘title track.’ We didn’t initially consider it a ‘single,’ but it has always resonated deeply with us and others who have heard it. It’s our love letter to classic progressive rock and is perhaps the one song on the new album that feels like the most quintessentially classic ‘EDENSONG.’
He continues, “This album marks a time of deep change for the band, both personally and sonically, and Our Road To Dust is the thread that binds us to our past. It’s a song about getting older, losing loved ones, and the death of a dream, but also about brotherhood, taking stock of what really matters, and choosing – perhaps misguidedly – to keep traveling that dusty road. Oh, and there are plenty of odd meters and polyrhythms and other proggy nonsense along the way…””
114 – Jon Durant, Colin Edwin, and Chris Maitland – The Baldock Transmission – [November 7th, 2025] – I was thinking/hoping I’d like this since two-thirds of this trio are former members of excellent British prog-rock band, Porcupine Tree: bassist Colin Edwin (1993-2010) and drummer Chris Maitland (1993-2002). Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it as much as I had hoped for. It’s all-instrumental hippie-dippie prog-rock jams… normally something I can get behind, but for some reason, this one does not resonate with me. I’ll continue to keep my eyes on them for future releases – this is their debut – since they are incredible musicians, but I’ll keep my expectations tempered.
From their bandcamp page: “Colin Edwin (bass) and Chris Maitland (drums) are both best known for being half of the original four-piece line-up of legendary progressive rock band Porcupine Tree. Their prior musical association ended in an abrupt manner some 20 years ago, and The Baldock Transmission documents the first recordings they have made together since that time.
The Baldock Transmission could be construed as a one-off self-indulgent experiment, or instead as a reconnection and possible future creative path. No plans have been made, and no plans were made prior to entering the studio and hitting “record.” It’s a simple capture of the signals received and acted on. It could be thought of as a live-in-studio research session to test their instinctive musical chemistry, which was previously well documented across a number of live and studio releases.
Joined by guitarist Jon Durant (Colin’s creative partner in the long-running “ambient ethno improv” duo Burnt Belief), Colin and Chris ably demonstrate that their creative connection and chemistry is still very much active, despite the many preceding years of silence. Overdubs and edits are minimal, although a few found sounds have crept in to aid the concept and cement the ideas. Overall, it’s an extraordinary document of the spontaneity and flow of ideas as they took shape in the moment.
Noting that the new trio entered the studio with no preparation, Colin states, “Quite a few of the Porcupine Tree tunes we’d a hand in were birthed in the moment with minimal prior discussion, and, after all, they seemed to have worked out well. Moonloop is perhaps the most well-known, but also Intermediate Jesus, the entire Metanoia album. It’s also worth remembering there were quite a number of spontaneous improv moments even in the more composed songs, and especially in the earlier, spacier songs when they were performed live – Dislocated Day, Radioactive Toy, Not Beautiful Anymore…”
Jon Durant: Guitars
Colin Edwin: Bass
Chris Maitland: Drums
On the List (in order by “popularity”*) – Albums that I didn’t get to (yet) for one reason or another. Will (hopefully) get to them at a later date:
Only listing ones that made me take notice, not everything…
Looking forward to (in order by “popularity”*) – These albums will be released this week and should be in next week’s AOTW newsletter:
205,843 – The Cribs – Selling A Vibe
182,200 – Beyond The Black – Break The Silence
152,045 – Dry Cleaning – Secret Love
81,048 – Protomen – Act III: This City Made Us
73,237 – The Rifles – Unplugged Album Vol. 2
23,511 – IOTUNN – Waves Over Copenhell
20,954 – Zu – Ferrum Sidereum (2 CDs)
…and several others. Some that I am looking forward to and others not so much.
Small print that’s normal size print:
*These albums are listed in order by “popularity”. Wait, what? How? By no means is it a measured calculation. They’re listed in order by number of ‘followers’ on Spotify. While it is listed by Spotify ‘followers’, the order would (most likely) be similar if looking at the number of ‘likes and/or followers’ on each band’s social media pages. Speaking of “popularity”, there is a bolded red number. This number (more or less) represents the number of Spotify ‘followers’ at the time of review.
**Album of the Week. No promises, but I will do my best to NOT include Greatest Hits, Best Of, Live releases, re-releases, etc. Even if these “new” releases include a ton of bonus goodies, multiple unreleased tracks, demo versions, etc, I’ll still (try to) hold off.
All albums are listened to IN FULL unless stated otherwise.
Some artists are quite controversial. My goal is to review the album on its own merits, not based on the history, beliefs (political or otherwise), police records, and/or anything else that could be considered “unsavory” of the artist(s).
(Almost) all albums are hyperlinked. I link in order by Bandcamp first, YouTube next, then Spotify last. This is so you can check out (AND PURCHASE) the album, if interested. I do and hope you do, as well!
Do you have any friends or family who might be interested in this weekly blog? If so, let ’em know so that they can join the family!
Until next week…
Cheers,
Troy
One Louder Magazine... RESURRECTED! 
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