One Louder Magazine… RESURRECTED
Introduction
Blog Feedback
NAMM
NFL Playoffs
NFL Head Coaching Changes
Intro Wrap-Up
Album of the Week
Honorable Mentions
Missed The Cut
Addendum
On The List
Looking Forward To (aka Upcoming Album Releases)
Fine Print
Fellow travelers of both time and space, how have you been…?
I gotta tell you. I know it’s no news to you, but I basically took Thanksgiving to the end of 2025 off. Sure, there were the occasional days and weeks where I worked, but for the most part, I was on vacation. So when I returned full-time last week – the start of the new year – it felt like getting clobbered by a right hook and a left jab… at the same time. I am not an early bird, so the alarm was an unwelcome suprise. Ok, fine, it wasn’t a surprise. I knew it was coming. But unwelcome and definitely unpleasant come to mind! So, that in mind, there’s plenty of work to do since no one did it while I was away, haha… I wish!
Continuing on, I just wanted to write to say THANK YOU for all of the positive feedback and love for the blog… oh, and the pic of me with the D8B!! I am thrilled to be here and can’t wait to see what the future holds. I also want to thank you for the constructive criticism. While I may “write” the blog, I do it… for you! Hopefully I’m able to turn you onto some cool new bands and albums. Let’s dig into the constructive criticism…
A couple of people stated that the text was a little difficult to read on the blog. My thought and hope is that changing the text color to white will make it “POP” more. This is the text in white, and the same text is below in the former gray. Does this read easier?
A couple of people stated that the text was a little difficult to read on the blog. My thought and hope is that changing the text color to white will make it “POP” more. This is the text in white, and the same text is below in the former gray. Does this read easier?
Here is another example of a new paragraph, but also in the former gray color. The white definitely pops more on my screen, so I hope it does on yours, as well. Run-on sentences to make it a little bit longer and yes, I am going to keep this text in here so it’s like a full paragraph, even though it’s just garbage text, hahaha! Let’s get back to white, what you say…?!
Another constructive criticism (from me): The One Louder Magazine image is grainy. Yeah, I need to fix that, crispify it.
Another friend says that he likes to refer back to these occasionally and would like me to add links/anchors to each section. This way, one can easily skip down to the AOTW, Honorable Mentions, etc… or even sportsball, TV show/movie suggestions. In two words: easier navigation. This is something that I read about… and it sounds fairly easy-ish to do. That said, we’ll see if it gets in in this issue or down the road. Either way, it IS in the works. Thanks for the great suggestion!
***EDIT: I’m very curious to see if it worked or not. I can see the links at the top of the page (which hopefully <fingers crossed>) will jump to that section of the blog. Unfortunately, I won’t know until the blog is published, meaning… we all see it simultaneously. We’ll see if it took or not. If so, this will be easy and may be added as part of the weekly template (see below).
What’s fantastic is that once I set up the template, I can duplicate it infinitely, so continue to deliver suggestions and I’ll add ’em to the to do list. Please just continue to keep in mind that this platform is new to me, so a little patience is greatly appreciated!
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I have received a few emails, texts, and calls from industry folk asking me what my plans for NAMM were, and… I’m not going! Mackie only released one (brand) new product in 2025, so there’s no reason for me – or the company! – to have a booth. That’s right, no NAMM for Mackie. Be on the lookout for some new product launches in the coming months, though 👀
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Let’s move on to the NFL Playoffs. We were treated to some absolutely delicious games over Wild Card Weekend. In the first match-up of the day, the Los Angeles Rams were something like -10-point favorites, but had to score a touchdown in the closing minutes to take a 3-point 34-31 victory on the road. Hats off to the Carolina Panthers, who put up a great fight against a much superior team. I will be interested in watching the Panthers play in future years.
The evening game featured two NFC North division rivals squaring off in the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. On paper, I wasn’t all that excited about this match-up. They face each other twice a year and have done so for the better part of the last 300 years. Yaaaaaaawwwwwn, right? Wrong! Well, the first half was a real yawner with the Cheeseheads holding a comfortable 21-3 lead. Why do what you can do in the first three quarters instead of waiting until all the chips are on the table? Yup, Da Bears scored 18 unanswered points in the 4th quarter alone to win 31-27 in what turned out to be a mega-thriller of a game! Who knew?!
Sunday was a three-pack, starting with the Buffalo Bills on the road at the Jacksonville Jaguars. What did I say last week about this match-up? “Rooting for the Jaguars, but expecting a Bills win… barely.” And that’s exactly what happened. Bills QB Josh Allen led the Bills to their first road playoff win in 33 years (wow!), 27-24. It’s funny, ’cause the morning of, I was thinking, “you know, the Jags just might pull this off”… and they almost did. So many great games! three-point win, four-point win, three-point win… where will we go from here?!?!
Unfortunately, the next three games were not nearly as exciting. While the Philadelphia Eagles-San Francisco 49ers score was close (23-19 victory for the 49ers), the game itself felt like a slog of two shitty teams trying to not advance. Then the Los Angeles Chargers limped into New England and could only muster three total points – a single field goal – ultimately losing to the hometown Patriots, 16-3… who didn’t look all that great, either. Lastly, the Houston Texans took care of business on the road, whooping the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. Zzzzzzzzz…
Let’s check out this delicious slate of games in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs coming up this weekend! There are two on Saturday, featuring both #1 Seeds, and another two on Sunday.
Saturday, January 17th at 1:30 PM PT
(6) Buffalo Bills at (1) Denver Broncos
Rooting for the Bills. Not a fan of the Broncos through and through.
<While these teams are different from those of last year, they mostly resemble the teams they were last season. Same head coach, same starting QBs, a ton of the same players and other personnel… and, of course, some turnover, as happens every season. For the most part, though, these are the same teams. Last season, the Broncos rolled into Buffalo and got absolutely steamrolled, 31-7. If this happened to be Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix early in the season, I would’ve chalked it up to, “he’s new to the game,” but no… this was the wild-card game. He had been getting better and better, but Head Coach Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos were just not prepared. We’ll see if they fare better this go ’round at home.>
Fun fact: Broncos QB, Bo Nix’s middle name is “Chapman.” Just another reason to root against him/them, haha!
Saturday, January 17th at 5:00 PM PT
(6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Seattle Seahawks
I’m pretty sure that you can guess who I am rooting HARD for. Yes, of course it’s my beloved Seattle Seahawks!
<These teams are both in the NFC West and face each other twice a season, every single year. So home-field advantage is a good thing, right? Nope, each team was victorious on the road in what ended up being bookmark games. The season began with the 49ers leaving Seattle with a 17-13 victory. Not to be outdone, the Seahawks strode into Santa Clara and defeated the 49ers 13-3 to end the regular season and snag the #1 overall NFC Seed and Round 1 BYE. Watching both teams throughout the year, the trajectory was quite different. Long story short, I think Seattle’s defense just might literally kill 49ers QB Brock Purdy on Saturday night. Ok, fine. Not literally. But he will have one of the worst performances of his life.>
Fun fact: For as often as it seems like these teams square off, this is only the third time in history that the Seahawks and 49ers have faced each other in the playoffs. Seahawks win the 2014 NFC Championship game, 23-17 (you know the game, Richard Sherman tipped ball and the 2022 NFC Wild Card game; the 49ers crushed the ‘Hawks 41-23. And now this one on Saturday!)
Sunday, January 18th at 12:00 PM PT
(5) Houston Texans at (2) New England Patriots
Rooting for a good game, but expecting a Pats win… barely.
<These teams have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: Giggity! This match-up features the 2024 3rd overall pick, New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, and 2023 2nd overall pick, Houston Texans QB CJ Stroud. Fireworks! The teams have only faced each other 15 times, with the Pats holding a huge 11-4 edge, including two dominating AFC playoff games (in 2017 and 2013). History tells me that the Pats should stomp ’em once again, but my eyes tell me that this Texans D is for real and could make Maye’s day really long. Should be a fun one!
Sunday, January 18th at 3:30 PM PT
(5) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Chicago Bears
Rooting (hard) for Da Bears, but fully expecting a Rams win.
<Have not faced each other this season.>
Fun fact: Da Bears lead the all-time series between these teams (55-39-3), including their most recent meeting in Chicago (2024), with Da Bears walking away with a 24-18 victory.
Fun fact from ESPN Research (below) that could make it a long day for the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Remember, just last playoff season, the Rams had to travel to the cold in Philly as favorites… and lost. The team was still on fire (QB Matt Stafford threw for 324 yards, RB Kyren Williams logged 106 yards, and standout WR Puka Nacua almost hit the century mark, as well, landing at 97 receiving yards).
“Stat to know: The Rams have not played a playoff game with freezing temperatures at kickoff since Dec. 26, 1983, at the Cowboys in the NFC wild-card round. The early forecast for Sunday in Chicago is 23 degrees, according to AccuWeather. ” — ESPN Research
Every season, NFL head coaches get fired. This year was no exception, although it seemed to be, like, A LOT more than in typical years. Let’s take a look at the teams on the hunt for a new HC.
New York Giants – The team has already filled the position with former Baltimore Ravens HC, John Harbaugh. I think this is a fantastic pairing! Harbaugh is an exceptional coach who, for the life of him, could not get over the playoff hump with the Ravens. The Ravens are a quality team, yet aging… now Harbaugh gets to take on a team that might look really good in the future, with recent additions such as QB Jaxson Dart (1st Round, 25th overall, Ole Miss), RB Cam Skattebo (4th Round, 105th overall, Arizona State), WR Malik Nabers (1st round, 6th overall, LSU), and EDGE Abdul Carter (1st round, 3rd overall, Penn State). PLUS, they have the 5th overall pick in this upcoming NFL draft! Harbaugh has a lot of young talent around him. Now if they can stay healthy, that would be something!
Best of the rest (in order):
Baltimore Ravens – The single best opening NFL HC job. One of the best, most exciting QB (Lamar Jackson)-RB (Derrick ‘King’ Henry) duos in the league! They have only had three losing seasons since 2015 (when they went 5-11). The other two losing seasons since then were only 8-9 (2021, 2025). Plus, the two other teams in their division (the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers; both listed below) are also looking for new head coaches. Baltimore better get it right after doing Harbaugh dirty. Methinks it was a firing of “…yeah, but what have you done for me lately?” after getting ousted in the playoffs year-after-year-after-year… they have the puzzle; they just need to piece it together.
Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons have, arguably, one of the best RBs in the NFL in Bijan Robinson. He was the 8th overall pick in the 2023 draft and is just electric, a fun guy to watch play! The following year, the Falcons selected QB Michael Penix Jr. (Go Washington Huskies!)… then Penix got injured. So we have yet to see if this duo can make sparks fly or if it’s simply a relationship that has failure to launch. The Falcons also have other young talent in key positions. If the team can stay healthy, they might go places. That said, Penix has been injured off-and-on throughout his career 😬
Las Vegas Raiders – Well, damn. Was really rooting for them this past year since Pete Carroll was their head coach, and QB Geno Smith and WR Tyler Lockett joined him there. Unfortunately, it was all miscues as the team finished a disastrous season at 3-14. Ooph. They have been dog shit for decades… and could be dog shit for the foreseeable future. That said, they drafted RB Ashton Jeanty 6th overall in last year’s draft and have the #1 overall pick this April (in which they’ll – no doubt – draft Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza). Young talent plus a new HC. Will those be the answers to all of the Raiders’ woes?
Tennessee Titans – Another team that is not great and hasn’t been for some time. They had the #1 overall pick in last year’s draft and selected QB Cam Ward. He and the team struggled mightily at first, but they continued to get better as the season went along. While they continued to (mostly) lose their games, you could see that they had a desire to at least play well, play hard. I think that’s a great sign for an incoming coach. That said, getting some help on both sides of the ball will be of an urgent nature.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Ooph. An old, washed-up quarterback and a supporting cast of misfits. They are always in the playoff mix, so that’s one positive… but you’re also talking about a team that has to face the Ravens and Bengals twice a year. Plus, you’re stepping into Mike Tomlin’s shoes after a 19-year career with him finally calling it a day… at least with the Steelers. Where will he go? I say TV.
Cleveland Browns – Whoa, where to start? The team started the season with FIVE QBs on their roster… and played THREE of them! They started 40-year-old QB Joe Flacco (who ended up being traded to their AFC North rival in the Cincinnati Bengals). Then QB Kenny Pickett was shipped off to the Raiders. That left the still-injured womanizer QB Deshaun Watson (remember him?) and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Both of their EOY QB Ratings were the worst in the league. I can’t recall the last time the Brownies were any good.
Miami Dolphins – Last two teams. Starting QB Tua Tagovailoa is… he used to be solid, but either he had an off year – like a really, really off year – or his career is cooked? They drafted a QB in last year’s draft (Texas QB Quinn Ewers, 7th Round, 231st overall). He played in a few games this year and showed flashes of brilliance… but is he the guy? Furthermore, they have solid guys in key positions (RB De’Von Achane, WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle)… but can they stay healthy? There was another bright spot in former Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks. He had a monster season on the defensive side of the ball, nice!
Arizona Cardinals – Three teams in the NFC West went to (and are still in) the NFL Playoffs. The one NFC team that isn’t? The Arizona Cardinals. They have had two winning seasons in the last decade. TWO! They drafted QB Kyler Murray #1 overall in the 2019 draft, but he has been… that’s seven seasons. He has played a full NFL season only thrice, seemingly preferring to ride the pine. When he does play, there’s no magic. There used to be flashes of brilliance due to his dual passing-running threat, but teams have him figured out. I’ve read talks about him going to other teams and the Cards drafting someone else… especially with a new, incoming head coach. We’ll see where it goes…
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The closest we came to an AOTW over the past week was the new self-titled release from Alter Bridge. It is an absolute ripper of an album. That said, I don’t see it making any AOTY statements.
As you’ll see below, there weren’t that many releases – it’s still Winter, a notoriously low new music releases season – but I continue to re-spin AOTWs from throughout 2025, and… oh, Betsy! So much goodness, I can’t believe that I listened to so many amazing albums over this past year. One of them was on my commute home the other day – Brandi Carlile’s Returning To Myself. Her voice, the songs, just brilliant (sorry, Chris, haha!).
Anyway, as I was listening, I envisioned that Simpsons episode where Bart is in a boy band. Does anyone recall that episode? It was a long time ago (2001), and I don’t recall all that much. However, I remember one scene where Bart and the boy band are singing, and someone (behind the curtain) pushes the “magic button”. Once pushed, the boys’magical voices were no longer N’Sync. Yeah, I went there. It was a horrifying screeching sound that didn’t mesh. In other words, it was the “magic button” that made the boys superstars, not the boys and their voices.
I just envisioned something like that while listening to Brandi. Could you imagine someone just keeping the “magic button” consistently down for her? Yeah, I suppose that was a whole lot of talk for a thought that just simply popped into my head on the commute for all of 30 seconds. A laugh to myself, if you will.
😁 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
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Album(s) of the Week** – January 9th, 2026:
None.
Honorable Mentions (in order by “popularity”*):
1,256,950 – Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge is Creed with a different singer, but don’t look at it like that. Alter Bridge is bad-fucking-ass! Mark Tremonti shreds with the best of them, and Myles Kennedy can sing his ass off! Myles can also play with the best of ’em. This release is phenomenal! Great stuff, keep it comin’ boys!!
From amazon: “World-renowned rockers Alter Bridge (Myles Kennedy [vocals/guitars], Mark Tremonti [guitars/vocals], Brian Marshall [bass], and Scott Phillips [drums]) will release their 8th studio album, Alter Bridge, on January 9, 2026. The band worked with longtime collaborator and producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette on Alter Bridge, which features iconic moments on songs like Silent Divide, Playing Aces, and Scales Are Falling. After more than two decades, Alter Bridge show no signs of slowing down!”
116,001 – Lionheart – Valley Of Death II – If you’re into hardcore / punk, this one’s a ripper! I just wish it was longer than 23:17… I’ll bet their shows are off the hook!
From amazon: “California’s hardcore giants Lionheart return with Valley of Death II via Arising Empire – heavier, darker, and more relentless than ever!
True strength is earned through struggle – and California’s metallic hardcore titans Lionheart are no strangers to it. Formed in 2007, the Oakland quintet forged their name through aggression, grit, and a groove-laden heaviness that hits harder with every release.
After erupting with The Will to Survive (2007), Built on Struggle (2010), and Undisputed (2012), Lionheart cemented their place in modern hardcore with unrelenting tours and uncompromising energy. 2014’s Welcome to the West Coast reached #1 on iTunes’ metal charts, launching a trilogy that redefined their sound. Love Don’t Live Here (2016), and Welcome to the West Coast II (2017) blended raw fury with reflection before 2019’s Valley of Death delivered their darkest, most unyielding statement yet.
In 2022, Lionheart joined Arising Empire and dropped Welcome to the West Coast III, produced by Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) and mixed by Will Putney (Fit for an Autopsy). The album became their boldest work to date–personal, punishing, and proudly Californian. Their subsequent European tour drew over 15,000 fans, with several sold-out nights proving their global reach.
Momentum only grew: on their 2024 headline run, Lionheart sold nearly 20,000 tickets across Europe, with 7 of 11 shows sold out. Now, extending their partnership with Arising Empire, the band enters its next era with Valley of Death II – due in 2026. Heavier, darker, and more relentless than ever, the record also features a powerful collaboration with Texas heavyweights Kublai Khan, pushing the boundaries of intensity even further.
To celebrate, Lionheart will storm Europe in January 2026 with Madball, Gideon, and Slope – a tour destined to shake foundations and reaffirm their legacy as one of hardcore’s most dominant forces.”
81,048 – Protomen – Act III: This City Made Us – Ok, so this album sounded absolutely magical on paper (read ahead)… and it is an album that I liked, but perhaps not as much as I thought I would or had hoped I would.
I don’t know how to describe it other than exactly what metalsucks had to say: “For the uninitiated, The Protomen sound like if Queen and Rush got drunk listening to Devo records, fell into an ’80s cyberpunk dystopia, and decided to write a rock opera about the classic video game series Mega Man. If you enjoy synth-laden epicness that mixes epic 80s power metal with synth rock and a story woven throughout, you’re gonna love it.”
While I didn’t love it, I found it to be a pretty fun, original rock album. I don’t know when the next album will come out – this is their first in over a decade and a half, the sequel to Act II – but I’m gonna keep my eyes on them. Wild stuff!
From metalsucks: “When it comes to rock and metal releases, there are a few that took a loooooonng time to come out. Albums like Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy, with its 15 years of production, Tool’s Fear Inoculum and its 13 years since 10,000 Days came out, and the 22 fucking years it took for My Bloody Valentine to release mbv immediately come to mind.
But for us super nerdy metalheads that love rock operas in the style of Styx, Queen, Iron Maiden, and even Bruce Springsteen, about an iconic Capcom platformer videogame series known as Mega Man, the day has finally come.
Nashville’s own Protomen have finally — FUCKING FINALLY — announced the release date to Act III: This City Made Us. The entire album will be out and in the hands of fans on January 9, 2026. Their first two full-length studio efforts were concept albums that told a canonical story titled Act I and Act II: The Father of Death, which were released in 2005 and 2009, respectively. Since then, fans have been anxiously awaiting Act III not only for new music but to learn what happens next in the story. That means fans will have waited almost 17 years for this release.
Sure, the band’s put out a song here and there over the years from Act III, but a lot of their time in recent history was spent on a live album of Queen covers and a cover album full of kick ass 80s tunes. Fans in their comment sections were constantly asking about Act III, but earlier this month, they dropped the date and began releasing new songs over on Soundcloud. Anyone who bought the album there has been getting new tracks every week until the album comes out. And as one of those folks, I gotta say that so far this one definitely lives up to the hype.
So basically, if you haven’t gathered it from this post, I am fucking stoked for Act III: This City Made Us to get officially released. I’m stoked for them to go on tour because their shows are electric as all get out. But mostly, I’m fucking stoked because this means more people are going to know how fucking awesome The Protomen really are.”
From metalsucks (yes, again): “Fans of The Protomen have been waiting for this release for so long, it’s almost impossible to accept that it’s finally here. Their previous album, Act II: The Father Of Death, came out in 2009, for fuck’s sake. Still, it’s here now, and fans can rest easy — this album lives up to the hype. For the uninitiated, The Protomen sound like if Queen and Rush got drunk listening to Devo records, fell into an ’80s cyberpunk dystopia, and decided to write a rock opera about the classic video game series Mega Man. If you enjoy synth-laden epicness that mixes epic 80s power metal with synth rock and a story woven throughout, you’re gonna love it.”
21,811 – Bullet – Kickstarter – Straight up meat ‘n potatoes rock ‘n roll album sounding A LOT like a mix between Accept, AC/DC, and a classic 70’s metal band. If you’re a fan of Accept and/or AC/DC, then give this a spin.
From amazon: “The Swedish band Bullet got together in autumn 2001, with the aim of playing traditional heavy metal inspired by the late 1970s and early 1980s: solid, authentic and classic, with a contemporary and timeless touch.
Seven years after their latest studio album, Dust To Gold (2018), the musicians Dag “Hell” Hofer (vocals), Hampus Klang (guitar), Gustav Hector (bass), Gustav Hjortsjö (drums) and latest addition Freddie Johansson (guitar) are now back with a new album: Kickstarter is set to prove that Bullet are determined to continue their almost 25-year career with the very kickstart referenced to by the album title.
This, of course, also includes Bullet’s iconic tour bus, whose engine exploded after one of their most recent shows, forcing the musicians to embark on their return journey without their rolling accommodation. Naturally, this was not the end of Bullet nor their battered vehicle – to the contrary: The group’s classic heavy metal spirit and their unwavering DIY mindset have proved stronger than ever. Having repaired the ageing bus with unwavering determination, oil-smeared hands, and sweaty brows.”
20,954 – Zu – Ferrum Sidereum (2 CDs) – Ok, so this is an album that is just a bit outside. It’s listed as “Instrumental Jazz-Metal,” and yeah, I suppose that’s what you can call it. I’d also add “experimental” and perhaps “avant-garde,” as well. It is some wild shit that’s about an hour and 20 minutes long. I don’t totally love it… but I don’t exactly hate it, either. Definitely going to keep my eyes on them for future releases and see what other wild compositions they can create on their blank canvas.
From amazon: “Italian jazz metal trio Zu return with “Ferrum Sidereum”, an instrumental double album that continues their tradition of freely blending genres to fit their musical intentions. Their music combines the complexity of progressive rock, the grit of industrial, the precision of metal, the energy of punk, and the intelligence of jazz. The result is a sonic journey that is as cerebral as it is visceral, defying easy categorisation while remaining unmistakably Zu.
“Ferrum Sidereum”, which translates from Latin as “iron of (or from) the stars,” refers to meteoric ore, which had a deep spiritual significance in ancient times and is contained in such artifacts as Egyptian ritual objects with Tutankhamun’s meteoric iron dagger as the best-known example, or in some Tibetan “Phurpa” blades. Iron coming from the stars forms the elemental base that shapes Zu’s otherworldly narrative on this album.
The trio spent over a year refining this proliferating 80-minute epic through relentless rehearsals and live studio recordings in the city of Bologna. It soon emerged that the tracks had to be epic and needed space to live and breathe, meaning they would not conform to today’s algorithm-driven norms.
The last piece of the musical puzzle fell into place when three-time Grammy-winning sound engineer Marc Urselli expressed interest in recording and potentially producing Zu’s next album through a mutual friend. This opportunity immediately caught the band’s attention, as they had never worked with a producer and recognized the need for someone capable of guiding them to create an 80-minute album. The band and producer balanced raw intensity with refined production tweaks and textures. The result is a contemporary, rich, and immersive sound that defines “Ferrum Sidereum”.
Zu were founded in 1999 and already released their debut full-length “Bromio” the same year. Their collaboration with iconic FAITH NO MORE and MR. BUNGLE frontman Mike Patton on their 2009 album “Carboniferous” made a significant impact and raised the Italians’ status. Through a spontaneous and organic creative process, Zu forged a fresh and innovative sound that seamlessly intertwines many layers of the Italian trio’s musical heritage, drawing from progressive rock, metal, and industrial genres. “Ferrum Sidereum” beckons to discover a new musical universe!”
190 – Tiny Monsters – Tiny Monsters – This local (Seattle) band’s latest offering was suggested to me by a friend. It’s mostly alt-rock, although I’d say they venture off into shoegaze territory occasionally, as well. They’re a young band that really should be going places. Iris Kymm’s vocals are heavenly over the shimmering music. There are five songs on this album, including an additional four as stripped-down live versions. Thanks for the recommendation!
Missed the Cut (in order by “popularity”*):
205,843 – The Cribs – Selling A Vibe – English lo-fi indie-punk trio consisting of twin brothers Gary (bass, vocals) and Ryan Jarman (guitar, vocals) and their younger brother, Ross (drums). This album was well-received, but I was looking forward to when it would end…
182,200 – Beyond The Black – Break The Silence – I’ve never been much of a fan of symphonic metal and this band (and release) do not change my mind at all. Too cheesy. Easy pass.
152,045 – Dry Cleaning – Secret Love – Ugh… it’s like indie rock meets post-punk. This isn’t good. At all. Yet it was met with rave reviews from fans and critics alike. I can’t believe that the year just started, yet we have a contender for worst album of the year!
23,511 – IOTUNN – Waves Over Copenhell [Live] – Danish prog-death metal band releases their first-ever live full-length album, and… meh. Not really my world. Fun fact: IOTUNN translates to “giant” in Old Norse.
Addendum (in order by “popularity”*) – Albums that were released earlier in the year (or previous years) that I missed, but are worth mentioning, anyhow:
46,501 – Ellende – Zerfall – [January 2nd, 2026] – This is another one of those atmospheric post-black metal albums where the members wear that funny face paint. I (usually) can’t stand this stuff, but every once in a while, there’s a needle. While this is not one of those needles, I will say that it had moments. Not very many of them, but there was some cool shit at times… will continue to keep my eyes on ’em. Fun (?) fact: “Zerfall” is German for disintegration, decay, collapse, or breakdown.
From amazon: “Austria’s leading atmospheric black metal band! Over the years, Ellende has released six full-length albums and three EPs. They achieved four official chart positions (Austria: #14, #21; Germany: #31, #37) with recent full-lengths, while the band has performed more than 120 international shows and reached over two million Spotify streams in the past year.
The lyrical themes have evolved alongside the music. From early reflections on misanthropy, nature, and isolation to later explorations of human nature, social criticism, war, loss, despair, and dementia. The upcoming full-length album Zerfall portrays the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself: a confrontation with the void and ultimately a triumph over it. Shaped also by a tragic event in the life of its mastermind, Ellendeʼs work continues to fuse raw intensity with profound emotional depth.”
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…
None!
Looking forward to (in order by “popularity”*) – These albums will be released this week and should be in next week’s AOTW newsletter:
9,021,564 – Madison Beer – Locket
865,121 – Kreator – Krushers Of The World
319,938 – Soen – Reliance
287,025 – Sleaford Mods – The Demise Of Planet X
65,716 – Kid Kapichi – Fearless Nature
46,403 – Elles Bailey – Can’t Take My Story Away
37,793 – Gluecifer – Same Drug New High
13,830 – Death Cult – Paradise Live
1,870 – Godzillionaire – Negative Balance
302 – Toilet Snake – Back From The Sewers
186 – The Last Sound Revelation – The Proximity Effect
…and several others. Some that I am looking forward to and others not so much.
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Fine 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, send ’em this way!
Until next week…
Cheers,
Troy
One Louder Magazine... RESURRECTED! 
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