One Louder Magazine… RESURRECTED
Introduction and Bandcamp AI
NFL Playoffs – Conference Championships!
Album of the Week
Honorable Mentions
Missed The Cut
Addendum
On The List
Looking Forward To
Fine Print
Greetings, fellow humans!
Speaking of humans, I was happy to see this news from the fine folks over at Bandcamp:
“Bandcamp’s mission is to help spread the healing power of music by building a community where artists thrive through the direct support of their fans. We believe that the human connection found through music is a vital part of our society and culture, and that music is much more than a product to be consumed. It’s the result of a human cultural dialog stretching back before the written word.
Similarly, musicians are more than mere producers of sound. They are vital members of our communities, our culture, and our social fabric. Bandcamp was built to directly connect artists and their fans, and to make it easy for fans to support artists equitably so that they can keep making music.
Today we are fortifying our mission by articulating our policy on generative AI, so that musicians can keep making music, and so that fans have confidence that the music they find on Bandcamp was created by humans.
Our guidelines for generative AI in music and audio are as follows:
- Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp.
- Any use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles is strictly prohibited in accordance with our existing policies prohibiting impersonation and intellectual property infringement.
If you encounter music or audio that appears to be made entirely or with heavy reliance on generative AI, please use our reporting tools to flag the content for review by our team. We reserve the right to remove any music on suspicion of being AI-generated.
With this policy, we’re putting human creativity first, and we will be sure to communicate any updates to the policy as the rapidly changing generative AI space develops. Thank you.”
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The One Louder Magazine blog is still a work in progress – as is the 2025 Album of the Year write-up – and I just want to thank you for your input… and patience. Please keep them coming – the input and patience, ha! I am aware of a few things (and still need to update them), but I may not be aware of others, so if you have more suggestions, hit me up! This blog is just as much for you as it is for me. Granted, I am a busy guy with a lot on my plate, but I will do my best to keep this thing rolling.
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The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs saw a few exciting games / moments, but fewer than the week prior IMO. Let’s take a quick look back before taking a look ahead!
Saturday started with a back-and-forth affair between the Denver Broncos and the visiting Buffalo Bills. In the last play of the game, Broncos QB Bo Nix threw a beautiful pass into the arms of receiver Marvin Mims Jr, and, in doing so, pushed the game into overtime! In the end, the Broncos – the #1 seed in the AFC – walked away victorious, 33-30.
The Saturday evening game featured two NFC West division rivals squaring off in the San Francisco 49ers and my beloved Seattle Seahawks, the NFC’s #1 seed. Like the earlier outcome, the #1 seed prevailed here, as well, but the route getting there was very, very different. The 49ers kicked the ball off, and Rashid Shaheed returned it nearly 100 yards for an opening game kick-off return for a touchdown, what?!?! The Niners never got traction, while the ‘Hawks just kept pouring it on over and over and over again. The Niners were relieved to see the final zeroes on the clock, tucking their tails between their legs and licking their wounds after a 41-6 beatdown. I think my favorite line about the game was something along the lines of, “The 49ers’ plane had more touchdowns on Saturday than the team did.” Zing!
The first game on Sunday saw the Houston Texans travel to the Northeast for a date with the New England Patriots. It was a snow-filled day that saw the Patriots turn the ball over THREE times. Not to be outdone, QB CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans said “hold my beer” and turned the ball over FIVE times for a total of eight in the game! Ball security is one of those things that you GOTTA get right if you want to make it deep in the playoffs.
Sunday evening featured the (surprisingly) #2-seeded Chicago Bears hosting the Los Angeles Rams. The winner of this game would travel to Seattle the following week, so I was definitely interested to see who we would be hosting.
Was I rooting for either team in particular? Glad I asked myself! The answer (truly) is no. On one hand, I thought, “Well, the Bears earned the #2 seed and thusly are the ‘better’ team.” I also thought, “If shit goes sideways next week, I’d rather root for the Bears in the SB instead of the stupid Rams.”
On the other side of the coin, everyone and their mother knew the Rams would win this game. They were simply the better team, and everyone knew it. Even the Bears knew it. So that part of me thinks, “Well, you want to face the better teams remaining… and at full capacity. No excuses, right?!”
Also, a friend in one of my football group text chats suggested the following (which totally makes sense, and I kinda like it at the same time.) Basically, the NFC West is STACKED (except for the Arizona Cardinals). Get this: other than the aforementioned Cards, the NFC West went a combined 38 wins and 13 losses this season. That is a win percentage of nearly 75%. Wow. So, he says something to the effect of, “We always have great games against the 49ers and Rams. Let’s host the 49ers here, then the Rams, then we go to Santa Clara – home of the 49ers – and win the SB on THEIR field!” My God, that would be such sweetness, I can’t even explain! People of SF and the surrounding area would be all up in arms over the whole thing, hahahaha!!
Anyway, this is a long-ass way of saying that, yes indeed, the Rams pulled off the dub… but it was still exciting for about 30 seconds. The Bears were down by a TD with no time left on the clock. Bears QB Caleb Williams was running for his life – the wrong way, no less! – before turning and hucking a Hail Mary… that was caught! Sending the game into OT! In the end, the Rams left the bitter cold and now head to Seattle this upcoming weekend.
Then there were four…
That’s right, four teams are duking it out this Sunday to find out who finds themselves in the Super Bowl again this year. All four teams have found themselves in this position previously, unlike the Cleveland Brownies, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, all still searching for their first SB appearance.
Sunday, January 25th at 12:00 PM PT
(2) New England Patriots at (1) Denver Broncos
The New England Patriots are favored on the road by -4.5 points, and the over/under is currently at 42.5 points.
In this matchup, I am rooting for the Pats. There are a lot of reasons why, but numero uno is that on one of the final plays of the aforementioned Broncos-Bills game, second-year Broncos QB Bo Nix fucked his ankle up and is out for the remainder of the season. Donezo. So now they turn to backup QB Jarrett Stidham, who last took a snap in the 1800s.
While the Broncos D is legit good, I simply cannot see any way that the team walks away with a win… even if they only lost one game at home all season (a few weeks back to the Jags by two tuddies). Furthermore, I think that -4.5 spread is soft. Perhaps I’ll be surprised with what I see, but I am not counting on it.
The playoff teams that Denver faced in the regular season this year include the Los Angeles Chargers (1-1), Philadelphia Eagles (W), Houston Texans (W), Green Bay Packers (W), and Jacksonville Jaguars (L). The playoff teams that New England faced in the regular season this year include the Pittsburgh Steelers (L), Carolina Panthers (W), and Buffalo Bills (1-1).
<These teams have not squared off since 2023, and the teams are very different now than they were then, so I don’t think a look at their history will have any indication as to what we can expect this Sunday.>
While I would love to watch a good, solid football game, I fully expect the Patriots to walk away as AFC champs.
NFL Team Rankings:
New England Patriots – #2 overall team offense
New England Patriots – #4 overall team defense
Denver Broncos – #14 overall team offense
Denver Broncos – #3 overall team defense
desTROYer’s Prediction:
New England Patriots – 24
Denver Broncos – 9
Sunday, January 25th at 3:30 PM PT
(5) Los Angeles Rams at (1) Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are favored at home by a mere -2.5 points, and the over/under is currently at 46.5 points.
In this matchup, I am NO DOUBT rooting for the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 💙💚. Let’s do it, boys!
The playoff teams that the Rams faced in the regular season this year include the Houston Texans (W), Philadelphia Eagles (L), San Francisco 49ers (1-1), Jacksonville Jaguars (W), Seattle Seahawks (1-1), and Carolina Panthers (L). The playoff teams that Seattle faced in the regular season this year include the San Francisco 49ers (1-1), Pittsburgh Steelers (W), Jacksonville Jaguars (W), Houston Texans (W), Los Angeles Rams (1-1), and Carolina Panthers (W).
While this rivalry isn’t as intense as the one we have with the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams are in the same division and always give us fits. They may not be enemy #1, but they are a very close #2.
<The Seahawks have the edge overall in head-to-head matchups… barely: 29-28-0. Interestingly, they have only met in the playoffs twice, both Wild Card matchups: 2020 season (2021 game, Rams won at Seattle, 30-20) and way back in the 2004 season (2005 game, where the St. Louis Rams won at Seattle, 27-20). Know what I love about that? Third time’s a charm. Another one at home, but we’re gonna send the Rams fishing! Four of the Rams’ five losses this season came on the road. Let’s make it five of six on Sunday!>
I always love watching a good football game… unless it’s the Seahawks. Then I love blowouts. Show the country – nay, the world! – What an incredible team Seattle has. Furthermore, it’s a young team with a young head coach and so much talent. The future looks very, very bright!
A couple more points: when we beat the Rams (in LA), they were without starting wideout, Davante Adams, who was out with a hamstring injury. He’s back – and played last week – but it looks like he’s not at 100%. Dude is an unbelievable playmaker, so the dual-threat of him and WR Puka Nacua is not to be overlooked.
Also, a few of the Seahawks have taken a beating. RB Zach Charbonnet injured his ankle and is donezo for the season. The 3rd stringer, rookie George Holani, has been on IR for the past couple of months, but should suit up this weekend. It’s looking like LT Charles Cross will play, but he’ll miss practice all week (foot). Also missing practice is his backup, LT Josh Jones (knee, ankle); by the sound of it, he will not suit up, leaving 3rd stringer Amari Knight. He, too, is injured (knee), but should also suit up. That said, his experience is far less than that of Charles and Josh.
Final point has to be a conspiracy theory, right? I have not read, seen, or heard this anywhere else, so is it really a conspiracy if only one person thinks so…? Here goes nothing:
Conspiracy theory: the game(s) will be rigged for a Patriots-Rams Super Bowl. Nearly all season long, there has (seemingly) been a back-and-forth NFL MVP race between Pats QB Drake Maye (the student) and Rams QB Matthew Stafford (the teacher). Why not have ’em duke it out in the big game, the whole enchilada, see who really is the NFL’s MVP? For the love of my Seahawks – and the entire NFL – please do not throw flags that will dictate how the game will go…
Speaking of which… Clay Martin is the crew chief, and this will be his first time leading the officiating crew in a conference championship. I like a lot of what I read, but there were also a few concerns… and why wouldn’t there be, haha?! You can hop on GoogBing and take a look around if you want to see more info about his officiating history.
Fun fact #1, courtesy of ESPN: “If the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, they would have the longest preseason odds (60-1) for a champion since the 2001 Patriots (60-1). Only six teams have been even 25-1 or longer since 1980.”
Fun fact #2, also courtesy of ESPN: “Six different teams have been Super Bowl favorites at different points this season (Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, Rams, Ravens and Seahawks), the most in a single regular season since 2012. That season, the Ravens won the Super Bowl despite never having been favored at any point.”
NFL Team Rankings:
Seattle Seahawks – #3 overall team offense
Seattle Seahawks – #1 overall team defense
Los Angeles Rams – #1 overall team offense
Los Angeles Rams – #10 overall team defense
desTROYer’s Prediction:
Seattle Seahawks – 24
Los Angeles Rams – 21
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Musically, we’re still in the cold of Winter 🥶 🥶 🥶, so releases aren’t at full bore quite yet. That said, I’ve peeked ahead, and the horizon is quite bright! Lots of good stuff in the coming weeks and months. Be prepared!
😁 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 16th, 2026:
None.
Honorable Mentions (in order by “popularity”*):
12,229,023 – Wiz Khalifa – Khaotic – As most of you know by now, I’m not a fan of most rap and hip-hop albums released these days – I prefer the old shit – but this is a barn-burner, loved it, and have dug me some Wiz Khalifa – aka Cameron Jibril Thomaz – for some time now.
Fun fact (from 2025): Ok, so I listened to this late Friday night – with edibles; my favorite time to work on “music stuff” – and did a deep dive on Wiz Khalifa while the music played. There’s a lot of information out there on him, of course, but one of the most fascinating things to me is his rap sheet. He was arrested one time. While smoking a joint. On stage in Romania. Where marijuana is illegal (recreationally and medically). And he’s sponsored by a weed company! Anyway, that’s it! Other than that one “hiccup”, his legal woes are zero. Such a good boy that Cameron is. Of course I’ll continue to keep my eyes on this dude!
865,121 – Kreator – Krushers Of The World – YES! Classic, old-school German thrash band releases their first album in four years and… it’s worth the wait! These guys are some of the best in the game. Great stuff, bang your head!
From amazon: “KREATOR’s Krushers Of The World is a ferocious return that finds the band at full strength, blending classic thrash fury with fresh intensity and purpose. From the relentless opener “Seven Serpents” to the darkly melodic “Tränenpalast” featuring Britta Görtz, the album shows a band unafraid to evolve while staying true to their roots.
Tracks like “Barbarian” and “Psychotic Imperator” hit with unrelenting speed, while the title track and “Satanic Anarchy” deliver crushing groove and anthemic hooks.
Backed by Jens Bogren’s massive production and Zbigniew Bielak’s striking artwork, Krushers of the World proves KREATOR aren’t just surviving — they’re still leading. Fueled by the reflective fire of their Hate & Hope film and Mille Petrozza’s sharpened vision, this is a statement album: heavy, focused, and unstoppable.”
574,586 – Jon Hopkins & Biggi Hilmars – Wilding [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Jon Hopkins is an electronic artist that leans mostly on the post-rock / ambient / soundscape-y side, but occasionally (even if rarely) bumps up to rave tempos. However, this go ’round, he teamed up with film composer Biggi Hilmars to work on a movie documentary soundtrack. This is quite subdued and mellow, as you would expect from the matter of the documentary (read ahead). I think I’d like to watch this doc at some point. Fun fact: No, Jon Hopkins did not attend Johns Hopkins… although he totally should’ve!
From Domino Recording Co Ltd: “In 2023, Jon Hopkins, alongside Icelandic film composer Biggi Hilmars, scored the soundtrack for the acclaimed documentary, Wilding. The documentary follows the story of farmers Isabella Tree and her husband Charlie Burrell, who embarked on an environmental project which aimed to breathe new life into the failing 400-year-old Knepp Estate in the Southeast England. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrusted its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild. It was the beginning of a grand experiment that has become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe, and they’ve been able to promote new biodiversity, regenerating and transforming a previously over-farmed, degraded part of the land.
Hopkins and Hilmars have created a soundtrack which perfectly accompanies the Wilding documentary; it’s full of organic textures, strings, vocals, and piano as they channel the pulse of the natural world into a living score.”
388,533 – Alice Merton – Visions – Hey, this is pretty good! Check this out: she is a poppy English-Canadian singer-songwriter who was born in Germany and currently resides in London. At times, it somewhat reminded me of Taylor Swift… and I mean that as a compliment! I don’t know how often I would listen to this, but she is on my radar; can’t wait to hear more!
From amazon: “Alice Merton returns with her third studio album, Visions, an intimate exploration of the blind faith required to stay true to yourself. The album delves into themes of self-determination, self-esteem, and loyalty, showcasing the resilience needed to protect your own path from external pressures and expectations. Recorded across Iceland, New York, London, and Los Angeles, Visions showcases Alice Merton’s signature powerful vocals and melodic songwriting, delivering both energetic anthems and introspective moments.”
319,938 – Soen – Reliance – Oh man, this was tasty! If you dig Opeth and TOOL, that is kind of what Soen sounds like… yet, they’ve really morphed over the years to become their own thing. Very tasty prog-rock. The band features ex-Opeth drummer Martin Lopez. Looking forward to what they come out with next!
From amazon: “SOEN – the Swedish progressive metal powerhouse spearheaded by Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums) – continue to find incredible new pathways into the spatial areas between light and dark, loud and calm, heavy and soothing. And with its seamless march across deeply human emotional terrain, their forthcoming 7th studio album, Reliance, SOEN continues to explore the human mind, heart, and soul with a visionary duty of care, plus an extra edge of heavy.
With Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards & guitar), Cody Lee Ford (guitar), and Stefan Stenberg (bass) standing shoulder to shoulder with Ekelöf and Lopez, the lush, continual evolution of SOEN’s sound soars. Take “Primal”, a barrel-chested roar detailing the existential fight between the human spirit and our current world, Ekelöf’s incredible vocals leading the heavy charge.
“Axis” is a resolute and defiant look into where humanity sits, propelled by Lopez’s relentless yet swinging drums, and then there’s the serene elegance of “Indifferent,” a beautifully orchestrated modern lament on the loss of love which rides resolutely on the power of strings, piano, and Ekelöf’s marvellous voice.
With Reliance, SOEN continue their extraordinarily raw and earnest lifetime exploration of the mental and physical boundaries which challenge humankind as it writhes and wrestles with itself in these challenging times. Thoughtful, provocative, beautiful, and brutal, Reliance is a journey you need to take.”
From Metal Injection: “Album number seven from Soen is here to bum you out juuuuuust enough. You’re getting some big choruses and proggy grooves, but you’ll still get that Katatonia-esque sadness. This one welcomes bassist Stefan Stenberg back to the band, so if you’re feeling some familiar low-end, that’s why.”
177,462 – Langhorne Slim – The Dreamin’ Kind – Folksy / Americana singer-songwriter album that is eerily reminiscent of Bob Dylan… like a 21st century Robert. I like. Fun fact: Langhorne Slim is the stage name for Sean Scolnick. His list of instruments played is vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, banjo, and, I kid you not… dancing. Love it, haha!
From Dualtone Music Group: “Leave it to Langhorne Slim — a pioneer of raw, rule-breaking Americana for more than two decades — to reach far beyond the genre he helped inspire.
The Dreamin’ Kind finds the Nashville transplant strapping on an electric guitar and embracing his longtime love of larger-than-life rock & roll. With its chugging power chords, 1970s-sized riffs, and richly layered arrangements, The Dreamin’ Kind is fueled not only by sheer amplification, but by the soul-baring songwriting that’s become Slim’s calling card, too. Tucked between those anthems are acoustic-driven songs that skirt the outer orbits of folk music, from the bare-boned heartbreak of “Stealin’ Time” to the organic, orchestral sweep of “Dance On Thru.” The result is the more explorative and expansive album of Slim’s career: a record made for rock clubs, campfires, and garages alike, produced by Greta Van Fleet’s Sam Kiszka, and anchored by a lifelong desire to break down new walls.
“It felt like I was blowing some old shit up so I could plant some new flowers,” Slim says of the creation process. “I love acoustic music. I love folk music. But those aren’t my only loves. Rock & roll has always tickled the same place in my soul as great singer-songwriter music, and I wanted to explore those influences. Raw songs that make you feel something: that’s the stuff I’m after.””
37,793 – Gluecifer – Same Drug New High – Savage! This Norwegian meat ‘n potatoes hard rock band apparently was kind of a big deal in the late ’90s / early ’00s Scandinavian scene, but never crossed my path, unfortunately. Then they disbanded in 2005 before reuniting a few years back. ‘Same Drug New High’ is the band’s first release in over two decades. They were cut from the same cloth as Turbonegro and The Hellacopters, so if you like them, then this will be right up your alley. MNP, as mentioned earlier, with just a taste of some punk rock. Tasty album, ya bastards!
From amazon: “At a time when the world’s inflationary desire for change seems to stop at nothing and no one, Gluecifer appear to be the proverbial solid rock. The Norwegian band, one of the most successful in their country, who immediately returned to their former strength after their reunion in spring 2018, continue to play their passionate melange of irresistible punk rock, traditional rock’n’roll, and dazzling glam elements just the way their fans want to hear it.
The new studio album, ‘Same Drug New High’, the group’s first in more than twenty years, leaves no doubt that founding members Biff Malibu (vocals) and Captain Poon (guitar), plus long-standing bandmates Raldo Useless (guitar), Danny Young (drums), and Peter Larsson (bass) sound not only more mature and skilled, but also more versatile and determined than ever.”
27,572 – Blanket – True Blue – A sweet potpourri of post-rock/metal, shoegaze, and metal. I’m getting some strong Deftones vibes from this record. Nice!
From Metal Injection: “Starting this week off with some spacy, indie washes of sounds. True Blue is such a great record to get lost in. Not a traditional “heavy” record, but if you’re a fan of Diamond Eyes-era Deftones or Hum, perhaps, you’ll want to check this out.”
15,495 – Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel – Celestun – Tyler is the former co-writer and guitarist of Band of Horses, and Carl Broemel is the guitarist of My Morning Jacket. Here they teamed up to write and record a (mostly) all-acoustic instrumental album and… gorgeous. These two dudes’ guitar interplay sounds like they’ve been doing it for years… and they likely have. So glad they decided to release an album, and hopefully we’ll have more on the horizon! It includes a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Sail Away’.
From their bandcamp page: “Having been friends and occasional touring partners for well over a decade, Asheville, NC-based singer-songwriter-guitarist Tyler Ramsey and My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel have at long last made their full-length recorded debut with ‘Celestun’.
A marvel of interwoven musicianship and testament to the duo’s singular camaraderie, the album encapsulates the two veteran guitarist-songwriters’ mutual admiration and effortless compatibility as they swap and share nine new songs of dazzling dexterity and grace, recorded almost entirely on acoustic guitars. Though their initial objective had been all instrumental, the natural flow of the sessions led the duo to begin incorporating vocal tracks.
Stark yet intricately arranged songs such as the cinematic title track, “Flying Things” (featuring additional vocals from GRAMMY® Award-nominated singing siblings The Secret Sisters), and an incandescent version of Neil Young’s “Sail Away” are rich with dazzling dexterity and grace, Ramsey’s nimble fingerstyle picking and Broemel’s classically trained virtuosity aligning to create a predominantly instrumental song cycle of rustic beauty and atmospheric power. Music at its most elemental, Celestun sees Carl Broemel and Tyler Ramsey stripping away artifice to unlock and explore deeply personal themes of wanderlust and familial love, of fellowship and communal adventure.”
13,830 – Death Cult – Paradise Live – Before The Cult was The Cult, they were known as Death Cult. For the band’s 40th anniversary, vocalist Ian Astbury, guitarist Billie Duffie, and the gang played a 12-date tour of the UK and one show in Los Angeles, playing material from Death Cult, Southern Death Cult, and The Cult’s first two studio albums, ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985). Ian’s voice has not deteriorated in four decades, I can’t believe it! He sounds exactly the same as he did when I was in HS listening to these guys! Fun to revisit these old, old, old tunes!
From amazon: “Death Cult laid the groundwork for the band we now know as The Cult, and to mark the band’s 40th anniversary in 2023, Ian Astbury & Billy Duffy, along with John Tempesta on bass and Charlie Jones on drums, revived Death Cult for a special run of shows. Out on January 16th, 2026, PARADISE LIVE is a 16-track live album that documents this rebirth of Death Cult. Recorded at the iconic Albert Hall in Duffy’s hometown of Manchester on November 18th, 2023, the release will be available on double LP, CD, and digitally.”
1,809 – The Supervoid Choral Ensemble – EP1 – Hella rad – and absolutely way too short – all-instrumental crazy doom-math prog metal EP. The band features the mastermind behind Cloudkicker, Ben Sharp (on guitar and bass), with Vinny Roseboom (of Gospel) on drums. If you don’t know Cloudkicker, start there. Or fuck it, start here (or TSVCE’s first release in 2024’s Live From The Downwhen Terminus), then go back to Cloudkicker. It all kicks ass!!
From Metal Injection: “The duo of Vincent Roseboom and Ben Sharp returned earlier this week with a surprise EP of hypnotic sludgy goodness. Ben’s Cloudkicker antics certainly present, but perhaps it’s Vincent that takes them into spacy realms. Fans of Vincent’s other outfit Gospel, will be excited by the show-stealing guest spot from bandmate Jon Pastir on “Ernie Ball Worship.””
1,704 – Chris Ballew – Starting To Get Light – Once again, the former vocalist/bassist of Presidents of the United States of America and Caspar Babypants goes solo and… I like it! I love how he is able to separate the three projects, each sounding reminiscent of the other, yet totally different. Here he puts his big boy pants on, and the results are wonderful…
186 – The Last Sound Revelation – The Proximity Effect – The Last Sound Revelation is an all-instrumental post-rock/metal band from Rome. Normally, this stuff is right in my wheelhouse. While this album isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination – it’s great, actually! – it also falls short of other bands releasing similar albums. Excellent, but not mind-blowing.
From Argonauta Records: “Rome-based instrumental post metal outfit The Last Sound Revelation deliver a powerful blend of progressive metal, post rock atmospheres, and blues-infused grooves. Hypnotic builds, massive riffs, and cinematic dynamics evoke echoes of bands like Russian Circles, Isis, and Long Distance Calling, shaping a deep and immersive sonic journey.”
106 – In A House Of Heartbeats – Divination Of Dreams – Man, this was fantastic! An English three-piece delivering all-instrumental post-rock/metal with forays into doom metal and shoegaze. This is the band’s debut album, and I am happy to have gotten in from the ground level. These dudes are on my radar now!
From the band: “Purveyors of post-metal gloom, crafting soundtracks for euphoric nightmares and strange dreams.”
Missed the Cut (in order by “popularity”*):
17,874,983 – A$AP Rocky – Don’t Be Dumb – Rakim Athelston Mayers – aka A$AP Rocky – releases another album of his brand of rap and… not really for me. As y’all know, I tend to lean towards older hip-hop and rap artists, but occasionally newer ones pop through. A$AP Rocky is not one of them, unfortunately.
9,021,564 – Madison Beer – locket – Madison Beer is a singer-songwriter with two feet firmly planted in the pop-dance world. Needless to say, it is not a world I typically find myself in, so I will see myself out. Fun fact: She’s currently dating Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
4,481,644 – Cavetown – Running With Scissors – Cavetown is singer-songwriter Robin Skinner. It’s a ‘tweener release leaning no. It’s sort of a lo-fi, indie, folksy singer-songwriter album… but at times he sounded very Sunny Day Real Estate / Built to Spill / Pixies-ish (and slightly early Smashing Pumpkins), and I kinda liked it. Will keep my eyes and ears peeled for future releases, but with tempered expectations. Question: Does anyone remember that rad Seattle-based band called Running With Scissors from way back when?
287,025 – Sleaford Mods – The Demise Of Planet X – Simply put, this post-punk release is absolutely atrocious… and I like post-punk. This was a tough one to get through. Yet, this UK duo (and album) is highly regarded far and wide. I don’t get it …
117,221 – Earth & Black Noi$e – Geometry of Murder: Extra Capsular Extraction Inversions – Earth is another band that is hit-or-miss for me. This album was right in the middle. It’s barely over 60 minutes of meandering, trance-like doom/drone instrumentals. I could see myself digging this occasionally, but not enough to warrant a “Hell yes!”
103,407 – The Funeral Portrait – Live From Suffocate City – Emo meets post-hardcore. I dunno, doesn’t resonate with me, but I think the emo/post-hardcore kids will dig it. This is taken from the band’s live tour in support of 2024’s ‘Greetings From Suffocate City’. I also like the tip of the cap to David Bowie’s 1972 banger, ‘Suffragette City’.
95,287 – Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore – Tragic Magic – Interesting album that seemed to criss-cross between singer-songwriter and New Age, but mostly leaning in the latter’s direction. Mellow and relaxing, but nothing I need to hear again. However, I do like the story behind the album (see ahead)…
From Rough Trade Records: “Having toured together over the years, Lattimore and Barwick now join forces to co-write and record this full-length album. Their creative synergy brings together harp, voice, and analogue synths in a deeply emotional, immersive sound journey. The album was recorded at the Philharmonie de Paris with co-producer Trevor Spencer (Fleet Foxes, Beach House). This album continues a unique series of collaborations between the label and the Musée de la Musique, featuring historical instruments in contemporary composition.
Tragic Magic brings together Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, two of contemporary ambient, experimental, and electronic music’s most celebrated composers, for a unique collaboration at the Philharmonie de Paris, with extraordinary access to the Musée de la Musique’s instrument collection, in partnership with the French label InFiné. The album features seven immersive, evocative compositions guided by the human spirit – intimate, grounded in friendship, both earthly and cosmic – and part of a greater continuum, reflecting the solace and transformative power of artistry across generations.
Co-produced by Trevor Spencer (Fleet Foxes, Beach House), Tragic Magic was created in just nine days, a testament to the “musical telepathy” that has developed between Barwick and Lattimore over years of touring and friendship. Arriving in Paris from Los Angeles shortly after the 2025 wildfires, their sessions combined improvisation with the emotions and experiences they carried, in a setting both inspiring and deeply supportive. Lattimore selected harps tracing the instrument’s evolution from 1728 to 1873, while Barwick chose several iconic analogue synthesizers, including the Roland JUPITER and Sequential Circuits PROPHET-5. In freeform dialogue between voice and instrument, they create a meditation on tragedy, wonder, and the restorative power of shared experience.
The duo, often joined by Spencer, also explored the city, sharing meals and visiting museums and landmarks, each encounter leaving an impression on their next session. The experience allowed them to work intimately with rare instruments, blending their personal sensibilities with centuries of history, resulting in music that honours the past while remaining a deeply authentic expression of the present.
Throughout Tragic Magic, Barwick and Lattimore find something beyond themselves: a sense that while everything may not be okay, beauty persists. Their approach – transforming life into music, observing, feeling, and creating – continues a lineage of creative expression and visionary invention, embodied in the very instruments they employed for this project.”
89,005 – Greywind – Severed Heart City – This is an Irish emo meets post-hardcore band featuring brother-sister duo Steph (vox) and Paul O’Sullivan (guitar). I think the recording is solid – and the tunes aren’t half bad for the genre – but it isn’t an album I see myself reaching for again, nor do I need to keep tabs on future releases.
65,716 – Kid Kapichi – Fearless Nature – I was pretty hip to this “punk” band’s last release – 2024’s ‘There Goes The Neighborhood’, saying, “Out of the gate, I immediately loved this album. It sounded fresh, exciting, dangerous, and a touch raw. I enjoyed it more as the album progressed. But around halfway to three-quarters through the album, they hit a plateau; the songs don’t hit as much as they do earlier on. So, I like this album, but don’t love it. Will keep my eyes on ’em…”
But this release started on a plateau – a very low one at that – and never got out of their funk. This is not a good album.
57,387 – Ov Sulfur – Endless – It’s deathcore, so heavy, HEAVY shit. Deep, guttural growls that would make Cookie Monster blush. Pass.
46,403 – Elles Bailey – Can’t Take My Story Away – A singer-songwriter album within the blues-rock-Americana vein with just a subtle hint of country. I like her raspy voice and the tunes are decent, but all in all, the album kinda came and went, leaving little to no impression. That said, I do like the meaning behind the album, the story (read ahead)…
From amazon: ““Can’t Take My Story Away” is a journey through the tangled threads of human connection. It flows through the quiet, secret conversations we have with ourselves, the way we reach out and connect to the world around us, and the slow, painful unraveling of ties to those who once held power over us. Yet in that unraveling, there is liberation—a lightness, a joy.
It sings of being loved not in spite of your quirks, but because of them, and there is a quiet strength running through this album—and a deep-rooted honesty. It speaks of the beauty of healthy relationships, while reminding us that the truest story we own is the one we write for ourselves.”
45,630 – The James Hunter Six – Off The Fence – James Hunter is a soul-blues singer-songwriter reminiscent of, say, Van Morrison (who James has recorded and performed with, including on this release). I actually enjoyed this album, but I don’t see myself needing to hear it again, either.
6,063 – Steve Hogarth – S.P.Q.R. [Live From Sala Sinopoli, Roma] (2 CDs / Blu-ray) – Steve “h” Hogarth is the lead vocalist (and occasionally keys and guitar) of English prog-rock stalwarts, Marillion, but here he ventures out solo, playing both solo pieces, as well as Marillion tunes reimagined. The live album began with piano and voice for the, I dunno, first 5-6 songs, maybe more… then the full band joins. I don’t know, man, I love good prog-rock, but I could never get into Marillion. It’s not like it’s a bad album, per se. They’re great, the recording’s fine… honestly, I was just bored to tears, waiting for something to happen. So much so that, in fact, I skipped halfway through songs to see if anything would change. It didn’t. The live album is a little over two hours long. I made it through the entire thing in about an hour (via skipping tracks).
1,899 – 8-bit & The Single Players – GET GOOD – A friend recommended this fun album! They’re an all-instrumental jazz-fusion band that (on this release, at least) plays video game soundtracks. While I love the idea, NES and Game Boy were platforms that I never had / used, so I am not familiar with the game themes… in the least. I won’t listen to this again, but ’twas fun for a single listen… even if I didn’t recognize the game soundtracks.
From their bandcamp page: “A collection of jazz fusion arrangements of video game music originally written for the NES and Game Boy.”
Trumpet – Andrew Littleford
Alto Saxophone – Sean Irvine
Tenor Saxophone – Niall Cade
Trombone – Eric Ladish
Guitar – Emmanuel Bach
Piano – Carter Graham
Bass – Bryn Herperger
Drums – Ben Kidd
Violin – Kristina Bauch, Liana Nadurak
Viola – John Sellick
Cello – Sam Nadurak
All tracks arr. by Ben Kidd
Recording funded in part by the Winnipeg Arts Council
1,317 – Total Annihilation – Mountains of Madness – Congrats on your 20th anniversary as a band, fellas, but I, unfortunately, am not much of a fan of most death metal albums, and this one did not change my mind.
302 – Toilet Snake – Back From The Sewers EP – The band’s name is “Toilet Snake” and the EP is titled “Back From The Sewers”. I mean, what else on Earth could this have sounded like other than a little doom-sludge metal? Four crusty, raw tunes clocking in at 13:24.
Addendum (in order by “popularity”*) – Albums that were released earlier in the year (or previous years) that I missed, but are worth mentioning, anyhow:
18,855 – Cardiacs – LSD – [September 19th, 2025] – Cardiacs were a prog-rock band, and this is their tribute (and the final work, the band’s swan song) to Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith (vocals, guitar, keys). It compiles incomplete pieces that Tim left behind that were completed by his brother, Jim, and other collaborators. Unfortunately, this is some very high-brow prog/art-rock and just a bit outside of the prog-rock I normally listen to and like. And at an hour and 20 minutes, it gets a little long in the tooth. RIP Tim Smith.
11,822 – Steve Tibbetts – Close – [October 24th, 2025] – Listed as fusion, but nah, man. I’d say that this was more of, say, an all-instrumental drone / soundscape / ambient affair. Typically, I really enjoy these types of releases, but for some reason, this one did not resonate with me.
From amazon: “The striking cover image of an abandoned swing illuminated against a field of glittering stars makes a compelling visual metaphor for the music on Close. “Music is a twilight language,” Steve Tibbetts confirms. “The job is to translate some shadow into sound.”
On his 11th ECM release, the Minnesotan guitarist resumes the quest, slowly developing his yearning improvised melodies over layered loops and drones and darkly rumbling percussion. If the sound colors, including distorted electric guitar and sparkling 12-string acoustic, make this music of the west, its gradual, almost hypnotic unfolding continues to suggest eastern affinities. “I am still reaching for the evocative sound of Sultan Khan,” says Tibbetts, speaking of the late Indian sarangi master whose playing has long been among his major influences.”
2,017 – Jenny on Holiday – Quicksand Heart – [January 9th, 2026] – Jenny on Holiday is Jenny Hollingworth, a synth-heavy indie singer-songwriter. She is one-half of Let’s Eat Grandma, an experimental pop duo out of the UK. I kinda sorta like her voice, but I don’t much care for the tunes. Meh. This is her debut album.
571 – The Far Cry – Once There Was – [March 1st, 2025] – Connecticut-based prog-rock band featuring a plethora of talent… but good God is this thing ever bloated? Tons of talent to be found, the recording is “perfection”… and I was bored to tears. What’s next on the chopping block?
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:
6,274,312 – Megadeth – Megadeth
3,654,655 – Van Morrison – Somebody Tried To Sell Me A Bridge
1,742,076 – Poppy – Empty Hands
422,860 – The Damned – Not Like Everybody Else
282,524 – Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong
125,481 – Pelican – Ascending EP
79,935 – Textures – Genotype
487 – New Miserable Experience – Gild The Lily
344 – Gavial – Thanks, I Hate It
299 – Sacri Suoni – Time to Harvest
186 – Ritual Arcana – Ritual Arcana
…and several others. Some that I am looking forward to and others not so much.
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Fine print that’s normal-sized 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
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