One Louder Magazine… RESURRECTED
Introduction
Album of the Week
Honorable Mentions
Missed The Cut
Addendum
On The List
Looking Forward To
Fine Print
About One Louder Magazine
The new format is a big hit with you! Thanks for writing in! What’s cool is that it translated all other previously released blogs into the same format, so if you want to view those again in this style, you can!
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I read a pretty cool story this past week. So this guy – Aadam Jacobs (yes, two “As” to start the name) – apparently taped approximately/over TEN THOUSAND concerts! Holy smokes! And now, they’re available online for streaming for free via the nonprofit digital library, Internet Archive, with help from volunteers. The recordings have been cleaned up, digitized, and uploaded.
As of the other day, when I read the story, approximately 2500 live recordings have been uploaded to the “No Tape Left Behind” website. I’m not particularly a fan of Paste Magazine, where I read the story, but I thought this one was a particularly good read:
https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/bootleg-concerts/aadam-jacobs-10000-taped-concerts-now-online
…and if you just want direct access to the files, check it out here:
https://archive.org/details/aadamjacobs
I, too, might have recorded a live concert or two and really should get them digitized and uploaded. I have no idea how they sound, but I know I have some good ‘uns like Alice In Chains in 1991 (opening for Van Halen), Spinal Tap in 1992, and several others. I’m gonna have to go look again now, it’s been forever! If memory serves me correctly, I might have 20-ish MAX… certainly nowhere near Aadam’s 10k, haha!
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Continuing on with da muzak, Record Store Day is a bi-annual event on the third Saturday of April (and Black Friday), meaning… THIS SATURDAY, April 18th, is the first one of 2026. You can view and/or download the list from here.
I’ve been to RSDs before – they’re a blast! – but it’s been a few years due to the fact that nothing’s really caught my attention. This year, though, there is one I have my eyes on. It’s ‘We Lost The Skyline’, an exclusive RSD release by prog-rock stalwarts, Porcupine Tree.
In all honesty, I’ll probably let RSD come and go and hope that Silver Platters still has a copy or two in stock, and I’ll pick it up on my way to band practice next week (fingers crossed!).
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Hey, remember when the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX? That was OVER two months ago, haha! But hey, I finally made the trek over to the Tulalip Sportsbook to turn in my tickets and pick up the winnings. Better late than never, I suppose.
As many of you know – and for those of you who don’t – there is an outlet mall nearby. I typically do my very best to avoid malls at all costs. Back in High School, sure. It was fun, that’s where you met and hung out with friends, etc. But today? Yeah, if I’m hittin’ the mall, I’m hittin’ Orange Julius and Auntie Anne’s, right?!
So if I try to avoid malls at all costs, why did I go? Well, I wanted to pick up a new Seahawks license plate frame and Super Bowl LX souvenir program. I moved the original/old frame to the front of the truck (first photo on top – I don’t know if you can tell from the pic or not, but some of the letters have popped out over time. Plus, it’s old, weathered, and just seen better days… but still good enough for the front of the car. The new license plate frame, though, was popped onto the rear of the car. Much sharper looking, amiright?
Go ‘Hawks – speaking of which, next week is the NFL Draft, giggity!
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We didn’t have to look far for this week’s AOTW. Nope, these guys are located in our backyard in Seattle, WA! I got into Witch Ripper with their last release – 2023’s ‘The Flight After The Fall’ – then immediately listened to their debut full-length, 2018’s ‘Homestead’. Their latest just continues on with their brand of radness. They’re fuckin’-A solid live, too. Don’t let these guys pass you by.
Another album that I really enjoyed (but barely misses the AOTW mark) was the RAD AF soul band, Mamas Gun, and their latest release, ‘DIG!’. This was my introduction to them – they have seven albums out – but they are on my radar now. Smooooooooth.
😁 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** – April 10th to April 16th, 2026:
3,472 – Witch Ripper – Through The Hourglass
Witch Ripper is a musical journey of… man, so hard to describe. Sludgey prog-metal, perhaps? It’s VERY Mastodon-ish, so if you dig them, this will be up your alley. Mastodon meets Muse. No shit! This is just an absolutely beautiful album from top-to-bottom. The “harsh” vocals might be too much for some, but I love the balance between the harsh and clean vox throughout. This album is tasty AF, and the album artwork is pretty rad, too! Bonus points for being a Seattle-based band!
From their bandcamp page: “On their third full-length, “Through the Hourglass”, WITCH RIPPER unleash the full potential of their stunning ability to deliver captivating melodies, catchy riffs, and merciless hooks in sheer droves. The US metal band perfectly combines melodic heaviness with pinches of progressive, sludge, and other styles with seeming ease.
WITCH RIPPER can be generally located within the wider sonic realm that is inhabited by MASTODON, BARONESS, and HIGH ON FIRE, yet they also continue to channel the rock bombast of QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE as well as the modern prog of COHEED AND CAMBRIA and MUSE.
WITCH RIPPER are also determined to tour across the United States and hope for a first voyage to Europe in support of “Through the Hourglass”. Metal is anything but dead, and this album is living proof of its vibrant present.”
Honorable Mentions (in order by “popularity”*):
527,052 – They Might Be Giants – The World Is To Dig
TMBG are great! As usual, it’s a cool, quirky, fun, alt-rock album… really difficult to pigeonhole, but worth a listen. Reminds me a little of Chris Ballew and the Presidents of the United States of America. The song ‘Slow’ is kind of a mindfuck for the ears… tripped me out.
From Rough Trade Records: “They Might Be Giants treat the entire history of popular music as a trampoline rather than a rulebook.
Like two pinballs pinging off of each other through musical murals stretching into a giddy ether, TMBG moves by ricochet. On their upcoming album The World Is to Dig (due April 14th, 2026, from Idlewild Recordings), the multi- Grammy- winning duo continue bouncing through the pop multiverse, digging into whatever they find with playful zeal.
John Linnell and John Flansburgh continue to fire ideas off one another like particles in a perpetual motion experiment, each collision producing a new angle, a new melodic left turn, resulting in tracks packed with esoteric references, mischievous details, and left- field detours.
Untethered from trends, immune to nostalgia, and equally ready to draw from Tin Pan Alley theatrics and contemporary pop culture references, The World Is to Dig is the sound of a band very much in motion; not chasing relevance, but generating it on their own terms.”
391,068 – Frank Turner – Campfire Punkrock 20 [2006]
This is Frank Turner’s 2006 debut EP ‘Campfire Punkrock’, re-released with six live tracks. I didn’t find out about FT until years later, but he is absolutely fantastic (as is this new/old release)! Been digging this dude for several years now, really great stuff and an excellent storyteller. Frank is a British singer-songwriter, and the tunes / lyrics he writes are just… awesome!
From Rough Trade Records: “Celebrating 20 years of Frank Turner’s solo debut EP Campfire Punkrock, Xtra Mile Recordings release a special anniversary extended edition of the seminal release. Featuring the original EP tracks and 6 further live tracks recorded from Frank’s 50th solo gig in London 2006 – taking listeners right back to where it all began at the very early days of Frank’s incredible solo career.
The 12” LP features new reworked artwork with shiny gold campfire on matte black cover, plus coloured vinyl.
The original EP was recorded by Frank’s guitarist Ben Lloyd at the Oxford home of Turner’s bass player Tarrant Anderson and mixed by Tristan Ivemy. If features fan favourites ‘Nashville Tennessee’, ‘The Real Damage’, and ‘Ballad Of Me And My Friends’.”
247,648 – Metal Church – Dead to Rights
Great old-school metal / thrash band from Seattle, WA! Crunchy riffage, wailing vocals, good shit! Man, I GREW UP on these guys! Those first two albums (S/T (1984) and ‘The Dark’ (1986)… OMG, had those on infinite repeat in my youth!) I dig everything MC released afterwards, too, but those first two are burned into my cranium! There is a bit of a lineup change with this release, including vocalist Brian Allen (replacing Marc Lopez), bassist David Ellefson (replacing Steve Unger), and drummer Ken Mary (replacing Stet Howland). But make no mistake. They haven’t lost a step; rather, they might even be better! Throw them horns in the air, ya metalheads!
From amazon: “West Coast heavy metal veterans Metal Church return with their 14th studio album “Dead to Rights”. Produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z, Metal Church enters a powerful new chapter that features founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, bass legend David Ellefson, elite drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic vocalist Brian Allen. With renewed energy, a legacy spanning over four decades, and a rapidly expanding worldwide fanbase, Metal Church remains a driving force in modern heavy metal – still pushing forward, still evolving, and still unmistakably Metal Church.”
145,077 – Truckfighters – Masterflow
I stumbled upon this Örebro, Sweden-based duo (plus rotating drummer) by accident well over a decade ago, but am glad that I did! They play kick-ass stoner rock, with classic chunky guitar riffage. Speaking of a decade ago, that’s how long it’s been since their last release, 2016’s ‘V’. Welcome back, fellas.
From their bandcamp page: “For the first time in a decade, the living fuzz legends Truckfighters are back with brand new material, igniting the rock scene once again with their raw energy.
MASTERFLOW – balance between discipline and freedom. A resonant vibe across multiple levels – body, mind, space, time, and audience in perfect harmony.
Dive into MASTERFLOW and immerse yourself in the thunderous soundscapes that only Truckfighters can deliver. The new album unleashes a relentless wave of fuzz-drenched anthems, massive riffs, and hypnotic grooves that echo the band’s desert rock roots while pushing their sound into new, expansive territory.
True to classic Truckfighters spirit, the music on MASTERFLOW is both dynamic and richly varied — shifting effortlessly between crushing heaviness and expansive, psychedelic passages. From earth-shaking low-end to soaring, melodic builds, the band masterfully balances raw power with nuance and flow. Each track breathes, evolves, and hits with intention, creating a seamless journey fueled by sweat, fuzz, and pure rock ‘n’ roll distorted spirit. This is an album built for packed clubs, endless highways, and speakers pushed to their limits — a sonic monolith that will resonate long after the final note fades.
A big Euro release tour kicks off mid-April and rolls throughout May, then merges into the festival summer. Whether experiencing the new material in the studio or on stage, Truckfighters deliver an unforgettable sonic experience.”
83,141 – Long Distance Calling – The Phantom Void
Long Distance Calling is a German post-rock band that finally cut out the vox!! The vocals in previous albums weren’t bad by any stretch, but the music was so good that I wished they were entirely instrumental. Stoked they decided the same… bravo! This was fantastic!
From earMUSIC: “Described as ‘the shortest, hardest, and strongest album of their career’, The Phantom Void marks a bold creative statement. Remaining fully instrumental, the album tells a dark, cinematic, and emotionally charged story, driven by tension, atmosphere, and narrative depth. Musically, Long Distance Calling once again merge massive soundscapes with intricate details, propulsive grooves, and a focused, direct songwriting approach, more concentrated than ever before.
‘A Secret Place’ serves as the entry point into an ambitious audiovisual concept. The accompanying video is the first chapter of a connected series that will unfold over the coming months. The project explores recurring nightmares, endless loops, and the feeling of an unseen, inescapable threat – themes that mirror the album’s haunting musical core. Sound and image are inseparably intertwined, expanding ‘The Phantom Void’ beyond music into a fully immersive experience.”
68,555 – Tigercub – Nets To Catch The Wind
Oh, this was fantastic! They’re a British power trio that just plays solid four on the floor rock ‘n roll. Don’t quote me on this, but I want to say that it reminds me a little of Muse meets Placebo. There’s just something really appealing about this album as a whole! Their last release – 2023’s ‘The Perfume Of Decay’ – was my introduction to them, but perhaps I’ll have to hit up earlier records at some point.
From their bandcamp page: “Nets to Catch the Wind finds Tigercub at their most cinematic and unrestrained, capturing the band’s raw chemistry through live tracked performances and expansive, emotionally charged songwriting. Recorded at Rockfield Studios and produced by Tom Dalgety, the album moves into brighter, more transcendent territory, a dawn after the darkness, balancing towering riffs with moments of clarity, vulnerability, and light.”
53,708 – Bob Schneider – FAYM [aka Fuck All You Motherfuckers: A Rock Opera]
Robert, a singer-songwriter, plays a blend of what he calls “FRUNK”: Folk, rock, underground, new wave, and kountry.” He is an amazing songwriter with bad-ass tunes and a great band… shit, I’ve been listening to this dude now for, what… 25+ years? Thanks for turning me onto him all those years ago, Scott! BTW, he’s killer live. FUN show!
About the album: In 2023, Bob released a graphic novel. This is the music that accompanies the graphic novel. From Bob’s website: “After 15 years in the making, Bob teamed up with the phenomenal illustrator Justin Barker (www.justinbarkerart.com) in 2019 to transform his FAYM story from a rock opera into a stunning visual masterpiece [released July 13th, 2023].”
48,255 – Mamas Gun – DIG!
Wait, what? You’re telling me that this RAD AF soul band has been out there releasing albums since 2007 (this their seventh), but this is my introduction to them? For shame! Absolutely tasty, groovy, smooth-ass soul, this was a winner. I may have to check out previous releases. Fun Fact: They got their band name after the title of Erykah Badu’s second album, ‘Mama’s Gun’.
From Townsend Music: “Mamas Gun has announced that their sixth studio album, DIG!, is completed and currently being pressed to Vinyl and CD. The band is highly proud of this “special batch” of music, which was recorded direct to 16-track analogue tape with engineer Neil Innes at All Things Analogue Studios in Leeds to capture an intimate, classic soul sound.”
40,304 – David Cross – The End Of The Beginning Of The End (CD / DVD)
I love David Cross’s stand-up. Funny motherfucker… and speaks the truth like no other! This release is funny… just like every other DC release. I enjoy listening to stand-up while commuting, makes the trip go fast. Good stuff here…
From 800 Pound Gorilla Records: “In The End of the Beginning of the End, David Cross returns to the stage with the ferocity, absurdity, and razor-sharp wit that have made him one of comedy’s most uncompromising and fearless voices.
Filmed in Athens, Georgia, at the historic 40 Watt, Cross tackles the chaos of modern America head-on—skewering authoritarian politics, reproductive rights rollbacks, religious extremism, late-stage capitalism, and the uniquely American obsession with hoarding sneakers. Cross meticulously blends wicked satire with gleeful discomfort.
Equal parts biting political commentary and masterclass in long-form storytelling, The End of the Beginning of the End finds Cross at his most fearless: furious, philosophical, filthy, and very, very funny. Also, this whole thing was written by some of the cheapest AI available. If interested for yourself, please contact Raj McMacintish at “AI 4 Every1″ located next to the exotic pet store in Fairhaven, FL.”
Love,
David
34,777 – Drivin’ n Cryin’ – Crushing Flowers
I LOVE this Atlanta, Georgia-based Southern rock meets alt-country / Americana band and have ever since their 1991 breakout album, ‘Fly Me Courageous’! They just write really great rock songs, kind of in the vein of Tom Petty with balls. If you’ve liked their earlier works, there is a high probability that you will dig this one, as well. My only complaint is that it was too short at 33:34. I wanted more (especially since this is their first studio release since 2019’s ‘Live The Love Beautiful’, a lengthy seven-year wait between albums!
From the band’s website: “Drivin’ n Cryin’ returns with a fresh studio album that proves why they’ve captivated rock fans for decades. Crushing Flowers delivers the same masterful songwriting and electrifying energy you’ve always loved, wrapped in a bold new chapter. It’s like reconnecting with an old friend who’s got something exciting to share.”
33,177 – Spirit Adrift – Infinite Illumination
The good news: Spirit Adrift is a bad-ass doom metal meets psychedelic rock band. I’ve been listening to these fellas for a while now, and they always deliver, including on this, the band’s latest release. The bad news: this latest release is also the band’s last release. Yup, after a decade of tearing it up, the conclusion has come, and this is the band’s swan song. But, hey, what a way to go out!
From the band: ““The end has come… long revered and widely acclaimed heavy metal giants Spirit Adrift have released their sixth and final album, Infinite Illumination, today via 20 Buck Spin. Bookending a monumental decade-plus-long run, the band’s bittersweet swan song is marked by one of their most ambitious and crushing records to date.
“Spirit Adrift mastermind Nathan Garrett’s final magnum opus is a return to the wellspring that first inspired it all and a testament to a band that in the last 10 years has crafted an impeccable signature thoroughly their own, molded from the elemental matter of more than a half century of heavy metal exaltation.
“Infinite Illumination has a directness to it, a sense of urgency and raw intensity. The songs feel inevitable, like they had to be driven out from deep within during a time of great upheaval. The fatalistic ‘Born in a Bad Way’ summons a vengeful ‘broken relic from another age’ that must ‘live again and make them pay’ via Garrett’s swaggering snarl, while “White Death” impugns ‘God shined on a chosen few, we must kill the rest of you’. These songs have a palpable sense of malaise, both spiritual and terrestrial, personal and universal, inflicted via crushing traditional Doom riffs, thunderous mid-tempo marches, and Garrett’s impassioned vocal delivery.
“Long after the band is gone, fans will continue to discover the Spirit Adrift catalog and witness the breadth of greatness they delivered in just a decade’s time. Every melodic, epic, and emotionally charged thread that defines the band’s legacy honors the animating force behind pure creative ambition. And at its core, Infinite Illumination carries both the weight of conclusion and the troubling realization that it is rarely painless to say farewell.”
33,069 – Anthony Phillips – Gemini – Pieces For Piano (2 CDs)
Beautiful solo pieces on the piano. Tickling the ivories as it goes. This is not an album I’ll reach for again – it’s quite an exhausting listen at two hours and 18 minutes – but I enjoyed it.
From Burning Shed: “Anthony Phillips’ 2026 studio release comprises a beautiful and evocative selection of recordings made between October 2022 and October 2025. Described by Anthony as an album of his strongest keyboard compositions written since ‘Soirée'(1999), the title of the collection comes from a piece Anthony wrote for the celebrated pianist Martha Argerich, who premiered the work in 2018.”
8,637 – Amulets – Rem(a)inders EP
Well, thank goodness for the Pelagic Records label, or I may have never heard of Randall Taylor, better known as Amulets. He’s been steadily releasing albums for a decade-plus, yet here is my introduction to him. Amulets plays all that ambient, instrumental, electronic, soundscape, drone-type stuff for which y’all know I love. Glad to finally be on team Amulets/Randall Taylor. I may have to listen to earlier releases.
From Pelagic Records: “Amulets is the solo project of Portland-based audio and visual artist Randall Taylor. Amulets employs handmade cassette tape loops and live-processed guitar loops to create live, lush soundscapes and immersive drones. Through the recontextualisation of cassettes, sampling, field recording, and looping, these long-form compositions blur the genres of ambient, drone, noise, and electronic music. Amulets has steadily built a catalog defined by tactile intimacy and patient exploration. Taylor has performed across the U.S at numerous festivals and opened for such acts as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, This Will Destroy You, Covet, Midwife, and Efrim Manuel Manuck (of Godspeed You Black Emperor), to name a few. Taylor was also published in the Kim Bjorn book series “PEDAL CRUSH” as an artist and inspirational creator.
Amulets’ new album Rem(a)inders marks his debut on Pelagic Records, a fitting home for a record that thrives in the liminal space between heaviness and fragility. Deeply immersive, the album navigates the dreamy boundaries between the tangible and the ethereal, where sound behaves as memory itself: unstable, layered, and quietly transformative. Known for his ability to weave soundscapes that evoke powerful emotions with minimalistic instrumentation, Taylor’s newest project is a masterful exploration of mood, atmosphere, and texture.
This spirit of experimentation mirrors the album itself. Where soundscapes are curious, unafraid, and open to transformation. Rema(i)nders is not an album that demands attention; it earns it slowly through patience and immersion. It asks the listener to sit with ambiguity, to find beauty in erosion, and to recognize how sound, like memory, can both fade and persist at once. In a world increasingly defined by immediacy and excess, Amulets offers a quiet dynamism that is reflective and enduring.”
6,692 – Brown Horse – Total Dive
Ooh… tasty alt-country / Americana album that sounds a little bit like the Drive-By Truckers. If you dig DBT, then give this a spin. Really nice album and a new band find for me!
From Loose Music Records: “Brown Horse return with their third album, Total Dive. Their strongest and most grounded work to date, it showcases a new level of skill and assurance in the band’s thoughtful lyricism and musicality. Leaning away from the playfulness and eclecticism of their previous works, Total Dive sees Brown Horse step forward into the darkness with a cautious optimism.
With songs from each of the four members (Patrick Turner, Nyle Holihan, Ea Tovell, and Rowan Braham), the writing charts a world of small revelations and painful changes. The new album is the clearest expression yet of Brown Horse’s unique sound – somewhere between the stark country rock of Uncle Tupelo, the raw intimacy of early Cat Power, and the haunted landscapes of Magnolia Electric Co., while embracing the self-possessed noisiness of alt-rock trailblazers like Built to Spill and The Breeders.”
2,942 – Franck Carducci – Sheeple
This was a really impressive and enjoyable prog-rock album! Franck has been releasing albums as a solo artist for 15 years, but this was my introduction to him… and what an introduction it was! Well-written and played prog-rock made for a wonderful listen. There were a couple of lulls, though – most of the tunes hit pretty hard and just “worked” whereas the ballads sort of “deflated” the listening experience. I understand the desire to write/record a couple of ballads, but I was ready for the more rockin’ tunes. This guy is very talented, and I can’t wait to hear more from him!
From Cherry Red Records: “Known for his electrifying live performances, virtuoso guitar work, and theatrical progressive rock sound, Franck Carducci has successfully melded classic and progressive rock influences with a powerful modern approach to his music and intelligent lyrics throughout his career.
Since 2011, he has recorded albums and toured as a proudly independent artist, enjoying a formidable reputation as one of Europe’s most compelling live performers, attracting a dedicated, loyal, and ever-increasing following, with praise from artists such as Steve Hackett and Sting, who he opened for in June 2022.
‘Sheeple’ is a wonderful record of musical and lyrical ingenuity and his most ambitious album to date, arguably Franck Carducci’s finest work, and another impressive step on his remarkable musical journey.”
939 – Stepmother – Absurdus Manifestus
I wrote the following regarding 2023’s ‘Planet Brutalicon’: “Released on the Tee Pee Records label, I had high hopes that I’d love this release and… I like it. This Australian power trio sounds like a punk band trying to play a stoner rock album or vice versa. Definitely a unique sound and one that I don’t instantly gravitate towards. However, I enjoyed it enough to keep my eyes peeled for future releases (this being their debut full-length).”
This new one, also released via Tee Pee, seems as if the band honed in on their delivery, going straight for the jugular with a punk-blues album. And I like it much better than the debut. The album ends with a cover of Ted Nugent’s ‘Journey To The Center Of The Mind’.
From their bandcamp page: “Spearheaded by legendary underground guitarist Graham Clise, the trio return with a sharper blade and heavier boot following their 2023 debut, Planet Brutalicon…
Fusing high velocity Motor City proto punk with fuzz, feedback, and electric psych, the band draw once more upon the spirit of Blue Cheer, The Pink Fairies, Nervous Eaters, and The Damned, to wield hardened punk and nefarious nihilism, to confront the absurdity, violence, and dark comedy of modern existence.”
Channelling raw rock ’n’ roll urgency into feral anthems for society’s poor, depraved, and proudly miscreant, Absurdus Manifestus heralds the long overdue return of legendary Oz-outliers, Stepmother. – Sheltered Life PR
FFO: Witch, Annihilation Time, Lecherous Gaze
275 – Brad Wenzel – Desperate Times
Funny, enjoyable stand-up. I like this guy’s delivery!
From Brad’s website: “Brad Wenzel is a product of the Detroit comedy scene, spent a 7-year stint in Los Angeles, and over the last 15 years has toured the country performing in 38 states. Wenzel has made 3 stand-up appearances on CONAN. More recently, he performed on Netflix is a Joke Radio and Don’t Tell Comedy.
Wenzel started stand-up at the age of 17 and made his first CONAN appearance while based in Michigan. His 2017 debut comedy album, Sweet Nothings, was released on Jack White’s rock label, Third Man Records, and can be heard on SiriusXM. Paste Magazine described Brad’s 2023 special, joke. joke. joke., as “Watching Wenzel feels like hanging out with your funniest, weirdest friend; it’s relaxing and utterly enjoyable.” Paste also listed joke. joke. joke. as one of the 20 best comedy specials of the year.
Wenzel’s non-sequitur style continues the tradition of joke writers like Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg, and Demetri Martin, while also maintaining original writing, a distinct delivery, and a sensibility of his own. On stage, Wenzel calmly sticks to his guns creatively while also possessing the ability to work on the fly due to years of experience on the road. Brad Wenzel is set to release his new special, “Desperate Times,” on April 15, 2026.”
Missed the Cut (in order by “popularity”*):
16,828,754 – Snoop Dogg – 10 Til’ Midnight
I love Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (bka Snoop Dogg)! I grew up with Snoop D.O. Double G! That said, he just ain’t delivering like he used to. It might be time to hang up the mic for good and enjoy the finer things in life. Thanks for the music, thanks for the memories, but time to move on…
582,070 – The Maine – Joy Next Door
I feel exactly the same about their latest release as I have on previous releases: “Not the greatest thing I ever heard, but it is fun, catchy emo-pop punk… probably won’t ever be “wowed” by any of their releases, but I will keep my eyes and ears on them, see if their stuff grows on me…”
510,954 – Enter Shikari – Lose Your Self
Enter Shikari is a British-based band that combines elements of post-hardcore with electronic rock, and… while they have quite the fanbase, I can’t say that I have ever been into them. But hey, I keep trying. Maybe next time.
460,825 – The Melvins with Napalm Death – Savage Imperial Death March
The Melvins and Napalm Death are two bands that have been writing and releasing albums since (seemingly) the dawn of time. They also co-headlined two tours. So it makes sense for the two bands to collaborate and release an album combining their forces. Both bands have been hit-or-miss for me throughout the years, but this collab sees both bands swinging at the dirt. Yeah, they missed badly with this one. Whiff.
442,748 – Joe Jackson – Hope and Fury
I LOVE JJ’s ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him?’ (1979) and ‘Steppin’ Out’ (1982). Banger tunes, classic! I’ve been lukewarm with his adult-oriented rock / new wave stylings since then, but am happy to see him still out there at 71 writing and releasing new albums! Fun fact: Joe Jackson was born David Ian Jackson and changed his name to Joe when he was just 20 years old (1974).
343,662 – Jack Savoretti – We Will Always Be The Way We Were
Jack is a British-Italian singer-songwriter with 10+ releases under his belt, yet this is my introduction to him. He is wildly popular, and it’s easy to hear why. He has a solid voice. But in the end, this is quite a bit outside of my wheelhouse.
317,253 – Holly Humberstone – Cruel World
Holly is a British singer-songwriter firmly planted in the pop world, and this is her sophomore full-length. Think Lorde, Billie Eilish, Tay Tay, et al…
285,286 – Bilmuri – KINDA HARD
Bilmuri is Johnny Franck, the former rhythm guitarist and clean vocalist of metalcore band Attack Attack! (2007-2010). The album is all over the map with heavy, heavy – ok, let’s just call it “clipping” ’cause that’s what it is – tunes distorted to the max, to fun, light-hearted pop-punk, to country rock, alt-rock, and everything in between. Yeah, not really for me, so I gotta pass. Fun fact: Yes, Bilmuri is pronounced exactly like the inimitable actor, Bill Murray. Furthermore, it was done on purpose!
275,172 – Squarepusher – Kammerkonzert
Tom Jenkinson (bka Squarepusher) is a one-man electronic / IDM / drum & bass megastar. Yet I still haven’t found an album of his that I’ve even remotely enjoyed. Here he forgoes all of those previously mentioned genres and goes for (what Amazon calls), “…Kammerkonzert, is essentially a chamber concerto with him playing all of the parts…” Ok, sure. Call it what you want, I call it a(nother) miss.
197,885 – Archspire – Too Fast To Die
Technical death metal from our friends in the Great White North. Unfortunately, a different country doesn’t translate to a better album. This shit almost always sounds like my garbage disposal going off. Need cymbals? Throw a fork in there, too. Pass.
135,538 – Bodysnatcher – Hell Is Here, Hell Is Home
Not really a fan of deathcore and this album didn’t change my mind. Gotta pass.
96,702 – El Ten Eleven – Nowhere Faster
El Ten Eleven are hit-or-miss for me, and, unfortunately, they swung and missed with this release. They’re an all-instrumental duo – Kristian Dunn on bass and Tim Fogarty on drums – that plays (mostly) a blend of ambient post-rock meets math rock. Weird, huh? This release, though… I dunno. It just doesn’t “jive” with me like previous albums. Bummer. Fun fact: the band was named after a plane, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar.
85,562 – UADA – Interwoven
UADA is Latin for “haunted”. They are a black metal band, which isn’t exactly one of my favorite genres. But here they forgo all the usual BM deliverables and… go acoustic! While I found some cool, exciting bits and pieces with their last release – 2023’s ‘Crepuscule Natura’ – I actually found this release to be quite boring … But, hey, how about that cover of Nirvana’s ‘Something in the Way’, heh…?!
69,968 – As Everything Unfolds – DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE?
As Everything Unfolds is a pop-based alt-rock band from jolly ‘ol England that reminds me quite a bit of In This Moment, et al. AEU does not need to count me as a fan. Pass.
43,510 – Joseph Arthur – You’re Not A Ghost Anymore: FAITH
I got turned onto Joseph Arthur when he collaborated with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck on ‘Arthur Buck 2’ (2025). I wasn’t super-wowed with that release, but I liked it enough to keep my eyes on future Joseph Arthur releases. Anyway, I like this release. He is a great songwriter. That said, as a heathen, the lyrics might be a bit too Jesus-ey for my taste. This is the first release of a trilogy – FAITH, HEART, FIGHT – that focuses on spirituality and personal re-emergence. Musically, I’d like to listen to the next two installments, but I’ll keep my expectations tempered.
13,384 – Richard Barbieri – Hauntings
LOVE(D) Richard’s keyboard/synthesizer/programming work with the almighty Procupine Tree, but his solo stuff and other collaborations are just too “out there” for my taste. The musicians on this recording are phenomenal, but I just can’t get into the groove. Too esoteric and artsy fartsy.
12,514 – My New Band Believe – My New Band Believe
The band was spearheaded by Cameron Picton, bassist/vocalist of British experimental/avant-garde rock band black midi (2017-2023). black midi was not a band that I cared for, and I had a difficult time caring for My New Band Believe, as well. Same experimental/avant-garde rock horse shit…
9,290 – The Lords Of Altamont – Forever Loaded
Usually this shit is right in my wheelhouse – garage rock-infused stoner rock – but this is… well, it’s not exactly a “turd”, BUT… there are bands out there doing the same thing but significantly better.
4,372 – Poly-Math – Something Deeply Hidden
I love the idea on paper – all-instrumental prog-metal fused with math rock, a little hardcore, and some post-rock stylings for good measure – but ultimately it sounded like a jam band playing those genres and just didn’t gel well, IMO. Perhaps a bit too out there – and avant-garde / experimental – for my taste.
1,934 – Masheena – Let The Spiders In
The Ripple Music record label typically releases absolute bangers. This one is decent, solid…. But not a banger. They have this blues-rock swagger that melts with a psych-stoner concoction. Tasty – and I’ll follow them for future release – but not mind-blowing, or anything…
705 – Hannah Lew – Hannah Lew
Hannah Lew (formerly of Grass Widow, Cold Beat, and more) goes solo for the first time and… gonna have to take a beat. Not thrilled with her brand of indie electropop/synthpop. What’s next on the chopping block?
370 – Palmar De Troya – III EP
PDT is a Spanish-based noise meets punk rock band. I was glad that it was only a seven-song EP clocking in at 22:16. Not sure I could’ve handled much more. Fun fact: El Palmar De Troya is an independent municipality (formerly a small town) in Seville, Spain. The band, however, is from Granada, Spain, a good ~170-ish miles away. They chose Palmar De Troya as it was known as a town that separated from “traditional” Catholicism in 1978 (to the “Palmarianos” aka Palmarian Catholic Church). They consider themselves the only true Catholic Church, serving its ~1500-ish, or so, members.
196 – Purple Skies – A Million Years
I thought I might like this debut full-length from these Norwegian stoner-doom rockers, and I did… but I didn’t love it. They’re obviously quite inspired by the rock ‘n roll of the ’60s and ’70s. I’m gonna keep my eyes on these fellas ’cause they could grow on me. Solid debut, hoping for an even better sophomore release.
From Apollon Records: “Purple Skies is not just another rock band — they’re a force rising from the underground of Bergen, Norway.
Formed in 2017, Purple Skies channels the raw energy of late ’60s and ’70s heavy rock, wrapped in a dark, doom-laden atmosphere. Their sound is drenched in fuzz and built on powerful contrasts — crushing riffs that give way to timeless, unforgettable melodies. Drawing from stoner rock, proto-doom, and vintage heavy influences, they create music that feels both familiar and fiercely original.
With their upcoming album A Million Years, the band set out to craft something truly enduring — a record that feels timeless, yet fully alive in today’s rock scene. Recorded at Polyfon Studio in Bergen and produced by Leif Herland, the process was as uncompromising as it was inspiring. Herland didn’t just shape the sound — he pushed the band to deliver performances at their absolute peak.
The result is an album that bridges eras. Inspired by the retro-modern mastery of Witchcraft and echoing the heavy legacy of Black Sabbath’s Vol. 4, A Million Years pays homage to the past while carving its own path forward.
This is heavy rock with purpose — melodic, honest, and powerful.”
Hey, we’ve got another band that I like… but don’t love. They’re an all-instrumental post-rock band outta Italy, and this is their full-length debut. It doesn’t quite hit me in the way that so many other post-rock bands’ albums do, but it’s good enough for me to keep my eyes on the band. Do I enjoy future releases… or do they end up on the cutting floor? We’ll find out…
From Argonauta Records: ““3+2” by Repetita Iuvant is a powerful journey through post-rock, no wave psychedelia, and experimental soundscapes. Blending hypnotic crescendos, cinematic dynamics, and ever-evolving structures, the band crafts immersive and visionary sonic landscapes. Recommended for fans of Russian Circles, Caspian, and Red Sparowes.”
0 – Emily Rach Beisel – Sumptuous Branching
Ok, I try to keep an open mind when it comes to music, I really do… but then there are albums like this that make me rethink EVERYTHING. Emily Rach Beisel is (as Earsplit PR calls her), a “Chicago Avant Woodwind Artist/Composer”. Yes, she plays woodwind instruments (I assume) through pedals, loopers, and more, but to my ears it simply sounds like a random noise generator. This experimental / avant-garde album is not for the faint of heart, and it’s not for me, either. More about the album may be read below.
From Earsplit PR: “EMILY RACH BEISEL is a Chicago-based improviser, composer, educator, curator, and woodwind specialist. Known for visceral performances, blending extended vocal and instrumental techniques with analogue electronics, their music centers on the bass clarinet and incorporates voice, electronics, extended techniques, and other wind instruments, creating a complex and nuanced soundscape in which the origins of sounds are often obscured. A Jazz Noise wrote, “heavy stuff, sounds retrieved from the deeper places… BEISEL pokes around in the sonic depths and brings leviathans out to play.” BEISEL holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 10-208, and is honored to be a 2024 3Arts Awardee in Music.
Sumptuous Branching sees EMILY RACH BEISEL performing all music, with bass clarinet, vocals, piccolo, and electronics coalescing in a singular, intriguing, somewhat theatrical flow. The album was recorded at Marmalade in Chicago by Bill Harris, mixed by Harris and BEISEL, mastered by Edward Hamel, and completed with artwork by mrfox.img and design by Harris and BEISEL.
With the first preview of the album, “Cantilevers,” BEISEL writes, “It’s impossible to escape thinking about architecture with chant – it is designed to exist in cavernous, resonant spaces. The first single from Sumptuous Branching is named after cantilevers, structures that stretch outward without support at their far end. While working on this, I was reading Mark Z. Danielewski’s House Of Leaves and thinking about the structural impossibility of the book’s labyrinth and its endless repetition. The track takes the form of layered lines that stretch forward and overlap but never resolve at a single point of arrival; there is no shared endpoint where they meet. For me, this resonates with chant: voices that may begin together but continue along their own trajectories. A kind of chant that doesn’t loop back on itself, does not end.”
“Sumptuous Branching is born from late medieval chant. This is the thread that runs through the record – multiple voices that are both intertwined and independent,” EMILY RACH BEISEL reveals. “Early chant doesn’t have strictly codified rules in place yet, so it has a wild freedom and rich density that I find so compelling. The work in Sumptuous Branching is my imagining of this replete style in my own voice. Each track represents a different facet of that imagining, with the tracks themselves functioning as distinct voices within a larger chorus. Performing chant as a single musician posed a challenge I found provocative, and each track explores the tension between solo performance and the interplay of many voices, considering what it means to contain multitudes.”
The movements captured on Sumptuous Branching were inspired by the likes of Emily Wilson’s new translation of Homer’s The Iliad, Guillaume de Machaut’s La Messe de Nostre Dame – the first complete, unified setting of the Mass – and Mark Z. Danielewski’s House Of Leaves.
BEISEL continues, “As my sophomore solo album, I approached this process differently than my first record. The album is conceived as a unified set that can be performed live – I toured the material before recording it, with the session taking place after my Spring 2025 tour. I love albums that offer an intentional journey and reward listening from beginning to end. This record very much falls into that category, and it’s my offering to others who value that kind of experience.””
Addendum (in order by “popularity”*) – Albums that were released earlier in the year (or previous years) that I missed, but are worth mentioning, anyhow:
None.
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…
6,771,605 – Bring Me The Horizon – L.I.V.E. In Sao Paolo [Live Immersive Visual Experiment] (2 CDs)
From Sony Music: “Today, BRIT Award-winning and Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling band Bring Me The Horizon have announced L.I.V.E. in São Paulo (Live Immersive Virtual Experiment), a groundbreaking cinema event capturing the band’s biggest headline show to date at São Paulo’s Allianz Parque Stadium, performed to a sold-out crowd of 50,000 fans.
Bring Me The Horizon: L.I.V.E. in São Paulo (Live Immersive Virtual Experiment) will screen in cinemas worldwide for two dates only on March 25 and March 28, with tickets officially on sale from February 11 at 2pm GMT / 9am EST / 6am PDT. The event is presented by Trafalgar Releasing, alongside Sony Music Vision and RCA.
Hailed by the band as their best show yet, L.I.V.E. in São Paulo expands the visual universe of POST HUMAN, blending cinematic production with raw fan perspectives and striking character cameos including E.V.E, Selene, and M8. The result is a bold, immersive experience that pushes the boundaries of the traditional concert film.
Co-directed by CiRCUS HEaD, the film features multi-camera coverage, sweeping drone footage, and fan-submitted content, delivering a dynamic, multi-angle journey that mirrors the intensity and scale of the night itself. The performance spans the full evolution of Bring Me The Horizon’s catalogue — from Sempiternal, and That’s the Spirit to amo and the POST HUMAN series.
One of the world’s most influential modern rock acts, the BRIT Award–winning and Grammy-nominated band have sold over 6.6 million albums worldwide and amassed more than 9.4 billion global streams. L.I.V.E. in São Paulo captures not just a performance, but a defining moment in contemporary music culture.
A full list of participating cinemas and ticket links will be available at bmth.live from February 11. Fans are encouraged to sign up for event alerts.
In addition, the band have also announced the physical and digital release of L.I.V.E. IN SÃO PAULO. Out on 10th April, the album will be available across all major streaming platforms, as well as on Vinyl and CD/DVD, capturing the scale, energy, and emotion of the band’s biggest headline show to date.”
Looking forward to (in order by “popularity”*) – These albums will be released this week and should be in next week’s AOTW blog:
3,209,071 – Nine Inch Noize – Nine Inch Noize [aka Halo 38]
651,810 – Skindred – You Got This
90,006 – Thundermother – Live’n’Alive
11,920 – Louis Cato and the Great Big Joy Machine – Gratitude
5,365 – .gif from god – Dissimulation
4,593 – TONS – Stoned Villains
4,405 – The Cosmic Dead – Beyond The Beyond
1,548 – Leila Abdul-Rauf – Andros Insidium
653 – Demons My Friends – Survive/Yourself
342 – Aziola Cry – Dysphoria Ritual
0 – Steve Asheim – Volume One
0 – doPE – No Country For Old Men
…and several others. Some that I am looking forward to and others not so much.
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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, send ’em this way!
Until next week…
Cheers,
Troy
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