Drama was overblown but I chuckled because she hundo looks like The Great Fairu of Power from Ocarina of Time

I viscerally hate this picture of Katy perry and Justin Trudeau so much. I feel like I've been reincarnated as their infant against my will, and theyre now my new parents despite my protests.

@sonemic.com rateyourmusic.com/release/albu... #RYMbestof2025

listening log

Makari - Elegies
(post-hardcore, alternative rock, swancore)

Tasty little slice of pHxC with catchy choruses and some mathy guitar playing. This is likely my favourite Makari release. Highly recommend for fans of Body Thief, Circa Survive, and Humble Abode.

Donald Trump touches kids

i love this band, but yes it was a disappointment especially after how good the last couple records were

listening log

Swans - Birthing
(totalism, drone, krautrock, gothic rock)

I just don't get it. Some of the back half stuff was cool. But it's like all the worst elements of Drone and Windmill Scene type stuff mashed together and it goes on and on for two hours. Vocals are jarring ala The Smiths.

listening log

Boldy James - Consignment: Favor for a Favor
(gangsta rap)

I enjoy early mixtapes. Honestly, love this way more than most people. He slides on almost every track. Its 80 minutes long, this should be 2 tapes. There's a great RHCP hook that's used better here than the original.

why did I think I wasn't gonna like Symphony X it's literally Dream Theater but more swaggy

listening log

Geese - Getting Killed
(krautrock, roots rock, art rock, indie rock)

This was pretty neat musically. The Radiohead-style vocals accompanied by this type of music weren't really doing it for me but I see why it's critically lauded. Check this if u haven't yet.

gn

listening log
Dream on, Dreamer - Sails Set Armada
(post-hardcore, metalcore)

some 00s phxc goodness that reminds me that old Emarosa EP or stuff I'd see at local shows. messy breakdowns and some noodles. Blends together a bit but scratches the nostalgia itch

listening log

Tyler, The Creator - Don't Tap the Glass
(miami bass, pop rap, neo-soul, dance-pop)

really fun and dancey and i genuinely can't tell if catchy-good or catchy-annoying but it was engaging

listening log

Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power
(blackgaze, post-metal)

Absolutely gorgeous, lush, and earns it's 1hr+ runtime. Brutal screams over beautifully meloncholy backdrops. Eclectic moments throughout also. Their best album.

listening log

Silverstein - Arrivals & Departures
(post-hardcore, emo-pop)

Overhated tbh. A step down from Discovering The Waterfront but has a ton of catchy fast-paced joints. It's punkier, too.

listening log

Aversions Crown - A Voice From the Outer Dark
(technical death metal, deathcore)

Fun little techdeathcore romp. Ends too quick to overstay its welcome. Very crushing and their best since Xenocide.

listening log

Deafheaven - Lonely People with Power
(blackgaze, post-metal)

Absolutely gorgeous, lush, and earns it's 1hr+ runtime. Brutal screams over beautifully meloncholy backdrops. Eclectic moments throughout also. Their best album.

listening log
Passcode - Insignia
(metalcore, trancecore)

Extremely catchy synthy Japanese metal(core). Lots of Royal Road-adjacent progressions, super bouncy and sickly sweet.

Coldplay is absolutely peak “i am a boring middle-aged man who likes wine and is having an active affair with a work colleague” music. personally i cannot imagine hearing “Clocks” and not thinking about receiving unremarkable and perfunctory head from a woman can quote every Reese Witherspoon movie

listening log

Fallujah - Xenotaph
(technical death metal, progressive metal)

Cosmic, ethereal tech-death. Soaring, spacey leads and warp-speed drumming. More cleans this time around, but they don't change their signature sound. The change works in their favour. One of my AOTYs so far.

There's a bit too much alt-metal slop, too (see Activated). It's undeniably BoO with some different seasonings this time around.

listening log

Born of Osiris - Through Shadows
(djent, metalcore, alternative metal)

First record in 4 years, and without Lee and Joe on guitars and keys. An uneven listen, but leaning towards enjoyable. Production sounds off, but there's several banger songs (see Transcendence, Dark Fable).

listening log

Apathy - Mom & Dad
(boom bap, conscious hip-hop)

A pointed socio‑political reflection on being raised under Reaganomics. IMO also the best beat selection of Apathy's career. Jazzy pianos, warm brass, chopped up vocal samples, flutes, and subtle ambient flares throughout.

listening log

Auras - SIRENSHADE
(djent, metalcore)

One of the bounciest djent bands in the scene, straight out of Cambridge, ON. They groove at very high tempos, this time with some more electronics and industrial elements tastefully peppered in. Last song is a banger.

listening log

36 & zakè - Stasis Sounds for Long-Distance Space Travel III
(drone, space ambient, progressive electronic)

Gorgeous, drawn out, ambient soundscapes with synths that make you feel like you're on a lonely, extended space voyage. It's entrancing and gives a feeling of peaceful solitude

listening log

Kaonashi - I Want to Go Home.
(mathcore, sass, post-hardcore, djent)

A bizarre-yet-familiar blend of several core genres with a unique frontman. It retreads a lot of their last record, but there's some great highlight songs in here like When I Say and the closing Sanguine Suite.

Important PSA

gn

listening log

Thus Spoke Zarathustra - I'm Done With Self Care, It's Time for Others' Harm
(deathcore, melodic metalcore)

Nostalgia album that fuses Whitechapel with melodeath riffs. Bites As Blood Runs Black a bit but it's still banger