can't believe we're at a point in popular music where this can be released by one of the biggest artists in the world. one of the most embarrassing albums i have ever heard

Always Returning is one of the most gorgeous songs ever created; it feels like staring into the eyes of the divine

Read along with translated lyrics (some of them were not the best but I got the gist) and started tearing up to Olha Maria and Acalanto. Beautiful album and absolutely worth your full attention.

I dunno anything about the context of this release (allegedly it was recorded in 2003, which is 5 years before 001 so maybe they’ve just been around that long), but it’s arguably my favorite thing I’ve heard from these guys so far. The first half has some solid jamming and that second half is borderline euphoric, wish it was twice as long honestly.

The first part of this review isn’t about the record itself, it’s about how I got into this band in the first place. Feel free to skip to the review if you’re already familiar with Bull of Heaven.

Part 1 - Introduction:
Bull of Heaven are an experimental outfit that have been on my radar for years. Until recently, I’d always thought to myself that this band was way too gimmicky to really dig into and that all of their fans had to be crazy. So what changed?

A YouTube ... read more

Crack in music form

Super strong contender for my aoty based off these singles, genuinely can’t get enough of them. That drop in the last chorus changed my brain chemistry the first time I heard it.

If I wasn’t already convinced this band would be special by Lecture 25, I am now. Giving folk rock such a strong prog edge scratches my brain in places I don’t know needed scratching. Sad to see it not make the album, but hopefully that means all the other 8 tracks are just as good if not better.

There’s definitely some of your typical demo bullshit going on here but honestly it’s in a surprisingly finished state. To me it feels like the proper successor to The Black Parade we never got. A must-listen for any MCR fan.

Been anticipating this for what feels like forever, so I’m glad we’ve finally gotten to the point of a full release! I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get more of the long atmospheric cuts like the singles led on (also wish Double Trio 1 was here), but this is still really solid as it is. Definitely one of those albums you pick apart piece by piece over the span of 30 relistens. I dunno if it’s quite as challenging as BTTIGTP (By Storm was my gateway into Injury ... read more

fire

Racing Mount Pleasant is a band i discovered last month through one of their new singles. their whole vibe intrigued me a lot and so did their drastic name change, so i dug a bit further. i listened to their debut from when they were known as Kingfisher and was very happy with what i heard, with songs like “Annie” and “Reichenbach Falls” immediately going into my summer playlist. hearing that they were from Michigan also helped me fall in love, as my home state means a ... read more

about time i got to record six

i feel like i've been struggling a lot to finish this dive, especially after i didn't meet my goal of getting around to every album before Luminescent Creatures dropped. reviewing all these minimal contemporary folk records by Ichiko is starting to get quite difficult, as there's only so much i feel i can say about them without defaulting to the same descriptive potholes i get myself stuck in. to combat this, i think i'll keep what i have to ... read more

another very respectable EP to stand alongside Maruja's other two beloved (and easily accessible) studio works! this entry is shaping up to be the last of this era as well, given the band's recent signing to a label and hints at a studio album around the corner. i think this project is a fantastic close to this trilogy, given its long-winded, ever-expanding nature. in that way, the whole thing is reminiscent of many sprawling works by artists like Swans or Godspeed that have come to ... read more

finally got around to her fifth record after 2 months

i was originally gonna finish this dive over Christmas break but i guess i wasn't feeling it. but, since Ichiko's new release comes out in just a few weeks, i think i ought to finish what i started.

honestly, i'm kind of surprised this album is more like her older stuff than that of the long-winded writing found on 0. it seems like, to me, she's revisited her original formula with much higher production value. a lot of ... read more

fucking awesome to hear shit this abrasive and unafraid come out of dearborn, especially recently. i do wish i knew about this thing earlier, but better late than never i guess. thanks flannel man.

favs: All Hail, Judge, M. Dada, Body Meat, In the Corner Dunce

this album made me come out of my Mac Miller hibernation. i'd listened to Swimming with a friend of mine around a year ago but it didn't click all that much (still need to re-listen to it sometime), but because so many of my other friends in our circle also love the guy i've been hearing him involuntarily for a long time. definitely not a bad thing, though, and after getting to know about the guy better through this posthumous release, i'm excited to see what else his ... read more

never once listened to FKA twigs prior to today, but i can earnestly report that the experience i just had sitting down with this record was nothing short of fantastic and entrancing. the catchier pop songs like Girl Feels Good and Perfect Stranger contrast very well alongside the more minimal, ambient, and experimental pieces like the title track and Drums of Death. as i continued listening i kept hearing bits and pieces of my favorite records nested within the foundations of this one, with ... read more

finally had a chance to sit down with this EP for real since its release, and now that i've given it a proper listen, i think it's pretty great.

highs such as Punish, Vacillator, and Onanist really show the full potential a project in this vain by Ethel Cain can accomplish. her vocals on these tracks perfectly contrast the bleakness of the instrumental beneath them, crafting an otherworldly, desolate atmosphere to get lost in. with the highs come some lows, though. the stretch from ... read more

this is the first album from 2025 i've heard and also the first album from Asian Glow i've heard! i'm not necessarily over the moon for this release, but it's solid. my main qualms rest with the flat-feeling mix on a lot of these songs, as it doesn't do the actual writing behind them a whole lot of justice imo. besides that, it's a nice listen, just not something i expect to be returning to all that much for the rest of the year.

fav tracks: Out of Time, ... read more