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Ashes, Organs and Crypts (LP)

AUTOPSY
I won’t drone on about this particular release but it is great death metal record that is firing on all cylinders to deliver the goods to your ear drums. Again, there is nothing I didn’t like about this one and confidently recommend this album. Read more

When No Birds Sing (LP)

FULL OF HELL & NOTHING
This one is a spot on banger of a collaboration. Ugly and beautiful at the same time. This is one excellent album. Read more

Engraved With Pain (LP)

MORNE
I cannot believe that this band will be 20 years old in another year, and still making excellent heavy music. While nothing is reinvented, I do hear a certain refining of composition and mature comfortability with their presentation of their art. Kurt Ballou did an excellent job capturing their sound and the mix is wonderful. Highly recommended for crust fiends that like metal, sludge and doom. Read more

Desolation’s Flower (LP)

RAGANA
Excellent release of misanthrope blackened music. I remember reading an interview with Ludicra a long time ago expressing they loved black metal, but they lived in a city dealing with life in the city not the Norwegian woods, and wanted to create black metal via their experience, not merely aping their European counter parts. When listening to Desolations Flowers I get the sense the Ragana is achieving much the same but filtering it through their experience, “It's necessary to create environments that are explicitly anti-fascist in the metal scene, and in the world," she says of the festival. "We are anarchists and feminists and we want our music to impassion people to rage and revolt. We want to be part of communities where people are invested and interested in revolution." Ragana is also highly successful at capturing emotional honesty, despair/depression, love and fear within the rawness and atmosphere of modern black metal. Highly recommend. Read more

American Gothic (LP)

WAYFARER
“And the answer, said the judge. If God meant to interfere in the degeneracy of mankind would he not have done so by now? Wolves cull themselves, man. What other creature could? And is the race of man not more predacious yet?” - Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian Every time I listen to Wayfarer I am reminded of two things. The first is the satirical comedy, “A Million Ways To Die In The West”, which, in it’s own way is just as truthful as the second thing, which is the canonical Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. Do I believe that people did great actions, worthy of the myths, absolutely. Do I also believe that America was founded on heinous acts on genocide, slavery and conquest, yes I do. Which brings us to Wayfarer and their fifth offering, American Gothic. First class musicians who have fully developed a sonic landscape that is unique and encapsulates all that is black metal. The production is excellent, well thought out lyrics and a heavy dose of Americana create an album that is shoulders above the rest. Read more

The Cessation Of Suffering (LP)

GNAW THIER TONGUES
Ugly experimental music that creates a truly nightmarish experience. This album doesn’t mess round, there is no comfort to be found. Highly recommended for these “unprecedented” times. Read more

Memento Mori (LP)

MARDUK
Much like Cannibal Corpse, Marduk are one of the institutional bands of the second wave of black metal and have been in existence for over 30 years. Uncompromising and controversial since day one, Marduk conjured up a kind of black metal that is all their own. Momento Mori is no different. Marduk has chosen to move away from the highly suspect/sketchy/often questionable fascination with war and their affinity for the German army of WWII, to subjects that harken back to themes of death and smashing the christian. The band is in top form showcasing both a frost bitten complexity and unrelenting pace, that deliver the angry hellfire of black metal that very few bands can. Read more

Black Star Gnosis (LP)

DEMONCY
Hypnotic atmosphere abounds with plenty of aggressive venom and bite. Excellent USBM, and yet another veteran legend honorably reinforcing their own ethos. This went in my top ten for the year and is highly recommended. Read more

THE HOLDOVERS (BLU)

It takes skill to be able to show human frailty, vulnerability, and emotions in a film that does not condescend nor pander to their insulting banal stereotypes, nor syrupy sweet fairytale, nor hit you over the head with “message”. This is a film that does deal with a particular place and time [1970’s America and in a school for what the 9.5 % of wealthy Americans], but the Director did a brilliant job showing the inequalities and injustices of what was and still is going on in a period that was both the beginning of a new America and the closing of the old [ and how not much has really changed for those on both the bottom of the economic and societal ladder]. But these commentaries are interwoven and take place around the brilliant dialogue and tremendous talent of the actors. Da’Vine Joy Randolphs performance is absolutely masterly and nails every scene they are in. I do not want to give away the plot - you can read about it on Wikipedia if you want to. I do want to say that this is a great movie about character and plot that leads with intellect and heart. Read more

Sunburn (LP)

Dominic Fike
I've been a long time fan of Dominic Fike ever since his rap days (which you can still find on YouTube!!). While his sophomore album includes reminisce of his Southern Florida rapper energy, it mainly focuses on his doubts, faults, pain, and sobriety since achieving the spotlight after 'Don't Forget About Me Demos' back in 2018 which contains his most streamed song '3 Nights'. Fike's live performances are so captivating I can't help but be eager to listen to what he has in store for us next -- and where this journey takes him. Read more

Black Celebration (CD)

Depeche Mode
Black Celebration marks Depeche Mode's initial deep dive into the dark, filled with the experimental electronic eroticism and industrial cacophony that catapulted the group to international stardom. The titular opening track serves as the shape of things to come, with the haunting, sultry tonality that permeates throughout the entirety of this musical masterpiece, like velveteen smoke from the end of a clove cigarette. Read more

The Head on the Door (LP)

The Cure
In contrast to the Cure's emotionally eviscerating, melancholic genius which produced timeless classics such as Faith and Pornography, The Head on the Door highlights the brighter side of The Cure's multifaceted temperament, transforming the group's trademark doom and gloom into something dark, yet danceable, by using mainstream musical influence as a means to express existential turmoil in a way that garnered international acclaim. Read more

Adore (CD)

The Smashing Pumpkins
Adore is the soft-lipped kiss after the Pumpkins' mainstream success with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Adore is the product of a very tumultuous time for the band, with the departure of drummer Jimmy Chamberlain, the death of Billy Corgan's mother, and impending divorce. Adore provides an extremely intimate look at a band that had seemed bulletproof, their vulnerability manifesting itself within the somber soliloquies of tracks such as “Shame,” “Crestfallen,” and “Blank Page." Read more

Unfold (LP)

Melody's Echo Chamber
Neo-Psychedelia - Shoegaze Recovered demos from her 2012 debut, captures a time of experimentation, excitement and discord at the beginning of a long and uncertain career Read more

No Thank You (LP)

Little Simz
Hip Hop - Electronic - Gospel Embodies a feeling of righteousness, self-empowerment and defiance in the face of mental health trauma and social isolation Read more

The Car (LP)

Arctic Monkeys
Lounge Pop - Art Rock Their most mature and introspective record to date, the funky, cinematic reflection of an indie band that constantly redefines its sound with each release (my totally not biased pick for alternative album of the year) Read more

Best Of (LP)

Sade
Beautiful album cover and covers her/the career-with one new song -at the time of this release, Sony Music treated as a new album release and it sold millions Read more

The Loveliest Time (LP)

Carly Rae Jepsen
Incredibly addictive pop music soaked in psychedelia. I can't stop listening to this Read more

The Yussef Dayes Experience (Live From Malibu) (LP)

Yussef dayes
An incredible live set from Dayes and his band. Tremendous talent and beautiful vibrations Read more

Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua (LP)

Ana Frango Elétrico
Such a groovy and lush jam. Every album of theirs just gets better and better! Read more