The 12th Neurosis album and their first in a decade. Released with no announcement last month and without a longtime key member (FUCK SCOTT KELLY). New vocals provided by Aaron Turner from Isis and it fits so well with Neurosis’ sludgy post-metal. This record is fucking crushing. Easily gonna make my album of the year list. I still think punk Neurosis is best Neurosis but what a treat to get a new record from one of my all time favorite bands. CHECK IT OUT.

English punk band but definitely more on the post punk side. This record is a vinyl release of two demos that they recorded in 1982. I’d describe it as early post punk mixed with indie pop. Vocals are super pretty in a great contrast to the instrumentation around them. Most notable thing about the band is that the bassist went on to play in My Bloody Valentine. I recommend it to anyone, but everyone jocks MBV so hard so check it out especially if you love that band. If you’re ready, LET’S MUTATE.

Final Gasp is a hardcore band from Boston. They are HEAVILY influenced by Samhain, which is the best project Glenn Danzig ever did. Melodic, dark and moody with a great vocalist. Their first two EPs were much more Samhain sounding but the previous LP and this new one have a little more of an expansion on their own sound. Great fucking band and incredible live too! LISTEN

Top tier stenchcore split! Cimiterium is from Australia and Slavery is from Czech Republic. I have another Cimiterium 7” but this is my first time hearing Slavery. Cimiterium side is fucking crushing metallic mid paced crust and Slavery side is faster tempo but still has a metallic edge. If I had to pick, Cimiterium is the better side. GREAT FUCKING SPLIT

Belgrado is a Barcelona based post punk band that has Venezuelan, British and Polish members. Vocals are all sung in Polish. They were originally a darker kinda gloomy band but this one has them showing more pop sensibilities. This is their 4th and most recent full length. Highly recommend it to anyone that loves post punk, new wave or synth pop. DO YOUR EARS A FAVOR.

Adicts formed in 1976 in Ipswich, England. They play catchy as hell punk with a lot of nods to “A Clockwork Orange”. They are easily the best of all the clockwork punk bands. This Ep was released in 1985 and preceded their “Fifth Overture” album. The opening track “Champs Élysées” is one of my favorite songs they ever did. Other tracks are all great too. I’m not sure what it’s like now but the first time I saw them live in like 2001 or 2 is still one of the top 3 best concerts I’ve ever seen. DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

Most recent full length from Richmond, VA musician. I’ve been a fan since “Mista Thug Isolation” was dropped in 2012. Dude has had an interesting evolution. I don’t like the newer stuff as much as when he was rapping, but this is still top tier stuff. Eagerly awaiting whatever he does next. LISTEN

Debut release from The Wraith from L.A. Got into these guys because the singer, Dave Bales, was in the band Lost Tribe previously, and they were one of my favorites of the deathrock/dark post punk revival that happened in the early 2010s. The Wraith also had original Blink 182 (yuck) drummer Scott Raynor. This record is moody and interesting musically, but what sets it apart are Davey’s vocals. He committed suicide a bit after this albums released so sadly no more music from him. They got a new singer and released a second record but the new singer is kinda just generic goth vocals to me and it just not at all interesting. I haven’t even listened to the whole second record because I get bored with it. RIP DAVEY BALES

This one came out in 1991 and is the only release from S.I. Records. Four bands documenting the second wave of anarcho punk in southern California. I mainly bought this comp for the Holocaust track, as they were a part of that late 80s early nineties US crust punk scene. Their track “The Ultimate End” is metallic hardcore punk and makes me wish they had recorded more. Media Children also makes an appearance and was one of the most active bands in that scene. Their track, “Forever Scarred”, is about sexual violence, gender inequality and women’s self defense. All brought to you with shrieking female vocals. Members later went on to form Litmus Green, who also fucking rule. Social Insecurity and Unauthorized are on the b side and it’s decent but unremarkable stuff. Cover folds into a huge poster too. I can only find the HOLOCAUST TRACK online, but it’s the best on the record so that’s a win!

Post punk from Australia. Nick Cave’s pre-Bad Seeds band. Chaotic, tribal post punk with a lot of free jazz influence. This is their debut after changing their name from “The Boys Next Door”. CHECK IT OUT

So glad this finally got repressed. Droog is a rapper from NYC who is massively slept on. If you like the old school boom bap street rap you will fucking love this. Has features from Danny Brown and Wiki. Alchemist also produces the last track. The opening song G.K.A.C. is my favorite song he’s ever done. GOTTA KILL A COP

Fourth full length from Sweden’s Hällas. This one is definitely gonna wind up on my best of 2026 list. This band consistently releases top tier hard rock/prog. Great live too. Saw them opening for Satan and they blew every band on that bill out of the water. Do not miss them if they come to your town! YOUR EARS NEED THIS!

This one originally came out in 1977. If you only know 80s era Scorpions you are fucking up. Everything they did with Uli Roth on guitar blows the 80s stuff out of the water. This one is a recent reissue, and the only Uli Scorps record that I don’t have an early pressing of. SCORPS RULE!

Second full length by Blood Incantation, released in 2019. I bought this one from them at the album release show in Denver. Insanely good progressive death metal. This is the album that really broke them through after having a lot of underground buzz coming off of the previous album “Starspawn”. If you like sick riffs and getting high and watching “Ancient Aliens”, this is the fucking band for you! Are you looking for an AWAKENING?

Solidarity with Minneapolis. RIP Alex Pretti.

Side project of Randy Uchida, guitarist for Japan’s infamous GISM. This one was released in 1984, the same year as GISM’s debut “Detestation”. GISM kinda straddled a line between metal and punk, but this one is traditional Maiden-style heavy metal. Two tracks is all ya get and the title track is definitely the better song. RIP RANDY UCHIDA

Top tier death metal from Canada. Got a chance to catch these guys opening for Carcass last year and they blew me away! Easily the best performance of the night. If you in anyway dig old school death metal you need to check this out. Take a trip on down to the ABOMINATED VOID, if you dare!

This one is a mega nostalgia record for me from back when I was I was living in the city in warehouses and throwing diy shows with a bike as my mode of transport. SGP is not a good rapper but his fucking beats are incredible! This is easily the best he’s done. The rest of the stuff is hit or miss, but I’d probably pick up the “BMW” record if I saw it somewhere. BRINGING THV PHXNK

Japanese psychedelic crust punk from 1992. This one features vocalist Crow from Japanese legends, Crow. Really cool psych instrumentals blending into metallic crust punk. An album that needed a reissue forever and finally got one a few years ago. CRUST PUNK IS BEST PUNK

This is the second Business album originally released in 1985. Mine is a reissue from like 10 or so years ago. The Business formed in 1979 and were part of the first wave of the Oi! scene which was a working class offshoot of the 70s UK punk scene. These guys had a great sense of melody in their stuff but still retaining the punk edge of it. They even covered Crass’ “Do They Owe Us A Living?”along with writing a tune proclaiming their punk ties, “Loud Proud And Punk”. I also have an early tracks compilation, their first album “Suburban Rebels”, and third record “Welcome To The Real World”. This bad was super important to teenage me and I can sing along with all the words to all these records. The Business fucking rule. RIP Micky Fitz. PUT IT ALL UP IN YOUR EARHOLES!