2026/08 Listening Log

Genre: Metallic Hardcore

“There’s no war but the class war!”

A fantastic and political riff fest that very much feels like hardcore in its truest sense. It’s constantly pushing forward with this melodic undercurrent that ever so often breaks through the harshness, and never fails to get your head bobbing to the grooves.

Tier: B
(Better than average)

Genre: Hardcore

I have to admit, I’ve never heard a hardcore album like this. It has so much dynamics and surprises that I kept making pleasantly confused faces while listening to it. It’s unpredictable in the best way, and weirdly catchy too. Whatever you think this will sound like, you’re wrong. This would definitely be a tier higher if the production wasn’t sub-par.

Tier: B+
(Better than average, and then some)

Genre: Black Metal

This album sounds as if those american black metal bands of yore actually got the vibe right. Great production, with amazingly crisp vocals. Tight, raw, and grim. Really good stuff.

Tier: B
(Better than average)

Genre: Industrial Deathcore

Here we have a quirky, spastic, and very raw deathcore EP which actually makes my ears perk up. I don’t fuck with a lot of deathcore these days, but every now and again a smaller band comes along with a sound that’s distinct in a very saturated genre.

Tier: B-
(Better than average, but just barely)

Genre: Metalcore

A metalcore record with melodeath leanings, which actually feels like it has some bite to it. The production is kind of gritty, and the music feels very true to the artistic heart of the genre. Decent!

Tier: C
(Cool)

Genre: Death Metal

The kind of cavernous, rolling death metal that every underground metal fan seems to enjoy, but I don’t. There’s no personality or hook here to keep me interested.

Tier: C-
(Cool, but not my thing)

Genre: Metalcore and/or Tech Death

I have to admit I haven’t really heard a band that switches between tech death and metalcore, but that’s what this is. Unfortunately, technical chops and good production aside, this is just utterly bland with regards to songwriting. Completely forgettable.

Tier: D
(Didn’t remember anything)

Genre: Goth Rock

Like most other releases in this genre, the vocals are off-putting to me. I don’t really mind the music that much otherwise, but on the whole this is simply not appealing to me.

Tier: C-
(Cool, but not my thing)

Genre: Alt Blues Rock

I’ve been known to enjoy Sturgill Simpson in the past, but this record is not it. It seems .. sloppy, somehow. I don’t know, not for me.

Tier: C-
(Cool, but not my thing)

Genre: Hard Rock

It’s hard not to respect the hell out of this. A band consisting of three muslim women, all wearing their hijabs while playing some quite provocative rock music (culturally relatively speaking). This does not quite scratch my itch for power and sonic bite, but it’s impossible for me to dislike based on principle alone.

Tier: C
(Cool)

Genre: KGLW

Let’s face it, KGLW are a genre all unto their own, but this time they’re dabbling exclusively in electronica and different flavors of dance music. It’s really bizarre, but like every other time KGLW have ‘branched out’ as it were, they still seem to end up making good music.

This is not my favorite of theirs, and probably never will be, but I’m not minding it.

Tier: B-
(Better than average, but just barely)

Genre: Post-Metal

There was some buzz around this record on its release, and I’ll be very honest and say that I really don’t understand why. The sonic impression of this album is so extremely flat and formless. The music just floats on by without demanding any sort of attention, or offering any edge or groove for the listener to grab onto, so it slips away just as fast as it came, anonymous and forgettable.

Tier: F
(Failed to find any enjoyment)

Genre: Brazil

This album is clearly made by very competent musicians, and embodies a very strong human element in its compositions and instrumentation. There is this fundamentally raw feeling of musical expression, which produces an atmosphere and rhythm which will unconsciously make your body sway. The perfect album to put on the record player during that early evening summer garden party.

Tier: B
(Better than average)

Genre: Oldschool Metalcore

This rerecording of Cholera’s 2008 album by the same name is still great fun in 2026. It’s big, it’s angry, it’s heavy, and has plenty of groove and moshable moments throughout. No clean vocals either, which is a plus. It’s not exactly AOTY material in 2026, but it’s a great reminder of why this genre took off in the first place.

Tier: B
(Better than average)

Genre: Tech Death

A well-produced but ultimately mediocre album from this danish band. Plenty of spit and polish, but the songs are all fairly run-of-the-mill tech death fare.

Tier: C
(Cool)

Genre: Deathcore

Modern deathcore with a penchant for death. I didn’t think that much of it the first time I listened to it, but through subsequent listens it just kept growing on me. It had a certain flair about it that was working its charm on me until I ended up really enjoying it, not to mention that it sounds absolutely brutal and filthy, which I love for this genre. A surprising amount of musical variety here too, as well as some hard-hitting samples.

Tier: B+
(Better than average, and then some)

Genre: Pop n’ Bass

I’ve given this a couple of fair shakes now and it’s just not landing. Even though this record has most of the ingredients that would result in a tasty dish, there’s a lack of spice here which simply makes it bland for me.

Tier: C
(Cool)

Genre: Blackened Progressive Folk Metal

Wow, this female-fronted band makes some really gorgeous music. It’s grandiose and mesmerizing in its compositions while still having a clear and sharp edge to it, especially on the vocal front. The layering and dynamics make for a very engaging listening experience ranging from blissful serene passages to raw bursts of despair.

I generally don’t find this genre as enjoyable as others, but this is good stuff.

Tier: B
(Better than average)

Genre: Death Metal

A very by-the-numbers death metal record with no real personality that I could pick up on.

Tier: C-
(Cool, but not my thing)