Being an unfinished album, I can understand Eros not being the biggest priority for someone to get to, even if it took almost two decades to finally come out in some form. The production sounds a bit crispy in places and you wonder if the band was to revisit it today, what would they change? I enjoyed the album quite a bit, nonetheless. Definitely the next logical step after Saturday Night Wrist, nice middle ground of atmospheric, mood driven songs and even bangers. Feel like "Smile" would have been the lead single, which I can get why Chino uploaded it Youtube years ago. Has a certain magic to it that brings the listener in, even if it doesn't quite have the riffs that hit like say, "Melanie" and "Sable." But yes, I would definitely give it a go whenever you want a curious listen. Think it's still worth checking out, despite some shortcomings being a lost album.

Re: Adrenaline, I love the energy and grit of it, even has some of my favorite songs from the band (the singles, "Nosebleed," "Root," "Birthmark," "Engine No. 9..."). HOWEVER, I feel with it being so different compared to what the band would make after, I can't blame those who put the album dead last in their rankings. Definitely its own beast. I also quite enjoy their discography all around and revisit it often when I need my sexy Alternative Metal fix. My top three of White Pony, Diamond Eyes and Around The Fur will probably remain unchanged, but they tend to put some of the most notable albums of the year they come out, so I feel they're doing the best a long running band can do. Or at least, within my wheelhouse of bands.

They really are a case study in consistency, aren’t they? I’ve had a great time becoming infatuated with each new album as they drop… and in the midst of those new-album rollouts, I always find myself revisiting their catalog and marveling at the sheer amount of quality music within it. The appreciation for their whole career almost becomes compounded with every new LP they put out, at this point. I can’t think of too many other bands or artists that I get to experience that with. Definitely a league of their own. • Regarding 𝘌𝘳𝘰𝘴 — I think it’s fine. I enjoyed my first listen but I’m not sure that I share the same enthusiasm that a lot of hardcore fans have expressed for it. It could just require some additional plays and time to settle – or maybe there’s a subconscious bias at play here – but it didn’t strike me with an initial impression like their last 4-5 albums have on the first go. Still enjoyable and great to add to the library… but I’m not quite enamored with it yet.

...And that happened through the band Thrice. Technical guitar riffs and post-hardcore were so huge to me as a teen. Huge love for everything in that post-hardcore sphere, which simultaneously sparked my interest in "getting" the full-album experience. I think that completely shaped the way I consume music. • Some other formative highlights include witnessing GY!BE perform new material, live, and having it live rent-free in my head before being publicly released. Having certain artists and genres just "click" — especially during a time in my life where I was working graveyards with an iPod and hundreds of new albums at my fingertips each evening. Particular drives where certain albums resonate especially well... just too many to really tally up. But ultimately, I imagine a musical timeline could probably be traced back to buying that Thrice CD back in 2003 or so. I shudder to consider an alternate reality where that didn't happen for me.

It is hilarious look back on, and I can't say I have changed much. I still absolutely can't stand music I do not like, and I will do anything in my power to make sure I will not hear it if it is playing. As for Love the Way You Lie, I can't say it bugged me in the slightest. It was only really the chorus of Umbrella that drove me insane, and her feature doesn't have the same pop-y repetitiveness, or the, from my perspective at the time, absolutely meaningless "ella ella ayy ayy ayy ayy ayy-ayy". Rihanna is a talented singer, but man, that song. I can appreciate it a bit more these days, but I am also happy the radio has new garbage to play these days. Seems the new trash doesn't stick around as long. Works for me! I appreciate your response here, certainly many ways in which music will affect our lives, and it is damn near impossible to quantify. As much as I can't stand a lot of music, I still find it beautiful that somebody in this world will enjoy what I do not. It's so very human.

What a brilliant discovery that is, too. To find your own kind of music, rather than what everyone around you has available or puts on. Certainly a different era, the last couple decades, and especially now. To think a cassette used to be the best way to listen to your favourite song. Craziness. Your iPod was only the beginning, really, and those shifts where you get the opportunity to truly listen are something special. To fully embrace something you've never heard before, and get paid for it, too. The greatest cost being your sleep schedule, right? The memories are dear, too. I recall showing my friend Slint on a long drive back to the hotel from our first and so far only Nine Inch Nails concert, a deadly show from a band which he had introduced me to. I couldn't believe I got to be the one to show him Slint. The timestamp is recorded here in my scrobbles, so precious in a way. Now I am curious, which Thrice album is this? I'll have to give it a listen ASAP!

Also, did you get the vinyl? Fun to have the hexagonal flexi disc!

Well said on all fronts. 🙌 I did scoop up the record, yeah. The flexi is neat, I guess it contains the ambient / drone track they were playing before the album at the pre-release listening parties. I think I read that it’s the same audio whether you play it backward or forward, but haven’t messed with it enough to confirm that myself. I think the art direction and packaging is super well-done for the LP, too. A lot of records shy on that anymore, and opt to 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 include a basic insert tucked inside a single sleeve. I get it, from a production and cost perspective… but I do think it misses the entire mark when it comes to physical presentation and providing an opportunity to get further absorbed into the music. The aesthetic was nailed on the tri-fold jacket and accompanying booklet we got for this edition of 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰, and I’m really digging it.

Totally, a really nice package and the flexi disc being the mysterious cherry on top. When I opened my package on release day I didn't know it was gonna be included and for a 30 seconds or so I was the chosen one to receiver a new piece of the ARG or something but google of course quickly confirmed my growing suspicion that probably wasn't the case.

Yeah the posters are great and for sure gives the release a more ominous tone so far than the music itself. Totally enjoying the ARG rollout too, almost now feels like a throwback album release strategy where they don't seem to happen as often. And yes curious to see what will occur next, album date or another song?

Pretty funny timing, preorders just dropped for the album about 10 minutes before you left that shout. May 29th is right around the corner. 🙌 https://bleep.com/release/590960-boards-of-canada-inferno

Haha yeah I just saw the news and came straight back here. Very cool to see the art and everything, at first glance I dig it. The track name "Age Of Capricorn" also got me excited it could sonically be a hommage to Aquarius. Might have to pre order the red vinyl + the yellow shirt looked quite nice.

I guess 1 out of 11 ain’t bad. Which single was that again? 𝘎𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘩? I think it was 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘖𝘯 that everyone seems to be collectively losing their minds over – I mean, yeah, I get that the percussion is a crazy throwback to 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘵 days, but I guess I’m just too old and disenchanted with the band to get really excited about it. 🤷‍♂️ I’m glad others are really pleased with the record at least. It sounds like it’s been received quite a bit better than the two before it. M/M wasn’t a perfect album by any means… but I still think 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 was such a perfect send-off for the band. Lyrically, thematically, and sonically. 👌 Could’ve been the last song to soundtrack them riding off into the sunset as far as I’m concerned. Maybe that’s what my brain has established canonically, at least. 🥴

I had a feeling you'd appreciate the sound their going for. But totally agree about the production and having listened twice now also some of the songwriting could be more dynamic but when they lock in its quite satisfying even if a bit one dimensional at 59 min. Any hidden gems of the year so far you'd recommend one to check out here around halfway mark of the year?

Maybe not necessarily "hidden gems", but based on your lack of scrobbles for any of the following, I'd probably suggest the latest from: 𝗕𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗧 ≤, for a glitchy, monolithic and bleak twist on post-rock. • 𝗛𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲 𝗞𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹 who just dropped their debut album – one that doubles down on BCNR's 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 with unapologetic determination. If you can get over the fact that they literally clone BCNR's songwriting more than a few times (or if you just really want "more" of that BCNR FTFT sound in 2025), I do think it's a quality record worth exploring. • 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 is the side-project of Parannoul, dedicated to his post-rock songwriting. The first release he dropped under it is solid; reminds me of Boris meets Swans at times. Hypnotic, noisy, and dark. • Newest 𝗠𝗼𝗶𝗻 EP is good even if it doesn't reinvent the wheel. • And finally, maybe 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮's latest: has a kind of post-punk, art / prog rock thing going on. Really fresh and enjoyable listen.

Thanks for the recs, gotten a chance to give them all a listen. First of thanks for pointing the Moin ep out, not sure how I missed that one! Huremic was a hit too and I'm glad to finally get into a thing related to Parannoul since those albums haven't hit as much for me but this did. Messa and Bruit were neat to but Hesse Kassel might be just to much like BCNR with almost just 6+min songs it didn't grab me. To return the favor: Brighde Chaimbeul - Sunwise (best bagpipes you've heard, has collaborated with Polacheck & Stetson), Jenny Hval - Iris Silver Mist (not sure how much Hval you've tried over the years but her new one is a good one), Hayden Pedigo - I'll be waving as your drive away (same text as with Hval), Eiko Ishibashi - Antigone (jazzy but catchy slow core almost), Kassie Krut - S/T EP (came out last year, ex-Palm peeps new band and its good), Hiroshi Yoshimura - Flora (unreleased album by ambient late & great Yoshimura).

I agree completely, it stunned me away on first listen. I think it's in my top 3 Swans albums, and I'm excited to see what they're planning to make now they're moving away from big sound albums. Leaving meaning did feel like a sort of epilogue to Glowing Man, but Birthing feels like a proper successor that could've made a trio a quartet. Where does it rank compared to other Swans albums you think? Personally I have Soundtracks, Seer and Birthing. I do need to relisten to the trilogy but I feel like they're all amazing but stand up together, as better than the sum of their parts

I think we have the same three albums for our top Swans picks. Based selections. 🤝 I will say that Glowing Man gets a spot at the table, too, though it's difficult for me to place exactly which album it'd periodically get swapped out for. (I think it just really depends on the energy and atmosphere I'm looking for in the moment. I know I was pretty obsessed with it when it first dropped, and probably would've placed it above Seer at one point. Not so much these days.)

Yep, really excited. Amazing and promising band.

I didn't mean 'but' to be funny but I get it ^^ I'm very excited for the Swans album, really liked the single. I'll take the advice into account next time I want something to listen to late at night, thank you !

I'm very excited to see them again. That they play headline shows at such small, intimate venues blows my mind (certainly that's been my experiences over here), I can see them commanding much bigger crowds in the future if things go well for them. Birthmarks hasn't hit me as hard SOE or Stray yet, but I'll give it time. The cleaner production caught me off guard to begin with, but I've got used to that and I do think it suits the somewhat more polished songwriting. My main complaint is that for a shorter runtime to be effective, every song has to hit, and there are a few which are a bit forgettable which lessens the impact overall.

Those intimate, small shows are the best. Some of my favorite live performances have been at hole-in-the-wall bars for $13 a ticket. Really feels like you're getting to witness something truly special that's tucked away from the public eye... especially if those artists go on to "blow up" in popularity. // Yeah, Birthmarks is a real slow burn. I think it leans more into atmosphere as a strength than hooks or bangers. I do dig it but I'm obviously way less familiar with their discography and how it plays into the grand scheme, contextually. Do you have a favorite Bambara record at this point or nah?

Swarm and SOE are both really enjoyable, with interesting concepts and a pretty high hit rate, but both fall down a little towards the end, I find. Stray is my number one - easily their most consistent, with virtually every song having been a favourite at some point. The premise being songs each with a different story, but linked by a common theme and with some overlap of characters and references, is something I really enjoy. So many of my early listens were spent trying to piece together how each song related to the rest, and those little discoveries and realisations made me fall in love with it all the more.

man, i'll be honest... I haven't really been excited for a deafheaven relese in a while. I went in on the singles; had to see what they were doing after Infinite Granite and couldn't wait based on what I heard. I hold the ever so cold take that IG wasn't that great. I get that other people like it, just wasn't for me. but man, this record? dare i say, it's better than sunbather? idk. at least their best since. every single individual on this project has leveled up significantly. musicianship, songwriting, lyrics, vocals, the highs, the lows (read: heaviness), just everything next level for this band on here. i see that maybe writing infinite granite could have been integral to creating this record, and for that maybe I love it now. who knows. Anyway, yeah: seal of approval.

Right on, you love to hear that. Yeah, I know that IG was not everyone’s cup of tea, to put it very mildly. That album warmed up on me a fair bit, but it wasn’t – and still isn’t – my go-to record when I’m in a Deafheaven mood. I do hear their signature style embedded in there, under the surface… but if I wasn’t so big on shoegaze in recent years, I think it would probably be a flop for me. That aside, I think you hit the nail on the head by speculating that it was a necessary detour before arriving at LPWP. I’m kind of pacing myself with this new one in an effort to retain its fresh appeal, and I’m loving how much it continues to unveil on subsequent listens. I dodged the singles but assured myself we were in for a treat after reading countless comments on the “return to form” through Magnolia and Heathen as singles. (And to think… those are hardly even highlights for me at this point.) Really glad to hear you’re digging the album so much.

Oh, I bet I do. That was my bread-and-butter for music exploration from ~2009-2013 or so. From what I see so far, you’ve already listened to a lot of what I’d suggest off the cuff… so I’m gonna’ dig a little deeper in hopes of getting you some suggestions that are brand new to your ears.

So being that you have 8,000+ artists scrobbled, I think odds are slim that you haven't explored anything I could pitch your way. I've poked and prodded around your library a bit, and it looks like you've probably checked out just about any of my suggestions at some point between 2021–2024. A few you're missing though: you could try out *Ancients, potentially, though I see you've [barely] listened to *Shels (and they overlap a bit). • By The End Of Tonight is a little on the mathy side, but they're a lot of fun too. • Definitely the Japanese outfit Té... they're an A+ blend of post-rock, math-rock, and post-metal. (Worth tracking down since they're not on streaming services.) • Faltre's "Elegeia" is great traditional post-rock. • The first couple of albums from Damascus are really nice. • The S/T EP from Hourvari is peak post-rock / screamo from a decade ago, I still visit it often. That feels like a fair start to me. 👍

Thanks, I will check them out

I very much feel you on that one. BM’s debut album is still the only record of theirs that I love from start to finish. I think that thing’s pretty special; not to discredit everything after. Cavalcade and Hellfire are fine but I never arrived to the same level of obsession that the rest of the internet seemed to. Funny enough, it’s the more “theatrical” elements of those 2 albums that detract a bit for me. So on paper, anyway, The New Sound shouldn’t really work for me at all. But it’s almost like Greep doubled down or had the legroom to stretch that sound to its full potential, and it just kind of works better for me… and you too, from the sounds of it.

JPEG picked up a lot of steam these recent years, I see a lot more people getting into his music. Moving to Melt-Banana, 3+5 was amazing! Definitely worth the 11 year wait tho I wish it was longer, probably my 2nd favourite project from them only behind Fetch. Parannoul's Sky Hundred is another phenomenal album, easily one of the best this year and I'd say arguably the best in their discog too - I have no clue how people like Fantano can say it's a 6/10 :( . These are just two of the many albums that make this year of music insanely stacked (gonna be even more when Greep, Aphex Twin and Godspeed drop). Moving on, happy to see another MOTFD enjoyer! They aren't talked about nearly enough as they should despite making great music (and I'm still mad I didn't get to see them live with Haru Nemuri :/ ). One last thing, love the Jane Doe pfp :D

Yeah, JPEG has definitely had a substantial following, no doubt... but it does sorta' feel like he's become a wildfire after he helped scare the hoes last year. 🔥 Totally agree on Melt-Banana. 3+5 goes so hard, they didn't miss a beat in those 11 years. I'm with you in thinking that Fetch just 𝘮𝘢𝘺 have a slight edge... but they're both such a blast, and easily my favorite outputs from the band so far. New Parannoul is killer too. I was really impressed with it – but not quite as engrossed – as I was with ATM when it dropped last year. But it's really settled in with me. He's got such a consistent streak going, it's kind of wild. Definitely do not agree with a 6/10 score but I also don't take a lot of stock in Fandango's takes. He can articulate his opinion well, but that's all it really is to me at the end of the day. // I hope MOTFD continue to tour and that you can catch them! They showcased a new track when I saw them and it was pretty rad, no surprise there.

big up, i hope to be as alluring and mysterious as u one day 🤞

Man. I've been called a lot of things on this site... but – facetious or not – I'd say 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 and 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 are definitely 2 new additions to the list. 😂

it's a compliment i swear LOL, just an unreadable taste in music give me like another decade

facccctttts

🚫 No normies beyond this point.

haha so true, typa music someone says when they say they're a massive fan of underground rap

But I'll defend that title to the death. Or bury you for suggesting it. Let me know how this works.

Nope, but I’ve been meaning to, ill def get into it sometime!

the new album has really grown on me!! saw it 3 times last week and wow; i think i prefer it 2 guitar music but unsure. it's fab honestly .w.

was gonna say the same thing, very cool pfp

@sosocrates: too kind, thanks a bunch. 🙇‍♂️

At ~245 songs a day, I'd say you're in pretty good shape to keep your horizons broadened.

Is he fake scrobbling or nah, wdyt? LMAO

Outed by last year's Listening Clock stats. Couldn't be me. https://i.ibb.co/bQhCdCS/ilovebr3akd0wnz-clock.png

I missed it at first, but found it at Bullmoose. Looks like DW has it back as well. That Boris / Melvins tour looks so good. More than likely will go. Can't wait to hear Bullhead live in its entirety haha

Very nice. I don't think the orange variant will be too difficult to track down, but I do suspect that there will be a fun tour exclusive if that's your cup of tea. I may try for one of those and sell my orange preorder, depending on how that all shakes out. I haven't spent a ton of time with Melvins but I've heard enough of them – including Bullhead – to know that'd be a rad show.

I think she'd like Schlagenheim

Fair enough I for one approve of it being forever. The fact you switch it up slightly every now and then is definitely enough to keep it fresh. Im kinda desperate to find a new one myself but its so hard. But ive had mine for so long aswell I may aswell keep it too lol. Well ive only listened to it once and definitely need more than that to fully appreciate and understand it cause ya know its Billy Woods after all. But off that one listen I loved it one of the better first listens to a Billy project ive had honestly.

I don’t think I’m familiar with that username, but something tells me I probably won’t lose sleep over homoswag69 disapproving of a comment I’ve made on Last.fm.

absolutely agree, nice to know it's not just me. preach!

That's the one I wanted most, but by the time I saw they were out that version was sold out. I (hopefully) got a copy of the indie exclusive. If they drop another variant with orange in it I might pick that up too haha. Very stoked that this even exists.

Is this your first copy? It's a classic record that deserves to be in everyone's collection, I agree. They actually added 2 new variants if you hadn't seen. (Same page.) Neither feature orange though, but maybe it'll happen someday. I've been enjoying one of those white / black / blue / orange "haze" copies from 2011. I had to bite again for that supposed remaster, just to see what it's about.

Oh yeah, if the songs are even long enough to register as a scrobble in the first place, ha. I can't say I've ever really done a deep-dive on grindcore as a genre – I've only really dabbled way back in the day, when I got acclimated with some more abrasive genres.

Wormrot is nice and a good starting point cause they mix a lot of other genre's in there. Voices has a lot of screamo vibes to me... I hear a lot of Orchid and pg.99 influence. Their latest has a lot of punk vibes to it. It's all still very much grindcore tho. I recommend it.

From browsing your recent charts, I think for a post-rock fix, you can't go wrong with Gifts From Enola's "From Fathoms". Any album from Do Make Say Think will treat you right, too; they capture the scale of the genre but manage to dodge a lot of its tropes. More time with Evpatoria Report's "Golevka" – it looks like you may've briefly dabbled in it. (At least get through Taijin Kyofusho on that one.) Lotta' people sleeping on Damascus' Heights, that's a fun one, especially if you dig Caspian. Any of Leech's 3 albums. Either of Lost In The Riot's records for something a little more energetic, riff-loaded, and mathy. I'll probably stop there for now. // For some mellow tunes to completely zone out to, I 100% suggest anything from Kyle Bobby Dunn, and A Winged Victory For The Sullen's S/T. Essential night listens. All of that should make for a good start; hopefully there's something in there that will strike your fancy.

Yes I also just the other week caved in and bought Pool on bandcamp (since he's removed all his stuff from spotify), been meaning to listen to it since it came out considering I was such a fan of Compro (and yes, a record makes a great first impression but, for me, really stands up to repeat listens). But agreed, a lot to process but for an almost 2h album its not to tiring and keeps shifting. // Hm, not expecting one at all really. They did to that remix just last year and did approve that Lone cover of Roygbiv released on Christmas eve (great cover if u haven't checked it out!) so I mean they are around so who knows if they been working behind the scens on stuff (especially with a quarantine year or two). // Yeah, extremely abrupt as far as break ups go considering a new highly acclaimed album they've yet to fully tour. Hopefully they can work it out but internally. And same, was a fan of NJA and Ex-L but haven't gone back to them so Radical was a surprise.