VARIOUS SONGS AND VARIOUS FEELINGS DEC 21-27

The longest break I've taken from weekly posting since the autumn of 2019, brought on by the perfect storm that was a) being away, seeing amazing shows b) returning sick from said being away and c) writing that damn year-end list that really has no reason for being other than me being who I am.

The being away? It was in San Francisco and assorted academic institutions therein/out, seeing people's I've known a while but never in person (hi Jonathan), seeing people I haven't seen in years, and just generally basking in the magic (sordid though it may be of the Bay Area). The shows? An unreal Rainer Maria + Cap'n Jazz event, that may just have been the most charismatic, joy-filled musical event I've attended in a quite some time (added to by the fact that I found a pillar to lean on throughout the entirety of the show, which meant my back didn't buckle mid setlist); an unreal, mind-altering Jerome's Dream + Portraits of Past show at Gilman's (what a damn mouthful); and a wonderful, though WAY more attended than I expected Agriculture show. A fitting end that one, since I couldn't get that damn Agriculture album out of my head my entire stay leading up to the show, and the show just amplified that experience. Good times.

Now I'm somewhat healthy band back home, and now the list is done and gone and I can rest of my laurels. Which is exactly why I'm doing a weekly post. Keep safe one and all. 

If you're new to this metal blog of bones you can also check out the various interview projects I have going on as well as the weekly recommendation posts. And if you'd like to keep abreast of the latest, most pressing developments follow us wherever I may roam (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Bluesky, etc), and listen to my, I guess, active? (no) podcast (YouTube, Spotify, Apple), and to check out our amazing compilation albums. You could also possibly support my unholy work here (Patreon), if you feel like it. Early access to our bigger projects, weekly exclusive recommendations and playlists, and that wonderful feeling that you're encouraging a life-consuming habit. It's probably a bad idea, but to each their own. On to the list.

Speglas – "The Spirit Postmortem," from Endarkenment, Being & Death (Death Metal – Trust No One Recordings). A fitting beginning for a year-end post, since this is easily one of my most anticipated albums of 2026. I'm the biggest Morbus Chron/Sweven fan on the planet (see best-of 2020's list, see this interview, and this one too), and have been riding the Speglas train, an offshoot cousin of that family since belately finding their brilliant debut EP a few years back (see, and see). Making affairs even more exciting (more!?) is that, taking the first single as evidence, this is going to be the heaviest Speglas outing yet, all without losing that intangible magic. If you loved Floating from 2025, this is your jam. The Swedes, man. Can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Smiqra – "Peer Review by Oxen," from Rɡyaɡ̇dźé! (Weirdo Everything Metal – Independent). Until getting my shit together to compile my year-end list I had no idea this was out, which was completely on me and my fault and I apologize. The brilliantly maximalist brain of the main behind the already brainy Hoplites (interviewed here), who had famously retired that wack-job band a while back, seemed to have decided a return was due and not only that but an ever brainier, more academically furious return at that. You can see this album on my list, of course, because it is the existence of music like this that make life worth living.

Serpent Column – "Flight of the Last Gods," from Aion of Strife (Mathcore/Black Metal – Independent). Speaking of absolute insanity, speaking of "friends of the show," speaking of brainy, and speaking of being excited for 2026, a new Serpent Column is all those things, and then some. Mathy, weirdly medieval, atmospheric, shreddy, and all those things a crazy person who loves SC has come to expect. Not a bad album in the bunch, and that trend seemingly is comfortably continuing. Also some truly pretty melodies and atmospheres. Lovely.

Gorrch – "Nimbus," from Stillamentum (Dissonant Death Metal – Avantgarde Music). I can't actually even write about this. I can't. I was late for the Gorrch train, getting onto their absolutely masterful 2020 EP Introvertere very late, eventually including it in my 2020s list. Not to get hyperbolic, but it represents some of the best writing, execution and just overall brilliance of this weird genre that would be, I think second only to Ad Nauseam, which, you know, just so happens to be one of the greatest metal bands of our lifetime. So, yeah. Excited in capital letters won't even cut it, so I won't do it. Easily one of the most anticipated albums of the new year, and EASILY an AOTY candidate out the bat. Just unreal.

Worm – "Necropalace," from Necropalace (Symphonic Doom/Black Metal – Century Media Records). Worm have either been earth-shatteringly amazing or just OK, at least for me, and this, another incredible album to look out for in 2026, falls solidly in the former. You know what I had in my mind listening to this? Do you know what I was thinking of? I was thinking Enthrone Darkness Triumphant, which isn't just one of the greatest albums of all time but a top 20 album title as well. So, is this me succumbing to late-90s atmospheric black metal worship? Yes it is. It is, very much so.

Wounds of Recollection – "Soon, This Will All Be a Beautiful Dream," from All Things Which Came Before (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). The talented and pained soul behind Wounds of Recollection, Isleptonthemoon, and The Black Metal Mountain Choir decided to just take the various split parts of their person and release, ah, a split! All three tracks are, as expected, wonderful and wounded, but this one was my fave. Don't even remember if I put this on the year-end list, might have not because, well, it was a bit much, but if I didn't that was my bad. check this out with sad urgency. Smother from Spectral by Stärker

Stärker – "Smother," from Spectral (Drone – Cyclic Law). So, I did this thing while the list was being finalized which was to just go to the Cyclic Law Bandcamp and listen to everything they've released in the latter part of the year and basically just spend that entire time questioning my life and gaping in amazement. All of them are incredible, all of them, which might come to no one's surprise if you've been paying attention. It just might be that this is (one) of my favorites from that whole bunch. Just using the fewest keys and ideas as possible to conjure up the most amount of beauty and emotion. Essential listening for shitting days.

Miserere Luminis – "De cris & de cendres," from Sidera (Post-Metal/Atmospheric Black Metal – Debemur Morti Productions). Another one of these GET HYPE FOR 2026 entries, this time featuring this incredible project, which released an incredible 2023 album (writeup + list), and are looking to make you angry-sad next year. Tender, post-metal like gradioise melancholy with the cutting trappings of blackened misery. Like Rosetta for people who buy Debemur Morti merch.To the Ones Whose Bodies Shall Shake the Heavens by Teardrinker

Low Beherion – "Words," from We Are (Experimental Black Metal – Independent). This too is already on THE LIST, and this too makes me excited to be alive despite all evidence to the contrary. Weird, electronic-black whispering black metal that feels like both being in a 90s action film as well as being buried in a damp courtyard. More of this, please. 

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: The incredible Teardrinker, one of the most beautiful and moving musical discovery of my year, released another bone-melting track that just makes me even more excited for the prospect of a full-length one day.

TWO: As if things weren't crazy enough, a new Fyrnask album is coming next year too.

THREE: New Converge single sounds not good.

FOUR: New Nightmarer stuff sounds yes good.

FIVE: We all know Hissing rules and anything and everything Hissing related rules as well, thus this fucking thing rules too. Should have done a whole entry on it, ran out of space and time, but Inner Cloister is the jam. Black metal as god hates it.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Sallow Moth has been having a breakout year, which is a nuts thing to be writing but also a very deserved and happy one. And to celebrate that they did what any Garry Brents project does: RELEASE MORE MUSIC. More good music, that is.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE: NEW DRECIHMERE ALBUM INCOMING GOD IS GOOD