Alex

Cryptic Shift were an absolute delight last night. Just about everything you could want from a night of prog-thrash-fusion-death metal.

Found this shady lad lurking amid the Cliff Richard and Val Doonican LPs.

Criminally undervalued band.

Keep It Punk, Keep it Simple: Eva LeBlanc of Traidora Interviewed | The Quietus Eva Leblanc of Traidora talks to Steph Phillips ahead of Supersonic, about her experiences of being a Venezuelan punk in the UK

Cool interview with Traidora's Eva LeBlanc.

thequietus.com/interviews/e...

Between this and the Kowloon Walled City dates I am in hog heaven.

ABSOLUTE BEST NEWS

Crushed to hear about James Sallis. A brilliant writer who mixed intelligence, grit and a wonderful sense of humanity.

Always nice when you stumble upon some quality, high-brow literature in the local charity shop.

The Five Ages of Antifascism Cambridge Core - Comparative Politics - The Five Ages of Antifascism

free till the 17th: www.cambridge.org/core/element...

Sort of trifling given everything else going on in this burning world, but I do think a lot about how much knowledge is being lost / how much history is being glibly rewritten because of stuff like this. You can see the revisionism (intentional and not) happening in real-time.

Bloody Head – Bend Down And Kiss The Ground | The Quietus Nottingham quartet drag noise-rock and psych into some dank, unwholesome places

Reviewed the fantastic new Bloody Head LP for @thequietus.com.

Glurpy, psych-blasted noise-rock that blurs the line between the arcane and the quotidien.

thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

#noiserock #psych #doom #sludge

Black to the Future: A Bleak King Cometh by Qasu | The Quietus Even within a genre increasingly filled with aberrations, Qasu's debut represents an odd yet scintillating proposition

Wrote about Qasu's stunning debut, 'A Bleak King Cometh', for @thequietus.com.

Black metal as filtered through noise, industrial, psychedelia and whatever else they choose to throw at it. The record's out today via @phantomlimb.bsky.social.

thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

Yorkshire folk!

The daughter of a friend's friend is making a film about the bands that played at Minsthorpe High School in the late 80s/early 90s – the likes of the Weddoes, Cud, House of Love etc.

They're trying to track down the teachers who put the bands on – Mel and Trev. Anyone know them?

Thanks so much man!

‘We were treated like enemies of society’: Japan’s dangerous hardcore punk scene looks back to its roots The pressure to conform in Japanese society made being a punk risky – even before you factor in the flamethrowers. As a rash of reissues arrives, 80s stalwarts Lip Cream, Death Side and the Nurse reca...

I somehow got to write about Japanese #hardcorepunk for The Guardian. Chatted to members of Lip Cream, Death Side, The Nurse and Bastard for it.

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...

The Gift of the Mogwai We revisit Joe Dante’s 1984 classic, Gremlins, written by Christopher Columbus. It’s the perfect mix of merriment, moral considerations, and mischief!

🚨New gig!🚨@creatorvc and I are launching a new newsletter: Flashback! Join us as we explore the genre classics that defined the '70s, '80s, and '90s. This week we revisit Joe Dante's 1984 classic Gremlins, the perfect mix of merriment and mischief! www.letsflashback.com/p/the-gift-o...

For Metal Hammer's 'Best of 2025' edition I had a chat with Leah B. Levinson about Agriculture's brilliant 'The Spiritual Sound' LP for @theflenser.bsky.social and waxed lyrical (albeit in capsule form) about albums by Rwake, Gaahls Wyrd and Castle Rat.

Rules of Discogs no. 4757: if someone asks for photos of a record, there is no way they are genuinely going to buy that record.

Be of Good Cheer, by Every Face Becomes A Skull 10 track album

Loving the new album from Every Face Becomes A Skull. Punchy, desperate #emo / #hardcorepunk with what sounds like a big Torches To Rome / Rites Of Spring influence.

efbas.bandcamp.com/album/be-of-...

‘I want to ride out on a unicorn every night’: swords’n’sorcery heavy metal band Castle Rat Wielding fantasy weapons and splashing fake blood, the New Yorkers have even learned how to make chainmail outfits – and they’re already aiming to conquer stadiums

Spoke to sword 'n' sorcery doom metallers Castle Rat about their new LP and the trials, tribulations and logistical nightmares of trying to cram an entire fantasy world in the back of a tour van.

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Can't go wrong with any of it. Difficult and obtuse in the best possible way!

I'm not much of a one for box sets, but that lunatic vinyl 'n' book one they did is fantastic.

Craw - what a band.

Looking forward to him clarifying his views on the Crisis / Death In June connection in a nuanced piece for The Sun, five days after the controversy dies down.

Cosey Fanni Tutti reveals all | The Observer An exhibition in the pioneering artist's hometown sees the Throbbing Gristle co-founder celebrating 50 years of baring her soul

I've long felt that the generosity of Cosey Fanni Tutti's work is overshadowed by the 'transgressive' reputation of TG, and that her art / porn actions and music have been rather siloed. It was a pleasure to try and put that straight in this profile for The Observer

observer.co.uk/culture/inte...

That's quite the pairing! They did a Peel Session in the late 90s I think, then an ATP in the early 2000s, so maybe circa one of those?

Thanks so much! I never got to see them live, unfortunately...

‘People seemed deeply insulted’: how cult 90s band Rachel’s took chamber music out of the classical world The graceful ensemble prefigured the neo-classical phenomenon and found surprising success in the post-Nirvana alt-rock boom. After the deaths of two members, reissuing their debut has proven bittersw...

Dug into the history of post-rock / chamber music act Rachel's with Rachel Grimes, Christian Frederickson, Will Oldham and Corey Rusk.

If you only read one article referencing both Squirrel Bait and Arvo Pärt this year, make it THIS one.

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/s...

Band photos where no other member is holding an instrument, but the drummer INSISTS on holding their drumsticks.

Yeah, I'll nab it sooner or later I'm sure (though, saying this, haven't seen a copy floating round for a while)