I don't know how or why, and I'm almost afraid to find out, but this has been getting around. You're absolved from reading it because, good god, it is long. wolfsweek.substack.com/p/record-of-...
@wrambatz
Heavy metal idiot. Ex-Stereogum's Black Market. Ex-Invisible Oranges. Ex-Last Rites. Ex-many publications I don't remember. I produced a podcast you've heard. I've written a bunch of stuff you haven't read. https://linktr.ee/wrambatz
I don't know how or why, and I'm almost afraid to find out, but this has been getting around. You're absolved from reading it because, good god, it is long. wolfsweek.substack.com/p/record-of-...
It's been really lovely reading all the tributes to Dan. Many people have asked if they can contribute to support his wife and son. You can do so here: everloved.com/life-of/dan-...
Dan McQuade, 1983β2026: defector.com/dan-mcquade-...
I draw a holiday card every year & by coincidence, this yearβs featured a loon. Iβm putting the original drawing to use & raffling it to raise funds for the Immigrant Rapid Response fund in MN & the Undocumented Womenβs Fund in NYC. Venmo @ Caroline-Harrison, $1 = 1 entry, unltd entries, thru 2/5.
Paid for by my AA in US history.
Well I may be delayed in my trip...so why don't I launch a preorder and TWO singles for @rubyrockatansky.bsky.social and I's new band THE RECREANT
Get some. Go again. You're not nearly angry enough.
therecreant.bandcamp.com/album/the-co...
The O'Leary family barn.
!!!
Here you go. Metal coverage up elsewhere at...some point. wolfsweek.substack.com/p/2025-favor...
Here we go
machinemusic.net/2025/12/18/m...
I wonder if he's still mad at us for putting Lovecraftian Echoes at number one
posted my year end list** on Invisible Oranges! weβve run EOY lists for the past week and a half, amassing a grab bag of weird ahh metal. so donβt just check out my list, ponder the other orbs
www.invisibleoranges.com/colin-dempse...
I know I am truly retired because I have only heard two of these albums.
Krallice is on @ampwall.com
The discography of the experimental black metal juggernauts is now available on Ampwall, including their latest album, No Hope, released October 23
Check it all out here β¬οΈ
krallice.ampwall.com
#MetalSky #BlackMetalSky
The hardest I've marked out at a concert this year was Blind Guardian playing "Majesty." Honestly, probably the best seven minutes I've had in 2025.
Hello, my friends.
Anyway, since we're here, this isn't what you're looking for, which is what everyone loves to read, but I've never talked to another soul about this band: Watchtower labelmates Secrecy. I think most avoid because there's an album titled Raging Romance. Rages! The romance is debatable.
Linear Sphere. I only remember Reality Dysfunction, so pleading ignorance if it got bad. Zero Hour-y.
On the more tech thrash side, I will always ride for Wolf Spider.
Twisted Into Form. Two dudes from Spiral Architect and the drummer from Extol. Released one banger, and then poof.
Memento Waltz. Really knotty stuff on the Watchtower spectrum. Released one banger, and then poof.
For an entire semester, someone kept leaving this one, and only this one, on the scanner bed in the office. Like, you couldn't order a variety pack?
Had a great time chatting with @dempseyc.bsky.social of IO about the underpinnings of the albums Iβve contributed to this year. Didnβt even consider some of the connections between these records until we had this conversation.
www.invisibleoranges.com/doug-never-s...
OK. One more. The Gaye/Terrell version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a favorite, but the Inner Life version, particularly the Larry Levan mix, is even better?
Oh, you know what? "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." All-timer song. I think I like the Ted Leo version for AV Undercover just a smidgen more some days.
Anyway, this was fun to think about instead of working.
Etta James's "You Can Leave Your Hat On" smokes both the Randy Newman and Joe Cocker versions.
I'll add that The Isley Brothers made a career out of this. "Summer Breeze," "Hello It's Me," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "Put a Little Love in Your Heart," "Fire and Rain," "Spill the Wine" -- all better than the pretty great source material.
Hmmmmm. Struggling to think of all-timers getting eclipsed, but definitely think Jawbox's "Cornflake Girl" and Pig Destroyer's "In the Meantime" are better than the OGs, and I love the OGs.
But may I interest you in Elden Ring But Sports bingobrawlers.com
Can't overstate the curative powers of seeing traditional heavy metal live.
New GD song out today - one of my favorites on the new rekkid
www.nocleansinging.com/2025/10/20/a...