2026.08.18
New Uralv (Dodheimsgard, The Deathtrap) is crap... I question why I ever liked Dodheimsgard years ago after hearing it. Vicotnik and Fenriz's input was likely the reason why, they are vastly more creative. That old connection makes me confuse Aldrahn with Vicotnik and his (vastly superior) band Ved Buens Ende. It's a relief that Aldrahn is not involved in the latter. Meanwhile, latest Behemoth is garbage- why is this band popular? It's literally unlistenable. Another older band that has released something new is Sigh from Japan and it's high above these two, even if I don't count myself a fan of Sigh. Miraj knows how to write unique and memorable, I will at least give him that! I also just got the latest Arthur Brown and Fen on Prophecy which are worthless, the both of them. If not for Brown's earlier hits he would not be on Prophecy. His jazz/rock music doesn't even remotely fit the roster. Who are they trying to impress? And so it goes... I've been deleting all of my death metal promos, have no interest. Death metal is dead. Black metal I am hearing far less of, which is positive. I've had enough of it and will be happy if I never hear another new Finnish black metal band. So far, maybe 5 albums I liked this year, top! Since so little good music is coming out anymore I'm going into my stash of unlistened promos... I am in 2022 right now and moving forward! Close to 600 records I haven't listened to yet. Probably a few will be good...
2026.08.08
Woke up early in the evening from intense sore throat pain and barely slept all night. Nearly everyone in my family has had a cold this summer, so now it's apparently my turn! To say that it's shitty is an understatement, but I can imagine 1000 worse ways to suffer.
I want to mention in this update the band Defeated Sanity and their latest album, "Chronicles of Lunacy" from 2024. I know I just railed about how bad death metal is now, but this band is really something else. If death metal were an Olympic contest, Defeated Sanity would be a top 5% elite athlete. I don't normally care much about technical death metal, but the way these guys incorporate technicality while at the same time keeping things highly memorable reminds me of better times for this music. In other words, this is top notch shit without question. Highly recommended!