Kweku of Ghana, Ariane Roy, Jyocho, and Mæntra

Kweku of Ghana – Zone 6, Agege (Heavenly Sweetness)


So Kweku is the frontman of my #1 Afrobeat band of 2021: Onipa. This year, he released a new album under the name Kweku of Ghana, and so I was immediately drawn to it. Zone 6, Agege has a more traditional, folkloric, funky, reggaeish Afrobeat sound than the Afrofuturistic synthy Onipa. That’s neither a pro nor a con, as I love both sounds equally, but that’s just to set different expectations for when you listen to this. This is a beautiful, intimate, inspired, authentic album that truly speaks of Kweku’s… Read more

Greco Bastián, An Abstract Illusion, Greber, and Toehider

Greco Bastián – With a Little Hell from My Friends

What kind of mad scientist is this? The lad doesn’t even play an instrument, yet he writes (and publishes!) one of the best avant-prog releases of 2022? And that’s all with real instruments! Well, mostly… Greco conjured some of the brightest names in the genre to play on his album—I’m talking Koenjihyakkei, Ruins, Univers Zéro, Ryoko Ono, Pierre Vervloesem, Secret Chiefs 3, Patrick Shiroishi, Scherzoo, Jon Bafus, Samo Šalamon, and more! What an incredible feat of collaboration, coordination, networking, and determination! The result is a fascinating and mesmerizing album full… Read more

Sweet Heart, Open Ear: May 2022

Deaf Club – Bad Songs Forever


Justin Pearson can do no wrong. I’ve reached a few different conclusions after listening to this four-song EP a few times: There is a cool table, and then there is an even cooler table; the table where those who sit at the cool table wish they sat. This cooler table is where Deaf Club sits. Everything about this release is balanced. Nothing in the mix is louder than it needs to be. It sounds almost understated. I can’t think of another example of carefully understated grindcore off the top of my head. Deaf Club… Read more

Best of Mathcore 2021


Mathcore is an amazing genre, full of technicality, creativity, and often also humour and weirdness! But, if you’re here, you probably already know that, so let’s go with our top 5!


Number Five: Pacman, the Movie – 2: Eat Lives


Pacman, the Movie comes to us from Houston, Texas, and their second album is truly one that should be on everyone’s mathcore playlist this year. Check it out!


Number Four: Frontierer – Oxidized


The new Frontierer goes hard!


Number Three: Lou Kelly & Friends – Shriek


On Shriek, Lou Kelly and a bunch of guests came together to release … Read more

Best of Grindcore 2021


The filthiest, rankiest, dirtiest, grindiest shit out there.


Number Five: Gross Pizza – Pepperonivirus 2: Pizza Variant

“One step on the balls… Two steps on the dick” is perhaps my favourite lyrical passage of the year, and this is all thanks to this amazing and funny discovery I made earlier this year. Indulge.

Number Four: Rat Punch – It’s a Drink


Rat Punch released an awesome album this year. It’s a Drink is fast-paced and chaotic and heavy hitting; it’s all we need from a grindcore album!
Disclaimer: bass player writes for the blog, so take that any way you … Read more