What have you been listening to this week?

I rediscovered https://nightride.fm recently and have been going down the rabbit hole that is Synthwave. Overall, I prefer the Chillsynth subgenre. One particular artist played on the music stream that piqued my interest is Cassetter.

Archspire, older Metallica, Cruel Force, Dimmu Borgir and Astrophobos are whats been in my last.fm this past week. That and, as always, sampling all sorts of new music.

I just recently finished playing Paradise Killer and enjoyed the soundtrack to it so much that I’ve been listening to it ever since. Something about that nostalgic, jazzy, sun-drenched album meets a need I didn’t realize I had

I listened to Saul Williams' The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Stardust again for the first time in like five years. It's a hip-hop/spoken word album produced by Trent Reznor. Crazy good lyrics, bonkers production. Fantastic album.

I picked up Air Not Meant for Us by Fires in the Distance recently on a whim because I wanted to add some newer melodic death to my library and saw this was getting rave reviews all over the place. Can confirm it's just as great as everyone's saying.

The one getting the most spins this past week is Godthrymm's recent release, Distortions. Really high quality doom that brings to mind Icon-era Paradise Lost in parts. Features some ex-My Dying Bride members in the ranks so a bit of that going on too.

Was also on another Moonsorrow (folk/black metal) kick this week, plus some Ahab (nautical funeral doom) in rotation too.

Daði Freyr just released his new album, "I Made an Album", so that. For me, most of his music sits in a comfy niche where I can listen to it while I'm working and find it energizing and pleasant, but not to the point where it pulls my attention away from the task on hand.

I've been on a Spirit Possession and Witch Vomit kick this week with the usual side of Immolation.

Linda May Han Oh - The Glass Hours
Highly rhythmic and freewheeling modern jazz, with a sort of fusion approach to song structure. Lots of weird tuplets. The bandleader plays the bass, which is always a good sign for being able to hear it.

Al-Qasar - Who Are We?
Self described as 'Arabic fuzz'. Hypnotic desert rock played with traditional, microtonal Arabic instruments. Some psych rocks inclinations, but somewhat aggressive in parts, as well - guest spots by Lee Ranaldo and Jello Biafra, which should tell you something.

Ziúr - Eyroll
Avant-electronica / gqom music which is in equal parts flamboyant and squeamishly gross. Some really out-there vocal performances over deconstructured rhythms.

Radiant Knife - Pressure
Stoner/doom metal which balances big dumb riffs with more progressive tendencies. In other words, riffs that slap, but also make you think, or go 'huh?'. I also love the song title 'His Capa Was Detated'.

Carbon Based Lifeforms, and Hania Rani.

Since Armored Core VI came out I started listening to its soundtrack. I've listened to a lot of Kota Hoshino's music, and this OST feels like a real step up. I'm not sure how to describe it - somewhere between darkwave, synthwave, and industrial? Even comparing to other artists it's a bit difficult - there's some Aphex Twin in there for sure, some moments that remind me of folks like Kalax and Perturbator, but it never comes together into their sort of sound. It's perfect for zipping around in a mech blowing shit up, of course.

Here is a good example. It's from one of the first big boss fights. The fight itself is intense and difficult, the music gives it this sort of "desperate struggle" feel that just felt...right. Music that is crafted right in line with what you're seeing and doing, really awesome stuff in my opinion.

Ratboys, of Bernie meme fame, have a new album that is receiving good reviews.. I'm also have Mick Jenkins in the loop as apparently I can only listen to new music from Chicago. Finally, I was reminded by a friend to revisit last year's album by Plains.

Busy day at work today, and now I'm on mobile, so no links and fewer details..

• Desultory - Bitterness, Into Eternity, and Through Aching Aeons. Death metal that's melodic with killer solos.
• Dethklok - Dethalbum I, II, III, and Doomstar Requiem. II is the best IMO, I has the most variety, and Doomstar is just plain fun. IV should be delivered any day now.
• Detonation - Emission Phase, An Epic Defiance, and Portals to Euphobia. Melodeath from the Netherlands, and one of my top 5 of the genre. Just listen to track 1 off Portals, "Into Sulphur I Descend".
• Devildriver - The Fury of Our Maker's Hand and The Last Kind Words.
• The Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra. I like the idea of Devin Townsend more than I like his various albums, but this one sparks joy.

Ott - That Morning We Went Up The Hill

Rubur: Persephone's Seasons

This is a link to the album on bandcamp. Rubur is Chinese band and they have a beautiful shoegazey sludgy rock sound.