mementomori

 I nonetheless returned home with one certainty: that I would make the soundtrack my own.

 The album shines with its own reason for existence, even if some tracks lose their charm without the film's visuals.

The soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch's film Only Lovers Left Alive, by Jozef Van Wissem and SQURL, offers a rich blend of electric rock and mystical lute folk. It complements the film's dreamy and nocturnal vibe and stands as a compelling musical journey. Though some tracks lose context outside the film, the album shines with its cohesion and mood. A must-have for Jarmusch fans and those drawn to unique, atmospheric music. Listen now to experience the hypnotic fusion of rock and lute in Only Lovers Left Alive’s soundtrack!

 Ian Read will captivate attention solely with the power of his singing, which is in truth more than singing, a suffering psalmody.

 "We are Fire and Ice": with these words, Ian Read swiftly leaves the stage to return a moment later for the customary encore.

The live show by Fire + Ice at Genova's Anglican Church marked a special moment for neo-folk fans. Ian Read's powerful voice and Blood Axis' instrumental support created a ritualistic atmosphere. Despite some minor flaws, the performance successfully blended classics and new material. The intimate venue and attentive audience enhanced the experience, making it a memorable event. Explore the haunting world of Fire + Ice live—listen to the legendary neo-folk set and immerse yourself in their ritualistic sound.

 The live dimension acquires a superior valence if the artist who conceived, wrote, arranged, and performed that music is the one on stage.

 Death’s music sounded so old and modern at the same time... Schuldiner was someone who 'built' music, conducted research... and improved technically from album to album.

The review reflects on the Death To All tribute concert held in 2014, expressing both respect and disappointment. It praises the musicians’ technical skill and dedication while questioning the emotional authenticity of a Death show without Chuck Schuldiner. The setlist spans the band’s career, evoking nostalgia but also highlighting the challenges of reproducing such complex music live. Overall, the performance is viewed as a respectful but imperfect homage. Dive into this thoughtful review and relive the legacy of Chuck Schuldiner and Death’s influential music.

 You can walk, or you can listen to “Lion Devours the Sun”; the therapeutic effect is more or less the same: cathartic.

 Sweet manages to keep the attention on himself the entire time, meticulously rationing the few resources of his expressive world, working by subtraction.

‘Lion Devours the Sun’ is Boduf Songs’ second album, characterized by stark minimalism and dark, introspective themes. Matthew Sweet crafts a cathartic, atmospheric experience through repetitive arpeggios, whispered vocals, and lo-fi recording. The album evokes feelings of isolation, pain, and emotional exhaustion, articulating a unique blend of folk and ambient textures. This work stands as a pure expression of Sweet’s artistic vision before later incorporating electronic and rock influences. Dive into the haunting minimalism of Boduf Songs’ 'Lion Devours the Sun'—listen now and experience its cathartic power.

 The Serpent & the Sphere sounds icy, detached, crystallizing as Agalloch’s most rational and thought-out album.

 The impression that lingers with the echo of the last note is that of having witnessed a grand spectacle: yet another great Agalloch album.

The Serpent & the Sphere is a strong album that confirms Agalloch's place in extreme metal, though it doesn't quite reach masterpiece status. It serves as a reflective work, blending past styles and emphasizing conceptual depth. Some parts feel overly calculated, and the drumming performance is uneven. Nevertheless, the album shines in its thoughtful composition, atmospheric interludes, and profound themes. Explore The Serpent & the Sphere and dive into Agalloch’s rich, introspective metal journey.

 Andrea Schroeder beats them all. She, her voice, her music, possess a magnetism that I personally have not encountered among the medley of "female" voices I’ve come across in recent years.

 "Where the Wild Oceans End" is, therefore, a series of black and white photographs, faded snapshots that evoke nostalgia, generate conflicting feelings, a record from another time.

Andrea Schroeder's second album, 'Where the Wild Oceans End', impresses with its mature, poetic songwriting and dark rock atmosphere inspired by Berlin's complex history. The album features cohesive musicianship and standout songs that blend folk, rock, and avant-garde influences. Schroeder's distinctive voice and thoughtful arrangements place her above many recent female artists. The record feels timeless, balancing nostalgia and energy without resorting to gimmicks. Overall, it is a compelling and elegant work that merits close attention. Dive into Andrea Schroeder's captivating 'Where the Wild Oceans End' and experience a unique blend of poetic dark rock inspired by Berlin's soul.

 Sweet’s songwriting, enriched with electricity and electronics like never before, emancipates from the successful format 'a man, a guitar.'

 Burnt Up on Re-Entry is not the most representative work of the Boduf Songs epic and is therefore not the most sensible path to delve into Matt Sweet’s world.

Burnt Up on Re-Entry marks a noticeable shift for Boduf Songs, moving from minimal drone-folk to a more electronic and rock-influenced sound. While it loses some of the early charm and intimacy, the album introduces fresh experimenting with electronics and varied instrumentation. Some tracks shine with dynamic innovation, though the midsection suffers from lack of inspiration. Overall, it’s an honest, dark work that fits fans open to artistic evolution and experimental indie music. Discover Boduf Songs’ bold blend of drone folk and electronics—listen to Burnt Up on Re-Entry and explore Matthew Sweet’s evolving soundscape today.

 "A sneaky grin of wicked satisfaction will materialize on our faces."

 It is the slow transition from darkness to light that is described through these notes.

‘Terrestrials’ is a rare collaboration between drone metal legends Sunn O))) and avant-garde band Ulver, blending doom-laden drones with rich ambient textures. The album’s slow, immersive tracks evoke cosmic and metaphysical journeys, highlighted by Kristoffer Rygg’s vocals and meticulous production. While not a miracle, it satisfies fans with a unique synthesis of both bands’ essences. A thoughtfully crafted experience reflecting years of artistic friendship and evolution. Dive into the transcendent soundscapes of Sunn O))) & Ulver's 'Terrestrials'—experience the epic ambient drone fusion now!

 ‘A Fair Masquerade’ is not simply a repetition of already existing styles, but rather an organic ensemble in which these influences are reread through a rigorous lens, implied by a personality that is already present.

 The world evoked by NID is a leaden dimension, dense with clouds, plagued by a decadent spleen that harmoniously coexists with a spirit of invincible resistance.

NID’s debut album ‘A Fair Masquerade’ stands out in Italy’s apocalyptic folk scene by embracing genre classics like Death in June and Blood Axis while adding a unique personal touch. The Salento quartet offers a rich sound blending acoustic and electronic elements with poetic lyrics centered on truth, solitude, and resistance. Despite minor debut album flaws in production and occasional excess, the album impresses by its ambition, depth, and emotional range. Key tracks highlight the band’s ability to deliver powerful, evocative music. Overall, a promising and intense work worth attention. Listen to NID’s ‘A Fair Masquerade’ and experience a unique Italian apocalyptic folk journey full of depth and emotion.

 Their sound remains monolithic, compact, pachydermic, not giving in to exhausting voids or melodic black-metal infiltrations.

 From All Purity demands considerable effort from the listener as it drives the psyche into chaos with epic, catastrophic guitar work and brutal vocals.

Indian’s fifth album, From All Purity, marks a significant evolution from their sludge-metal roots, blending noise, doom, and black-metal elements. The album offers six intense tracks filled with heavy, chaotic, yet carefully mixed soundscapes. Vocals combine sludge and black-metal styles, delivering brutal emotional impact. The album demands active listener engagement, offering a powerful and complex sonic experience. It stands as one of the year's most compelling extreme metal releases. Dive into Indian’s From All Purity and experience sludge metal’s powerful evolution today!