We’ve finally got some very exciting things to reveal very soon, so this might be the last of these for a little while – enjoy whilst you can…

Joe – Vocals

Sojourner – The Apocalyptic Theater

The Premonitions album is a slow burner of subtle anthems of with this may be the most anthemy. The harsh and clean vocals combining at the end is mesmerising.

Clouds – Nothing But A Name

One of the most morose and atmospheric doom tracks I’ve ever heard. It is so utterly drenched in sadness it’s almost unbearable. I love it.

Rolo Tomassi – Ex Luna Scientia

I’ve recently taken a lot more time and patience with RT’s earlier material and this is likely my second favourite song of theirs after ‘A Flood Of Light’. Eva’s harsh vocals have grown on me a lot too.

Skating Polly – Cosmetic Skull

This band just make me smile. Abrasive pop and super impressive considering the girl who sings this was only 15 when it was written and recorded. Delightfully odd.

CHVRCHES – The Mother We Share

Quite honestly one of the best pop songs I’ve ever heard. It’s stuck in my head and I’m singing it to myself all the time.

Nick – Guitar

Power Trip – Soul Sacrifice

A sad week for metal. This band have almost single-handedly kept Thrash relevant for the last decade and Riley was a significant factor in that.

Dead Can Dance – The Writing On My Father’s Hand

A stunning example of Lisa Gerrard’s delicate vocal layering. The simple harpsichord backing does enough to create an enchanting platform for the vocals to take centre stage. It’s quite a restrained track, especially compared to the grandeur of ‘The Host Of Seraphim’ (the one from The Mist that film composers have been unabashedly mimicking for the past few decades) but there is a wonderful elegance in it’s simplicity.

ANOHNI – 4 DEGREES

Her operatic vocals give a sense of grandeur you don’t often find, even in the exalted halls of art pop. Great production that tastefully mixes orchestral instrumentation with industrial drums and noise. All in all a massive track.

Supruga – Царствие

Vicious hardcore flavoured black metal from Russia. Makes me want to throw milkshakes at tories, which is always a good thing.

Susumu Yokota – SAKU

This album in particular sits close to the apex of ambient music for me. Sad that he died long before his time.

Richard – Bass

Mireplaner – Parched Throats

I wish I’d discovered this band last year, as this album would almost certainly have challenged by top 5 albums of the year. Chaotic, nasty post metal at it’s finest, with a hardcore edge and some truly worrying riffs.

Stars of the Lid – A Lovesong (For Cubs)+, Part 1

Stars of the Lid have entered my world in a big way recently and made me wonder what I’ve been doing with my life up to this point without them. I’m going to go ahead and challenge Nick’s assertion about the apex of ambient music right here.

Little Simz – Wounds

Another new discovery for me is Little Simz, a Mercury-nominated and incredibly talented female rapper who has flow for days. She’s also two years younger than me, so this is me wondering what I’ve been doing with my life in an entirely different sense.

Death – Sacred Serenity

My relationship with death metal has always been sporadic, but this year I’ve found myself indulging a bit more often, and in particular I’ve been enjoying revisiting the landmark Symbolic album. Aggressive, progressive and surprisingly melodic(essive), it’s that good shit.

Casualties of Cool – Flight

As Devin Townsend continues down his never ending singular rabbit hole of unparalleled and extravagant prog metal weirdness, it seems a good time to remember this moment of chill on his self-titled collaborative album with Ché Aimee Dorval. Soft, ambient blues rock to help you forget the apocalypse.

Luke – Drums

Trepalium – Damballa’s Voodoo Doll

Groovy swing metal! I do like me some jazz/swing and this is a lovely infusion of swing and metal.

David Maxim Micic – Satellite

This track makes me think of woodland creatures making djent -and that is a good thing!

Diablo Swing Orchestra – Knucklehugs (Arm Yourself With Love)

What a fantastic song name. Another great infusion of hard rock and jazz/swing.

Sleep Token – Sugar

Beautiful song that I’ve been listening to a lot lately.

Fleshgod Apocalypse – Sugar

Got me a sweet tooth! Another lovely orchestral metal offering. I just cannot get enough of this.