author & punisher

Josh Thieler’s Favorite Records of 2018

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2018 has been quite the year. It was a roller coaster personally, nationally, globally, and in the realm of metal. There are people that I loved that are gone now. There are people who are gone that I should have loved more. I failed a lot of people. I’ve struggled in so many ways. If you are curious about that, just listen to the last Slaves BC record or read any interviews I did during that release cycle. I got fatter, fitter, quit smoking, joined five or six more bands, did artwork for some bands, did PR for some others, and spent a lot (but never enough) of time with my wonderful wife and animals.

Anyway, I listened to a ton of music again in 2018. I didn’t get a chance to talk about any of it very much, but I listened to a ton. 2018 was another fantastic year for metal/hardcore/whatever. I’ve been altering this list for months and I had a real hard time narrowing it down as much as I did. Just like last year, I have compiled my favorite 50 full length metal/hardcore records, favorite 10 non-metal records, and my top 10 favorite EP’s/singles/etc.

I made this playlist with one track from each of the records that are on Spotify for you to listen to a sampling of everything below. Thank you for checking this out and here’s to a better 2019!

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Donuts & CANTO: Hail of Bullets, Destruction, King Woman and more!

DanLeave a comment

rip-hail-of-bullets

March 16, 2017

Good morning, it’s time to metal. Here’s some news you might have missed from yesterday:

  • Hail of Bullets is dead, long live Hail of Bullets. The Dutch death metal crew have officially called it quits, a year and a half after parting ways with vocalist Martin van Drunen.
  • Hey, thrash kids! Destruction, Warbringer and Jungle Rot are going out on tour together in May and June. Destruction dropped an album last year, Warbringer is dropping an album at the end of the month, and Jungle Rot is Jungle Rot.
  • So this is kinda neat: Tuesday night’s King Woman show in Brooklyn was supposed to be cancelled, with frontwoman Kristina Esfandiari stranded across the country thanks to Winter Storm Stella. And then, this happened. Huge ups to Kristina, Saint Vitus and the hero woman responsible for this turn of events.
  • Author & Punisher have signed to Relapse Records, and will be releasing a new album through the label early next year. I haven’t ever really listened to Author & Punisher, but whatever this concoction is sure seems amusing.
  • Dutch symphonic black metal weirdos Carach Angren have released details about their upcoming album, Dance and Laugh Among the Rotten, out June 16. One of the album’s preorder packages includes a set of dice — you know, just in case your list of vices includes both cheesy metal and gambling.
  • I’m sure, somewhere out there, someone’s thinking to themselves, “boy, I could sure use some grandma-fronted grindcore in my life.” Well fear not, possibly-existent person: The Grindmother are touring the U.S. later this month and April. I sure could not use any grandma-fronted grindcore in my life, so I’ll be taking a pass.
  • And finally, Animals as Leaders released a video for “Cognitive Contortions,” which you probably shouldn’t watch while high. Or maybe you should. I dunno. Here it is:

Another condition that should merit caution before watching this video? Thinking that you’re good at music. Anyway, that’ll do it for now, but check back this time tomorrow for our next edition!

Keep it heavy,
Dan