“There’s something tantalizing about the brand of metal-adjacent noise rock that’s experienced a renaissance in recent years. It’s ugly, it’s loud, and it doesn’t give a damn if you’re comfortable. You’ve got breakout stars Chat Pile dragging nü-metal’s bloated corpse through the mud, Couch Slut dishing out dissonant, riff-heavy nightmare fuel, and Intercourse sounding like a feral animal tearing flesh for fun. This isn’t “revival” music; it’s bands weaponizing noise, smashing metal’s brute force into punk’s emotional hemorrhaging, and then deliberately breaking whatever’s left just to see it scream. Enter the UK’s Under, stepping into this mess with zero interest in playing nice.” Under the thunder.
Melvins
Stuck in the Filter: April 2025’s Angry Misses
The April Filters are now fully de-scuzzified. You can approach and examine the scuzz flotsam.
Bacon Wagon – Trauma Cake Review
“Noise rock n00bs Bacon Wagon are a trio of Swedish scoundrels not as “n00” to the scene as you might think. From the ashes of disbanded noise act Acid Ape, siblings Marcus and Kristoffer Kinberg arose like Porky the Phoenix and formed Bacon Wagon in 2003. After numerous guitarist auditions, some instrument swapping, and finally finding its third with drummer Peter Johansson in 2006, Bacon Wagon released a couple of splits and an EP before going dark in 2008. While not entirely unproductive in the interim, the trio reunited in 2023 and wrote a slew of new songs that serve as the basis for Bacon Wagon’s Reptile Records debut album, Trauma Cake.” Have your bacon cake, and suffer trauma too.
Tonguecutter – Minnow Review
“Are the ’90s played out yet? If you ask the metal world, or rather, the metal-leaning world of -cored and rocky sounds, we’re just getting started in the retro movement of three-decades past explorations. From the dreamy prog-leaning radioscapes of Lizzard to The Jesus Lizard-drenched grinding lurch of Full of Hell to the nostalgic Deftones-alt-castings of Bleed, the ’90s finds itself emblazoned in cut-n-scanned posters across guitar-led machinations in our current age. In a guise more Hole-y and riot grrrl, Michigan’s Tonguecutter wears close that AmRep, early Melvins, Unsane-y aesthetic with their quick-n-dirty debut Minnow.” Tongue chum.
Kazea – I. Ancestral Review
“Kazea hail from Sweden, home of the Björiff and the chainsaw song of the HM2. But on their debut album, I. Ancestral, the Gothenburg trio promise to blend “the power of post-rock, the haunting melodies of neo-folk, and the crushing weight of sludge.” If the mere mention of sludge hasn’t sent you screaming from the room, good, because you’re in for a treat today. I dealt with posty sludge from labelmates Besra in my n00b days, but throwing neo-folk into the mix puts an unusual spin on the situation.” Sludge as a lifestyle choice.
Mantar – Post Apocalyptic Depression Review
“German duo Mantar exploded onto the scene on 2014’s massive debut LP Death By Burning, unleashing a raw collection of doom-flecked, blackened punk-sludge anthems. Boasting a nasty streak and series of ginormous grooves and infectiously hooky riffs and songwriting, the album had a fresh appeal, featuring nods towards legendary acts, Motörhead and Melvins. An equally impressive sophomore album followed, solidifying Mantar as a dependable force as their career progressed. Despite recent efforts not quite hitting the impressive highs of their early work, Mantar remain true to the old ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ motto to solid effect.” Gruesome twosomes.
Full of Hell – Coagulated Bliss Review
“If you’ve been following the modern grindcore scene in any fashion over the past fifteen years, then you’ve at least heard of Maryland’s high-output, low-trend grindmongers Full of Hell. Collaborating or splitting space with everyone from tough punks Code Orange to Japanese static spinner Merzbow to pneumatic pulse demons The Body, Full of Hell scrapes ideas from every corner in the extreme music space to fuel the iterative process of the twenty to thirty-minute burners that are their “full-length” releases.” Hell is home.
High on Fire — Cometh the Storm Review
“This site suffers from a High on Fire appreciation deficit. Staffers from the prog-and-scones salon brush them away like so much dandruff from the shoulder of their tweed blazers. The caveman contingent, meanwhile, sends no love to this sludge institution. We’ve only reviewed them one time! The oversight heaps discredit on snobs and slobs alike. With the release of their ninth slab Cometh the Storm, I, Ferox, pounced on the opportunity to acknowledge these facts and correct the record. Cometh the Storm just needs to deliver the groceries one more time so I can cram it in the face of my fellow staffers.” High on fanboying.
Divided – Light Will Shine Review
“Throughout the tapestry of shimmering tones, weighty riffs, and desperate fry vocals in Light Will Shine, a common thread courses, of vulnerability and tension. Belgium’s Divided offers a style not unlike Glassing, Amenra, and Envy, with crystalline melodies colliding with unforgiving heaviness, with a distinctly unfriendly guitar harmonic approach. However, it professes a soundtrack for anxiety.” Unite through division.
Melvin and The Melvins Rodeö: Melvin Ditches His Pills and Reviews Tarantula Heart
The Melvins team up to Rodeö the new album by Melvins. Will Tarantula Heart be the straw that psychic breaks the staff’s back? Depends on who you ask.






















