Starting 2025 with a bang was always important, and I elected the “being 26 days late with your Record o’ the Year post” as the best possible way to give everyone that patented Angry Metal Guy feeling of waiting and waiting only to be smacked in the face with 5000 words that you disagree with entirely. Welcome to the Wonderful World of Executive Dysfunction™! Let’s make a list!
With a bumper crop of excellent records released in September, this has been one of the most difficult R(s)otM posts for me to write. And yet, such is my fate. Alas, that these evil days should be mine!
“Oceans of Slumber has earned one of the more consistently positive receptions on this here blog. With each new release, the band deftly toed the line between maintaining an inimitable voice in the metalverse and continuously exploring the limits of their sound. This uncommon willingness to evolve bears the mark of true artistry. And furthermore, through every permutation of their music—regardless of how the public received it—Oceans of Slumber carved itself a niche in the metal canon.” The gods may fear to speak, but Kenstrosity ain’t afraid of anyone.
