January 2025 Music Recs
Metal recommendations from a broken heart
January was the month that encapsulated hope. I was that kid who did not think that I would live into my 30s.
Poppy, jazzy, cathartic metal that met me in the depths of my broken heart. In the month after my elderly cat died, who stayed by my side since I was 20, I was in liminal spaces…something I was used to, having been dissociative most of my life. Yet this was a meeting with something more ghostly and spiritual. Connecting with pieces of curiosity. Delving into something that I thought I closed.
I was not sure connecting with music would be the same…but that’s the funny thing, it never is “the same.” My heart broke in a way I did not think I would survive. And music was no healer this time. It embodied the connector.
January was the month that encapsulated hope. I was that kid who did not think that I would live into my 30s. Who thought that once my cat was gone that I would be too. This music month was about the gray beauty that is life.
I felt like the drums were pebbles hitting the window of my chest until I finally teared up during “Hela’s Choir”
January Music Recs
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CROWN OF MADNESS – Memories Fragmented – “Dreamless Nights No Longer” (February 28, 2025)
dissonant atmospheric black death metal
I will talk about why I haven’t shared as much lately soon, for now I’m glad to be sharing at all. CROWN OF MADNESS has two singles out for their 2025 February 28 album Memories Fragmented, their first LP. I appreciate how heavy and emotional their album is. It breaks my heart all over again just in listening. Every instrument cuts deep and touches on so much pain and love. This duo definitely has a place amongst bands like Ulcerate, Gorguts, and more. Gorgeous post-black-death progressive metal. (Written 2025 January 2)
Wolvencrown – Celestial Lands – “Until the End” (November 29, 2024)
extreme atmospheric melodic black metal
At times haunting melody, this atmospheric black metal band Wolvencrown has put out a powerful record. I missed Celestial Lands when it came out 2024 November 25 last year. Perfect for those interested in an updated classic take of the black metal genre. Perfect for times when there are no good answers and we must bear witness to the cycle of life. (Written 2025 January 3)
The Body – The Crying Out of Things – “All Worries” (November 8, 2024)
experimental industrial black punk noise
The whole album, The Crying Out of Things, feels like standing in the hallway between a noise-rave party and home. The Body is known for dis-comfort, and yet I find comfort here. I’ve listened to them for years and this album has spoken to me the most. It is also another last year album that I didn’t fully listen to until now. For sure, gorgeously done maximalist noise. (Written 2025 January 4)
GUILT DISPENSER – DETONATION – “dust” (January 1, 2025)
punk metal powerviolence
GUILT DISPENSER, more like emotional releaser with album DETONATION coming out on 2025 January 01. With one word tracks adding up to less than 10 minutes?? all packing a huge punch of powerviolence/grind/math/hardcore. Definitely the way to start the new year, with armor. (Written 2025 January 5)
Gonemage – Entranced by the Ice Storm – “Giga Axe Beam” (January 3, 2025)
extreme experimental chiptune metal
Seriously happy about these two songs, the fact that it’s the first music that made me smile while grieving says so much about Garry Brents’ work. I feel like I held off on writing about his new teaser EP because I’m still getting back into the groove of things and I think so highly of him.
I truly love this teaser. “Giga Axe Beam” especially makes me smile. It’s like nu-metal Nightmare Before Christmas wrapped up in a song. Continually impressed by how Brents combines so many influences with beautiful nuisance. (Written 2025 January 6)
Laudare – Requiem – “Quarens Me” (October 11, 2024)
progressive post-black metal hardcore
Laudare does some of the opposite of what some my favorites do…they lull you into a calm with clean vocals and chamber-like music, and then pierce you with harsh vocals and heavy beats of post-black metal hardcore prog. For fans of Gaerea and White Ward. Requiem released 2024 October 11. (Written 2025 January 9)
Prostitute – Attempted Martyr – “Body Meat” (October 20, 2024)
alternative post-punk hardcore dance noise
I’m so glad that a friend suggested Attempted Martyr by Prostitute. He described them as a kind of mix between Protomartyr and The Body. I agree and would say they’re like an avant-garde IDLES.
I love how psychedelic sounding “M. Dada” is and there are more psychedelic, punk-like elements in the rest of the album as well. “In the Corner Dunce” is the most chill, yet still ‘aggressive’ song on the album in a Chat Pile way. “Body Meat” is the most Haunted Horses for me. Thank you for this—post-punk, hardcore, dance noise—madness. (Written 2025 January 9)
Fórn – Repercussions of the Self – “Hela’s Choir” (October 18, 2024)
industrial melodic doom sludge metal
I was super dissociative for two days when a friend got me to finally listen to Fórn’s Repercussions of the Self (released 2024 October 18). I felt like the drums were pebbles hitting the window of my chest until I finally teared up during “Hela’s Choir,” which makes complete sense due to the meaning behind Hela. The well-done oppressive fog unveils a beautiful desert night. It reminds me of looking up at the stars when I was in the middle east. Listening to the birds. It’s difficult for me to compare them to other post-doom sludge bands out there right now. There’s something cinematic in what they capture. (Written January 10)
Besna – Krásno – “Hranice” (January 16, 2025)
progressive blackened post-metal
Although self-described as black metal, which they very much still are, Besna falls to the post- side of it. Including lots of proggy post-rock/core in their songs off Krásno (2025 January 16). One of the most uplifting sounding post-black metal bands I’ve heard…even more so than their previous work as well. Parts remind me of A Secret Revealed, which is lovely. Their songs feel so beautifully light, like soaring through the sky. (Written 2025 January 10)
Pale – Our Hearts In Your Heaven – “Almost Transparent Blue” (January 10, 2025)
atmospheric post-black metal rock gaze
Pale’s first LP was a very nice surprise. The snippet of song I shared on my Instagram stories is from the song “Almost Transparent Blue” which is in the middle of seven songs off Our Hearts In Your Heaven. It’s the most hopeful sounding of songs from Pale’s album. They mostly use harsh vocals (and still do in this song) and incorporate lots of post-rock noise, classic rock/metal into their post-black metal/gaze sound. The whole album vibrates with emotion. Lots of rawness to an already harsh edge. (Written 2025 January 13)
CKRAFT – Uncommon Grounds – “Steadfast (In the Face of Tribulations)” (January 17, 2025)
progressive jazz metal
I have been listening to CKRAFT’s new album Uncommon Grounds every day since it came out on 2025 January 17. I feel like I’m back in my dad’s old car listening to jazz on public radio or wandering into his study. A silly part of me also feels like I’m watching court introductions from Robin Hood: Men In Tights. Overall their progressive jazz metal combination is impressive, fun, and lovely. #NotMyFather’sJazzBand #GottaIntroduceThisToMyDadThough (Written 2025 January 23)
Scowl – We Are All Angels – “Not Hell, Not Heaven” (April 4, 2025)
poppy hardcore punk
Scowl’s upcoming album We Are All Angels (2025 April 4), it is seemingly very syrupy based off their two singles. I love the sound they have developed: hardcore punk roots incorporating sweet grunge rock. Of the two singles, “Not Hell, Not Heaven” is the poppy-ier one which instills the meaning of the song further.
“Like the oceans, like the sea / I’m possessed, you’ll drown in me” “Just lie in the bed that you made / Let truth burn holes in the sheet / Set fire and set you free / Swallow you like it did me” “The way it’s eating me alive, oh / The guilt will swallow you up / Sage, it’s lilac, it’s bloody, it’s bruising/ And my, my voice”
(These lyrics deserve applause.) (Written 2025 January 24)
VIDER – STRIKE WITH PUTREFACTION – “MASSACRE” (January 31, 2025)
blackened death-metal grindcore
VIDER’s debut has the brutality of Antichrist Siege Machine and Mitochondrion. They are black-death metal with some grindcore and war metal—whatever catharsis mix this is, I need it.
Urgent. Savage. Hypnotic. (Written 2025 January 26)
Сивый Яр / Sivyj Yar – Над страшной пропастью рдяный восход / A Scarlet Sunset over the Horrid Abyss – “Всё под снегами утихнет, умрёт / Everything Under the Snow Will Hush, Then Die” (February 28, 2025)
avant-garde black doom metal
I’m looking forward to this new album by Sivyji Yar, coming out in February. During my listen I was reminded of a sunset before even seeing the title of the album, A Scarlet Sunset over the Horrid Abyss. A hopeful listen on such serious topics. Beautiful, poetic post-black metal. (Written 2025 January 28)
Hanging Garden – The Unending -“The First Sunrise” (March 14, 2025)
gothic death doom metal
Hanging Garden makes beautiful melodic metal filled with heartfelt duets. Their new EP The Unending (2025 March 14) has single “The First Sunrise” out now which is such a clear and refreshing song. Their gothic vibes are not dissimilar to Dax Riggs’ solo work with sound falling toward Leprous even at times and are compared to Paradise Lost, Depeche Mode, and more. (Written 2025 January 30)
January 2025 Playlist
2025 January Music Recs YouTube Playlist