The music is like a willow dipping its boughs in a stream, turning its leaves in the wind like a shoal.

It’s the way that both prog metal and prog rock add in massive amounts of ice cream with a delicious taste of a doom sundae, waiting to be delivered to you.

Vexations create frenetic and off-kilter post-psych, with dissonant layered guitars, unorthodox song structures, and vocals that oscillate between spoken word and emphatic screams, to give a punchy yet unearthly sonic experience.

Belgian dark pop duo KØCAZE releases their haunting and evocative new EP D’Or et de Sang via Dune Altar. Across six intricately layered tracks, the band dives into themes of grief, transformation, and ancestral memory, weaving neoclassical instrumentation, electronic textures, and brooding dark pop sensibilities into a deeply affecting body of work.

Rich and powerful atmospheric post-metal which really deserves to be heard. This could be one of the best in 2025.

The cover of Pretty, Baby! features a cobalt blue, stencil-like image of a barking, spike-collared Doberman; this blue is used liberally in their other visuals and is a perfect abstract summation of their sound. The shade covers their bright, pop-ish moments and their darker, fuzzier ones, managing to be vibrant and brooding at once, as is this EP.

Another way to bring in the new year with some killer, true-to-form sounds that is needed.

An EP that is the soundtrack of the winter of our discontent when it hits us unexpectedly.

It is the EP that’ll take repeatable listens to sink in, and how they proven themselves that they’re more than just the bands that they’re known for, and take it up a notch.

Sami has brought in all of the ammunition she has needed to give it all she’s got by unleashing her debut EP this year.

The worst thing about this record is going to be the fact there’s nothing on the other side. Get it. 

This mix of minimalist post-rock and neo-classical is best enjoyed when you stop the world and sink into the music. A stunning release which will richly reward the sacrifice of time.

While it marks a new chapter for Alex Lifeson, he along with Curran, Wynne, and Annibalini are more than just a band, but more like a family. No matter what.

The Embrace is Hazel’s chance to spread her wings and fly. She has proven herself by coming forward to bring her songs to life. And we have witnessed the entire structure by giving her, a big stamp of approval.

Depictions of Chaos is all-spread panic, mixed in with a full-out bloody massacre with snarling overtones, and chainsaw guitar-like leads. And if you’re thinking they’re going to slip a sloppy ballad on you, guess what, you’re barking up the wrong tree motherfucker!

Menacing, underlying, and passionate vibes, Pascal has brought in those effects like a blooming flower ready to reveal its true power on what’s happening right now.

If you want to catch The Bobby Lees tearing it up in a small venue, you need to pay attention now. Don’t say I didn’t tell you. 

By blackening a post-hardcore background Copse manages to find a space for itself with two excellent tracks and to think, this is just the beginning.

An excellent, short EP which will leave any post-metal fan desperate to hear more.

Like one long sedately sojourn through the deep chasms of some mercurial underworld, cruising in a convertible with the windows down as the skies rain Sulphur and the lakes breath fire whilst a lobotomised hood ornament dances a vacant hula.

This EP will satiate fans until a new album comes and likely gives die-hard supporters a glimpse into Mayhem breaking the barriers of what they are perceived to be and taking a dive into what inspired much of their early output.