Seven years on from their Glasgow debut, A.A. Williams have returned to the G2 as an artist evolved. Quietly devastating and utterly captivating, they are living proof that there is beauty in darkness.

David Bowes spoke to Bristol’s astro-doom trio Epimetheus about amps, DIY recording and the joys of sci-fi.

Each of these seven tracks demonstrates a flair for smart yet intuitive songwriting, making the most of their strengths and limitations as a three-piece, while a resolutely DIY approach to playing and recording gives it an old-world grit.

It’s a feat of musical alchemy; and for everyone who made it out to witness it, it’s certain that not only will they be back next time SANAM stops through, but they’ll be bringing a few friends to share in the joy.

David Bowes caught up with Glasgow doomgaze pioneers Cwfen to discuss their remarkable 2025 and what comes next.

David Bowes spoke to the elusive Vindsval about Blut Aus Nord’s continuing evolution.

David Bowes caught up with Glasgow’s post-metal sextet Beneath A Steel Sky to talk about naming, gaming, and everything in between.

‘Teeth To Sky’ sounds like Killing Joke stripped of any veneer of modern respectability and by the time they are winding the night down with ‘All We Destroy’ there’s a feeling of hunger and immediacy, a sense that they could keep doing this all night and sound just as massive as when they started.

David Bowes caught up with Dan Meyer and Richard Chowenhill of ecstatic black metal crew Agriculture to chat about their latest album The Spiritual Sound, why Bob Dylan is iconic and the true meaning of ‘kvlt’.

It’s that most magical time of the year, when two of Glasgow’s most unlikely venues play host to all manner of weird, wonderful and occasionally harrowing acts from across the globe, and for three days this little corner of the world becomes a little bit more accepting and a lot more damaging to the eardrums.

David Bowes looks forward to the 3rd edition of Glasgow’s Core. Festival, 2025’s edition will be a treat for anyone who likes their music loud, in-your-face and socially conscious.

Otra progresses with a flow that is often gentle and occasionally turbulent, lashing the listener to and fro before settling into another soothing lull, yet the ever-present sense of direction means that nothing seems accidental.

An ominous and often unsettling collection that stresses minimalism yet isn’t afraid to simply drown the listener in distortion and filth when the right moment presents itself.

These five offerings strike a keen balance between tradition and modernity, emotional weight and raw power, making II one of early 2025’s standout metal releases.

David Bowes spoke to Josh Graham of post-metal outfit Guiltless to discuss the making of their staggering debut Teeth To Sky.

This isn’t a record that sets out to be more evil than the competition, nor is it a particularly harsh listen – hell, in the right frame of mind this could be positively meditative – but there’s a pervading sense of unease in the way that the drones, moans and groans seem to slither and ooze.

A marriage of Buddhist practice and amplifier worship that never feels the need to differentiate between the two, applying the opposing/complementing forces of yin and yang to create works that are genuinely transformative.

Rather than simply repackaging old sounds and calling it a day, this feels like Ulver entering a period of stately reflection, digging out old snapshots from across their extensive past and piecing together a collage that remains remarkably cohesive when viewed as a whole.

It’s just a colossal record that nonetheless manages to temper its aggression with enough melody and drama that it warrants one listen after another, and another, and another.

The furious percussion and the rich, sweeping riffs all feel geared towards the epic, a desire to depict something momentous using earthly tools, and if that description seems a bit lofty then it’s only in keeping with the ambition that the band demonstrate.

King Dunn’s presence here was billed as a ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of deal and it was in almost all aspect. . . For super-fans, this was a momentous occasion; but even for more casual observers, no one walked away from this set with anything less than respect.