Blawan: SickElixir

I first heard of Blawan via Hessle Audio and the very playful Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage? in 2014. While the music he's put out since has been fun, hectic and just straight up unique: this album is uniquely relentless, abrasive, and very much not a dance music record. If his music speaks to you, this interview he did with Zane Lowe on the album is well worth your time.

Blood Incantation: Absolute Elsewhere

Despite being someone who listened to a ton of metal and played in a few bands growing up, since the mid-2010s, I've (mostly) been checked out of newer releases[1]. But Absolute Elsewhere pulled me right back in.

I suspect this is partly down to this record being so much more than just your usual metal release. The Message [Tablet II] wouldn't feel out of place on a Pink Floyd record, The Stargate [Tablet II] could slot into an Opeth album seamlessly, and yet, this is still very clearly a death metal record. Paul Riedl, the lead singer and guitarist of the band, described it as "70s prog album played by a 90s death metal band from the future", which sums it up better than I could.

Deftones: private music

Your favorite band's favorite band were at it again in 2025. I don't know if reuniting with the producer behind Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan was what did it, but private music is an absolute treat to listen to. The riffs are just the right amount of weighty, and Chino's vocal range is on full display. I get that it's probably very cliché to say this, but it truly does keep getting better with every listen.

Sofia Kourtesis: Volver

Volver (named after Pedro Almodóvar's 2006 film) is a strong follow-up to the deeply personal Madres. It carries the same intimacy (personal and cultural) while remaining deeply political, with the album dedicated to the LGBT+ community and specifically trans women. And yet, it's bouncy, fun, and unapologetic about being a dance record. Unidos, featuring Daphni, is a reliable feel-good heater, and Corazón is warm and fuzzy like La Perla, but puts Kourtesis's vocals front and center. This album feels louder, clearer, more self-assured than anything she's put out prior.

Turnstile: NEVER ENOUGH

There's so much to love about Turnstile. They've got a relentless, positive, community-first energy that feels rare for a hardcore band. While NEVER ENOUGH may not be my favorite Turnstile record after having gone through their back catalogue, it is the record that I stumbled into, and I'm so glad that I did. And as someone who flew back out to LA to watch Shabaka perform Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders' Promises in full, his guest appearance on Sunshower was a nice surprise.