Artwork for 'No One Deserves Happiness'
On The Verge
18.03.26
The Body 'No One Deserves Happiness' is 10 years today. "On No One Deserves Happiness, The Body’s Chip King and Lee Buford set out to make “the grossest pop album of all time.” The album themes of despair and isolation are delivered by the unlikely pairing of the Body’s signature heaviness and 80s dance tracks. The Body can emote pain like no other band, and their ability to move between the often strict confines of the metal world and the electronic music sphere is on full display throughout No One Deserves Happiness, an album that eludes categorisation. More then any of their genre-defying peers, The Body does it without softening their disparate influences towards a middle ground, but instead through a beautiful combining of extremes. No One Deserves Happiness is an album that defies definition and expectations, standing utterly alone." (bc)
Elend 'Les Ténèbres Du Dehor' was 30 years last Friday 13th. I remember listening to the highlighted track below when it was included in a Nuclear Blast sampler back in 1996, squeezed between Godgory and Darkseed... god forbid. This is the second album in a trilogy, concerned with the fall and descent of Lucifer into Hell (as seen in Milton's Paradise Lost). With an impeccable sense of atmosphere and drama, Elend achieved a real sense of beauty and darkness within the framework of complex and difficult compositions. French musicians have a propensity for the avant-garde and just when symphonic black metal was starting to make waves, here's a very interesting take on that sonority, take away blast beats and raw production (check Igorrr if you want blast beats included). The vocals are provided primarily by two soprano singers - Eve Gabrielle Siskind and Nathalie Barbary - and their vocal contribution is nothing short of mesmerising. The two main composers behind Elend, Renaud Tschirner and Iskandar Hasnawi contribute vocals too, by way of whispers, spoken word, and very frightening growling. The highlighted track is a lossy file, even though a 320 mp3, nothing less than flac can do this justice.
Puce Mary's The Spiral is celebrating 10 years next 30th and Mogwai divisive Mr. Beast celebrated 20 years last 6th. This brings a lot of memories, summer festivals, a much younger self. I return to some of these songs sometimes, specially 'Travel is Dangerous?', for the fond memories of trying a hand at forcing pre teens on good music against the evil of bubblegum pop all around.
Frederikke Hoffmeier aka Puce Mary
957. THE BODY - No One Deserves Happiness (2016) - Wanderings (in mix 28)
956. PUCE MARY - The Spiral (2016) - No Memory (in mix 39)
955. MOGWAI - Mr. Beast (2006) - We're No Here (in mix 34)
954. ELEND - Les Ténèbres Du Dehor (1996) - Dancing Under The Closed Eyes (in mix 13)
Artwork for October Language
On The Verge
08.02.26
Belong 'October Language' is 20 years old today. The album was assembled, composed, and produced in Dietrich’s bedroom studio, however, the inspiration for the songs goes well beyond the walls. The album encapsulates their hometown of New Orleans, at once bathed in sunlight and colors, yet dripping in decay and a rich sadness. It is a record that attempts to display the beauty in things that are worn, decayed or destroyed. Following in the tradition of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Gas, guitars, synths and other musical sources are wrenched from their typical tones, revealing themselves in bright shards of distortion. Melodies are similarly enveloped in a sort of aural atrophy, forever repeating their blurring calls. At the end, all that remains is a noise so potent it leaves the sonic equivalent of the sun’s imprint on a retina.
Also worth noting these great albums celebrating major milestones in the first weeks of 2026, Tehni's Maaët is 20 years, Burzum's Filosofem is 30 years and Big Black's Atomizer is 40 years.
Turk Dietrich and Micael Jones aka Belong (top) and Tenhi (bottom)
953. BELONG - October Language (2006) - I Never Lose. Never Really (in mix 82)
952. TENHI - Maaäet (2006) - Varpuspäivä (in mix 101)
951. BIG BLACK - Atomizer (1986) - Kerosene (in mix 2)
950. BURZUM - Filosofem (1996) - Dunkelheit (in mix 3)
Monastery of Salzedas, Portugal (Image © Jorge Sampaio)
A Filthy Pig
On The Verge
30.01.26
The last great album by Ministry turns 30 years today. Their 6th long play is my second favourite after Psalm 69. It may not have rave hits such as Burning Inside or Thieves from 1989's 'The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Taste', but Filth works better as an album for me, having grown tremendously with the passing of the years, gradually removing itself from the entrapments of the sound of an era, and after all this time still sounding captivating, head and shoulders above contemporaries such as Prong or White Zombie, but failing to improve on a tired formula, soon to mutate into nu-nonsense. There are a lot of albums released in 1996 that are very important to me, from ambient to black metal, musique concrete to post-rock. This was the year I got married and moved to London. It was a year full of discoveries and experiences, specially in an exponential increase in music intake, in and outside the house, fuelled by a new reality of commuting in a big city, working in retail, the megastores (HMV on Oxford Street), in the anteroom of the mp3 and the digital domain.
The other tracks are taken from albums that are celebrating 10 years this last week of January, they are all excellent but a special mention to Roly Porter's exquisite Third Law, a utterly innovative album of future electronic music.
Kevin Richard Martin
Pain:Noise:March Artwork
On The Verge
09.01.26
Hjarnidaudi first breath Pain:Noise:March is 20 years today. An ultra obscure project from Norwegian guitarist Vidar Ermesjø (Koldbrann), of whom I am happy to feature every single track he’s ever released (seven tracks on two albums, clocking at 83' 41'') in my assembly of mixes. A project sadly unknown to most people I talk with about this punishing instrumental-only funereal doom, best filed next to Black Boned Angel.
A different kind of doom, Arcana 'Dark Age of Reason' turned 30 years yesterday the 8th. Recently re-released by Cyclic Law, in it’s original length, remastered and with new artwork on both CD and Vinyl. Very few bands evoke such awe and inspiration quite like this Swedish act driven by the legendary Peter Bjärgö. Arcana have been pillars at the forefront of the so called Neo Classical/Heavenly Voices movement with their poignant, ethereal and medieval inspired music. Sorrowful strings, doomsday horns and trumpets, massive percussion and snares, bells, dulcimer... all interlaced with exquisite male-female vocal performances which create quite a singular atmosphere of grandeur and melancholy for the times of yesteryear.
Kevin Richard Martin's 'Sub Zero' just got a 2026 version. It was originally released digitally on Bandcamp only, in the depths of winter 2022, amid the final year of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine. With persistent demand for a vinyl pressing and a full DSP release from fans, Martin thought the time was right for Sub Zero to finally surface in its full glory: remastered and paired with fresh new artwork. A slow-motion excavation of drug-tech, dub, dreamy noise and frozen ambience, the album gradually mutates into hypnotic pulsations and melodic melancholia.
Finally, Ulcerate's The Destroyers of All is celebrating 15 years next 25th January.
945. HJARNIDAUDI - Pain:Noise:March (2006) - Part III: March (in mix 19)
944. ARCANA - Dark Age of Reason (1996) - Angel of Sorrow (in mix 15)
943. ULCERATE - The Destroyers of All (2011) - Burning Skies (in mix 27)
942. KEVIN RICHARD MARTIN - Sub Zero (2022 - Remaster 2026) - Destroyed (in mix 106)
The Ape of Naples, original artwork by Ian Johnstone
On The Verge
02.12.25
The Ape of Naples, was released 20 years ago today. Its the final studio album by English band Coil. Produced by Peter Christopherson following the tragic death of bandmate and partner John Balance in 2004, it contains reworked and remixed material from the previous 10 years. The album was dedicated to Balance's memory. "Featuring songs recorded in final days of John's life, as well as material originally recorded at Trent Reznor's studio in New Orleans, and now substantially re-arranged by Peter Christopherson, this album is sure to be seen as the 'classic' Coil album of all time, and is not to be missed under any circumstances." Threshold House"
This miserable year of 2025 is coming to an end and so its time to wrap up and handpick the best music for posterity. The year was so bad in so many ways but there was so much good music, it brings to mind 2020, an even worst year, downright bleak for so many but held together by the hope of a few getting together to produce art statements that will be remembered along the mess and the tragedy.
Below are 3 tracks from some of the best albums this year, making the forthcoming year end lists of honor.
AYA
941. COIL - The Ape of Naples (2005) - A Cold Cell (in mix 41 - Infinite Fog)
940. AYA - hexed! (2025) - hexed! (in mix 92 - bc)
939. GNAW THEIR TONGUES - The Genesis of Light (2025) - Part Three (in mix 93 - Consouling)
938. ABUL MOGARD - Quiet Pieces (2025) - In a Studded Procession (in mix 89 - Soft Echoes)
in 'Drew McDowall talks Musick, magick and sacred materiality' - The Wire Interview
King Yosef
Klein
On The Verge
21.11.25
This 17th November marked Dissection Storm of the Light's Bane 30th anniversary. A major achievement and a true classic, heightened by its sheer power and 10/10 perfect delivery over controversy and disavowal by some who cannot separate art from artist, this is a top 10 album in my collection.
Another black metal masterclass, already a classic in many regards and arguably one of the best Black Metal albums of the 00's, Deathspell Omega's Paracletus turned 15 years last 9th November.
King Yosef released a great album in 2025 called Spire of Fear and he is coming to tour Europe from 16 Jan to 6 Feb with Youth Code and Street Sects in support. No Portugal dates included.
Been listening to Klein's new album Sleep With A Cane on repeat. Dreamy, feverish experimental electronics from the maverick South Londoner.
937. KING YOSEF - Spire of Fear (2025) - Molting Fear (in mix 101 - Bleakhouse)
936. KLEIN - Sleep with a Cane (2025) - Family Employment 2008-2014 (in mix 98 - Klein)
935. DISSECTION - Storm of The Lights Bane (1995) - Night's Blood (in mix 3 - Dissection)
934. DEATHSPELL OMEGA - Paracletus (2010) - Apokatastasis Pantôn (in mix 19 - NoEvDia)
933. CAPRICORNS - Ruder Forms Survive (2005) - Exit Wargasmatron (in mix 6)
932. SUNN O))) - Black One (2005) - It Took The Night To Believe (in mix 19)
931. RAFAEL ANTON IRISARRI - Fragile Geography (2015) - Empire Systems (in ∞ mix - Imaginary Concert)
930. GRAVELAND - Fire Chariot of Destruction (2005) - Flaming Wrathful Hate (in ∞ mix In Praise of Bathory)
901. JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON - Sicario OST (2015) - The Beast (in mix 56)
900. DON CABALLERO - Don Caballero 2 (1995) - Repeat Defender (in mix 38)
899. EARTH - Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method (2005) - Lens of Unrectified Night (in mix 14)
898. FEN - Malediction Fields (2015) - Exile's Journey (in mix 47)
27.08.2025 | Jurgen Bartsch (1962-2025). The founder of German pioneering dark metal band Bethlehem passed away aged 62. Click to play Du Sollst Dich Töten taken from their 1998 masterpiece 'Sardonischer Untergang im Zeichen Irreligiöser Darbietung'.
As recently as the 6th August I had posted a story on ig with this very song, to which Jurgen replied "Great Song". I replied 'forever in my all time great songs of the 90's, you and Marco killed it here', he got back to me with "You're right, thank you very much!" RIP.
Image taken from Svartmálmur - a book about the Icelandic black metal scene.
897. CLAN OF XYMOX - Clan of Xymox (1985) - Cry in The Wind (in mix 5*)
896. SINISTER - Hate (1995) - Awaiting The Absu (in mix 5)
895. HOWLS OF EBB - The Marrow Veil (2015) - Standing On Bedlam, Burning In Bliss (edit) (in mix 45)
894. ULTHA - Pain Cleanses Every Doubt (2015) - Death Created Time to Grow the Things It Kills (in mix 79)
Artwork for Lurker Of Chalice
On The Verge
27.06.25
Lurker of Chalice's self titled and only recording to date is 20 years old today. I rank this as the best collection of music Jeff Whitehead aka Wrest (also of Leviathan) has produced. Sombre, eerie, truly enthralling and frightening. Wrest hasn't released any new music since Leviathan's Scar Sighted (2015) and there are rumours he is working on new music, but it appears he is very active in related arts instead, as is the case with his Tattooing.
"This album was recently reissued, and as such I was reminded to revisit it. It struck me as hard as it did when it was initially released; the embodiment of everything I hope for in a metal album yet rarely find, or even know I’m seeking. The atmosphere is supremely enveloping, and while there’s a fair degree of variation through out the album in terms of dynamics, song structure and sonic treatment, the big picture is consistent, a fully realized vision. It’s rife with a sense of desperation, wretchedness and isolation, and came to me at a time when I was grappling with these sorts of feelings." - Aaron Turner of Isis, Old Man Gloom and Sumac fame talks about LoC here.
To accompany LoC's track Wail (appearing as bonus track in the bandcamp digital release and originally a vinyl only bonus) here's a selection of strong 2025 contenders for best albums, so far.
Jeff Whitehead aka Wrest of Lurker Of Chalice and Leviathan (top) | Artwork crop of the new Helheim album 'HrabnaR/Ad Vesa' highlighting their creative concept of mirrors in a forest, with vocalist/bassist H'Grimnir framed in as a ghostly, deranged silhouette (bottom)
893. LURKER OF CHALICE - Lurker Of Chalice (2005) - Wail (in mix 79)
892. FÍR - Het Sinistere Oog (2025) - Eeuwige Nacht Op de Horizon (in mix #91)
891. HELHEIM - HrabnaR / Ad Vesa (2025) - Livsblot (in mix 78)
890. HÄXKAPELL - Om Jordens Blod Och ... (2025) - Urgravens Grepp är Hårt Och Kallt (in mix 101)
Click on 'tracklist' to play right away or the + sign to load the individual mix page and dig a little deeper.
