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303 results for “turian”
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Turian is now v2.0.0! But there is no fanfare, no keynote, no feature bundle. It's only one breaking change and a short migration guide. And it is a good thing and here is why:
http://turian.mass4.org/blog/why-turian-2.0.0-is-a-major-release-with-just-1-minor-change/
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🇺🇸 Turian site is now a POLYGLOT, talking 4 in languages with 1.6 billion native speakers.
🇧🇷 O site da Turian agora é POLIGLOTA, falando 4 idiomas com 1,6 bilhão de falantes nativos.
🇯🇵 Turianサイトは現在、多言語対応となり、16億人の母語話者を擁する4つの言語で読むことができます。
🇨🇳 Turian 网站现在成为多语言站点，支持 4 种语言，覆盖 16 亿母语使用者。https://turian.mass4.org/blog/turian-speaks-three-new-languages/
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Well well well, snooping around where you shouldn't?
Looks like Celius has caught you. D: Make no sudden moves... maybe. Or maybe do?
Hard to tell with turians. Uwu
Commission for CeliusAcillion - character belongs to him!
#turian #masseffect #commission #sfw #armor #biotics -
CW: Extreme shrinking, mass extinction by a Turian's body
Turians seem to have mastered shrinking technology that inferior species can only fantasize about. Korrin particularly enjoys subjugating planets and abusing them like mere disposable toys. With a simple act of shrinking, millions—if not billions—are doomed to insignificance and *will* die for his sadistic pleasure. The latest planetary system he’s stolen is learning that his hygiene is as bad as his attitude towards planets inhabited by lesser species.
Several worlds have been smashed into the grime covering his soles, built up over weeks—perhaps months—of skipping showers. The stench is horrific. To call it musk would be an understatement. It is a natural biological weapon of mass destruction. It rapidly pollutes the entire atmosphere of those worlds and poisons the entire population. After mere minutes of exposure, there are no survivors to witness their planet being smashed like a mere insect.
Other worlds were placed between his toes and subjected to his sweat. While the flood of sweat is _slightly_ less corrosive than the miasma between his toes, the liquid quickly floods the entire world and drowns everything and everyone upon it. Their fate is to disappear in the vile perspiration of a creature who simply wants to see them perish.
The planets in his mouth are suffering as well. Everything around them is a sickly pink and covered in rancid saliva. His breath is noxious; the atmosphere in his maw is lethal. Any planet’s climate would be altered for millions of years after a few seconds in his mouth, though none will last for more than an hour in the caustic hell of his stomach. Some may merely dissolve in his spit.
All the while, citizens of the five remaining planets have a trauma-inducing view of all of the horrors Korrin is inflicting upon their peers. The turian’s gaze is like that of a malevolent god. What terrible fate will he inflict upon them next?
Inspired by https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51117608/ - featuring @RatMedic's Korrin.
Originally posted to my Telegram channel on July 13 https://t.me/ShimmeringSpectrumStories/330
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#NWTerrorFest2025
Friday band #5:#Turian, Seattle metallic hardcore (with keyboards!), lyrics from a Native American perspective. They RIPPED.
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And pic two featuring CeliusAcillion's hunky turian stud >o>
What you could have possibly done to deserve being leashed and intimidated with a show of what is to come next... UwU Who knows!
Character belongs to CeliusAcillion
#nsfw #turian #masseffect #commission #naked #bigdick #cock #cum -
I'm absolutely in love with the ship designs for the Turians in Mass Effect. #masseffect #turian #spaceship #scifi #gaming
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@fedvice extranet.palaven.space #jeuxvideo #technologie #lgbt #lgbtq #turian #turien #masseffect #Palaven #space #espace
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Full write up and #IOCs for #APT15 aka #PlayfulTaurus and their campaign against Iranian targets
"#Turian #malware...we recently identified new variants of this backdoor as well as new command and control infrastructure. Analysis of both the samples and connections to the malicious infrastructure suggests that several Iranian government networks have likely been compromised by Playful Taurus."
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One of the best parts of moving is getting to put The Boy in a new spot 💜💙💜
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Saunders and Dear Hollow’s Top Ten(ish) of 2025 By Steel DruhmSaunders
Yes, folks and loyal AMG readers and devotees, another year is nearly done and dusted. As per tradition, the time has come to share reflections and recommendations from another eventful year. Personally, 2025 threw down some rough moments and life challenges, navigating a spike in anxiety-driven mental and physical health concerns. Previously, I have mentioned how much AMG has grounded me over the years, keeping my focus and motivation on track when other parts of life navigate turbulence, stress, or uncertainty. This has proven especially pivotal this year and highlights the importance of contributing in some small way to this amazing blog and how much it means to me.
Highlights… After a few lean years post-pandemic on the gig front, as an avid concertgoer, 2025 proved productive for getting my mojo back for live music. I caught Karnivool in action for the first time in over a decade, ripping through infectious prog metal anthems and impressive new jams from their highly anticipated album set to drop in early 2026. An unexpected gig was a solo show in my hometown from none other than former Fear Factory legend Burton C Bell, performing in a local dive venue. Ploughing through career classics and some solo material, the setlist offered up gems like “Drive Boy Shooting,” “Scapegoat,” “Scumgrief,” and “Replica.” It was a nostalgic joy.
Meanwhile, after years of stubbornly jaded neglect, I finally bit the bullet and witnessed Metallica live. Probably a couple of decades too late, however, as an impressionable young’un raised on early Metallica, it was a cool experience to finally see the aging juggernaut in a stadium setting that will remain in the memory bank for years to come. A couple of days later, I once again caught the mighty Opeth at the iconic Sydney Opera House with quality support from Caligula’s Horse, before rounding out the year by finally seeing Dying Fetus live in an extra beefy triple bill including Ashen and 200 Stab Wounds. Good times indeed….
Big thanks to everyone for keeping this mighty blog running and cogs turning. From the ever-growing readership and awesome AMG community, through the entire, recently beefed-up writing crew, inspiring colleagues and all-around awesome people, to the higher powers (Steel Druhm, Angry Metal Guy, Sentynel, Doc Grier, and all the other editors) for their extra behind-the-scenes work whipping us into line. Cheers all to a safe, happy, and healthy 2026.
#ish: Green Carnation // A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia – After being mesmerized by Green Carnation’s timeless opus Light of Day, Day of Darkness many years ago, I never really expanded my listening beyond that widely regarded masterpiece. Then comeback album Leaves of Yesteryear dropped in 2020 and turned me from a casual listener into an avid fan of their work. A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia signals a long-awaited return and the first part of a planned trilogy from the seasoned Norwegian veterans of classy, mood-driven progressive metal. Admittedly, this album didn’t reach the dizzying heights or quite gain the traction of its predecessor. Nor does it disappoint, adding another finely crafted chapter in Green Carnation’s enduring career, while building excitement for the two albums to complete the trilogy. Meticulously crafted and chock full of emotive, silky, and delightfully catchy gems, A Dark Poem Part I: The Shores of Melancholia is another top-shelf prog metal jam.
#10. Caustic Wound // Grinding Mechanism of Torment – Back in 2020, Seattle’s Caustic Wound emerged from the muck and unleashed a gnarly ball of unvarnished deathgrind rage courtesy of debut, Death Posture. Due to the endearing old school charms and brawling, stomping attack, Death Posture left a lasting impression, amping anticipation for their long-awaited return on sophomore slab, Grinding Mechanism of Torment. Though a little less refined and losing a smidgen of the debut’s grimy charm, Caustic Wound otherwise pounded out wickedly crunchy, buzzsawing deathgrind with violent glee, infectiousness, and subtle variety to keep you coming back for more. The album’s tight construction and propulsive performances deftly harness the controlled chaos and blasty, groove-laced fun, as the likes of “Drone Terror,” “Advanced Killing Methods,” and “Blood Battery” attest.
#9. Phantom Spell // Heather & Hearth – One of the purest and nostalgia-driven prog releases of 2025, the sophomore album from Seven Sisters singer/guitarist Kyle McNeill was a progtastic delight, wielding old-timey, ’70s prog feels with a transportive, fantastical flair. Phantom Spell crafted a timeless, epic yet remarkably fresh experience, despite the obvious devotion to progressive rock legends and eras of the past. Dueling guitar leads, rollicking organ, and tight, expressive rhythms shine across a superbly performed and produced opus. For all the musical smarts, clever progressive arrangements, and technical showmanship, McNeill’s songwriting and powerful vocals are spot on, resulting in a nuanced though hugely hooky and focused collection, infused with folk and classic heavy metal elements, complementing the classic progressive rock core. Bookended by two spectacular epics (‘The Autumn Citadel” and stunning, heart-wrenching melodies of the closing title track), Heather & Hearth is equally compelling in its more compact, punchy forms (“‘Evil Hand,” “Siren Song”).
#8. Barren Path // Grieving – Grind delivered big time in 2025, with numerous high-quality releases to absorb. None quite delivered the hammer blow impact of the debut LP from Barren Path, featuring Gridlink alumni, including grind shredding extraordinaire Takafumi Matsubara. It’s amazing what can be achieved in a manic thirteen minutes of calculated mayhem and precision deathgrind madness. Barren Path shares traits with Gridlink’s razor-sharp precision and abrasive intensity; however, it refuses to be pigeonholed or cast into the shadows of the Gridlink legacy. Beefy production, coupled with a prominent death metal influence, riffs to burn, gripping performances, and techy edge, Grieving loudly announced Barren Path as the next innovative heavy hitter to take the grind scene by storm. All too brief if utterly compelling, I’m excited to see what this elite line-up can cook up next as they set about creating their own unmatched legacy.
#7. Changeling // Changeling – For the second time in my 2025 top ten, an album surpasses the hour-length mark, often questionable territory as far as optimal album length. The prolific Tom Geldschläger (aka Fountainhead) hired an army of high-profile musicians and contributors to bring his elaborate progressive death metal vision to vibrant life with an overstuffed and incredibly entertaining, wildly ambitious debut opus. Amongst the core lineup, Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) lends his unique vocals, Virvum’s Arran McSporran features on fretless bass, and powerhouse Mike Keller (ex-Fear Factory, Raven, Malignancy) mans the kit, while a stack of instruments, choirs, and guest musicians add further dimensions and intricacies to the color palette. Changeling is guilty of overreaching on occasions, and the whole thing is an overstimulating example of excess. And though far from perfect, Changeling is nevertheless an astonishingly complex, progressive, and technical marvel. Its bombastic, adventurous gallop, slick songcraft, earwormy hook,s and otherworldly melodies conjure up a hugely inventive and endlessly fun platter.
#6. Turian // Blood Quantum Blues – Generally, I tread carefully from anything core-related in the realms of hardcore, metalcore, and deathcore. I am not opposed to each style, but usually it takes a certain something to win me over. Another winning recommendation from the flippered one, Blood Quantum Blues, the third LP from Seattle metallic hardcore merchants Turian, found the band toying and upending their sound in wonderfully creative and ambitious fashion. Like other genre-busting albums, such as The Shape of Punk to Come and Miss Machine, Turian fuck with the conventions of their metallic hardcore. Shattering boundaries by lacing their signature sound with sharply integrated elements of rock, electronics, sludge, and grind, whipped into a grooving, raw smackdown and addictive delight, Turian pulls no punches and pushes their songwriting creativity to the limit. The line-up nails the newfound songwriting versatility through tight, explosive performances, topped by the raw intensity and charismatic vocals of Vern Metztli-Moon, who channels deeply personal, trauma-informed reflections of her Native American heritage, with vigor and rage.
#5. Retromorphosis // Psalmus Mortis – Carrying on the timeless legacy of legendary Swedish tech death wrecking crew Spawn of Possession, Retromorphosis emerged featuring the bulk of the SoP line-up and a rejuvenated sound, both familiar and energized enough to craft a new chapter of tech death excellence. Herein lies the key to the album’s success. SoP was such a special and unique entity in the tech death field. Retromorphosis pulls the signature songwriting components and twists and contorts them into their own slick interpretation, without simply rehashing past glories. Psalmus Mortis proved to have significant staying power since dropping early in the year, even amidst a pretty stacked year for quality death and tech death albums. Retromorphosis decorate their knotty, fluid and aggressive compositions with tasteful synth work, symphonic flourishes and bedazzling solos, whether charting smartly progressive, labyrinthine terrain (“The Tree,” “Machine”), and thrashy, warped tech death (“Aunt Christie’s Will,” “Vanished,” “Retromorphosis”).
#4. Terror Corpse // Ash Eclipses Flesh – After already delivering a killer grind opus earlier in the year, Terror Corpse got the creative juices flowing again in dropping a full-length debut of immense power and old school grit. Featuring a power-packed lineup featuring past and present members of acts including Malignant Altar, Oceans of Slumber, Necrofier, and Insect Warfare, Terror Corpse comes seasoned with death metal wisdom and experience. Despite a lack of innovation, Terror Corpse winds back the clock and transcends the typical old school death metal hordes. Injecting venomous strains of grind, death-doom, sinister atmospheres, and gut-churning brutality into beefy, riff-driven songs that fondly recall death metal’s glory days, Terror Corpse forge ahead into the here and now with their own character and inspired songwriting. Topped by a bevy of instantly gratifying, oozing riffs and Dobber Beverly’s elite drumming, Ash Eclipses Flesh is a gripping old school death experience.
#3. Dax Riggs // 7 Songs For Spiders – The return of Dax Riggs, and by extension the most unexpected re-emergence of the legendary Acid Bath, were surely two of the most heartwarming music moments of 2025. As a longtime devotee of both Dax and Acid Bath, I had begun worrying that Dax’s music-making days had passed as he slunk into the background and essentially dropped off the radar for the best part of fifteen years. While holding out slim hope Acid Bath will decide to cross our shores, I am stoked Dax and crew are getting the long-overdue credit and exposure they deserve. Though not strictly metal, Dax’s comeback album, and first since 2010’s Say Goodnight to the World, marks a triumphant and warm, comforting return from an underground icon. 7 Songs for Spiders delivered the goods, as Dax and friends dropped an album with a familiar, nostalgic feel that refuses to rest on its laurels. Riggs’ defining vocals sound as vital and deliciously smoky as ever, weaving signature morbid tales, deadly hooks, and earworm melodies through subdued yet deceptively hefty and bluesy folk-doom ditties.
#2. Messa // The Spin – It would be an oversimplification to describe Messa’s fourth LP as a streamlined version of the enigmatic Italian band’s doom-centric formula. Each album has impressed in its own unique way, adding intoxicating twists and charm to continually evolve and refresh their sound. The Spin carries over elements of their past works and character-defining idiosyncrasies, yet feels like Messa’s most laser-focused, accessible, and direct album to date, and also one of their best. While I’ve enjoyed each of the band’s prior works, The Spin is the band’s most efficient and instantly gratifying, and addictive album. Easily Messa’s shortest opus, The Spin, uncorks killer tune after tune. Sumptuous melodies and rich textures color blockbuster doom bangers (“At Races,” “Fire on the Roof”), residing alongside atmospheric, jazz-dappled charmers (“The Dress”), bluesy, emotive slow burners (“Immolation”), and brooding, psych-tinged doom (“Thicker Blood”).
#1. Tómarúm // Beyond Obsidian Euphoria – Weirdly enough, my number one picks often don’t materialize as obviously as one might expect. This has largely been a trend throughout my tenure here at Angry Metal Guy. In all honesty, any of the top three could have been interchangeable in the top spot, but I reserved top honors for the spectacular second LP from Atlanta band Tómarúm. All the more surprising due to sleeping on their well-received debut, Beyond Obsidian Euphoria smacked me upside the cranium with an explosion of creativity and ambitious songcraft, encompassing elements of progressive black, melodic death, and tech death bombast. It’s an overly ambitious, sometimes slightly messy masterwork. Yet the eye-watering 68 minutes largely warrant its exhaustive length. Sure, shrewd editing here and there may have tightened things up. However, the whole experience is so consistently gripping and superbly written and performed that minor quibbles are squashed well below the surface. This fully loaded, immersive masterwork sparkles and scorches through tremendously crafted, multi-faceted compositions, including standout epics, “Shallow Ecstasy,” “Shed This Erroneous Skin,” and “Silver, Ashen Tears,” nestled harmoniously against the blunt force discordance of ‘Blood Mirage,” and compact progressive fireworks of closer “Becoming the Stone Icon (Obsidian Reprise).”
Honorable Mentions:
- Sigh // I Saw the World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV – Skepticism of the dangerous game of the re-record was swept aside in a stunning reimagining of their 2007 classic.
- Plasmodulated // An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell – The album title says it all. Delightfully scabby, grooving old school death, seasoned with quirky Voivodisms.
- Igorrr // Amen – When seeking that taste of batshit crazy experimentation and avant-garde lunacy, Amen proved a reliable tonic. A challenging, though freakishly creative and addicting listen.
- Blood Vulture // Die Close – A grungy, Gothy slab of doom designed by talented Two Minutes to Late Night host Jordan Olds (aka Gwarsenio Hall). The future appears bright, judging by this highly addictive debut, which garnered lots of rotation throughout the year.
- Vittra // Intense Indifference – Hugely impressive melodic death platter from Swedish up-and-comers Vittra. Drawing inspiration from their homeland’s classic melodeath past, Vittra injects oodles of thrashy energy, inspired axework, and hooky songcraft, bringing a fresh edge to a retro sound.
- Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail – Perhaps a little late on this one, however, after spending considerable time with Dormant Ordeal’s latest opus, the hype and critical praise are indeed justified—a fine example of brutal, crushing Polish blackened death.
- Species // Changelings – Admittedly, like various other overlooked gems, I didn’t spend as much time as I’d like with Changelings. But catching up has been a blast. Species brought the weird on this wacky, proggy technical thrash thrill ride, not to be missed.
Disappointment o’ the Year:
Sadly, we lost a number of metal legends in 2025, headlined by three individual legends that had a profound impact on me over the years. There will never be a larger-than-life frontman/metal icon like Ozzy Osbourne. While his demise was not unexpected, it left a huge void and an incredible legacy never to be matched. At the Gates and all-around iconic Swedish vocalist Tomas Lindberg sadly passed away following a horrible illness, while former Mastodon guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds tragically passed in a motor vehicle accident. Rest in Peace legends….
Non-Heavy Picks (snapshot):
- Aesop Rock (Black Hole Superette & I Heard It’s a Mess There Too), clipping., Bon Iver, Miguel.
Song o’ the Year:
Messa – “Fire on the Roof” – Narrowing down a definitive song o’ the year candidate is often a futile task. Twenty-twenty-five was no exception. Rather than overthink or analyze the situation, I locked in one of the year’s most addictive, replayable gems from Messa’s stunning fourth LP, The Spin.
Dear Hollow
Welcome to the end of 2025! We at AMG hope the year has been kind to you—that your lives are filled with love, your hearts with joy, and our world with peace. I hope that you have found your people and have those you can lean on. If we have ever given you a voice, a platform, or just love and support when you need it, then we have done our jobs.
It feels redundant to say that this year has been a roller coaster, but 2025 pulled no punches. In May, the Hollow household welcomed a second kiddo, a boy, into the fold. He is a supremely easy, endlessly happy little guy, but the stresses of parenthood—and especially of two kids—are a daily lesson of “bend, don’t break.” Our daughter is now four, and learns new things and says sassy things day in and day out, enjoying gymnastics and dancing, and singing around the house for fun.
My reviewing has remained steady this year, if not a little less than the usual. Between parenting two kids, working as a high school English teacher to increasingly apathetic kids, working on a noir crime novel that has paid dividends in complexity (and all the noir jazz my ears can handle),1 continuing to unpack my upbringing and trauma and how they all have affected my views on family, relationships, and self-love, you can imagine how wild each day has been. But I’ve somehow managed it, and the end of the year is here to celebrate it.
Special shout-outs to those who have been instrumental in my journey this year: the ineffable and tireless dream team of Steel Druhm and Angry Metal Guy, the genre-confusing Dolphin Whisperer, my fellow Whitechapel apologists Iceberg and Alekhines Gun, and those who have been supportive all year (Thus Spoke, Killjoy, and Mystikus Hugebeard). Couldn’t have done it without y’all.
To the metal!
#ish. Kalaveraztekah // Nikan Axkan – Subject of a rollicking Rodeö, Mexico’s Kalaveraztekah’s balance of cosmic Aztec atmosphere and cutthroat death metal is sublime. Riffs for days balanced by an experimental madness that conjures cosmic destruction and rebirth, Nikan Axkan recalls the antics of Hell:on, folk influence only sharpens its attack and injects an atmosphere of foreboding. Refusing both gimmick and total immersion, Nikan Axkan is riffy, fun, and evocative, made for a mosh-pit and a soundtrack for the destruction of the Five Suns.
#10. La Torture des Ténèbres // Episode VIII – Revenge of Unfailing Valor – If you’re like MalteBrigge, you’ll probably end up with tinnitus and a sprained shoulder once Episode VIII kicks in, but Ottawa one-woman raw black metal/noise outfit La Torture des Ténèbres returns to the bleak space-faring atompunk of its 2016 debuts alongsdie the dystopic rage that pervades more recent efforts – moments of peace adding dimension and texture. La Torture des Ténèbres is about as ambitious as raw black metal can get.
#9. Imperial Triumphant // Goldstar – Goldstar is Imperial Triumphant’s most accessible album, the NYC trio’s signature brand of death/black and jazz funneled into a straightforward art-deco-themed brutalizing. It’s no less adventurous, always punishing, and will stay with you long after your ears stop ringing from the sound of New York City taxis and decadent skyscrapers displayed in extreme metal format: more straightforward, more melodic. While its recent predecessors are an affluent nightlife, Goldstar offers a sunbathed New York City.
#8. Howling Giant // Crucible & Ruin – Nashville’s stoner outfit Howling Giant reconciles the melodies and riffs, exploratory songwriting, and mammoth hooks gathering in each movement of Crucible & Ruin. Featuring hints of knuckleheaded sludge and proggy chord progressions, it’s an album that keeps your attention for forty-eight minutes. New member Adrian Zambrano offers more atmosphere and layers of guitar riffs and melodies to go with the surefire dichotomy of instrumental heft and vocal ethereality. Crucible & Ruin is an experience of fun, subtlety, and above all, riffs.
#7. Geese // Getting Killed – Perhaps the vocals of NYC’s Geese don’t bother me because of Cameron Winters’ similarity to singer/songwriter John Mark McMillan,2 so the album’s sonic anxiety of noise rock, post-punk, country, and blues that creep in and out like lovers who never stay does not bother me. Getting Killed feels viciously aggressive, venomously satirical, and fluid and elastic in its humble movements. Geese are overrated Pitchfork-bait, sure, but an overrated hill to get killed upon regardless.
#6. Structure // Heritage – Steel Druhm’s the real masochist for low and slow, but the balance of sad death/doom and devastating funeral doom in Netherland’s Structure is special. The guitar work in the mammoth riffs, melodic leads, and climactic solos has just a much of a voice to contribute as Pim Blankenstein’s formidable roars—as if griever and grieved converse in both melancholy and rage. Heritage is Structure paying homage to doom metal’s contemplation while paying its dues in death metal’s viciousness – pure devastation.
#5. Patristic // Catechesis – Catechesis is born out of the “impending shadow of the cross.” As tumultuous as the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the church and pagan rebellion, the black/death of Rome’s Patristic assaults the ears with tension, fury, and reverence. The first act is the holy war, a rationalization of steel and zealotry, while the second is the way the soldier tells it to his children, the lessons and cautions borne of blind faith and its devastation. Cathechesis is not only fiery sermons and unending blasphemy, but regret and meditation.
#4. In Mourning // The Immortal – I’ve loved Sweden’s In Mourning since their 2010 album Monolith: balancing chuggy guitars, progressive songwriting, and the slightest hints of doom (such as in 2008’s Shrouded Divine). The Immortal is an album that balances The Bleeding Veil’s darker elements, Garden of Storms’ signature melody, and The Weight of Oceans’ iconic patience. The Immortal offers yearning melodies and chords alongside vicious riffs, and melodeath has never sounded so good.
#3. Yellow Eyes // Confusion Gate – New York’s Yellow Eyes’ Confusion Gate conveys a black metal place better than most, an environment teeming with life. Like the Romantic Sublime, it maintains a crystalline beauty, like a light scattering through broken glass, and a madness born of terror—at the source of the light. Here is the crux of it, from poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s “The First Elegy”;
Who, if I cried out, would hear me among the Angels’
Orders? and even if one of them pressed me
suddenly to his heart: I’d be consumed
in his more potent being. For beauty is nothing
but the beginning of terror, which we can still barely endure,
and while we stand in wonder it coolly disdains
to destroy us. Every Angel is terrifying.#2. Igorrr // Amen – Gautier Serre’s work with Igorrr has rarely felt bad, but Amen evolves it from his typical standard. You get the typical apeshit antics in the midsection, but a full band fleshes out the jewel-encrusted skeleton for a fully, nearly spiritual experience. Minimalist compositions build upon a breakbeat before cracking into a full choir and death metal experience, while an overwhelming onslaught of insanity reminds us who exactly we’re listening to. Amen is hella fun, as expected, but also something we can take seriously.
#1. Primitive Man // Observance – Primitive Man is the heaviest band on the planet. While I’ve appreciated the Denver trio’s pitch-black approach to death metal laced with noise, doom, and sludge—from afar—Observance booked me in with upbeat tempos and a surprising melody. It swallows you whole like any good Primitive Man album ought to, but the devotion to deteriorating songwriting and weaponized noise. The atmospheric death/sludge counterpart to the riffs of Warcrab, for instance, Primitive Man offers a sound like no other—and it’s the best of the year.
Honorable Mentions:
- The Acacia Strain // You Are Safe From God Here – While incorporating the same ol’ hardcore beatdown you expect from the Massachusetts deathcore OGs,3 denser tones make for higher blasphemy. Simple math, trust me.
- Ethel Cain // Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You – Leaving behind the more experimental and darker tones in noise/drone counterpart Perverts, a more atmospheric and contemplative direction showcases the singer-songwriter’s nostalgic and gentle storytelling that does not shy away from darkness.
- Changeling // Changeling – While lacking the darkness and weight of Ingurgitating Oblivion, guitarist Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger is granted fretless freedom in a tech-death album whose lightness and amorphousness guide ethereal constructions of proggy sensibilities. More Dolphin Whisperer fare but still dope as hell.
- Author & Punisher // Nocturnal Birding – Tristan Shone releases an industrial sludge album that hits like an anvil, casting aside the more atmospheric tendencies for a headbanging good time, amplified by the crunch of new guitarist Doug Sabolick. Melodic motifs based on the birdcalls of migratory birds as a metaphor for immigrants, Shone and Sabolick offer the short and sweet despite a heavy-handed subject.
- Bad Angels // Until Silence – A late-year find, Polish composer Adrian Anioł concocts dense dark ambient sprawls with moody jazz, haunting saxophone glitches, ominous upright bass, and pitch-black meandering. Perfect for walks on spooky rainy nights.
Songs o’ the Year:
- Ethel Cain – “Dust Bowl”4
Surprises o’ the Year
- KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack – Mainly, how much time I devoted to it. What can I say? I’m gonna be, gonna be golden.
- SpiritWorld // Helldorado – Knuckleheaded riffs for days.5
Disappointments o’ the Year
- Messa // The Spin – Maybe it’s because I saturated my year with sultry noir jazz, but Messa shorts its doom metal with some goofy jazz—all novelty, no substance.
- Orbit Culture // Death Above Life – Once again, the melodeath/thrash riff reigns supreme, but until they can get out from behind the wall of compression, the Swedes continue to tread water.
- Vildhjarta // Där skogen sjunger under evighetens granar – The undersung princes of atmodjent show up with the swampy djunz and forsake everything that makes them legendary. It’s djent—disappointingly nothing more.
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Dolphin Whisperer’s and Thus Spoke’s Top Ten(ish) of 2025 By Steel Druhm
Dolphin Whisperer
Thus Spoke and I go way back. In fact, after our successful graduation from the same n00b class and into our first list season as full article writers, we had imagined that us two as a listing pair would produce a lethal and novel whiplash.1 So welcome to the bottom (or top) half of this eclectic endeavor that’s sure to leave you with thirty-some-odd unique albums to revisit or ignore or whatever it is you do with our strong and word-riddled opinions.
Now, the keen reader may notice I’ve had a bit of a productivity drop-off since about June. Well, that’s cause my wife gave birth to The Dolphlet, first of his name, and that’s kind of a lot of work, as I’m finding out. Baby comes first, as it goes. But I squeaked out a few important things, including a Coroner review that the unwashed masses claimed didn’t jerk Tommy Baron and co. as full of glee as it should have. I did miss other important things, like several of my list items.2. And I sincerely apologize to the following bands and offer them words of condolence or, something like that, based upon their individual situation: Bonginator, you should be glad I dropped the ball, stop it with the lame interludes; and count your blessings, Hell Ever After, thrash doesn’t need to be a musical; Species, you did thrash right though and I’m happy that others enjoyed you even more; Moths, and more specifically bassist Weslie Negron, I’m sorry that I took on your interview when my son was one month old and my brain was fried—your album rocks and you put in so much work to make Moths special. And lastly, to all the classics, I had grand plans to YMIO because I thought my brain could make that work—haha.3
Angry Metal Guy, however, remains home for me. You, dear readers, are a part of that love and drive that keep me here. Sometimes, I may only be able to conjure a half-funny joke in the comments section—you laugh (let me believe that) and give it two to five likes. Others, I may hype the heck out of a promising underground act until one of my trusted colleagues tells me “Dolph, that’s enough already, I’ll review it, sheesh.”—you liked it probably more than I did anyway. You see, for every word of bleeding hyperbole that we scribble, two sets of eyes may walk away enraptured. When you’re dealing with artists who have anywhere from sub-100 to 30004 listeners on the popularity engine of Spotify, every set counts. Every purchase on Bandcamp or Ampwall counts. Every stream on Tidal or some other competitor counts. Even your damn scrobble on last.fm counts if you’re nerdy enough for that. So sappy as it may seem, along with the herding efforts of Steel and occasionally The Big Dr. AMG Man Himself, you all give life to the bands in this wonderful modern metal scene. Hails!!
#ish. Messa // The Spin – I can’t rid myself of the power that a soaring bluesy lick and a smoky siren voice hold, no matter how I try. Burned into my head are The Spin’s glassy chorused-out chorus escalations. Drenched into the cones of my crackling car speakers are the synth throbs of certified shakers “Fire on the Roof” and “Thicker Blood.” Turn up the volume and turn down the lights, Messa has come to steal attention with yet another platter of throwback creativity.
#10. Quadvium // Tetradōm – Steve DiGiorgio and Jeroen Paul Thesseling stand at the altar of supreme metal bassists in my own personal head canon. They’d helm yours too if you were familiar with the span of their collective talents across acts like Death, Sadus, Autopsy, (DiGiorgio), and Pestilence, Obscura, Sadist (Thesseling). Knowing all this, they decided to make an album together. And in their refinement as performers, they managed to make a supergroup two-bass project more than just a thumpy wankfest. Full of diverse and rich tones, modern and proggy jitteriness, and a rounded, jazz fusion-leaning taste for exploration, Tetradōm provides an exciting notch in the weathered belt of these legends. I don’t know where Quadvium goes next after this, but I hope that it’s anything but dormant.
#9. Scardust // Souls – Every time I hear the introductory stumble of “Long Forgotten Song,” I fall immediately into the spastic and serenading world that Scardust crafts with their hypermelodic, histrionic, and confident progressive metal attitude. Central to this success remains the peerless Noa Gruman, whose every melody lands with honey-slathered tack and sing-a-long inspiration, despite my voice being a far, far cry away from the searing soprano wail that functions as a mic-drop crescendo as often as it needs to. Behind her, though, lies one of modern prog’s most nimble rhythm sections, imbuing even ballads like “Dazzling Darkness” and “Searing Echoes” with a bass-popping and hi-hat chattering clamor that places Souls in a league of its own. Also, Ross Jennings of Haken sounds better here than he has with Haken since The Mountain.
#8. Chiasma // Reaches – Chiasma possesses the unique ability to blend in with the modern paradigm of accessible melody prog in the lane of a band like Tesseract without conforming to its most djentrified tendencies. Rather, floating in its own swirl of Cynic-coded riffage and angelic, layered vocal excess, Reaches explodes with atmosphere and propulsive riff alike. In Katie Thompson’s nimble serenades rests a voice imbued with both a fluttering prowess and an aching heart. And in this sorrow—wrapped in the brightness of bleeping electronic backings, flipping virtuosic guitar runs, and singular voice—a yearning and healing takes place in fervent and fluorescent splendor.
#7. Dawnwalker // The Between – Just when I thought Dawnwalker didn’t have any more surprises left in their bag of tricks that seem tailor-made for my enjoyment,5 these sneaky Brits went and pulled out the one-long-song album. Continuing to live in the space of esoteric philosophy set forth in The Unknowing last year, Dawnwalker collects moods from all their previous works—the melancholy of isolation from In Rooms, the vocal aggression from Human Ruins, a sonic palette even grander in scope than Ages—to explore thoughts surrounding death. In lush construction, plaintive discourse, and time-bending magic, The Between breathes as a meditation bookended by heavy chiming bells—a journey that feels longer than its svelte 30-ish minute runtime but with none of the fatigue its gargantuan ask threatens. 6
#6. Gorycz // Zasypia – It’s a shame that Gorycz isn’t a household name, as their mystical, groovy approach to atmospheric and retching black metal sits among my favorites in the genre as a whole. Zasypia, as part three of a trilogy, tells a tale of despair through a warping pedalboard light on traditional distortion, shrieking throat on the edge of coherence,7 and dancing kit full of jazzy aplomb. In the space that lives between recursive and developing refrains, terror lurks. But in the Gorycz tattered exhale hangs a reverence for the beauty that can emerge from destruction and grieving. Feel every amplified string creak as you fall deeper into this devastating world.
#5. Lychgate // Precipice – You may be aware that this album was released on the 19th of December, a full two days after we were supposed to turn in these lists. Knowing that, I made sure I beat Precipice to the punch of garbage time list upheaval by listening to it, well, before that. In turn, Lychgate made sure that they’d make this late-season blooming count. With the death-thrash spirit of an early Morbid Angel crashing through low-end organ harmony and colliding with Holdsworthian alien guitar bleating, Precipice holds back neither on its urge to wander in arcane atmosphere nor on its urge to churn bodies in kinetic wonder. As another writer (whose name I can’t remember) said, Precipice ensnares by “…oscillating between Zappa’s Jazz from Hell and unearthly, pit-scorching acrobatics.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.8
#4. Barren Path // Grieving – The best grindcore album of the decade so far would come from the manic attack of Gridlink sans Jon Chang. Absent his terrifying shriek, Matsubara’s guitar scatter weighs heavier, Fajarado’s lightning snare rolls clang sharper, all against song lengths that inhabit the true short-form tradition of extreme brevity. The truth is, I’ve spent longer than the album’s length trying to convey its intensity and prowess, so just go and listen to it already. I’ll wait here. No, seriously, do it.
#3. Turian // Blood Quantum Blues – So very rare is the album that aligns like a key to a lock of a heart torn by generational angst. An eloquence exists in the disparity between Turian’s stark societal observations punctuated by raw emotional interjections of “FUCK”. I haven’t bothered to count the instances that this linguistic escalation occurs, but I guarantee that there are more fucks per stanza on Blood Quantum Blues than your favorite album this year. And, after you’ve become addicted to its overdriven noise rock-meets-hardcore-meets-industrial madness, you’ll know every single one as you shout along its contemptuous tales of cultural erasure. Indians don’t vanish, and neither will my love for every riff, every breakdown, and every tirade of Blood Quantum Blues.
#2. Changeling // Changeling – Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger poured everything into Changeling. Arranging over thirty performers across Changeling’s seems Sisyphean in scope, but Geldschläger persevered. Through peerless fretless wailings, every instrument under the sun follows well-developed motifs, and a pure love for metal, Changeling expresses nostalgia and novelty in its every loaded nook and cranny. And behind each moment of dense and exuberant songcraft, Geldschläger has tinkered to deliver an experience that feels carved over a lifetime. On top of all of that, Geldschläger is also a true guitar wizard—he zigs and zags and twists and twirls where others wear a scale to death. Like a classic novel or movie, Changeling reveals its worth both in immediate, jaw-dropping action and deep, attention-stealing detail. Geldschläger even put together a Dolby Atmos mix for the album and held listening parties in Berlin. I hear they’re wonderful. Come to California, Tom!
#1. Maud the Moth // The Distaff – When we seek art, we seek bravery and freedom of expression. And in the music that we seek in a refuge like Angry Metal guy, we often find these qualities expressed in emotional theme, in raw, sonic aggression, or in sweeping guitar-led grandeur. Woven from a different base cloth, Maud the Moth on paper does not fit that mold. Amaya López-Carromero wields, instead, a piano and scrawled diary pages. She, too, has pain, the same as any human who has encountered a world unforgiving to a life that wishes to live in a divergent path. And like the artists we value—or rather, like the artists I value—Amaya presents her vision of this struggle with focused and expanding melodic lines, crushing and crying crescendos, and an earnestness that compels its audience to surrender for a moment to a world created by these musical ideas. When your sadness comes, it won’t weep in blacks and ivories the way that The Distaff does. But you can pop it on and pretend for its run that its triumph will transfer from your ears to the very center of your tingling chest.
Honorable Mentions:
- Pissgrave // Malignant Worthlessness – Tempos that flow like a full sewage pipe and riffage that doesn’t let up until the steaming and warped conclusion. The Pissgrave family flows as one heaving death-fueled machine, and it’s sad to see them close shop. But they left us with a monster of a swansong.
- Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail – Pummeling and emotionally resonant—if a bit ham-fisted in some lyrical choices—Tooth and Nail represents the ideal form so far of what Dormant Ordeal can achieve with their gut-wrenching take on the Polish death metal sound.
- Sterveling // Sterveling – The backdrop of black metal on what is otherwise downcast jam music makes for a combo that is both hypnotic and uncontested in the space. It helps that the vocalist lets out some of the most demented howls I’ve heard this year.
- 夢遊病者 // РЛБ30011922 – Speaking of jam music, 夢遊病者 has, over time, morphed from a more frenetic math rock-indebted experience to this current, flowing state of progressive tone porn. 2025 was a good year for the one-song album. And much like Dawnwalker’s The Between, it takes up about thirty minutes and some change. Restraint, class, and fat bass heaven.
- Aversed // Erasure of Color – I’m not normally one for melodic death metal. But when it comes packaged with this much mic vitriol and a neoclassical sense that reminds me of the late, great Nevermore,9 I pay attention. And I spin it again and again and again—constant rotation since arrival.
- Yellow Eyes // Confusion Gate – Certain albums that come out late in the year suffer greatly because their true power lies in remaining interesting and unfolding over a long period of time. Immersion Trench Reverie is a special album, and Confusion Gate feels like its sequel. Comfy and caustic all at once.
- Moths // Septem – As the premier progressive metal band from Puerto Rico, Moths has a loaded mission to make a name for themselves. And with another album that keeps its runtime tight and its riffweight heavy, Septem deserves your attention for half an hour and then some. Hey, look, it’s on Ampwall too!
- Grayceon // Then the Darkness – Cello metal at its finest and most relatable. Despite advances in chamber inclusion throughout the metalsphere, not a single band sounds like Grayceon yet. And their songwriting quality remains so high that I don’t care that this album is just about eighty minutes.
- Helms Deep // Chasing the Dragon – There’s a dragon with a jetpack on the cover. I shouldn’t need to say more than that. But note also that Chasing the Dragon comes also loaded with rollicking ’80s flair and pentatonic guitar wizardry that’s so out of fashion it’s cool again. This is metal.
Disappointments o’ the Year:
- Suffering Hour // Impelling Rebirth and Umulamahri // Learning the Secrets of Acid – You’ll see more words about these later, cause they are great. And they are EPs. That’s not enough music when this quality exists.
Songs o’ the Year:
Why give you one when I can give you twenty-seven? Why twenty-seven? That’s my secret. Now, I’ve talked enough. Go out there and enjoy some music, friends. And enjoy this photo of my dogs eating. And the Dolphlet admiring them!
Thus Spoke
I’ve been blindsided by the year’s end again, and now have to find some interesting things to say about 2025. Other than the fact that I turned 3010, my main personal Thing ov Significance is that I managed to land myself a new job, which I’ll start in the new year.11 Don’t worry, though, I won’t be girl-bossing too hard to have time for AMG.
Musically, 2025 has been a (small) step down from 2024 for me, although this could just be due to my attention deficit. I’ve had my finger less firmly on the pulse in the last six months, such that several albums, by artists I like, many on this list, either took me completely by surprise on release day, or crossed my radar barely any sooner, thanks to me actually checking Slack for once. I don’t have any well-defined excuse for this outside of plain old burnout plus terrible organization. On the other hand, the fact that I didn’t review most of my favorite records this year means that I can bat away criticisms of self-indulgence by having a year-end list mostly comprised of albums I didn’t write about. One thing I am happy to have achieved this year is running my first AMG Ranking piece on Panopticon. It might be the most verbose and least exciting of its kind for the majority of site readers, but being forced to immerse myself that extensively in the discography of an artist I love was very cool (albeit intense).
Speaking of my own erratic presence at HQ, leads me on to the hiatus (official or not) of several wonderful people among the staff, particularly my list-buddy Maddog, whom I miss very much. They all have good reasons, and I support them immensely, even if it means fewer of their excellent reviews. Fortunately, we’ve also welcomed many newcomers to our ranks who can pick up my slack in their stead, and whose reviews help me improve my own writing whilst also appending to the endless list of Things I Must Listen To.
As my extensive yapping here shows, my ability to meet a word count hasn’t improved much. Before finally moving on to the list, I’ll take the chance to reiterate my gratitude for everyone reading this, and some people who might not be. Thank you to all the staff for collectively making this all possible, and giving me the opportunity to speak about music and for people—you guys—to actually read it. Thank you for reading. Even if our tastes are completely opposed and you think I’m wrong about everything, I’m glad you’re here.
Now for the bit people actually care about.
#ish. Panopticon // Songs of Hiraeth – Quietly12 released alongside Laurentian Blue, Songs of Hiraeth is a collection of songs composed between 2009-2011 that never saw the light of day. In it, you can hear the incredible development of Panopticon’s signature emotionally swelling black metal style in this period, and this record, like virtually all of them, as I repeated in my ranking blurbs, is gorgeously, absorbingly heartfelt and powerful. Unlike you might expect, it actually increases in intensity as it progresses (for me), with the final trifecta of “The End is Drawing Near,” “A Letter,” and “The Eulogy” all gunning for my Songs o’ the Year playlist with first devastating rage and fury, then heartbroken solemnity and sublime melody throughout. I guess it’s not fully in the list purely because it’s not a ‘proper’ new release, or whatever.
#10. Grima // Nightside – It could have been easy to forget about Grima, given its dropping right on the cusp of the stacked Spring release season we had this year, and the fact that I didn’t instantly mark it down for a TYMHM as with Clouds. But I didn’t forget. Despite their wintry aesthetic, Grima’s music warms my heart with folky magic and ardent blackened blizzards. Nightside is no exception, its warmth coming this time from a renewed emphasis on the atmosphere and bayan after the higher energies of Frostbitten. I love intense, harsh, frosty black metal, and I love how Grima do it (“Impending Death Premonition,” “Where We are Lost”). But what I love most of all about Grima is how they pair that with their folky tendencies, and the way—as Sharky pointed out—Vilhelm’s rasps graze over it all. This culminates, for me, in the more mournful and urgent tone of several tracks on Nightside, where intense moments still feel dreamlike (“The Nightside”), and vocals breathe like ghostly whispers (“Mist and Fog”). It’s not my favorite Grima record (that’s probably Rotten Garden), but being a Grima record at all, given their caliber, means it’s bloody great and has to be on my list.
#9. Bianca // Bianca – Here’s an excellent example of a record I very likely would never have heard were it not for the AMG writer community. And wow, am I grateful I did. Ken‘s description alone caught my interest, let alone the tidbit that the project includes two members of another 2025 favorite of mine, Patristic.13 It takes familiar concepts from metal, both post—ethereal atmospheres and haunting singing—and extreme—sky-piercing shrieks, undulating, relentless double-bass, and tangled guitar blizzards—but sounds like nothing else. Even in combining these elements, Bianca stands alone. The coalescence of blackened, doomed, ambient layers is mesmerizing, the pitches upward into mania, and lapses back into mournful mystique, captivating. Throat-gripping furor arrests me more inextricably than almost anything else this year (“Abysmal,” “Nachthexe”), and transcendent melodies forged from this black fire lift me fully out of my body (“Abysmal,” “Todestrieb”). I’ve been in love since.
#8. Der Weg Einer Freiheit // Innern – Innern’s influence on me was subtle and insidious. I would just put it on, be absorbed—or be sucked back in periodically, if I was working and not concentrating on it—and suddenly it would end. Then I’d listen to it again. Der Weg Einer Freiheit has been developing their particular intense, dark, atmospheric kind of (post-) black over the last decade or so, and with Innern, it’s approaching an apex. Through endlessly enveloping compositions, filled with fury and urgency (“Marter”) or solemn reflection and introspection (“Eos,” “Forlorn”), that flow seamlessly out of one another, Innern folds you insidiously into its depths. Compelling melodies, dynamic rushing percussion, and here-dramatic, there-soft-spoken vocals, each taking pieces and incorporating trials from Der Weg Einer Freiheit’s career so far, drive the thematic compositional thread through irresistibly. From the anticipatory opening shudders to the ebbing chords at its close, Innern is an experience best taken whole, and one I’ve indulged in countless times to go on this magnetic journey once again.
#7. Paradise Lost // Ascension – I never thought this would land here when first announced. Sure, I like Paradise Lost, but their back-catalog is so mixed (in style, let alone quality), that ‘liking’ them for me comes down to enjoying a handful of their now 17 albums. Even the singles’ being good failed to stir anything more than curiosity, given my experience with intra-album inconsistency. But when Ascension did finally grace my ears in full, it appropriately transcended any doubts and softened my heart towards these doom icons again.14 Paradise Lost were heavy again, melancholic and mopey again—in a cool, atmospheric way—and Ascension just flowed, with grungy aggression and sadboi introspection in perfect equilibrium. This easy, natural duality that characterizes Gothic metal, and Paradise Lost themselves as genre pioneers, when they’re at the top of their game, is exemplified in Ascension. Hopefully, the group can stay on this trajectory for number 18, if that comes.
#6. Clouds // Desprins – I don’t understand how Clouds are as good as they are. I mean this as no insult to the musicians; what stuns me is the depth of pathos, and the consistency with which they deliver it, given the relatively understated and idiosyncratic manner in which they execute it. Their characteristic flute-folk-funeral doom is so ethereally, painfully sad without being overwrought, melodramatic, or crushing. It took my n00bish breath away four years ago, and this year Desprins came and took it again; this time with pieces of my soul attached. The music is just so beautiful—unrelentingly bleak, but beautiful, and Clouds’ balance of the dark and the light through the synths and acoustics, and apathetic spoken-word is exquisite and deeply affecting. These composite melodies, swelling and trilling softly, are transportive for me—particularly “Life Becomes Lifeless,” “Chain Me,” “Sorrowbound,” and “Chasing Ghosts.” Desprins is everything I want funeral doom to be: a prolonged dream-state of melancholy that paradoxically brings me joy.
#5. Deafheaven // Lonely People with Power – I have never been a Deafheaven fan. In all honesty, I’m still not. Lonely People with Power fires me up and fills my soul, while the rest of their discography continues to leave me completely cold. It seems that, briefly departing from metal entirely with Infinite Granite, has matured their sound, adding layers to their edgy blackgaze. Even when indifferent, I never understood the scorn their music generates, and now that I’ve fallen for Lonely People with Power, it makes even less sense. Not only is the way Deafheaven are combining rich, beautiful melodies with—yes—brilliant black metal simply lovely to listen to, slick, seamless, sharp, etc, it’s also distinctive and engrossing. That’s before even getting into how emotionally resonant it is. And it’s not even like this means it can’t be heavy—heck, one of these tracks is on my Heavy Moves Heavy playlist. It’s not ‘cringe’; it’s a phenomenal record and one of the best to release this year.
#4. 1914 // Viribus Unitis – I have always been most moved—emotionally and aesthetically—by 1914’s brand of WWI-themed blackened-death than any other like act. Viribus Unitis somehow outdoes Where Fear and Weapons Meet, and possibly all of the band’s previous efforts, for evocativeness and being straightforward and compelling. From the now hallmark bookends “War In/Out” to frequent samples to lyrics infused with real soldier testimony, Viribus Unitis envelops the listener in this portal to the past through 1914’s most powerful, urgently melodic compositions. Every song is heavy, dramatic, and snappy in just the right amounts, resulting in a series of back-to-back bangers that also occasionally really, really hit home emotionally. “1918 Pt 3: ADE (A duty to escape)” does all the above to perfection and has received an almost embarrassing number of replays in the short time since release. But “1919 (The Home where I Died)” did actually make me cry,15 and its fade into “War Out” is the perfect end to the monumental achievement Viribus Unitis represents.
#3. Patristic // Catechesis – It seems that every year, I review one particular atmospheric-dissonant death metal record which dominates my listening in that subgenre, and instantly secures a year-end list spot. In 2023, Serpent of Old, last year Ulcerate16, and this year Patristic. Catechesis was an immediate, visceral love for me, and not once since June has it left rotation. Sinister and dark, but irresistible in its seamlessly flowing, captivating macro-composition narrated by roars and solemn sermonizing; it ends far too soon. And in addition to being beautifully atmospheric and magnetic in melody and dissonance alike, it stands out for truly insane performances in their own right. Specifically, the drumming, which continues to blow my mind and propels Catechesis from greatness into excellence with hypnotic, intelligent rhythmic interplay. Patristic’s uncanny ability to make extreme, inaccessible music incomprehensibly engrossing and a magnificent expression of its concept are why I can’t stop listening to Catechesis, and why it’s almost the best record of 2025.
#2. Qrixkuor // The Womb of the World – Much like reviewer Kenstrosity, whereas Qrixkuor’s debut Poison Palinopsia rewired my brain with its brilliance, I found follow-up Zoetrope a tad underwhelming. When said sponge began to hint, and then gush unstoppably about the duo’s second full-length, The Womb of the World, which was in his possession, vague hope turned to giddy excitement. Not only the twisted, psychedelic horror of their signature freeform blackened death would await me, but also a full live orchestra. Yet I still don’t think anything could have adequately prepared me for how massive and mad The Womb of the World actually is. With the strings, horns, and piano swooping and crashing about in great surges and falls, Qrixkuor’s already grandiose style fully feels like some tormented classical opus, and it’s utterly magnificent. Things so small as my words can’t do justice to the way the eerie and intense lurching orchestrals, maniacal snarling voices, and cavernous extreme metal combine to create some of the best things I have ever heard, ever. Weirdly memorable and violently compelling despite its monstrosity, I’ve become completely addicted to it since. Ken himself said, it is “a mastapeece for those to whom sanity is immaterial,” when he rightfully deemed it ‘Excellent’. If I must rescind soundness of mind to so esteem The Womb of the World, I will do so gladly.
#1. Cave Sermon // Fragile Wings – Last year, Divine Laughter went from unknown to #5 on my year-end list in about 2 weeks, so when I found out there was a follow-up—thanks to my new Flippered list buddy—I dropped everything.17 My stratospheric expectations were not only met, but they were lifted into outer space. I would fear for Cave Sermon’s ability to deliver in the future, but Fragile Wings itself dismisses any trepidation. So recognizably, uniquely Cave Sermon, it displays a new, more uplifting interpretation of their sound. A commenter pointed out the lack of reference to So Hideous in my review, and in retrospect, I see their point, at least in degree: the two projects are similarly experimental and impressively novel-sounding without actually feeling avant-garde. But there is just something about Cave Sermon that puts them in an entirely different category of genius—for me. Fragile Wings is playful but not silly; it’s complex but memorable, groovy, and fun; it’s dissonant and strange, but it’s organic, harmonious, and digestible. The idea that just one person is behind this18 makes it that much more mind-blowing. At this rate, there could well be another Cave Sermon record next year, and on the current trajectory, it may finally land this fantastic artist the official Iconic status they have always deserved.
Honorable Mentions:
- Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail – Hands-down my favorite Dormant Ordeal album so far. Heavy, groovy, and eminently-listenable, it really got its claws into me—especially during gym sessions shortly after release. It did fall out of my rotation quite substantially, in favor of its rivals above, thus putting it here.
- Primitive Man // Observance – When Observance dropped, and I was listening for the first time, I badly tried to describe Primitive Man to my partner (not a metal fan) over WhatsApp as “being crushed by a big rock really slowly, but in a good way.” Obviously, they didn’t know what I was on about, but Spicie Forrest seems to with his much better analogy of “being imprisoned and forgotten in a lightless pit.” Primitive Man has always made silly-heavy, scary-huge music, but Observance clicked with me like nothing else in their discography prior. I am indeed helplessly crushed and held prisoner.
- Blut Aus Nord // Ethereal Horizons – I think if this had dropped just a tiny bit earlier, it could have ended up on my list proper. Blut Aus Nord has always been one of those artists I know I do enjoy, but for some reason has never fully clicked for me. Ethereal Horizons felt immediately more enthralling. It’s more atmospheric, more darkly melodic, more blackened in its heaviness, and through it all, possibly more frightening.
Songs of the Year
- Cave Sermon – “Ancient for Someone”
- Panopticon – “A Letter”
- Panopticon – “The Poppies Bloom For No King”
- Patristic – “A Vinculis Soluta II”
- Qrixkuor – “The Womb of the World”
- Bianca – “Abysmal”
- Deafheaven – “The Garden Route”
- Nephylim – “Amaranth”
- Clouds – “Sorrowbound”
- 1914 – “1918 Pt 3 A.D.E (A Duty to Escape)”
- Der Weg Einer Freiheit – “Marter”
- Primitive Man – “Natural Law”
#1914 #2025 #Aversed #BarrenPath #Bianca #BlogPosts #BlutAusNord #CaveSermon #Changeling #Chiasma #Clouds #Dawnwalker #Deafheaven #DerWegEinerFreiheit #DolphinWhisperSAndThusSpokeSTopTenIshOf2025 #DormantOrdeal #Gorycz #Grayceon #Grima #HelmsDeep #Lists #Lynchgate #MaudTheMoth #Messa #Mothers #Nephylim #Panopticon #ParadiseLost #Patristic #Pissgrave #PrimitiveMan #Qrixkuor #Quadvium #Scardust #Sterveling #SufferingHour #Turian #YellowEyes #夢遊病者 -
Who Are These Clowns and Where Did They Put My Flesh Stapler? The AMG Staff Pick Their Top Ten(ish) of 2025 By Steel Druhm
Listurnalia is now upon us once again! If you are not ready to be assailed by non-stop lists and bad opinions for the next week and change, I suggest you get fooking ready! Listurnalia cannot be stopped, nor contained. It can only be tolerated and endured!
More than any year in recent history, 2025 saw more seasoned staffers step away from writing duties due to time constraints and life changes. To compensate for the loss of these slackwagoning quitters and shirkers, we added a gaggle of fresh new voices. This made for a bittersweet time around these parts as long-time friends departed and a bunch of untested, unknowns rose through the brutal n00b gauntlet to seize the means of promo production. These greenhorn neophytes have created great havoc at AMG HQ with their terrible taste, inability to follow directions, and steadfast refusal to ignore deathcore.
We’ve been here before, though, and we always straighten out the newbie upstarts. The daily beatings, deprivations, and absence of positive reinforcement will wear them down, and if not, we have plenty of space in the rotpit out back. This is, and will ever be, the AMG modality.
2026 will be an interesting year as the new crew members are shepherded by the olde while everyone is crushed beneath the iron heel of AMG management. Who will make it to 2027? Who will be sold off to Metal Wani for a box of bananas and Gorilla Glue? Place your bets in the official AMG Survival Pool!
As you read the Top Ten(ish) lists below, remember, reading our content is free, but you get what you pay for.
Grymm
#10. Venomous Echoes // Dysmor
#9. Blut Aus Nord // Ethereal Horizons
#8. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#7. Structure // Heritage
#6. Lorna Shore // I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me
#5. Sigh // I Saw The World’s End – Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV
#4. Imperial Triumphant // Goldstar
#3. Am I In Trouble? // Spectrum
#2. Dax Riggs // 7 Songs for Spiders
#1. Paradise Lost // Ascension – I fully expected Paradise Lost to come out with quality music, which has been mostly par for the course in their storied almost-40-year career, and no one could blame them if they decided to coast along on their legendary sound. Instead, Ascension sees them giving a masterclass in songcraft and atmosphere, showing everyone, everywhere, how it’s done. With Black Sabbath now officially put to rest, Anathema long gone, and whatever the fuck is happening within My Dying Bride these days, somebody has to fly the British Doom flag high and proud, and Paradise Lost have done a bang-up job of doing so.Personal Highlight o’ the Year: Seeing Acid Bath live. I may or may not have cried during “Venus Blue,” and no, I don’t fucking care. 19-Year-Old me was pleased as punch that 48-Year-Old me got to see a legendary band (and one of his personal favorites) come back from tragedy to pay tribute to their fallen bassist and friend, Audie Pitre, by giving it another long-awaited go.
Disappointment(s) o’ the Year:
- Losing so many influential heroes (RIP Ozzy Osbourne, Ace Frehley, and Tomas Lindberg, among too many others)
- My health: I was hoping to be a lot more active this year, but early on, I needed to, in the immortal words of David Lynch, “fix (my) heart or die.”1 Thankfully, after surgery, I feel a million times better, so you should see a lot more of me in 2026. You have been warned.
Song o’ the Year:
- Paradise Lost // “Salvation”
El Cuervo
#ish. Astronoid // Stargod
#10. Ollie Wride // The Pressure Point
#9. Kauan // Wayhome
#8. Zéro Absolu // La Saignée
#7. Mutagenic Host // The Diseased Machine
#6. Asira // As Ink in Water
#5. Bruit // The Age of Ephemerality
#4. Saor // Amidst the Ruins
#3. The Midnight // Syndicate
#2. Steven Wilson // The Overview
#1. Messa // The Spin – In a year replete with comfort picks—progressive rock, synthwave, and death metal abound—how is that Italy’s enigmatic, inscrutable Messa forged my Album o’ the Year? The Spin doesn’t take the trouble to make itself easily approachable. Doom, prog, and post influences circle around velvety melodies that sometimes sound like deliberate songs, and sometimes like jazz improvisation. But it’s these very qualities that belie its subtle allure; only with repetition and attention does The Spin shine. Messa gradually reveals rhythmic motifs, instrumental nuances, and rich compositions that enhance my life on so many days. “The Dress,” especially, is stunning. And though the record’s loungey whimsy defies metal conventions, each track prizes genuine grit through its top-drawer guitar riffs. With the devotion it demands, no record from 2025 was more rewarding than The Spin.Honorable Mentions:
- Décryptal – Simulacre
- An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City
- Puteraeon – Mountains of Madness
- Hasard – Abgnose
Song o’ the Year:
- Ambush – “Maskirovka”
GardensTale
#ish. Structure // Heritage
#10. In Mourning //The Immortal
#9. Flummox // Southern Progress
#8. Der Weg Einer Freiheit // Innern
#7. Nephylim // Circuition
#6. Besna // Krásno
#5. Messa // The Spin
#4. Labyrinthus Stellarum // Rift in Reality
#3. Gazpacho // Magic 8 Ball
#2. Dormant Ordeal// Tooth & Nail
#1. Moron Police // Pachinko — I was a little nervous when I first read about the length and ambition behind Pachinko, especially in the context of the incredible and very concise A Boat on the Sea. I’ve never been this happy to be this wrong. Nothing in the last decade has overtaken my life as much as Pachinko has, and I’m listening to it yet again as I write this, and will probably restart it once it finishes. Pachinko has a lot in common with Everything Everywhere All At Once, one of my all-time favorite films, as a treatise on the chaos of life and the importance of friends and family. It treats its philosophy of silliness very seriously, laughing in the face of darkness in such a beautiful and inspiring way; it brightens my life every time I hear it. And it does all that in tribute to a dear friend who was gone too soon and too suddenly, and no other eulogistic album has let me feel like its subject’s soul touched mine. An astounding monument to friendship on top of an incredibly accomplished hour of music. Pachinko is a miracle.Honorable Mentions:
- Hangover in Minsk // Party is Over
- 1914 // Viribus Unitis
- Bianca // Bianca
- Fange // Purulences
- An Abstract Illusion // The Sleeping City
- Blindfolded // What Seeps Through Threads
Song o’ the Year:
- Moron Police – “Giving up the Ghost”
Non-metal Albums of the Year:
- Lorde // Virgin
- Jonathan Hultén // Eyes of the Living Night
- Shayfer James // Summoning
Mark Z.
#ish. Malefic Throne // The Conquering Darkness
#10. Urn // Demon Steel
#9. Teitanblood // From the Visceral Abyss
#8. Shed the Skin // The Carnage Cast Shadows
#7. Guts // Nightmare Fuel
#6. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#5. Perdition Temple // Malign Apotheosis
#4. Paradise Lost // Ascension
#3. Revocation // New Gods, New Masters
#2. Death Yell // Demons of Lust
#1. Abominator // The Fire Brethren – It took me a few years after hearing this Australian duo’s last album, 2015’s Evil Proclaimed, to realize I was wrong about them. Their raw and relentless black-death metal wasn’t just good, it was fucking awesome. With their long-awaited sixth album, The Fire Brethren, Abominator has conjured flames that reach higher than ever. As always, the enraged rasps, scorching riffs, and endlessly pummeling rhythms are like plumes of hellfire shot directly into your ear canals. But amidst the bludgeoning is some genuinely great songwriting, with deep-cutting hooks (“The Templar’s Curse,” “Underworld Vociferations”), flashes of melody (“Progenitors of the Insurrection of Satan”), thrashy breaks (“Sulphur from the Heavens”), and just enough variety to keep everything hitting as hard as possible. It’s not for everyone, but for those into Angelcorpse and other music of that sort, The Fire Brethren is the type of album you just can’t get enough of.Honorable Mention:
- Blasphamagoatachrist // Bestial Abominator
Song (Title) o’ the Year:
- Omegavortex – “Dystopian Worldrape”
Song o’ the Year:
- Fugitive – “Spheres of Virulence”
Carcharodon
#ish. Dax Riggs // 7 Songs for Spiders
#10. Novarupta // Astral Sands
#9. Atlantic // Timeworn
#8. Structure // Heritage
#7. Agriculture // The Spiritual Sound
#6. Igorr // Amen
#5. Messa // The Spin
#4. Abigail Williams // A Void Within Existence
#3. Cave Sermon // Fragile Wings
#2. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#1. Grima // Nightside – In each of 2019, 2021, and 2022, Grima released an album and, in each of those years, I listed said album (#5, HM, and #10). But this year, the year in which I have listened to the least metal and, of course, written the least since I started here in 2018, is also the year that Grima got everything dialled in to just what I want from a Grima album. On Nightside, the duo struck the perfect balance between the traditional influences of 2019’s Will of the Primordial and the propulsive, frozen atmosphere of Frostbitten (2022). The combination gives Nightside an almost hypnotic and weirdly tranquil flow, offset by Vilhelm’s rasping vocals, which remain among the best in the BM game. Every time I come back to this record, and the title track in particular, it’s even better than I remember it being, and I always end up spinning three or more times back-to-back. An album that can keep playing that trick deserves its #1 spot in my book.Honorable Mentions:
- An Abstract Illusion // The Sleeping City
- Gorycz // Zasypia
- Psychonaut // World Maker
- Wardruna // Birna
Songs o’ the Year:
- Messa – “Fire on the Roof”
- Novarupta – “Now Here We Are (At the Inevitable End)”
Mysticus Hugebeard
#10. Orbit Culture // Death Above Life
#9. An Abstract Illusion // The Sleeping City
#8. Qrixkuor // The Womb of the World
#7. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#6. Panopticon // Laurentian Blue
#5. Blackbraid // Blackbraid III
#4. Arkhaaik // Uihtis
#3. Kauan // Wayhome
#2. Wardruna // Birna
#1. Thumos // The Trial of Socrates – I recall groggily stumbling upon Thumos’ The Trial of Socrates at work one early morning, and I’m not sure if I’ve grown attached to it or it’s grown attached to me. It looms in my periphery, routinely interrupting my listening schedule for just one more spin. This gargantuan dive into ancient Greek philosophy and justice is melodically rich, laden with atmosphere, and fiercely intelligent. I love how this album stimulates my curiosity. I pore over The Trial of Socrates like a madman, piecing the puzzle together with feverish glee but never quite feeling finished, because every re-listen yields new shapes, new colors, new ideas. It eggs me on to research various topics on ancient Greek history or philosophy, and even made for an unlikely study partner during my long preparations for the German A1 exam. I always feel smarter by the end of it—hubris, I’m sure, but The Trial of Socrates genuinely sparks my imagination in ways few albums do. Time to go listen to “The Phædo” for the zillionth time.Honorable Mentions:
- Night Flight Orchestra // Give Us The Moon
- Mutagenic Host // The Diseased Machine
Songs o’ the Year:
- Disarmonia Mundi – “Outcast”
The Dormant Stranger by Disarmonia Mundi
- Jamie Page & Marcy Nabors – “Do No Harm (Ventricular Mix)”
Do No Harm by Jamie Paige, Marcy Nabors, & Penny Parker
- Thumos – “The Phædo”
The Trial of Socrates by Thumos
Disappointment(s) o’ the year:
- The dissolution of Ante-Inferno: After Death’s Soliloquy topped my list last year, I was genuinely gutted to see Ante-Inferno’s post that they were no more. Still, I shall not weep but rather smile that they happened, because Ante-Inferno was a rare breed of genuinely moving black metal. Just that one album rooted itself so deeply within me, and I will be listening for a long time.
- Arno Menses leaving Subsignal: Man, fuck. Fuck. Remember my nuclear-grade glaze of Subsignal, where I might as well have said Menses’ voice single-handedly justified the entire existence of music? How could I not break down in heaving sobs in the middle of this Denny’s when I heard that Menses and Subsignal have parted ways? It sucks, I tell ya. I will still listen to what Subsignal puts out in the future, because Markus Steffen is a talented musician, but it’s going to be a huge adjustment since Menses is nigh irreplaceable.
Samguineous Maximus
#ish. Imperial Triumphant // Goldstar
#10. Primitive Man // Observance
#9. Motherless // Do You Feel Safe?
#8. Deafheaven // Lonely People with Power
#7. Weeping Sores // The Convalescence Agonies
#6. Between the Buried and Me // The Blue Nowhere
#5. Calva Louise // Edge of the Abyss
#4. 1914 // Viribus Unitis
#3. Crippling Alcoholism // Camgirl
#2. Crippling Alcoholism // Bible Songs II
#1. Yellow Eyes // Confusion Gate – Yellow Eyes are one of the best black metal bands in the game, and Confusion Gate is their most impressive work to date. It sees the band return to a more traditional atmospheric sound, but with the lessons learned from their explorations of dissonance and ambience. The result is a kaleidoscopic blend of gorgeous melodies, haunting riffs, and a pervasive sense of pathos that only the best art can achieve. Confusion Gate feels like communing with nature from the top of a wintry peak, embodying both impossible grandeur and awesome terror. This is a record that bypasses the analytical reviewer’s brain and just hits me right in the feeling. It offers a unique catharsis in a year where I truly needed it.Honorable Mentions
- Flummox // Southern Progress
- Hexrot // Formless Ruin of Oblivion
- Ava Mendoza/Gabby fluke-Mogal/Carolina Pérez // Mama Killa
- Strigiform // Aconite
Song o’ the Year:
- Crippling Alcoholism – “Ladies Night”
Spicie Forrest
#ish. Cryptopsy // An Insatiable Violence
#10. Crimson Shadows // Whispers of War
#9. Oromet // The Sinking Isle
#8. -ii- // Apostles of the Flesh
#7. Suncraft // Welcome to the Coven
#6. Suncraft // Profanation of the Adamic Covenant
#5. Chestcrush // ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ
#4. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#3. Qrixkuor // The Womb of the World
#2. Primitive Man // Observance
#1. Wytch Hazel // V: Lamentations – I know, I’m surprised too. But the bottom line is that I’ve been listening to V: Lamentations front to back at least once a week since it released on the most American of holidays, July 4th. For Steel, Wytch Hazel’s latest didn’t have the same staying power as previous efforts, but Lamentations is the first to truly resonate with me. Though musically consistent with their Wishbone Ash-meets-Eagles style, vocalist Colin Hendra brings a new sense of passion to the record, and the interplay between instruments, vocals, and lyrics hits me like a lightning bolt. Very possibly inspired by the core Christian tenet laid out in Romans 6:23-24,2 Lamentations is a masterful portrayal of what it means to perpetually fail, to know you’ll never be good enough, and in the face of a salvation that renders all efforts, deeds, and accomplishments worthless, to keep striving toward the impossible anyway. Even for godless sinners like me, Lamentations is a beautiful reminder that purpose is found in hardship, that the journey is the goal, and that falling down is merely an opportunity to stand up again.Honorable Mentions:
- Proscription // Desolate Divine
- Apocalypse Orchestra // A Plague upon Thee
- Messa // The Spin
- Bloodywood // Nu Delhi
- Pedestal for Leviathan // Enter: Vampyric Manifestation
Song o’ the Year:
- Yellowcard – “honestly i”
Grin Reaper
(ish) Sallow Moth // Mossbane Lantern
#10. Turian // Blood Quantum Blues
#9. Calva Louise // Edge of the Abyss
#8. Lychgate // Precipice
#7. An Abstract Illusion // The Sleeping City
#6. Thron // Vurias
#5. Structure // Heritage
#4. Species // Changelings
#3. Havukruunu // Tavastland
#2. Aephanemer // Utopie
#1. 1914 // Viribus Unitis – I didn’t know Viribus Unitis would be my top album of the year the first time I listened to it, but I knew it would list. 1914’s naked emotion and rousing story of a Ukrainian soldier’s survival through World War I, reconciliation with his family, and inescapable return to war remains as gripping and bittersweet now as it did the first time I heard it. Across adrenaline-fueled riffing, oppressive marches, and somber dirges, 1914 never relents on musical or lyrical weight. Though Viribus Unitis was released late in the year, it quickly became the standard I used to appraise albums while going through listing season. 1914 paints war-torn life with savage grace, supplying devastating melody and grueling crawls that elevate the album to such heights that I’m genuinely moved each time I get to the end. Viribus Unitis is bleak, raw, and human, but for all that, I’m never deterred from listening. Ultimately, 1914 clutches the threads of hope and weaves an aural tapestry that brings tragedy and triumph to life, cementing Viribus Unitis as my undisputed top album of 2025.
Honorable Mentions:- Walg // V
- Moron Police // Pachinko
- Defigurement // Endbryo
- Ültra Raptör // Fossilized
- Igorrr // Amen
Songs o’ the Year:
- Aephanemer – “Le Cimetière Marin”
- 1914 – “1918 Pt. III: ADE (A Duty to Escape)”
Andy-War-Hall
#ish: Dragon Skull // Chaos Fire Vengeance
#10: Changeling // Changeling
#9: Steel Arctus // Dreamruler
#8: Abigail Williams //A Void Within Existence
#7: Petrified Giant // Endless Ark
#6: Imperial Triumphant // Goldstar
#5: Structure // Heritage
#4: Lipoma // No Cure for the Sick
#3: Crippling Alcoholism // Camgirl
#2: Hexrot // Formless Ruin of Oblivion
#1: 1914 // Viribus Unitis – Immersion defines great music and art for me. It is almost unfortunate how good 1914 are in this facet of their music. Their ability to transport the listener to the battlefield in all its violence, both carnal and psychological, is stupefying. The utter dehumanizing hatred with “1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl),” the ravenous bloodlust of “1917 (The Isonzo Front),” the hellish wails haunting “1918 Pt. 1 (WIA – Wounded in Action):” all portrayed vividly through 1914’s brilliantly caustic and composed musicianship and deeply personal lyricism. When Dmytro Ternushchak bellows “For three days / The Russians attacked / And accomplished nothing but / 40,000 dead pigs” [“1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)”], it’s all you need to get into his character’s violent headspace. When 1914 mournfully sing in Ukrainian “Це моя земля”3 [1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge)], you grasp how someone could put their life on the line for kin and country. When our soldier sings “My little girl reached out to me / But duty calls” [1919 (The Home Where I Died)]… well, shit, your heart just has to break, right? 1914 don’t play “history metal.” Viribus Unitis is as present and relevant as you can get.Honorable Mentions:
- Fell Omen // Caelid Dog Summer
- Ophelion // The Jaunt
- Coroner // Dissonance Theory
- Starscourge // Conqueror of the Stars – Betwixt Sundered Seraphim, the Lands Between Bleed
Song o’ the Year:
- Fell Omen – “The Fire is Still Warm”
Lavender Larcenist
#ish Spiritbox // Tsunami Sea
#10. Sold Soul // Just Like That, I Disappear Entirely
#9. Calva Louise // Edge of the Abyss
#8. Dying Wish // Flesh Stays Together
#7. Grima // Nightside
#6. Aversed // Erasure of Color
#5. Deafheaven // Lonely People With Power
#4. Ghost Bath // Rose Thorn Necklace
#3. Changeling // Changeling
#2. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#1. Crippling Alcoholism // Camgirl – Sometimes you listen to music, and you feel like it gets you. Camgirl was exactly that type of album, and it probably doesn’t say anything good about me. Ever since Crippling Alcoholism’s latest graced my ears and I shared it with my partner, we have been singing “I fucking hate the way I look, yeah I look like a fat fucking scumbag” way too often and mumbling “Mr. Ran away, ran away from family” every chance we get. The album is dripping with the atmosphere of neon-lit back rooms, seedy interactions, and terrible decision-making. It feels like a lens into the lives of those society has left behind, and I can’t help but feel a connection. The self-destructive nihilism, drugged-out sex, and abrupt violence that is all too common in those on the margins of life is something I think more and more we can all relate to, and Camgirl is the art that mirrors society back to us. As a result, it is an album that is just as ugly as it is terrifying and beautiful.
Honorable Mentions:- Shadow of Intent // Imperium Delirium
- Pupil Slicer // Fleshwork
- 1914 // Viribus Unitis
Song o’ the Year:
- Crippling Alcoholism – “bedrot”
Creeping Ivy
#ish. Nite // Cult of the Serpent Sun
#10. Blackbraid // Blackbraid III
#9. Flummox // Southern Progress
#8. 1914 // Viribus Unitis
#7. Cave Sermon // Fragile Wings
#6. Saor // Amidst the Ruins
#5. Imperial Triumphant // Goldstar
#4. Phantom Spell // Heather & Hearth
#3. Coroner // Dissonance Theory
#2. Messa // The Spin
#1. Havukruunu // Tavastland – On their Bandcamp page, Havukruunu explain the concept of their fourth LP: ‘Tavastland tells how in 1237 the Tavastians rose in rebellion against the church of Christ and drove the popes naked into the frost to die.’ Sounds like the metal album of 2025 to me! But I didn’t crown Tavastland for its lyrics that I can’t understand. As Dr. A.N. Grier has been exhorting for a decade, Havukruunu stands as a model of Viking black metal consistency, having dropped only very good-to-great albums since 2015. Tavastland isn’t a radical improvement over 2020’s Uinuous syömein sota, but it’s an (arguably excellent) improvement nonetheless, making it Havukruunu’s finest work yet. Yes, these fiery Finns forge sounds reminiscent of Bathory and Immortal, but Tavastland seized my attention for its adventurous prog sensibilities. Some of this can be attributed to the return of Hümo, whose bass rattles like the four strings of Geddy Lee. But the prog is deep in the album craft, from the overture-style modulations of opener “Kuolematon laulunhenki” to the extended guitar wankery of closer “De miseriis fennorum.” Now if only I can learn Finnish, I’ll be able to appreciate the killer anti-popery narrative while headbanging to my Record o’ 2025.Honorable Mentions:
- Am I in Trouble? // Spectrum
- Blut Aus Nord // Ethereal Horizons
- In Mourning // The Immortal
- Oromet // The Sinking Isle
- Wyatt E. // Zamāru Ultu Qereb Ziqquratu Part 1
Song o’ the Year:
- Phantom Spell – “The Autumn Citadel”
Baguette of Bodom
#ish. In the Woods… // Otra
#10. Species // Changelings
#9. Dragon Skull // Chaos Fire Vengeance
#8. A-Z // A2Z²
#7. Apocalypse Orchestra // A Plague upon Thee
#6. Amorphis // Borderland
#5. Dolmen Gate // Echoes of Ancient Tales
#4. Dormant Ordeal // Tooth and Nail
#3. Amalekim // Shir Hashirim
#2. Suotana // Ounas II
#1. Buried Realm // The Dormant Darkness – Melodic tech death? Symphonic power metal? Who knows! Much like my 2025 in general, The Dormant Darkness has a bit of everything in one gigantic clusterfuck. The great news is, neither I nor the album crumbled under all that weight. In a year full of odd twists and turns, my list became more varied and unusual than ever. Buried Realm took this variety and gave me everything I like about metal in one dense package: blazing speeds, soaring guitars, majestic vocals, and relentless fury. It’s also inexplicably well-produced for how many layers there are to deal with. While 2025 was not a particularly star-studded release year—especially compared to most of the 2020s so far—it threw plenty of fun curveballs at me, and The Dormant Darkness exemplifies this with its Xothian fusion of metal subgenres in one big Ophidian I blender ov shred. I would also like to request several Christian Älvestam features on every album, please.Honorable Mentions:
- Victim of Fire // The Old Lie
- Dawn of Solace // Affliction Vortex
- Dynazty // Game of Faces
- Coroner // Dissonance Theory
- Hooded Menace // Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration
Song o’ the Year:
- Dragon Skull – “Blood and Souls”
Chaos Fire Vengeance by Dragon Skull
#1914 #2025 #AZ #AbigailWilliams #Abominator #Aephanemer #Agriculture #AmIInTrouble #Amalekim #Ambush #Amorphis #AnAbstractIllusion #ApocalypseOrchestra #Arkhaaik #Asira #Astronoid #Atlantic #AvaMendozaGabbyFlukeMogalCarolinaPérez #Aversed #Besna #BetweenTheBuriedAndMe #Bianca #Blackbraid #Blasphamagoatachrist #Blindfolded #BlogLists #Bloodywood #BlutAusNord #Bruit #BuriedRealm #CalvaLouise #CaveSermon #Changeling #Chestcrush #Coroner #CrimsonShadows #CripplingAlcoholism #DawnOfSolace #DaxRiggs #Deafheaven #DeathYell #Décryptal #Defigurement #DerWegEinerFreiheit #DolmenGate #DormantOrdeal #DragonSkull #DyingWish #Dynazty #Fange #FellOmen #Flummox #Gazpacho #GhostBath #Gorycz #Grima #Guts #HangoverInMinsk #Hasard #Havukruunu #Hexrot #HoodedMenace #Igorr #Igorrr #II #ImperialTriumphant #JonathanHultén #Kauan #LabyrinthusStellarum #Lipoma #Lists #Lorde #LornaShore #Lychgate #MaleficThrone #Messa #MoronPolice #Motherless #MutagenicHost #Nephylim #NightFlightOrchestra #Nite #Novarupta #OllieWride #Ophelion #OrbitCulture #Oromet #Panopticon #ParadiseLost #PedestalForLeviathan #PerditionTemple #PetrifiedGiant #PhantomSpell #PrimitiveMan #Proscription #Psychonaut #PupilSlicer #Puteraeon #Qrixkuor #Revocation #SallowMoth #Saor #ShadowOfIntent #ShayferJames #ShedTheSkin #Sigh #SoldSoul #Species #Spiritbox #Starscourge #SteelArctus #StevenWilson #Strigiform #Structure #Suncraft #Suotana #Teitanblood #TheAMGStaffPickTheirTopTenIshOf2025 #TheMidnight #Thron #Thumos #Turian #ÜltraRaptör #Urn #VenomousEchoes #VictimOfFire #Walg #Wardruna #WeepingSores #WyattE #WytchHazel #YellowEyes #Yellowcard #ZéroAbsolu -
Stuck in the Filter: August 2025’s Angry Misses
By Kenstrosity
The heat persists, but now the humidity comes in full force as storm systems wreak havoc upon the coasts. I hide in my cramped closet of an office, lest I be washed out once again by an unsuspecting deluge. However, I still send my minions out into the facility, bound by duty to search for those metallic scraps on which we feast.
Fortuitously, most all of those imps I sent out came back alive, and with wares! BEHOLD!
Kenstrosity’s Galactic Gremlin
Silent Millenia // Celestial Twilight: Beyond the Crimson Veil [August 26th, 2025 – Self-Release]
Have you ever seen such a delightfully cheesy cover? Probably, but it’s been a while for me. I bought Celestial Twilight: Beyond the Crimson Veil, the second raw symphonic black metal opus from Finnish one-man act Silent Millenia, on the strength of the artwork alone. Little did I know that what lay beyond this crimson veil was some of the most fun melodic black metal this side of Moonlight Sorcery. The same low-fi roughness that personifies Old Nick’s work grounds Silent Millenia’s starbound songwriting as it traverses the universe with an energetic punch reminiscent of Emperor or Stormkeep (“Awaken the Celestial Spell,” “Daemonic Mastery”). To help differentiate Silent Millenia’s sound from that of their peers, a gothic atmosphere ensorcells much of this material to great effect, merging eerie Victorian melodies with galactic adventurism in an unlikely pair (“Enthrone the Spectral”). Swirling synths and sparkling twinkles abound as well, creating blissful moments of interest as frosty tremolos and piercing blasts take full advantage of the false sense of security those entrancing clouds of synthetic instrumentation create (“Benighted Path to Darkness Mysterium,” “Reign in Cosmic Majesty”). Simply put, Celestial Twilight is an unexpected gem of a symphonic black metal record, bursting with killer ideas and infinite levels of raw, unabashed fun. You should hear it!
Kronos’ Unexpected Unearthments
Street Sects // Dry Drunk [August 15th, 2025 – Self Release]
Dry Drunk sticks to your inner surfaces, draining down like cigarette tar along paralyzed cilia to pool in your lungs until the cells themselves foment rebellion. Once it’s in you, you feel paranoid, wretched, and alone. So it’s the proper follow-up to Street Sects’ visionary debut, End Position. Like that record, Dry Drunk plumbs the most mundane and unsavory gutters of America for a cast of protagonists that it dwells in or dispatches with a mixture of pity and disgust, with vocalist Leo Ashline narrating their violent crimes and self-hatred in a mixture of croons, shrieks, and snarls that cook the air before the speakers into the scent of booze and rotten teeth. And like that record, Shaun Ringsmuth (Glassing) dresses the sets with a fractal litter of snaps, squeals, crashes, gunshots, and grinding electronics, caked in tar and collapsing just as soon as it is swept into a structure. And like End Position, Dry Drunk is a masterpiece. The impeccable six-song stretch from “Love Makes You Fat” through “Riding the Clock” ties you to the bumper and drags you along some of the duo’s most creative side-roads, through the simmering, straightjacketed sludge of “Baker Act” to the chopped-up, smirking electronica of “Eject Button.” Swerving between addled, unintelligible agony and unforgettable anthems, Dry Drunk, like End Position before it is nothing less than the life of a junkie scraped together, heated on a spoon, and injected into your head. Once you’ve taken a hit, you will never be quite the same.
Thus Spoke’s Frightening Fragments
Defacement // Doomed [August 22nd, 2025 – Self Release]
There’s music for every vibe.1 The one Defacement fits is an exclusively extreme metal flavor of moody that is only appreciable by genre fans, made tangibly more eerie by their persistent idiosyncratic use of dark ambient interludes amidst the viciously distorted blackened death. Audiences—and reviewers—tend to disparage these electronic segments, but I’ve always felt their crackling presence increases the analog horror of it all, and rather than being a breather from the intensity, they prolong the nausea, the sense of emptiness, and the abject fearfulness of head-based trauma. This latter concept grows more metaphorical still on Doomed, where the violence is inside the mind, purpose-erasing, and emotionally-detaching. The ambience might be the most sadly beautiful so far (“Mournful,” and “Clouded” especially), and the transitions into nightmarish heaviness arguably the most fluid. And the metal is undoubtedly the most ambitious, dynamic, and magnificent of Defacement’s career, combining their most gruesome dissonance (“Portrait”) with their most bizarrely exuberant guitar melodies (“Unexplainable,” “Unrecognised”). Solos drip tangibly with (emotional) resonance (“Unexplainable,” “Absent”) and there’s not a breath or a moment of wasted space. Yes, the band’s heavier side can suffer from a nagging sense of homogeneous mass, but it remains transporting. While I can appreciate why others do not appreciate Defacement, this is the first of their outings I can truthfully say mesmerised me on first listen.
ClarkKent’s Heated Hymns
Phantom Fire // Phantom Fire [August 8th, 2025 – Edged Circle Productions]
While I waded through the murky depths of the August promo sump, Steel implored me to take the eponymous third album from Phantom Fire. “The AMG commentariat love blackened heavy metal,” he said. I disregarded his advice at my peril, and while I ended up enjoying what I grabbed, it turns out this would have been solid too. Featuring members from Enslaved, Kraków. Hellbutcher, and Aeternus, Phantom Fire play old school speed metal that harks back to the likes of Motörhead and Iron Maiden’s Killers. Thanks to healthy doses of bass and production values that allow the instruments to shine, each song is infused with energetic grooves. The music sounds fresh, crisp, and clear, from the booming drums to Eld’s “blackened” snarls. Early tracks “Eternal Void” and “All For None” show off the catchy blend of simple guitar riffs and a hoppin’ bass accompanied by energetic kit work. While placing a somewhat lengthy instrumental track in the middle of a record usually slows it down, “Fatal Attraction” turns out to be a highlight. It tells a tragic love story involving a motorcycle with nothing but instruments, an engine revving, and some police sirens. The second half of Phantom Fire gets a bit on the weirder side, turning to some stoner and psychedelia. There’s a push and pull between the stoner and Motörhead speed stuff on songs like “Malphas” and “Submersible Pt. 2,” and this blend actually works pretty well. It turns out that they aren’t phantom after all—these guys are truly fire.
Burning Witches // Inquisition [August 22nd, 2025 – Napalm Records]
With six albums in eight years, Swiss quintet Burning Witches has really been burning rubber. While such prolific output in such a short time frame generally spells trouble, Inquisition is a solid piece of heavy/power metal. Burning Witches dabbles in a mix of speedy power metal and mid-tempo heavy metal, often sounding like ’80s stalwarts Judas Priest and Def Leppard. With Laura Guldemond’s gruff voice, they produce a more weighty, less happy version of power metal than the likes of Fellowship or Frozen Crown. While the songs stick to formulaic structures, tempo shifts from song to song help keep things from growing stale. We see this variety right from the get-go, where “Soul Eater” takes a high-energy approach before moving into the more mellow “Shame.” There’s even a pretty solid ballad, “Release Me,” that grounds the back half of the record. Songs of the sort that Burning Witches write need catchy choruses, and fortunately, they deliver. “High Priestess of the Night” is a particular standout, delivering a knock-out punch in its delivery. It helps that the instrumental parts are well-executed, from crunchy riffs to subdued solos to booming blast beats. Anyone looking for a solid bit of power metal that’s not too heavy on the cheese will find this worth a listen.
Deathhammer // Crimson Dawn [August 29th, 2025 – Hells Headbangers Records]
Celebrating 20 years of blackened speed, Deathhammer drop LP number six with the kind of energy that exhausted parents dread to see in their children at bedtime. This is my first foray with the band, and I am in awe of the relentless level of manic energy they keep throughout Crimson Dawn’s 39 minutes. If science could learn how to harness their energy, we’d have an endless source of renewables. The two-piece out of Norway channels classic Slayer on crack and even has moments reminiscent of Painkiller-era Judas Priest. They play non-stop thrash cranked to 11, with persistent blast beats and some dual guitar parts that leave your head spinning from the rapid-fire directions the riffs fire off in. The heart of the mania is singer Sergeant Salsten. His crazed vocals are amazing—snarling, shouting, and shrieking in a way that took me back to the manic pitch Judge Doom could reach in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? He sings so fast that on the chorus of “Crimson Dawn,” it sounds like he says “Griffindor,” which had me searching confusedly for the Harry Potter tag. This was probably my favorite song, not just because of the Griffindor thing, but because that chorus is so catchy. Either way, it’s tough to pick a standout track because they all grip you by the throat and don’t let go. Crimson Dawn is a ton of fun and a must listen if you like your music fast.
Grin Reaper’s Bountiful Blight
Kallias // Digital Plague [August 14th, 2025 – Self Release]
Machine gun drumming, spacey synths, Morbid Angel-meets-Meshuggah riffing, Turian-esque barking and Voyager-reminiscent vocal melodies…what the fuck is going on here? The only thing more surprising than someone having the moxie to blend all these things together is how well they work in concert. Kallias doesn’t hold back on sophomore album Digital Plague, and the result is a rocket-fueled blast through forty-four minutes of eclectic, addictive prog. The mishmash of styles keeps the album fresh and unpredictable while never dipping its toes in inconsistent waters, and staccato rhythms propel listeners through eight tracks without losing steam. As with any prog metal worth its salt, Kallias brandishes technical prowess, and their cohesion belies the relatively short time they’ve been putting out music.2 The mix is well-suited to spotlight whoever needs it at a given time, whether the bass is purring (“Exogíini Kyriarchía”), the drums are being annihilated (“Pyrrhic Victory”), or a guitar solo nears Pettrucian wankery (“Phenomenal in Theory”). The end result is three-quarters of an hour filled with myriad influences that fuse into a sound all Kallias’s own, and it’s one I’ve returned to several times since discovering (also, credit to MontDoom for his stunning artwork, which helped initially draw my attention). Check it out—you’ll be sick if you avoid this one like the Plague.
Luke’s Kaleidoscopic Kicks
Giant Haze // Cosmic Mother [August 22nd, 2025 – Tonzonen Records]
Whereas many of my colleagues are bracing themselves for cooler conditions and harsh winters to come, in my neck of the woods, things are warming up. While my own wintry August filter proved scarce, there was one particular summery gem to lift moods with burly riffs and fat stoner grooves. Unheralded German act Giant Haze seemingly emerged out of nowhere during a random Bandcamp deep dive. Debut LP Cosmic Mother channels the good old days of ’90s-inspired desert rock, featuring grungy, doomy vibes via a groovy batch of riff-centric, hard-rocking and uplifting jams, evoking the nostalgic spirit of Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Clutch and perhaps even a dash of Danzig. Punching out raucous, groove-soaked hard rockers with skyscraping hooks (“Geographic Gardens Suck,” “King of Tomorrow,” “Panic to Ride”), summery, funk–psych jams (“Sunrise”), and bluesy, punk-infused fireballs (“Crank in Public,” “Shrink Age”) Giant Haze get a lot of things right on this assured debut. The songwriting is deceptively diverse and punchy, bolstered by solid production, tight musicianship, and the swaggering, ever so slightly goofy vocal charms and powerful hooks of frontman Christoph Wollmann. Inevitably, a few rough spots appear, but overall Cosmic Mother showcases oodles of budding potential, an impactful delivery, cheeky sense of humor, and infectious, feel-good songcraft.
Spicie Forrest’s Foraged Fruit
Bask // The Turning [August 22nd, 2025 – Season of Mist]
Last seen in 2019, Bask returns with fourth LP, The Turning, a concept album following The Rider as she and The Traveler traverse the stars. They still peddle the unique blend of stoner rock and Americana Kenstrosity reviewed favorably in 2019, but 2025 sees them looking up for inspiration. The Turning incorporates a distinct cosmic bent (“The Traveler,” “The Turning”) and post-rock structures (“Dig My Heels,” “Unwound”). These augmentations to Bask’s core sound are enhanced by the masterful pedal steel of new official member Jed Willis. Whether floating through the firmament or tilling earthly pastures, Willis creates textures both fresh and intensely nostalgic. The infinite shifting vistas of The Turning’s front half coalesce into singular timeless visions on the back half, supporting its conceptual nature in both content and form. Like a combination of Huntsmen and Somali Yacht Club, Bask weaves riffs and melodies heard across the plains and through the void above with an unguarded authenticity felt in your soul.
Dolphin Whisperer’s Disseminating Discharge
Plasmodulated // An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell [August 1st, 2025 – Personal Records]
Stinky, sticky, slimy—all adjectives that define the ideal death metal platter. Myk Colby has been trying to chase this perfect balance in a reverb-wonky package with projects like the d-beaten Hot Graves and extra hazy Wharflurch, but vile death metal balance is hard to achieve. However, An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell contains a recklessly pinched Demilichian riffage, classic piercing whammy bombs, and spook-minded synth ambience that places Plasmodulated with an odor more pungent than its peers. With an infected ear that festers equally with doom-loaded, Incantation-indebted drags (“Gelatinous Mutation ov Brewed Origin,” “Trapped in the Plasmovoid”) and Voivod-on-jenkem cutaways to foul-throated extravagence (“The Final Fuckening”). An air of intelligent tempo design keeps An Ocean from never feeling trapped in a maze of its own fumes, with Colby’s lush and bubbling synth design seguing tumbles into hammering deathly tremolo runs (“Such Rapid Sphacelation”) and Celtic Frosted riff tumbles (“Drowning in Sputum”) alike, all before swirling about his own tattered, trailing vocal sputters. Steady but slippery, elegant yet effluvial, An Ocean ov Putrid, Stinky, Vile, Disgusting Hell provides the necessary noxious pressure to corrode death metal-loving denizens into pure gloops of stained-denim pit worship. Delivered as labeled, Plasmodulated earns its hazardous declaration. We here at AMG are not liable for any OSHA violations that occur as a result of Plasmodulated consumption on the job, though.
#2025 #Aeternus #AmericanMetal #Americana #AnOceanOvPutridStinkyVileDisgustingHell #Aug25 #Bask #BlackMetal #BlackenedDeathMetal #BurningWitches #CelestialTwilightBeyondTheCrimsonVeil #CelticFrost #Clutch #CosmicMother #CrimsonDawn #Danzig #DarkAmbient #DeathMetal #Deathhammer #DefLeppard #Defacement #Demilich #DigitalPlague #Doomed #DryDrunk #DutchMetal #EdgedCircleProductions #Emperor #Enslaved #Fellship #FinnishMetal #FrozenCrown #FuManchu #GermanMetal #GiantHaze #Glassing #Hardcore #HeavyMetal #Hellbutcher #HellsHeadbangersRecords #HotGraves #Huntsmen #Incantation #Inquisition #IronMaiden #JudasPriest #Kallias #Kraków #Kyuss #MelodicBlackMetal #Meshuggah #MoonlightSorcery #MorbidAngel #Motörhead #NapalmRecords #NorwegianMetal #OldNick #PersonalRecords #PhantomFire #Plasmodulated #PowerMetal #ProgressiveDeathMetal #RawBlackMetal #Review #Reviews #SelfRelease #SilentMillenia #Slayer #Sludge #SludgeMetal #SomaliYachtClub #SpeedMetal #StonerRock #Stormkeep #StreetSects #StuckInTheFilter #StuckInTheFilter2025 #SwissMetal #SymphonicBlackMetal #TechnicalDeathMetal #TheTurning #TonzonenRecords #Turian #Voivod #Voyager #Wharflurch
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The year is 2058. Humans are no longer the most intelligent beings on the planet.
Humanity is on the brink of insignificance, and Gordon Campbell had no small role in that. Now he's looking to escape from it...
Visit https://jturiano.com for more on the book.
#newbookalert #newbook #scifibooks -
Triangle Event Guide September 10, 2026 Edition
Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and across the Triangle on Thursday, September 10, 2026? Thursday’s lineup includes Hopscotch Day Parties, free live music, community gatherings, games, and a special screening of Steel Magnolias celebrating Dolly Parton.
From a morning history tour in Raleigh to evening jazz in Cary and Hillsborough, this Triangle event guide offers plenty of ways to fill the day.
All-Day Events and Morning Activities
Wii Game Day
All day | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh | Free
Add some gaming to Thursday with Wii Game Day at Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company.Stammtisch: German Community Night
All day | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Gather for German community night, featuring steins of German beers for pint prices. Beverage purchases are extra.Hopscotch Day Parties
All day | Various locations
Explore the day-party lineup during Hopscotch Music Festival. Locations, performance times, and admission details vary by event.Stroll Through History: Free Cemetery Tours
10–11 a.m. | Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh | Free
Start the morning with a guided history outing at Historic Oakwood Cemetery.Afternoon and Early Evening Events
Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day
4:30–5:30 p.m. | Parktown Food Hub, Durham | Free
A community food distribution opportunity at Parktown Food Hub.Paws and Rec Kick-Off Social
6–7 p.m. | Apex Community Park, Apex | Free
Join the Paws and Rec kick-off gathering at Apex Community Park.Storytelling Open Mic
6–8 p.m. | The Common Market, Durham | Free
Spend the evening listening to stories at Common Market Durham’s storytelling open mic.Durham Beer and Banjos
6–8 p.m. | Old Mill Farm, Durham | Free
Head to Old Mill Farm for an evening of music.Vinyl Nights
6–9 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham | Free
Enjoy a vinyl-focused evening at Gizmo’s Durham location.NC Run Club
6–9 p.m. | Bottle Theory, Apex | Free
Connect with fellow runners during NC Run Club at Bottle Theory.Live Music at Bearded Bee Brewing Company
6 p.m. | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell | Free
Make Wendell part of the evening with live music at Bearded Bee.Movies, Music, and Games Starting at 7 P.M.
Steel Magnolias: Free Tribute Screening Celebrating Dolly Parton
7 p.m. | The Carolina Theatre, Durham | Free
Catch a screening of Steel Magnolias honoring Dolly Parton.Music Bingo
7–9 p.m. | Fortnight Brewing, Cary | Free
Put song recognition skills to the test during music bingo.PineCone Old-Time Music Jam
7–9 p.m. | Riparian Provision Co., Raleigh | Free
Enjoy an evening centered on old-time music with PineCone’s jam at Riparian Provision Company.Opinionation
7–9 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh | Free
Gather a group for Opinionation at Gizmo’s Raleigh location.Durham Gathers to Remember: 25th Anniversary of 9/11 — Mozart Requiem
7:30 p.m. | Durham Armory, Durham | Free
Attend a remembrance event featuring Mozart’s Requiem ahead of the September 11 anniversary.Unisong: Guided Song Circle
7:45–9 p.m. | Current Wellness, Raleigh | Free
Join a guided song circle at Current Wellness.Late-Night Triangle Entertainment
Thursday Jazz
8–10 p.m. | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, Hillsborough | Free
Spend Thursday evening enjoying jazz in Hillsborough.Air Hockey Tournament
8–10 p.m. | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham | Free
Bring a competitive streak to Boxcar’s air hockey tournament.Jazz: The Session
8–11 p.m. | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary | Free
Settle in for an evening of jazz at Bond Brothers Eastside.Cosmic Cantina Karaoke
8–11:59 p.m. | Cosmic Cantina, Chapel Hill | Free
Take the microphone or enjoy the performances during karaoke night.Skee Ball Tournament
9–11 p.m. | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh | Free
Close out the evening with a Skee Ball tournament in Raleigh.Karaoke Hosted by Empress
9 p.m. | Speakeasy, Carrboro | Free
Head to Carrboro for a night of karaoke hosted by Empress.Plan Your Thursday in the Triangle
With 21 listings marked free, Thursday offers plenty of affordable options across Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Cary, Wendell, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro.
Confirm schedules, registration requirements, and age restrictions with organizers before heading out. Free admission does not necessarily include food, beverages, or other purchases.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
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#ApexEvents #CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillEvents #DoRaleigh #DurhamEvents #events #FreeThingsToDo #HillsboroughEvents #HopscotchDayParties #Karaoke #LiveMusic #News #RaleighEvents #September102026 #TriangleEvents #WendellEvents -
Triangle Event Guide Wednesday September 9th Edition
Wednesday brings a full lineup of free and affordable things to do across the Triangle, from live music and family activities to dance lessons, craft nights, and community gatherings. This September 9, 2026, Triangle event guide covers Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Carrboro, and nearby communities.
Highlights include Patty Griffin at American Tobacco Campus, The Ray Band at Waverly Place, kids’ activities at Carrboro Farmers’ Market, and an evening of outdoor movement and music at Pullen Park.
All-Day Events
- Hopscotch Day Parties — All day at various locations. Check individual party schedules for venues, admission details, and performance times.
Morning Events and Family Activities
- Holly Springs Small Business Network — 9–10:30 a.m. at Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs. Free. Connect with other small business owners.
- Chapel Hill Food Distribution Event — 9:30 a.m. at Eubanks Road Park and Ride Lot, Chapel Hill. Free.
- Total Tot Time — 10 a.m.–noon at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham. Free. A play program for children ages 5 and younger.
Afternoon Events Around the Triangle
- Centennial SoundBites — Noon–1 p.m. at 321 Coffee on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Free.
- Board Game Night — Noon–10 p.m. at Gizmo Brew Works, Durham. Free.
- Market Bunch Kids’ Activities — 3–6 p.m. at Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Free.
- “Pay What You Can” Farm Stand — 4–7 p.m. at Raleigh City Farm. Free to attend; produce is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Early Evening: Live Music, Outdoor Activities and Community Events
- Wine Down Wednesday — 5–8 p.m. at La Vita Dolce at Southern Village, Chapel Hill. Free admission. Live music and wine specials; purchases cost extra.
- Sunset Music Series: The Ray Band — 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Waverly Place, Cary. Free.
- Acro Yoga at Pullen Park — 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Pullen Park, Raleigh. Free.
- Wine + Weed — 6–7 p.m. at Raleigh City Farm. Free. Learn about plants and farming.
- Poetry at The Plant — 6–7 p.m. at Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro. Free.
- Crokinole — 6–8 p.m. at Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest. Free.
- Durham Chess Club — 6–8:30 p.m. at Durham Food Hall. Free. Open to all ages and skill levels.
- Duke Arts at American Tobacco: Patty Griffin — 6:30 p.m. at American Tobacco Campus, Durham. Free.
- Bring Your Own Craft Night — 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh. Free.
- Crank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride — 6:30 p.m. at Crank Arm Brewing, Durham. Free.
Wednesday Night: Dancing, Trivia and Creative Meetups
- Cajun Dance Party — 7–9:30 p.m. at Lapin Bleu, Chapel Hill. Free. Includes a dance lesson and live music.
- Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam — 7–8:30 p.m. at Pullen Park, Raleigh. Free.
- Ballroom Dancing Social with Pullen Dance — 7–9 p.m. at Pullen Community Center, Raleigh. $5.
- Music Bingo — 7–9:30 p.m. at Growler Grlz, Durham. Free.
- Wednesday Singer/Songwriter Sessions — 7–10 p.m. at Speakeasy, Carrboro. Free.
- Stitch N’ Bitch Craft Night — 7–10 p.m. at Steel String Brewery, Carrboro. Free.
- DSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night — 7 p.m. at DSSOLVR Durham. Free.
- Trivia Night — 7 p.m. at Raleigh Beer Garden. Free.
- Salsa Night: Dance Lessons and Social — 7:30–11:30 p.m. at KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary. $10.
Late-Night Events and Open Mics
- Weekly Skee Ball Tournament — 8–10 p.m. at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham. Free.
- City Soul Cafe Open Mic — 8–11 p.m. at Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh. $10.
- Open Mic Night — 8 p.m. at Abbey Road Cary. Free.
- Beer Pong Tournament — 8:30–11 p.m. at Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh. Free.
Plan Your Wednesday Outing
Families can start with Total Tot Time in Durham or afternoon activities at Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Music fans have options in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, while Raleigh offers crafting, trivia, dancing, and outdoor activities into the evening.
Listings reflect the supplied event schedule. Confirm times, registration requirements, age restrictions, and weather updates with organizers before heading out. Free admission does not necessarily include food, drinks, supplies, or other purchases.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillEvents #DoRaleigh #DurhamEvents #events #FamilyActivities #FreeThingsToDo #HollySpringsEvents #LiveMusic #News #PittsboroEvents #RaleighEvents #September2026 #TriangleEvents #WakeForestEvents #WednesdayEvents -
Triangle Event Guide Wednesday September 9th Edition
Wednesday brings a full lineup of free and affordable things to do across the Triangle, from live music and family activities to dance lessons, craft nights, and community gatherings. This September 9, 2026, Triangle event guide covers Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Carrboro, and nearby communities.
Highlights include Patty Griffin at American Tobacco Campus, The Ray Band at Waverly Place, kids’ activities at Carrboro Farmers’ Market, and an evening of outdoor movement and music at Pullen Park.
All-Day Events
- Hopscotch Day Parties — All day at various locations. Check individual party schedules for venues, admission details, and performance times.
Morning Events and Family Activities
- Holly Springs Small Business Network — 9–10:30 a.m. at Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs. Free. Connect with other small business owners.
- Chapel Hill Food Distribution Event — 9:30 a.m. at Eubanks Road Park and Ride Lot, Chapel Hill. Free.
- Total Tot Time — 10 a.m.–noon at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham. Free. A play program for children ages 5 and younger.
Afternoon Events Around the Triangle
- Centennial SoundBites — Noon–1 p.m. at 321 Coffee on NC State’s Centennial Campus. Free.
- Board Game Night — Noon–10 p.m. at Gizmo Brew Works, Durham. Free.
- Market Bunch Kids’ Activities — 3–6 p.m. at Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Free.
- “Pay What You Can” Farm Stand — 4–7 p.m. at Raleigh City Farm. Free to attend; produce is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Early Evening: Live Music, Outdoor Activities and Community Events
- Wine Down Wednesday — 5–8 p.m. at La Vita Dolce at Southern Village, Chapel Hill. Free admission. Live music and wine specials; purchases cost extra.
- Sunset Music Series: The Ray Band — 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Waverly Place, Cary. Free.
- Acro Yoga at Pullen Park — 5:30–8:30 p.m. at Pullen Park, Raleigh. Free.
- Wine + Weed — 6–7 p.m. at Raleigh City Farm. Free. Learn about plants and farming.
- Poetry at The Plant — 6–7 p.m. at Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro. Free.
- Crokinole — 6–8 p.m. at Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest. Free.
- Durham Chess Club — 6–8:30 p.m. at Durham Food Hall. Free. Open to all ages and skill levels.
- Duke Arts at American Tobacco: Patty Griffin — 6:30 p.m. at American Tobacco Campus, Durham. Free.
- Bring Your Own Craft Night — 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh. Free.
- Crank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride — 6:30 p.m. at Crank Arm Brewing, Durham. Free.
Wednesday Night: Dancing, Trivia and Creative Meetups
- Cajun Dance Party — 7–9:30 p.m. at Lapin Bleu, Chapel Hill. Free. Includes a dance lesson and live music.
- Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam — 7–8:30 p.m. at Pullen Park, Raleigh. Free.
- Ballroom Dancing Social with Pullen Dance — 7–9 p.m. at Pullen Community Center, Raleigh. $5.
- Music Bingo — 7–9:30 p.m. at Growler Grlz, Durham. Free.
- Wednesday Singer/Songwriter Sessions — 7–10 p.m. at Speakeasy, Carrboro. Free.
- Stitch N’ Bitch Craft Night — 7–10 p.m. at Steel String Brewery, Carrboro. Free.
- DSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night — 7 p.m. at DSSOLVR Durham. Free.
- Trivia Night — 7 p.m. at Raleigh Beer Garden. Free.
- Salsa Night: Dance Lessons and Social — 7:30–11:30 p.m. at KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary. $10.
Late-Night Events and Open Mics
- Weekly Skee Ball Tournament — 8–10 p.m. at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham. Free.
- City Soul Cafe Open Mic — 8–11 p.m. at Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh. $10.
- Open Mic Night — 8 p.m. at Abbey Road Cary. Free.
- Beer Pong Tournament — 8:30–11 p.m. at Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh. Free.
Plan Your Wednesday Outing
Families can start with Total Tot Time in Durham or afternoon activities at Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Music fans have options in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro, while Raleigh offers crafting, trivia, dancing, and outdoor activities into the evening.
Listings reflect the supplied event schedule. Confirm times, registration requirements, age restrictions, and weather updates with organizers before heading out. Free admission does not necessarily include food, drinks, supplies, or other purchases.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillEvents #DoRaleigh #DurhamEvents #events #FamilyActivities #FreeThingsToDo #HollySpringsEvents #LiveMusic #News #PittsboroEvents #RaleighEvents #September2026 #TriangleEvents #WakeForestEvents #WednesdayEvents -
Triangle Weekly Big Ticket Events Guide September 8–14, 2026
The Triangle’s entertainment calendar is packed with major concerts, comedy shows, music festivals and family performances from Tuesday, September 8, through Monday, September 14.
This week’s highlights include Hayley Williams, Air Supply, The Marcus King Band, Staind, Seether, Hoobastank, Hinder, Babymetal, Halestorm, Laurie Berkner and three days of the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh. More than 40 events are scheduled across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Cary and surrounding communities.
Big Ticket Highlights
Among the biggest Triangle events to watch this week:
- Hayley Williams at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- Hopscotch Music Festival in downtown Raleigh
- Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- The Marcus King Band at Red Hat Amphitheater
- Air Supply at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
- Babymetal, Halestorm and Violent Vira at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- Laurie Berkner at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Multiple performances from comedian Sabrina Wu
Tuesday, September 8
Classic Country Jubilee
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Venue: Rudy Theatre
- Location: Selma, NC
Rum Jungle
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Wednesday, September 9
Hayley Williams
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Willow Avalon
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Southpaw
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Thursday, September 10
Hopscotch Music Festival—Thursday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Suzanne Lambert
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Anna Graves
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Gavin Kelly
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, September 11
Hopscotch Music Festival—Friday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Yonder Mountain String Band
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard
- Location: Raleigh, NC
The Marcus King Band
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Red Hat Amphitheater
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Times: 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Electric Feels
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Ritz
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Ramona & the Holy Smokes
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Shearling
- Time: 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Devault
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Venue: The Fruit
- Location: Durham, NC
Grabbitz
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Venue: Aura Lounge & Nightclub
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Saturday, September 12
Hopscotch Music Festival—Saturday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Classic Country Jubilee
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Venue: Rudy Theatre
- Location: Selma, NC
The Malpass Brothers
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Liberty Showcase Theater
- Location: Liberty, NC
Air Supply
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Times: 7:30 and 10 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Scythian
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Rialto Theater
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Bring Out Yer Dead
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Horizon
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Swimming Paul
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Venue: The Fruit
- Location: Durham, NC
Sunday, September 13
Laurie Berkner
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
- Location: Cary, NC
The Manhattans & Gerald Alston
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
- Location: Henderson, NC
Thron-Larkin Duo
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: Halle Cultural Arts Center
- Location: Apex, NC
Sparta
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Stanczyks
- Location: Durham, NC
Babymetal, Halestorm and Violent Vira
- Time: 7:20 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Wind Walkers
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Motorco Music Hall
- Location: Durham, NC
Alex Cameron
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Two Runner
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Monday, September 14
Devon Gilfillian
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Black Marble
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Kings
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Missouri Executive Order 44
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Acopia
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Plan Your Week of Triangle Entertainment
Whether you are looking for an amphitheater concert, an intimate club performance, stand-up comedy, independent music or family entertainment, this week offers options throughout the Triangle and beyond.
Popular shows may sell out. Verify performance times, ticket availability, age restrictions, parking information and venue policies before heading out.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for everything Raleigh—and the biggest events happening across the Triangle.
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#AirSupply #Babymetal #CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillConcerts #DurhamConcerts #events #Halestorm #HayleyWilliams #HopscotchMusicFestival #liveMusicRaleigh #News #RaleighConcerts #SabrinaWu #TriangleBigTicketEventsGuide #TriangleComedyShows #TriangleEvents #weekendEventsRaleigh -
Triangle Weekly Big Ticket Events Guide September 8–14, 2026
The Triangle’s entertainment calendar is packed with major concerts, comedy shows, music festivals and family performances from Tuesday, September 8, through Monday, September 14.
This week’s highlights include Hayley Williams, Air Supply, The Marcus King Band, Staind, Seether, Hoobastank, Hinder, Babymetal, Halestorm, Laurie Berkner and three days of the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh. More than 40 events are scheduled across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Cary and surrounding communities.
Big Ticket Highlights
Among the biggest Triangle events to watch this week:
- Hayley Williams at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- Hopscotch Music Festival in downtown Raleigh
- Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- The Marcus King Band at Red Hat Amphitheater
- Air Supply at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
- Babymetal, Halestorm and Violent Vira at Coastal Credit Union Music Park
- Laurie Berkner at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Multiple performances from comedian Sabrina Wu
Tuesday, September 8
Classic Country Jubilee
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Venue: Rudy Theatre
- Location: Selma, NC
Rum Jungle
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Wednesday, September 9
Hayley Williams
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Willow Avalon
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Southpaw
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Thursday, September 10
Hopscotch Music Festival—Thursday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Suzanne Lambert
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Anna Graves
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Gavin Kelly
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Friday, September 11
Hopscotch Music Festival—Friday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Staind, Seether, Hoobastank and Hinder
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Yonder Mountain String Band
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Venue: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard
- Location: Raleigh, NC
The Marcus King Band
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Red Hat Amphitheater
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Times: 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Electric Feels
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Ritz
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Ramona & the Holy Smokes
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Shearling
- Time: 8:30 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Devault
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Venue: The Fruit
- Location: Durham, NC
Grabbitz
- Time: 10 p.m.
- Venue: Aura Lounge & Nightclub
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Saturday, September 12
Hopscotch Music Festival—Saturday
- Venue: Hopscotch Music Festival
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Classic Country Jubilee
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- Venue: Rudy Theatre
- Location: Selma, NC
The Malpass Brothers
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Liberty Showcase Theater
- Location: Liberty, NC
Air Supply
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Times: 7:30 and 10 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Scythian
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Rialto Theater
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Bring Out Yer Dead
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Horizon
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Swimming Paul
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Venue: The Fruit
- Location: Durham, NC
Sunday, September 13
Laurie Berkner
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
- Location: Cary, NC
The Manhattans & Gerald Alston
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
- Location: Henderson, NC
Thron-Larkin Duo
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Venue: Halle Cultural Arts Center
- Location: Apex, NC
Sparta
- Time: 7 p.m.
- Venue: Stanczyks
- Location: Durham, NC
Babymetal, Halestorm and Violent Vira
- Time: 7:20 p.m.
- Venue: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Sabrina Wu
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Room 861 at Goodnights Comedy Club
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Wind Walkers
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Motorco Music Hall
- Location: Durham, NC
Alex Cameron
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Two Runner
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Monday, September 14
Devon Gilfillian
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Cat’s Cradle Back Room
- Location: Carrboro, NC
Black Marble
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Kings
- Location: Raleigh, NC
Missouri Executive Order 44
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: Local 506
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Acopia
- Time: 8 p.m.
- Venue: The Pinhook
- Location: Durham, NC
Plan Your Week of Triangle Entertainment
Whether you are looking for an amphitheater concert, an intimate club performance, stand-up comedy, independent music or family entertainment, this week offers options throughout the Triangle and beyond.
Popular shows may sell out. Verify performance times, ticket availability, age restrictions, parking information and venue policies before heading out.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for everything Raleigh—and the biggest events happening across the Triangle.
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#AirSupply #Babymetal #CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillConcerts #DurhamConcerts #events #Halestorm #HayleyWilliams #HopscotchMusicFestival #liveMusicRaleigh #News #RaleighConcerts #SabrinaWu #TriangleBigTicketEventsGuide #TriangleComedyShows #TriangleEvents #weekendEventsRaleigh -
Triangle Event Guide Tuesday September 8, 2026
Looking for things to do across the Triangle on Tuesday? The September 8 lineup includes affordable movies, museum tours, yoga, live art, run clubs, chess, crafts, trivia, bluegrass music and karaoke.
Most of today’s activities are free, with options in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Wendell.
All-Day Tuesday Deals
Discounted Movies at The Lumina Theater
Catch a movie for less at The Lumina Theater in Southern Village, where every Tuesday ticket costs just $6.25.
- Time: All day
- Cost: $6.25
- Location: The Lumina Theater, Chapel Hill
Tuesday Toss at Der Nachbar
Roll the dice and let chance decide which draft beer you can purchase for $5 during Tuesday Toss.
- Time: All day
- Cost: Discounted
- Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Classes, Art and Wellness
Computer Refresher for Mature Adults
Mature adults can strengthen their computer skills during this free refresher course. Registration is required, and space is limited.
- Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham
“Reflections” Public Tour
Explore the “Reflections” exhibition during a free guided public tour at the Nasher Museum of Art.
- Time: 2–3:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Nasher Museum of Art, Durham
Evening Yoga Class and Garden Stroll
Enjoy an evening yoga class followed by time to explore the gardens at JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Time: 4:30–7:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh
Artist in Residence Series
Watch live artmaking during the Artist in Residence Series at the JB Duke Hotel.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: JB Duke Hotel, Durham
Free Yoga in Durham Central Park
Bring a mat and unwind with a free outdoor yoga class in the heart of downtown Durham.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Durham Central Park
Free Line Dancing Class
Learn new steps and enjoy an active evening during a free line dancing class in Hillsborough.
- Time: 6–7 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: The Snow Approach, Hillsborough
Run Clubs and Community Activities
Durham Chess Enthusiasts
Chess players of varying experience levels can meet for casual games and friendly competition.
- Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Run, Sweat, Beers Run Club
Join fellow runners for an evening group run followed by a social gathering at Growler Grlz.
- Time: 6–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Growler Grlz, Durham
Bond Brothers Run Club
Meet local runners for a free Tuesday evening run in downtown Cary.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary
Chess Club in Wendell
Make your next move during the weekly Chess Club gathering at Bearded Bee Brewing Company.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Crafts, Games and Nightlife
Adult Coloring Night
Relax, grab your favorite colors and spend the evening creating during Adult Coloring Night.
- Time: 6–10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham
Poker Night
Test your poker skills during a free evening of cards at KōMANA Brewing Company.
- Time: 6–10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary
Craft and Draft Tuesdays
Bring a craft project or discover something creative while enjoying the community atmosphere at Crank Arm Brewing Company.
- Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh
Beer & Banjos in Raleigh
Enjoy live bluegrass music during the Raleigh edition of Beer & Banjos.
- Time: 6:30–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh
Bounce and Brews DJ Night
Spend Tuesday night listening to music during Bounce and Brews DJ Night at Gizmo Brew Works.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Gizmo Brew Works, Durham
Jeopardy! Bar League Trivia
Put your knowledge to the test during a Jeopardy-inspired evening of bar league trivia.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Edit Beer Co., Raleigh
Beer & Banjos in Carrboro
Carrboro’s Beer & Banjos gathering offers another opportunity to enjoy free live bluegrass music Tuesday night.
- Time: 7–9:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Speakeasy, Carrboro
Karaoke Night
Close out Tuesday by singing your favorite songs during Karaoke Night at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
- Time: 8–11 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
Plan Your Tuesday in the Triangle
Whether you want to exercise, make art, play games, hear live music or enjoy an inexpensive movie, Tuesday offers plenty of reasons to explore the Triangle.
Event information may change. Confirm schedules, registration requirements and availability with each venue before attending.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillEvents #DurhamEvents #events #freeTriangleEvents #HillsboroughEvents #News #RaleighEvents #ThingsToDoInDurham #thingsToDoInRaleigh #TriangleEvents #TuesdayEvents #WendellEvents -
Triangle Event Guide Tuesday September 8, 2026
Looking for things to do across the Triangle on Tuesday? The September 8 lineup includes affordable movies, museum tours, yoga, live art, run clubs, chess, crafts, trivia, bluegrass music and karaoke.
Most of today’s activities are free, with options in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Carrboro, Hillsborough and Wendell.
All-Day Tuesday Deals
Discounted Movies at The Lumina Theater
Catch a movie for less at The Lumina Theater in Southern Village, where every Tuesday ticket costs just $6.25.
- Time: All day
- Cost: $6.25
- Location: The Lumina Theater, Chapel Hill
Tuesday Toss at Der Nachbar
Roll the dice and let chance decide which draft beer you can purchase for $5 during Tuesday Toss.
- Time: All day
- Cost: Discounted
- Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Classes, Art and Wellness
Computer Refresher for Mature Adults
Mature adults can strengthen their computer skills during this free refresher course. Registration is required, and space is limited.
- Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham
“Reflections” Public Tour
Explore the “Reflections” exhibition during a free guided public tour at the Nasher Museum of Art.
- Time: 2–3:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Nasher Museum of Art, Durham
Evening Yoga Class and Garden Stroll
Enjoy an evening yoga class followed by time to explore the gardens at JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Time: 4:30–7:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh
Artist in Residence Series
Watch live artmaking during the Artist in Residence Series at the JB Duke Hotel.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: JB Duke Hotel, Durham
Free Yoga in Durham Central Park
Bring a mat and unwind with a free outdoor yoga class in the heart of downtown Durham.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Durham Central Park
Free Line Dancing Class
Learn new steps and enjoy an active evening during a free line dancing class in Hillsborough.
- Time: 6–7 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: The Snow Approach, Hillsborough
Run Clubs and Community Activities
Durham Chess Enthusiasts
Chess players of varying experience levels can meet for casual games and friendly competition.
- Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Run, Sweat, Beers Run Club
Join fellow runners for an evening group run followed by a social gathering at Growler Grlz.
- Time: 6–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Growler Grlz, Durham
Bond Brothers Run Club
Meet local runners for a free Tuesday evening run in downtown Cary.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary
Chess Club in Wendell
Make your next move during the weekly Chess Club gathering at Bearded Bee Brewing Company.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Crafts, Games and Nightlife
Adult Coloring Night
Relax, grab your favorite colors and spend the evening creating during Adult Coloring Night.
- Time: 6–10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham
Poker Night
Test your poker skills during a free evening of cards at KōMANA Brewing Company.
- Time: 6–10 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary
Craft and Draft Tuesdays
Bring a craft project or discover something creative while enjoying the community atmosphere at Crank Arm Brewing Company.
- Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh
Beer & Banjos in Raleigh
Enjoy live bluegrass music during the Raleigh edition of Beer & Banjos.
- Time: 6:30–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh
Bounce and Brews DJ Night
Spend Tuesday night listening to music during Bounce and Brews DJ Night at Gizmo Brew Works.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Gizmo Brew Works, Durham
Jeopardy! Bar League Trivia
Put your knowledge to the test during a Jeopardy-inspired evening of bar league trivia.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Edit Beer Co., Raleigh
Beer & Banjos in Carrboro
Carrboro’s Beer & Banjos gathering offers another opportunity to enjoy free live bluegrass music Tuesday night.
- Time: 7–9:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Speakeasy, Carrboro
Karaoke Night
Close out Tuesday by singing your favorite songs during Karaoke Night at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
- Time: 8–11 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
Plan Your Tuesday in the Triangle
Whether you want to exercise, make art, play games, hear live music or enjoy an inexpensive movie, Tuesday offers plenty of reasons to explore the Triangle.
Event information may change. Confirm schedules, registration requirements and availability with each venue before attending.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!
Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin
Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page.
Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.Published by Bryan Tomlinson | BTDesigns.pro |
#CarrboroEvents #CaryEvents #ChapelHillEvents #DurhamEvents #events #freeTriangleEvents #HillsboroughEvents #News #RaleighEvents #ThingsToDoInDurham #thingsToDoInRaleigh #TriangleEvents #TuesdayEvents #WendellEvents -
Triangle Weekend Event Guide: Things to Do September 4–6, 2026
The first weekend of September brings festivals, outdoor movies, live music, markets, family activities and plenty of free things to do across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and the surrounding Triangle.
Weekend highlights include the African American Cultural Festival in downtown Raleigh, First Friday celebrations, Cary Public Safety Day, the Black Farmers’ Market, outdoor concerts and several community markets. Use this DoRaleigh Weekend Event Guide to start planning your September 4–6 adventures.
Friday, September 4, 2026
Kick off the weekend with First Friday festivities, free tastings, outdoor movies, concerts and community gatherings throughout the Triangle.
- Hardee’s 66-Cent Sausage Biscuit: Participating Hardee’s locations | $0.66
- Tasting at Ten: 10 a.m. | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham | Free
- Free Wine Tastings: 4:30–6:30 p.m. | Bottle Theory, Apex | Free
- First Friday Market & Movie: “Remember the Titans”: 5–9 p.m. | Moore Square, Raleigh | Free
- Friday Night Tasting Party: 5–7 p.m. | Weaver Street Market Raleigh | Free
- Fridays on the Front Porch: 5–8 p.m. | Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill | Free
- First Friday in Downtown Fuquay-Varina: 5–9 p.m. | Downtown Fuquay-Varina | Free
- Artspace First Friday: 5–10 p.m. | Artspace, Raleigh | Free
- One Tribe Drum Circle: 5:30–7 p.m. | Stone Houses at Dix Park, Raleigh | Free
- Wine Tasting with Jac Brown and Tryon Distributing: 5:30–7 p.m. | Taylor’s Wine Shop | Free
- Bands, Bites and Boats featuring My Cousin Skinny: 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Fred G. Bond Metro Park, Cary | Free
- First Friday with Live Music, Vendors and Food Trucks: 5:30–8:30 p.m. | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale | Free
- Live Music in the Beer Garden featuring Ian McMahan: 6–8 p.m. | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP | Free
- First Friday at Eno Arts Mill: 6–9 p.m. | Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough | Free
- First Friday with Little Raleigh Radio featuring The Veldt: 6–9 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum | Free
- Movie Night: “Hamilton”: 6–10 p.m. | Downtown Cary Park | Free
- PLAYlist Concert Series featuring Africa Unplugged: 6 p.m. | Durham Central Park | Free
- First Friday Gallery Walk: 6–9 p.m. | Various Raleigh locations | Free
- Live Music: 6–9 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh | Free
- Front Porch Friday: 6–10 p.m. | Haven Farm, Knightdale | Free
- First Friday Cemetery Tour: 6 p.m. | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh | $10
- Plant Bingo: 6:30 p.m. | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina | $5
- Raleigh International Folk Dancers: 6:30–10 p.m. | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh | Free
- First Friday Block Party: 7–11 p.m. | The Raleigh Times Bar | Free
- Karaoke Bingo Night: 7–11:55 p.m. | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary | Free
- Movie Night: 7 p.m. | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh | Free
- Michael Blakey Live: 8–10 p.m. | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough | Pay what you choose
- Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic: 8–11 p.m. | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham | Free
- Pub Karaoke: 10–11:59 p.m. | West 94th Street Pub, Durham | Free
Saturday, September 5, 2026Saturday’s schedule features the African American Cultural Festival, farmers’ markets, historic tours, family workshops, live music and cultural experiences.
Saturday Morning Events
- Museums on Us at Marbles Kids Museum: All day | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh | Free for eligible Bank of America customers and employees
- Hardee’s 66-Cent Sausage Biscuit: Participating Hardee’s locations | $0.66
- Carrboro Cookout: 7 a.m.–noon | Carrboro Farmers’ Market | Free
- Cars and Coffee Morrisville: 8–11 a.m. | Imperial Center, Durham | Free
- Visit Cow Sanctuary: 8 a.m.–noon | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill | $0–$25
- Durham Craft Market: 8 a.m.–noon | Durham Central Park | Free
- Home Depot Kids Workshop—School Bus Organizer: 9 a.m.–noon | The Home Depot, multiple locations | Free
- Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Days: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park, Siler City | $5
- The Raleigh Market: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh | Free
- Free Pickleball Class: 10–11:30 a.m. | NetSports, Morrisville | Free
- Youth Aviation Academy Program: 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | John Chavis Memorial Park, Raleigh | $10; registration required
- Black History Walking Tour: 10–11 a.m. | Pope House, Raleigh | $6–$10
- Saturday Slowdown Market and Open Farm Day: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | RambleRill Farm, Hillsborough | Free
- Open Farm: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill | $8
Saturday Afternoon Events
- Cary Public Safety Day: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Downtown Cary | Free
- African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | Fayetteville Street, downtown Raleigh | Free
- Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh | $6–$10; four departure times
- Guided Tours of the N.C. State Capitol: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh | Free
- The Market at NCMA: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh | Free
- Field and Factory Tour: 11:15 a.m. | Duke Homestead, Durham | Free
- Labor of Love Adoption Event: Noon–2 p.m. | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh | Free
- Come Out and Play Sculpture Show: Noon–7 p.m. | JimGin Farm | Free
- Mahjong 101: 1 p.m. | The Chapel at Dix Park, Raleigh | Free
- Carrboro Really Really Free Market: 2–4 p.m. | Carrboro Town Commons | Free
- Field and Factory Tour: 2:15 p.m. | Duke Homestead, Durham | Free
- Labor of Love Fest—Day Party and Concert: 4–9 p.m. | Black Wall Street, Durham | $10
Saturday Evening Events
- Live Music: 5–8 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh | Free
- Live Music Saturdays: 5–8 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham | Free
- Backroads Live: 6–9 p.m. | Durham Beer Garden | Free
- Live Music: 6–9 p.m. | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest | Free
- Live Music: 6:30–9 p.m. | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex | Free
- Live Music: 7 p.m. | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell | Free
- Karaoke: 7–10 p.m. | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham | Free
- Fall Film Series: “Zootopia 2”: 7:30 p.m. | Durham Central Park | Free
- The Dan Davis Group Live: 8–10 p.m. | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough | Pay what you choose
- Open Mic and Karaoke Night: 8–11 p.m. | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh | Free
Sunday, September 6, 2026Close out the weekend with brunch music, cultural markets, yoga, open mics and outdoor concerts across the Triangle.
Sunday Morning and Afternoon Events
- Museums on Us at Marbles Kids Museum: All day | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh | Free for eligible Bank of America customers and employees
- Hardee’s 66-Cent Sausage Biscuit: Participating Hardee’s locations | $0.66
- Visit Cow Sanctuary: 8 a.m.–noon | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill | $0–$25
- The Raleigh Market: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | N.C. State Fairgrounds, Raleigh | Free
- African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. | Fayetteville Street, downtown Raleigh | Free
- Sunday Morning Yoga: 10–11 a.m. | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh | Free
- Pop-Up ARTernative Market: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Chapel of Bones Coffee, Raleigh | Free
- Sunday Brunch Music: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Weaver Street Market, Carrboro | Free
- Cary Underground Market—Bands and Vendors: Noon–4 p.m. | Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary | Free
- Morgan Street Sessions: Noon–4 p.m. | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh | Free
- Pages and Pints with Finn and Ollie: 1–5 p.m. | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell | Free
- Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup: 1–3 p.m. | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary | Free
- Open Play American Mahjong: 1–3:30 p.m. | Hops & Flower, Durham | Free
- Black Farmers’ Market: 1–4 p.m. | Durham Technical Community College, main campus | Free
- Free Air Hockey Tournament: 1 p.m. | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh | Free
- Open Mic: 2–5 p.m. | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina | Free
- Open Mic Night: 3–6 p.m. | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh | Free
Sunday Evening Events
- Salsa in the Garden with DJ Synko: 4–7 p.m. | Durham Beer Garden | Free
- Beats & Bars Music Trivia: 4–9 p.m. | The Durham Hotel | Free
- Bluegrass Open Jam: 4–7 p.m. | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary | Free
- Wake Forest Unplugged: 5–7 p.m. | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest | Free
- Concerts in the Park featuring ACE Party Band: 5:30 p.m. | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest | Free
- Sunday Garner Community Drum Circle: 7–8:30 p.m. | Lake Benson Park, Garner | Free
- Sundays at Sundown Live Music: 7–9 p.m. | Southern Village, Chapel Hill | Free
Plan Your Triangle Weekend
Whether you are looking for a family-friendly festival, a free outdoor movie, live music, a farmers’ market or an evening out with friends, the Triangle offers plenty of choices this weekend.
Admission prices, schedules and event details may change. Check with the event organizer or venue before traveling, especially when advance registration may be required.
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Triangle Events Guide Thursday September 3rd Edition
Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and across the Triangle? Thursday, September 3, 2026, offers live music, community markets, educational programs, trivia, karaoke and several free activities.
Highlights include the Hip Hop Is Higher Education symposium at American Tobacco Campus, live music from Lakota John at Raleigh’s Gregg Museum, Durham Beer and Banjos, Science Trivia at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and late-night tournaments at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
All-Day Events and Food Deals
Stammtisch German Community Night
Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps hosts its Thursday Stammtisch gathering, featuring steins of German beer for pint prices.
- Time: All day
- Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham
Morning EventsSiler City History Club
Local history enthusiasts can gather for a free morning program at the Siler City Center for Active Living.
- Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Siler City Center for Active Living
Bilingual Storytime
The Nasher Museum of Art presents a free bilingual storytime for children and families.
- Time: 10:30–11 a.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Nasher Museum of Art, Durham
Afternoon EventHip Hop Is Higher Education Symposium
This free symposium explores hip-hop’s role in education, culture and community. The daylong event takes place at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus.
- Time: Noon–8 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: American Tobacco Campus, Durham
Thursday Evening EventsWendell Market
Shop from local vendors and enjoy the community atmosphere at Bearded Bee Brewing Company.
- Time: 5:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Live Music: Lakota John
Musician Lakota John performs a free concert at the Gregg Museum. Advance registration is required.
- Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free with registration
- Location: Gregg Museum, Raleigh
Live Music at Bearded Bee Brewing
The Wendell Market is followed by free live music at Bearded Bee Brewing Company.
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Unisong: Guided Song Circle
Participants can experience collaborative singing during this guided community song circle.
- Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: North Carolina Arts Incubator
Durham Beer and Banjos
Old Mill Farm hosts an evening combining live banjo music with a relaxed community atmosphere.
- Time: 6–8 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Old Mill Farm, Durham
Vinyl Nights
Music fans can spend the evening listening to records at Gizmo Brew Works in Durham.
- Time: 6–9 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Gizmo Brew Works, Durham
NC Run Club
Runners of different experience levels can meet for a community run and post-run gathering in Apex.
- Time: 6–9 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Bottle Theory, Apex
Raleigh Uke Jam
Ukulele players and music lovers are invited to join the Raleigh Uke Jam at Church of the Nativity.
- Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Church of the Nativity, Raleigh
Trivia, Games and Educational Programs
Science Trivia
Test your science knowledge during a free trivia competition at the Nature Research Center.
- Time: 7–8 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Nature Research Center, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh
Chimney Swifts and People: Past, Present and Future
South Wake Conservationists presents an educational program examining chimney swifts and their relationship with people.
- Time: 7–8:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs
Music Bingo
Fortnight Brewing brings together popular music and traditional bingo for a free Thursday-night game.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Fortnight Brewing, Cary
Opinionation
Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh hosts Opinionation, an interactive game built around popular opinions and survey-style answers.
- Time: 7–9 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh
Late-Night EntertainmentAir Hockey Tournament
Players can compete for arcade bragging rights during Boxcar Durham’s free air hockey tournament.
- Time: 8–10 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
Jazz: The Session
Bond Brothers Eastside hosts a free night of live jazz in Cary.
- Time: 8–11 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary
Cosmic Cantina Karaoke
Take the microphone for a Thursday-night karaoke session in Chapel Hill.
- Time: 8–11:59 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Cosmic Cantina, Chapel Hill
Skee-Ball Tournament
Boxcar Raleigh hosts a free late-night Skee-Ball tournament for local arcade enthusiasts.
- Time: 9–11 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Raleigh
Karaoke Hosted by Empress
Thursday’s Triangle events conclude with karaoke hosted by Empress at Speakeasy in Carrboro.
- Time: 9 p.m.
- Admission: Free
- Location: Speakeasy, Carrboro
Plan Your Thursday in the TriangleWhether the goal is to hear live music, learn about hip-hop culture, join a run club or compete in an arcade tournament, Thursday’s calendar offers options throughout Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties.
Event times, admission policies and registration requirements can change. Attendees should confirm the latest details with each venue before traveling.
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Triangle Events Guide Wednesday September 2nd Edition
Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Pittsboro and Chapel Hill? Wednesday, September 2, 2026, brings an extensive lineup of free and affordable events across the Triangle.
Today’s schedule includes children’s activities, coffee tasting, farmers markets, outdoor yoga, group bike rides, live music, craft nights, chess, trivia, dancing, open mics and late-night games. Most of the featured events are free.
Daytime Events in the Triangle
Total Tot Time
Parents and caregivers can bring children ages 5 and younger to W.D. Hill Recreation Center for two hours of free play and social activity.
Time: 10 a.m.–noon
Cost: Free
Location: W.D. Hill Recreation Center, DurhamBoard Game Night
Despite the name, this all-day gathering starts at noon. Stop by Gizmo Brew Works to play board games and connect with other local players.
Time: Noon–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Gizmo Brew Works, DurhamCounter Culture Catalog Cupping
Explore Counter Culture Coffee’s current menu during a guided catalog cupping at its Durham headquarters and training center.
Time: 1–2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, DurhamMarket Bunch Kids’ Activities
The Carrboro Farmers’ Market will offer Market Bunch activities designed to make the market engaging and educational for younger visitors.
Time: 3–6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Carrboro Farmers’ MarketLine Dancing Classes
Learn new steps and get moving during a free afternoon line dancing class at Compass Rose Brewery.
Time: 3:30–4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh“Pay What You Can” Farm Stand
Shop for locally grown food at Raleigh City Farm’s “Pay What You Can” Farm Stand. The community-supported model helps make fresh produce more accessible.
Time: 4–7 p.m.
Cost: Pay what you can
Location: Raleigh City FarmWednesday After-Work Events
Wine Down Wednesday
Relax with live music and wine specials at La Vita Dolce in Southern Village.
Time: 5–8 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Location: La Vita Dolce at Southern Village, Chapel HillSunset Music Series: Police & Thieves
Bring a chair or blanket to Waverly Place for an outdoor performance by Police & Thieves during the Sunset Music Series.
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Waverly Place, CaryFree Acro Yoga at Pullen Park
Explore a playful combination of yoga and partner-based movement during this free Acro Yoga gathering.
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Pullen Park, RaleighWine + Weed
Learn about plants, weeds and farming during this educational evening program at Raleigh City Farm.
Time: 6–7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Raleigh City FarmDurham Chess Club
Chess players of all ages and skill levels can enjoy casual games and meet other local enthusiasts at Durham Food Hall.
Time: 6–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Durham Food HallWellness Wednesday: Sunset Yoga
Wind down with a sunset yoga session at the Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons in Pittsboro.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons, PittsboroBring Your Own Craft Night
Bring your current creative project to Raleigh Brewing for an evening of crafting and conversation.
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Raleigh Brewing, RaleighCrank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride
Cyclists can join Crank Arm Brewing for its weekly Wednesday evening group ride through Durham.
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Crank Arm Brewing, DurhamWednesday Night Entertainment
Bluegrass Jam
Musicians and bluegrass fans can gather for a pay-what-you-can jam session at Sonark Farms.
Time: 7–11 p.m.
Cost: Pay what you can
Location: Sonark Farms, HillsboroughRaleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam
Join local musicians, dancers and hoopers for a community drum circle and movement jam at Pullen Park.
Time: 7–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Pullen Park, RaleighBallroom Dancing Social
Enjoy an evening of ballroom dancing with Pullen Dance at Pullen Community Center.
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Cost: $5
Location: Pullen Community Center, RaleighWednesday Singer/Songwriter Sessions
Hear local performers share original music during the weekly singer-songwriter sessions at Speakeasy.
Time: 7–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Speakeasy, CarrboroStitch N’ Bitch Craft Night
Bring a knitting, crochet, embroidery or other portable craft project to Steel String Brewery for a casual creative gathering.
Time: 7–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Steel String Brewery, CarrboroDSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night
Play bingo and enjoy a social Wednesday night at DSSOLVR’s Durham location.
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: DSSOLVR DurhamTrivia Night
Gather your smartest friends and compete during Wednesday Trivia Night at Raleigh Beer Garden.
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Raleigh Beer GardenSalsa Night
Learn salsa steps before putting them into practice during an evening dance social at KōMANA Brewing Company.
Time: 7:30–11:30 p.m.
Cost: $10
Location: KōMANA Brewing Company, CaryLate-Night Events
Weekly Skee-Ball Tournament
Test your arcade skills during Boxcar Durham’s weekly Skee-Ball tournament.
Time: 8–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, DurhamCity Soul Cafe Open Mic
Raleigh’s poets, singers, musicians and spoken-word performers can take the stage during City Soul Cafe Open Mic.
Time: 8–11 p.m.
Cost: $10
Location: Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, RaleighOpen Mic Night
Local performers can share their talents during Open Mic Night at Abbey Road in Cary.
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Abbey Road CaryBeer Pong Tournament
Close out Wednesday with a late-night Beer Pong Tournament at Boxcar’s Raleigh location.
Time: 8:30–11 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, RaleighPlan Your Wednesday in the Triangle
Wednesday offers something for nearly every interest. Families can enjoy Total Tot Time and the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, while adults can choose from yoga, cycling, crafts, live music, dancing, trivia and open-mic performances.
Event schedules, admission policies and weather-dependent activities may change. Confirm the latest information with the venue or organizer before attending.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for everything Raleigh, including daily Triangle event guides, local news, nightlife, family activities and community happenings.
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Triangle Events Guide Tuesday September 1st Edition
Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, or Wendell? The Triangle offers a full schedule of free and affordable activities on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Today’s highlights include an outdoor screening of Wicked at Pullen Park, free yoga in Durham Central Park, Beer & Banjos, chess clubs, run clubs, trivia, karaoke, live artmaking, and several community events. Whether you want to exercise, enjoy live entertainment, meet new people, or simply relax after work, there is something happening near you.
All-Day Deals and ActivitiesWalgreens Senior Day
Walgreens rewards members age 55 and older can receive 20% off eligible purchases during Walgreens Senior Day.
Time: All day
Cost: Discount available
Location: Participating Walgreens locations$6.25 Tuesday Movies at The Lumina Theater
Catch a movie without breaking the budget. All Tuesday movie tickets at The Lumina Theater in Southern Village are only $6.25.
Time: All day
Cost: $6.25 per ticket
Location: The Lumina Theater, Chapel Hill
Early Evening EventsDurham Chess Enthusiasts
Chess players of varying experience levels can meet for an evening of friendly competition and conversation.
Time: 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, DurhamArtist in Residence Series at JB Duke Hotel
Watch creativity unfold during a live artmaking experience presented as part of the Artist in Residence Series.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: JB Duke Hotel, DurhamOutdoor Movie at Pullen Park: Wicked
Bring your family or friends to Pullen Park for a free outdoor screening of Wicked. Consider arriving early to find a comfortable viewing spot.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Pullen Park, RaleighFree Line Dancing Class
Learn new dance steps and enjoy an upbeat community workout during this free line dancing class in Hillsborough.
Time: 6–7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: The Snow Approach, HillsboroughRun, Sweat, Beers Run Club
Get some exercise and connect with fellow runners during the Run, Sweat, Beers Run Club.
Time: 6–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Growler Grlz, DurhamAdult Coloring Night
Relax and get creative during Adult Coloring Night at Hi-Wire Brewing’s Golden Belt location.
Time: 6–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, DurhamPoker Night
Put your card-playing skills to the test during a free Poker Night in Cary.
Time: 6–10 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: KōMANA Brewing Company, CaryBond Brothers Run Club
Join the Bond Brothers community for a Tuesday evening group run.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Bond Brothers Beer CompanyFree Yoga in Durham Central Park
Stretch, breathe, and unwind with a free outdoor yoga session in the heart of Durham.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Durham Central ParkChess Club in Wendell
Enjoy casual chess matches and connect with other local players at Bearded Bee Brewing Company.
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell
Tuesday Night EventsPints and Pups Adoption Event
Meet adoptable animals from Hope Animal Shelter during the Pints and Pups adoption event at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.
Time: 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Ponysaurus Brewing Co., RaleighBeer & Banjos in Raleigh
Enjoy an evening of live roots music during Beer & Banjos at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard.
Time: 6:30–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, RaleighAstronomy on Tap
Explore astronomy and space science in a relaxed brewery setting during Astronomy on Tap.
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Fullsteam Brewery ATC, DurhamBounce and Brews DJ Night
Spend Tuesday night enjoying music and a live DJ atmosphere at Gizmo Brew Works.
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Gizmo Brew Works, DurhamJeopardy! Bar League Trivia
Gather a team and test your knowledge during a Jeopardy!-inspired bar trivia competition.
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Edit Beer Co., RaleighBeer & Banjos in Carrboro
Carrboro’s Beer & Banjos event offers another opportunity to enjoy free live music in the Triangle.
Time: 7–9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Speakeasy, CarrboroKaraoke Night at Boxcar
Close out Tuesday by taking the microphone—or cheering on local singers—during Karaoke Night at Boxcar Bar + Arcade.
Time: 8–11 p.m.
Cost: Free
Location: Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham
Plan Your Tuesday in the TriangleSeptember begins with an impressive selection of affordable Triangle events. Raleigh visitors can watch Wicked outdoors, enjoy Beer & Banjos, play trivia, or meet adoptable pets. Durham offers chess, yoga, running, live art, astronomy, coloring, DJs, and karaoke. Additional events in Cary, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and Wendell make it easy to find something close to home.
Event details can change because of weather, capacity, or organizer updates. Confirm schedules and participation requirements with the venue before leaving.
Follow DoRaleigh.com for more Raleigh events, Triangle entertainment, community news, and local guides.
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Triangle Weekend Event Guide August 28–30th Edition
Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and across the Triangle this weekend? The DoRaleigh Triangle Event Guide Weekend Edition features three days of festivals, markets, outdoor movies, live music, cultural programs, family activities and community events.
Many activities are free, including the Cary Night Market, NCMA’s outdoor movie at Moore Square, the Hello Kitty and Friends MiniCon, the Throwdown Food Truck Rodeo and dozens of concerts, art walks and open-mic nights.
Friday, August 28Start the weekend with historic tours, coffee and wine tastings, outdoor entertainment, art receptions and late-night activities throughout the Triangle.
Daytime events
- QDOBA Free Chips and Queso for the Full Moon — All day at participating QDOBA locations. Free.
- Free Car Washes for Teachers and School Staff — All day at participating RipTide Car Wash locations. Free.
- Rita’s Italian Ice Promotion — Buy a custard cone and receive a free Italian ice at participating locations.
- Hike with a Naturalist — 9:30–11 a.m. at Historic Yates Mill County Park. Free.
- Free Friday at Mordecai Historic Park — 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
- Tasting at Ten — Free coffee tasting at 10 a.m. at Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center in Durham.
- Mill History Tours — 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Historic Yates Mill County Park. Free.
- Bull City Woodshop Open House — 4–8 p.m. in Durham. Free.
- Free Wine Tastings — 4:30–6:30 p.m. at Bottle Theory in Apex.
Friday evening events
- Cary Night Market — 5–9 p.m. at Downtown Cary Park. Free.
- Fridays on the Front Porch — 5–8 p.m. at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. Free.
- Level Up Live — Live video-game music and classic games from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Boxyard RTP. Free.
- Last Fridays Makers Market — 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse in Hillsborough. Free.
- Live on the Lawn — 5:30–8:30 p.m., presented by the Hillsborough Arts Council. Free.
- Last Fridays Art Walk — 5:30–9 p.m. in Downtown Hillsborough. Free.
- Final Friday Reception — 6–8 p.m. at Cary Gallery of Artists. Free.
- Poetry in the Park — 6–8 p.m. at the House of Many Porches in Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh. Free.
- Neon Nights: Silent Disco — 6–8 p.m. at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in Apex. Tickets are $10–$25.
- Musical Notes Opening Reception — Live music, art activities and more from 6–9 p.m. at Margaret Lane Gallery in Hillsborough. Free.
- Pattern Recognition Opening Reception — 6–9 p.m. at Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. Free.
- NCMA Outdoor Film: “Godzilla vs. Mothra” — Activities begin at 6 p.m. at Moore Square in Raleigh. Free.
- Retro Video Game Night — 6 p.m. at The Daily Beer Bar in Durham. Free.
- Final Friday Cary Art Loop — 6–9 p.m. in Cary. Free.
- Live Music at Gizmo Brew Works — 6–9 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
- Chime In Open Mic — Poetry, storytelling and songwriting from 6–9 p.m. at Lanza’s Cafe in Carrboro. Free.
- Front Porch Friday — 6–10 p.m. at Haven Farm in Knightdale. Free.
- Live at ATC: Los Husbandos — 6:30–8:30 p.m. at American Tobacco Campus in Durham. Free.
- Raleigh International Folk Dancers — 6:30–10 p.m. at Glen Eden Pilot Park in Raleigh. Free.
- One Tribe Final Friday Drum Circle — Featuring a flow-arts performance by Caroleena & Friends from 7–8:30 p.m. at the Old Cary Library site. Free.
- Bynum Front Porch Friday Night Music Series — 7–8:30 p.m. in Pittsboro. Free.
- Drag Bingo — 7–9 p.m. at The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom. Free.
- Live Music at Compass Rose Brewery — 7–9 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
- Karaoke Bingo Night — 7–11:55 p.m. at KōMANA Brewing Company in Cary. Free.
- Movie Night at Raleigh Brewing — 7 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
- Discover Dance: Swing Session — 7:30–9:30 p.m. at Downtown Cary Park. Free.
- Burwell School Historic Site Star Party — 8–10 p.m. in Hillsborough. Free.
- Karaoke Under the Stars — 8–11 p.m. at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP. Free.
- Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic — 8–11 p.m. at Durty Bull Brewing Company in Durham. Free.
- Late Night at the Longleaf Comedy Show — 9–11 p.m. at The Longleaf Hotel in Raleigh. Free.
- Pyromancy Alternative Dance Night — 9 p.m. at Incendiary Brewing Raleigh. Free.
- Pub Karaoke — 10–11:59 p.m. at West 94th Street Pub in Durham. Free.
Saturday, August 29Saturday’s schedule includes specialty markets, cultural festivals, historic tours, family activities, concerts and community programs.
Saturday morning and afternoon
- Free Car Washes for Teachers and School Staff — All day at participating RipTide Car Wash locations. Free.
- Rita’s Italian Ice Promotion — Buy a custard cone and receive a free Italian ice at participating locations.
- Durham Ballet Theatre Costume Sale — 8 a.m.–noon at Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts.
- Visit Cow Sanctuary — 8 a.m.–noon at Brajboro Cow Sanctuary in Chapel Hill. Admission ranges from free to $25.
- Durham Craft Market — 8 a.m.–noon at Durham Central Park. Free.
- The Raleigh Market — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Free.
- Hello Kitty and Friends MiniCon — 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Triangle Town Center. Free.
- Black History Walking Tour — 10–11 a.m. at the Pope House in Raleigh. Tickets are $6–$10.
- Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry — 10 a.m.–noon in Raleigh. Free.
- Mill Open House — 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Historic Yates Mill County Park. Free.
- Open Farm — 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Sunrise Community Farm Center in Chapel Hill. Admission is $8.
- Chill Act North Carolina Special Needs and Homeschool Expo — 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Durham Convention Center. Free.
- The International Festival — 11 a.m.–9 p.m. at Theatre Raleigh Arts Center. Admission is $30.59.
- Throwdown Food Truck Rodeo — 11 a.m.–9 p.m. at Triangle Town Center. Free.
- Sensory-Friendly Film Series: “Shrek” — 11 a.m. at The Carolina Theatre in Durham. Free.
- Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours — Four one-hour tours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Mordecai Historic Park. Tickets are $6–$10.
- Free Guided Tours of the N.C. State Capitol — Tours begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in Raleigh.
- UNC Charity Softball Game and Touch-a-Truck — 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at Anderson Softball Stadium in Chapel Hill. Free.
- Forest Grove Festival — 11:30 a.m.–6 p.m. at American Legion Post 7 in Durham. Free.
- North Carolina Vintage Bazaar — Noon–6 p.m. at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Admission is $13.01.
- Come Out and Play Sculpture Show — Noon–7 p.m. at JimGin Farm. Free.
- Tuxedo at the Pool — Noon–11 p.m. at Blackbird Brewery in Wake Forest. Free.
- Mini Book Fair with Oak and Ink — 1–4 p.m. at Crank Arm Brewing Company in Raleigh. Free.
- Baseball Shuffle Tournament — 1 p.m. at Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh. Free.
- Vintage and Artisan Market — 2–6 p.m. at Edit Beer Co. in Raleigh. Free.
- Free Wine Tasting — 4–6 p.m. at Taps and Social in the Cary–Morrisville area.
- Dog Daze of Summer — 4–8 p.m. at Steel String Brewery’s Pluck Farm in Mebane. Free.
- Live Music at Crooked Hammock Brewery — 4–7 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
Saturday evening events- Saturdays in Saxapahaw — Outdoor concert from 5–8 p.m. at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw. Free.
- Live Music at Gizmo Brew Works Raleigh — 5–8 p.m. Free.
- Live Music Saturdays at Gizmo Brew Works Durham — 5–8 p.m. Free.
- Sufi Roots & Rhythms — Free concert featuring the Diali Cissokho Trio from 6–8 p.m. at Boxyard RTP.
- Live Music: Andrew Greene — 6–9 p.m. at Clouds Brewing Taproom in Raleigh. Free.
- Live Music at Fortnight Brewing — 6–9 p.m. in Wake Forest. Free.
- Beer Garden Concert Series — 6–9 p.m. at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP. Free.
- Live Music at Southern Peak Brewery — 6:30–9 p.m. in Apex. Free.
- Live Music: Vertigo — 7–10 p.m. at Fortnight Brewing in Cary. Free.
- Rhythm & Reels Concert: Ol’ Joey Scrums — 7 p.m. at Apex Nature Park. Free.
- Garf’s Great Goblin Give-Away — 7 p.m. at The Common Market in Durham. Free.
- Deep 6 Pearl Jam Tribute Band — 7 p.m. at The Mason Jar Lager Company in Fuquay-Varina. Free.
- Live Music Saturdays — 7–10 p.m. at Bombshell Beer Company in Holly Springs. Free.
- Karaoke at Crank Arm Brewing — 7–10 p.m. in Durham. Free.
- Marshall Sidbury Live — 8–10 p.m. at Sonark Farms in Hillsborough. Pay what you choose.
- Open Mic and Karaoke Night — 8–11 p.m. at Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh. Free.
Sunday, August 30Close the weekend with markets, brunch music, outdoor art, book clubs, open mics and community gatherings.
- Free Car Washes for Teachers and School Staff — All day at participating RipTide Car Wash locations. Free.
- Rita’s Italian Ice Promotion — Buy a custard cone and receive a free Italian ice at participating locations.
- Visit Cow Sanctuary — 8 a.m.–noon at Brajboro Cow Sanctuary in Chapel Hill. Admission ranges from free to $25.
- The Raleigh Market — 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Free.
- CCS Nerd Yard Sale — 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Triangle Town Center.
- Sunday Morning Yoga — 10–11 a.m. at Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh. Free.
- Mill Open House — 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Historic Yates Mill County Park. Free.
- The International Festival — 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Theatre Raleigh Arts Center. Admission is $30.59.
- Sunday Brunch Music — 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on the lawn at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Free.
- Pawpaw Palooza — Noon–6 p.m. at The Plant in Pittsboro. Free.
- Morgan Street Sessions — Noon–4 p.m. at Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh. Free.
- North Carolina Vintage Bazaar — Noon–6 p.m. at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Admission is $13.01.
- Come Out and Play Sculpture Show — Noon–7 p.m. at JimGin Farm. Free.
- Open Play American Mahjong — 1–3:30 p.m. at Hops & Flower in Durham. Free.
- Perfectly Imperfect Pups — 1 p.m. at Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt in Durham. Free.
- Free Air Hockey Tournament — 1 p.m. at Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar in Raleigh.
- Beerded Lady Book Club — 2–4 p.m. at The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop in Garner. Free.
- Open Mic — 2–5 p.m. at Oaklyn Springs Brewery in Fuquay-Varina. Free.
- Open Mic Night — 3–6 p.m. at Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh. Free.
- Live Music at Crooked Hammock Brewery — 3–6 p.m. in Raleigh. Free.
- Bluegrass Open Jam — 4–7 p.m. at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary. Free.
- Open Mic Night — 6–9 p.m. at Clouds Brewing Taproom in Raleigh. Free.
- Garner Community Drum Circle — 7–8:30 p.m. at Lake Benson Park in Garner. Free.
- Sundays at Sundown — Live music from 7–9 p.m. at Southern Village in Chapel Hill. Free.
Plan Your Triangle WeekendWhether the goal is finding a free family activity, exploring a local market, enjoying live music or discovering something new, the Triangle offers plenty of options from Friday through Sunday.
Event schedules, prices and availability may change. Attendees should confirm details with the organizer or venue before leaving home.
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