#defiance — Public Fediverse posts

The Lowest Bid

The Lowest Bid by Stewart Stafford

The sceptre is cast to the shivering sea
with divine ordinance, codes of chivalry.
A blinding vision of the fallen from on high,
New roving dregs with a scavenger’s eye.

Yield up the light, coax out the dying flame,
Punishment for crimes revokes your name.
Was freedom built on ancient delusion?
It persists as the architect’s cold conclusion.

The most degrading and painful descent
is the one to the lower “kingdom” crescent,
Shadow throne invoked by seditious implication.
Collusion not coercion, mummified by mediation.

Trust not the expedient offer, the beatific start —
They can only embalm the chasms of the heart.

© 2026 Stewart Stafford. All rights reserved.

The Lowest Bid

The Lowest Bid by Stewart Stafford

The sceptre is cast to the shivering sea
with divine ordinance, codes of chivalry.
A blinding vision of the fallen from on high,
New roving dregs with a scavenger’s eye.

Yield up the light, coax out the dying flame,
Punishment for crimes revokes your name.
Was freedom built on ancient delusion?
It persists as the architect’s cold conclusion.

The most degrading and painful descent
is the one to the lower “kingdom” crescent,
Shadow throne invoked by seditious implication.
Collusion not coercion, mummified by mediation.

Trust not the expedient offer, the beatific start —
They can only embalm the chasms of the heart.

© 2026 Stewart Stafford. All rights reserved.

https://www.europesays.com/iran/189628/ The Shadow of Karbala in Modern Tehran #a #Ali #and #Another #at #by #city #Dawn #defiance #defined #echoes #Era #for #from #funeral #gathers #identity #Imam #in #inseparable #Iran #Iran’s #Islam #it #Karbala #Khamenei—a #leader #marked #Marks #Modern #moment #More #of #one #passing #Philosophy #political #sacrifice #Shadow #state #Tehran #than #the #Times #to #today #transition

A quotation from Voltaire

POMPEY: It is vain for the coward to fly; death follows close behind;
   It is only by defying it that the brave escape.
 
[POMPEE: Le lâche fuit en vain; la mort vole à sa suite:
   C’est en la défiant que le brave l’évite.]

Voltaire (1694-1778) French writer [pseud. of Francois-Marie Arouet]
Le Triumvirat [The Triumvirate], Act 4, sc. 7 (1763)

More about this quote: wist.info/voltaire/84515/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #voltaire #bravery #coward #cowardice #death #defiance #fleeing #flight #mortality #runaway #runningaway #valor

ZANCTION – WHEREHOMEUSEDTOBE
#EDM #Electronic #House #Trap #ambient #brokentransmission #horror #lofi #signalwave #vaporwave #wave #Defiance
CC BY-NC-SA (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike) #ccmusic
https://zanction.bandcamp.com/album/wherehomeusedtobe

ZANCTION – WHEREHOMEUSEDTOBE
#EDM #Electronic #House #Trap #ambient #brokentransmission #horror #lofi #signalwave #vaporwave #wave #Defiance
CC BY-NC-SA (#CreativeCommons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike) #ccmusic
https://zanction.bandcamp.com/album/wherehomeusedtobe

Ah, the age-old struggle: #locals #vs. the evil #data center empire! 🌐✨ It turns out, if you want to keep your backyard from becoming a #techno-jungle, you just need a sprinkle of #neighborly #defiance and a dash of who-cares-about-progress. 🙄🎉 Because, why utilize technology when you can champion nostalgia?
https://lataco.com/stop-sgv-data-center-building #centers #nostalgia #progress #HackerNews #ngated

Ah, the age-old struggle: #locals #vs. the evil #data center empire! 🌐✨ It turns out, if you want to keep your backyard from becoming a #techno-jungle, you just need a sprinkle of #neighborly #defiance and a dash of who-cares-about-progress. 🙄🎉 Because, why utilize technology when you can champion nostalgia?
https://lataco.com/stop-sgv-data-center-building #centers #nostalgia #progress #HackerNews #ngated

Legacy of Kain returns with remaster and new retro game
It's been a long legacy, I guess
https://www.sidequesting.com/2026/02/legacy-of-kain-returns-with-remaster-and-new-retro-game/
#News #Ascendance #CrystalDynamics #Defiance #LegacyOfKain #playstation #StateOfPlay #Switch

Immigration Agencies Are Openly Defying Federal Courts

https://lpeproject.org/blog/immigration-agencies-are-openly-defying-federal-courts/

#HackerNews #Immigration #Agencies #Courts #Defiance #FederalPolicy #LegalIssues

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/monday-january-19-2026/

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/monday-january-19-2026/

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/monday-january-19-2026/

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/monday-january-19-2026/

Monday, January 19, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/01/monday-january-19-2026/

Hype for the Future 78O: Extreme Northwest Ohio

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/hype-for-the-future-78o-extreme-northwest-ohio/

Hype for the Future 78O: Extreme Northwest Ohio

https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/01/17/hype-for-the-future-78o-extreme-northwest-ohio/

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/10/wednesday-october-15-2025/

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/10/wednesday-october-15-2025/

Sunday, September 21, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/sunday-september-21-2025/

Sunday, September 21, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/sunday-september-21-2025/

Sunday, September 21, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/sunday-september-21-2025/

Sunday, September 21, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/sunday-september-21-2025/

Sunday, September 21, 2025

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2025/09/sunday-september-21-2025/

Stuck in the Filter: June 2025’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity

Sweat pours out of our pores. Heat blisters metal and scorches dirt. Power bills rise relentlessly, without mercy. These are the signs of summer in the brutal ductwork that is our hallowed Filter. But we continue onward in search of those metallic scraps that provide such unbridled joy to our masses. The only variable: who of my trusted team will survive this season, and who will perish in the service of this sacred duty?

We won’t know the answer until this article gets published. And when it is, the statistics will be fabricated and obfuscated accordingly. So ignore the death toll and instead peep the haul!

Kenstrosity’s Meanest Meanies

Shadow of Intent // Imperium Delirium [June 12th, 2025 – Self-Release]

For over a decade, Connecticut/Rhode Island melodic deathcore independents Shadow of Intent challenged the standards of the genre by offering album after album of ripping tracks filled with drama, clever songwriting, and demolishing vocal talent. In their catalog, Elegy was the one record of theirs that didn’t stick with me. However, Imperium Delirium rapidly righted the ship with 55 minutes of opulent, evil, and crushing melodic destruction. Raging through its first half without a single misstep, Imperium Delirium is a focused effort chock full of devastating heft, buttery smooth songwriting, and a favorable riffs-to-breakdowns ratio. The back half focuses on drama and orchestration just a touch more, but songs like “Feeding the Meatgrinder,” “Vehement Draconian Vengeance,” and “No Matter the Cost” still bring the violence required to annihilate entire planets. Championing this unending assault of killer tunes, Ben Duerr’s vocal performance is intimidating to say the least, easily reinforcing his rightful place as one of the very best extreme vocalists in the scene today. Of course, the record is still too long by about 10 minutes, and a fair amount of that bloat comes from the slightly overblown self-titled closer. Additionally, while I appreciate the reverent nod to the instrumental talent on “Apocalypse Canvas,” I don’t believe it adds enough to the story of this record. Nonetheless, Imperium Delirium might be one of my favorite Shadows of Intent, and I look forward to where it leads me next.

ClarkKent’s Literary Listen

Nightbearer // Defiance [June 13, 2025 – Testimony Records]

Anyone looking for a mashup of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and Gothenburg melodeath, look no further than the latest album from Germany’s Nightbearer. Defiance marks album number three in the band’s repertoire, and a continuation of their worship of fantasy epics.1 Right off the bat, the catchy harmonic guitar lead of “His Dark Materials” summons Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates. The guitar work by Dominik Hellmuth and Tristan Schubert is fantastic throughout–their creative melodies bring to mind lively outfits like Brymir. Michael Torka’s beastly growls and Manuel Lüke’s thunderous drumming add some brutality and weight to the harmonious riffs. A few songs even go full brutal death metal (“One Church Over All”, “Dying Knows No Bounds”). Perhaps the standout track comes from the 9-minute epic, “Ascension.” It starts with an eerie synth intro before breaking out into some of the best riffs on Defiance. Then, just as things settle down, the song builds back up and explodes into something straight from Blackwater Park-era Opeth. Overall, this is an impressive collection of songs that’s sure to scratch that HM-2 itch.

Tyme’s Juxtaposed Jotting

Lipoma // No Cure for the Sick [June 13th, 2025 – Gurgling Gore]

Melodic gore-grind. Yeah, it’s a thing. And California-based Lipoma’s new album, No Cure for the Sick, proves it’s a pretty fucking cool thing at that—the brainchild of one Max Pierce (aka Dr. Lipoma).2 Since going live in 2021, Lipoma has been insanely active, releasing a slew of splits and EPs along with two full-length albums: 2022’s Horrors of Pathology and 2023’s Odes to Suffering. And while Lipoma has steadily worked to make comparisons with fellow purveyors like Carcass, Lymphatic Phlegm, and Pharmacist less relevant, No Cure for the Sick moves things to a different ballpark, one full of Gothenburgian melodicism (“Cult of the Firehealers,” “Glory to the Blade”), post-metallic pop-punk optimism (“Cardiac Scars Forever,” “Psalms of Psoriasis”), indecipherable gurgles, and organ, which is what sets Lipoma’s No Cure for the Sick apart not only from previous efforts, but the pack in general. From the circus-like atmosphere shrouding opener “The Sea Surgeon,” Pierce’s use of organ permeates much of No Cure for the Sick’s forty minutes, buoying the melodic heaviness and excellent solo work with jig-like danceability (“Remedies of Pagan Medicine,” “Last Anatomy of Johan Ziegler,” “No Cure for the Sick”). Pierce’s melodically charged instrumentation, when juxtaposed against his gore-ground gurglings—a combo that works in a way it has no right to—sees Lipoma doing something I find wholly unique, a rarity in today’s digital age. I have had a ton of fun with No Cure for the Sick, and if you’ve not checked it out yet, do so post haste.

Iceberg’s Frosty Forget-Me-Nots

Puppe Magnetik // Laudans Deum [June 6th, 2025 – The Circle Music]

Laudans Deum is not for the faint of heart, if that album cover didn’t quite convince you. The debut compilation of Puppe Magnetik, the record dives deep into the recesses of the human psyche. Aina Virtanen weaponizes industrial metal, ambient, and drone, wrapped up in the stylings of the Weimar Republic. An accomplished classically-trained musician, Virtanen uses her clean vocals sparingly (“Who Will Sing This Sorrow,” “Labyrinth”) but to great effect, reminiscent of Diablo Swing Orchestra. But the accessibility stops there; Laudans Deum’s thirteen tracks are comprised of ambient meditations (“Moritat”), ear-splitting electronic barrages (“Suspendium, Rosarium et Crucifixu”), and mood music fit for a throwback horror movie (“The Pregnant Nun,” “Patient AV”). But within the graveyard are scattered moments of respite; the gorgeously rendered classical guitar of “Timeless Serenade” and the haunting vocals of “Laments From The Desert.” While the album is unforgivingly through-composed, making for an exceptionally difficult first listen, there’s something darkly endearing about it. I’m reminded of Sergei Prokofiev, the Russian composer whose music was often described as both grotesque and starkly beautiful. Puppe Magnetik have produced a challenging record, but it’s worth a listen for those who enjoy avant-garde music and the stranger, more terrifying corners of the aural arts.

All Men Unto Me // Requiem [June 27th, 2025 – The Larvarium]

A little more metal, but a lot more challenging, All Men Unto Me’s Requiem brings to bear the full weight of spiritual suffering. Requiem is a direct interpretation of the Latin Mass for the Dead, it’s eight tracks playing all the hits. Fuzzed out, half-time doom takes a supporting role in a record that heavily features pipe organ, acoustic guitar, and string leads. Rylan Greaves takes a unique approach here, subverting the natural tension and release of the rite by injecting clanging noise into passages normally reverent. Their vocal performance is the unrepentant star of the show, at times crystalline (“Introit”) at others sobbing (“Kyrie”) straining (“Agnus Dei”) and howling (“Sequentia”). The album takes its time to sink its claws into you, with long track lengths and extended droning chords requiring patience. But pay close attention to Greaves’ lyrics and you can’t help but be pulled into the raw, emotional drama of Requiem. The rising, ethereal sunset of “In Paradisum,” the falsetto whisper speaking “God knows what I’d be without you” against an impossibly high, ever so slightly off-key bell-tone. One’s left wondering the true meaning of that line as the track ends, and the dead remain silent. A powerful statement indeed.

Killjoy’s Fabulous Find

Fabula Rasa // Tome II: The Beyond [June 13th, 2025 – Self-Release]

The words “fabulous” and “fable” are interconnected, both derived from the Latin word “fabulosus.” And since folk music and power metal draw heavily from fables and myths, the portmanteau Fabula Rasa is a fitting name for a group that blends both genres. Following the lead of forebears Elvenking and early Mägo de Oz, this spirited crew from Düsseldorf, Germany, infuses what would otherwise be standard—but good!—heavy/power metal with lots of violin. The violin and guitar trade off playing the lead melodies, though the former tends to have greater emphasis. But fret not, shred-heads, for the guitar solos are also exemplary in the more power metal-leaning songs, like “Dragon Rising” and “Vengeance Is Mine.” The violin often carves its own folksy space, the cheery, zippy fiddling akin to Dalriada (“At Full Moon,” “Anthem of the North”). Most songs are energetic, but “Burning Innocence” is a pleasant surprise midway through the record, with hand drums and the other band members’ vocal contributions creating an intimate group setting. Don’t miss this charismatic performance from these fabulous musicians.

Maddog’s Sludgy Selection

Dimscûa // Dust Eater [June 3rd, 2025 – Self-Release]

While sludge is a dime a dozen, few bands scratch the same itch as Amenra’s best work. The UK’s Dimscûa aims to correct this oversight. Dust Eater opens with “Elder Bairn,” whose rhythmic riffs evoke the meditative power of LLNN. After this appetizer, the album’s interplay between brawn and heart rivals Amenra. While Dimscûa’s muscular riffs drive the album forward (“Existence/Futility”), Dust Eater stands out through its hypnotic melodies. The heartache in these melodies is palpable, magnified by tortured vocals that recall Julie Christmas. Because of this ebb and flow, the album never feels bloated despite its eight-minute average track length. For instance, “Existence/Futility” abandons and then suddenly resurrects its driving main riff, adding unexpected variety and lodging into my memory. Dust Eater’s climaxes sometimes fall short, like the fizzle-out ending of “The Dusteater.” But despite its imperfections, Dimscûa’s debut is a powerful outing in a neglected style.3

Dear Hollaback’s Ain’t No B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Various Artists // KPop Demon Hunters [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [June 20th, 2025 – Republic Records]4

Okay, look. Look. K-Pop is not metal, I get that. But the gang over at Sony concocted what just recently earned the title of Netflix’s most watched movie of all time, and holy shit, what a soundtrack.. I’d like to use the classic “my daughter made me do it” schtick but she only likes “Takedown.”5 KPop Demon Hunters creates insanely catchy pop music that’s also focused and intentional, a commentary on the rigid and flagellant nature of K-Pop alongside feel-good messages of self-acceptance and healing (“Golden,” “What It Sounds Like”). The focal girl group HUNTR/X does most of the heavy lifting, also tossing in enough pop culture-inclined battle hymns to make the republic jealous (“How It’s Done,” “Takedown”). Their on-screen rivals Saja Boys offer entendre-layered sugary pop (the infamous “Soda Pop”) and sinister Gregorian-influenced choruses (“Your Idol”). Beyond the novelty is intentionality: clever chord progressions that feel continually transcendent rather than stagnantly by-the-numbers (“What It Sounds Like”), diminuendos of authenticity among bombasts of a glossy sheen (“Golden”), touches of dissonance paired with unsettling slant rhymes (“Your Idol”), and rhythmic complexity building to ethereal climaxes of soaring belts (“Free”). While yes, I’m telling you to give it a spin, I am also giving excuses for why my review count dropped to critical this summer. Fuck off, I’m gonna be, gonna be golden.

#2025 #AllMenUntoMe #Ambient #AmericanMetal #AtTheGates #AvantGarde #Brymir #Carcass #Dalriada #DarkTranquility #Deathcore #Defiance #DiabloSwingOrchestra #Dimscûa #Drone #DustEater #Elvenking #FabulaRasa #FinnishMetal #FolkMetal #GermanMetal #GurglingGore #HeavyMetal #HUNTRX #ImperiumDelirium #IndustrialMetal #Jun25 #KPop #KPopDemonHunters #LaudansDeum #Lipoma #LymphaticPhlegm #MägoDeOz #MelodicDeathMetal #MelodicDeathcore #Nightbearer #NoCureForTheSick #Opeth #Pharmacist #PowerMetal #PuppeMagnetik #RepublicRecords #Requiem #Review #Reviews #SajaBoys #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #ShadowOfIntent #StuckInTheFilter #TestimonyRecords #TheCircleMusic #TheLarvarium #TomeIITheBeyond #UKMetal #VariousArtists

Stuck in the Filter: June 2025’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity

Sweat pours out of our pores. Heat blisters metal and scorches dirt. Power bills rise relentlessly, without mercy. These are the signs of summer in the brutal ductwork that is our hallowed Filter. But we continue onward in search of those metallic scraps that provide such unbridled joy to our masses. The only variable: who of my trusted team will survive this season, and who will perish in the service of this sacred duty?

We won’t know the answer until this article gets published. And when it is, the statistics will be fabricated and obfuscated accordingly. So ignore the death toll and instead peep the haul!

Kenstrosity’s Meanest Meanies

Shadow of Intent // Imperium Delirium [June 12th, 2025 – Self-Release]

For over a decade, Connecticut/Rhode Island melodic deathcore independents Shadow of Intent challenged the standards of the genre by offering album after album of ripping tracks filled with drama, clever songwriting, and demolishing vocal talent. In their catalog, Elegy was the one record of theirs that didn’t stick with me. However, Imperium Delirium rapidly righted the ship with 55 minutes of opulent, evil, and crushing melodic destruction. Raging through its first half without a single misstep, Imperium Delirium is a focused effort chock full of devastating heft, buttery smooth songwriting, and a favorable riffs-to-breakdowns ratio. The back half focuses on drama and orchestration just a touch more, but songs like “Feeding the Meatgrinder,” “Vehement Draconian Vengeance,” and “No Matter the Cost” still bring the violence required to annihilate entire planets. Championing this unending assault of killer tunes, Ben Duerr’s vocal performance is intimidating to say the least, easily reinforcing his rightful place as one of the very best extreme vocalists in the scene today. Of course, the record is still too long by about 10 minutes, and a fair amount of that bloat comes from the slightly overblown self-titled closer. Additionally, while I appreciate the reverent nod to the instrumental talent on “Apocalypse Canvas,” I don’t believe it adds enough to the story of this record. Nonetheless, Imperium Delirium might be one of my favorite Shadows of Intent, and I look forward to where it leads me next.

ClarkKent’s Literary Listen

Nightbearer // Defiance [June 13, 2025 – Testimony Records]

Anyone looking for a mashup of Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and Gothenburg melodeath, look no further than the latest album from Germany’s Nightbearer. Defiance marks album number three in the band’s repertoire, and a continuation of their worship of fantasy epics.1 Right off the bat, the catchy harmonic guitar lead of “His Dark Materials” summons Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates. The guitar work by Dominik Hellmuth and Tristan Schubert is fantastic throughout–their creative melodies bring to mind lively outfits like Brymir. Michael Torka’s beastly growls and Manuel Lüke’s thunderous drumming add some brutality and weight to the harmonious riffs. A few songs even go full brutal death metal (“One Church Over All”, “Dying Knows No Bounds”). Perhaps the standout track comes from the 9-minute epic, “Ascension.” It starts with an eerie synth intro before breaking out into some of the best riffs on Defiance. Then, just as things settle down, the song builds back up and explodes into something straight from Blackwater Park-era Opeth. Overall, this is an impressive collection of songs that’s sure to scratch that HM-2 itch.

Tyme’s Juxtaposed Jotting

Lipoma // No Cure for the Sick [June 13th, 2025 – Gurgling Gore]

Melodic gore-grind. Yeah, it’s a thing. And California-based Lipoma’s new album, No Cure for the Sick, proves it’s a pretty fucking cool thing at that—the brainchild of one Max Pierce (aka Dr. Lipoma).2 Since going live in 2021, Lipoma has been insanely active, releasing a slew of splits and EPs along with two full-length albums: 2022’s Horrors of Pathology and 2023’s Odes to Suffering. And while Lipoma has steadily worked to make comparisons with fellow purveyors like Carcass, Lymphatic Phlegm, and Pharmacist less relevant, No Cure for the Sick moves things to a different ballpark, one full of Gothenburgian melodicism (“Cult of the Firehealers,” “Glory to the Blade”), post-metallic pop-punk optimism (“Cardiac Scars Forever,” “Psalms of Psoriasis”), indecipherable gurgles, and organ, which is what sets Lipoma’s No Cure for the Sick apart not only from previous efforts, but the pack in general. From the circus-like atmosphere shrouding opener “The Sea Surgeon,” Pierce’s use of organ permeates much of No Cure for the Sick’s forty minutes, buoying the melodic heaviness and excellent solo work with jig-like danceability (“Remedies of Pagan Medicine,” “Last Anatomy of Johan Ziegler,” “No Cure for the Sick”). Pierce’s melodically charged instrumentation, when juxtaposed against his gore-ground gurglings—a combo that works in a way it has no right to—sees Lipoma doing something I find wholly unique, a rarity in today’s digital age. I have had a ton of fun with No Cure for the Sick, and if you’ve not checked it out yet, do so post haste.

Iceberg’s Frosty Forget-Me-Nots

Puppe Magnetik // Laudans Deum [June 6th, 2025 – The Circle Music]

Laudans Deum is not for the faint of heart, if that album cover didn’t quite convince you. The debut compilation of Puppe Magnetik, the record dives deep into the recesses of the human psyche. Aina Virtanen weaponizes industrial metal, ambient, and drone, wrapped up in the stylings of the Weimar Republic. An accomplished classically-trained musician, Virtanen uses her clean vocals sparingly (“Who Will Sing This Sorrow,” “Labyrinth”) but to great effect, reminiscent of Diablo Swing Orchestra. But the accessibility stops there; Laudans Deum’s thirteen tracks are comprised of ambient meditations (“Moritat”), ear-splitting electronic barrages (“Suspendium, Rosarium et Crucifixu”), and mood music fit for a throwback horror movie (“The Pregnant Nun,” “Patient AV”). But within the graveyard are scattered moments of respite; the gorgeously rendered classical guitar of “Timeless Serenade” and the haunting vocals of “Laments From The Desert.” While the album is unforgivingly through-composed, making for an exceptionally difficult first listen, there’s something darkly endearing about it. I’m reminded of Sergei Prokofiev, the Russian composer whose music was often described as both grotesque and starkly beautiful. Puppe Magnetik have produced a challenging record, but it’s worth a listen for those who enjoy avant-garde music and the stranger, more terrifying corners of the aural arts.

All Men Unto Me // Requiem [June 27th, 2025 – The Larvarium]

A little more metal, but a lot more challenging, All Men Unto Me’s Requiem brings to bear the full weight of spiritual suffering. Requiem is a direct interpretation of the Latin Mass for the Dead, it’s eight tracks playing all the hits. Fuzzed out, half-time doom takes a supporting role in a record that heavily features pipe organ, acoustic guitar, and string leads. Rylan Greaves takes a unique approach here, subverting the natural tension and release of the rite by injecting clanging noise into passages normally reverent. Their vocal performance is the unrepentant star of the show, at times crystalline (“Introit”) at others sobbing (“Kyrie”) straining (“Agnus Dei”) and howling (“Sequentia”). The album takes its time to sink its claws into you, with long track lengths and extended droning chords requiring patience. But pay close attention to Greaves’ lyrics and you can’t help but be pulled into the raw, emotional drama of Requiem. The rising, ethereal sunset of “In Paradisum,” the falsetto whisper speaking “God knows what I’d be without you” against an impossibly high, ever so slightly off-key bell-tone. One’s left wondering the true meaning of that line as the track ends, and the dead remain silent. A powerful statement indeed.

Killjoy’s Fabulous Find

Fabula Rasa // Tome II: The Beyond [June 13th, 2025 – Self-Release]

The words “fabulous” and “fable” are interconnected, both derived from the Latin word “fabulosus.” And since folk music and power metal draw heavily from fables and myths, the portmanteau Fabula Rasa is a fitting name for a group that blends both genres. Following the lead of forebears Elvenking and early Mägo de Oz, this spirited crew from Düsseldorf, Germany, infuses what would otherwise be standard—but good!—heavy/power metal with lots of violin. The violin and guitar trade off playing the lead melodies, though the former tends to have greater emphasis. But fret not, shred-heads, for the guitar solos are also exemplary in the more power metal-leaning songs, like “Dragon Rising” and “Vengeance Is Mine.” The violin often carves its own folksy space, the cheery, zippy fiddling akin to Dalriada (“At Full Moon,” “Anthem of the North”). Most songs are energetic, but “Burning Innocence” is a pleasant surprise midway through the record, with hand drums and the other band members’ vocal contributions creating an intimate group setting. Don’t miss this charismatic performance from these fabulous musicians.

Maddog’s Sludgy Selection

Dimscûa // Dust Eater [June 3rd, 2025 – Self-Release]

While sludge is a dime a dozen, few bands scratch the same itch as Amenra’s best work. The UK’s Dimscûa aims to correct this oversight. Dust Eater opens with “Elder Bairn,” whose rhythmic riffs evoke the meditative power of LLNN. After this appetizer, the album’s interplay between brawn and heart rivals Amenra. While Dimscûa’s muscular riffs drive the album forward (“Existence/Futility”), Dust Eater stands out through its hypnotic melodies. The heartache in these melodies is palpable, magnified by tortured vocals that recall Julie Christmas. Because of this ebb and flow, the album never feels bloated despite its eight-minute average track length. For instance, “Existence/Futility” abandons and then suddenly resurrects its driving main riff, adding unexpected variety and lodging into my memory. Dust Eater’s climaxes sometimes fall short, like the fizzle-out ending of “The Dusteater.” But despite its imperfections, Dimscûa’s debut is a powerful outing in a neglected style.3

Dear Hollaback’s Ain’t No B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Various Artists // KPop Demon Hunters [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [June 20th, 2025 – Republic Records]4

Okay, look. Look. K-Pop is not metal, I get that. But the gang over at Sony concocted what just recently earned the title of Netflix’s most watched movie of all time, and holy shit, what a soundtrack.. I’d like to use the classic “my daughter made me do it” schtick but she only likes “Takedown.”5 KPop Demon Hunters creates insanely catchy pop music that’s also focused and intentional, a commentary on the rigid and flagellant nature of K-Pop alongside feel-good messages of self-acceptance and healing (“Golden,” “What It Sounds Like”). The focal girl group HUNTR/X does most of the heavy lifting, also tossing in enough pop culture-inclined battle hymns to make the republic jealous (“How It’s Done,” “Takedown”). Their on-screen rivals Saja Boys offer entendre-layered sugary pop (the infamous “Soda Pop”) and sinister Gregorian-influenced choruses (“Your Idol”). Beyond the novelty is intentionality: clever chord progressions that feel continually transcendent rather than stagnantly by-the-numbers (“What It Sounds Like”), diminuendos of authenticity among bombasts of a glossy sheen (“Golden”), touches of dissonance paired with unsettling slant rhymes (“Your Idol”), and rhythmic complexity building to ethereal climaxes of soaring belts (“Free”). While yes, I’m telling you to give it a spin, I am also giving excuses for why my review count dropped to critical this summer. Fuck off, I’m gonna be, gonna be golden.

#2025 #AllMenUntoMe #Ambient #AmericanMetal #AtTheGates #AvantGarde #Brymir #Carcass #Dalriada #DarkTranquility #Deathcore #Defiance #DiabloSwingOrchestra #Dimscûa #Drone #DustEater #Elvenking #FabulaRasa #FinnishMetal #FolkMetal #GermanMetal #GurglingGore #HeavyMetal #HUNTRX #ImperiumDelirium #IndustrialMetal #Jun25 #KPop #KPopDemonHunters #LaudansDeum #Lipoma #LymphaticPhlegm #MägoDeOz #MelodicDeathMetal #MelodicDeathcore #Nightbearer #NoCureForTheSick #Opeth #Pharmacist #PowerMetal #PuppeMagnetik #RepublicRecords #Requiem #Review #Reviews #SajaBoys #SelfRelease #SelfReleased #ShadowOfIntent #StuckInTheFilter #TestimonyRecords #TheCircleMusic #TheLarvarium #TomeIITheBeyond #UKMetal #VariousArtists

A quotation from Banksy

   The human race is an unfair and stupid competition. A lot of the runners don’t even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water.
   Some runners are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side.
   It’s not surprising a lot of people have given up competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk food and shout abuse.
   What we need in this race is a lot more streakers.

Banksy (b. 1974?) England-based pseudonymous street artist, political activist, film director
Wall and Piece, “Rats” (2005)

Sourcing, notes: wist.info/banksy/77042/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #banksy #system #statusquo #apathy #classwarfare #competition #defiance #disrespect #givingup #humancondition #inequality #injustice #protest #ratrace #unfairness #world

#handsoff2025 Protest today!!!!! Join up with others to say #HandsOff our democracy and fight for your freedom!!!! Find Your LOCAL PROTEST HERE; https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/

#UnplugTrump #PuckFutin #democracy #freedom #freespeech #life_liberty_happiness #betheblizzard #theavalancheofjustice #capitalism #CapitalismIsADeathCult #CapitalismKills #SurveillanceCapitalism #deforestation #DrillBabyDrill #deforestation #DefundDeforestation #DefundExtinction #progressive #TransRights #FreeSpeechTv #america #americans #americana #defiance #truth #TruthToPower #truth2power #protest #protests #theflagisforthepeople #eagle #pollution #corporations #corporations_are_not_your_friends #NoisePollution #ClimatePollution #thereisnoplanetb #fiftyfiftyone #VoteWithYourWallet #boycott #boycottusa #UnplugTrump #ElonMusk #elonmuskisanazi #gofuck_elonmusk #PutinIsAWarCriminal #PutinWarCriminal #putin #enviroment #enviromental #TheEnviromentExcuse #FreeMedicareForAll #peace #PeaceNow #PeaceTalks #PeaceLink #PrayForUkraine #fascism #NoFascism #fascismo #fascisme #Ukraine #UkraineWar #UkraineRussiaWar #_ukraine #Russia #russian #russiaToday #climate #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #greed #CapitalistGreed #PharmaGreed #FearandGreedIndex #bigpharma #peaceonearth #tariffs #tarrif #Tariff #slavery #minimumwage #minimumwageraiseplz #Aristocrat #RunawayAristocrat #aristocrat #HumanRights #HumanRightsDay #media4humanrights #portugal4humanrights #usa #usa2025 #ușa #northcarolina #northcarolina1stcongressionaldistrict #northcarolina8thdistrict #northcarolina1st #DonaldTrump #UkraineIsOurFriend #trump #trumptariffs #newyork #rejectproject2025 #project2025 #project_2025 #project2025cansuckit #2025project #2025reads #election2025 #revision2025 #eatthe1percent #EatTheRich #EatTheRichs #eatREADsleep #bird #BirdPhotography #BirdWatching #birding #wildlife #nature #NaturePhotography #NatureLovers #NatureArtist #WildlifePhotography #WildlifeWednesday #WildlifeMurals #mouse #reptiles #MarineReptiles #SquamateReptiles #reptile #ReptileWorld #ReptileLovers #ReptileDatabase #boycott #Boycott4Wildlife #boycott4widlife #BoycottGold4Yanomami #boycott4palestine #ChildLabor #freespeech #freespeech4all #freespeech2 #tree #trees #tree_magic #TreeTime #déforestation #DefundDeforestation #amphibians #amphibian #AmphibiansOfInstagram #instagram #_instagram #facebook #FacebookFeed #FacebookFeed #twitter #TwitterMigration #twitter2 #Hippie #beachHippie #beach #BeachTown #BeachTravel #BeachCamping #google #degoogle #GooglePixel #GooglePlay #GoogleGo #yahoo #exclude_applenews_and_yahoo #degoogling #degooglenow #diversity #BioDiversity #DiversityEquityInclusion #DiversityMatters #censorship #Queer #QueerRights #QueerInkSquad #QueerWriters #NeuroDivergent #NeurodivergentWellbeing #NeurodivergentMood #NeurodivergentThinking #autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder #AutismPride #neurospicy #neurotypical #disabled #DisabledArtist #DisabledMastodon #lgbtq #lgbtqia #LGBTQIA2S #lgbtq_plus #lgbtqAlly #StraightAlly #lgbtqia2 #lgbtqia2a #straight #gardener #GardenJoy #forest #ForestTrails #ForestWhitaker #forest_deepness #forest #foresttherapy #therapy #leaf #leafLitter #sexuality #gender #GenderEquality #GenderPayGap #GenderVerbot #dirt #cloudflare #FascistGOP #gop #native #NativeAmerican #NativeAmericans #NativeBirds #insectpopulationdecline #insect #insects #InsectID #bug #bug2038 #black #peopleofcolor #eatlocal #macdonalds #camp #camping #ElderAbuse #elder #old #OldBuildings #conservation #OceanConservation #science #ScienceMastodon #OpenScience #OpenSource #mastodon #mastodonsocial #MastodonTips #lake #LakeErie #LakeCity #river #HudsonRiver #RiverSoul #river_plate #prairie #PrairieLife #pinetree #oldgrowthtree #ocean #OceanBeach #OceanHealth #flowers #WildFlowers #DailyFlowers #sky #SkyTonight #skype #discord #FuckDiscord #DiscordServer #DisneyboundingDiscord #ubuntu #UbuntuLinux #linux #linuxmint #linux_gaming #linuxgaming #GreenwashingKills #GreenWashing #furry #FurryArtist #furryart #furryfandom #totoabafish #VaquitaCPR #vaquita #fish #fishing #FishArt #FishCrow #MarineMammal #NativeMammal #mammal #StopPrimateShipments #primate #animalrights #NaturesRights #transrightsarehumanrights #TransRightsAreHumanRights #transrightsreadathon #transrights #lesbian #LesbianVisibilityWeek #LesbianArt #SydneyGayandLesbianMardiGras #gay #gayMAN #GayPride #GayMastodon #intersex #IntersexRights #IntersexAwareness #TransAndIntersexPrideDublin #asexual #AsexualPride #pride #asexuality #BoycottExxon #verizon

#trump #FuckTrump #FuckElonMusk #nonprofit #capitulation #news #complicity #complicitywarning #complicit #tv #publicbroadcasting #lgbtq #lgbtqia #racism #PeopleofColor #BlackLivesMatter #ableism #gay #lesbian #TransRightsAreHumanRights #transgender #diversity #equity #inclusion #DiversityEquityInclusion #DefianceNotCompliance #GOPLies #gopcowards

Something that seems like it's gone under the radar is #PBS shutting down their #deia program and firing the program management. This is an infuriating and disappointing move by PBS to choose #compliance in advance rather than #defiance. Every inch we give to the #fascists is an inch we may never get back. Hold strong and #resist. The #resistance is having an effect, #muskrat and co are not invincible and your efforts matter.

Please call your local station and send a message to PBS headquarters. Tell them you are unhappy with their decision to support an illegal #coup of #hate, #violence, and #sciencedenial #sciencedenialism. Media needs to remain independent and unafraid of #fascism, something the big media #corporations have seemingly forgotten.

https://apnews.com/article/pbs-diversity-close-office-bb7dafa39af3345a134475f28848cbbf

https://www.pbs.org/publiceditor/feedback/

#trump #FuckTrump #FuckElonMusk #nonprofit #capitulation #news #complicity #complicitywarning #complicit #tv #publicbroadcasting #lgbtq #lgbtqia #racism #PeopleofColor #BlackLivesMatter #ableism #gay #lesbian #TransRightsAreHumanRights #transgender #diversity #equity #inclusion #DiversityEquityInclusion #DefianceNotCompliance #GOPLies #gopcowards

Something that seems like it's gone under the radar is #PBS shutting down their #deia program and firing the program management. This is an infuriating and disappointing move by PBS to choose #compliance in advance rather than #defiance. Every inch we give to the #fascists is an inch we may never get back. Hold strong and #resist. The #resistance is having an effect, #muskrat and co are not invincible and your efforts matter.

Please call your local station and send a message to PBS headquarters. Tell them you are unhappy with their decision to support an illegal #coup of #hate, #violence, and #sciencedenial #sciencedenialism. Media needs to remain independent and unafraid of #fascism, something the big media #corporations have seemingly forgotten.

https://apnews.com/article/pbs-diversity-close-office-bb7dafa39af3345a134475f28848cbbf

https://www.pbs.org/publiceditor/feedback/

David Graeber on the Difference Between #Protest and #DirectAction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtExkP_SEr4&ab_channel=InsurrectionHymns

This is the difference between protest and direct action: Protest, however militant, is an appeal to the authorities to behave differently; direct action, whether it's a matter of a community building a well or making salt in defiance of the law (Gandhi's example again), trying to shut down a meeting or occupy a factory, is a matter of acting as if the existing structure of power does not even exist. Direct action is, ultimately, the defiant insistence on acting as if one is already free.

#DirectAction #GetsTheGoods #protest #defiance #freedom #justice #community #noappealtoauthority #authority #FreeHumanity

"Does #anyone else constantly #feel like they should be doing #something but #everything you try to do just feels wrong? Like this urge to not just take another nap or be on your phone but every time you even think of taking a step to do something else it feels so wholly wrong."

"#indoctrination of the "#slave life" under #capitalism since #education ever had an impact on our #brains and #learning capacities made it this way, if each #choice you make is in #defiance of #capitalism/ #fascism then you are doing the right thing #morally and #ethically and you shouldn't feel bad for saying "no" to your #oppressors!" :antifa_100:

https://www.tumblr.com/nandomando/718323133647601664?source=share

"Does #anyone else constantly #feel like they should be doing #something but #everything you try to do just feels wrong? Like this urge to not just take another nap or be on your phone but every time you even think of taking a step to do something else it feels so wholly wrong."

"#indoctrination of the "#slave life" under #capitalism since #education ever had an impact on our #brains and #learning capacities made it this way, if each #choice you make is in #defiance of #capitalism/ #fascism then you are doing the right thing #morally and #ethically and you shouldn't feel bad for saying "no" to your #oppressors!" :antifa_100:

https://www.tumblr.com/nandomando/718323133647601664?source=share

#Defiant

#adjective

Marked by #defiance; #boldly #resisting.

:antifa_100:

#Defiant

#adjective

Marked by #defiance; #boldly #resisting.

:antifa_100:

#Lizzo #protests #Tennessee #drag #ban, by inviting #dragqueens on stage in #knoxville

In a show of #defiance, #Lizzo, known for her vociferous support of #bodypositivity and #selflove, welcomed #queens including #VanessaVanjieMateo, #AsiaOHara and #KandyMuse from "#RuPaulsDragRace" to join her performance at the #ThompsonBolingArena on Friday.

https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/lizzo-protests-tennessee-drag-ban-inviting-drag-queens-on-stage-in-knoxville/

#Lizzo #protests #Tennessee #drag #ban, by inviting #dragqueens on stage in #knoxville

In a show of #defiance, #Lizzo, known for her vociferous support of #bodypositivity and #selflove, welcomed #queens including #VanessaVanjieMateo, #AsiaOHara and #KandyMuse from "#RuPaulsDragRace" to join her performance at the #ThompsonBolingArena on Friday.

https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/lizzo-protests-tennessee-drag-ban-inviting-drag-queens-on-stage-in-knoxville/