Tuesday, 10 February 2026

AMBRETTA

BandAMBRETTA
For fans ofSwan Of Tuonela, Nuvolascura, Sear, Blind Girls, Shesmadefromsuede, Fainting In Coils, Ostraca, June Paik, and Atalanta.
GenresPunk / Hardcore / Post-Hardcore / Metallic Hardcore / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Doom / Sludge
Related artists?.
Country: Lake Havasu City, Arizona U.S.A.
Years Active2025-present
Label(s): Self released

     I came for the album art, I stayed for the sick, doomy screamo. This incredible three-piece from Arizona released their debut 'Ephemeral' on December 10th of 2025, reminding those who don't understand calendars that their year end lists were hella flawed.

     The EP opens with "Humility", a heavy, dirty first jab that'll leave the listener bruised but ready for more. The darkness and gloom is apparent from the get-go, bringing a bit of Meth. and Orphan Donor vibes to the table where Nuvolascura and Swan Of Tuonela are already seated. "Fragments" and closer "Ephemeral" follow a different trajectory, opting for slow, brooding, lush intros that eventually lead to destruction, with the former happening relatively quickly and the latter being generally swelling and epic. Speaking of the final track, that shit is fucking ace. Brooding, dark, atmospheric, beautiful - goddamn that intro alone is worth your time, with gorgeous guitar and thunderous bass shifting perfectly into the meaty verse. At the two-minute mark the chorus kicks in and it's a fucking behemoth. It sounds like a slow-motion Nuvolascura or evil subterranean twin of Swan Of Tuonela. Gotta mention those vocals too, cuz holy smokes are they both 1) amazing and 2) provided by the bassist (additional props for double-duty). They range from spoken word to full-on shrieks as well as gutteral moments on "Soft Hands". Hot damn what a debut.

     I have no idea what they've got cookin' next but I'm fuckin' huuuuuuungry and salivating.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2025 - Demo (stream here)
2025 - Ephemeral (stream/donate/download here)

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(2025) AMBRETTA - "Ephemeral" (from 'Ephemeral')


(2025) AMBRETTA - "Fragments" (from 'Ephemeral')


(2025) AMBRETTA - "Humility" (from 'Ephemeral')


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Additional links

Live Living Room Set (7/25/25)
https://youtu.be/AHSL1XqrszU


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Wednesday, 4 February 2026

*** 50 DAYS AT ILIAM exclusive song premiere ***

50 DAYS AT ILIAM
"Until Oxidation"
exclusive song premiere
For fans ofComeback KidEnter Shikari, It Dies Today and Killswitch Engage


     I am stoked to bring you the first song from 50 DAYS AT ILIAM, the relaunched New Jersey project that began in 2022 under the name Final Resting Pose but now has a new lineup. Following up on their 4-way split with Pyre, Stress Spells, and Who Put Bella In The Witch Elm, this demo marks a clear shift in the sound, expanding into grander territories toeing the lines between metalcore, melodic hardcore, and post rock. The band has shared the stage with the likes of Massa Nera, Respire, Hosewhip, etc. and also played 2024's Dilly Dally Festival. Today's premiere is for "Until Oxidation" and frontman Jordan Emanuel had this to say about it:

"Until Oxidation" is a song about trying to find stability in the face of overwhelming powerlessness. I'll be the 800th person today to describe the times as 'trying, ' but in shorthand, things suck, and it's getting hard to maintain hope. My main weapon against my anxiety has always been exercise and deep breathing, so in an effort to remind myself how to meaningfully show up every day, I wrote this song. 'Cold is the blood in my veins until oxidation,' everything feels impossible until you find that moment to breathe deep, and take it slow for a minute. As long as you're still here, the world and its issues are as well, so take the rest you need and return emboldened to meet the call.


(2026) 50 DAYS AT ILIAM "Until Oxidation" (from 'Demo')

     "Until Oxidation" begins with metallic hardcore instrumentals that descend into hell with dissonant riffing and breakdowns that fully develops around the one-minute mark when the vocalist also steps in, uttering violent barks at the listener before the song shifts into chuggy metal territory. At 1:40 there's a wicked chip-tune break that ushers in the clean vocals that are at the forefront but not over the top, with the song then shuffling all three styles into as the song reaches its climax for the last minute and change.




Tuesday, 3 February 2026

DOOIE MUS

DOOIE MUS
'III'

Album Review


For fans of: KÿhlThe Rabbit Theory, Wolverines, Tropical Ice Land and Attack Robot Attack


     Full transparency, I agreed to premiere this album but simply got buried under work, family, playing a show, and trying to find money to finance my releases. So now that I'm late to the game, I figured a release review was at least owed to the band who put a lot of time and effort into their new album 'III' by DOOIE MUS from the Netherlands.

     First releasing a decade ago in 2016, this two-piece emo/screamo band has released at least five times before this new five-song album dropped at the end of January. Their stripped-down but danceable screamo bares resemblance to bands like Wolverines and The Rabbit Theory, utilizing clean guitars and screaming over groovy drums. The first four tracks follow this formula with standout being "... De Bazen Gaan Naar Hun Villa's" which is a poppy/start-stop screamo jam that gets an electric jolt a minute-and-a-half in that almost borders of emo-violence. "Kringloop Van Verdriet" is also worth a mention as it begins with heavier instrumentals and cathartic screams before jumping in and out of emo-violence and calming dreamy guitars. The album ends with a whopping 13-minute opus titled "Humans (II)" that lends a bit of its massive and epic sound to bands like Daitro and Kÿhl.


(2026) DOOE MUS "... De Bazen Gaan Naar Hun Villa's" (from 'III')

(2026) DOOE MUS "Kringloop Van Verdriet" (from 'III')
https://youtu.be/bAK3aJTGpXY


(2026) DOOE MUS "Humans (II)Kringloop Van Verdriet" (from 'III')