Commando 15: salattu suomi
Maskhead: painful persuasion
Rotat: Somnambulant Hysteria
Grunt / Gelsomina: Grunt / Gelsomina
Grunt: karike
Rapace: madidi resti
M.I.A. / Kansas Purity: s/t
Murder Corporation: Sick Thoughts (honestly this is most the hype for new material of MC....probably not his best).
Uncodified: Hardcore Methodology 2
Haaska: Akrasia
Probably update before the end of the year because i have still stuff to listen to.
Gosh, it's already that time, huh? I've scoured back through my year's list of "notable records, performances, etc." and have to say that there were so many great things to be had. I have to cheat a little bit and bounce between records I really liked and artists/labels who killed it on all fronts in some way (records, live performances, reissues, etc.). So I'm just gonna try and bang this out:
1. Carousel dropped 2 incredible releases this year in Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief (Chocolate Monk) and All the Alkaline Day (Idle Hour). I definitely found myself revisiting the Chocolate Monk disc more due to it being out longer, but the latter tape might be the perfect summation of what makes this artist one to keep your eye on from now on.
2. Robert Fuchs had a pretty stellar year on all fronts for me. Live performances dazzled every time I saw one, two great releases in the form of C.O.T.H. (Usagi) & Shutters & Anchors (Robert Fuchs) and the label continued to drop some fascinating titles on the downlow. I think the Usagi disc will be easiest to find, but if you can still get the tape from Dean, I would do so. Both recordings act very well as companion pieces to one another.
3. Reanimated Miscarriage really may have had its strongest year yet in 2025. From some stellar reissues (Taint's Piece Meal Dissection, the Redneck compilation) to dropping new age classics (X-813, Joe FUCKIN' Roemer) to making internet memes like Pastor Isaac Vermes have some legitimacy in noise; it all felt pretty essential to tune into. I don't think the train will stop either. If you slept on this label for the year, I feel sorry for you.
4. Worth's retirement is a sad one, but he went out in style with Me Vexat Pede. A record with such a strange air behind it. It moves in such a jagged, unexpected manner, and yet, I found myself taking a nap during one listen through! Not that it bored me, but I felt at total peace listening to it. It's a pretty beautiful disc. Seek it out.
5. The spiritual return of the Sound Probe label brought forth a new Diagram: A tape which proved to be excellent. Seeing this style of packaging and Dan go on a solo outing after so much time off was great. I find this to be a tape I never get bored of in revisit. Packaging is also on point, as Dan's totally singular style shines through to this day. Looking forward to what comes next for the guy, as I know he also has been more involved in some art school stuff too.
6. Tribe Tapes continued an onslaught of great releases that it has been curating for a while now. In particular, reissues from Croiners, Anal Sadist & Illusion of Safety were worth noting for serving as introductions to names we hear less about in the modern noise landscape. That is not to say that it was only reissues that MJE provided on. New tapes from the head honcho himself, along with some dazzling comps on Purveyors, provided much to sink my teeth into. Go on, take a bite.
---
I'll round off the rest of this list with a few other records that I found enjoyable in listening throughout the year. Recommend picking up any of them if you can:
Merzbow - Sedonis (Signal Noise) ... A really solid Merzbow outing in 2025? Say it ain't so!
Grunt - Karike (IOPS) ... Solid churn of environmental crushing from Mr. Interests here. It made for a great soundtrack to drunkenly buy Taco Bell to one night.
Penis Geyser - Penis Geyser (Gracious Host) ... Noisecore that breaks down its core into something far more rotten!
Flamingo Base Jumpers - Wet Past (Satatuhatta) ... The more psychedelic leanings of Nick Forte's noise shine through here. Simple tape to pick up and vibe out to over and over again.
Merz-Wiese 4CD Akashaplexia gets my vote for the best of 2025. (While I acknowledge that I barely skim the surface of the world of Noise releases in 2025. We do what we can.)
For my ears, this set plays like a 3hr piece, even though it has 4 somewhat distinct chapters. Each 45min ish disc just flies by. It's thrilling. Always moving forward. Never lingering. Beautiful.
This was all recorded on the same day! (So, this is Live In The Studio? Or was it edited / tinkered with after?)
And the box/art is also fantastic.
Merz-Wiese are live this month, to celebrate this release. Good for them. There is much to celebrate.
Worth retirement? I hope to be just a break. Then this is the last ?
https://www.sentimentalyouth.com/products/worth-hornbeam-cs
Again, hope not.
Lots of standouts from this year, comps / reissues and new releases.
New releases:
Agonal Lust - Unabridged Suffering
Bizarre Uproar – Live Offensive Collection #2 3xDVD
Bizarre SS - II
Bless The Sickness / Bizarre Uproar - Susinarttu 2xCD
Clinic Of Torture - Memento Of Punishment
Cocksuckers Damned To Hell - Anal Graves To Dig
Dedicated To Jörg Buttgereit - Four Meditations On Eros And Thanatos
Detonation Day - Mechanized Attack
Detonation Day - Rebuilding Self
Death Pact International - Shock To The System - Day Of The Jackal
Genocide Organ - Operations With Contempt
Genocide Organ / Prurient - Maggots On The Cliffside
Grunt / Gelsomina - Grunt / Gelsomina 2xCD
Grunt - Kiveen Ikuistettu
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
M.I.A. / Kansas Purity - s/t
Nostoväki - Myrskyjen Raiskaama Maa
Pissour Rouge - Mad Disgrace
Sexualised Medicine – Antidote To A World Of Flesh S/Edition
SNUFF - VI
Zyklon SS - Guilty
Reissues / Comps:
Agonal Lust – In Transit To Cold Perfection S/Edition
Alfarmania / Proiekt Hat - Astral Slaktmask
Bizarre Uproar - Cunt Animal (Rubber And Blood Edition)
Bizarre Uproar - Bloodlust 5xLP / 2xCS
Caligula031 – Amria DVDr
Con-Dom - Colour Of A Man's Skin 2xCD
Grunt - IOPS Soundtracks CD
Odal IR represses
SNUFF - Potential Rapist – First Decade 2008-18 3xLP / 3xCS
Streicher IR represses
Taint – Piece-Meal Dissection
The Grey Wolves - Punishment CD
Xenophobic Ejaculation – W. Power 2xCS
Quote from: k.p.g on December 02, 2025, 04:55:59 PMFlamingo Base Jumpers - Wet Past (Satatuhatta) ... The more psychedelic leanings of Nick Forte's noise shine through here. Simple tape to pick up and vibe out to over and over again.
Green Tea is on my list, but I was unaware of this yet other NForte project, so thanks a lot.
Very good year for noise.
Even though it came out recently I think Grunt- Kiveen Ikuistettu is my favourite release of the year. Even with how hard it goes for most of its run time, I still find it a very dynamic release. Every time you think it has no more to give, it somehow reaches a new climax. Love how it starts with very physical sounding squeaking springs and junk metal type noises and builds from there with thick and satisfying bass. The packaging/book it comes with is awesome too. A real standout in a year full of great releases.
I also enjoyed:
BizareSS- BizarreSS II
Clinic of Torture- Memento of Punishment (There is something so cold and eerie about the synths on this. Opening 25 min live recording is the highlight)
Decondition- Skin, Flesh, Bones and Marrow of Truth (Love the industrial core running through this. Great release. Picked up the Karmic Delusions side project too but Decondition is better for now)
Detonation Day- Rebuilding Self (dark and brooding, this one has a real heft to it)
Double Dong- Ritual Sodomy: The Violation Of Pledge No. 1323 (Grotty. Sounds like the drains of the grimiest bathhouse amplified 10000x)
Genocide Organ- Operations with Contempt (Captagon Army is an all-timer GO track. The rest of the album is also very good)
Hollow Serpent Tooth- VIII: The Whims Of Quims & Cruel Hunstmen (love the industrial approach on this one. Probably my second favourite. Very varied for a noise release. Reminded me a bit of Geography of Hell in its approach)
Kadaver- Various Curses (long and brutal. Need to spend more time with this one)
MIA/Kansas Purity
Morbid Fascinations- Cipher (The bass weight on this one is insane. Excellent true crime electronics)
Rope Cosmetologist- Thin as Air (Good to hear the BLJ crew do something more restrained. This one does creep up in intensity though. Certainly not ambient. Love the art direction/packaging for this)
Terror Cell Unit- The Data Industrial Complex II (Good power electronics. Feels a bit modern in its approach. The project goes out on a high IMO)
Still a lot to catch up on, namely that Agonal Lust LP which came out the other week on Hospital. Imagine that will make my list somewhere.
Clinic Of Torture - Memento Of Punishment CD
Jason Crumer - Lake Of Fire CD
Genocide Organ - Operations With Contempt CD
Zyklon SS - Guilty (Although it was sort of a compilation of some past tracks as well) CD
Early Kinky Works 1983-1988 Comp. CD (Reissue of sorts)
RMSS - Engram CD
Nostoväki - Myrskyjen Raiskaama Maa CD
Grunt - IOPS Soundtracks CD (Published before, so it's kind of like a reissue I guess, but still!)
Prurient - Class Ring Tape Box (A bit more on the ambient side)
Parasocial Juche - Special Parts Tape
That's 10 mentions that come to mind, but I'm sure there is a lot of other great ones to mention to as well!
Organ Of Corti – Insania LP
Bizarre Uproar/Bless The Sickness – Susinarttu 2CD
ZSS - Guilty CD
Invagination - Electronic flesh CD
Phenol Injection - White hate LP
Himukalt - Sex worker CD boxset
Re-released 2025, so not really new, but must be mentioned:
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device CD
Merzbow - Merzphysics CD boxset
People's Person – People's Person CD
Quote from: Krigsverk on December 03, 2025, 02:00:50 PMHimukalt - Sex worker CD boxset
Yes! This is certainly one of my honourable mentions! A complete blind-buy for me. Surely she is prominent in the "Women In Noise" thread!?
Quote from: prelapsus on December 03, 2025, 12:44:10 AMTerror Cell Unit- The Data Industrial Complex II (Good power electronics. Feels a bit modern in its approach. The project goes out on a high IMO)
So TCU is really done? I'd heard elsewhere as well. Wonder what will happen to the long-in-the-works collaboration with
The Body, hope this will be released anyway.
Quote from: Minus1 on December 02, 2025, 08:38:22 PMMerz-Wiese 4CD Akashaplexia gets my vote for the best of 2025. (While I acknowledge that I barely skim the surface of the world of Noise releases in 2025. We do what we can.)
This ranks really high for me too, quite a varied release.
i've been trying to find what I can outside of the forum. here's the little I got.
teeth dreams - endlings. (harsh noise with drone influences)
Sukeban - Antagony (chaotic harsh noise, loses steam by the end)
yeah those are the two i found, i need to find labels or something to follow up on things.
ZSS - Guilty is one of the standout releases. Hard-hitting and short enough to make you want to spin it again right away. Out of the 2025 Grunt releases, IOPS Soundtracks was my favourite.
Also huge that we finally got Con-Dom's Colour of a Man's Skin as 2XCD from Tesco and re-issues of Streicher re-issues from IR.
Yeah, ZSS Guilty is the #1 for me. The most anticipated and actually delivered.
Others:
Crematorius - "Efterbord" on Phage. I know there's another one on Old Captain but I have yet to check it out.
Agonal Lust & Swollen Korps. - "Charnel Dwelling". Part of the Agonal Lust box set, which I don't have, but I made myself a bootleg of this tape so at least I can listen to it. I'm surprised I'm not seeing more people talk about this.
Clinic of Torture - "Memento of Punishment". Another anticipated release that was well worth the wait.
Still a lot I have to fully dive into yet, like the newest FA titles and Wrath stuff, which should be here any day now.
Quote from: Manhog_84 on December 04, 2025, 03:51:23 PMAlso huge that we finally got Con-Dom's Colour of a Man's Skin as 2XCD from Tesco
I am in love with this. Maybe I look in the wrong places, but I'm surprised that this isn't seen as a masterpiece of "narrative noise" (my term). It's brilliant.
Quote from: Minus1 on December 04, 2025, 05:06:08 PMQuote from: Manhog_84 on December 04, 2025, 03:51:23 PMAlso huge that we finally got Con-Dom's Colour of a Man's Skin as 2XCD from Tesco
I am in love with this. Maybe I look in the wrong places, but I'm surprised that this isn't seen as a masterpiece of "narrative noise" (my term). It's brilliant.
Definitely a good one! I'm glad Tesco did a CD version of this one and also a proper CD reissue of The Grey Wolves - Punishment album as well.
I had a really tough time narrowing it down, but settled on a tight 11! Couldn't get it to 10. I originally had a top 20, as there were so many good releases this year.
In alphabetical order:
New Releases
Bizarre SS – II
Black Leather Jesus / Moth Drakula – Knife Roughplay/As Skin Flies
Carousel – Awakened Spirits Of Ancient Mischief
Commando 15 x Nuori Veri – Kuovia Tuijottavat Miehet
Government Alpha – Apophenia
Grunt - Karike and the collab with Gelsomina
IESKADULLA – Apuvälinekeskus
Kiran Arora – Virgin Forest
Erik Nystrand – Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Priest In Shit – Virgin Martyr
Worth – Me Vexat Pede
Reissues
Dead Body Love – Annihilation Devices
Dead Body Love – Annihilation Devices Part 2
K2 + Dead Body Love – Traumantra
Macronympha – Relentless Agony
People's Person – People's Person
Richard Ramirez – Tracking Device
Agonal Lust - Unabridged Suffering
Âmes Sanglantes – La Dame De Fer: Fête Foraine 1889
Coldship Passage - F.A.T.A.L. Game
Detonation Day - Rebuilding Self
Eroticism - Anal Summer (Split with Richard Ramirez, reissued with extra material on CD format)
Frontier - Tissues In Refusal
Genocide Organ - Operations With Contempt and Maggots on the Cliffside (with Prurient)
Golden Purifier - Iron Age Paranoia
M.I.A. - One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Pleasure
Never Sorry - Problematic, collab with Junkyard Burial, To Whom It May Concern
Straight Panic - One Perfect Day
Prurient – Black Table With The Two Griffins Attacking
Another fantastic year for new releases.
Sverige På 80-Talet - Tre Små Rätter
Ruusuriimu - Tánc a Rothadásért
Kartio - Alkeis
Robert Fuchs - Shutters & Anchors
Primitive Isolation Tactics - All Pressures Past
Skärgård / BRYSKT / Heppakirjat - Hurrinoise Samling
Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief
Skullflower & Culver - Poison for the Fairies
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Tyhjä Pää - High Magnetic Intensity
Erik Nystrand - Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
Haaska - Akrasia
Kadef / Star - Wer Seinen Spaß Hat, Vermißt Die Träne Im Augenwinkel Nicht
Still waiting on the new Spring of Life 12" - sure that will be amazing, too.
Reissues:
Total / Merzbow - Merzbow Mixed Total
Redneck - Bloodcraving
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
People's Person - People's Person
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device
Odal - Lenin Stinkt
Dead Body Love - Lo-Fi Power Carnage
Quote from: BirdBolt on December 18, 2025, 07:59:52 PMAnother fantastic year for new releases.
Sverige På 80-Talet - Tre Små Rätter
Ruusuriimu - Tánc a Rothadásért
Kartio - Alkeis
Robert Fuchs - Shutters & Anchors
Primitive Isolation Tactics - All Pressures Past
Skärgård / BRYSKT / Heppakirjat - Hurrinoise Samling
Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief
Skullflower & Culver - Poison for the Fairies
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Tyhjä Pää - High Magnetic Intensity
Erik Nystrand - Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
Haaska - Akrasia
Kadef / Star - Wer Seinen Spaß Hat, Vermißt Die Träne Im Augenwinkel Nicht
Still waiting on the new Spring of Life 12" - sure that will be amazing, too.
Reissues:
Total / Merzbow - Merzbow Mixed Total
Redneck - Bloodcraving
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
People's Person - People's Person
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device
Odal - Lenin Stinkt
Dead Body Love - Lo-Fi Power Carnage
I feel like I have heard little about the Kadef/Star split, so it is cool to see it here. What makes it so strong for you? (For context, I have not heard it!)
K2 - Geld Ist Alles is an Honourable Mention for me.
It's been kicking my ass for a week (thank you online sampling at Bent Window Records). So I got the CD.
I might be wrong, but from the notes I see, this is "manipulated live" works. ie Live then "realized" later on!?
Anyway, the 3 pieces (54min total) here are dense, meandering, sinister...
I have early K2. This late work makes me very happy.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on December 19, 2025, 06:12:29 AMQuote from: BirdBolt on December 18, 2025, 07:59:52 PMAnother fantastic year for new releases.
Sverige På 80-Talet - Tre Små Rätter
Ruusuriimu - Tánc a Rothadásért
Kartio - Alkeis
Robert Fuchs - Shutters & Anchors
Primitive Isolation Tactics - All Pressures Past
Skärgård / BRYSKT / Heppakirjat - Hurrinoise Samling
Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief
Skullflower & Culver - Poison for the Fairies
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Tyhjä Pää - High Magnetic Intensity
Erik Nystrand - Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
Haaska - Akrasia
Kadef / Star - Wer Seinen Spaß Hat, Vermißt Die Träne Im Augenwinkel Nicht
Still waiting on the new Spring of Life 12" - sure that will be amazing, too.
Reissues:
Total / Merzbow - Merzbow Mixed Total
Redneck - Bloodcraving
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
People's Person - People's Person
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device
Odal - Lenin Stinkt
Dead Body Love - Lo-Fi Power Carnage
I feel like I have heard little about the Kadef/Star split, so it is cool to see it here. What makes it so strong for you? (For context, I have not heard it!)
It's a really coherent release, for a start. I dunno if the two were in touch before recording their tracks, but it sounds like everything's coming from the same place. There's a real rough minimalism and simplicity to everything both projects are doing, and a lot more melody than I was expecting. The Star tracks, in particular, are quite different to his recent releases and all the better for it.
And it's quite a melodic / despondent release, too. Some of the loops have a similar feel to Andrew Chalk's strange synth miniatures, like they're loaded with meaning but still strangely cold.
But when it gets more aggressive, it sits somewhere between a muted 80s industrial/PE feel and 80s cassette culture strangeness - simple flanger/phaser (I can never tell which is which) and primitive drum machines against really rough, muffled textures. And it all flows naturally out of the more melodic tracks.
It's very atmospheric / hypnotic, and a lot of simple ideas produce some really beautiful results. Lots of replay value to this one - well worth picking up.
Quote from: BirdBolt on December 20, 2025, 12:09:26 PMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on December 19, 2025, 06:12:29 AMQuote from: BirdBolt on December 18, 2025, 07:59:52 PMAnother fantastic year for new releases.
Sverige På 80-Talet - Tre Små Rätter
Ruusuriimu - Tánc a Rothadásért
Kartio - Alkeis
Robert Fuchs - Shutters & Anchors
Primitive Isolation Tactics - All Pressures Past
Skärgård / BRYSKT / Heppakirjat - Hurrinoise Samling
Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief
Skullflower & Culver - Poison for the Fairies
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Tyhjä Pää - High Magnetic Intensity
Erik Nystrand - Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
Haaska - Akrasia
Kadef / Star - Wer Seinen Spaß Hat, Vermißt Die Träne Im Augenwinkel Nicht
Still waiting on the new Spring of Life 12" - sure that will be amazing, too.
Reissues:
Total / Merzbow - Merzbow Mixed Total
Redneck - Bloodcraving
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
People's Person - People's Person
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device
Odal - Lenin Stinkt
Dead Body Love - Lo-Fi Power Carnage
I feel like I have heard little about the Kadef/Star split, so it is cool to see it here. What makes it so strong for you? (For context, I have not heard it!)
It's a really coherent release, for a start. I dunno if the two were in touch before recording their tracks, but it sounds like everything's coming from the same place. There's a real rough minimalism and simplicity to everything both projects are doing, and a lot more melody than I was expecting. The Star tracks, in particular, are quite different to his recent releases and all the better for it.
And it's quite a melodic / despondent release, too. Some of the loops have a similar feel to Andrew Chalk's strange synth miniatures, like they're loaded with meaning but still strangely cold.
But when it gets more aggressive, it sits somewhere between a muted 80s industrial/PE feel and 80s cassette culture strangeness - simple flanger/phaser (I can never tell which is which) and primitive drum machines against really rough, muffled textures. And it all flows naturally out of the more melodic tracks.
It's very atmospheric / hypnotic, and a lot of simple ideas produce some really beautiful results. Lots of replay value to this one - well worth picking up.
Thank you for the review!
I'm only familiar with Star's
Elephant in the Snow, so I'm not certain how he operates on other releases. Is there still the foregrounded sample manipulations?
Not too familiar with Kadef either, though I have been meaning to check him out due to his connections with 666vbn.
Gotta say the Kadef / Star split is an absolute favorite for me as well. Had the exact same impression of it as previous speaker; they both operate in the same ballpark, but differ just enough that you can tell them apart. Truly introvert and intuitive noise which sort of hovers above any noise timeline stylewise.
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on December 20, 2025, 06:14:25 PMQuote from: BirdBolt on December 20, 2025, 12:09:26 PMQuote from: Balor/SS1535 on December 19, 2025, 06:12:29 AMQuote from: BirdBolt on December 18, 2025, 07:59:52 PMAnother fantastic year for new releases.
Sverige På 80-Talet - Tre Små Rätter
Ruusuriimu - Tánc a Rothadásért
Kartio - Alkeis
Robert Fuchs - Shutters & Anchors
Primitive Isolation Tactics - All Pressures Past
Skärgård / BRYSKT / Heppakirjat - Hurrinoise Samling
Carousel - Awakened Spirits of Ancient Mischief
Skullflower & Culver - Poison for the Fairies
Kristian Olsson - Molna I Mull
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Tyhjä Pää - High Magnetic Intensity
Erik Nystrand - Brain Damaged By Head Meat
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
Haaska - Akrasia
Kadef / Star - Wer Seinen Spaß Hat, Vermißt Die Träne Im Augenwinkel Nicht
Still waiting on the new Spring of Life 12" - sure that will be amazing, too.
Reissues:
Total / Merzbow - Merzbow Mixed Total
Redneck - Bloodcraving
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
People's Person - People's Person
Richard Ramirez - Tracking Device
Odal - Lenin Stinkt
Dead Body Love - Lo-Fi Power Carnage
I feel like I have heard little about the Kadef/Star split, so it is cool to see it here. What makes it so strong for you? (For context, I have not heard it!)
It's a really coherent release, for a start. I dunno if the two were in touch before recording their tracks, but it sounds like everything's coming from the same place. There's a real rough minimalism and simplicity to everything both projects are doing, and a lot more melody than I was expecting. The Star tracks, in particular, are quite different to his recent releases and all the better for it.
And it's quite a melodic / despondent release, too. Some of the loops have a similar feel to Andrew Chalk's strange synth miniatures, like they're loaded with meaning but still strangely cold.
But when it gets more aggressive, it sits somewhere between a muted 80s industrial/PE feel and 80s cassette culture strangeness - simple flanger/phaser (I can never tell which is which) and primitive drum machines against really rough, muffled textures. And it all flows naturally out of the more melodic tracks.
It's very atmospheric / hypnotic, and a lot of simple ideas produce some really beautiful results. Lots of replay value to this one - well worth picking up.
Thank you for the review!
I'm only familiar with Star's Elephant in the Snow, so I'm not certain how he operates on other releases. Is there still the foregrounded sample manipulations?
Not too familiar with Kadef either, though I have been meaning to check him out due to his connections with 666vbn.
The Star material here is quite different to Elephant... There's less obvious sample manipulation, and it's a lot less taxing on the ears. Elephant... is a massive undertaking to sit through for me (as much as I enjoy it) - this is far more comforting / enveloping and much less alienating.
I disagree with the 'weird' noise tag that Star got stuck with, but the easiest way to describe it is that this is a lot less weird. It's a very personal / intimate-sounding release.
If someone told me this whole tape was a lost 80s cassette by an obscure one-off bedroom project, I could easily believe it.
Quote from: Baglady on December 20, 2025, 07:25:04 PMGotta say the Kadef / Star split is an absolute favorite for me as well. Had the exact same impression of it as previous speaker; they both operate in the same ballpark, but differ just enough that you can tell them apart. Truly introvert and intuitive noise which sort of hovers above any noise timeline stylewise.
Hovering above any noise timeline style wise is a really great way of putting it. A very hard release to put a date / context to.
Heppakirjat - Dust of This World LP(Satatuhatta)Can't get enough of this record. The tape hiss drenched, minimally to non-processed tape sounds are very exciting. Sounds both ancient and fresh. Reminds me of Metgumbnerbone or Sir Ashleigh Grove. Wish I knew more about this project. Haven't seen much mention.
Some albums I enjoyed this year. Still waiting for some stuff to arrive. Also, not all are related to the board.
Genocide Organ - Operations With Contempt
Mecht Mensch - Anthology
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, original motion picture score
Poor Creature - All Smiles Tonight
Kali Malone, Drew McDowall - Magnetism
Havukruunu – Tavastland
Natural Information Society - Perseverance Flow
Christian Marclay - Conduite Forcée
Sewer Election - Sweet Distractions
The Day of the Antler - Rural Industrial
Drudkh - Shadow Play
Oneohtrix Point Never - Tranquilizer
Youth Lagoon – Rarely Do I Dream
Rafael Toral - Traveling Light
Lea Bertucci - The Oracle
Heppakirjat - Dust Of This World
Sewer Election + ÅN - De Sälla Jaktmarkerna
Master Grave Services - Mausoleum
Confounder - Country Fucker
Green Tea - Bending your sauna
Altar of Flies - Intellectual Strangulation
Moss Harvest - Redux Amalgam
My favorites of 2025.
Heat Signature - Trench Trapped
Almost forgot this monster from my initial listing! This CD was my first introduction to the band, and a one fine introduction it is. CD has thick sound like Moozzhead cover girls, but also robust as fuck. At times there's this avalanche of bass frequencies in the background of ripping and mutilating noise. It sounds so good! There's plenty of things happening all the time, the stereo image is full of detail, rattling, screeching and whailing in every corner. There's also a track that gives more room for merciless scrap metal pounding, but sound has that Heat Signature distortion to it, highly enjoyable! Layout of the CD is very eye pleasing, nice old map "white" with vintage military images of vietnamese trench warfare. Extra mention of using source sounds by late Keith Brewer, assuming it is the gun firing in the second track.
Karmic Delusions - Kadotettujen Piina
It's kind of hard to separate Decondition and Karmic Delusions in my head, they are in a way of same continuum, but KD this time hits with a violent package of scrap metal wreckage, synth tones and great vocal work. Not too many are doing what he is doing, it's like a mixture of traditional Finnish scrap metal work combined with the greatest of power electronics masters. Very nice pacing in the album and lenght is just perfect, sometimes he has tendency to hammer out 1 hour long releases, which is fine, but with tense onslaught like this, 35mins is perfect.
Sexualised Medicine - Antidote to a World of Flesh
Second tape of the project, first one coming out over 10 years ago. Since I have no recollections, or even own the tape, this has been my main introduction. I seem to have a soft spot for detailed, multilayered yet restricted soundscape. SM has all these, carefully crafting the sound, with excellent vocals just enough in the background, often disappearing the in the sea of delay. Such a pleasure to listen to. The lyric is sheet is near impossible to read for my old eyes, but it's there and probably opens up even more the theme. Neverthless, one of my favorite tapes of this year and deserves a mention here.
Commando 15 - Salattu Suomi
Even though C15 could be considered as a newcomer to the Finnish noise scene, listening to the releases certainly does not feel like it. Sound and thematics have been going through an ongoing process of cultivating, and in my opinion Salattu Suomi is the pinnacle of it, so far. It all starts with the cover arts, which go hand in hand with the material, to me C15 is a great example of meta-noise. How seemingly abstract sound gets a deeper and multi-layered meaning through the artworks, song titles and few phrases of text which lays the foundation the whole experience. Some said the sound was painful, sure it is at times, but personally I found it quite relaxing, focused and raising attention. Attention is the key on this album, there's so much fine near microscopic texture in the sound, and production gives space to it. You can literally "stand next" to the sound and observe it, almost feel it. Salattu Suomi is one of the most unique noise albums that I've heard in a long while, very one of a kind material that only C15 worldview can produce.
Metsäkirkko - Paranvoi
Waited too long to get into the mystical world of Metsäkirkko and overall the Brownhill Mafia "scene". Paranvoi is a slow burner, which doesn't try to grab your attention, you need to focus on what it has to say. Could be easily classified as "great noise for reading", but that would be wasting it away. When you peek undernearth the subtle layers of the album, you find a dense undergrowth with plenty of rich texture. Simple elements but with proper volume those simple elements reveal depth and richess to the sound, which is crafted with strong intent. Not in your face noise, but more in your mind noise. Maybe even to use word "noise" here is improper.
Grunt - Kiveen Ikuistettu
Yet another killer live release by Grunt, following last years (I think?) Vieraat Aivot. First gig with that classic Grunt of heavy and ripping sound, and those strong vocals we all love. And so well recorded, it's a pure enjoyment to listen to. Second gig is different, slowly crafting minimalistic sounds, in a minimalistic environment. Even though I used word "minimalistic", the sounds are intense! Very interesting and clever choice to have two different live settings, sets and atmosphere. Works really well, and delivers the variety of what Grunt is capable. Packaging is a photobook, basically. Accompanies various images, having very harsh tones, even when speaking in visual terms. I think Mikko posted this about at lenght in the Grunt topic, go see it!
Zyklon SS - Guilty
ZSS hit parade! Not exactly a new release, but collection of hardest hitting ZSS classics. Everything one could want from a industrial/power electronics release.
Invagination - Electronic Flesh
Perfect mixture of 90s Japanoise sound but also plenty of their own sound with razor sharp production, it's very easy to throw this among the best of this year. What makes the sound interesting is the scrap metal that seeps through hard mixed with Japanoise type slashing and ripping sounds, it blends together perfectly. Paired together with very tasteful cover arts and even a colourful CD label, this could be easily thrown in the mid-to late 90's noise releases.
Giärmäi - Boreaaliset Syvät Vedet
Giärmäi made quite a big splash when the first tape came out last year. Since release of that Giärmäi has played few shows, which I did see one of them. Project has taken steps further into more industrial expression, same elements from "Ratapölkkymme" tape are present, but scrap metal has been added, has a lot grit to it. In terms of atmosphere, "Boreaaliset..." is much heavier and dense, while maintaining that trademark sound of reel to reel recorders, scruffy spoken word vocals and field recordings. B-side has very sweet organ work, and tape ends with a brilliant track using hurdy-gurdy. Excellent follow up for the debut tape, taking brave and strong steps forward.
Kartio - Alkeis
Kartio could be called as side project of Umpio, but it explores totally different areas of experimental music. It has that familiar production of Umpio recordings but sound itself is Kurenniemi type, crude but skillfull playing of modulars. I enjoy highly when there's very little of happening, beeps and boops, oocasional wave of lower frequencies sweeping over. Lenght works here, because this type of material is a pleasure to listen to, almost an hour long duration works in it's favor. You really get to taste the sound of vintage gear, experimental past speaking. A great opposite to cruchier and heavier side of Dassum work, Kartio is also extremely detail rich but also leaves a lot of empty space for the sounds to do their work.
Jazzhand - Siirryin Kun Te Nukuitte
Jazzhand tapes are a trip, at times it feels like listener is in a dictaphone that is in the pocket of the artist. Layered field recordings, hum of the forest with birds singing. Many types of rattles, of stones, wood, gravel. Like a journey through a summer forest of Finland. It is interesting to listen to recordings that have very little of any real instruments, using whatever is found outside to create textures, carefully selecting what works with what, maybe some parts are just one sound, recorder capturing many of the elements at the same time. But the relaxing hum is there most of the time in the background. Last part has a synth tone and recordings of people talking, which is a clear take off, works very well as the finishing part. Tape lenght is unknown, because you get immersed in the soundscape so much, listener is under a spell of beautiful textures of nature. It's funny how much a mosquite sound can agitate you.
Wertham/STROM.ec/Josh Lay - St. Valentine's Day
And right before the end of the year we are blessed with new STROM.ec tracks! Makes me very happy to new material in 2025, of course material itself is much older but neverthless, especially "Ascending Torso" is such a killer track that only STROM.ec can do. Unmatched! One can only think how they would sound today, if they made a brand new album. One can always dream. Wertham and Jos Lay also bring gritty power electronics to the table, but as a fan boy I am mostly raving about the Strom tracks here.
Special mentions;
Ruusuriimu - Tanc A Rothadesert
Paradox Influx tapes
Pyhä Kuolema/Kaarna - Magneettinen Pohjoinen
November Növelet - Electrical
There's also lots of records I still haven't heard/bought, like Heppakirjat LP.
Quote from: MT on January 01, 2026, 07:38:39 PMGrunt - Kiveen Ikuistettu
Yet another killer live release by Grunt, following last years (I think?) Vieraat Aivot. First gig with that classic Grunt of heavy and ripping sound, and those strong vocals we all love. And so well recorded, it's a pure enjoyment to listen to. Second gig is different, slowly crafting minimalistic sounds, in a minimalistic environment. Even though I used word "minimalistic", the sounds are intense! Very interesting and clever choice to have two different live settings, sets and atmosphere. Works really well, and delivers the variety of what Grunt is capable. Packaging is a photobook, basically. Accompanies various images, having very harsh tones, even when speaking in visual terms. I think Mikko posted this about at lenght in the Grunt topic, go see it!
Great post, thanks. I'm especially thankful for the Grunt details. (I don't want to bug the man with too many questions.) 😂
As usual mine is genre agnostic and listed here: http://existest.org/ee_v3/?p=10797
From that - and a few additional - are the noise/industrial specific albums:
Frederikke Hoffmeier (Puce Mary) – The Girl with the Needle OST
Desolation Colony – Impossibility of a Barren World
Empusae feat. Deutsch Nepal & Lamia Vox – Empusae's Dystopian Partycollection
Temple of Clear Light – Communion
Yemen Civil Servant – Hush Bribes
Honorable Mentions:
The Vomit Arsonist - To What End
Infirme Infini - Mycoplasma
Empty Vessel - Ruin Value