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.
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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.
