Genre: hardcore/crust punk The Word as Law is an album that marked the transition in their sound, with production quality just as good as their previous releases. It's feel like hardcore/crust punk vibe leaning toward thrash/sludge metal, but still not quite enough to win me over. Solid, but still lacking in heaviness . Tracklist: 1. Double-Edged Sword 2. Obsequious Obsolenscence 3. To What End? 4. Tomorrow's Reality 5. Common Inconsistencies 6. Insesitivity 7. Blisters OVERALL: 70/100

Genre: post-punk , darkwave Unknown Pleasures is an essential post-punk album for the ages by Joy Division , and clearly not my cup of tea. A few interesting things I can appreciate include the synth sounds like laser blasts straight out of Star Wars or old-school sci-fi in " Insight ," and the melancholic atmosphere reminiscent of what I can pick up on in doom metal —such as on that track and " New Dawn Fades ." As for the rest, I couldn't care less. Tracklist: 1. Disorder 2. Day Of The Lords 3. Candidate 4. Insight 5. New Dawn Fades 6. She's Lost Control 7. Shadowplay 8. Wilderness 9. Interzone 10. I Remember Nothing OVERALL: 70/100

Genre: psychedelic rock Spinner is a band from Armenia . Their playing seems to be influenced by clean post-rock guitar work. Stoner rock/grunge sounds come through in " Creek ," " Hurricane ," and " Revival ," while the title track builds a nice desert atmosphere in its final stretch. One slight hiccup is the vocal hum on the first two tracks, which sound so similar that it made me somewhat underestimate this group. Still, even if they don't emphasize fuzz guitar, psychedelic synths, or extended lengths, Spinner might still be relevant to Pink Floyd . It just lacks a bit of full commitment. Tracklist: 1. Shadow of Marie 2. If you're silent, I'm in sleep 3. Creek 4. Limpness 5. Hurricane 6. Happiness 7. Revival 8. Way out OVERALL: 70/100 

The next batch of the Rapid Log features 12 releases spanning alternative rock and its adjacent styles. Are any of your favorite artists featured here? Check out the list below! 1. 4:44 - Hydrangea (2023) Genre: alternative/indie rock/dream pop Production: 9/10 Composition: 8.5/10 Tracklist: 1. Silk 7/10 2. Tonic desire 7.5/10 3. Only one 8/10 4. Crystal clear 8/10 5. Pine 7.5/10 6. Weedhead 7.5/10 7. Upsetter 7.5/10 8. Hisoka 7.5/10 9. Cognitive dissonance 8/10 10. Wedding bells 7.5/10 OVERALL: 75/100 2. Adam Baxter - Long (Love) Story Short (2020) Genre: Indie/folk, singer-songwriter Production: 8.5/10 Composition: 8/10 Tracklist: 1. Old Photo 6/10 2. From Tallest Trees 7.5/10 3. Go Fast 7.5/10 4. I hate Flying 7/10 5. Misunderstood 7.5/10 6. Save some for me 7/10 7. Star dance 7.5/10 8. They met on a Friday 7/10 9. Whenever you are near 7.5/10 10. I won't 7.5/10 OVERALL: 70/100 3. Black Country, New Road - Ants from Up There (2022) Genre: Experimental/art/post-rock  P...

The next queue comes from the metal territory once again. Here is the list: 1. Æolian - The Negationist (2020) Genre: melodic death metal  Production: 9/10 Composition: 8.5/10 Tracklist: 1. Momentum 8/10 2. We Humans 7.5/10 3. Animals Burned 7.5/10 4. Unseen Enemy 7.5/10 5. Blackout 9/10 6. Golden Cage 7.5/10 7. Bleeding Garbage 8.5/10 8. The Flood 7.5/10 9. Children of Mud 7/10 10. Ghosts Anthem 8.5/10 11. Reborn 8/10 OVERALL: 80/100 2. Cemeterial - Touch of the Dead (2020) Genre: symphonic black metal Production: 9/10 Composition: 9.5/10 Tracklist: 1. Погребение наших надежд (Funeral of our hopes) 8.5/10 2. Прикосновение мёртвого (Touch of the dead) 8.5/10 OVERALL: 90-/100 3. Conjuring - Memento Mori (2026) Genre: black metal Production: 9/10 Composition: 7.5/10 Tracklist: 1. Memento mori 7.5/10 2. Inferis 7.5/10 3. Rituale 7.5/10 4. In nihilum 7.5/10 5. Aura 7.5/10 6. Anima 7.5/10 OVERALL: 75/100 4. Demonification - Speak for the Dead (2020) Genre: black metal...

It looks like the Rapid Log format will dominate this slacker’s archive for the foreseeable future. Well, if I only highlighted releases that were easy to review, undeniably good, or strictly confined to specific genres, the content here might look healthier—but whatever. Be it trash, mid, or top-tier, I’m logging it all. This time around, we've got 10 releases in the hardcore punk sphere and its surrounding territories. 1. Atameo - It sure is sad to hope the best while expecting the worst (2022) Genre: emoviolence/screamo, crust punk Production: 9/10 Composition: 8.5/10 Tracklist: 1. It's not real 7.5/10 2. It fills you with determination 7.5/10 3. Versmold 7.5/10 4. Marbles 7/10 5. Hikikomori 8/10 6. Bloom 7.5/10 7. Why did you leave me behind? / Now it's gone forever 8/10 OVERALL: 75/10 2. Collisions in Grey and Red - Mary, Mary (2012) Genre: mathcore/hardcore Production: 8/10 Composition: 8.5/10 Tracklist: 1. Contrary 7.5/10 2. New st. Francis 7.5/10 3. From th...

Genre: progressive metal Buka Umavluka hails from Palestine—a region now unilaterally claimed as Israel. One of the defining elements of this project compared to others is the influence of psychedelic synths and riffs , which give it a distinctly experimental edge. The instrumentation carries a modern yet solid edge and might feel relevant to Devin Townsend 's Ziltoid the Omniscient , even though I haven't personally listened to that record yet—simply because the lizardman-esque artwork on its cover looks delightfully absurd. Production: 10/10 Composition: 9/10 Tracklist:  1. A Dire Warning from Dr. Buka – 7/10  2. Beam Me Up Shitty – 7.5/10  3. Blight – 8.5/10  4. Intergalactic Sleepwalking – 7/10  5. Smash the Algorithms – 8/10  6. Sea Beast – 8/10  7. Ectoplasmic Hangovers – 8.5/10 OVERALL: 80/100

Genre: death metal Building Corpses from Spain built everything from the ground up solo, operating as a one-man band project. The production and riff composition are quite clean, fully adhering to standard death metal conventions. It doesn't sound explicitly old-school, nor does it carry that typical buzzsaw tone. It could lean toward OSDM territory, but I lack deep familiarity with the specific sonic traits of all the primary pioneers. Production: 8/10 Composition: 7/10 Tracklist:  1. Algorithm of Death – 7.5/10  2. Lost in Time – 7.5/10  3. Programming the Human Race – 7.5/10  4. Vulture Eyes – 7.5/10  5. Running into the Darkness – 7.5/10 OVERALL: 75/100

It feels sad and highly unfortunate, but what else can I do to keep sharing my thoughts without drowning in overthinking, stress, and a constant lack of broad genre references? Now, the Rapid Log returns with 15 releases focused entirely on power metal. Here is the list: 1. Almah - Motion (2011) Genre: progressive/power metal Production: 8.5/10 Composition: 8/10 Tracklist: 1. Hypnotized 7.5/10 2. Living and Drifting 7.5/10 3. Days of the New 7/10 4. Bullets on the Altar 7/10 5. Zombies Dictator 8/10 6. Trace of Trait 7.5/10 7. Soul Alight 7.5/10 8. Late Night in '85 6/10  9. Daydream Lucidity 7.5/10 10. When and Why 5/10 OVERALL: 70+/10 2. Almah - Unfold (2013) Genre: progressive/power metal Production: 9/10 Composition: 8.5/10 Tracklist: 1. In my sleep 8/10 2. Beware the stroke 7/10 3. The hostage 7.5/10 4. Warm Wind 7/10 5. Raise the sun 7.5/10 6. Cannibals in suits 8/10 7. Wings of Revolution 7/10 8. Believer 8/10 9. I do 8/10 10. You gotta stand 7.5/10 11. Treasure of...