A really daft thing that annoys me is labels insisting on using tracked postage for items, and then having to pay like £6 for shipping. Like, lemme risk it with Royal Mail second class for like £1.50. It is what it is if it goes missing.

Muuuum, they’re calling Sleep Token blackface on the internet again!

Hot Take: Royal Blood peaked with Typhoons, and have spent the years since overcorrecting for all of the critics of that record, to the point now a lot of their material now just sounds like an OG Royal Blood tribute act. And by that I mean I’m really not a fan of Ten Over Ten.

People are getting so angry at the prospect that people might genuinely not know ‘Rein Me In’ by Olivia Dean and Sam Fender. It’s no slight on the musicians or people who listen to contemporary pop, but I genuinely do not recognise it, and have no real interest in the modern UK pop landscape.

The England vs Argentina game has caused so much leftist infighting the fucking CIA are going to be taking notes.

Finally making the slow move off from streaming platforms, and I spent much of the afternoon ripping CDs. If you can ever afford a limited run of CDs, or can provide a digital download with vinyl/cassette formats, you are a god among musicians fr.

>exciting inaugural festival for alternative music set up in city >headline act has confirmed allegations against them that can be found on the band’s Wikipedia page Emo is doomed to forever remain a safe space for predators at this rate

You can’t own anything physical anymore, everything is digital, you can’t own anything digital now, storage is too expensive, you cant stream anything because they took it off the service once their parent company got bought out, you can’t get a McFlurry because the machine is broken

That new Muse record got me feeling like the climax of ratatouille. Somebody finally reminded Matt Bellamy that he is the goat. Genuinely had me tearing up from pure joy.

Everyone is getting a little too comfortable throwing around the r-slur, but it’s particularly bad in heavy music spaces. There are thousands of words you could use instead of one that is undeniably and continuously harmful. Grow up.

I saw someone call Loathe ‘octanecore’. You don’t have to like them, but like… let’s not lie?

There’s little more tragic than a UK band finding success in the US market, and then shifting the majority of their attention there. Like, I can’t be mad at you for making money fr, but I miss you :(

If I catch any of you at these Brand New shows when there are so many other emo bands out there that are deserving of your time, attention, and money… I simply don’t think people who consciously abused their position of power should be permitted the privilege of returning to a position of power.

Muse, I’m just… not doing this? £148 for standing tickets? Before fees?? The exact same venue in November, I get to see Enter Shikari for £62. And that’s after fees. “This is just what to expect for top level artists now”. Why though? They are the artists that can actually afford to go cheaper.

Ry | Vinyl Fantasy Reviews@vinylfantasy.bsky.social · 4mo ago

When Muse went from £110 for stadium to £120 for arena for an album I did not massively love… I didn’t go. The band who were my gateway to music. If it is worth it for you, power to you. But the companies don’t care if you complain about $300 tickets, only if they receive your $300.

Too many of you are getting too comfortable with using gay as an insult again. Brother we were supposed to leave that back in the 00’s.

If an artist you like is selling tickets for a price you think is too expensive, but you still buy them… you kind of forfeit the right to complain. ‘Nosebleeds cost $90! General admission costs $300!’ Okay, just… go see other musicians? Go see ten $30 shows, or hell, twenty local $15 shows.

A band I am very excited about announced their debut record. 5 of the 12 tracks are already out; one of them is their debut single from 2023. The streaming model and its consequences will never cease to infuriate me.

“Banana costume discourse” Pack it up, hardcore is over. We had a good run.

‘Larp’ is going into the same vocabulary category as ‘mid’ and ‘coworker’. Words that project major protagonist syndrome. If your statement uses either, I’m disengaging immediately and saving my energy.

Say what you will about PRESIDENT, but this is one of my favourite lyrics from 2026 so far.

I’m in two minds over the whole no phones at gigs thing. People being glued to their screen the whole way does dampen the atmosphere, but it’s also nice to relive those moments and share them with other people.

NEW EP REVIEW! Vienna - For Friends ‘…knows when to deliver playful whimsy, and when to deliver surprisingly emotive gut-punches; it remains immense fun to behold without ever feeling as though the band lack earnestness…’

EP REVIEW: Vienna – For Friends

Vienna’s second EP showcases the emo outfit beginning to reckon with their true creative potential.

vinylfantasyreviews.co.uk

NEW MUSIC REVIEW! Youth Novel - I Went Through This Experience Smiling ‘…an essential listen for screamo fans, blistering in its ferocity and rich in its depth…’

ALBUM REVIEW: Youth Novel – I Went Through This Experience Smiling

Youth Novel return from the abyss to unleash an unexpected sophomore record that is essential for screamo fans.

vinylfantasyreviews.co.uk

Love seeing this from La Dispute. I stand on business regarding strobe lights: they’re non-essential, and make concert pointlessly less accessible. ‘Not having them ruins the vibe!’ Or maybe if you rely on strobes, your live set is a bit wank, eh?

NEW MUSIC REVIEW! Granite State - PROPER FORMS OF PROTEST ‘…‘PROPER FORMS OF PROTEST’ is here to remind you of what hardcore should be about; confrontation, defiance, and community…’

EP REVIEW – Granite State – PROPER FORMS OF PROTEST

An EP for the end times we are living through, Granite State deliver hardcore with teeth.

vinylfantasyreviews.co.uk

Genuinely heartbroken over this. ‘A Black Mile To The Surface’ was one of those special records that transformed part of me, in no short part thanks to the phenomenal drum work. ‘The Silence’ remains one of the finest drum performances I have ever heard. A joy to watch play live. Rest easy.

Stereogum@stereogum.com · 7mo ago

Manchester Orchestra drummer Tim Very has died at 42 stereogum.com/2489296/manc...

If you call something ‘coworker music’, I instantly will disregard your opinion and spend the rest of any interaction booing you loudly. All you’re telling me is that you have a MASSIVE main protagonist complex.

NEW MUSIC REVIEW! Hungry - Cambridge is on Fire ‘…The satirical dynamics of modern post-punk collides with the scrappy hedonism of 00’s indie rock…’

SINGLE REVIEW: Hungry – Cambridge is on Fire

Hungry commence their year of “Fenland Gothic” with an anthem for indie sleaze.

vinylfantasyreviews.co.uk

Finneas is better at political messaging than 99% of the Democratic consultants in DC.

I get that Leeds is north in England, and that bands can only visit so many cities, but it is a kick in the nuts whenever a cool band announces Leeds as a tour date. Our public transport system is so shite, the last train home is 10:30.