The Diary of a Hobbyist

SCORE: 95/100 KMFDM manage to create industrial handbooks over and over again, this album being one of many opuses to take from. '(symbols)' feels like it should more likely than not be considered to be KMFDM's most iconic project, with 'Megalomaniac' showcasing the band's knack for incredibly striking introductory songs - this one being one of their most highly recognized tracks. The hugely industrial synth-driven sound makes this album sound like something straight out of a grimy vampire club; and this sound is something that only KMFDM could pull off this well. The album flows together into what feels like one action-packed soundscape, and it's one of their project that has the most depth and synth-driven tracks within it. There's a huge sense of musical prowess for the genres that the band operates within through '(symbols)', and the album is executed incredibly well. KMFDM manage to make songs about guns and anarchy sound sexy, with the indu...

SCORE: 98/100 'Atomizer' is much more than I ever could've expected it to be - and it feels wildly ahead of its time. Although it does have some sounds of its time period, they're executed in a way that makes this album still sound fresh so many decades later. The loud and instantly recognizable sound of this album has a rough and gritty edge that makes it feel incredibly potent and strikingly gripping. I was pleasantly surprised with the sound of this album as I wasn't entirely sure what to expect (went in without ever hearing a lick of Big Black), and I was floored by how much I enjoy the sound of this album. The genre tags allured me and drew me to this album, but I wasn't sure of what it would sound like until I let it immerse me fully - which didn't take time at all. Big Black made this album sound unlike any other "similar" albums that had been released up until this point; they take clear influence from the punk scene, but they turn this inf...

SCORE: 90/100 'U​-​Void Synthesizer' is an even harsher project than 'MG Ultra' - mixing elements of grindcore/cybergrind, industrial, electronic, and various hardcore subgenres makes for an album that simply cannot be ignored. It immediately makes itself known - and the mix of different styles is something only Machine Girl could pull off the way that was done here. The clashing sounds and hard overall tone of the album make it something that you'll either love and hate - if you love punchy, in-your-face electronic; 'U​-​Void Synthesizer' might just be the album for you, but if you don't? You're in for a ride that might shake you up just a little too hard in either the right or wrong places depending on your preferences. Machine Girl's usage of cybergrind elements is something I especially enjoyed with this project, making it feel much more up my alley than their 2024 album 'MG Ultra'. The vocals here seem more fitting than they did on t...

SCORE: 98/100 'Apocalypse Dudes' is a major shift in key when compared to the band's previous effort. It incorporates more elements of glam rock within the punk roots of the band, leading to an album with undeniable charm and a massive amount of energy; it's a highly welcomed change for the band, and they leave the grit behind for something even more polished and hugely enjoyable. This album has a much more palatable and less "silly" sound when compared to their previous effort while still keeping the band's sound very much in tact. It has their signature energy being brought up to new, unadulterated heights - and they pull off this change with such an impressive amount of grace that this album feels like an absolute must. The mixture of glam rock and punk works incredibly well on this album, with both of the combined elements of the two genres coming together into one album that can best be described with the word "fun". This album just radiates...

SCORE: 98/100 KMFDM's 'WWIII' is another potent effort. It's a no-holds-barred energy fest that hits you instantaneously, letting the heavy guitars and experimental industrial sound doing all of the talking needed. The vocals on 'WWIII' are a particularly enjoyable factor, with the blended performances coming together into one irresistible project that keeps the energy going almost nonstop. It's a striking display of what KMFDM is all about - and both fans of the band and new listeners surely won't be disappointed by this project. 'WWIII' is an infectiously enjoyable album. It's one that's hard to not adore, and it's immediately captivating with the raw energy and massive amount of power it holds. There's a huge consistency within this album while it experiments with new sounds that were not heard on the other projects of theirs that I have heard thus far. There are some songs on this album that sound wildly unique for the standar...

SCORE: 89/100 'Odelay' is an album that builds heavily off of atmosphere alongside the depth of the sounds present on the record. It's a sickly sweet project that feels like a hot summer day in the sun, laying in the grass with a drink in hand as the music helps to ease you into a summery bliss that can only be achieved for a few months of the long and winding year. There's a woozy and almost surreally sweetening sound to this album - and it's one that couldn't be replicated by anyone even if they tried. Beck is an artist that I've known about for years, but he was never one that I got around to listening to until now. 'Odelay' instantaneously starts on an incredibly high note that sets the tone and expectations for the album incredibly well. It has a much more laid back and tipsy sound than expected - and it feels like a completely immersing experience of an album that will rope you in immediately. There's an instant sense of charisma and charm ...

SCORE: 91/100 Novembre's second studio album is one that I couldn't help but be curious about - and it's a fine work of heavier doom metal. This album feels like an excellent introduction to the death doom metal subgenre, with everything coming together very well and the vocals seeming fitting once you realize what the genre is all about. Its a seamless mix of dark, gothic doom metal while incorporating death metal screams and heavy riffs into an album that is a heavy gothic metal lover's paradise. 'Classica' takes a slight hit at first glance due to the vocals seeming like "too much" for the instrumental palate that the album has to offer, but once you adjust, it's an album that you'll be more than able to gawk at. Novembre showcases their talents best in the instrumental department, with the vocals feeling somewhat unsuitable for the style of instrumental that the album has. Once adjusted to the sound of this album and how the vocals feel a l...