What I’m Listening To — May 2026

I haven’t downloaded much new music since I wrote an article about what I was listening to last year. There’s still a lot from that list in regular rotation. Let’s check in on some newer releases, along with a few albums and tracks that caught my fancy.

Favorite New Album

No One Was Driving the Car — La Dispute

[embed]

I was pretty ambivalent on my first few listens, but the guitar work kept pulling me back in. At some point I turned a corner and ended up loving it.

The nontraditional song structures brought back the same feeling I had when I first heard Wildlife, which was very impactful to me years ago. There are moments where the lyricist walks a line between something genuinely creative and something that almost falls flat — like on “Environmental Catastrophe Film.” To me, that risk is part of what makes it feel like real art.

Favorite Track: Man with Hands and Ankles Bound. “We don’t need the sound to know the plot of the film.”

Chama — Soulfly

[embed]

On the flip side of a great release is one that just doesn’t land. For me, that’s Chama. It follows Totem, which had a handful of tracks that stand with the best in their long history.

I just don’t like the guitar style here. Its pace is loud and busy. I was excited for it, but it ended up being a letdown.

“Storm the Gates” is decent, though.

Addicted to the Violence — Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway

[embed]

This feels like it could’ve been a classic System of a Down album, but it’s just slightly off in places. It makes me think having another strong creative voice to share control was part of what made that band work so well.

You still get Malakian’s guitar style and his presence as a frontman, but outside of a few tracks, it doesn’t reach the same heights.

The standout — and the most emotionally effective track — is the title song, Addicted to the Violence.

Quick Picks

P.O.V.O.A — Poava

[embed]

A short, fun electronic track. I probably look a little gay loudly enjoying it in my car but I don’t care because I’m feeling it!

my mind is a mountain — Deftones

[embed]

It’s got that signature bubbling Deftones guitar sound, but the rest of the album didn’t stick with me after a few listens.

One Light, Sunshine — Knumears

[embed]

Something heavier. I also grabbed “Untitled,” which hit in a similar way.

Awake EP — Som

[embed]

I really liked their album Let the Light In, so I went digging for more and found it in this two song EP.

Sepultura Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura

[embed]

I don’t remember how I found this, but it ended up being a great entry point into Sepultura for me. I’d only really followed Max Cavalera through early Soulfly and never got into Sepultura.

I like almost every track here. They’re performed by bands I’d probably never check out otherwise, but they do a great job capturing that thrash sound I’m familiar with.