Reviews
Opinionated and informative criticism of all the music that counts
Previous Album of the Week
Our favourite LP of the moment
Album of the Week
Murk in High Def: Demilitarize by Nazar
Five years after his thrilling 'rough kuduro' debut, the Angolan-born / Manchester-based producer returns sounding more introspective, more ambiguous and more weird than ever, finds Eden Tizard
Previous Reissue of the Week
Genuine treasures unearthed
Reissue of the Week
Reissue of the Week: Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra
Toby Manning tracks the glorious transit of Tangerine Dream across 1974, from the rural to the urban, from out of space then down to earth
Help Support The Quietus in 2025
If you’ve read something you love on our site today, please consider becoming a monthly or annual tQ subscriber – our journalism is mostly funded this way. We’ve got some bonus perks waiting for you too.
Subscribe NowMetal
A fearless trawl through the realms of extreme and experimental metal
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for March Reviewed by Kez Whelan
Having failed to secure tickets for the big Black Sabbath farewell this summer, Kez Whelan wonders whether missing out might be for the best. He also reviews the latest from Intensive Care x The Body, The Overmold, Abduction and many more
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for January Reviewed by Kez Whelan
Kez Whelan kicks off another year in metal, rounding up a host of scorching new records to see you through the winter chill
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for October Reviewed by Kez Whelan
In his latest round-up of all things heavy, Kez Whelan salutes the return of Wormrot's original line-up, and reviews brutal new LPs from Black Curse, Trelldom and more
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for August Reviewed by Kez Whelan
In his latest column, Kez Whelan salutes the brilliance that occurs at the intersection of black metal and hardcore punk, the ongoing boom in death metal, and reviews new releases from Scarcity, Harvestman, Krallice and many more
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for March Reviewed by Kez Whelan
Having failed to secure tickets for the big Black Sabbath farewell this summer, Kez Whelan wonders whether missing out might be for the best. He also reviews the latest from Intensive Care x The Body, The Overmold, Abduction and many more
Metal
Columnus Metallicus: Heavy Metal for August Reviewed by Kez Whelan
In his latest column, Kez Whelan salutes the brilliance that occurs at the intersection of black metal and hardcore punk, the ongoing boom in death metal, and reviews new releases from Scarcity, Harvestman, Krallice and many more
Psych Rock
A guide to the far-out sounds of psych and noise rock
Psych Rock
Columnfortably Numb: Psych Rock for February Reviewed by JR Moores
Barely recovered from The Jesus Lizard’s recent UK tour, JR Moores flings himself, in a zebra print G-string, at the latest psych and noise rock releases
Punk
The best of punk and hardcore (and oi, and crust, and squat grind)
Punk
Straight Hedge! Noel Gardner Reviews Punk & HC for February
Noel Gardner delivers his latest roundup from the world of punk and hardcore featuring transmissions from the underground scenes of Beirut, Rome and Devizes (Wiltshire)
Rum Music
Casting the net for undefineable sounds
Rum Music
Rum Music for January Reviewed by Jennifer Lucy Allan
Guitars and more guitars and other, different guitars are staving off the January blues for Jennifer Lucy Allan, who returns with your latest trip to the world of Rum
Cassettes
Spooling through the world's best tapes
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for March by Daryl Worthington
Daryl Worthington speaks to Turmeric Acid about telepathic collaborations, and reviews tapes of free-wheeling hardanger and Andean flute improvisations, sat nav fall outs, ecstatic noise and more in March’s dive into the cassette scene
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for January by Daryl Worthington
A new year finds the tape scene as vibrant, weird and wonderful as ever. Daryl Worthington dives into water tapestries, time-folding folk and hip-hop, vibrant electronic noise and an album of online product reviews
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for October by Daryl Worthington
A mixtape of Indonesian horror movie sounds, a doom metal supergroup from Beijing, the return of Felinto and a pair of artists embracing the sounds of insects. Daryl Worthington reports from the ever vibrant tape underground
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for September by Daryl Worthington
In September’s report from the cassette fringes, Daryl Worthington explores Beirut-founded label Ruptured, and reviews tapes of blistering noise, slinky punk-funk, library music and the self-proclaimed best producer in the Middle East
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for March by Daryl Worthington
Daryl Worthington speaks to Turmeric Acid about telepathic collaborations, and reviews tapes of free-wheeling hardanger and Andean flute improvisations, sat nav fall outs, ecstatic noise and more in March’s dive into the cassette scene
Cassettes
Spool’s Out: Cassette Reviews for September by Daryl Worthington
In September’s report from the cassette fringes, Daryl Worthington explores Beirut-founded label Ruptured, and reviews tapes of blistering noise, slinky punk-funk, library music and the self-proclaimed best producer in the Middle East
New Weird Britain
Transmissions from the thriving British underground
New Weird Britain
New Weird Britain in Review for March by Noel Gardner
Noel Gardner's latest dispatch from the undergrowth features weird grime, Super Nintendo cartridges, an anti-music Napalm Death covers LP, a scorching bagpipe/saxophone drone and much much more
Electronic
The best club culture brought to your device
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for February Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel reflects the death of three beloved artists, and presents 10 outstanding electronic music releases, from world-building IDM excursions and top notch tech-house to funky jazztronica and avant-garde easy listening
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel addresses the "panopticonisation" of dance music culture, and reviews exciting new releases from various electronic realms, among them new albums by CS + Kreme, Lechuga Zafiro, Mala Herba, Rrose x Polygonia and more
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for August Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
This month, Bužinel salutes the anonymous YouTubers uploading the rarities from their personal vinyl collections, and presents his top ten picks from July and August, including new releases from Pavel Milyakov, Hassan Abou Alam, and CCL & Ciel
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for June Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Your latest electronic music roundup brings an eclectic list of top-shelf singles, albums and EPs, from innovative UK techno and eco-charged electronica to deep crate reissues, maximalist new age vibes, and club acrobatics from Miami.
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for February Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel reflects the death of three beloved artists, and presents 10 outstanding electronic music releases, from world-building IDM excursions and top notch tech-house to funky jazztronica and avant-garde easy listening
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for October Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Jaša Bužinel addresses the "panopticonisation" of dance music culture, and reviews exciting new releases from various electronic realms, among them new albums by CS + Kreme, Lechuga Zafiro, Mala Herba, Rrose x Polygonia and more
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for August Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
This month, Bužinel salutes the anonymous YouTubers uploading the rarities from their personal vinyl collections, and presents his top ten picks from July and August, including new releases from Pavel Milyakov, Hassan Abou Alam, and CCL & Ciel
Electronic
Hyperspecific: Electronic Music for June Reviewed by Jaša Bužinel
Your latest electronic music roundup brings an eclectic list of top-shelf singles, albums and EPs, from innovative UK techno and eco-charged electronica to deep crate reissues, maximalist new age vibes, and club acrobatics from Miami.
The Quietus International
Our favourite music, country-by-country
The Quietus International
Inner Ear: Serbian Music for April by Jakub Knera
In his latest deep dive into the music scenes of Central and Eastern Europe, Jakub Knera explores how Serbia's artists are responding to a climate of increasing political tension, profiles the forward-thinking figures at the heart of the country's underground scene, and reviews a slew of key Serbian releases
The Quietus International
Rockfort! French Music for February, Reviewed by David McKenna
Addictive sprawling hip hop, specially crafted bird-imitating instruments, and bagpipe hyperpop are the order of the day in David McKenna's latest French dispatch
The Quietus International
The Quietus International: Nyege Nyege Festival 2024
Hannah Uguru reports back from this year's Nyege Nyege Festival in Uganda, explores its role as a sanctuary for unconventional culture, and profiles five key acts from this year's event,
The Quietus International
Rockfort! French Music for October, Reviewed by David McKenna
In his latest survey of the French music scene, David McKenna takes stock of a tumultuous few months in French politics, picks some recent cultural highlights and reviews culture-straddling music from Marseille as well as new folk, occult rock and an adventurous gamelan ensemble
The Quietus International
Inner Ear: Serbian Music for April by Jakub Knera
In his latest deep dive into the music scenes of Central and Eastern Europe, Jakub Knera explores how Serbia's artists are responding to a climate of increasing political tension, profiles the forward-thinking figures at the heart of the country's underground scene, and reviews a slew of key Serbian releases
The Quietus International
Rockfort! French Music for October, Reviewed by David McKenna
In his latest survey of the French music scene, David McKenna takes stock of a tumultuous few months in French politics, picks some recent cultural highlights and reviews culture-straddling music from Marseille as well as new folk, occult rock and an adventurous gamelan ensemble
Live Reviews
From pubs to festivals to arenas, out and about with tQ
Live Reviews
Romance In The Air: Rewire 2025 Reviewed
Richard Foster needs a sit down after a spell-binding weekend taking in sonic veterans, new pioneers, and a waterborne performance that is like "some absurd clash of Handel, Stockhausen and Jerome K Jerome"
Live Reviews
LIVE REPORT: MENT Festival 2025
Richard Foster reports from Ljubljana's MENT Festival, where Lankum, Širom, Laura Agnusdei, Tramhaus, Yalla Miku, Use Knife and many more deliver the goods
Live Reviews
Joyful Transference, Against the Tide: Sunn O))) & More at Unsound New York
As the US reels from the re-election of Donald Trump, Jesse Dorris finds solace and inspiration in a fine weekend of concerts curated by Polish festival Unsound, from hunkering down to basement techno to riding the drone of Kali Malone and Sunn O))). Photos by Lawrence Sumulong.
Live Reviews
Joyful Transference, Against the Tide: Sunn O))) & More at Unsound New York
As the US reels from the re-election of Donald Trump, Jesse Dorris finds solace and inspiration in a fine weekend of concerts curated by Polish festival Unsound, from hunkering down to basement techno to riding the drone of Kali Malone and Sunn O))). Photos by Lawrence Sumulong.
Track-by-Track
Albums dissected, the granular detail revealed
Track-by-Track
Arcade Fire’s Everything Now Reviewed Track By Track
Anna Wood delves into Arcade Fire's fifth long player in order to bring us a track by track breakdown. But is Everything Now something or nothing
