Available on all major digital platforms, ‘Sheriffs From Hell‘ is the brand-new single from Grateful Life Project, an international project featuring former and current members of Firewind, Tyketto, Gamma Ray, The Unity and Tygers of Pan Tang. The track features an outstanding line-up of renowned artists: – Henning Basse (from Firewind) – vocals – Ged […]
Full of cold but soldiering on, Foul Body Autopsy’s Tom chats to us at Uprising Festival.
We discuss his performance at the event, rider woes, previous years of the festival where he has been stage manager, his future plans for Foul Body Autopsy, upcoming new music and we have a deep discussion on mental health.
You can listen to the interview on this very page below!
Or if you prefer to listen on the go, check out the interview on our podcast platforms:
Better sound at home no longer requires a huge budget, studio time, or complicated gear. A smart setup starts with practical tools that improve listening, recording, or creating.
Some people want better music playback at home. Others want to record vocals, guitars, podcasts, beats, or demos.
Both groups benefit by spending money on the parts that matter most: playback, monitoring, recording input, and simple creative tools.
Music production is now highly accessible, but the goal here is not to buy the cheapest gear possible.
A better goal is choosing affordable pieces that make music sound clearer, recording easier, and creating more enjoyable.
1. Budget Turntable
Vinyl listening often encourages more focused and intentional music sessions|Shutterstock
Vinyl makes listening more active and intentional. A record asks you to choose an album, place it on the platter, and pay closer attention.
A good budget turntable can make vinyl listening enjoyable without risking record damage or weak sound.
Ultra-cheap suitcase-style players are usually worth avoiding because better entry-level turntables can last longer and protect records more effectively.
Useful turntable features should make setup easier, protect the record collection, or add long-term flexibility:
Built-in phono stage for easier speaker or stereo connection
Bluetooth for wireless speakers or headphones
Automatic operation for simpler use
Replaceable stylus or cartridge for long-term value
Belt drive with 33 1/3 and 45 RPM support
USB recording for personal vinyl archiving
Sony’s PS-LX310BT is a strong budget Bluetooth turntable. It is fully automatic, uses belt drive, has a moving-magnet cartridge, supports 33 1/3 and 45 RPM, includes a built-in phono stage, and adds Bluetooth.
Main strengths are easy operation and wireless convenience. Main drawbacks are slightly limited punch and a somewhat flimsy stylus cover.
Lenco’s L-85 is another beginner-friendly choice. It is semi-automatic, uses belt drive, includes a built-in phono stage, supports USB recording, and comes with RCA cables.
That makes it useful for simple playback and vinyl-to-MP3 archiving.
A proper entry-level turntable can make home listening more engaging without audiophile pricing.
2. Audio Interface
Clean recording quality depends more on signal flow than expensive equipment|Shutterstock
An audio interface connects microphones and instruments to a computer.
It converts analog sound into digital recordings with better quality and lower latency than most built-in computer inputs.
An interface is essential for recording vocals, guitars, synths, bass, podcasts, and acoustic instruments.
It also adds proper mic inputs, gain control, headphone monitoring, and cleaner signal flow.
Connection needs should be based on what you actually record:
Two inputs for vocal-and-guitar recording or two-person podcasts
Phantom power for condenser microphones
Strong headphone output for tracking
Reliable drivers for stable sessions
USB-C, USB, USB 2.0, Thunderbolt, FireWire, or PCIe compatibility depending on the computer
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, PreSonus AudioBox USB, and Universal Audio Apollo Twin are common options.
Behringer U-Phoria UMC204HD is a budget-friendly option with useful connectivity. Larger UMC models, such as the UMC1820, add more input and output options.
Before choosing an interface, compare current prices across retailers and browse the latest deals on CouponChief to see if a coupon can lower the final cost.
Affordable interfaces can still handle serious work when paired with good recording habits and careful gain staging.
An interface is the first serious upgrade for anyone recording vocals, guitar, or live instruments at home.
3. Closed-back Headphones
Headphones are often the cheapest way to hear more detail.
They also work well in apartments, shared homes, small rooms, and untreated spaces.
For beginner production, headphones can be more practical than studio monitors at first.
They help with editing, arranging, vocal tuning, timing issues, and small details that speakers may hide in a bad room.
Closed-back headphones are especially useful for recording because they reduce sound bleed into microphones.
That matters for vocals, podcasts, acoustic instruments, and voiceover work.
Shopping should focus on traits that affect comfort, accuracy, and recording control:
Closed-back design to limit bleed
Comfortable fit for longer sessions
Decent isolation for vocal or instrument tracking
Fairly neutral sound for better editing and mix choices
Controlled bass instead of exaggerated low end
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones are a strong option for sound quality and comfort.
Sennheiser HD280 headphones are accurate, tight-fitting, and useful for reducing headphone bleed during recording.
Before buying large speakers, a dependable pair of closed-back headphones can improve both listening and music-making right away.
4. Entry-level Studio Monitors
Accurate playback helps listeners hear music as it was intended|Shutterstock
Studio monitors give a clearer sense of space, balance, and stereo image than headphones alone. They are useful for desk listening, production, and mixing.
Loudness is not the goal. Clarity and balance matter more.
Headphones help with detail and isolation. Monitors help judge space, overall balance, and how parts fit together.
Room setup matters. Monitors work best with a proper stereo triangle, good speaker height, and reasonable placement away from walls.
Small rooms usually do not need large speakers because too much bass can become messy.
Monitor choice should match the room instead of chasing size:
Compact powered design for simple desk setups
Balanced frequency response for more honest playback
Enough bass for the space without overwhelming it
Rear controls for placement adjustments
Speaker size that fits the room and listening distance
Kali LP6 and Adam Audio T7V monitors are stronger entry-level choices if the budget allows.
Going much cheaper can be risky, so headphones may be better until you can buy monitors that are accurate enough.
Monitors are worth adding once you have space for them, but they do not need to be your first purchase.
5. Budget Microphone
A good budget microphone makes home recordings clearer and more usable.
One versatile mic can handle vocals, guitar amps, acoustic instruments, podcasts, voiceover, demos, and samples.
Dynamic microphones are durable and forgiving. They work well with loud sources, guitar amps, rougher rooms, and live-style vocals.
They also pick up less room noise than many condenser mics.
Condenser microphones capture more detail.
They are often preferred for vocals and acoustic instruments, but they need a quieter room because they pick up more background noise and reflections.
Mic type should match the source, room, and setup:
Dynamic mic for loud sources, guitar amps, rougher rooms, and durability
Condenser mic for vocals, acoustic instruments, and added detail
XLR connection for use with an audio interface
USB mic for the simplest possible setup
Stand, pop filter, XLR cable, and shock mount when needed
Shure SM58 is a strong dynamic mic for vocals and general use.
Audio-Technica AT2020 is a common budget condenser for vocals and acoustic instruments. Rode NT1-A is another condenser option with clear detail.
Several mics are especially useful because they cover many recording jobs:
Shure SM57 for guitar cabinets, snare drums, some vocals, and acoustic instruments
Oktava MK-319 for vocals, acoustic guitar, drum rooms, strings, brass, percussion, and more
Electro-Voice 635 for lo-fi, midrange-forward character and creative texture
A single well-chosen microphone can cover more home recording jobs than beginners expect.
6. Free or Starter DAW
Modern music software has lowered the barrier to entry for creators|Shutterstock
A DAW is where recording, editing, arranging, and mixing happen. It handles audio tracks, MIDI tracks, effects, automation, looping, and final mix work.
Many beginners can start with a laptop, headphones, and free software.
Expensive software is not required at first. Skill and consistency matter more than price.
Core beginner tools should cover recording, editing, MIDI, and basic mixing:
EQ for tonal shaping
Compression for level control
Reverb and delay for space
Automation for movement and balance changes
Pitch and time stretching for timing or tuning work
Cutting, splicing, and looping for arrangement
GarageBand is a strong free choice for Mac. Cakewalk by BandLab is a strong free choice for Windows. Pro Tools Intro is a free cross-platform option.
Tracktion T7, LMMS, and Audacity can also help beginners start without spending money.
DAW choice matters less than learning one platform well. Most modern DAWs share similar track layouts, editing tools, plug-in workflows, MIDI features, and mixing concepts. Learning one makes others easier later.
Free add-ons can expand a basic setup without raising the cost:
Spitfire LABS for sampled instruments
Dexed for FM synthesis
Valhalla Supermassive for reverb and delay effects
Best DAW is the one you will actually learn and use.
7. MIDI Keyboard or Free MIDI Tools
MIDI technology allows musical ideas to be edited long after recording|Shutterstock
MIDI lets a computer control virtual instruments such as pianos, synths, drum kits, basses, strings, and orchestral sounds.
It sends note choice, note length, timing, velocity, and performance data.
A small MIDI keyboard can make writing music faster.
It lets you play chords, basslines, melodies, drum parts, and synth ideas by hand instead of clicking every note with a mouse.
Hardware is not required. Most DAWs offer several ways to create MIDI parts without a controller:
Draw notes in a piano roll
Use the computer keyboard as a piano
Drag in pre-made MIDI clips
Use step recording to enter notes one at a time
For a compact controller, focus on hands-on control that fits a small workspace.
Twenty-five keys work well for small desks, pads help with drums, knobs and faders control effects, and bundled software can add value.
Akai MPK Mini, Novation Launchkey, and Arturia KeyLab are common beginner options.
MIDI also makes editing easier. Notes, timing, length, and dynamics can be changed after recording without replaying the part.
A MIDI keyboard is not mandatory, but it is one of the cheapest ways to make a home setup feel more musical.
Summary
Better home sound does not require luxury gear. Practical equipment matched to real needs matters more than buying a long list of products.
A listener might start with closed-back headphones and a budget turntable.
A creator might start with a free DAW, closed-back headphones, an audio interface, and one reliable microphone.
Careful choices make budget gear valuable. Good affordable gear helps you listen more closely, record more clearly, create more often, and enjoy music more deeply.
When it comes to names that stick out in a scene, Pro-Pain are one of those in the hardcore world, one that has been around forever and are seemingly still fighting the good cause for the hardcore scene.
From what I can se this is their SIXTEENTH album!! Now that is an incredible number of releases for anyone, so, where does Stone Cold Anger fit into today’s scene?
It is as expected on opener Oceans Of Blood with some fast paced hardcore that has the unashamed punk element threaded into the sound the comparisons to other bands is a bit pointless as these guys were there at the beginning with them all anyway so are bound to mix in other sounds but its clear that 35 years of experience has let them form a solid sound that will not be changing anytime soon!
Stone Cold Anger has a bit more of the metal-ness sprinkled across the song and is more beatdown in nature but not the stupidness of today’s beatdown bands, it’s the more nuanced sound of the early NYC hardcore and it’s a glorious and violent throwback to a sound that never gets old or tired.
March Of The Giants then finds a bit of a middle ground, as again its more on the metal side of things but has a stomp and swagger that comes with the years or writing and touring, it allows them to cater to what they know is going to hit well with existing fans but also will bring new fans in, it has old school charm with a new school cutting edge.
Uncle Sam Wants You! throws back into the punk element and is a riotous and snotty fuck you to the corrupt system in the US and how they treat their armed forces, its direct and angry and sums up how it must feel to be a part of that whole unpleasant situation when it arises.
Demonic Intervention opens up the sound to the groove-metal world, its stomps and pounds around well enough and its all nicely done but it just feels a little too mid-paced and it never really picks up the pace and just sort of meanders all the way through, it’s not boring as such just lacking that killer edge needed to really make it shine and stand out.
Luckily on Rinse & Repeat they sort of pick up the pace again, but also don’t at the same time which if this sounds weird to read it sounds weirder to actually hear! It has gone back to the more standard hardcore sound, but it feels again like something is being held back and the song never really seems to get going enough.
It’s all decent enough but just missing something, thankfully Hell Or High Water kicks back into gear and really shows what they are capable of when they just let go of the reigns, metal clashes with hardcore and punk dips it toes in as well.
It’s an adrenaline rush of a song that just makes you want to get up and start a mosh pit wherever you are, rousing, reinvigorating and sorely needed to pick the mod back up! Scorched Earth then mixes a bit of the holding everything back style with some more hardcore punk parts and the mix is good but that’s about it, you’re never entirely sure what style you should expect, and it affects the flow of the track massively!
After this Jonestown Punch sounds immense, they again just throw off all the shackles and go straight for the kill, sharp and precise riffing mixes everything together and the groove elements is huge all the way through.
You just wish more of this had been on the record this continues into Sky’s The Limit which is probably the most anthemic song on the album and a savvy closer as it will get people moshing and singing along in the live setting and leaves you with an energetic rush to finish things.
It’s clear to see that Pro-Pain are here to stay and they don’t care if you like that or not, 35 years of writing, recording and releasing records is no mean feat and Stone Cold Anger will slip into their huge back catalogue and not get lost or forgotten, its bold, brash and angry as only hardcore can be and is well worth a listen. 7/10
After an enforced break due to mental health struggles, during which their frontman released some ambient records, the the trio of guitarist/vocalist Thomas Jäger, drummer Esben Willems and bassist Mika Häkki reconvene under the Monolord banner, for their first full length since 2021.
On Neverending they reach further into the a galaxy of riffs than ever before, inviting the ambient movements of Jäger’s solo work to further deepen the sonic hypnosis of Monolord. The colossal riffs of Inside A Collider are just what Monolord fans will want slipping into Crystal Bridge where that massive heaviness moves into psychadelic atmospheres.
Behind the producer chair Sylvia Massy (Tool/SOAD) gives Neverending a more contemporary slicker sound than some fans may be used to, the fuzzy repeating riffs are getting their edges sanded, to create an album that defines the band they have become after 13 years.
Fear not though as it doesn’t mean Monolord have gone soft they’ve still got the volume and repetition to lock you into steady head nodding groove but with their most personal lyrics coming from recent history, Neverending has a taste to the maudlin, or the introspective which allows them play more with their identity.
No track highlights that more than the steamrolling doom dirge of It’s Neverending which features Jörgen Sandström (formerly of Entombed) delivering snarling death vocals, the first time Thomas hasn’t sung in a Monolord song.
The band and hopefully, it’s audience, are more comfortable with each other after this time, as if there’s and expectation to shake things up a little as you near big milestone years, Neverending is loud return for for Monolord but with a refined attitude to who they are. 9/10
Shooting Daggers – The Real Life Thing (New Heavy Sounds) [Mark Young]
Sometimes we just need simple things. Something that is unfettered with having to squeeze a million notes in and just wants you to dance.
The Real Life Thing is in their own words a ‘mini album’ and is 7 tracks of punk/hardcore/melodic infused guitar driven music that makes no attempt to stay in one lane.
And why should they? Adrenaline is a cracker, one of those songs which could make anyone dance (even me). With that sub three minute run time it’s a perfect example of what an opening track should be about.
It’s when they launch into My Oh My which changes their sound completely, going from the bounce to a more restrained and thoughtful approach its plain to see that they can make great music and still contain a message of hope.
They know how to build songs and how to deploy them to great effect. That positive undercurrent runs through this, underscoring it. T.R.L.T. picks up the pace once again, providing that bouncing momentum that Adrenaline started with. Its purpose built for an audience that wants to move, to just enjoy a night out.
After the 28 second We Just Wanna Play, they roll out Loud Mouths (ft The Menstrual Cramps) and it’s a blast. If someone asked me to describe what Punk sounded like I’d probably point them in this direction.
It feels that with this, a lot of the posturing that I associate with Punk/Hardcore and generally puts me off is missing and I love it.
As mentioned, they don’t sit still going from that classic punk sound to the beauty of Le Soleil. This variety makes this release such a great one as they move effortlessly between these different lanes.
GLOW (ft Dennis Lyxzén) wraps things up for the three piece. The guest vocals fits in so well without overshadowing Sal. Taking the release as a whole, there is a lot to appreciate here, and if I had to pick any one song as a jumping on point, I would be hard pressed to do so.
They don’t do the same thing every time, they just do what they think is right and you either like it or you don’t . What you can’t escape is how good these songs are, and I hope that they make their way north for a gig or two. Give them a go, they could be your new favourite band. 7/10
Gurt – Survival Of The Shittest EP (Self Released) [Cherie Curtis]
Survival Of The Shittest is definitely a fun one. Gurt brings three ruthless and hellraising floor fillers. This EP consists of two original tracks, Live Nation, Dead Scene and the title track Survival Of The Shittest which are both punchy and ruthless with an Imposing atmosphere.
The vocals are scathing and unruly in the best way, complimented by repetitive and sludgy riffs that may have gotten boring if they weren’t executed with effortless and raw intensity; simple composition but very effective in building tension and maintaining it for an entire track that’s all buzz and no chill.
These tracks are great energizers and it’s easy to listen to, but the obvious star of the show here is their cover of 2 Unlimited’s 90’s club classic, No Limit.
Gurt’s cover of No Limit has what it says on the tin, no limit. It starts out burning hot and like the other two tracks on the album, it just stays there (which I’m starting to gather is one of Gurt’s main attributes).
This cover is bouncy with classic prickly riffs to mock the Synths from the original which amps us up and knocks us down with the signature beat we all know and love.
It’s exactly what you need after a couple drinks on a night out but it can be a little off putting at first if you’re a fan original, but after the dust settles you do realize (if your anything like me) it’s a good song made better because its aligned with your taste.
Gurt adds what the original couldn’t provide; what we all didn’t know we needed – blood pumping metal.
I can safely say i would pay good money to have this played in a club and to hear this played live would be so unexpected it would have me losing my mind, it’s almost a shame i heard it here first and not for the first time at a gig.
On the whole this one is solid; it’s a well-rounded riot and listening to it was a breeze. It’s mixed well and the band clearly have a knack for their art and more importantly, especially to me, it was fun. Listening to this one was an immediate mood booster, but it didn’t give a lot to think about, but it doesn’t need to.
The EP was over and done with before i finished my coffee which works and makes you want to revisit it a few more times and every time you do it hits even harder. 7/10.
Raleigh, NC-based deathcore outfit Vectors premiere a new single and music video by the name of "Poked. Injected. Studied.". The track is taken from their new EP "Human Harvest", out in stores now.
Check out "Poked. Injected. Studied." streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below.
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New Jersey death metal band Nights Of Malice premiere a new single and music video by the name of "Riches To The Conjurer". The track is taken from their brand new album "Chaos Exordium", out in stores now via Bleeding Art Collective. Chaney Crabb of Entheos guests on the particluar single streaming via YouTube and Spotify for you now below.
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