MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of September 2026
In September’s best metal, Godflesh dream dystopian industrial structures, Epitaphe connect death metal styles, and Archgoat carry on their death/black tradition.
Lists
These lists highlight the best in music, film, books, television, and games.
The 10 Best Pop Music Books of the 2000s So Far
These ten books are not a poptimist syllabus, but they represent some of the best music writing of the 21st century on pop music.
Dolly Parton’s Greatest Movie Role
Dolly Parton’s small but revealing filmography shows that her carefully constructed persona was never an obstacle to acting, but its richest material.
MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of August 2026
In best metal, Vengeance Arsenal rely on tradition for extreme metal, Static Abyss produce hallucinogenic death/doom, and Hanternoz strip away folk for melody.
The 10 Best Dolly Parton Songs (Plus One More)
Dolly Parton was perhaps the first country mega-star, and the first to successfully crossover into pop music. These are her 10 finest achievements.
The 15 Best Radiohead Songs
Radiohead are unquestionably among the most important rock bands of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These 15 songs highlight their vast musical range.
5 Essential Authors Who Are Rethinking Rock Music and Race
These five contemporary authors rethink the relationship between rock music and race, challenging dominant narratives through multiple strategies, genres, and arguments.
The 10 Most Important British Synthpop Songs of 1980
It’s been 46 years since the first explosion of synthpop songs revitalised the UK charts. These are the Moog-infused tracks of 1980 that had the biggest impact.
ElectroMatters: The Best Electronic Music of July 2026
While there seemed to be less distance between regular life, pop culture, and the best electronic music of July 2026, there might be more variation on the list itself.
MetalMatters: The Best Metal Albums of July 2026
In July’s best metal, Witches Hammer deliver their final chapter, Emptiness return to their dark ways, and Sex Prisoner unleash powerviolence with heavy groove.
Every Christopher Nolan Film Ranked from ‘Batman’ to ‘The Odyssey’
Christopher Nolan, today’s most ambitious director, lets us have our cake and eat it too by mixing avant-garde daring and maximalist spectacle.
Outbreak Festival 2026’s Best Performances
Outbreak Festival is the most consistently hailed event in European hardcore. Now, four years into that title, how can it possibly live up to the hype?