Art Quanstrom

2025 READERS POLL RESULTS

Welcome to 2026 and another fantastic year of Audioeclectica! While 2025 was quite the interesting year for the world, musically it was a solid year of great albums from bands new and older. The amount of new music I heard, the shows I saw, I’m pretty stoked on what 2025 was for music. That being said, 2026 is already shaping up to be a great year for music. Before we start the fun of 26, here’s the results from the 2025 Readers Poll. Thank you to everyone that reposted, shared stories, told friends, and of course voted at the end of the day! Below are the results based on comments left and messages sent.

Cheers To A Wonderful 2026!!

See you all on here or at a show!
Brian

And Now The Results Of The 2025 Audioeclectica Readers Poll:

Best Bassist: Sunny Faris- Blackwater Holylight

Best Drummer: Art Quanstrom- The Owling

Best Guitarist: Kal Michael- The Owling

Best Guitar Duo: Mike Repasch-Nieves/Joel Reynolds- SOM

Best Vocalist: Sean Ingram- Idle Heirs

Best Producer: TIE: Josh Barber- Idle Heirs and James Hammontree/Sanford Parker- Black Magnet

Best Album: TIE: Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence and The Owling- You Don’t Bow, You Will Learn

NOW GO LISTEN TO THESE BANDS AND ALBUMS!!!!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: THE OWLING- YOU DON’T BOW YOU WILL LEARN

I love albums that you can put on and let them just take you on a ride. Then there is that feeling you get when that right chord, melody or rhythm strikes. Also, it’s really refreshing to hear a band make an actual “album” and not just a collection of songs! Let me introduce you to, The Owling! This two piece Los Angeles based band is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Their sound is the perfect mix of 90’s Rock, Doom and Sludge with a very cinematic/poetic approach. The Owling’s debut album, You Don’t Bow You Will Learn, is a of righteous slab of riffs, and driving rhythms with vocals that soar. Think about driving down an open desert highway at sunset or sunrise with the windows down and this album blasting. Are you there yet? That’s exactly how this album feels. With each listen you find a different song to be your favorite. One other aspect about You Don’t Bow You Will Learn that I really enjoy is the use of space/ambience. When you listen, at certain moments, it’s almost like the fog machine is on and you get lost in the epic nature of the song. I very much look forward to what 2026 will bring for The Owling! Check out this band and be sure to buy a copy of their debut album and see them live! Also, quick shout out to Dean Karr for his badassery of great photo’s of the band and album cover. Talk about nailing an essence in a photo!

The Owling- You Don’t Bow You Will Learn: