It’s time for another fun episode of The Audioeclectica Podcast. We are now up to episode 6 and this one is all about the concerts we’ve been to since the start of the year. So far this year we’ve seen Snot, Kerry King, Helmet, Slomosa, Jerry Cantrell, Filter, Deftones, The Mars Volta, Danzig, Down, Abbath, Poison The Well, Glassjaw, Better Lovers, Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse, Spiritbox, Obituary, Napalm Death, The Melvins, Six Feet Under and Nile. Take a listen as we recap the best parts of these show and the not so best parts!
Be sure to also check out the 10 bands/albums we mention. There’s always something good to listen to be it an older album or newer.
We are coming up to the halfway point of 2025 and I thought now would be a good time to do a Best Of 2025… So Far. In here you’ll find what I think are the best albums released so far as well as the best concerts I’ve seen all year!
Best Albums Of 2025… So Far: ALBUMS!!!!
01) Idle Heirs- Life Is Violence This album is my absolute favorite of the year so far and I don’t think anything is going to over take it unless Nine Inch Nails puts out their new album this year. I love this album and everything it entails. The sheer rawness and atmospheric nature of it all as well as the devastating nature of it and how real it all comes to life.
02) Linkin Park- From Zero (Deluxe Edition) From Zero is already a great album. It’s not the best thing this band has ever done (Meteora and A Thousand Suns take that prize) but, this album is phenomenal. And I’m being absolutely serious. When it came out towards the end of 2024 it left a lasting impression on me and now with the 3 additional songs added, it just takes it to a whole other level. It’s criminal how good this album is!!!!
03) Guiltless- Teeth To Sky This album is another that is still in rotation and I keep finding more and more to love about this record. As I mentioned in my album of the week feature, having a band play music like this but, flipping the script and making it optimistic instead of straight doom and gloom, really puts this album up high.
04) Spiritbox- Tsunami Sea I’ve quite enjoyed this album. It’s a really well put together album with some really killer songs on it. It’s a really solid second album as well that is quite cohesive. I just recently went to see Spiritbox live and they are a really good live band and these songs definitely go harder than on album as one would expect. It’s going to be interesting to see and hear where they go next.
05) Coheed And Cambria- Vaxis III: The Father Of Make Believe Coheed is back!!! Not that they went away, I mean it more in that after the past two albums which felt kind of long and more of a collection of songs, they are back with an “album” that really kicks ass. If you are a fan of albums such as In Keeping Secrets and Good Apollo Part IV, then you’ll really dig this one. It’s a really good album that has a great flow to it. And there also feels like a renewed sense of the band on this one too as the performances really are kicked up a few notches!
06) Youth Code- Yours, With Malice I’ve been a Youth Code fan for quite some time so, when it came time for this record to arrive, I was pretty stoked and it’s a banger! Though only an EP, Yours, With Malice doesn’t lose a beat with the punishing and menacing beats pulsating along with vocals that reflect the trying times and harsh reality of it all.
07) Tonguecutter- Minnow When I first heard Tonguecutter’s Minnow, I thought I was in a time machine back to 1993 in a great way. This band and album have been a really cool surprise to hear in 2025. They make music that I’ve always loved and give it a bump in energy. Really look forward to more from Tonguecutter. They are one of those bands if the right people hear it will really resonate!
08) Black Map- Hex I’ve been a fan since the first single dropped and Black Map keeps getting better! Hex is one hell of an album. It’s short, concise and very direct in its approach. Throughout the 9 songs and 32 minutes, you are taken on a ride of great riffs and rhythms along with soaring melodic vocals. I keep finding myself listening to this album as whole more so than picking songs. Give this one a good spin!!
09) SOM- Let The Light In I remember seeing SOM open for Holy Fawn a couple years back and I was hooked from that point. Their new album, Let The Light In, is a tremendous album that really expands upon their already epic nature. I find myself listening to this a lot when I need something a bit more calming or relaxing as their post-metal sound reaches new heights.
10) Machinekit- Goddamn Vanity This LA techno-punk band is awesome! The new album, Goddamn Vanity, strikes quite hard. It’s abrasive and quite powerful. The way this album gut punches you is superb. The aggressive nature of this album is harks back to late 80’s Ministry and Broken era Nine Inch Nails. Also, their live show is one of the most fun and energetic shows you can see!
BEST CONCERTS OF 2025… SO FAR:
01) Poison The Well, Glassjaw, Better Lovers at Hollywood Palladium 02) Snot at SoHo Santa Barabara 03) Helmet and Slomosa at The Regent Theater 04) Jerry Cantrell and Filter at Ventura Theater 05) Danzig and Down at Forum 06) Meshuggah, Cannibal Corpse & Carcass at Forum 07) Deftones at Forum 08) Spiritbox at Hollywood Palladium 09) Kerry King at Fonda Theater 10) All Cobalt/Audioeclectica shows!
Every so often, a band will release an album that changes everything for the band and genre. 25 years ago, Poison The Well released their debut full length, The Opposite Of December and it set forth a path that would go on to help pioneer a genre and inspire a new bunch of bands. Their distinctive “metalcore” sound has become often imitated but, there’s nothing like hearing the real thing! Joining Poison The Well on this celebratory tour are 2 of my favorites new and old in Better Lovers and Glassjaw as well as Teenage Wrist. When this show pulled into the Hollywood Palladium on a beautiful Friday night, the wake of destruction that was upon all those in attendance would not be for the faint of heart. This show was designed to go off the instant it starts and oh boy did it! NOTE- Continued on next page (look below).
I’m sure I’m not alone in being excited that after 15 years we finally have new music from Poison The Well. Today got a very welcome and exciting new song from the group entitled, “Trembling Level.” this song is a pretty good encapsulation of Poison The Well and it sort of picks up where 2009’s underrated The Tropic Rot. In an interesting development, former guitarist Derek Miller is credited with being one of the songwriters for this track alongside drummer Christopher Hornbrook, vocalist Jeffrey Moriera and guitarist Ryan Primack. This song will be a part of a band new album produced by Will Putney! I for one am stoked on having new Poison The Well. I will hopefully see some of you at their upcoming tour with Glassjaw and Better Lovers!
Poison The Well’s third album and major label debut, You Come Before You, is one of the best heavy albums of the new millennium. I remember the summer of 2003 when it came out and how it was a shotgun blast of WOW! I was already into the band via their previous album, Tear From The Red and was very much anticipating You Come Before You. As much as I liked Tear From The Red, and it’s a a banger, You Come Before You always had a bit more to it. The natural evolution of the band showed through on YCBY and the live show at this time too was on another level. A few years back when Poison The Well announced their reunion I was beyond stoked and the LA show they played was top notch. As we come up on 20 years of You Come Before You, I’ve gone back and to the album and keep reminding myself why it’s so good. I could and probably will do a whole piece about the album but, right now I just want to focus on the final song on the album, “Crystal Lake.” It’s one of those end of album songs that encapsulates the record and leaves a bit of a trail of impending things to come. The song itself is ferocious and it’s teeth really sink in from the moment Chris Hornbrook’s drums start. Then as soon as it’s over, you feel compelled to start the album over!
Two years ago I wrote a piece about how Poison The Well should get back together. They were one of those bands that really expanded their sound and evolved in a good way. Fast forward till now and they are back and playing shows again. After playing some festivals and east coast shows last year, Poison The Well finally made their way over to the west coast. I for one couldn’t have been happier that they are back.
Their show at the Roxy featured special guests, hardcore legends Strife. The pure unrelenting attitude that permeated from each individual on stage shows why Strife has always been a force to reckon with live. Their career spanning set was full of songs about unity, peace, and anti violence. Strife was one of the first hardcore bands that I ever listened to way back when. I saw them many years ago, and they still pack one hell of a punch live.
Poison The Well come out on stage in dramatic fashion. Dark stage then lit by blue lights and right into “Ghostchant.” The crowd couldn’t have been more ecstatic and the smile on my face was very bright. Their set which was career spanning as well focused a lot on the albums You Come Before You, The Opposite Of December and Tear From The Red. You could tell that the band was really happy with the crowd and the reaction they were getting. Singer Jeff Moreira would smile a lot during the set. Guitarist Ryan Primack was feeling the good vibes and having fun dressed in his best “Dad shirt.” Drummer Chris Hornbrook hit this drums with such fury and passion. Other highlight songs of the night were “Zombies Are Good For Your Health,” “Purple Sabbath” then straight into “Slice Paper Wrists,” “Karsey Street,” “Apathy Is A Cold Body,” “Crystal Lake,” “Botchla,” and closing out the evening “For A Bandaged Iris,” and “Nerdy.”
Poison The Well delivered just what I was wanting. It was a great night to revisit those songs and see so many people enjoy that Poison The Well came back. It’s amazing how certain albums and songs can hold up so well over time, and have a different meaning now than they did way back when. I for one am very intrigued to see if Poison The Well will continue on and release some new music. Based on the excitement from the crowd at the show, I’m sure most of them would welcome it with open arms.
Last year Poison The Well announced a few shows marking their return. Today they announced they are playing shows on the west coast during the summer. This news put me in a Poison The Well kind of mood. So here is a ranking of their albums from not their best to the best.
There comes a time for every band to take the next step with their music. When that time comes, the final product is often times misunderstood and takes a while for the fans to come around. Then there are the new fans that come aboard and really take a liking to the change. In the early 2000’s following the success of their album Tear From The Red, Poison The Well found themselves signing to Atlantic Records and from that point started putting together what would become their third album You Come Before You. They enlisted Swedish producers Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström who worked on Refused’s monumental album The Shape Of Punk To Come. Recording for the album started at the legendary Sound City Studio and then moved to Sweden. The end result of these sessions brought out the absolute best in the band. You Come Before You is the album that breaks the mold of post hardcore and allows the bands other influences to shine through. The use of melody throughout really helped to sharpen the bands edge without taking away from their hardcore roots. Opening song “Ghostchant” shows just that. Other stellar songs include “For A Bandaged Iris,” “A) The View From Here Is…B) A Brick Wall,” “Zombies Are Good For Your Health,” “Apathy Is A Cold Body,” “Sounds Like The End Of The World,” and closer “Crystal Lake.” The entire album is sensational if you are into this genre of music. It has even been talked about as one of the most influential albums of the “metalcore” genre. The band really stepped up on this album. Singer Jeff Moreira really developed an identity on this album by taking chances vocally and lyrically. The riffs, tones and all around playing from guitarists Derek Miller and Ryan Primack are crisp and heavy, allowing all the notes to come through. The rhythm section of Chris Hornbrook on drums and Geoff Bergman on bass, are one of the most in the pocket in this genre. After the record was complete, the band started a year and a half tour cycle that took them to around the world. Towards the end though, many of the band members were worn out and unsure if they wanted to continue with Poison the Well. Sadly, guitarist Derek Miller did part ways at this time.
Poison The Well would go on to release 2 more albums that further expanded upon what they started on this album. After the release of their final album The Tropic Rot, the band took a long hiatus, only recently returning to the stage in 2015 for a reunion show. Here’s to hoping they continue on. Poison The Well are one of the more underrated bands in heavy music and helped to make it acceptable to allow melody into the genre.
There comes a time in every bands career when the thought of evolving crosses their mind. It’s never to take away what they’ve done in the past but as a sign of the times of maturity and growth. Poison The Well did just that when they were together. Starting out as a hardcore/metalcore band when they released their album The Opposite Of December, the band eventually started experimenting with melody and different song structures on their great follow up Tear From The Red. This album gave the band the push they needed to continue to evolve their sound and not get stuck in a stagnant spot of regurgitating the same thing. For their next album You Come Before You, the band reached out to Swedish producers Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström, who worked on the classic album The Shape Of Punk To Come by the Refused. You Come Before You was also their first and only record to be released by a major label, Atlantic Records. Having experienced some level of success with You Come Before You, a long and hard touring cycle left certain members of the band disenchanted. Guitarist Derek Miller quit the band and would later go on to form the alternative band Sleigh Bells (yuck). After months of working and writing material, the band set off in early 2005 to work and record with Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lövström again in Sweden. Versions was their next step in their evolution. After the touring cycle finished for Versions, the band wasted little time in getting back to writing for what would be their final album The Tropic Rot. This album was sonically large and very focused. All their experimentation, was leading up to this. Sadly it all came apart after the end of touring for The Tropic Rot. The members of Poison The Well announced they were moving on and exploring other musical interests.
It also seems as though what Poison The Well were up to, might have been a little ahead of the times. To constantly be able to be challenged and inspired to create genuinely good pieces of work is not easy and does take a toll. I can only imagine what new material would sound like from them now. So with that in mind, Poison The Well needs to return!
AUDIOECLECTICA 