Great Albums Analysed

In May of this year, it will mark the 30th anniversary of one of my all-time favourite albums, from one of my all-time favourite artists. For those unfamiliar with George Michael’s work and think of the upbeat popstar in Wham!, Older is actually a very dark and bleak record wrought by tragedy, suffering, and depression. However, what makes it so special, in spite of the sombre tone the album operates on, is the glimmers of optimism and hope nestled within the messaging. It’s a deeply personal album that has a very interesting backstory behind it, so I thought my next album analysis would look into this spectacular record for its 30th birthday.

Watch the full video here:

Stream the album here:

Recommended Tracks:
“Jesus to a Child”

“Fastlove”

“You Have Been Loved”

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Great Albums Analysed

Welcome, denizens of Sputnik, to my first-ever video essay! I’ve never done anything like this before, so I hope you enjoy it. I’ve wanted to do a review or an in-depth deep dive into not only one of my favourite soundtracks of all time, but one of my favourite albums, period, for a while now. I never get bored of listening to Human Revolution, so I thought I’d do a video that looks into the history of Michael McCann, the mindset behind the record, and then my personal opinion on why I love it. Let me know what you think, and if you want more content like this in the future, let me know.

Watch the full video here:

Stream the album here:

Recommended Tracks:
“Icarus”

“The Hive”

“Endings”

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You can read the full review I did for Humaning HERE.

After being on a decade-long hiatus, Earshot finally teased their return with a new line-up of members and a couple of singles to warm up with just before and during the Covid period. Yet, it was in 2025 where the band finally made their glorious return, dropping their first new album in 17 years and doing a 30+ date tour with Saliva to grease the engine and get things moving in a big way again. Simon (Dr.Gonzo) had an extensive discussion with Wil earlier last year to talk about the band’s history and their subsequent return, which you can watch here, however, in this new interview Gonzo catches up with Earshot to talk about Humaning at length, as well as the Spotify boycott, Lars v Napster, funny tour stories, new material in 2026, and much, much more in this monster discussion.

Full Interview:

Interview Content:

Intro / Merry Christmas 00:00

Handling Mainstream Success 02:29

During Earshot’s Hiatus 10:00

Touring With Saliva 22:13

Playing Live Again 27:15

Discovering The Meaning Behind Earshot Songs 30:00

Earshot Touring Story 33:22

Spinal Tap Was Based On UFO 40:39

What Is It To Be Humaning? 47:21

Being a Lyricist And Owning Mistakes 53:54

Being Moved By Music 01:09:07

The Production Of…

You can read the full review I did for Requiem HERE.

Primarily known for his dark folk project, Thurnin, Jurre Timmer is a no-nonsense solo artists with a wealth of talent under his belt. Coming off the back of last year’s fantastic third Thurnin album, Harmr, Jurre has resurrected his old melodeath project I, Forlorn 9 years after the release of his debut album, My Kingdom Eclipsed. This brand new 5-track EP, titled Requiem, is an appetiser for a full release later this year and can be listened to right now. With that in mind, Simon (Dr.Gonzo) recently had a chat with Jurre to discuss both I, Forlorn and Thurnin, as well as a soundtrack he has lined up for 2026, slop social media, mental health, and reflecting on Harmr nearly one year on from its release.    

The Full Interview:

Interview Content:

Intro / Kittens 0:00

Playing Guitar Upside Down 02:20

Social Media Slop 05:33

Going Independent Again 08:35

Artists Finding The New Business Model 12:20

The Reason For Writing So Many Albums 14:20

Reflecting On Harmr 16:00

Collaborating With Nathanael Larochette And BearTheStoryTeller 17:38

Favourite Track On Harmr 20:05

The Creative Process For Harmr 21:46

Why Bring I, Forlorn Back Now? 23:00

The Difference Between Writing Dark Folk and Metal Music 24:25

Reworking Old I, Forlorn…

Ryan (Hawks) and Simon (Dr.Gonzo) recently caught up with David Moody and Chris Sheppard, the duo behind some of the most interesting black/death metal on the market today, to talk about Veilburner’s latest album, Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy, as well as a load of interesting subjects including world-building, playing live, influences, and a candid look at how the sausage is made in the Veilburner camp.

The full interview:

Stream the full album:

Track recommendations:
“Pestilent Niche”

“That Which Crypts Howls Grandeur”

Veilburner’s Socials

Instagram

Facebook

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