King Ultramega

We recently learned about a passion-driven musical project honoring the life, voice, and genius of Chris Cornell (ex-Soundgarden). It’s called King Ultramega.

This endeavor is the brainchild of producer and bassist Mark Menghi.

Menghi says of the project:

It started in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when Menghi recorded a version of ‘Rusty Cage’ with friends. What began as a creative release soon became something larger. With every step forward, the project deepened in meaning and purpose. ‘”I kept crossing the mental roadblock of ‘you are entering uncharted waters, are you sure you wanna do this?'” Menghi reflects. “Chris is one of those dudes if you cover, you better do it justice.”

The list of collaborators is pretty impressive. Kim Thayil (ex-Soundgarden), Charlie Benante (Anthrax), Joe Satriani, William DuVall (Alice in Chains), Bill Kelliher (Mastodon), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp) among others.

The Soulless Symphony: Why AI-Generated Music Fails

AI-generated music poses a significant threat to the integrity of the art form and the livelihoods of human artists. The core issue lies in authenticity; music is fundamentally a form of human expression, conveying emotion, experience, and unique perspective. AI systems, trained on vast databases of existing music, can only remix and replicate patterns. The resulting tracks, often described as “soulless,” lack the nuanced emotional depth and genuine originality that connects listeners to human-created art.

This technological shift also creates severe ethical and economic concerns. The widespread use of existing, copyrighted music to train AI models without proper compensation constitutes a form of digital plagiarism. This unchecked utilization devalues the original works and further dilutes royalty pools for professional musicians and songwriters. As AI can generate a deluge of “slop”—low-quality, mass-produced content—it becomes harder for real artists to gain attention, thereby displacing human talent and making it more difficult to sustain a creative career.

Furthermore, the technology raises complex questions of ownership and intellectual property. Who owns the copyright for a song created by an algorithm trained on thousands of artists’ works? Until these legal and ethical gray areas are resolved, the pursuit of AI music prioritizes efficiency and profit over human creativity, risking a future where the soundscape becomes homogenized and less diverse.

moisturizer by Wet leg

moisturizer (cover)

Wet Leg‘s second studio album, moisturizer, released on July 11, 2025, via Domino Recording Company, marks a triumphant evolution for the Isle of Wight band.

Founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, now expanded to a five-piece, the album builds on their 2022 self-titled debut’s quirky indie rock charm while delving deeper into themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth.

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My Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2024

Angry Blackmen

2024 was an outstanding year for new music. From rap to alternative to metal, I’ve listened to many fantastic releases.

These are my Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2024. Favorite, not best. What gives me the right to claim something as “the best?”

10

Maggot MassPharmakon (10/4, Sacred Bones)

Pain. Margaret Chardiet expresses better than most.

Favorite track: Wither and Warp

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