Did you know?
RMR sports playlists! Since its meager beginnings, the crew generated roughly 1’100 reviews spread over around 700 bands covering a riot of different genres and sub-genres. That’s a pretty impressive number, given the lack of manpower and an abundance of life events getting in the way all the time. After all, we only have 24 hours in the day, plus the night if need be. An operation fraught with unpaid labor and a day job to finance all that pain and misery.
This means that RMR sits atop a vast heap of predominantly heavy music waiting to be (re)discovered. Thus, the zine features two robust sets of playlists, containing the best cuts of content available on this zine for your listening pleasure. Spotify powers the music-only version, whereas the moving pictures can be found on YouTube. Those lists are often complementary and constantly updated as we move further into the second decade of the RMR adventure.
For this short blurb, we shall concentrate on Spotify‘s vast collection of music available. The YouTube lists are transactional at best and best suited for binge-watching on a big screen. Link’s noted above.
So, without further ado, let’s commence with the music-only ones.
The mighty Nine!
Yes, you heard that right. To date RMR sports 9 different playlists on Spotify covering the spectrum of of all styles available on this zine. But before we start and to help RMR, please like and follow good ‘ol RMR on Spotify whenever you hit one of those. It truly helps a lot with the algorithm.
Let’s do this!
#1 – Sorrow Land!
The adepts of doom ‘n’ gloom are a strong faction on RMR and – thus – are well-furnished with wistful musings of woe. An ocean of sadboi feelz fueling one of the most popular genres on RMR. And this warranted a playlist all by itself. You will find a ton of excellent bands plying the tear-drenched wastes of grief and desperation. So, if you’re ready for emotional destruction and despair, hit the link above. Now, whip out them tissues and hit play.
#2 – Steam Cave
Grunge, Stoner, Punk, Southern, or Plain and Heavy Rock, and more. All of those invoke those visions of steamy music halls. It is a vast multiverse all by itself. But – alas – rock is an underused item on the roster of RMR. Still, a fairly well-developed and red-hot heap of volcanic items made it onto this playlist. Parts of the selection may not be exactly in line with expectations and others – well – are guilty pleasures.
#3 – Hard ‘n’ Heavy
Many acts around Heavy Metal and Hard Rock truly find our sweet spot. Together with the musings of thrash, these age-old genres remind us of the times when metal and rock were more straightforward and devoid of today’s genre-slicing madness. It was a straight affair, not that damn bedlam of forced overcomplication heavy music has become lately. RMR’s main fare, our metallic heart and soul are right here. Dive into our findings and best cuts.
#4 – Dark, wild, and fantastical!
Gothic, Symphonic, Power, Dark, and Melodic Metal are often in cahoots with each other. Metal o’ the Light uses up a fair portion of this vulnerable Metal Multiverse of ours. Fantasies, dragons, aliens, spaceships, and pirates. They’re all conspiring together to form a wild mix of enlightened areas featuring the strangest alloys available on this playlist. Welcome to the fantastical delights of the melodic and symphonic realms of metal.
#5 – Odin’s Lair
RMR is not only metal. Pagan and Folk in all its forms are also part of our DNA. And it may be straight archaic sounds, rock, or pure metal. And everything in between. In short, if you feel like a few quiet moments after a hefty day, this list will be your friend. But keep an open mind, musical traveler. Oftentimes, these blurbs on here may be far away from your usual fare. But it will be worth it to spend some time and enjoy. Listen deeply and let the mighty breath of the old gods seep into you. That kind of thing.
# 6 – The Extreme
Black, Death, and Extreme Metal for diehard metalheads is on the menu here. This list contains the best tidbits that RMR came across whilst scouring the smelly underbelly of the Metal Multiverse. But have a care, this is for seasoned acolytes of the metal lore. Or – indeed – those who wish to be brutalized into the wild world of the most extreme undercurrent this riot of metal genres keeps on offer for your listening pleasure. But make sure you don’t destroy your ears and your sanity at the same time. You have been warned.
#7 – Out of the Box
Welcome to the liminal space where nothing is as it seems and everything is possible. Alternative, progressive, psychedelic, and – yes – experimental sounds freely emanate from this list. This is the world of free-thinking metallists and rock aficionados ready to dazzle you into submission with their art of the weird and magical. Enter RMR’s creative netherworld and enjoy intricate and often ethereal delights. This playlist of the weird beckons you, if you dare. Psychedelic musings ahead.
What else?
Sometimes things get out of hand over at the office tower and the RMR crew focuses a tad too much on single bands. Often old and established acts with the coolest songs and totally fraught with undue and fanboy-driven nostalgia. And there may be more on its way going forward.
So, here goes.
#8 – UFO – The Schenker Years
One slice of UFO’s illustrious career, the Schenker years, fascinated the RMR crew to no end. The now seriously defunct band enjoyed their most prolific time when the volatile yet excellent Michael Schenker – the brother of Scorpion‘s Rudolf – was a full member of the band. This result were five great albums that stood the test of time. And this warranted a playlist over at Spotify on behalf of one of the most underrated rock bands of all time.
#9 – The Power of Heep
In 1969 an obscure band called Uriah Heep saw the light of day boasting a fledgling early Prog Rock style. In this early time of intense creative activity, the act concocted some of their most iconic records. Music that still resonates to this day, tirelessly promoted by a band still active. Albeit, by February of 2025, the band around Mick Box will start their farewell tour that will last “…two to three years…” with their retirement looming after that. We will see, I guess.
And Finally…
The RMR crew will continue to update and renew these lists. And – who knows – you may even see playlists from other acts or genres magically appear for your listening pleasure.
Also, not all the material covered on RMR will show on those playlists. And frankly, some of those acts are so cvlt (and underground) that they don’t even show on the big streaming services. Or any other store for that matter. It’s that cassette thinking all over again. And there’s only so much we can do about that, right?
If you are confused or need to correct or add to our bad taste in music, feel free to contact us and let loose with whatever ails you.
In the meantime, play loud and rock hard. And stay tuned, there’s always more interesting stuff appearing on this here zine!