MNSTRM Media

MNSTRM 65 IS HERE!

https://www.mnstrmmedia.com/january

The January issue of MNSTRM captures a moment where live music still feels urgent, physical, and worth paying attention to. Across reviews, essays, and long-form coverage, Issue 65 focuses on artists who show up with intention, whether they’re headlining sold-out rooms, grinding through club tours, or challenging the systems that shape how music survives in 2026.

This issue leans heavily into the live experience. A deep dive into the 20 year old Metallica beef to Cameron Whitcomb’s deeply grounded performance at Newport Music Hall, these pieces center on sincerity over spectacle. Coverage of The Band CAMINO, All Time Low with Mayday Parade, Memphis May Fire, Shakey Graves, In Color, and Night Cap highlights the range of spaces where connection still happens, from packed arenas to rooms that feel one step away from a basement show.

Alongside the live reporting, January includes a reflective album review revisiting Down’s NOLA thirty years later, framing the record not as nostalgia but as a lasting statement of creative independence. The issue is anchored by a long-form editorial examining Metallica vs. Napster, not as a cultural punchline, but as an early warning about ownership, labor, and what artists would eventually lose in the streaming era.

The new issue of MNSTRM centers on artists who are actively shaping the alternative landscape, with coverage that stays focused on craft, intent, and the realities of creating in 2025. This edition brings together a mix of live reporting, long-form conversations, and grounded editorials that highlight the work happening both on major stages and in tightly packed local rooms.

Inside, Bad Suns’ “Acceleratour” gets a detailed look at how a band can refine their sound without losing momentum. Marilyn Hucek’s feature traces the path of an independent artist finding clarity in a crowded digital era. Our Peach Pit piece leans into the full-scale nostalgia of their RuneScape-themed tour stop at KEMBA. And Horace Pinker offers a rare, decades-spanning perspective on staying rooted in punk without bending to industry trends.

Issue 64 also includes an editorial on artist accessibility and the ongoing challenges musicians face navigating royalties, distribution, and the business side of their work. Together, the pieces form a snapshot of the scene as it exists now, practical, creative, and built by artists who continue to evolve without losing their sense of direction.

Direct coverage, clean storytelling, and a focus on the musicians themselves.

https://www.mnstrmmedia.com/november

The transition into self publishing and reviewing our archives has been a tremendous amount of work but it’s so great revising new issues. Our 2017 archive is live and on our website and available for free download. This is one our favorite years and was our first full year as a publication! There’s so much history in music we’ve documented (even things like Billie Ellish’s first tour) from this year, 🔗 in bio!

Our September issue was absolutely stacked! Here’s a roundup of what went out in our most recent issue. This issue is available on our website, only $1.99 for an instant digital download 🫶

https://www.mnstrmmedia.com