Crucial Track for February 15, 2026

"ANIMETAL" by Within Destruction

Listen on Apple Music

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How do you discover new music, and what’s the latest gem you’ve found?

I find new music through a number of sources, but my favorite means of music discovery is checking out the openers at shows my partner and I attend. In the days leading up to a concert I try to put together a quick playlist of every performer that will be there so that I at least have some familiarity with them all before they take the stage. Sometimes I like the bad as soon as I give them a listen, sometimes I don't really "get" them until I see them live, and maybe their music isn't necessarily what I'm in to... but live music is special and I cherish getting to see a variety of performers doing the thing they love.

We're going to see The Browning in a few weeks, and now I'm pretty excited for one of the openers, Within Destruction.