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Forbet Casino Review

Forbet casino has been making waves in Czechia, and people keep asking if it’s worth their time. The brand has a straightforward setup: a real Czech company behind it, a licence connected to the Ministry of Finance, and a website that mixes sports betting with a casino lobby full of slots and live tables.

Licensing

Forbet casino is operated by forBET online CZ s.r.o., a Prague-based company. The site shows “licence no. 00006947,” but that number is the Ministry’s company ID, not an individual casino licence. What matters is the official case references that do tie back to Czech regulators. In practice, that means the operation sits under Czech oversight, which is what most players care about.

Bonuses

Bonuses at Forbet casino are designed to get you moving quickly. You don’t need a big bankroll to start—signing up already gives you CZK 100, credited without a deposit. Once you’re in, you’ll see extras tied to deposits, free spins, birthday rewards, and seasonal tournaments.

Here’s the part players usually enjoy the most: the registration bonus shows up instantly. No waiting, no fine print hidden away in some endless scroll of terms. Deposit matches follow a more classic pattern, rewarding you with extra credit when you top up your account. Free spins get thrown in with certain offers, and if your birthday rolls around, the site automatically adds a small gift.

It’s not a giant flood of offers, but the rhythm works. Instead of juggling dozens of short-term promos, Forbet casino keeps things focused on a handful of reliable perks.

Games

The casino section carries both Czech-made titles and international names. You’ll notice familiar faces like Blood Suckers or Beetle Frenzy alongside homegrown hits such as Turbo Slots 81 from Apollo Games. Multi 5 from E-gaming is also here, keeping with the local flavor. Then there are more exotic titles—Fast & Sexy, Bulletproof Babes, A Night With Cleo—that some casinos label as proprietary.

Slot and live game options:

Category Examples Providers
Classic slots Multi 5, Turbo Slots 81 Apollo Games, E-gaming
Video slots Blood Suckers, Beetle Frenzy, Flame Fruits Frenzy NetEnt, ELA Games
Originals A Night With Cleo, Fast & Sexy, Bulletproof Babes Proprietary/Mixed
Live tables Lucky Ball Roulette, Speed Roulette, Mega Blackjack Playtech, Evolution

The table gives a clean overview, but in practice you’ll probably just click around until something catches your eye. Forbet casino doesn’t overload the screen with studio logos, but the range covers both casual spins and more serious live play.

So the catalog has depth, without turning into an endless scroll. And if you like live dealer banter, Speed Roulette is a safe bet—it’s fast-paced and the dealers talk like streamers on a good night.

Payments

Forbet casino keeps payments simple. You can start with as little as CZK 10, using DotPay, PayU, Visa, or MasterCard. Withdrawals go back to the same method, so you don’t end up stuck waiting on an obscure processor.

Deposit and withdrawal details:

Method Deposit Withdrawal Minimum
DotPay Yes Yes CZK 10
PayU Yes Yes CZK 10
Visa Yes Yes CZK 10
MasterCard Yes Yes CZK 10

Most Czech players are already familiar with PayU and DotPay, so nothing feels foreign here. The low entry point makes testing the site a low-risk move, and withdrawals stay within the same rails, which keeps the process clean.

Support and extras

Forbet casino offers live chat round the clock. If chat isn’t your thing, there’s a phone number with weekday hours and an email option. Identity verification runs through bank ID, which tends to speed up payouts. The mobile app is still labeled as “in development,” but the browser version on a phone works without hiccups.

FAQ

Is Forbet casino licensed in Czechia?

Yes, Forbet casino runs under the Ministry of Finance via forBET online CZ s.r.o. The brand is legally active in Czechia.

What bonuses does Forbet casino offer?

Bonuses include CZK 100 for registration, deposit boosts, free spins, birthday perks, and seasonal tournaments.

What games can you play at Forbet casino?

You’ll find Czech slots like Turbo Slots 81 and Multi 5, international classics like Blood Suckers, and live tables such as roulette and blackjack.

How do payments work at Forbet casino?

Deposits and withdrawals use DotPay, PayU, Visa, and MasterCard, with a minimum of CZK 10.

PlayNow Casino: The Canadian Option That Actually Matters

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PlayNow Casino is one of the rare names in Canada that can be taken seriously without hesitation. This isn’t a shadowy offshore site with questionable operators. It’s run by provincial gaming bodies, backed by regulation, and aimed squarely at players who want to gamble online without second-guessing where their money goes. That’s already a different starting point compared to many casinos that flood the market.

Licensing and Oversight

PlayNow Casino doesn’t hide behind vague licensing terms. It operates under the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. That structure matters because it puts the casino under direct Canadian rules. The launch dates back to 2004, and expansion into more provinces happened steadily after. For players, the real takeaway is peace of mind—you’re on a platform tied to Canadian institutions, not some faceless setup.

Bonuses Explained

PlayNow Casino likes to keep promotions tidy. The headline offer is a C$100 bonus. You drop in C$100, wager C$500 on casino games with code CASINO100, and you walk away with an extra hundred bucks in bonus funds. It’s straightforward, no hidden traps.

There are smaller entry points too. A C$20 deposit and play gives you a C$20 Free Play token. And the same structure repeats for live casino, lottery, and sportsbook tokens. But here’s the deal: you can only pick one welcome offer. Once it’s chosen, that’s it.

These offers may not be massive, but they’re dependable. The fact that they’re locked into provincial oversight makes them more grounded than what offshore casinos like to dangle around.

Game Variety

If variety matters, PlayNow Casino has a range. Slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, bingo, keno, scratch cards, lottery tickets, esports betting—it covers all the angles. Poker’s an interesting piece of the puzzle: available in BC and Manitoba, mostly focused on Hold’em, and while traffic isn’t huge, it’s steady. The software feels a bit old-school but holds up in practice.

The provider list is long and familiar. NetEnt, IGT, Novomatic, Big Time Gaming, Bally, WMS, Greentube, Scientific Games—the list goes on. Thirty-two providers in total. Enough for most players to never run out of new titles to try. And because it’s PlayNow Casino, all games run under regulated standards.

Payment Options

The payment side of PlayNow Casino is very Canadian. The platform supports Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Interac Online, PayPal, WebCash, and Online Bill Payment. Deposits start at just C$5, which makes it easy to test the waters.

Withdrawals are tied to your bank account, and only your bank account. The wait is usually one to three business days, though sometimes it takes a bit longer. It isn’t flashy, but it gets the job done.

Quick Overview

A neat way to size up PlayNow Casino is through the main categories lined up side by side.

Category Details
Licensing Provincial regulation via BCLC, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, SIGA
Welcome Bonus C$100 match on C$100 deposit + C$500 wager with code CASINO100
Tokens C$20 Free Play for casino, sportsbook, lottery, or live casino
Game Types Slots, table games, live dealers, poker, bingo, lottery, keno, scratch cards, esports
Providers NetEnt, IGT, Big Time Gaming, Novomatic, Bally, Scientific Games, WMS, Greentube, etc.
Payments Mastercard, Visa, AmEx, PayPal, Interac, WebCash, Bill Pay; C$5 minimum deposit
Responsible Play GameSense tools, support lines, self-exclusion options

That table gives a tidy snapshot of the essentials without having to chase down small print.

The overall picture is clear: PlayNow Casino focuses on delivering variety and safety without overcomplicating things.

Support and Responsible Play

Responsible gambling isn’t treated as a side note at PlayNow Casino. GameSense provides the backbone, giving you options to set limits, exclude yourself if needed, and connect to professional support. For those who like to keep tabs on their habits, it’s practical and upfront.

Customer support is wide open: live chat, phone (1-877-706-6789), and email. Poker support is always on, while other sections keep defined hours. Mobile users won’t miss out either—the platform is HTML5-ready, and there are apps for poker and lottery.

Bonus Breakdown

It’s easier to judge PlayNow Casino bonuses when you see them laid out individually.

Bonus Type Requirement Reward
Casino Bonus Deposit C$100 + wager C$500 C$100 bonus funds
Casino Token Deposit C$20 + spend C$20 C$20 Free Play token
Live Casino Deposit/play token offer C$20 Free Play token
Lottery Deposit/play token offer C$20 Free Play token
Sportsbook Deposit/play token offer C$20 Free Play token

The takeaway? Bigger players might lean toward the full C$100 bonus. Smaller bettors can still get mileage out of the tokens. PlayNow Casino gives options to suit different bankrolls.

Conclusion

PlayNow Casino holds its own in a Canadian market where trust and transparency matter. The licensing is tied directly to provincial regulators, the promotions are simple and clear, and the range of games stretches from slots to poker without feeling bloated. Payment methods reflect what Canadians actually use, and support lines don’t feel like they’re an afterthought.

For those who want the security of a legal platform without sacrificing variety, PlayNow Casino is the one that checks those boxes. It doesn’t promise fireworks, but it does promise fairness, and that’s worth something in an industry where big promises often mean little.

Entertainment in 2025: Why online casinos are now part of your lifestyle choices

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Gambling has become more accessible and exciting with the rise of digital platforms.
Online casinos are no longer restricted to gamblers in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. Today, players have the advantage of being able to place bets or enjoy their favourite casino online games from the comfort of their sofas.

Online gambling becoming an everyday leisure

The accessibility has made gambling a convenient form of leisure for millions. With casino online platforms like MrQ, players get fast mobile play, clear terms, and no wagering which is designed for a straightforward and secure gaming experience.

These platforms offer 24/7 service, meaning that you can indulge in a game whenever you choose, free from the restrictions of opening hours or location.

Modern users are given the chance to play in a way that suits their preferences with the advancement of technology, allowing them the ability of fast signups, secure payment methods and ability to limit their spend whenever they wish and a wide selection of games online to play.

Immersive technology and player experience

Online casinos are also embracing immersive technology, which is known to enhance the gaming experience for players.

New forms of technology, Virtual reality and Augmented reality have made their way into the world of digital gambling. Allowing players to gain a newfound excitement of a physical casino experience to their living rooms.

These innovative technologies allow players to interact with their environment in new ways, making the experience feel more realistic. You can chat with the dealers and view the action in 3D, all from your device.

Regulation and responsible gambling

Gaming authorities worldwide have improved their efforts to ensure that online gaming remains both a safe and responsible platform for players.

Players can be reassured when using most platforms that they are participating in a secure environment, with licensing and strict regulations in place and tools such as self-exclusion and deposit limits, supporting players to feel more in control of their usage and avoid excessive gambling.

With these tools in place, platforms show their commitment to prioritising their customer’s well-being by ensuring that gambling remains a safe and fun activity, rather than a dangerous habit.

Market growth and mainstream

In recent years, the online casino market has seen a huge growth with the rise of mobile technology, opening online gambling to a wider audience.

Major sporting events and media partnerships are also known to be making gambling a part of everyday conversations by blurring the lines between traditional entertainment with gambling.
As technology continues to be innovative, online casinos are likely to remain a prominent feature of our lifestyles for years to come.

Best AI Rewriting Tools for 2025: Side-by-Side Comparison

Revising has always been an essential part of a writer’s writing process. Writers draft, revise, polish, and sometimes start again until the writing seems right. The change in the last few years has been the addition of artificial intelligence in this process. AI tools can now generate first drafts in seconds, and then can rewrite and polish that text equally quickly. The conversation has shifted from “should we use AI?” to now, “how can we use AI responsibly?”

There are many AI rewriters in 2025, and the industry is crowded with competing platforms across educational, business, and creative writing. Some focus on speed, some focus on tone, and others are focused entirely on originality.

Among the most talked about options is the Smodin Rewriter, which has positioned itself as a balance of clarity, usability, and accuracy. But Smodin is not alone. Tools like QuillBot, Wordtune, and Jasper also attract strong followings, each serving slightly different needs. Comparing them side by side helps writers decide which one fits best.

Why Rewriting Tools Matter

The value of rewriting tools lies in how they shape meaning. A raw AI draft may capture facts but not personality. Sentences might feel redundant, transitions may feel awkward, and the overall cadence may seem flat. A quality rewriter accomplishes much more than simply cleaning up grammatical mistakes; it restructures text until it sounds like something that was written on someone’s best day. 

For students, rewriting tools reduce writing tension in academic essays by cleaning up any awkward sentence structure or phrases. For professionals, rewriting tools save time in preparing reports or proposals. For bloggers and marketers, rewriting tools give the information the energy it otherwise might not have, and could sound generic. In all these cases, whether or not there is some level of efficiency in completing the writing, or authentic voice, is the deciding factor of how worthwhile the tool is.

Smodin Rewriter

Smodin is unique because it is simple while still being thorough. The interface is basic: paste text, pick settings, and get a rewritten version immediately. What is unique about it is that it stays true to the meaning of the text while improving the flow. Sentences feel cleaner without becoming mechanical. For students, this means clearer essays. For professionals, it means sharper reports. For anyone, it means less time lost to overthinking phrasing.

Another element that has received accolades is the ability to communicate in multiple languages. Many writers who contribute in more than one language regularly experience different writing styles. Smodin can accommodate this with options for dozens of languages, meaning that many users can both employ Smodin and have access to a tool for global classrooms and international business. The balance between intended easy-to-use features and the ability to adapt seemed to be the foundation for the loyal following Smodin has received in 2025.

QuillBot

QuillBot is still one of the most popular names in paraphrasing. What makes the tools so appealing is the variety they offer. Users can select from a number of different modes, for example, formal, creative, or concise. This can really appeal to students who may want some academic polish one day and lighter phrasing the next. Also, Quillbot works easily with the most popular word processing programs, which helps it fit into work already being done. 

The downside of the tool is that the results can feel somewhat formulaic at times. In longer pieces, QuillBot can have a hard time keeping the original voice or consistency across the borrowing, and the original rewrite can feel jumpy. Writers often find themselves doing extensive editing after the fact. Still, for quickly coming up with alternative phrasing, and particularly in academic settings, QuillBot is still a very popular option.

Wordtune

Wordtune operates more as a writing companion than a revered rewriter. The app shines in suggesting sentence-level changes in tone and emphasis, and professionals have appreciated it for workplace communication, where tone can be key. One click of a button can convert formal to casual or lengthy to concise.

The strength is in micro-adjustments and not large rewrites, making it much less compatible with students thinking of a lengthy research project, but effective in emails, memos, and all short-form content. In 2025, Wordtune will have a clear niche as the tool for professionals wanting more nuanced control.

Jasper

Jasper, originally known for content generation, now offers rewriting features that complement its broader toolset. Marketers in particular use Jasper because it connects rewriting with campaign planning. A blog draft can be rewritten in different tones to test which fits a brand voice better. A sales page can be adjusted to emphasize benefits more clearly.

Nonetheless, the platform presents a greater learning curve and higher price tag than a lot of other options. For companies with specific marketing budgets, it is a sound alternative. For an individual student or casual writer, it generally feels overwhelming.

Risks and limitations

It is important to recognize that rewriting tools are not magic solutions. Over-reliance can flatten individuality. If every writer used the same settings, content would begin to sound similar. Writers must still inject personal voice, anecdotes, and quirks.

There is also the risk of misunderstanding. AI sometimes changes phrasing in ways that subtly shift meaning. Careful review remains essential. The most successful writers treat rewriters as starting points rather than final editors.

The Main Takeaway

As demonstrated in 2025, AI rewriting tools exemplify the shift in writing culture. These tools are not amphitheaters of creativity but facilitators that help convert a rough or edited draft into a finely crafted, finished draft. Smodin, QuillBot, Wordtune, and Jasper will serve various audiences, and where you fall in that audience may depend on the writing context. 

What is most important is balance. Writers who use AI too frequently will abandon their voice, and the writer who ignores AI altogether will miss a chance to improve their efficiency. The balance lies in the middle, with machines outlining writers and humans filling in personality. Perhaps it is always the joy of good writing: a conversation between clarity and personality, between what is said, how it is felt. AI reminds us that this is a balance worth safeguarding.

The Evolution of Nano Hairstrokes: a Modern Approach to Eyebrow Enhancement

The evolution of eyebrow enhancement has been remarkable, demonstrating significant progress over time. The industry has witnessed substantial technological advancements, ranging from using pencils and powders to semi-permanent tattooing techniques. The technique of nano hairstrokes represents the culmination of many years of innovation in both equipment and artistry. The nano method has been developed to address the limitations of traditional microblading. It offers higher precision, better pigment retention, and significantly improved skin compatibility  https://pmu-annakara.com/realistic-nano-hairstrokes/.

A distinguishing feature of the procedure under discussion is the use of a digital machine in the execution of the nano procedure. This apparatus affords enhanced command over depth and pressure, a crucial consideration when dealing with sensitive facial skin. In comparison, the handheld blades of microblading have been observed to cause micro-tears, particularly in sensitive or mature skin. The gentler approach of nano hairstrokes has also been demonstrated to result in reduced scabbing and accelerated healing.

Understanding Nano Hairstrokes

Nano hair strokes involve depositing pigment into the skin with ultra-fine needles, creating hair-like strokes that mimic natural eyebrow hairs. Unlike traditional microblading, which uses a manual blade, nano hair strokes utilize a digital machine, allowing for more controlled and precise application. This method results in less trauma to the skin and a more refined appearance.

Advantages of Nano Hairstrokes

The nano hairstroke technique offers several benefits:

  • Natural Appearance — the fine strokes blend seamlessly with existing brow hairs, enhancing fullness while maintaining a soft, realistic look.
  • Long-Lasting Results — nano brows tend to last longer than microblading, typically between 1 to 3 years with touch-ups.
  • Less Trauma to the Skin — using a machine instead of a manual blade means there is less trauma to the skin, reducing the risk of scarring or pigment blurring over time.

These advantages make nano hairstrokes a preferred choice for those seeking a natural and durable eyebrow enhancement.

Super Furry Animals Announce First Tour in a Decade

Super Furry Animals have announced their first tour since 2016. The band’s Supacabra Tour includes six dates in Europe, kicking off in May 2026 at Ireland’s 3Olympia Theatre and wrapping up with a show at London’s O2 Brixton Academy. Check out the list of dates below.

To mark the 20th anniversary of their seventh album, Love Kraft, Super Furry Animals have also announced a reissue that will be released on October 24 via Strangetown Records.

Super Furry Animals 2026 Tour Dates:

May 6 Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia Theatre *
05-08 Glasgow, Scotland – The Barrowlands *
May 14 Llandudno, Wales – Venue Cymru *
May 16 Cardiff, Wales – Utilita Arena *@
May 21 Manchester, England – O2 Apollo *
May 22 London, England – O2 Brixton Academy $

* with Getdown Services
@ with Melin Melyn
$ with Honeyglaze

Dry Cleaning Announce New Album ‘Secret Love’, Share New Single

Dry Cleaning have announced a new album called Secret Love. The follow-up to 2022’s Stumpwork is set for release on January 9 via 4AD. Today’s announcement comes with the release of the new single ‘Hit My Head All Day’, which you can check out below.

Secret Love took shape over a series of sessions at Jeff Tweedy’s Chicago studio the Loft, with Gilla Band’s Alan Duggan and Daniel Fox at Sonic Studios in Dublin, and with producer Cate Le Bon at Black Box in the Loire Valley. Drummer Nick Buxton said they wanted to explore the “radically different things that can be achieved by going to different people.” Le Bon commented, “Being in a room with them and hearing that vitality and life force that exists between them all, it’s such a unique expression.”

“There’s a tension between feeling like I want to hide, but at the same time a certain yearning to be seen by people and to grow – but also feeling quite mortified about that,” frontperson Florence Shaw said of the LP. “If I want things to be more open or blunter, a bit less sophisticated, that would be helped by not allowing myself to ringfence the whole thing.”

You can hear that directness in ‘Hit My Head All Day’, a bid against hopelessness and political manipulation that’s gnawingly catchy. “The song is about manipulation of the body and mind,” Shaw said. “The lyrics were initially inspired by the use of misinformation on social media by the far right. There are powerful people that seek to influence our behaviour for their own gain; to buy certain things, to vote a certain way. I find it hard to read people’s intentions and decide who to trust, even in everyday life. It’s easy to fall under the influence of a sinister stranger who seems like a friend. We took a playful approach to the song. At one point it had harmonica on it instead of a vocal. At the demo stage we were inspired by There’s a Riot Goin’ On by Sly and the Family Stone.”

Hit My Head All Day Cover Artwork:

Secret Love' Album Artwork

Hit My Head All Day Tracklist:

1. Hit My Head All Day
2. Cruise Ship Designer
3. My Soul / Half Pint
4. Secret Love (Concealed in a Drawing of a Boy)
5. Let Me Grow and You’ll See the Fruit
6. Blood
7. Evil Evil Idiot
8. Rocks
9. The Cute Things
10. I Need You
11. Joy

The Best Albums of September 2025

In this segment, we round up the best albums released each month. From La Dispute to Geese, here are, in alphabetical order, the best albums of September 2025.


Asher White, 8 Tips for Full Catastrophe Living

8 tips for catastrophe livingMore than continuously toeing the line between styles, between coherence and abstraction, Asher White’s music has evolved to prioritize confessional transparency over purity, complexity over wilful obfuscation. That may seem counterintuitive when talking about her latest album, 8 Tips for Full Catastrophe Living – her 16th overall and first for Joyful Noise – itself an unconventional and anxious reaction to a potential breakout moment, pushing her approach to its eruptive, feastful limits. More than just revealing, its recklessness opens the door to a fascinating place that’s bound to change shape with each subsequent release. If you’re dedicated enough to follow its twists and turns, you’ll want to come back for another look. Read our Artist Spotlight interview with Asher White.


Big Thief, Double Infinity

Double Infinity coverBig Thief find themselves at a creative crossroads. Or, as Adrianne Lenker more poetically puts it on the title track of their new album, Double Infinity: “At the bridge of two infinities/ What’s been lost and what lies waiting.” Recorded at New York’s Power Station Studios, the LP accordingly doesn’t sound like moving on so much as between those vast emotional points, with many of Lenker’s meditations on love reflecting the band’s own disorientation following the departure bassist Max Oleartchik. It is their first album as a trio, but Lenker, guitarist Buck Meek, drummer James Krivchenia’s attempts at recording as one were initially fruitless, so they enlisted a small circle of collaborators that translate the undercurrent of confusion into a sweet, gauzy veil of textures, marrying Lenker’s increasingly mantra-like lyrics with loops, samples, and wordless backing vocals, as well as zither contributions from ambient luminary Laraaji. Read the full review.


Geese, Getting Killed

Getting Killed album coverIn the 1965 documentary Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. Leonard Cohen, which follows the singer-songwriter around the age of 30, a TV interviewer asks what Cohen means when he says he tries to wake up in a state of grace. He describes it as “that kind of balance with which you ride the chaos that you find around you,” adding, “It’s not a matter of resolving the chaos, because there’s something arrogant and warlike about putting the world in order.” I kept thinking about his use of the word warlike as I spun Geese’s revelatory new album, Getting Killed, which wastes no time pointing to the carnage all around while spending most of it in a fervid, ludicrous freefall that fills the gaps between the bizarre chaos of 2023’s 3D Country and Cameron Winter’s solo album Heavy Metal. Read the full review.


Guerilla Toss, You’re Weird Now

Guerilla Toss YoureWeirdNow“I’m so sorry,” Kassie Carlson proclaims on the opening track of Guerilla Toss new album, emphatic enough to instantly register as irony, “I came to party.” She gets lost as her head throbs on the way to another party on ‘Red Flag to Angry Bull’, where her friend is “Telling me he’s gonna eat the sunshine/ Though he isn’t walking in a straight line.” The burst of positivity is hallucinatory, intoxicating, and downright maddening, yet it also makes complete sense considering how and where the experimental rock band made You’re Weird Now. The album keeps twitching and triumphing in its communal cacophony, precise-engineered to convince you that even if today feels a lot more like a hellhole than a party, you are certainly not alone in it. Read our inspirations interview with Guerilla Toss. 


Joan Shelley, Real Warmth

Real WarmthJoan Shelley has been making albums for a decade and a half, yet she always makes each one feel like a new, easy embrace. “I want the anthem that feels like first love/ I want the chorus that warms like fire/ I want the tune that swells like a full moon/ Knows your deepest desire,” she sings about halfway through her easygoing, endlessly hummable 10th LP, Real Warmth, which was recorded in Toronto with producer Ben Whiteley and features contributions from her partner, Nathan Salsburg, as well as The Weather Station’s Tamara Lindeman and a tight-knit community of Toronto-based musicians, including Philippe Melanson, Karen Ng, Doug Paisley, Tamara Lindeman, Matt Kelley, and Ken Whiteley. Singing with quietly blazing conviction, Shelley often writes through a fantastical lens, but the language they gather in is musical, conversational, nature-loving and totally human. Read the full review.


Joanne Robertson, Blurr

blurr Album CoverA selfie utilized as an album cover might be the first thing that strikes you about Blurr, making it no surprise the album carries the intimacy of a voice memo – and often sounds like it was recorded directly onto a cell phone. More than staring at yourself in the mirror or inside the screen of a tiny computer, however, Joanne Robertson’s latest release feels like shutting it off and catching your reflection in the blackness. Without any percussive accompaniment, it is full of rhythm, the coiling between her voice and guitar invoking the soul humming through the body: tender and tactile despite its fuzziness, temporal while stretching toward infinity. Oliver Coates’ string contributions, astonishing and meticulously placed, fill out the canvas as if in absolute certainty that endless place is not just reachable, but colours out the solitude.


La Dispute, No One Was Driving the Car

No One Was Driving The CarOn ‘Saturation Driver’, a highlight from La Dispute’s new album No One Was Driving the Car, disaster flicks play on a muted TV while nobody’s watching – except, that is, Jordan Dreyer’s camera-wielding narrator. Disaster – whether exploited for entertainment, untangling through time, or lost to history – is a fact of life; earlier on the record, Dreyer goes as far as to sing,  “Every moment we’re alive a disaster/ A tragedy to be and breathe.” It is also a miracle, he later exalts; the follow-up to 2019’s Panorama is revelatory and windingly rapturous in that way, knotting the vicious truths and transcendent joys its characters are driven towards around the veil of memory, progress, and Christian fundamentalism. Read our inspirations interview with La Dispute.


Total Wife, Come Back Down

Total Wife, Come Back DownAfter more than a couple of influential records in the increasingly saturated shoegaze genre – 2021’s self-titled LP, 2022’s a blip, and 2023’s in/out – Total Wife did the opposite of fading into obscurity, signing to Philadelphia label Julia’s War and cementing their status with their latest, come back down. It’s a breathlessly inventive and unconventionally dreamy record whose tides are difficult to predict or even identify – mind-melting guitars that get blown out and repurposed as synths, vocals whispered right beside your ear then chopped to oblivion, and a fluid rhythmic backbone evoking, to quote their song ‘rest’, “the beat in between my restlessness.” Pitched between jittery alertness and the edge of sleep, come back down is also a riveting expression of the duo’s dynamic compositional and lyrical instincts, a force that grounds the record in its malleable, blurry transcendence. Read our Artist Spotlight interview with Total Wife.


Wednesday, Bleeds

Wednesday - BleedsIf it sounds like the road is its own fateful character on Bleeds, it might have something to do with when and where it took shape. Entering the studio just a month after vocalist Karly Hartzman and guitarist MJ Lenderman broke up, the North Carolina band were recording off the back of an exhaustive touring schedule in support of 2023’s masterful Rat Saw God. With a couple of stylistic diversions, Wednesday‘s new album no doubt feeds off the gnarly, blazing energy of its predecessor, collaging another tangle of funny, tragic, beautiful stories. But reaching what sounds like a breaking point on the ferocious highlight ‘Wasp’ leads vocalist Karly Hartzman to be just as unsparing on the album’s more intimate moments. The band is about to embark on another tour, but Bleeds sounds like the equivalent of pulling over to let out a good scream. Read the full review.

Bad Bunny to Headline Super Bowl LX Halftime Show

Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. The Puerto Rican superstar was announced as the halftime headliner at last night’s Sunday Night Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. The Apple Music Super Bowl LX will take place February 8, 2026 at Levi’s Stadium.

“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself,” Bad Bunny, who previously guested in Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s 2020 halftime show, said in a statement to Billboard. “It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture and our history. Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL.”

Bad Bunny’s latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, came out in January. He has said he’s currently not touring the continental United States over fear of ICE targeting his concerts for raids. Last night, he tweeted, “estuve pensando en estos días, y luego de hablarlo con mi equipo, creo que haré una sola fecha en Estados Unidos,” which translates to, “I’ve been thinking about it these days, and after discussing it with my team, I think I’ll do just one date in the United States.”

Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.35 Set to Launch with New Collaboration

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Final Fantasy XIV has officially announced that Patch 7.35 will come out next week. The reveal was made at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. Also, this new update from Square Enix comes with the long-awaited Monster Hunter Wilds collaboration. The upcoming crossover event features fresh content. There will be a new deep dungeon, crafting quests, the return of the Hildibrand side story, and more. All of these additions are part of the expansion of the main quest, Dawntrail. At the same time, it sets the stage for future story developments.

Monster Hunter Wilds Crossover: The White Wanderer

As reported by GameRant, the partnership with Monster Hunter Wilds is the highlight of Patch 7.35. The collaboration quest is called The White Wanderer and it is permanent to the game. In particular, this adds a new 8-player Trial battle. Players will face off against Guardian Arkveld. It is a strong beast from the Monster Hunter Universe. Also, this has two versions: Normal difficulty level and Extreme difficulty level.

On top of that, several cosmetic rewards are waiting for every player who beats Guardian Arkveld. Their win can earn them Veldian weapons and the Hope armor set. Similarly, a victory against the beast gives players multiple mounts and new minions.

Players must accomplish two objectives before they can access the collaboration event. First, they must be level 100. Second, players should complete the Dawntrail mission.

Pilgrim’s Traverse: A New Deep Dungeon

GameRant also said that Final Fantasy XIV is adding Pilgrim’s Traverse. It is a fresh, deep dungeon found under the castle of King Titania in Il Mheg.

To access it, players must have the requirements. Specifically, they should clear up to floor 50 of the Palace of the Dead. Players must finish the Endwalker quest. And lastly, they need to reach level 91 with a combat job.

But there is more to this dungeon! A special Quantum difficulty final boss awaits players in the end. However, fans should not worry. This ultimate battle allows up to four players.

Crafting Quests and Hildibrand Return

Based on PCGamersN, players will encounter the Allied Society quest chain through Patch 7.35. It also features the Yok Huy.

At the same time, the latest update brings the next chapter of the Hildibrand Adventures. This side story even includes the journey of the popular inspector.

Availability and Supported Platforms

Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.35 will launch the following week, on October 7. Meanwhile, the game is now available across Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.