EDITORIAL This is a semi-regular, occasionally missed annual “what I think, where we’ve been, what I’m doing next” post (which used to the late July/early August anniversary of Grizzly Butts but) cycles us back around to Mystification Zine’s first completed year as a website while extending the reach of our past life. This ‘blog entry’ is aimed at longtime readers who want to gauge what is working, what isn’t, where the site is going and what ideas I have for features in the coming year. Things aren’t going to change drastically year over year, so, this is for the sake transparency and re-establishing a yearly cycle of intentional change. Feel free to contact me me with any inquiries, comments, or ideas here: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

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SAPIENTIA MELIOR AURO

NIHIL. I // Unnecessary ruthlessness.

The original GrizzlyButts.com (2017-2023) was built during a period of complete life change, a personal reset and relocation. Having changed drastically as a person over the last five or six years it only made sense that this site, a vague extension of myself, would change too. You can review some of this in motion in past yearly editorials: Year Two (2019), Year Three (2020), Year Four (2021), Year Six (2023) as we arrive upon this completed seventh cycle. After the pandemic years and another bout of recent (personal) change I’ve felt some pressure to move on to other possible avenues for skill building, learning new things and pursuing the leagues of ideas I’ve documented over the years. If you’ve ever worked with me on a project or know me personally on any level you know if you ask me for one idea I’ll give you 5 minimum in list form (a few hours late). Part of this renewal is reflected in a late 2023 editorial where I detail the plan for this year (2024).

NIHIL. II // Give it (some) rest.

Generally speaking, the limit of my available day-to-day free time was reached in 2021 as I started a small imprint for the sake of perspective. As a consequence I’d faced the reality that taking on additional hobbies (on top of existing pursuits) was feasible but not ideal in terms of business-centered practices. Without finding any real passion for working with bands/labels on a business level the “record label” side of things and any further investment isn’t likely. Otherwise reconfiguring the site to Mystification Zine was a way of pinning its purpose, focusing on a more clear music directive and not a catch-all for a variety of interests. At this point the only ambitions and coverage to be found going forward will center on music fandom and will continue to feed this set of priorities: [1] Album reviews. [2] Supplemental videos. [3] Zine issues. [4] Interviews. [5] Episodic features.

NIHIL. III // The prolapsed algorithm.

The wrong question to ask is “Where do I belong?” since Mystification Zine (and Grizzly Butts before it) stem from a need to isolate away from performative belonging. At every given chance since 1993 ‘til now people who share my various interests in music have taken it upon themselves to remind me that as a fan who enjoys writing: [1] I don’t matter, and that [2] I am not as good (or popular) as their favorite “professional” or sub-genre specialist. Being content to do whatever I want in an unhindered space sates a need impossible slake anywhere else, sure, but I also make a point to encourage singularity in others. I have always encouraged other people to exercise their own independence in the same way. This thought continues to shape my simple-as-possible approach to the site as I begin to struggle pinpointing clear philosophical directive, an exacting purpose. This is an important point of resolve to reach by the end of 2024 and we’ve reached the deadline.

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STATE OF THE SITE

VOID. I // Nothing worthwhile under the sun.

The first six months of 2024 were spent testing the waters as to how much work I could possibly put into the site between writing six full-length reviews, six or more short reviews, a weekly news column, and making 6-8 video reviews/features per week. This pace held up briefly. Monthly PDF issues of Mystification Zine and the Patreon subscription quickly became too time intensive. Long stalls in the interview process slowed things mid-year and I eventually lost momentum. This meant shutting down the Patreon campaign rather than continuing to promise regular zine issues. PDF zines will still made available in the near future. I’ll be frank here: I cannot make a full or even part-time job out of the site/zine because it would never amount to my cost of living. The zine will continue but I’ll rethink the planned frequency of it in 2025.

VOID. II // Nothing is pure.

Longtime readers might’ve noticed two big changes this year. The first is of course the complete “re-branding” of the site with a new name and focus. This includes an intentionally different format for reviews which is less flourished. There is still some concern that I’ve cut out the joy of “over-writing” reviews with great enthusiasm and spiritual focus but I’ve found that many past reviews spent too much time away from the subject of music. There is no reason to force importance upon works which are often unthinking in creation and/or art, so I will continue to pare down certain reviews to match the effort of the bands I cover. I’ll also remind folks that curation depends solely on whatever I have access to any given week or month, if you want me to review it then send it my way directly, the e-mail address is unmissable.

VOID. III // Nothing resembles human sentience.

The rise of AI generated artwork is a huge subject this year and nobody is feeling this phenomenon more than visual artists but let’s not forget folks who receive promotional material on a daily basis. Big name bands who are jaded and careless enough to use AI for album artwork are making it even more obvious to their fans that their albums don’t matter. Imagine wearing your cheap, laziness as a badge of technology-minded action, we are at the point as a species that the things we produce for the sake of creativity and amusement in life admit up front that they are fucking WORTHLESS. Your reaction might not be so severe but only because your world view has been warped by corporations over the last couple of decades. Survive however you will within the increasingly meager rewards the great furnace has to offer, but I will continue to opt out of AI generated “art” as long as I can. Creative people should be able to have independent jobs, to contract prices that suit a living wage, and not be undercut and plagiarized by corporations.

VOID. IV // Nothing will improve.

AI generated artwork is actually just the first of many internet specific concerns that come to mind anymore. The rise of AI generated “content” in terms of writing has exploded into the realm of blog writing where it is too fucking obvious that entire reviews are generated with AI prompts, plagiarized from search engines, and barely edited. None of this will ever register with the average person looking for their next niche metal album and I cannot relate with the shrugging given to the whole idea. Make friends with artists and circle back around after a few deeper conversations. This whole subject is the hell of the void from my point of view, the ripping of flesh from the soul, seeing awful disingenuous opportunists continue to rise in the mountains of shit they produce.

VOID. V // Nothing is worth reading.

My own personal “work harder, better results” ideal no longer applies to the written word as presented online. At some point the majority of the human population only became more difficult to convince that anything is worth reading with focus and critical thought. To give due attention to art while offering detailed writing with its own charm is a long dead practice for all but a handful of goons, as such the trend over the last twenty years is now solidified irreparably towards short-form video. Since I am not a pro-explainer, a shift towards increasing video content and production values is not unreasonable but it doesn’t come naturally. The process of taking on what is most challenging to me has always been the most redeeming path no matter the resistance. Expect ~more of my efforts to center around videos in various formats. Attempting regular live-streaming sessions with planned content is one idea of many in mind.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Here I’ve put together a set of projects I’ve been working on here and there, most all of which will be in development throughout 2025. No promises made on anything.

ÆTHER.I // Mystification Zine Issue VII: Envenomed Delirium [TOMB-23]

Issue VII will be released in the last week of January and feature some extra mentions from 2024 alongside the month’s releases in mind. Intending to illustrate it myself while also lacking the free time to put into timely interviews meant the zine took the lowest possible priority for the last ~5-6 months. VII won’t be the last issue by any means but the plan is to retool the presentation on Issue VIII after that. Basically the whole PDF zine deal and design will change in 2025 with less consideration for efficiency. Past issues will become available to purchase on this site as soon as Issue VII becomes available, it’ll all be pinned on the website and announced on social media. I will not use Patreon for the zine issues any longer, I can do subscriptions through my site without the extra fees, memberships are easily implemented. Also, I’ve no issue making it all free and asking for subscriptions or donations otherwise since I don’t believe the amount of sales will make print issues possible anytime soon.

ÆTHER.II // Twitch/YouTube streaming.

No expectations beyond giving it a try with planned content. ~2-4 hour streams a few times a week covering prepared music content as well as some video game stuff is the idea, whatever keeps things interactive. Live streaming is not for everyone and from what I gather the typical streaming experience is to stream to exactly zero viewers on Twitch and YouTube for years before either giving up or doing something else. I’ll give it a try at some point this next year.

ÆTHER.III // Various video editorials.

Part of what I’d felt was lacking on the site for the last five or so years is some manner of additional editorial voice which communicates my process, general philosophy and attitudes towards music and art, etc. For this to be interesting to me as a semi-regular project where the ethos of the site is explored I’ve decided to take on a series of editorial videos. Rather than list potential subjects I’m already working on I’ll suggest that the content will initially serve as answers to frequently asked questions and expand from there.

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