A privilege to represent Audenshaw at our Remembrance ceremonies this weekend and to attend the parade in Ashton today.

We will remember them.

Yes Richard, I would not want to go to the pub with the Taliban - I try not to socialise with people whose interests involve torturing and killing dissidents. I also wouldn’t want to do any deal with them to send people back for the aforementioned torturing and killing. Only a sociopath would.

Well this is horrifying.

Whilst there are issues with the immigration system, can we not at least agree that creating return deals with the Taliban of all people could be politely described as sociopathic? (As well as several less polite descriptions…)

Trip to Brighton today. Touch breezy out.

Most people see Musks activities at Doge as a disaster, causing untold problems to America. Farage sees them as inspiration. Never let him forget this.

Let us never forget.

Gritting trucks are out across Tameside, details are at www.tameside.gov.uk/gritting

There is an amber weather warning in effect from tomorrow evening, stay safe and stay warm!

1. Midas Fall – Cold Waves Divide Us – Enthralling, engaging, spine-tingling, urgent and intense. Soaring highs, crashing crescendos – I love this album. The vocals are haunting, the songwriting engaging, the music gripping – this is a superb post-rock album, deserves to be listened to repeatedly.

2. Sidewinder – Talons – Stoner metal done right. Mixing heavy riffs, a great groove bassline and one of the best new voices of metal in a long time. Frontwoman Jem possesses a fantastic smoky bluesy voice that can turn into a force of nature, elevating and enhancing all tracks. Brilliant stuff.

3. Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere – One of the most unique albums I’ve come across throughout the year, one where I’m constantly finding new things to love with each listen. Blending prog and death metal, this is a metal masterpiece.

4. REZN – Burden – Is Psych prog doom metal a thing? Not sure, but it’s a good description for this album from REZN. It hits hard earlier on and doesn’t let up, the tracks structured carefully to keep hold of you all the way through.

5. Sympathy Pain – Swan Dive – Ambient post-rock that provides a beautiful atmospheric accompaniment to a winters day. Constantly engaging, the album flows nicely and has remained with me since the start of the year.

6. Hauntologist – Hollow – Brilliant melding of black metal and ambient post-rock. Balancing clean and harsh vocals with amazing drumming from Darkside lead to a dense, atmospheric album.

7. Ulcerate – Cutting the Throat of God – Brutal, brilliant dissonant death metal. Ambitious, intense, with commanding vocals, stunning riffs, phenomenal drums being held together by a dissonant bass line. An album that rewards repeated listens, picking up something new each time.

9. Isleptonthemoon – Only the Stars Know of My Misfortune – Perfectly executed post-rock blackgaze from an anonymous solo project. Blending acoustic guitar and piano with raw black metal, this was a great listen that grabbed me from the start and kept hold for repeated listens.

10. Mathilde – 32 Décembre – A stunning debut from the prog black metallers, a concept album both unsettling and engaging in equal measure. Melancholic, heavy, symphonic and sweepingly epic, a wonderful hour-long experiment.

Pleased to sign our pledge to shop locally in Tameside this Christmas after today’s council meeting! A great initiative ahead of #smallbizsaturday

Spending my morning rebuilding spreadsheets, so need this delightful piece of Blackgaze on in the background for me… highly recommended!