Blessed this afternoon to have made a playlist for my favorite twelve-year-old – currently into Slipknot 🤮 – introducing her (with her parents’ close involvement, oversight and approval) to the wonders of Sabbath, Mötörhead, Metallica and Iron Maiden; SUNN O))), Earth, Sleep, Thou and Ragana; Liturgy and Agriculture; Senyawa, Scarcity, Glenn Branca and Mogwai; and finally and somewhat off to one side Stooges, Bikini Kill, Black Flag and Bad Brains.

I’m trying to suggest with this selection that there are many rooms in the heavy house, and that it is possible to bypass the myriad forms of self-harm available to someone her age in this time and place by channeling frustration, alienation, rage and despair into community and affirmation. I really hope there’s something in that list she finds personally meaningful.