Hungarian-British author David Szalay (51) has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel Flesh, marking his first major award in the nine years since he was first shortlisted in 2016. The Booker Prize jury praised the work as “unusual and distinctive, a dark novel that is a pleasure to read,” describing it as a “concise yet powerful account of a man’s journey from adolescence to old age, caught in a series of events beyond his control.”

Flesh, according to Hanhyere, follows the life of a 15-year-old boy living in a quiet Hungarian apartment complex with his mother. As he grows, he forms an intimate relationship with his mother’s peers, eventually becoming a wealthy man driven by competitive impulses for love, status, and money,only to face a crisis of ruin. Szalay, who was born in 1974 in Montreal, Canada, and now resides in Vienna, has authored six novels translated into over 20 languages. His debut novel, London and the South-East, was published in 2008.

Asian and International Writers in the Running

This year’s Booker Prize shortlist included Korean-American writer Susan Choi (56), whose inclusion attracted attention. The Booker Prize, one of the world’s three major literary awards, is known for its rigorous selection process and international reach. Choi, who has previously been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, has a strong presence in international literary circles.

Black Metal Project Doedsvangr Releases ‘Within the Flesh’

On April 10, black metal project Doedsvangr,featuring musicians from Norway, Finland, and Sweden—released Within the Flesh under Norwegian label Soulseller Records. The album, according to The Dark Melody, marks the band’s third full-length release following Satan ov Suns (2017) and Serpents ov Old (2021), and an EP Koinonia (2022). The title follows a pattern seen in previous releases, each featuring three-word titles.

Swiss metal magazine Pulse & Spirit described the album as a “storm of distortion, blastbeats, and sharp riffs,” with a production style that is “dense, dark, and unapologetically hostile.” The album features vocalist Doedsadmiral switching between guttural growls and high-pitched screams. Critics noted a surprising level of control in the chaos, with tracks like «Black Sun Dissolution» creating a hypnotic atmosphere while maintaining intensity.

SYLOSIS Announces 2026 Album ‘The New Flesh’

Metalcore band SYLOSIS announced on November 27, 2025, that their seventh album The New Flesh will be released on February 20, 2026. The album is produced by frontman Josh Middleton, and the title track’s music video has already been released. According to Geiroku, the tracklist includes 11 songs, including the title track and other fan favorites like «Erased» and «Mirror Mirror.» The band has launched a pre-order campaign for the album.