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Guitarman's Monthly Music Thread

Should I make this a monthly thing, where I discuss relevant releases at the end of each month?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 72.7%

  • No

    Votes: 3 27.3%
  • Total voters
    11
Guitarman

Guitarman

Supernova
Joined
Dec 26, 2018
Welcome, dear reader. With the end of the year quickly coming upon us I decided to compile a list of my top ten albums of 2021, along with a few honorable mentions. This list is subjective of course, completely my own opinion. Anyways, let's dive right in!

10. The Slow Death- Siege (Australia) Death/Doom metal, funeral doom​

I was not familiar with this band prior to the release of Siege and was instantly captivated, mainly by the stunning clean vocals of Mandy Andresen and the more melodic side of Stuart Pickett's guitar work. With four songs coming in at over an hour in total it is a rather long listen, but is worth every second.
Favorite song: Tyranny
9. Malignant Altar- Realms of Exquisite Morbidity (USA) Death metal​

With members having participated in other notable acts in the Texas metal scene (Necrofier, Church of Disgust, Insect Warfare) I expected a lot out of the quintet's debut record. I particularly enjoyed their 2019 EP Retribution of Jealous Gods. Some of the nastiest guitar work I've heard in a while with some very strong vocals. Extremely punishing when they decide to slow things down. If this album was released earlier in the year it would have likely gotten a higher ranking.
Favorite song: Rite of Krause
8. Mortiferum- Preserved in Torment (USA) Death metal, doom metal​

Few bands excel in creating a gloomy atmosphere the way Mortiferum does. The tempo changes are absolutely crushing and I love the suffocating bass tone. The standout for me though, is the drumming of Alex Mody on this record. This one has constantly been or repeat since it came out.
Favorite song: Incubus of Bloodstained Visions
7. Felled- The Intimate Earth (USA) Black metal
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Another debut record on the list, but Felled consists of experienced musicians from the Pacific Northwest. A very interesting take on the atmospheric/folk black metal genre with prominent violin/viola playing and outstanding clean vocals, paired with more traditional black metal instrumentation.
Favorite song: Sphagnum in the Hinterlands
6. Bongzilla- Weedsconsin (USA) Stoner/sludge metal
​
After a decade plus wait, the Wisconsin stoner metal legends came back with a fantastic album. The transition of Mike Makela from guitar to bass worked very well, the band sounded extremely cohesive. Love the longer, more jam oriented songs. If you're a Bongzilla fan, you're getting exactly what you wished for and more out of this record.
Favorite songs: Space Rock, Mother Flower's Little Helper (deluxe edition)
5. Antichrist Siege Machine- Purifying Blade (USA) Black/death metal, war metal
​
Coming off the back of their first full length Schism Perpetration, this record is twenty nine minutes of pure Satanic fury. I truly believe that this record will be seen as a benchmark in the war metal genre in the future. Raw, but not too raw production, vocals that stand out against bombastic drums and powerful riffing. I can't wait to see what this duo does next.
Favorite song: Victorious Legions of Satan
4. Gravesend- Methods of Human Disposal (USA) Black metal, death metal, grindcore
​
Another debut full length from the NYC trio Gravesend, another killer record from 20 Buck Spin. I love the vocals and the overall rawness of this record. Static-y interludes contribute to an uneasy, cold feeling that this record gives. I found myself listening to this record quite a bit, especially as the days got shorter and colder.
Favorite song: Verrazano Floater
3. Sanguisugabogg- Tortured Whole (USA) Death metal
​
One of the most hyped bands in the death metal scene after they dropped their Pornographic Seizures EP, Tortured Whole didn't disappoint. To put it simply, Sanguisugabogg bring the riffs. All the riffs. Guttural vocals, combined with drumming featuring a St. Anger style tin-can sounding snare, and extremely low tuned guitar work make this one of the filthiest records of the year in all the best ways.
Favorite song: Dead as Shit
2. Towards Atlantis Lights- When the Ashes Devoured the Sun (UK/Italy) Funeral doom, death/doom
​
Albums number one and two are practically interchangeable for me. I debated between them quite a bit and TAL fell to a very close second. The unclean vocals mixed in with the My Dying Bride-esque melodic guitars are what got me. They are able to fuse the 'death' portion of their death/doom sound in without forcing it, and the keyboard work of Kostas Panagiotou fits the music quite well. The mythological/historical theme of the lyrics are a shameless draw for me as well.
Favorite song: Mad Prophetess
Honorable Mentions
​
Skepticism- Companion (Finland) Funeral doom
Eyehategod- A History of Nomadic Behavior (USA) Sludge metal
Cerebral Rot- Excretion of Morality (USA) Death metal
Jarhead Fertilizer- Product of My Environment (USA) Grind/death metal
Fuath- II (Scotland) Atmospheric black metal
Chrome Waves- The Rain Will Cleanse (USA) Post-black metal, atmospheric black metal, shoegaze
1. Worm- Foreverglade (USA) Death/doom metal
​
2019's Gloomlord took me by surprise. Loved the music, didn't love the production so much. When I saw that they were putting their next record out with 20 Buck Spin I knew we were in for something special. Heavy, oppressive, swamp-like, murk filled death/doom trudges along for about forty five minutes. The neoclassical, shreddier type solos took me by surprise (in a very good way) and added depth to the tracks. An extremely strong album from front to back.
Favorite song: Murk Above the Dark Moor
2021 was a fantastic year in the metal world, there are plenty more fantastic releases outside of the ones mentioned on here. I hope that 2022 can be as good as this year in terms of music, if not even better!
If this thread catches any kind of traction within the community, I'm considering doing a monthly metal type thing on here, discussing a couple relevant releases.


​


 
As a bit of a Christmas present to anyone who watches this thread, I figured I'd announce this today. I will be making this a monthly thing, where I discuss new releases at the end of each month. See you again towards the end of January!
 
January 2022​
2022 has just begun and we have already seen some fantastic releases drop in my slice of the music world! Here are some of my highlights of the month.

Singles​
  • Undeath- Rise From the Grave (US) Death metal: Riff based, groovy death metal is what I expect from Undeath and their newest single delivers. Love the vocals of Alexander Jones.​

  • Pure Wrath- Presages from a Restless Soul (Indonesia) Atmospheric black metal: This is the second single that has been released from the upcoming Hymn to the Woeful Hearts record and I'm very excited to hear it. One of the finest atmospheric black metal projects in the world, in my opinion. The driving guitars really propel the song for me.​
Albums​
  • Hazemaze- Blinded By the Wicked (Sweden) Doom metal, stoner rock/metal: Big time Black Sabbath and Church of Misery vibes. Didn't expect to like this one nearly as much as I did. Not a dull moment, solid from front to back.​

  • Earthless- Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (USA) Instrumental stoner rock, doom metal: Earthless' heaviest record. More Sabbath vibes. Isaiah Mitchell's guitar playing and Mike Eginton's work on the bass really propelled this one for me. The first and third tracks were killer.​

  • Cloakroom- Dissolution Wave (USA) Shoegaze, stoner metal, alternative: A successful follow up to 2017's Time Well. While I still prefer their previous effort, it was a nice listen from front to back, I particularly enjoyed the heavier, fuzzed out moments and songs. Doyle Martin's dreamy vocals work very well with the rest of the music, unlike some of the other bands that employ this technique in the wider shoegaze genre.​
That'll be all for January of 2022. While we had some very solid releases to begin the year, I'm sure that the rest of the year will only get stronger and better.
​
 
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February 2022​
Albums​
  • Drowning the Light- Abyssic Tides (Australia) Black metal- From what I understand, this is a collection of unreleased demos, some of which made it onto their From The Abyss record. Regardless, I especially enjoyed the production, particularly the guitar tone. A fine black metal release.

  • Venom Prison- Erebos (UK) Death metal- Uncompromising modern, hardcore influenced death metal, fantastic production. I hear a lot of Nile in their sound. Larissa's fantastic vocals are the highlight.

  • Cryptic Hatred- Nocturnal Sickness (Finland) Death metal- Old school, filthy death metal from the depths of Finland. The old school Finnish death metal scene is among my favorites with great bands like Rippikoulu, Purtenance, Abhorrance, Convulse, Slugathor, Unholy and Adramalech hailing from there. Low vocals, blazing trem picked sections offset slower, brutal riffs. Fantastic release.

  • Pure Wrath- Hymn to the Woeful Hearts (Indonesia) Atmospheric black metal- In my opinion, this is one of the finest black metal projects in music right now. I love the pacing, the longer songs.

  • Dysmorfectomy- The Last Eightful Bastards (France) Brutal death/slam- We close out the week with sheer brutality from Dysmorfectomy. The drums are a bit lacking to me and I feel like the vocals could be a bit louder in the mix, but the crushing guitar work wins me over.

February was a fantastic month, some potential album of the year candidates popped up. I'm excited for March!
 
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March 2022​
Last month's theme was death and black metal, we see more of the same this month with a bit of a detour into funeral doom.

  • Father Befouled- Crowned in Veneficum (US) Death metal- Very doomy death metal, you can tell that these guys are fans of Incantation. I like the guitar tone a lot on this record, it fills a lot of sonic space and just has this nasty organic rawness to it. It works for both the death metal parts and the doomy sections, not always an easy task to accomplish. I can see myself turning to this record quite a bit as 2022 rolls on, I just really like this gnarly, doomy style of death that Father Befouled plays.

  • Drowning the Light- World Devourer (Australia) Black metal- Another 2022 appearance for Drowning the Light, this time with a brand new EP. Simply put, it is raw as hell. Buzzsaw guitars, gnarly vocals. This EP has a crushing atmosphere and I loved every moment.

  • Falls of Rauros- Key to a Vanishing Future (US) Atmospheric/black metal, folk elements- A stylistic change from the band from Maine. I'm not sure if I like it as much as their previous work but I still enjoyed it. I wasn't a huge fan of the singles alone but I liked them better in the context of the entire album. It's one of those records that I think you have to sit with and listen from front to back to truly appreciate. Early Agalloch and some Wolves in the Throne Room vibes here for me.

  • Until Death Overtakes Me- Collapse of Light (Belgium) Funeral Doom- This is simply a colossal record. An hour and 58 minutes long, the final track coming in at nearly an hour. Funeral doom mixed with drone elements. It's a niche listen but one I enjoyed. UDOM has a large back catalogue so if you're someone who enjoys this style of funeral doom there's a lot for you to sort through (with 2003's Prelude to Monolith being one of my favorite funeral doom releases).
Solid releases this March, looking forward to next month's releases!
 
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April 2022​
We lean away from the brutality just a little bit this April to venture into stoner and blues territory.

  • Robin Trower- No More Worlds to Conquer (UK) Blues rock- This genre of music is obviously not my forte but Robin's Bridge of Sighs release from 1974 caught my attention a while back and I've loved him ever since. As a guitarist, I find his phrasing to be really interesting. He never overplays, everything he does just feels right. There is a full band here but the focus is obviously Robin's lead work.

  • Demonauta- Low Melodies About Chaos (Chile) Stoner rock/metal, psychedelic rock- I caught on to Demonauta when I was still in high school, my peak of discovering and listening to stoner rock/metal. They're a pretty straightforward band, they don't try to pull too many tricks on the listener. The rhythm section here really anchors the sound, letting the wonderfully fuzzed out guitar take the lead. Very old school, bluesy sound.

  • Dozethrone- The Mask of Red Death (Singapore) Instrumental stoner metal- Our last (and heaviest) stoner release of the week. This trio has been quite prolific over the last couple years, shooting out a couple records a year. It is heavy but a rather repetitive listen. If you don't want to get clobbered by the same riff over and over again for ten minutes this might not be the release for you. Love that they're starting to incorporate some guitar solos and their bass tone is just stupid low.

  • Slimelord- Insurmountable Peril (UK) Death/doom metal- The really doomed out, slimy version of death metal will always be my favorite and Slimelord does this style of death very well. It just feels oppressive, like you're bogged down in a swamp. Some nice tempo changes but the key here is the atmosphere they build. A solid addition to their discography.

  • Undeath- It's Time... To Rise From the Grave (US) Death metal- Ending the month with straight up brutality. Modern day Cannibal Corpse worship but with a bit of their own flavor. Better production and songwriting then their last effort, definitely more technicality in the guitar work. I was personally very pleased to hear a new recording of "Enhancing the Dead" from their Sentient Autolysis EP, it's the song that got me really into Undeath. I can almost guarantee that this will make not just mine, but many people's year end lists in the wider metal world. Just listen to it, these guys are good.
Probably my favorite month for new music in 2022 so far. Some more variety then just death and black metal too! I am excited to see what May will bring, see you next month.
 
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I know that I usually don't make posts to this thread in the middle of the month but I just saw the unfortunate news that Trevor Strnad, vocalist for the Black Dahlia Murder has recently passed, word is that it was suicide. I can't lie, this one hurts really bad. He and his band have been such a large influence on my own journey as a musician and as a member of the extreme metal community. I never had the honor to meet Trevor but he was beloved almost universally in our community, always known for being such a positive, happy person and as someone who loved giving recognition to smaller, lesser known bands. He truly was, and still is, a titan in the metal world. His impact can never be understated and he will never be forgotten.

Much love to Trevor's family, friends, and bandmates. I can't even imagine your pain right now. RIP to one of the greatest. We love you, Trevor.
 
May 2022​
This May is about celebrating indigenous cultures through metal, with some other releases added of course.

  • Tzompantli- Tlazcaltiliztli (USA) Doom/death metal- Tzompantli's music explores the culture of the Mexica people. The leader of the band, Bigg O))) is one of the members of Xibalba and the best way that I could describe this release is like a heavier, doomier Xibalba (and Xibalba is doomy) with more unclean vocals and the additional instrumentation (shells, shakers, different types of drums, death whistles, etc.). If you like Xibalba, I think you'll like Tzompantli.

  • Nechochwen- Kanawha Black (USA) Folk/Black metal- Nechochwen is a band that I've always heard being described primarily as either black metal or a subgenre of black metal. There's definitely a black metal element to this record but I heard a lot of doom, death, and even some thrash on there. It's really hard to categorize as a specific genre. Regardless, Nechochwen is one of the leaders of the fantastic Native American/First Nations/Indigenous black metal scene and Kanawha Black doesn't disappoint as it explores aspects of Native American culture. None of the folksy elements here feel forced. The guitar work is very melodic at times.

  • Bog Body- Cryonic Crevasse Cult (USA) Death/sludge metal- I'll be honest with you, dear reader. When the first couple singles for this record came out I was not excited. The opposite, honestly. I thought that their demo and their split with Primitive Warfare were both fantastic but the singles just didn't hit for me. I listened to this record (their debut full length) from front to back and everything made sense. This is one of those records that I enjoyed much, much more listening to from front to back, the way it was intended to. The bass tone makes up for the complete lack of guitars on this record. The riffs are ridiculous. It's a brutal, good time.

  • Mournful Congregation- The Exuviae of Gods- Part I (Australia) Funeral doom- Closing out the month with one of my personal favorite bands. Mournful Congregation's focal point to me has always been the guitar work; Big riffs, fantastic melodic leads, sometimes dual, harmonized leads. This doesn't disappoint one bit. This band has been doing this forever and they still sound as heavy and fresh as ever. It has everything I personally want to hear in a funeral doom record.
Thanks for hanging out with me and reading along this May. I'm already looking forward to hearing what June brings us.
 
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June 2022​
I'll be honest, this June was really weak in terms of releases in my opinion. I'll mention two that I enjoyed, but will also mention some not new albums/EPs I've been enjoying throughout the last month or so.

New releases​
  • Somnus Throne- Nemesis Lately (USA) Stoner/Doom metal- This one dropped at the beginning of the month and I've come back to it a few times. It has everything I want in a stoner record, really. That lovely fuzzed out guitar tone, rhythm section really holding everything in place. The strength of this record is really in the riffs, they created a few that have really stuck in my head (that intro to Lacquer Bones in particular). Really excited to see what they do in the future.

  • Saor- Origins (UK/Scotland) Atmospheric/folk black metal- I haven't listened to a Saor record until now but I am familiar with Andy Marshall's ability (he is also the man behind Fuath, mentioned in my best of 2021 post). This is a lot more melodic and there are obviously the folk elements added in, and Andy uses a different, lower almost growl-style instead of his higher vocals. I like it a lot, definitely some 90's BM vibes. Saor has certainly captured my attention and I am excited to listen through their back catalogue.
Other releases I've been listening to​
  • Miserable- Halloween Dream (USA) Shoegaze, alternative- I'm not sure how this EP popped onto my radar but I've been listening to it over and over again through the last few weeks. 15 brilliant minutes. I love everything about it but the best part for me are the vocals. They just fit the songs perfectly.​

  • Acrimony- Hymns to the Stone (Wales) Stoner rock- Hymns to the Stone is the hidden masterpiece of the stoner rock/metal world. This was released in the same time period as Sleep's Holy Mountain and Kyuss' Blues for the Red Sun, the two landmark releases of the genre and in my opinion, deserves just as much recognition as those releases. The vocals really stand out here. The riffs are top tier (especially looking at Spaced Cat #6, Urbalaboom, and Magical Mystery Man). This record is a required listen for fans of stoner rock/metal.​

  • Black Sabbath- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (UK) Heavy metal, doom metal- When I talk to other Sabbath fans, they always tell me that the first four records are the gold standard. In my opinion, it should be changed to the first six. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is their fifth record. It has some of their best moments and shows what I think is their best, most complex songwriting. The breakdown ending the title track. That opening riff from A National Acrobat. The solo on Killing Yourself to Live. Sabbra Cadabra. I'm gonna take a stand here and say that it is one of the best records of all time.​

  • Abysmal Lord- Disciples of the Inferno (USA) War metal- I listen to this record frequently. It's one of my favorite war metal records of all time (Diocletian and Antichrist Siege Machine have put out my other favorites, respectively). It's all about the vibes for me. It feels chaotic and evil which is exactly what war metal is supposed to be.​
Hopefully next month will be better! The new section about older releases that I've been listening to may be a recurring theme, not sure yet.
 
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July 2022​
July was much better then June in terms of new music. I got a lot of death metal for ya, so let's jump in.

  • Wormrot- Hiss (Singapore) Grindcore- As you can likely tell from looking over this thread, I'm not much of a grind guy. But Wormrot is an undeniable band. While this is the end of an era for the band (their vocalist and manager left after Hiss was recorded), it is also their best work. They managed to make short, chaotic songs memorable and each of the band members is fantastic at what they do. Their guitarist, Rasyid in particular does a spectacular job, conjuring masterful riffs out of his Yamaha guitars.

  • Organectomy- Nail Below Nail (New Zealand) Slam/brutal death- I've fallen out of favor with the larger slam/brutal death world as of late but Organectomy delivered a record that I really liked. It has more variety to it then some of the other modern slam records I've heard. Some really dissonant, black metal style riffing, big slams, riffs that would feel at home in a Suffocation song, surprisingly melodic solos.

  • Molder- Engrossed in Decay (USA) Death/thrash- I found this one through the almighty Youtube algorithm. I tend to stay towards thrashy things and clicked on mainly because I didn't know how thrashy it was (and the cover art is pretty cool). Regardless, the strength of this record is in the guitar work. I feel like Molder can make some improvements (some of the songs felt a little repetitive/derivative for my taste) but there is a lot of potential here. Vocals remind me of Obituary. I feel like these guys would pair well with a band like Noisem.

  • Maul- Seraphic Punishment (USA) Death metal- I've been following Maul for a while now and was particularly excited to hear this album come out after hearing their fantastic contribution to late 2021's Myxophobia split with Thorn and Wharflurch. Seraphic Punishment blends old school death with new school ideas really, really well with winding, complex song structures. They got that tasty snare tone too. Not quite Sanguisugabogg tin can style, but in the same realm.

  • No Point in Living- Third Impact (Japan) Black metal- No Point in Living abandoned their usual DSBM in favor of a more melodic, atmospheric take this time around, and I see this record being on my year end list. I was instantly taken with the first song when I first heard the riff that transitioned from quick little pull offs to clean tremolo picking. Additional string/keys sections add to the fantastic atmosphere, and I absolutely adore the vocals.

  • Incantation- Tricennial of Blasphemy (USA) Death metal- A collection of unreleased songs, demos, songs from soundtracks and splits, a cover, and live versions of some of these songs. It's not necessarily new Incantation but it's more Incantation and I'm here for it.
July was absolutely epic, let's hope that August can continue this amazing run!
 
August 2022​
August was an interesting month. There's no particular week that sticks out to me as being packed with new releases, it was more of a slow trickle over a few weeks. My fellow doom fans will love this month's edition.

  • Early Moods- Early Moods (USA) Doom metal- Early Moods' self titled release harkens back to the original era of doom metal. You can tell these guys love Black Sabbath. Memorable riffs, catchy chorus hooks, engaging solos, clean vocals that do the job well without going over the top (punctuated with the occasional scream to really set the tone), a song with a cowbell section, drumming that provides a very solid foundation. It's not the newest take on doom but it's one that we haven't seen a fresh perspective on in a long time. You get your Trouble, Candlemass, Pagan Altar, Witchfinder General, Saint Vitus, Pentagram vibes with this band and I absolutely love it.

  • Blacklab- In a Bizarre Dream (Japan) Stoner/doom metal- Very similar to Early Moods in the sense that they take a formula that isn't particularly original but do it very well. Something I have to say about the duo is that they sound like more then two people, they're able to fill up a lot of sonic space. I like the variation between songs here, we have our typical heavy, fuzzed out stoner metal but we also have songs that feel like fit in place on one of the early Queens of the Stone Age records. I personally would like to hear more of Yuko's unclean vocals. Her cleans are good, don't get me wrong. I just love how gnarly her screams are, I'd love to hear an entire album's worth of material based around them though. This Blacklab's third record and I feel like they are truly coming into their own now.

  • Sleep- Dopesmoker (USA) Stoner metal- Before anyone wants to be a snobby music dork, I am fully aware that Dopesmoker is not a new record. It's older then me, even. But Jack White's Third Man Records recently remastered/reprinted it. I couldn't get my hands on the physical release but the streaming version dropped tonight so we're counting it. Deal with it. What else is there to say about Dopesmoker though? A 63 minute journey through the riff-filled land, one of the absolute finest compositions ever created by man. The inclusion of the long lost "Hot Lava Man" single tacked on is a wonderful bonus for Sleep freaks like me, recorded during the Holy Mountain era. Dopesmoker is fantastic, just listen to it. My fellow Weedians understand.

  • Blackbraid- Blackbraid I (USA) Atmospheric black metal- Capping off this month's slate of releases is the fantastic Native American/indigenous black metal project. We know this is a solo project and not too much is known about the man behind the music, but he fucking kills it. Both singles were outstanding, the videos amazing, the merch is sorted out, just super professional. The music is fantastic. The vocals quite clear, everything about this album just feels huge and impactful. Lots of little earworm riffs, use of clean/acoustic guitars for parts. Super excited to see more releases from this project.

And this is how we'll end August. Hyped to see what September holds.
 
September 2022​
Another fun month, but with a bit more variety then my usual death/doom/black metal obsessed posts.

  • OFF!- Free LSD (USA) Punk/hardcore- OFF!'s first outing in years is a triumphant return. They had some lineup changes in the recent past but the new lineup sounds really good. There are some interesting interludes between the songs and the album in general is less straight forward then previous releases. They play a lot with dissonance and layering in feedback and other sounds to create a dynamic, almost spacey sound. Fun listen that feels shorter then it's nearly 40 minute run time.

  • Melvins- Bad Mood Rising (USA) Sludge metal/stoner rock/Melvins- I was unsure how to categorize this release in terms of genre. It just sounds like the Melvins to me but with a heavier edge then some of their recent output. It takes me back to Houdini and Stoner Witch at times. I really liked King Buzzo's lead work on guitar this time around, and his tone is ridiculous. Most interesting Melvins release in quite some time.

  • Holy Fawn- Dimensional Bleed (USA) Post metal/blackgaze/shoegaze- I'll be honest, this isn't my favorite release but I feel like it deserves a listen regardless. I don't love every Holy Fawn song out there but I always find them to be an interesting listen. Unexpected changes within the songs, the soft/heavy dynamics, some really interesting, emotional melodies. I would have loved if they buckled down and made a record focused more on the heavy parts, but this is clearly a talented group of musicians. I'll keep listening to their output.

  • Strigoi- Viscera (UK) Death/doom metal- Paradise Lost guitarist Gregor Mackintosh's 'other' band is a ridiculously heavy entity. I liked Gregor's first sideproject Vallenfyre well enough but Strigoi brings the doom elements in a little bit more and well... We know how I feel about doom. I've listened to it three times since it dropped last night, Strigoi's second record is just simply killer. Uncompromisingly heavy, fantastic solos, brutal riffs, clear vocals. I didn't expect to like this record as much as I have.

  • Bloodbath- "Survival of the Sickest" (Sweden/UK) Death metal- The second band of another Paradise Lost member, Nick Holmes has been Swedish death metal supergroup Bloodbath's vocalist for quite a while now. It's more or less what you expect from these guys, straight forward, brutal, old school HM-2 death metal riffs. I can't help but wonder how this record would have felt if we had a lower, deeper growl instead of Nick's higher vocals, feel like it may have fit the vibe and music better. Still, a respectable release.
Honorable mentions to Revocation, Cryptic Dissolution, Mortuous, Phobophillic, and No Point in Living for also putting out fantastic releases. See you all next month!
 
October 2022​
Fuck the 'spooky season' bullshit, let's just get into the music.

  • Worm- Bluenothing (Florida) Death-doom, funeral doom, black metal, "Floridian Funeral Doom"- Worm returns with what they're calling a mini-album between the release of my 2021 album of the year Foreverglade and whatever the hell they decide to do next. The first two tracks are from the Foreverglade sessions and the last two showcase the new blackened style the band is heading in with the addition of Phillipe Tougas (Atramentus, Chthe'ilist, VoidCeremony) on guitar, and with a cameo from Charles Koryn (Ascended Dead, VoidCeremony) on drums. It's stupid heavy. It's just... Worm. They're just such a unique band, combining those heavy, oppressive atmospheres with insane, neoclassical shred style solos that somehow never lose their melodicism. This is a lock for my year end top ten.

  • Mephistofeles- Violent Theatre (Argentina) Doom metal- Mephistofeles returns with an album that drops almost all of the stoner rock/metal pretenses that they once had. I usually feel a very strong Electric Wizard influence on this group but that was gone and replaced with a really stripped down old school doom sound, particularly in that Pentagram vein. The strength for me is in the riffs, the guys wrote more then a couple riffs that I've been trying to rip off in my own guitar playing sessions over the last couple weeks. I was surprised to hear such a large difference when I put this record on, but that surprise quickly faded and was replaced with legitimate excitement. This record is a band truly coming into their own.

  • Goatwhore- Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven (USA) Black/death metal- Goatwhore are living legends of the metal scene at this point and this record never disappoints. At this point you kind of know what you're getting into with a Goatwhore record but it always just hits the exact Satan-loving heart it needs to in the listener's heart. They messed around with the song structures a bit to keep things fresh but at the end of the day, it just sounds like Goatwhore. Ben's vocals are still killer, Sammy's one of my favorite guitarists on the entire planet. Not every band needs to change their formula to keep things exciting.

  • Ripped to Shreds- Jubian (USA) Death metal- Ripped to Shreds' newest record is essentially the antithesis of Goatwhore's entire career. These guys change styles not even by the record, but by the song. On Jubian we get some old school Swedish death style bangers, drawn out, Incantaion style doomy death, an Intestine Baalism style melodeath song, and even a shorter, grindier cut, all tinged by the use of my dearly beloved Boss HM-2 pedal. It's an impressive record that shows a ton of range. And we get a guest solo from Dave Suzuki on the first track! What's not to like?

  • Coffin Torture- Blennoid (USA) Sludge/death metal- A younger Guitarman heard Coffin Torture's first record in high school and was largely unimpressed, but one song (Bolted Down, Boiled to Grease) stuck out. They've finally come out with their second record nearly five years later and I finally feel the vibes that they are putting out. Simple, riff focused guitars and bass, pounding drums that hit some occasionally fancy, fast fills to energize the music. It's a fun, heavy listen that will satisfy all of your caveman loving music needs.

  • Nocturnal Depression- Reflections of a Sad Soul (France) depressive/suicidal black metal- Not a new record but it was uploaded to Spotify in the beginning of this month, so fuck it. I've listened to this record something like five times over the course of the month. I lean into depressive/atmospheric black metal as the weather gets cold usually but this record has burrowed its way into my brain. I listen to a lot of DSBM but very few records capture the hopeless, depressed, suicidal feel that this one does. Slower, plodding pieces with some legitimately good lead guitar work, solid, not too wail-y vocals. Some people might not love how repetitive this record can be, I love it. Lets that depressive feeling sink into you even more.
October was probably my favorite month of the year so far in terms of releases. Just straight bangers all month long. See you next month as our one year anniversary approaches.
 
November 2022​
November was probably the slowest month of the year, so we'll reintroduce the "what I've been listening to" column.

New Releases
​
  • Crust- Post Human (USA) Prog., psych, stonery vibes- Crust is a bit of an odd one. They don't really fit a particular genre, but meld a lot of things. I get a lot of Primus vibes from this, definitely some psych and funk influences (also like Primus) Looser song structures, just three guys jamming in a room together, making some solid, heavy rock. It's just a fun, cool record.​
What I've been listening to
​
  • Worm- Gloomlord Remastered (USA) Funeral doom/death doom- If you read this thread, you know of my love for Worm. This is just a remaster of Worm's first record, the record that made me discover them. It's different from their later work on Foreverglade, more on the funeral doom/general doomy side with only one guitar solo on the record. It's more atmospheric then Foreverglade and Bluenothing but still has some quicker death and black metal parts. The remastering itself is a bit weird. Just seems like they made the distorted guitars quieter and the clean ones louder, a bit of a weird choice in my humble opinion. Regardless, still a great record.​

  • Profetus- The Sadness of Time Passing (Finland) Funeral doom- Music that fits the oncoming, seemingly endless cold. I love how present the organ/synths are, they really create a backbone for the more delicate lead guitar work. Tasteful drumming, fantastic vocals that fit the mood. Fantastic release from a fantastic funeral doom band.

  • Slabdragger- Regress (UK) Stoner/doom/sludge metal- I remember listening to this record the night I turned 18, playing Dirt 4 on my Playstation. It's a really fun record, combining the usual, fun grooveyness of stoner/doom but then comes in with some fucking brain melting, heavy sludge metal parts (Bab Al-Mandeb, Iron Vulture, Murky Fen). The dual vocals are very interesting and I love the inclusion of bass solos on a couple tracks instead of more typical guitar solos.

  • cursetheknife- Thank You for Being Here (USA) Shoegaze, alternative- I find myself coming back to this record fairly regularly. I generally like the modern shoegaze scene but tend to run into two issues frequently, either I find the guitar work too dreamy/annoying, or I find the vocals too dreamy/annoying. cursetheknife never gives me this issue, with solid vocals throughout the entire record and fuzzed out guitar held down by a solid rhythm section. Real 90's feel here, I get some Deftones/Hum/Smashing Pumpkins vibes out of this group.

November was a weak month. Next month will include my top ten albums for the year, and is the one year anniversary of the thread!
 
It's been a year and a day since I started this little thread now, and I just wanted to sincerely thank anyone who's read this. I'm just some dummy with an opinion on (mainly) extreme metal and you all have tuned in to read about my thoughts on the scene. It means a lot to me that you've stopped by to read my posts. I find it completely baffling that 632 (according to Blue Moon's view counter) views have been made to this thread. I plan to continue for as long as I can. Anyways... It's time for the countdown.
10. BlackLab- In A Bizzare Dream (Japan) Stoner/sludge Metal​

Japan's female stoner/sludge duo kicks off my personal top ten for 2022. The main reason I love this record is the variety within, it constantly feels fresh even after a couple listens. You get the misanthropic sludge vibes, some fun, QOTSA-like moments, and some more traditional doomy elements mixed in all throughout. I wish that they leaned harder on Yuko's gnarly unclean vocals, but really have no complaints. BlackLab's third record is their strongest to date

Favorite song: Cold Rain
9. Money- Money (USA) Shoegaze/alternative metal​

I finally got into the whole shoegaze/indie/alt. scene this year and Money is one of the standouts of the modern scene. Even though they only have these four songs, they're all really damn good. This group gives me massive Deftones vibes and I'm all here for it. Thick, fuzzy guitars, vocals that don't get too whiny. I'm really looking forward to see what Money puts out in the future, this was a very solid start.

Favorite song: Slower Hell
8. Early Moods- Early Moods (USA) Doom metal​

Another debut record here. I loved hearing these fresh takes on traditional, old school doom tropes. I got vibes from bands like Pentagram and Pagan Altar here, along with your more traditional Black Sabbath leanings. My favorite touch however, were the occasional growls This is a young band with a bright future ahead of them. I see that they're touring with High on Fire right now, a big step in the right direction.

Favorite song: Early Moods
7. Wizard Master- Phasmatis (Italy) Stoner/doom metal
​
We have our third debut record in a row here with Wizard Master. The record opens with a four minute sample (which I've admittedly skipped after my first listen) and then immediately plunges into some heavy, bluesy riffage. The vocals are a little low in the mix and the music itself is focused more on a groove then focusing on sheer heaviness. The solos are a little derivative but this is a promising band that is still finding their niche. An excellent start to their career.

Favorite song: Know the Wizard
6. Father Befouled- Crowned in Veneficum (USA) Death metal​

A gnarly, disgusting record in all the right ways. I came back to this record pretty frequently over the course of the year and one thing always stuck out to me: that guitar tone. Holy hell, I envy it so much. Works well for the faster death metal sections, sustains and doesn't feel too buzzy when they get into those Incantation style doomy sections. Father Befouled are veterans in the death metal scene, this record solidified their status.

Favorite song: Miasmas of Sodom
5. Goatwhore- Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven (USA) Death/black metal​

Goatwhore records never disappoint. They've never really strayed from their sound but have innovated within it for 22 years now. Ben's vocals are as on point as ever, Sammy Duet lays down some of the heaviest riffs in Goatwhore's discography, Satan is ever-present within the songs. It might not be the most original record of the year but it has that familiar, Goatwhore magic that I love.

Favorite song: And I Was Delivered from the Wound of Perdition
4. Mephistofeles- Violent Theatre (Argentina) Doom metal​

Mephistofeles was a fantastic band before this record was dropped, but I always pegged them as another Electric Wizard clone (albeit one of the best ones). This record changed everything. The entire drugged out, EW worship was dropped for stronger songwriting influenced by classic doom bands. Much like Black Sabbath, the rhythm section really anchors this record. Some really memorable songs and riffs, not a wasted second.

Favorite song: Die in Vain
3. Druid Lord- Relics of the Dead (USA) Death/doom metal​

Oh boy, it's hard for me to express in words how much I like Druid Lord. It's like Tony Blakk and the gang peered into my brain and smashed together everything that I liked into one band. They tap into the doom side more frequently then a lot of the other bands that play in this style but what really stands out to me is the lead guitar work on this record. I'd never thought I'd say it about a death metal record but it's legitimately beautiful at points, such as the intro solo on Monarch Macabre. The drumming is killer, the vocals are quite clear, and I love the guitar work overall. We move from those gorgeous melodic leads to blistering riffs, to glacial, gnarly doom sections with ease. In my opinion, Druid Lord is the most underrated band in the death metal scene these days. You need to check them out.

Favorite song: Mangled as the Hideous Feed
2. Ripped to Shreds- Jubian (USA) Death metal​

I've enjoyed Ripped to Shreds ever since I discovered them (right before Luan was going to drop) but kind of glossed over them as yet another HM-2 band. I've never been so glad to have been proven wrong. Lead man Andrew Lee is a brilliant composer and guitarist. Every song on this record is different from the last. Incantation style death/doom pieces, an Intestine Baalism style melodeath scorcher, and old school Swedish bangers. They play so many different styles but play them all so well. Ripped to Shreds is at the very top of the death metal scene.

Favorite song: (In Solitude - Sun Moon Holy Cult Pt. 3)
Honorable Mentions

Gawthrop- Jumbo (South Korea) Sludge metal
Hulder- The Eternal Fanfare (USA) Black metal
Blackbraid- I (USA) Atmospheric black metal
Autonoesis- Moon of Foul Magics (Canada) Melodic black metal
Crust- Post Human (USA) Prog/psych/stoner rock
Organectomy- Nail (New Zealand) Slam/brutal death
Undeath- It's Time... To Rise from the Grave (USA) Death metal
Strigoi- Viscera (UK) Death/doom metal
1. Worm- Bluenothing (USA) Death-doom, funeral doom, black metal, "Floridian funeral doom"​

My fandom for Worm is well documented in this thread, Foreverglade was my record of the year in this very thread's maiden post. They just keep getting better. On paper it doesn't look like Worm's eclectic mix of genres should really work, mixing funeral doom, death doom, and black metal with neoclassical soloing, but they write some of the most interesting, complex songs in the extreme metal world. They explore the same swampy vibes as their previous record, along with exploring a newer, symphonic tinged black metal sound that harkens to the band's beginnings. The addition of Phil Tougas brings an already fantastic band to a whole new level. I am extremely excited to see where Worm takes me as a listener and fan.

Favorite song: All of it. It's 26 minutes and change, just listen to it.
It was difficult to order my top three but here are my favorite records of 2022. I know that some new releases are still coming up (such as Abysmal Lord's new record) but it was just too late to develop any kind of feel for it. Regardless, 2022 was a fantastic year in my little corner of the music world and I am glad to have had the opportunity to share it with all of you. One again, thank you to everyone who's ever read this, I am extremely appreciative of you. I might post something between now and the end of January (I don't want too long of a break), but am unsure of what that would be yet.

I am looking forward to continuing this in 2023!
 
Hello, hello.

I didn't want to leave the thread barren for a month and a half so here I am. I'm actually going to talk a bit about myself this time around, give some of my own background as a listener of music/musician myself so you all can understand where I'm coming from, what I listen to and why I like what I like.

I grew up largely influenced by my dad's musical tastes, picking up bands like Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, and Green Day. I had a teacher that introduced me to System of a Down as well, which got me into the whole alt. metal thing. I had the stereotypical emo phase and was transitioning away from the right before I began playing guitar. The heavier elements were there too, I was dabbling in Suicide Silence and a pretty big Sepultura and Trivium fan.

When I started playing guitar it was mainly Silverstein, Green Day, System of a Down, and Stone Sour dominating my playing. A year or two into my playing, a friend on a fishkeeping forum introduced me to Zao and some older bands from the metalcore scene like Shai Hulud and Blood Has Been Shed. Zao really stuck with me and I winded up watching their Lesser Lights of Heaven documentary, which changed my musical life. Their singer Dan mentioned Carcass and Suffocation as influences and I checked both of them out. Suffocation instantly became one of my favorite bands and my gateway into death metal. I got into my two favorite bands of all time around this point too, Deftones and My Dying Bride.

I was 16 when I got into death metal and my descent into the doom/stoner/sludge world was happening simultaneously. I devoured any and all stoner/doom stuff that came my way and got pretty deep into DM, mainly sticking near the OSDM, brutal death/slam, and Finnish/Finnish inspired scenes. This is pretty much what I listened to for the next three years. My college years brought me into black metal and further death/doom experimentation. The last year or so have been my most divergent, as I've further delved into the alternative and indie scenes, a lot of shoegaze influenced stuff. Got into Robin Trower and Mdou Moctar as well, and I finally 'get' Jimi Hendrix.

These are my favorite/most influential bands at this point in my life:

Deftones
My Dying Bride
System of a Down
Alice in Chains
Nile
Black Sabbath

My process for selecting music for this thread is simple. I have a PM with myself where I list new releases that have caught my ear over the last month. If I have 4/5 I write about all of them, if there are more I skim for the ones that inspire me the most. I don't edit my little blurbs too much and stick with what comes out first. A lot of it is guitar focused for obvious reasons. For my year end post, I tallied up all of the releases I discussed on here along with some others I missed on the month they came out and rank them. I comb new releases from my Spotify feed, Youtube, a little bit of Bandcamp as well.

Anyways, this is the story of my musical adventure. I wanted you all to understand where I'm coming from, why I listen to/talk about what I do and give a glimpse into my process. I'll be back at the end of the month with my favorite releases from January (I highly suspect Obituary will make it).
 
January 2023​
Sorry for coming back a day late, work has me exhausted. To the music!

  • Obituary- Dying of Everything (USA) Death metal- Many of the classic death American metal bands (Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Deicide) has aged well and Obituary is no exception to this rule. This record is a bit faster then I'd expect for an Obituary record (most songs floating at a mid-paced tempo with some explosive moments) and they only really have one song that delves into the glacially slow, doomy Obituary pace. Fantastic lead parts, and Tardy's vocals have aged quite well. A fun start to the year.

  • Tribunal- The Weight of Remembrance (Canada) Doom/gothic metal- Yet another band with an absolutely killer first record. Tribunal's sound hints at classic doom like Trouble and Candlemass, but also touches upon leads and death metal-esque parts that harken to My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost with added female clean vocals. Very gloomy atmosphere all around, really reflects the mood and feelings of the cold winter.

  • Deiquisitor- Apotheosis (Denmark) Technical/death metal- If you read through this whole thread you'll likely notice that I don't talk about the more technical side of death metal too often, I find it quite boring. But Deiqusitor makes it interesting because they actually know how to write songs that have an impact and aren't just four minutes of technical noodling. The production is a bit odd but I think it makes the record sound more intimidating, with the vocals sounding like they're off in the distance and murky guitars.

  • Conjureth- The Parasitic Chambers (USA) Death metal- Conjureth pulled a quick turn around, releasing their debut in late 2021 before dropping their second record this month. These guys pull a lot from old school death metal and combine it into a particularly ferocious, fast package. Relentless is the word I'd use to describe this band, they rarely let off the gas and when they do, it hits HARD.

  • Ahab- The Coral Tombs (Germany) Funeral doom- I haven't enjoyed any of Ahab's post Call of the Wretched Sea records until I decided to give this one a shot. I really dig this record. The whole oceanic/nautical scene sets it apart from other funeral doom records, along with the more diverse instrumentation and structure that they have in their songs. While most funeral doom just feels really dark and depressive, this feels more moody. Fantastic listen.

  • Thy Darkened Shade- Liber Lvcifer II: Mahapralaya (Greece) Black metal- Closing out this month's post is some fantastic black metal. This is a crazy record, one you'll need to sit down and dedicate the hour to listen to. In the background it will just sound disorienting and dissonant. They get symphonic at points, have some interesting lead parts, and overall just have that Hellenic black metal vibe that you'd expect from a Greek band. I feel like this release will help make them a more well known name in the black metal scene.
A longer post then usual but we had some fantastic music come out this month. See you in February!
 
February 2023​
The genre of the month is black metal.

  • Sacred Son- Privolva (UK) Black metal, ambient- Sacred Son gained recognition through their album artwork a few years back, an image of then lone member Dane Cross on vacation instead of a typical, dark BM cover. The trend continues, but the music is the darkest I've ever heard from this project. It is relentless. Ambient passages/songs make you feel uneasy, and the BM songs go hard with trem picking aplenty. I don't love the production but it contributes to the oppressive, murky vibe of the EP.

  • Profane Order- One Nightmare Unto Another (Canada) War metal- War metal, when done properly (and not by Nazis) is one of my absolute favorite things to listen to. Profane Order gave us a fantastic offering. This isn't as reverb drenched as some other war metal records and gives me some heavy Impiety vibes with some more technical parts and even some solos. Leans a bit more into death metal then some other war metal bands.

  • Hermodr- To the Nightside (Sweden) Atmospheric black metal- Hermodr is one of my favorite atmospheric BM bands because I can actually get wrapped up in the atmosphere they provide. Their music always feels like a slow stroll through the woods during winter, if that makes sense? Varying tempos, clean vocals, surprisingly melodic at times. I know this was technically released in 2022 but it just dropped on Spotify this month, so deal with it.

  • Hellripper- Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (Scotland) Speed/black metal- I caught onto Hellripper when they released their previous record. I don't normally enjoy this kind of music but I love Hellripper's take on it, relentless riffing with absolutely fantastic, top tier vocals and some really intriguing, engaging guitar work. It's old school sounding, something that doesn't feel like it was released in 2023 (in a good way). I've been surprised with how much I've enjoyed it.

  • Sanguisugabogg- Homicidal Ecstacy (USA) Death metal- The Boggy boy's first record, Tortured Whole was one of my favorite modern DM records and somehow Homicidal Ecstasy topped it. This record is a little more technical then the last and shows that these guys are legit musicians, not the memey band that a large portion thought they were. The second half of this record (starting with A Lesson in Savagery) is one of the greatest runs of songs that I've heard in a long time. Album of the year contender.
Instead of one of my usual, stupid quips to end this month I wanted to shout out a good friend of mine, @Retrojapan. Thanks for always putting up with my bullshit and giving me music recs, you're one of the best people I know. You deserve the best.
 
March 2023​
Random, but good vibes.

  • Witchthroat Serpent- Trove of Oddities at the Devil's Driveway (France) Stoner/doom metal- I knew from the moment that I heard the first riff that we were in for a very good time. This record is heavy. The guitar tone is stupid thick, bass and drums lock in for a very tight rhythm section. The vocals really fit the vibe here and I love where they sit in the mix. I get big Electric Wizard vibes from this band and I can't get enough of it.

  • Astriferous- Pulsations From the Black Orb (Costa Rica) Death metal- About as technical of a death metal release that I can enjoy these days. I love the vocals on this record. The songs are extremely varied and you have no clue where any song will take you. Even I had a hard time predicting where things would go. They have no issue speeding up, slowing down, or crawling through intricate riffs. Also: the bass is very high in the mix for a death metal record. I love it.

  • Majesties- Vast Reaches Unclaimed (USA) Melodic death metal- Majesties is a new band formed by three of the guys from the absolutely fantastic Medieval/atmospheric/melodic black metal project Obsequiae. This record is a love letter to those famous melodeath bands from the 90's with better production. The star of the record here is the guitar work, always engaging and pleasant to follow along. I don't love the vocals but they've grown on me over time.

  • KRUELTY- Untopia (Japan) Hardcore, death/doom- Closing out the week with a record that's destructively fun. Engaging song structures, stupid heavy mosh/breakdown parts, even some classic two step brutality. This record really builds over time, I love how the heaviest section is the last thirty seconds or so of the last song. KRUELTY rewards their listener for their patience.
Honorable mentions to Hellish Form and Afsky this month, not enough time for me to write more. Solid month, can't wait for April!
 
April 2023​
No points to make, just music.

  • Kommand- Death Age (US) Death metal- This dropped on March 31 but it's my thread, my rules. Gnarly, ass kicking death metal that gives me some war metal vibes both in execution and in the cover artwork. Largely mid paced with some faster burts and slower sections, fun little guitar solos in the vein of Slayer to give some excitement to the riff fest. Tasty vocals that sit well in the mix. If you're wondering just how much I like this EP... I'm currently wearing my new Kommand shirt as I type this.

  • Chrome Waves- Earth Will Shed Its Skin (US) Atmospheric black metal/post metal- Been excited for this one for a while now. Chrome Waves deviated from their black metal sound on their previous release and leaned further in a post metal/alternative direction (these guys have covered Slowdive in the past), Earth Will Shed Its Skin is a return to that sound. Not your typical throat shredding black metal vocals but a nice, understandable scream. What I love about CW is that they are amazing songwriters, they are fantastic at building and releasing tension, a trait that continues on their newest record.

  • Voidceremony- Threads of Unknowing (US) Progressive/technical death metal- I don't like tech death too much and I'm definitely not a prog guy but Voidceremony just makes really interesting music. It's all over the place, yet still catchy and brutal all at the same time. I like how you can tell that they're actually writing songs and not playing crazy, complicated lines just for the sake of it. They assembled a fantastic lineup too, with the outstanding Phil Tougas and Charlie Koryn (previously mentioned on here), along with Damon Good (Mournful Congregation, StarGazer) added to the band on bass and fretless bass.

  • 1782- Clamor Luciferi (Italy) Stoner/doom metal- 1782 is just one of those bands that makes me happy whenever I hear them. The star of the show is the guitar, giving a thick layer of FZ-2 grittiness a la Come My Fanatics/Dopethrone era Electric Wizard, a clear inspiration for these doomers. There's nothing crazy about this record, nothing special, it's just heavy and scratches an itch that every fan of stoner/doom has.

  • Ayyur- Prevail (Tunisia) Doomy black metal/dark ambient- The first African band mentioned on this thread! Ayyur really takes there time here, settling more on a haunting, creepy vibe then pure aggression. It feels more like an ambient record with tinges of black metal. Things move pretty slowly on this release, especially for a black metal record. Low, sinister vocals with constant, droning chords and melodies in the background. The execution isn't perfect but I see what they were going for. Still worth a listen for the vibes alone.
Thanks for tuning in for another month, see you at the end of May!
 
May 2023​
My month sucked but at least the music didn't.

  • Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean- Obsession Destruction (US) Sludge/doom metal- When I hear/read about others discussing this band, the comparisons to Thou are inescapable, to the point of people complaining that Chained rips off Thou. I think Chained is even better then Thou. Chained hits harder. The riffs are a little more angular and dissonant. They pick up speed, even have a few moments that remind me of some mid paced, hardcore influenced death metal.

  • Ascended Dead- Evenfall of the Apocalypse (US) Death metal- Wild, chaotic, fast, untamed death metal. This was a pretty intense listen for me, and I'm a regular to the genre. This is a little less polished then 2017's Abhorrent Manifestation but I think that works in the band's favor. The darker, murkier production adds to the chaotic, disorienting feeling of the music. Incantation vibes at times. Definite contender for my year end list.

  • Mournful Congregation- Exuviae of Gods- Part 2 (Australia) Funeral doom- I knew that I loved this album from the first minute in. Mournful Congregation gives us the melodic lead parts they are known for in spades. This guitar work is legitimately beautiful at points, not something I say often about funeral doom. The vocals are outstanding as well. We also get a couple faster parts which... I didn't expect, but do enjoy. Gives the record some death-doom vibes, which fits well with the rest of the material.

  • Frozen Soul- Glacial Domination- (US) Death metal- Definitely not a groundbreaking record, nothing overly fancy is going on here. But Frozen Soul's second record delivers solid, largely mid paced, hardcore influenced death metal that has you banging your head as you listen along. Meat and potatoes type stuff. My favorite songs were actually the ones that Matt Heafy (of Trivium) guested on. The added technicality in his solos just made these songs a bit more dynamic, as the rest of the album felt a little bland and derivative at times.
Thanks for checking back in, see you in June.
 
June 2023​
It's time...

  • Church of Misery- Born Under a Mad Sign (Japan) Doom metal: CoM has been a favorite of mine for a long time and their latest record is their strongest effort in more then a decade. They brought back Kazuhiro Asaeda to sing and had Yukito Okazaki (Eternal Elysium) perform session guitar work, both were great additions. Okazaki deserves a lot of praise, pulling some of the most creative solos in CoM's discography, using more then just simple blues scales. Overall, the record has a particularly grimy feel, hearkening back to Houses of the Unholy and their Early Works Compilation. Amazing record after a seven year break.

  • Bongzilla- Dab City (US) Stoner/sludge metal: Bongzilla returns after just a little bit more then two years with a sequel to Weedsconsin, which I quite enjoyed. I enjoyed Dab City even more. Less singing and the songs are more focused, more riff based then the jammy, spacey Weedsconsin. I like the production on Dab City a bit more as well, the whole mix just feels a little more thick and full. All in all, it just sounds like another Bongzilla record. If you like Bongzilla, you're gonna like this one.

  • Wilt- Huginn (Canada) Atmospheric black metal: Wilt was more or less silent after their 2018 release and I didn't even know that Huginn was incoming, just saw it pop up on Spotify when it was released. I love Jordan Dorge's vocals and he delivers on this record. Longer songs with repetitive, almost droney riffs and beautiful, melodic lead work that is in my opinion, the trademark of this band. Just fantastic music. My only wish is that we don't have to wait five years for another release.

  • Torture Rack- Primeval Onslaught (US) Death metal: The album title really gives it away. Unrelenting, punishing, caveman death metal from a couple of the members from perennial Guitarman favorites Witch Vomit. The drumming is fucking savage. Unrelenting, pummeling with a ton of double bass. Riff based with frenetic, squealy, Slayer-esque, whammy bar heavy guitar solos. Surprisingly present bass in the mix as well, topped off with super low vocals. There's not a second wasted here, every song is just concise and brutal. Found myself returning to this record quite a bit since its release.

  • None- Inevitable (US) Atmospheric/depressive black metal: We close out the month with an album of the year contender. None is likely my favorite modern BM project and I'm completely in love with Inevitable after the first listen. It just... Hits so hard. It's insane just how much emotion a record can fuel. The best part about None is that they take their time, they understand how to use tension and build up to these massive, climactic moments. Ambient sections, samples, clean guitar work that crescendos into the big, heavy, distorted riffs with same truly gnarly, tortured vocals. Weirdly enough, I find this record (and most depressive BM) to be largely comforting and relaxing. A Reason to Be is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a while.
June was fantastic, see you next month!
 
July 2023​
The black metal edition.

  • Eave- Fervor (US) Depressive/Atmospheric black metal- This is a release that I find pretty difficult to describe? There are definite post hardcore and early melodic metalcore influences in here, winding song structures. These guys never run out of ideas and employed lower vocals then I'd expect out of a black metal band at times. I felt like I was listening to La Dispute play black metal. Kinda weird, but I like it. Unconventional stuff, even in the expansive black metal genre.

  • Blackbraid- Blackbraid II (US) Atmospheric black metal- Oh boy, Blackbraid came back with a bang. This release is very similar to Blackbraid I, which I think is a good thing. I personally don't need an artist to reinvent the wheel every time they release a record, I'm happy to hear more solid music. I love the vocals. Sit well in the mix, very understandable. It's a longer record but it doesn't feel like a long listen. Even with some of the longer songs I wasn't getting fatigued. There are some things I didn't love about the record though. While it's not a bad song by any means, Twilight Hymn of Ancient Blood feels very out of place on this record. The blatant thrashiness messed with the flow for me. I didn't need the Bathory cover either, skipped it on all of my replays of the record.

  • Mizmor- Prosaic (US) Black metal/funeral doom/drone- Maybe my favorite Mizmor release? This is the first record where ALN doesn't deal with religion, representing a turning point of sorts for the project. This is the first time we got to hear him write about, well, anything else, and I found it pretty interesting. Typical caustic vocals, changes of pace in the songs that actually add to the atmosphere instead of doing it for shock. Love it all, but I especially love the two songs that start off doomier (No Place to Arrive and Acceptance). Likely on the year end list.

  • Kanonenfieber- Kanonenfieber Live at Dark Easter Metal Meeting (Germany) Atmospheric black/death metal- Yes, a live recording! This concert was more or less a career spanning set, featuring most of their singles (if not all) and half of their first and only record so far. Already loved the songs, theme (World War I) and the writing, what draws me in here is the production and the live execution. Flawless playing, especially when you consider the costumes these guys were wearing (can find live footage from this show easily on Youtube). The backing vocals all sound uncannily similar the the lead vocalist, leading to the group vocals sounding super powerful. Whoever mixed this deserves some kind of award though. You can here literally everything. It's just... Perfect.
Probably not my friend @Retrojapan's kind of month, but maybe August will be?
 
August 2023​
Banger after banger.

  • Incantation- Unholy Deification (US) Death metal- Where to start? Incantation is probably my favorite death metal band. They've aged gracefully due to fantastic songwriting, their last few records have been particularly solid for an aging, classic death metal band. I think this record stands with Incantation's absolute best work. Not of the 21st century, but of their entire discography. I love John McEntee's growls and the guitar work, especially the riffing, is particularly furious. The drums sound awesome, the bass sits well in the mix and beefs things up. I just love it. I've listened to it twice already and it just came out today.

  • An Autumn for Crippled Children- Closure (Netherlands) Blackgaze/shoegaze, post metal- This one hits me in all the feels, I know I'll be listening to this one a lot during those long, cold winter nights. It's moody, as is expected from AAFCC. We have some legitimately beautiful melodies here, some intermingling of black metal-esque guitars and keys. The vocals are tortured, lending an almost DSBM vibe. It's a genuinely beautiful record, as weird as that may sound. Gives big nostalgia vibes, almost like you're aching for something that you've lost.

  • Sonic Moon- Return Without Any Memory (Denmark) Stoner rock/psychedelic rock- Is it just me or do the vocals remind you of Corey Taylor's clean singing at all? Regardless, I really enjoyed this record, the rare stoner rock record that doesn't feel repetitive (you know I love you anyway, stoner rock). Each song legitimately feels different. I get a lot of younger Josh Homme vibes in the song writing here, especially with the guitars, both in tone and in riff style. Like Welcome to Sky Valley era Kyuss through the first 2-3 QOTSA records Josh Homme. The psych side of it doesn't feel cheesy either. Vocal effects used sparingly so they don't feel too weird, some trippy solos. Fun record.

  • Invultation- Feral Legion (US) War metal- Invultation plays war metal with a bit of je ne sais quoi. It's not just all pure speed and ferocity, they show some hints of technicality and musicianship beyond "play as fast as possible". I love the vocals here in particular, touched with just a bit of reverb (this is war metal, after all). All in all, this record reminds me of Impiety and Gesundrian era Diocletian, which are both top tier war metal projects, in my opinion.
Peace out, hooligans. See you next month.
 
September 2023​
A wet dream for OSDM fans, so let's get the other stuff out of the way first.

  • Uada- Crepuscule Natura (US) Melodic black metal- Uada is my gateway to black metal, I never gave the genre much thought until I first heard their song Cult of a Dying Sun and promptly lost my mind. It makes sense why Uada pulled me in, there's a nice little hint of familiar death metal mixed into their melodic, blackened formula that a younger me needed to be pulled in. I like this record more then their previous effort, Djinn. It's furious but focused. Obviously the vocals and guitars are going to catch your ears but the rhythm section does an absolutely fantastic job of driving and anchoring their sound. All in all, it's a very familiar album. Uada doing Uada things.

  • Fulanno- Ruido Infernal (Argentina) Stoner/doom metal- Not sure why but I never really caught onto this Argentinian unit until this release. My love of other bands in the Argentinian stoner scene, like Mephistofeles, Sahara, and Las Historias is well documented. Regardless, this is a solid release. It is extremely derivative of Electric Wizard, I will admit, the vocals are weak, and the drums sit a little low in the mix for my taste. But this is a stoner record, nothing's going to be perfect! There are riffs for days, the guitar/bass tone is absolutely filthy. Just sit back and enjoy this one.

  • cursetheknife- There's a Place I Can Rest (US) Alternative/shoegaze- I'll admit right off the bat that I don't enjoy this one as much as their first record, but I think that the highs on TAPICR are higher then the ones on their debut. I really, really vibe with the song Reach in particular. Big time ploddy, doomy vibes with thick, chunky bass. This works better as a full listen as opposed to picking out a couple of singles, I wasn't feeling too optimistic after hearing the first few singles actually. But the album as a hole ties together really nicely.

  • Cannibal Corpse- Chaos Horrific (US) Death metal- I know it's only been out for a week at this point, but this might be my favorite CC record with Corpsegrinder on vocals. I like everything they've put out since he joined, they're an outlandishly consistent band. The production is fantastic, everything sounds just so fucking brutal. They've been working with Rutan for years now and he's always done a great job but this hits a whole new level. Speaking of Erik Rutan, his guitar work here is amazing, a step above what he provided on Violence Unimagined. Paul's drumming is sick too, obviously not the most technically demanding but few can hold a groove like him. It helps keep the madness of the guitars and Alex Webster's bass under control.

  • Dying Fetus- Make Them Beg for Death (US) Technical/brutal death metal- Yet another band that ages like a fine wine here in Dying Fetus. The amount of noise and sonic space that these three guys fill is absolutely insane. Crazy technicality across all of the instruments, but still catchy with hooks (as is typical of Dying Fetus). Very solid vocals but for me, the real strength is in the breakdowns/slams. The record is pretty sonically similar to the previous two to me (Reign Supreme and Wrong One to Fuck With) but it feels a bit more brutal. A fun, concise listen with no filler.

  • Tomb Mold- The Enduring Spirit (Canada) Progressive death metal- This release came out of left field. Tomb Mold never exactly hid their influences and never shied away from some progressive leanings but I didn't expect this. This is a straight up progressive, technical death metal record. I usually don't enjoy death metal like this, but these three just do it so well. We still have big, heavy riffs and moments to tie things together so it doesn't feel like a giant, technical wankfest. The solos/lead parts feel almost... Fusion like to me? Really fantastic stuff. I love this record and suspect it'll be toward the top of my year end list, but I'll admit that it took me 5ish listens to fully get it.
Shout out to Fossilization from Brazil, Ethereal Tomb from Canada, and international grind titans Gridlink as well. See you next month!
 
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