NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM JULY 9 – JULY 16

Yeah, still under the landslide of life. Great, now I have that Fleetwood Mac song stuck in my head. Keep safe.

As always, check out my various interview projects and other cool shit. And if you'd like to keep abreast of the latest, most pressing developments follow us wherever I may roam (FALSE!) (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and now also a tape-per-day series on TIK TOK!), and listen to my, I guess, active (?) podcast (YouTube, Spotify, Apple), and to check out our amazing compilation albums. You can support our unholy work here (Patreon), if you feel like it. Early access to our bigger projects, weekly exclusive recommendations and playlists, and that wonderful feeling that you're encouraging a life-consuming habit.

1. Swarrrm – "香り," from 焦​が​せ / Kogase (Grindcore/Experimental – 3LA Records). One of the most creative, daring, innovative, weird, and down-right brilliant bands in the world is back with a new album, two years after the wonderful I Dreamed and five years following the genius Beginning to Break. To the uninitiated, Swarrrm are basically what happens when you inject too much brainpower into a jar of poison and the two react and make something like grindcore that feels like opera. Basically. Cannot wait. FFO: SWARRRM.

2. Laster – "Kunstlicht," from Andermans Mijne (Avant-Garde Black Metal – Prophecy Productions). Four l long years after 2019's brilliant Het wassen oog the wonderful Laster are back and ready to blanket a whole shit-load of left-brain metal on your, well, brain. If you like the feeling of entering an opera concert hall and being assaulted by metalheads who pelt art books at you then this is the track to listen to. Yet another incredible release from the Utrecht scene. FFO: Grey Aura, Dodheimsgard, Dola.

夢遊病者 – "Silesian Fur Coat," from Skopofoboexoskelett (Experimental Black Metal – Sentient Ruin Laboratories).  Speaking of way-too-smart people making way-too-good music, the magnificent international headcase of a project Sleepwalker is back. Before saying what I feel about this track from an upcoming album, I would like to just say what a kick I'm getting out of featuring Swarrrm and Sleepwalker in the same post. They're practically family members to me. Having said that: It's my favorite Sleepwalker track yet, equal parts Scott Walker, Neurosis, and, well, something like Swarrrm. FFO: Being hurt by the music that comforts you.

4. Great Falls – "Trap Feeding," from Objects Without Pain (Noise Rock/Experimental – Neurot Recordings). Well, apparently Great Falls – one of the most emotionally abrasive and massive bands on this currently green earth – are with Neurot now! That's pretty fucking cool, and very, very appropriate (and ties in nicely with the Neurosis reference in the previous entry). There was a when one was forced to wait for new releases from these mighty men, but we have been blessed this year with a wonderful new EP (of which I had written here) and now the first proper full length since the incredible A Sense of Rest, which was my introduction to the band. Amazing. FFO: Indian, Kowloon Walled City, Intercourse.

5. Odz Manouk – "Դ​յ​ո​ւ​ց​ա​զ​ն​ա​մ​ա​ր​տ (Dyutsaznamart)," from Ծ​ո​ւ​ռ (Tzurr) (Psych Black Metal – Blood Coloured Beast). I think I already mentioned the two new Odz Manouk albums, specifically Bosoragazan (I did, here). Both albums are incredible, both some of the best black metal of the year, easy. But, but, but. BUT. This track right here is basically a reason to listen to music. It takes everything that's weird and magical and at the same time direct and aggressive with Odz Manouk and filters it through a strainer of pain and beauty that makes it one of the best black metal tracks in a while and the only contender that even comes close to the most recent Kostnatění in terms of a blizzard of magic. Seems relevant, moreover, since my interview with D.L. of Kostnatění is basically how I even found out about this project. An absolute must. FFO: Kostnatění, Wormlust, Oranssi Pazuzu. 

6. Woe – ״Scavenger Prophets," from Legacies of Frailty (Black Metal – Vendetta Records). How blessed are we to live at the same time that some of these artists work and create? Just insane. I mean, just look at just this week! Jesus. Woe is finally back after their resounding, unmatched 2017 masterpiece, Hope Attrition, which was the focus of this Albums of the Decade interview way back when. What I did see coming, however, is Woe going from that relatively loose, emotional, airy black metal of Hope Attrition and turning back the clock toward a much more, ah, direct black metal approach. Which seems appropriate since Legacies of Frailty also kind of marks a return to the "Woe as a one-man project" vibe of its early days. Can't wait to check out the whole thing. Strong 2000s USBM vibes and I'm intrigued. FFO: Vanum, Turia, Wiegedood.

7. Apostles of Eris – "Container," from 4​-​Way Split (Screamo – Zegema Beach Records). I mean, holy shit. First, that's enough black metal for now, goddamit. Second, what a wonderful melodious cacophony of emotions and shit. The entire split is quite nice, don't mind me saying, but this track is just a transmission from a dying screamo planet whose sun had burned out three million years ago. In my great ignorance I had never heard of these people. That was a mistake. Wonderful. FFO: atameo, Ghost Spirit, Frail Body.

8. Hazing Over – "Disavowed," from Tunnel Vision (Hardcore – 1126 Records). Speaking of screamo, the artists once known as Shin Guard are back with another EP of blistering metallic hardcore that feels like getting a heart attack in the future. Aggressive, punchy, and awesome. I still kind of miss Shin Guard, though. FFO: Incendiary, Harm's Way, Twitching Tongues.

9. Forlorn Aspect – "Aur," from Visions of the Causal Source (Black Metal – Independent). Alright, some one more black metal release. This time from friends of the show and MILIM KASHOT alums Forlorn Aspect. Their fantastic Benthic Orations was absolutely one of my favorite albums of 2022, and so a new release this soon was a wonderful surprise. Much more direct and aggressive, this new EP still bears that deliciously horrendous atmosphere and wall-of-sound vibe that makes them into such a special band. Don't miss out.

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: I don't actually have time to write this section this week.

TWO: Nope, still don't have time.

THREE: No time!

FOUR: I love my kids.

FIVE: NOPE!

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: OK, new Esoctrilihum track.