NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM JUL 30 – AUG 6
Shout out to Jesse for joining the Patreon just as I was at the peak of my guilt and self flagellation about everything falling apart around me. You made my month.
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. Fleshvessel – "The Void Chamber," from Yearning: Promethean Fates Sealed (Prog Death/Black Metal – I, Voidhanger Records). I thought I had already written something about this magical debut from Fleshvessel, but maybe I didn't? I don't know. Who even am I at this point of my personal disintegration? Well, I don't know. But I do know one thing: This will not only go down as one of the best albums of the year, it will, withoutout a shred of doubt, will be a high watermark in whatever-cooky-shit-this-is for the decade, and beyond. An instant classic of metal-driver creativity and emotion. FFO: Haunter, Sleepwalker, Atheist.
2. Afterbirth – "Tightening the Screws," from In But Not Of (Death Metal – Willowtip Records). Friends of the show and all-around death-metal wizards Afterbirth are finally allowing a peek into their upcoming third full-length, and it sounds fucking incredible. The coverart is incredible, I had to say that too. I thought I was going to get a short taste of some intro shit with the 1:47 running time, but GOD DAMN it just makes me wish the whole albums is just a series of short punches to the fucking face like this. AMPED AND WIRED. FFO: Artificial Brain, Wormed, Faceless Burial.
3. Holocausts – "מציאות רקובה [Rotten Reality]," from Liberation (Punk – Independent). One of the best punk bands on planet earth just happens to be a local band filled with amazing young people who make amazing shit happens (you might recognize them from their brilliant appearance on MILIM KASHOT VOL. 2). So, they have an amazing new album about, one that both keeps everything that was incredible about them from the get go – energy, wit, gritty sound – with a grandiose sense of melody that brings such singular acts as Rigorous Institution to mind. Amazing stuff. FFO: Being angry, but thoughtful.
4. Ixias – ״Fragments," from Compulsive Trance (Grindcore/Experimental – Lower Class Kids Records). I wrote about the debut album from this weirdo-grind group here since I loved it, and that's reason enough. Now they have a new album and it's as, if not more, glorious. Maniacal, spastic, and utterly beautiful.
5. Throat Breach – "Heralding," from /H/L/ (Ambient/Death Metal – Independent). I would like to think that, amid the ruins of my personal life, burning from the need to post about esoteric metal every week, I have gained some, as they say, "pull" in this world of weirdo metal. And yet, in a world in which I have that pull Throat Breach would have been a household name, bedecked with with trophies and riches. But my personal failure aside, Throat Breach fucking rule, and continue to not only be one of the best underground death metal acts around but evolve into their own brand of chaotic, grinding, almost industrial death metal. Do not miss out. FFO: Abyssal, Chepang, Vermin Wound.
6. Blood Abscission – "I – V," from I (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). This one comes via a recommendation from long-time follower Jon, who, unsurprisingly, hit the nail right on its atmospheric head. A wonderful debut from this new project, with a whole bunch of blackgaze influences placed on what feels like a good, sturdy black metal framework. Very Wiegedood-y, in the best way. FFO: An Autumn for Crippled Children, Wiegedood, Deafheaven.
7. Déhà – "Vers hier" from Averses II (Depressive Black Metal – Musical Excrements). The incessant, fertile, unconquerable force of motherfucking nature that is Déhà is back with (yet) another release, this time a part two to his wonderful 2022 album Averses. The man, and I've said this and will say it ad nauseum, cannot do any wrong. And this beautiful, suffocating, life-affirming track is just further proof of that. Not that anyone needed it. FFO: Xasthur, ColdWorld, Violet Cold.
8. Ragana – "Desolation's Flower," from Desolation's Flower (Doom/Black Metal – The Flenser). The long-awaited new album and Flenser debut from the Oakland duo Ragana (AKA the only band who has ever refused to sell me a t shirt) is finally here. Well, the first track is, the rest will arrive late October. And if you were familiar with their previous and beautiful work, then it's basically that. Which is, naturally a wonderful thing. Powerful, driving blackened doom that feels like a storm coming over the horizon. Also, weirdly that cover art is both amazing and horrible at the same time. FFO: Mizmor, Thou, Vile Creature.
9. Body Void – "Flesh Market," from Atrocity Machine (Doom/Sludge – Prosthetic Records). Speaking of people releasing wonderfully gross music in October, the sonic miracle that is Body Void are back with their followup to the wonderful Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth. Pummeling, toxic, emotionally devastating sludge + some eerie electronics to make you feel ever worse about being alive. What's better?! FFO: Thou, Grief, Indian.
FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONE: Some of the best people on earth (Aberration) released a live cover of one of the best tracks on earth (Beherit's "Solomon's Gate"). Yay.
TWO: Pretty atmospheric black metal? Loather.
THREE: Dumb-as-fuck-sounding death metal? Eyemaster.
FOUR: With the move now done I hope to get back on track with most of the stuff on the site. A new long-form interview was recorded and will probably go up soon as a Patreon-exclusive podcast episode until I find the time to write it out (never!).
FIVE: Veteran grinding/brutal death metal band Viscera Trail just released their first single in forever, and it's pretty filthy.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Misanthropæ released a new EP, if you like your death metal dissonant and grinding. Shout out to Total Dissonance Worship.
