NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – NOV 12-18 – AM I FALLING APART EDITION #5
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1. Ûkcheânsâlâwit – "Nabookse," from Mjijaqamij (Black Metal – His Wounds). Look, this has been a long, eventful year. And at this point I can't actually say whether I missed the fact that one of the best black metal projects on earth released a new album all the way back in January or whether I knew about it and just forgot. I don't know. All that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that an AOTY-caliber album was released 10 months ago, one that I may or may not have known about and one that I personally haven't seen any "noise" about. So, here's the noise – yet another brilliant release from one of the most brilliant people in the cosmos. Feeling, dark, and beautiful. FFO: Sadness, Trhä, Bríi.
2. Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze – "Suffocate O Earthen Lungs; They Now Lungs of Ash," from The Fractal Ouroboros (Atmospheric Black Metal – Fiadh Productions and Vita Detestabilis). Four very long years after the beautiful Offerings of Flesh and Gold Colorado's own Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze are finally motherfucking back. I say "motherfucking" not because of the dark allure of profanity, nor because of the accusation that the band likes to fornicate mothers, but because of all that power. ALL THAT POWER. Why can't all amos bm sound like this? This BIG? This forceful? THIS MOTHERFUCKIN' (sorry) magnificent? They were sorely missed, and this first track feels like it's filling a hole in my heart. Also, alwats the best art (with the artist in question to appear later in this list). FFO: Ossaert, Mare Cogitum, False.
3. Mêlée des Aurores – "Soleil des méduses," from Aube cannibale (Black Metal – Sepulchral Productions). I guess this post is basically all black metal so far, but so be it. But this is not the feeling of Ûkcheânsâlâwit or the grandure of Bull of Apis Bull or Bronze. This is that black hole that appears when you open your window that then proceeds to suck out your soul. Dissonant, aggressive, nasty, negative, and wonderful. Music to be angry with. FFO: Deathspell Omega, Funeral Mist, Craft.
4. Aureole- "Alunarian Ghosts of Bellmaster," from Alunarian Bellmaster (Atmospheric Black Metal – Prophecy Productions / Void Deconstruct). There was a time when the second album by Markov Soroka's Aureole, Aurora Borealis, served as my basic definition of atmospheric black metal. I listened to that album so god-damned much, probably more than I did the first Tchornobog, which, if memory serves, came out around the same time. That EP Aureole put out a few years ago was nice, but not of the same caliber. However, this new album is IT. Weird, atmospheric, and catchy/human in the way only Markov Soroka can be. Maybe him, Caio Lemos, Damian Ojeda, and demo-phase Lamp of Murmuur. Anyhow, very good to have him back. FFO: Pretty melancholy.
5. Vindkaldr – "第一幕," from Reflections of a Mask (Ambient/Dungeon Synth – Independent). I mean, are we calling this dungeon synth because Vindkaldr do black metal? I don't know. Whatever it is, it's fucking beautiful and wonderful. FFO: Wonderful things.
6. Tírad Dûr – "Reluctant to Kill and Wanting to Die," from Skeletal Sun (Black Metal – Independent). Back to black metal, just before the black metal streak will probably end with this fantastically raw and musical new demo from Tírad Dûr. Not sure I was a fan of the previous one, but that may have been my fault. Everything is my fault. That's just the way it is. Anyhow, this is great. So many great ideas sewn together beautifully. It's nasty and has soul. What more could you ask? FFO: Trhä
7. Insolent – "Ecstasy and Insanity," from Exposition (Black Metal – Independent). Pure Wrath's Ryo seems to have revived an older raw-ish black metal project by the name of Insolence under the exciting new name "Insolent." But, naming tendencies aside, this is very enjoyable and at times brilliant black metal on the lo-fi side of things, intersting given Pure Wrath's melody and immaculate production. I like this a lot. That's what I'm saying. FFO: Black metal, I don't know what to tell you.
8. Wreathe – "One Hundred Swords of Righteous Anger," from The Land is not an Idle God (Screamo/Crust – Alerta Antifascista Records). Finally breaking the black-metal spell with some good ole pissed-off punk/crust from the pipes that brought down the world AKA Alex CF of Fall of Efrafa/Light Bearer and featuring members of the wonderful Morrow (who released a great LP last year). Angry, driving punk, and a fantastic debut. FFO: Converge, atameo, Ett Dödens Maskineri.
9. Burial – "Called by the Tomb," from Utterances from Below (Death Metal – Rotted Life). And, finally the last entry is also the first death metal one. But what a one (?!). An incredible new split between Burial and Night Hag has just been released and it's glorious. Nasty, dynamic death metal at it's best and, just generally, one of the best splits of this never-ending year. A must listen. FFO: Witch Vomit,
ONE: Oranssi Pazuzu keep teasing recording session pics, but not release date. Not cool.
TWO: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum announced a new album and the first track off of it is pretty great.
THREE: Interesting weirdo black metal from The Cult of Grinning Martyrs. Good name.
FOUR: MILIM KASHOT 5 is almost here, and it's the best one ever.
FIVE: Don't miss out on the track I streamed earlier this week from the debut Sulfuric Hatred (Undeath/Vile Ritual/Stabbed members). Amazing album. Pre-orders here.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Hug the people you love, ignore the people you hate.
