NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – DEC 3-9 – AM I FALLING APART EDITION #7

Alright, alright. Given my world ending + releasing a new compilation album + a new Album of the Year post I said I would take a break until 2024. I think I deserve that, and I think that would have been wise. I am not, it seems, however, wise, and there was just too much amazing music piling in my docs, so fuck it. Keep safe.

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1. Theophonos – "No Reprieve," from Ashes in the Huron River (Black Metal/Mathcore – Profound Lore Records). The criminally insane mind that birthed Serpent Column (RIP), and spewed it's followup Theophonos project and album (you heard it here first!) is back, packing the same weirdo ammo, only somehow sounding even better, and housed under a distinguished new roof – Profound Lore Records. All of this, all of it, is great news, and when you hear the first track you realize it's actually better news than expected. You would think there isn't a lot of room for variety when your musical brand is basically "everything happening at once, and angry," but lo and behold that seems to be not true. Crushing, inspiring, pissed off. Perfection. FFO: Deeply despising your elders. Oh, and there's a video.

2. Sunken Basilica – "Steppes," from Vaulted Dome of the Eurypterid (Synth/Modern Classical – Fiadh Productions). Speaking of crazy, the insanely gifted composer/musician Edward Longo should already have been on your map of genius as a result of his contribution to some of the best, most creative extreme metal of this millennium (SkyThala, Primeval Well, etc). And I was already a fan of his creepy crawling music on Sunken Basilica. But this new release is just pure magic. If this is dungeon synth, then it's the way all dungeon synth must sound. And if, as I think myself, it isn't, well then it's just one of the best classical-esque compositions I've heard in my God-riddled life. Incredible. FFO: Fantasizing about Satan in church.

3. HWWAUOCH – "Voluntary Trepanation," from Under the Gaze of Dissolution (Avant-Garde Black Metal – Amor Fati Productions). Well, the incredible Prava Kollektiv did that shit they do every few years where they just unload a life's worth of incredible an incredible variety of black metal into the world before limping back into their cave. Historically speaking I've always been drawn to the demented side of their catalogue, which usually means Mahr – who released another perfect album of shitstorming black metal – and HWWAUOCH, with the odd dash of Voidsphere. And let me tell you people, this batch might might might just be my favorite yet, and this album from HWWAUOCH is rising toward the top of my PK pile. No one makes music like this. No one. FFO: Puking rusted nails.

4. Hollow Woods – "Burial Fires," from Like Twisted Bones of Fallen Giants (Black Metal – Signal Rex). Toning down a bit from the heights of manic destruction, Hollow Woods and their pitch-perfect mid-tempo black metal majesty are back to rain some righteous melodies on our wilted faces. I was very big on their amazing 2021 release, and this first track sounds somehow, impossibly, even fucking better. RIP to Urfaust and all that, but this right here, along with, say, Nubivagant, is a good candidate for that drunken hole in my heart. FFO: Drinking cheap booze in the snow.

5. Vollmondprozession – "die drei orden," from Vollmondprozession (Black Metal – Independent). Look, I know this is a whole lot of black metal, but shut up. When I am in the midst of my worst nightmares, when I am drenched in the sweat of my anxiety and in the feces of my existence, this is the black metal I need. Nay…. I actually don't have a "nay," so let's leave it at that. I have no idea who these masked freaks are, but they should put their riffs and drumming hands in the Museum for Awesome Riffing and Drumming. Just fucking incredible. FFO: Breakfast shakes made of burnt shacks.

6. Ophanim – "Lueg uf zum Schlangemal," from T​ä​mpelskl​ä​ng (Black Metal – Eisenwald). I've been saying this for a few years now, but the bands (basically a couple of very talented people) that make up the Helvetic Underground Committee are responsible for some of the most awe-inspiring, beautiful, memorable music of my adult life. That's not hyperbole. I mean, it is, but it isn't. I mean, just look at the year they had, fucking around and notching a triple double of incredible albums from Wyrgher, Kvelgeyst, and now this stunning debut from, yes, yet another Hebrew-mysticism-titled black metal band. But, name aside (cool name btw) this is one of the best black metal albums of this horrible year. Yes, I've added it to "the list" (link in intro), it's that amazing. FFO: Dressing up in the garb of a pagan priest and eating raw meat.

7. Howl – "Shattered Lungs and Poisoned Breath," from Digging Towards an Internalized Glow / Shattered Lungs and Poisoned Breath (Drone/Black Metal – Independent). One of those magical Bandcamp finds that make you believe in the soul-nourishing power of art to mend your being. I mean, I don't even know what the fuck it is, I'm just happy it exists. Part post-metal, part blackgaze, part fucked-up shit people shouldn't be doing in public, this is just creative, atmospheric, instrumental music that makes winter look like a half-passable season. Horrible seasons, by the way, terrible. FFO: Reading a post online about someone who keeps wanting to just drive to their grandparents house to spend some time with them only to realize they've been dead for years and then looking into my year-and-a-half-old son's eyes and thinking to myself "you'll miss me in that way one day too isn't that strange."

8. Exulansis – "Dawning," from Overtures of Uprising (Doom/Atmospheric Black Metal – Bindrune Recordings). Another amazing black metal release that came upon my weary eyes later in the year and won my heart. This has all the melodrama, all the sombre despair, and all the immaculate beauty one could ask for in one album. Beautiful doom, touching melodies, an almost My Dying Bride/Theatre of Tragedy vibe, and then all those larger-than-life riffs on top. So, so good. Crucial listening. FFO: Being disappointed in people but remember the people who don't disappoint and wondering why you pay more attention to living pieces of shit than to actual good friends. 

9. Fraught – "Sublimated Misanthropy," from Transfixed on Dying Light (Death/Doom/Black Metal – Independent). There were so many relatively big-name releases in these couple of weeks that it was hard to pick one, so I decided to pick none and go with this surprising gem. I've never heard of these fine people, but they managed to make a compelling album of nasty death metal that doesn't feel tired or "done" but interesting and exciting and fucking awesome. Here's hoping they get a nice release on a nice label, because this fucking rules. FFO: Things that fucking rule.

ONE:  Two new tracks off of an upcoming Departure Chandelier album. 

TWO: I guess I missed Contrarian releasing a new album this year, but it's very good proggy death metal.

THREE: New insano Esoctrillihum track.

FOUR: I really wasn't sure what the reception would be to the new AOTY list, considering, you know, how it turned out. But y'all were amazing and those of you who thought it wasn't that great were great at not letting me know about it. All appreciated. 

FIVE: MILIM KASHOT VOL 5 is still out. Buy it, listen to it, force it down your friends' throats.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Celeste released a beautiful new EP, including a stunning clean-vocals number that stunned me cold in my tracks. Gorgeous.