NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – JAN 14-20
My grandmother, who is nearing her 90th birthday, is doing OK in general, but has been slowly dipping into the pools of dementia for a few years now. She had someone helping her out for a while, and then she had to go to a home, since it was getting out of hand. And just this weekend we took a lot of stuff out of her house to clear it out, which is a very weird thing to have to do. I lived next door to her and my grandfather my entire life, basically, and it was like tearing down the backdrop of your life, with some bits and pieces ending up in our house as well (thank god for 80s cassette holders). Which made me think of how random it is to have pieces of that shrine in my home, and what my kids would do with all that stuff, that basically means nothing to them, when we're gone. Which made me think of the fact that, really, that's what my grandmother's house was for her – a bunch of stuff from across time, tourist trinkets, things owned by her mother. Not the permanent shrine it seemed to me, but just a house with stuff. Stuff that means a lot to those whom you love and those who love you, and then just get rearranged again with time.
Oh, and I published an interview with Ὁπλίτης this week. Keep safe.
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1. Harae – "Odori," from Kagura by (Ambient/Black Metal – 999 Cuts). The debut EP from wherever-the-fuck-they'r-from mystery project Harae sounds like two things happening at once. Those two things being, it should be said, being left alone in the cold in a land made up of ice and Cocteau Twins vinyl and being ripped by vampires into ribbons of soft, supple, bleeding flesh. And if that doesn't sound like a good time, man, I don't know what does. More of this, please. FFO: NKVD, Decoherence.
2. Ὁπλίτης – "Παραδειγματιζομένη μουσική," from Παραμαινομένη (Mathcore/Black Metal – Independent). I actually mentioned the new Hoplites release in last week's "more info" section, but then I had a week to take it in and I am obsessed. Easily the best, most diverse effort from this manic project, and a standout release early in the year. Oh, and there's a new interview with the man with the plan here. I did that shit. Me. FFO: Serpent Column, Esoctrilihum.
3. Kollapse – "Autofagia," from AR (Post-Metal/Noise – Vinyltroll Records and Head Records). It's not often that an obscure hand emerges from the promo email section of my inbox and sucks me into a fresh, bright hell, but – LET ME TELL YOU – the upcoming album from Danish whatever-kind-band-it-is band Kollapse is so fucking great, i can't even. A very misinformed version of how great it is would be to say that this is kinda sorta the album everyone wanted Cult of Luna to release at one point of time. Just pitch-perfect atmsohere, fantastic dynamics, and it sounds horribly good. FFO: Cult of Luna, LLNN.
4. Sun of Nothing – "Voidhanger," from Maze (Sludge/Black Metal – Independent). I swear to fucking god this album in general, and this song in particular – and this kind of ties in with the previous entry in a way – sounds like what ISIS would have sounded like in 2004 if they insisted more on the sludge, almost black metal aspect. This entire release has been a hugely pleasant surprise (I, in my great ignorance, did not know about what appears to be a great, long-standing band) for me, and might just be the most listened-to release of my week. Awesome. FFO: ISIS, Neurosis.
5. Dipygus – "Aquagenesis," from Dipygus (Death Metal – Head Split Records / Memento Mori). If there's a "death metal album to beat" to call this year in the year, then it's this one. Pummeling death metal that manages to be clever, windy, and unexpected all while sounding just about perfect. I feel a deep kinship with any band smart enough to try and make Autopsy death metal, and these dudes are way smarter than even the average there. Amazing shit. FFO: Christ Reifert for president, Vastum.
6. Toska Hill – "Resplendence of the Void," from A Willing Paralysis (Black Metal – Independent). I think I have a new example to give when I'm trying to explain what special music sounds like, in that "that seems wrong and yet why am I so excited" way. The way that second/overdubbed guitar comes in periodically and plays "static" over the main, grandiose black metal riff in the intro section is just IT. Thing is the rest of the song is as weird/haunting and as good as that brilliant idea. What a beautiful thing, and to have all that punctuated by one of the best voices in the entire world, that of Ben Read of Bridge Burner (incredible band, believe) is just a the jagged metal cherry on top. The only thing wrong with this release is that it's 20 songs too short. FFO:
7. Bloody Keep – "The Werewolf’s Tale," from Rats of Black Death (Black Metal – Grime Stone Records). I've written of Bloody Keep in the past, it being the one other GSR band – other than Old Nick – that I feel I can really sink my mental teeth into. It has all that weirdo shit that usually associated projects have, but it feels solid, and purposeful and, yes, awesome. And that's a good combo to have, weird and serious (consider this a call back to the extended discussion of what "serious music" means in my conversation with Fleshvessel). Also, some serious Summoning vibes here and there. Gotta love that. FFO: Old Nick, Spider God.
8. Purulency – "Xenolith of Ruination," from Transcendent Unveiling of Dimensions (Death Doom – Caligari Records). I thought it was far too long since I've checked out what the good people at Caligari are up to, only to find out that they are up to whatever it was they were always up to: Amazing releases. This time it's a brand-new demo from a American death metal band that sounds like a slowly churning nightmare framed by crushing riffs and impeccable atmosphere. Just awesome, and a band to follow. FFO: Winter, Bolt Thrower.
9. Cistvaen – "At Light's Demise," from At Light's Demise (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Say what you will about those English folk, they know their way around some sombre black metal riffing and raw emotions. The debut from Devon-based project Cistvaen doesn't necessarily re-invent the atmospheric black metal wheel, but they do drive it (what?) very well, with the added bonus of beautiful, almost doom-y melodies and some great vocal performances. If you're into this misty side of things, check it out. FFO: Fen, Woe.
ONE MORE TRACK SINCE I AM A WEAK MAN: meth. – "Shame," from Shame (Hardcore/Noise Rock – Prosthetic Records). I swear to all the gods that not only did I just this week ask myself – "Where is meth.?" I have been doing that, periodically, ever since the released a whole masterpiece in 2019 (which I loved) and then dissipated into whatever river Chicago has. Finally, however, they are back, and the first track sounds so fucking good it makes me want to dive into that dirty Chicago river and kiss them. Wait, checking – it's the Chicago River. How original. Check em out. NOW. FFO: Intercourse, Chat Pile.
FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONE: I already mentioned the Infant Island album when the first single came out, but now the whole thing is out and it's going to be a top album for the year. Easy.
TWO: New Big|Brave is a coming.
THREE: Nick Hudson, who is a genius, released some more of his genius music.
FOUR: Instead of writing about me in the infamous "FOUR" I will quote Hans Erich Nossack:
We tried hard, during this interval, to behave as if nothing had happened. We told ourselves that every day, every hour was an opportunity, a gift we would never be offered again. But how difficult it was to maintain this deception. Every five minutes it was pierced by a sigh from one of us.
FIVE: New Stress Angel – rejoice.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: RIP The Soft Moon. Those first couple of albums dominated my life at one point.
