NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – FEB 11-17

The upside to running a very strange blog in which one may partake in any music one so desires and of which one may write in any form one may desire is that you've basically placed a ceiling on everything you do. Not a ceiling of self-fulfillment and self-expression, those are limitless and very rewarding, but a ceiling on who and how much who's are going to care. I am, naturally, endlessly appreciative of any lost soul that finds its way into my prose, and am dumbfounded by the existence of people who actually provide material support to said prose. It's just that, say, when shit like the new Dead in the Dirt interview comes out, a conversation that encompasses both what it means to try and make art that isn't escaping you or your audience as well as a meaningful (I think) exploration of a very significant band and album, I always have to check my expectations. Some might read it, most won't. I guess this is a very "so it goes" moment, it just doesn't feel very "so it goes" for me. But, here it comes: So it goes. 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. Witch Vomit – "Blood of Abomination," from Funeral Sanctum (Death Metal – 20 Buck Spin). One does not think of "don't really release as often" when one thinks of one of the best death metal bands around, Witch Vomit. I mean, I being that "one" didn't think of them like that. Maybe because I was still very much enjoying their entire back catalogue to worry about a new album. But, some yada yada yadas later, and it's been five fucking years since Buried Deep in a Bottomless Grave (an amazing album, and HIGH on my 2019 list). And I was ready for new Witch Vomit that entire time, just never thought of it. But with this new single and with a new album coming, and with the music being, as always, as undeniably good as it is, I have officially moved into very excited. And I know this is kind if a bad comparison to make, but "Blood of Abomination" makes me think that this is what I wanted Tomb Mold to sound like after Planetary Clairvoyance. I said what I said. FFO: Tomb Mold, Cerebral Rot. 

2. Maurda – "Unbrunst," from Cultus Brachypter (War Metal/Death Metal – Sentient Ruin Laboratories). I'm a sophisticated man with sophisticated states. I enjoy art-house movies, dissonant modern-classical music, and at times, when given the opportunity, I will dwell for a few minutes in utter awe of some painting in a fancy museum with over-priced coffee. I am also, however, a knuckle-dragging goof who just wants his cerebral cortex bypassed and his lizard brain satiated with the blood of shitty people. Given that latter side of my personality, the only problem I have with this Maurda demo – originally released in 2022 and now given new life by the good people/person at SR – is that it's about 900 minutes too short. All day, every day. FFO: Black Curse, Antichrist Siege Machine. 

3. Pyra – "Becoming, from Those Who Dwell in the Fire (Death Metal – Immortal Frost Productions). Talk about getting the death metal vibe and scope just motherfuckin' right, god damn. Off of what seems to be the debut full length from this Italian band of death worshippers, this shit right here is as tight a death metal track I have heard in some good-ass time. It sounds great, it feels great, it imposes itself on your soul like a pitch-black leech and it kinda-sorta reminds of some awesome Dead Congregation. Tremendous. FFO: Death.

4. Exhumation – "Chaos Feasting," from Master's Persona (Death Metal – Pulverized Records). Very few things make me happier in life than to know that Exhumation, the Indonesian masters of all things death, even exist. Their previous record, Eleventh Formulae, was and remains a modern death metal classic, albeit a somewhat unsung one. But do you know what makes me even happier than the knowledge of their existence? To find out they have a brand-new album coming, and then to listen to the lead-off single and to melt into tears of leather-stinking, Swedish-death-metal worshipping tears. If you're even slightly inclined in that "rockin' death metal tradition" of bands like Death Breath or Morbus Chron, this is basically your year being made. FFO: Morbus Chron, Bedsore.

5. Cabinet – "Hydrolysated Ordination," from Hydrolysated Ordination (Death Metal – Bloody Mountain Records). I guess this is the "death metal post" at this point. So be it. I have been quite vocal in my adoration of basically everything coming out of the weird weirdos over at Bloody Mountain, and that enthusiasm isn't going anywhere. Not with another weird, drudging, all-destroying new Cabinet album, not anytime soon. Bloody Mountain are kind of like if Portal decided to start a label for weird shit even they can't do. My god, what a gift. FFO: Mylingar, Portal.

6. Aberration – "Interstitial Enmity," from Refracture (Death Metal – Sentient Ruin Laboratories). More death metal? More death metal it is. This time in the form of the debut full-length from Minneapolis freaks and all-around good dudes Aberration, made up of some of the loveliest worm eaters this side of life's horrid existence (and also members of Suffering Hour, Void Rot, and Nothingness). It's gross, it's dark, it feels like being trapped in someone's basement + that someone not really being big on showering and such, and it makes me want to dig my own grave and take a boombox with me. Nasty, beautiful shit. FFO: Teitanblood, Antediluvian.

7. Hadit – "Three Ways of Death after Gravitational Collapse," from "Metaphysical Engines Approaching the Event Horizon (Death/Black – I, Voidhanger Records). Still in keeping with the overall death metal vibe of this post, albeit slipping a tad more into black metal territory. Just enough death metal and BASS action to make you feel like all you are is a rotting piece of flesh festering in the sun, but just enough black metal grandiosity to make you realize that that sun is in fact a black hole that has sucked your soul and that serves as a portal into a different universe made up of weird-ass stars and animals that look like old cars. A highlight for the year, this album no doubt. FFO: Haunter, Dearth.

8. Rhûn – "Morningstar," from Conveyance in Death (Atmospheric Black Metal – I. K. Productions). OK, so the death-metal spell had to be broken, albeit temprarily, with me FINALLY getting to check out this debut Rhûn release, the brainchild of Fall of Rauros' Aaron Charles. Yes, I am (relatively) late to this obscure party where no one is having fun and everyone is continuously sacrificing themselves on the altar of some pagan deity, but I'm very happy I did. Because it's fucking  awesome, that's why. FFO: Negative Plane, Mare Cogitum.

9. Entheos – "Sali," from Ac​é​die (Technical Death/Black Metal – Independent). Sister project to the wonderful Givre, Entheos brings out much of the same grandeur and scope but with very different tools. And by "different tools" I mean the kind of techy, dissonant death metal that feels like Plebeian Grandstand had a love child with Ad Nauseum. Twisted, human, pained, painful, this is as good as humans can make metal in this year of someone's lord, 2024. Absolutely magnificent. FFO: Ad Nauseum, Plebeian Grandstand.

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: Pretty sure I failed to mention there's a new Jesu EP out there in the world. 

TWO: Coalesce are reforming for a quick run of shows. Yes, yet another band I reformed by interviewing (Botch, Orchid, Morbus Chron/Sweven). I am magical.

THREE: New episode of the Akashic Records Podcast features the good people (well, one good person) of Forlesen. Check it out here.

FOUR: Fuck life right now, very seriously. This fuckery has been going on way too long.

FIVE: The legends < c o d e > will be releasing a new full-length via Amor Fati.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Yes, there's a new Albums of the Decade interview. Yes.