NINE-ish SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – MAR 3 – MAR 9
Hopefully around next for these. 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 my 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. Llewelyn – "Ritual," from e-Sims for Gaza (Screamo – Middle-Man Records). I thought I'd start things up with a track from the several Gaza-related compilations and releases that I have seen around. Not because it's a simple thing for me to do, far from it, but because it precisely is a complicated thing for me to do. If I rag on war apologists for protecting a regime they detest with their entire soul, I think it's only fair that I allow that rage to infiltrate this post. The only issue became finding one that had music I actually liked, which, you know, is hard anyhow. I eventually settled on this great track, coming off the debut album from American screamo project Llewelyn. Potent, musical, and emotional. A lot of good bands on this comp overall – punk/folk, grindcore, hardcore and the link. FFO: End this shit already.
2. Lockslip – "Evildoer," from Lockslip (Metallic Hardcore – Bad Break Records). I was already roaming around the punk-ish regions of Bandcamp and ran into this gem of a thing. Violent, passionate metal-infused hardcore that sounds like someone is continuously being burnt by a hot stove while a full band is playing around him. Which, on the one had, is kind of inconsiderate and on the other very cool. FFO: Nails, Scalp.
3. Miasma of Occvlt Limbs – "Castelul Inversat Mestecă Păcatul Putred al Ființei Umane" (Death Doom – Independent). One of the finest new death metal projects I have heard in the past few years, Chile's Miasma of Occvlt Limbs released one hell of a debut last year, and have now released what for now appears to be a stand-alone single. Hopefully more will be revealed soon, because this is sick shit. FFO: Kever, Innana.
4. Funeral Leech – "Ceaseless Wheel of Becoming," from The Illusion of Time (Death Metal – Carbonized Records). Speaking of death metal that is both awesome and also kind of doomy, Funeral Leech are finally returning with a new album after their absolutely brilliant Death Meditation, which was a highlight of 2020 and of death metal in this decade, honestly. First single is here (along with some amazing artwork, courtesy of the great Karmazid). Pummeling, mid-paced glory. FFO: Tomb Mold, Vastum.
5. Argwaan – "Uit het dorre hout gesneden" (Atmospheric/Depressive Black Metal – Independent). I have not been shy about my adoration of these Dutch devils of depressing damnation (sorry, alliteration got the best of me), loving every bit they have delivered into the world since they erupted into my emotional space with the basically perfect In a Surge of Anguish. They're back, well kind of, with one new track, but it's arleady miles ahead of most every black metal release so far this year. It's not too late to climb the bandwagon, my friends. FFO: Psychonaut 4, Nyktalgia.
6. Srak – "Mehasof La'Hatchala" – Srak (Punk/Noise Rock – Independent). Speaking of violently talented people making talented violent music, Srak, the brainchild of Omer Hariff who is one of the best artistic/musical minds on this earth, is back with a new release that actually kinda/sorta feels like the first real album, despite still sounding like it was recorded in someone's ass (in a good way). Angry, punchy, awesome. FFO: ASSES!
7. Angmodnes – ״The Hours," from Rot of the Soul (Funeral Doom – Meuse Music Records). Easily the best doom metal album I have heard so far this year. Somber, supremely heavy at times, and, like those rare, rare albums, transcendent. Reminds me to an extent of a more melodic, less harsh Esoteric, and God/Satan knows that's not a comparison I made easily. A truly wonderful thing. FFO: Esoteric, Loss.
8. Diabolic Oath – "Winged Ouroboros Mutating Unto Gold," from Oracular Hexations (Death Metal – Sentient Ruin Laboratories). March, at least the way my skewed mind sees it, is the official beginning of AOTY season, mostly because a lot of the heavy hitters tend to be released in the spring. Well, heavy hitter spotted right here. Diabolic Oath's debut was magnificent, though it did grow on me more over time. This shit right here might actually be better. Chaotic, violent, dark, and just basically perfect death metal executed perfectly. I mean, I don't see a new Dead Congregation album coming any time soon, so this might be the next best thing. FFO: Being punched in the face by riffs.
9. Reverb On Repeat – ״Нерест," from Жить (Shoegaze – Reflection Nebula). The members of some of the best atmospheric black metal bands on earth converge into one room so they can make ever sadder music than usual, resulting in an absolute GEM of a record and easily my most listened-to album of the week. Huge appreciation for the incomparable Lev for this recommendation. Warning: This will make you rethink your life. Use with caution. FFO: Sad shit.
BONUS: Muert – "Asphyxia on the Gravestone," from Allied in Massacre (Black Metal – Iron Blood and Death Corporation). Coming straight off the Satanic presses of a wonderful new split with the wonderful Svpremacist, hot hot black metal that'll make you feel filthy and great. I could have, of course, written about the Svpremacist side, but it's not like I haven't done that before (I have). Besides, friends who write about bands are a slippery mistress. But, the "Listen to Svpremacist" thing out the way, the Muert side here got me feeling all kinds of hellish. Straight-forward black metal that feels wrong in the best way. FFO: Feeling wrong.
FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONE: More stupendous punk from my little punk foray in the form of this great demo from German band Não.
TWO: New Knocked Loose, for your glitchy hardcore needs.
THREE: Göden, the doom project from Winter mastermind Stephen Flam (Pillars of the 90s certified) are returning with a sombre new album. Also, a Winter reissue too.
FOUR: I already feel over-exposed in this space, which is entirely my doing. I can't seem to handle life here right now, and I quite visibly lack the gumption to get away (what with some health concerns in my broader family that have upended our worlds even more). To know what's going on, to realize what's going on, and just seeing it play out is a surreal experience for me and for every thinking, feeling person here. And now, just now, feels more like the moment where it all goes much worse than the moment where things start to get better. A lot of people love it this way, especially the people running the show. So it goes.
FIVE: Happened upon this amazing 2022 Chilean black metal album/EP from Black Grail. Weird, dark and awesome.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Death metal massiveness in the form of a new Engulfed track.
OH YEAH I ALMOST FORGOT: Ulcerate announced a new album. First track coming this week.
