NINE SONGS I LIKED THIS WEEK IN LIST FORM – APR 21 – APR 27

I'm fucking exhausted and drained. That's the intro. 

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1. Folterkammer – "Algolagnia," from Weibermacht (Symphonic Black Metal – Century Media Records). I was quite the fan of the debut from this operatic weirdo project (wrote about it here) featuring a crazy Swiss singer and a bunch of other pretty crazy people from pretty crazy bands. And I only kinda sorta caught on to the fact that there was a next album coming. Luckily I got around to it when it was out and got to listen to the whole thing and it's fucking glorious. Eclectic is, I guess, the world that'll be thrown around with this one, but to me this is that rare moment when someone takes on early-mid 90s CoF vibes and actually delivers. Grand, pompous, preposterous, and fucking great. FFO: Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir.

2. Thanatotherion – "Nuclear Womb," from Alienation Manifesto (Black/Death Metal – I, Voidhanger Records). Staying in that somewhat grand vibe, albeit from a very different angle. The debut from Thanatotherion sounds like a blend of second-wave black metal, symphonic whatever, and that special brand of insane that has marked Shelby Lermo as one of the weirdest, most exciting guitar players/writers this past decade or so (Vastum, Ulthar). Match that with the drums of terror supplied by Jason Bursese (Black Fucking Cancer) and this is that filth Emperor revival you never knew you needed. FFO: Emperor, basically.

3. Big|Brave – "Chanson pour mon Ombre," from A Chaos of Flowers (Experimental/Indie – Thrill Jockey Records). Another album I was only generally aware of until it came out, and yet another album I'm glad I got to check out in its entirety. I came around hard on Big|Brave a few years ago and went from not getting it to being in absolute lover. And this gem of a noisy thing is just further proof of why they are one of the most emotionally engaging and unique voices out there. Pure dream/nightmare. FFO: Emma Ruth Rundle, Extra Life.

4. Diocletian – "Heathen Siege Part I​-​III," from Inexorable Nexus (War Metal – Nuclear War Now! Productions). If I am being very fair, Diocletian have been, in my mind, living off of the fat of Gesundrian for a few years now. That album was such a fucking masterpiece that it made me at least check out following releases, and they were rarely interesting. However, as we prepare to celebrate that album's 10-year anniversary it seems that a fire has been started under certain asses, because this sounds great. Not perfect, not the same, but exhilarating, engaged, pissed war metal that is awesome. Might actually like this better than the new ASM, but don't tell anyone. FFO: Antichrist Siege Machine, Black Curse.

5. Dysrhythmia – "No Breath After Beauty," from Coffin of Conviction (Prog Metal / Experimental – Nightfloat Recordings). As with some of the bands I affiliate Dysrhythmia in my mind (Krallice, Kayo Dot, Ocrilim), this is basically the best people on earth sitting down to try and make the best shit on earth and, often, succeeding. Not sure why, but am getting strong Battles vibes in some of the melodies and general weirdness here, and since I associate that one Battles albums with a very good musical time in my life, I'll take it. Beautiful, weird, and beautiful again. FFO: Kayo Dot.

6. Agriculture – "Living is Easy," from Living is Easy (Blackgaze – The Flenser). As opposed to a couple of albums already mentioned that I was lazy with, I was actively staying away from the new Agriculture out of pure spite. Well, "spite" might not be the right word. I was a big fan of the debut EP and a very big let-downer (?) by their full-length. And as is often the case with me, and the second time with a Flenser artist, when everyone loves something and I don't get it then I REALLY DON'T GET IT. It becomes a thing. But then I said to myself, I said: "Hey Ron, how bout being a fucking adult?" And so I adulted up and very much enjoyed what I heard. Still not veering that far away from ground I feel has been chiseled by others (Deafheaven is the obvious one, but Spider God too) but pretty great nonetheless. I promise to be less of an idiot going forward. FFO: The bands already named. 

7. Rope Sect – "Mementote," from Estrangement (Goth Rock – Iron Bonehead Productions). I guess there's going to be a "story" about each and every one of these, so, whatever. Rope Sect's "Handsome Youth" is one of the best songs of the past decade or so, but they have really rehashed their sound over and over in these past few years, to the point of me giving up. Well, lo and behold, their new album fucking rocks. And the dad-ness of that statement is completely in keeping with their revamped aesthetic, which is much less "sad boy fondling ropes in a room with soft-spoken words" and much more "Rope Sect do midlife crisis rock." And let me tell you, it's glorious and catchy and energized. Highly recommended. FFO: Rope Sect.

8. Je est un Autre – "Death, the Musagetes," from Flatworm Mysticism (Ambient/Drone – Cestrum Nocturnum Recordings). A new ambient project from Bell Witch's Dylan Desmond that is gorgeous and dynamic and as creepy as you want it to be. Spacious, beautiful, and dark. Now added to my relatively recently created drone playlist, which I am only sharing here because I am very proud of its title. FFO: 

9. foundfootage – Royal Blood- Demo," from foundfootage. demo24. (Nu Metal – Independent). This is already a very weird post, so might as well culminate affairs with the weirdest entry of them all. I do not vibe (is that word permissible?) with nu metal revivals because nu metal – and I say this as a person who owns a Taproot CD – should stay dead. And I'm not even sure this beautiful two-track demo is straight nu metal revival. But it's good shit, and it's recorded very well, and it sounds of that time in a good way, which, boy, if you lived through that time you would know is a very rare thing. Call me intrigued. FFO: Maintaining your white-boy dreadlocks with egg whites. 

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: This was a very busy weekend for amazing new releases (Inter Arma, Full of Hell, Exhumation), but you would be a fool to miss out on the new Srefa album (of which I have already written here). Some of the best atmospheric-leaning black metal to come out this year, or any. This is not a test.

TWO: One of the world's most underrated bands, Daggers, who make music so grimy it sounds like Celtic Frost hardcore demos, are releasing a new EP and you can listen to it via Cvlt Nation.

THREE: Fleshvessel's Yearning was my AOTY for 2023 (+ interview). Listening to the medley of album themes performed by Troll Hart and just uploaded to their BC gives a good idea of where a lot of that magic came from. 

FOUR: Finished writing my new "novel," which means the good part is over and the nightmare part (editing, getting a publisher, waiting for reviews, waiting for readers) is now on. And I was wondering why I was in a foul mood.

FIVE: Found some more intriguing drone, this time with this project named Megilloth.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Go to the new Inter Arma, listen to "Gardens in the Dark" (beautiful!) and tell me you don't hear the Urfaust there. So good.