A FEW SONGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXISTED THIS WEEK OCT 13 – 19

Another week, a worse week, a horrible week, and yet more music. Keep safe.

If you're new to this metal blog of bones you can also check out the various interview projects I have going on as well as the weekly recommendation posts. And if you'd like to keep abreast of the latest, most pressing developments follow us wherever I may roam (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Bluesky, etc), and listen to my, I guess, active? (no) podcast (YouTube, Spotify, Apple), and to check out our amazing compilation albums. You could also possibly 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. It's probably a bad idea, but to each their own. ON TO THE LIST.

Serpent Column – "The Long War of Essential Struggle," from Tassel of Ares (Black Metal – Independent). So, after announcing Serpent Column dead and after assisting in the coming-into-being of its cousin project Theophonos, I am humbled and wet in saying: Serpent Column is back. Not only is Serpent Column back, however, it is back and also writing 17-minute songs that sounds like a whole discography stuffed into, well, 17 minutes. It's beautifully melodic, it's unhinged and weird – as expected – and it's a wonderful surprise to help usher out one of the worst years of my adult life.

The Holy Flesh – "Advocate I," from Advocate, Martyr and Redeemer by (Black Metal – Caligari Records). Hopefully everyone at Caligari HQ is safe after a couple of hurricanes there, but as signs of life go releasing a new album from one of the best, most unique black metal voices of the past few years is a pretty good one. The UK one-man show of drama and melody is back, with what just might be their best album yet. Beautiful. Now if there was only a way to ship a tape from a disaster zone to a war zone.

3. Djevel – "Under nattens fane i Fandens prakt," from Natt til ende (Black Metal – Aftermath Music). Speaking of one of the best black metal bands on earth, Djevel went ahead and decided to completely undo my AOTY list because for some strange reason I haven't suffered enough. The masters of the modern Norwegian sound are fucking back, and sounding a bit old-school Dødheimsgard if I might say so myself. As powerful and as musical as ever, but with a very surprising and welcomed addition of weird/drama. Can't wait.

Wrathprayer – "Caliginous Ecstasy," from Enkoimeterion (Black/Death Metal – Nuclear War Now! Productions). This one goes out to the kind Twitter soul Barbalidium that tipped me off on this beastly releases. Suffocating riffs, dark atmospheres in that pleasant-via-unpleasant Teitablood or Antediluvian way. Oppressive and yet entertaining – isn't that the best?

Invunche – "Elal," from Atavismo (Black Metal – Nuclear War Now! Productions). I'll be honest a few times here. The first batch of honesty is that I've never heard of these people, and that the only reason  I have is that I was perusing the NWN Bandcamp after checking out Wrathprayer. The second installment of honesty is that despite hearing only the two tracks available now I have becoming increasingly obsessed with this release and these aforementioned "people." Urgent, raw, melodic, violent, grandiose, this is basically everything I love about music in two songs. If the rest is anywhere close to this then I fear this just might come very close to my favorite album of the year. Yes, I said that. I can't believe it myself.

Vox Clamantis – "Visions," from Abjection (Black Metal – Blood Coloured Beast). Another absolute masterpiece that came out of nowhere, or out of my digging the Bandcamp crates. I was so enthralled with Odz Manouk (naturally) and the recent release by Rampant Beast (of which I had written here), that I thought I might as well check out the rest of the Blood Coloured Beast page and boy oh boy. And only then to also find out it's a one-man project by the maniac who drums for Ušumgal (of which I had written here), I mean. Come on. Depressive/atmospheric black metal that sounds like someone's lethargic nightmare. Beautiful, serene (?) and fucking awesome. 

The Mosaic Window – "Pounding of Hooves," from Hemasanctum (Melodic Black Metal – Willowtip Records). I've been mentioning the insane year Willowtip has been having, so I guess here's more proof to anyone who might have needed more proof. Their previous release was one of my favorites from last year, and, no less importantly, their mug is one of my favorite tea mugs. Sweeping, shred-happy melodic black metal that sounds like I'm 16 again, only with facial hair. If you love Vimur, you'll love this.

Schammasch – "They Have Found Their Master," from The Maldoror Chants: Old Ocean (Post-Rock/Post Black – Prosthetic Records). Swiss music knives Schammasch are back after a long break since their fantastic Hears of no Light (a personal fave from 2019) seemingly intent to introduce much more melody into their music as well as to piss a lot of their fans off. Beautiful, moving post rock that sounds even Alcest-y at times, mashed up with moments of soaring darkness. The two tracks out now seem to indicate more of it will be on the melodic side, but, really, who's to know? All I know is I'm intrigued. 

Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – "Sisyphean Cruelty," from Sisyphean Cruelty (Sludge Metal – Redscroll Records). What had begun as kinda sorta vessel for Thou worship has since evolved into something much more sinister, cold-sounding, and pretty cool. CTTBOTO sound unrelenting here, like their killing someone and drowning at the same time, and I think that's pretty good.

SHORT FACTS ABOUT THINGS

Fact #1: New Teitanblood album lurking over the horizon?

Fact #2: New Five the Heirophant for you sax-loving freaks.

Fact #3: New kinda-sorta modern classical project by the name of Spirit Cathedral from the mind who brought you Dark Citadel.

Fact #4: Cool death metal from Nogothula.