A FEW SONGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXISTED THIS WEEK DEC 28 – JAN 4
Picking up and going again. Does it mean anything? Probably not. Keep safe. Oh, and if you missed it: 2024 list and 2020-2024 list. And I also did a 2024 Spotify playlist. That's it.
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.
Spectral Lore – "Solitary Mirrors," from IV (Part 1) (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Simply put, one of the greatest black metal artists of our lifetime has released another entirely traditional and at the same time entirely unique work of art. Traditional because Ayloss knows and I think to a degree respects the genetic bounds that black metal brings with it, but unique because, at the very same time, he could not give a shit about any of that. When he decides to compose and perform mind-melting black metal he will. When he feels like, instead, writing what feels like an ode to 90s alt rock, he'll do that too. Sometimes, as in this track, he'll give you both. On paper this is just the first part of the album, and not even a mastered version, but honestly who cares. It's perfect.
Lana Dagales – "Hereditary Cowardice," from Lana Dagales (Sludge/Grindcore – Independent). About two decades ago there exist the unlikely yet toxic pairing of Etay Levy (drums) and Greg Wilkinson (vocals, bass), producing weirdo, stripped, heavy-as-fuck music that could basically only have been made on the borderlines of a strange new millenium. Well for a while there the music emitted from said, duo, Lana Dagales, was hard to find and mostly YouTube-based, and now there's a nice Bandcamp page where you can listen and support. But even more importantly, Levy went ahead and released a whole album of hitherto unreleased music that doesn't only sound like it was made yesterday, it sounds like it was made tomorrow. To my ears this is around that Swarrrm and/or Barbara (a fantastic Israeli project from around that time) sweet spot. Which is awesome.
3. Fyrnask – "Torremåneds Natt," from Nattverk (Black/Doom Metal – Duplicate Records and Ván Records). It would not be hyperbole to say that Fyrnask's 2016 album Fórn is one of my favorite black metal records of the last 15 years, and it would equally be true to state that they remain one of the most underrated projects alive. So I was happy to see a new project announced, a split with Norwegian band Vetter that sounds absolutely amazing. Both tracks are great, but that mildly ritualistic, atmospheric thing Fyrnask do is basically like cake for me. And I love cake.
Decultivate – "Na Konci" (Hardcore – Trapped Inside Records). Fantastic Czechs Decultivate return with the first single off of an upcoming album, due, I think, to be released later this month. While being just a "taste," as a creepy person would say, it already delivers on much of what has been great about this band – equal parts atomic energy and weird, somewhat brainy vibes. Can't wait.
Yovel – "Corpses on Leaves," from The Great Silence (Post Black Metal – Independent). Yovel's new album, beside being the second Greek entry in this week's post, is like a breathe of really foul air. Not their fault, it should be stated, the foulness of the air has nothing to do with them and more with the state of things. And yet foul it is, and never an "easy" listen, whether in terms of the music or the subject matter. However, Yovel have always been great at doing both, both pontificating and delivering devastating music. In a way their take on both ideology/storytelling and black metal could remind some of a band like Ashenspire. Regardless, completely doing their own thing and delivering with yet another brilliant album.
Sadness – Every Edge of Your Name, Burning from Burning as the First Light (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Damián Antón Ojeda has gone on one of his patented album dump spasms, releasing about 35 albums from his different projects and aliases, including from projects, such as the case here with Sadness, that he, for a moment, declared dead. However, not only is not Sadness dead his side of this new split with Soulless might hold within its virtual borders some of the absolute best music he has ever released, under any name. Spellbinding, mature, emotive music. This feels not like a new album, in other words, but a quantum leap forward.
Misanthropae – "Enshrined" (Dissonant Black/Death Metal – Independent). Well, with the psychotic episode that is writing a year-end list now safely behind me, I guess amid the chaos and the emotional exhaustion I missed a new track released from Misanthropae. A track, though, really? More like 18 minutes of labyrinthine riffs and incessant drumming that will send your prefrontal cortex into collapse. Iff that's your thing.
Saetia – "Tendrils," from Tendrils (Screamo – Independent). It seems ridiculous to talk about how long it's been since Saetia released music because when you listen to their new track it feels like the best screamp band working right now released a new song. And yet it seems ridiculous not to mention that this is the first new music since the end of the previous millenium, that seems to matter. But if you do one thing today, listen to this song while staying at the absolutely stunning artwork by the always brilliant Caroline Harrison. Timeless already.
Immortal Form – "Mechanized Theocratic Purification Squad," from Ashes of a Fallen World (Death Metal – Independent). I've been enjoying this one for a few weeks now, and also ended up updating the year-end list with it as well. I don't go bananas over death metal that easily these days, but I am going bananas over this debut EP. It's ruthless and musical at the same time and just feels like what you want to happen when to listen to death metal. Great shit, and very much looking forward to what these dudes will bring in the future.
SHORT FACTS ABOUT THINGS
Fact #1: Transcending Obscurity announced they will be releasing a new Floating album, which, given the fact that their previous release was a stone-cold masterpiece, is a good thing (wrote about it at the time here).
Fact #2: Old news by now, but Krallice released their demo and its perfect.
Fact #3: Ludicra are reissuing The Tenant, which was my chance to listen to that album more closely and realize it would have probably been my album of the year for almost every year since its original release. An astoundingly original and beautiful piece of art.
Fact #4: New Abhasa record, if you like your metal sounding like a cool desert wind.
OH OH ALMOST FORGOT: Fiadh released the debut full-length from Unholy Altar and it sounds like the devil spitting out black metal. So good.
