A FEW SONGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXISTED THIS WEEK JAN 5 – 11

First of all, thoughts go out to anyone anywhere in the world who's life is being demolished by either fire, quake, flood, of assholes. May you keep safe and may life suck dramatically less. Also, speaking of good living, I premiered the first single from the debut album by Metzulot earlier this week, and you need to for sure check that out.

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.

Sutekh Hexen – "River of Shadows," from Primeval (Ambient/Black Metal – Cyclic Law). Well, it didn't take 2025 that long to get me to open an AOTY Google Doc. The legends of music that sounds like chilling with Hans Zimmer but is actually black metal killing you from the insides are back with a new album, and for the first time in some time not through Sentient Ruin but Cyclic Law. Which is great, doesn't really matter this way or that given that the music is amazing – as always – but just interesting. Creepy, unsettling music at its best. 

Theophonos – "Something Past the Veil," from Banishment (Post-Hardcore/Black Metal – Independent). The man of a thousand angers and a million broken guitar strings is back under the Theophonos moniker, this time in something of a collaborative mood. We were just recently graced with a new (and very excellent) Serpent Column album, and are now gifted a bit of late 90s early 2000s hardcore/screamo as filtered through the brain and brain of Theophonos. Sound fucking great, too bad it's probably not going to happen again, and keep 'em coming. Also have to add, just as a point of dumb pride, that the premiere for this core-y side of the world was through one of my dumb compilations. The world is (rarely) OK, here and there.

3. Endearment – "Lotus," from Demo (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). One could ask, if one were so inclined, if, given the sheer volume of Sadness and Sadness-related releases, the world really needs Sadness worship albums as well. My answer to that made-up question would be that if they're as good as this is, dude there could be millions as far as I'm concerned. Thing is, we know they're not going to be this good. So, there's that. Very cool.

Pale – "Almost Transparent Blue," from Our Hearts in Your Heaven (Post-Black Metal/Blackgaze – Tokyo Jupiter Records). Fantastic, progressive-feeling atmospheric black metal/heavy metal (?) that feels like so many layers of metal and gentle songwriting were pressed together – black metal, blackgaze, goth, prog, heavy metal in order to create the best croissant ever. Weird music that's equally emotional as it is accomplished, hitting all those emotional notes that make a grown person cry alone in front of their computer. Chalk up my first "could be AOTY" citation of the year.

Act of Impalement – "Deities of the Weak," from Profane Altar (Death Metal – Caligari Records). Act of Impalement released a pretty memorable, great album in 2023 (which is more than a year ago, weirdly), that made it on my list at the time. They are now back in full brutal form with another release via the great Caligari Records, sounding as fucking as awesome as expected. Not a whole lot of just caveman death metal really hits with me, but it seems that whatever formula they have (ah, listening to Vastum?) is working. Great stuff.

Floating – I Reached The Mew, from Hesitating Lights (Death Metal​/​Post Punk – Transcending Obscurity Records). I wrote about the absolute wonder that is Floating a couple of years back, when they released their outstanding, incredible debut album/EP The Waves Have Teeth, which was also featured on the 2022 best-of list. I had already informed y'all that they signed with a label (Transcending Obscurity strikes again) and that there was a single coming, but now with the release of the annual TO sampler, we have it now. Well, apparently this is the second single, with the first coming out a few weeks ago, but none of that changes a thing, because if I was excited about the new album I am now nearly at cardiac arrest. When 2024 rolled in I had already a couple of albums in mind that could be some of the best in the following year, namely Resin Tomb and Vemod. Well, this is the one for me right now. Get ready. 

Obscure Sphinx – "Nethergrove," from Emovere (Post-Metal/Black Metal – Independent). I have profoundly conflicted feelings about post-metal, mostly because it's the genre that got me back into metal but also, like, I guess, heavy metal for other people, tends to kind of repeat itself ad nauseam. But when it's as good as this EP/album from what appear to be Polish masters of the craft, whom am I to say anything about anything (I'm sure many people share that opinion). Atmospheric, fascinating, emotional, and just beautiful. Amazing vocals, amazing production – the real deal. Imagine a slow-mo mix of Cult of Luna and Oranssi Pazuzu-esque ideas with gorgeous clean and at times harsh vocals. Did I say amazing already?

Shagor – "Afschynsel," from Lyksalver (Black Metal – Vendetta Records). Shagor's debut from a few years back was amazing, and the first single from their new album (this time with Vendetta) is amazing too. So amazing, in fact, that for a whole afternoon this week I decided I would replay the one available song over and over instead of moving to another and/or whole album. Black metal that feels like it can kill you and bury your loved ones at the same time, that feels mean and feelings at the same time, and that kicks all sorts of behind. Wonderful. 

Junon – "Unterm Glutmond," from Promo MMXXV (Psych Black Metal – Independent). It really isn't that often that a new band comes fully formed and ready to strike fear into your unfearing heart. But, kick me in the arse and call be BETSY, it seems to be the case right here. A new German project by the name of Junon that has taken upon itself to take all that is fierce (Tyra Banks voice) and twisted or weird (Jun-His voice) into one lethal bundle. Easily a new band to watch, and easily one of the best demos my humble ears have ingested (mixed metaphors) in a while. Also, unrelated, but the art nouveau vibes are impeccable.

Vacuous – "In His Blood," from In His Blood (Death/Black Metal – Relapse Records). OK, I was officially out of room but fuck it, we need this. The fan-fucking-tastic Vacuous are back (I wrote about their amazing debut full length here, at the time). And not only are they back, they've lost the squiggly logo and gained the biggest label in metal. They sound as amazing as ever, but the production is just out of this world good, and the general vibe and what it feels like its leaning further into almost black metal is amazing. This can't possibly be this good and this chaotic, but it amazing is.

SHORT FACTS ABOUT THINGS

Fact #1: This deserves a separate thing, but there's a new release by a Scottish project by the name of Stac Pollaidh and it's amazing and sounds like Darkthrone going on about WWI, in the best way.

Fact #2: The return of "sad with clean strings" Esoctrilihum, and it's amazing. Amazing.

Fact #3: Neez have seemingly abandoned their 90s-loving selves and have delved straight into weirdo grind. Which is to say they haven't abandoned anything and sound great.

Fact #4: I only now discovered this 2024 Akvan release and it's low-key the best Akvan ever. 

OH OH ALMOST FORGOT: Really good death metal from Mutagenic Host.

OH WAIT JUST THIS AND I'M GONE: Perused the WEB and found this album by Paranoia Apparition from 2022 that I had no idea about and that rules fucking very hard (grinding death metal).