A FEW SONGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE EXISTED THIS WEEK JAN 19 – 25

Kids are going crazy, no time. Keep safe.

f 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.

Ferox Occulta – "From Empiric Ashes," from Daimon (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). It took a while for this fuzzy album to sink itself into my mental flesh, but once sunk it's sad talons got hold of that shit and never let go. This feels like a bedroom-type project, but the scale of level of songwriting and the weird mix of styles take it way beyond the scope of your normal sofa-dwelling black metal into the arena of some pretty special, very emotional and original music. Again, the vibe, as it were, takes some getting used to, but very much worth the effort. 

Mourir – "Nemesis," from Insolence (Black Metal – Pelagic Records). Big fan of these French freaks, and accordingly wrote quite enthusiastically about their wonderful two previous releases (one here and one here). I mention this not only by way of a self pat on a self black and/or as an excuse to link to past posts (valid), but to say that this new EP under a spankin' new label is Mourir at the top if their twisted post-Celeste-black-metal journey, and possibly the best the've even released. It's dark, menacing and so beautifully delicate that it almost makes sense as date-night music. If you're a vampire, of course. Easily the best EP so far this year, and just a joy.

Pissgrave – "In Heretic Blood Christened," from Malignant Worthlessness (Goregrind/War Metal – Profound Lore Records). I mean, what does one say here. Easily the most anticipated new release for miles and miles, from a singular band who is and has also been doing singular shit. This new single sounds so fucking good, ladies and gentlefolk and all who are between said gender definitions – fuck Trump btw – that it makes me giddy to think of an album composed of shit that's this fucking good. They sound cruel, joyous and rejuvenated, and the whole thing makes me want to puke. So, as good as it gets.

Volahn – "La Peste Negra Diabólica" (Black Metal – Crepúsculo Negro). Alex, my spiritual guide to all things The Black Twilight Circle and also a very tall man and also the spirit that moves the wondrous thing that is Forlesen is again responsible for making my life better (he's also a very good friend, though apparently much too busy that to shit talk with my on messenger, what the fuck Alex) and sent this brand-new track from Volahn, hopefully from a new recording because this sounds divine. Not that anyone needs me to tell that that, but this is black metal as mother earth willed it, if mother earth was and is, of course, the malignant force for bad I think she might be. 10/10 chaotic aura.

Replicant – "Limbic Thrust," from Hypochondria of the Machine (Dissonant Death Metal – Transcending Obscurity Records). I mean, I think a whole lot of people were very much into Replicant for a very long time, and I respect that opinion immensely, but for me the New Jersey band turned a corner with last year's brilliant Infinite Mortality (see my reaction here and the 2024 list of all that is best here). The ability to level continents was always there, but the wisdom to wield that tool in the context of a wider atmospheric palette is really where I got into the thick of it, and this new EP is just more in that great direction. Hopefully this means more is coming. Cool design too.

Rites – "Korban," from Einor (Grindcore/Death Metal – Independent). You might be wondering where's the new Infernal Coil album or, maybe, can I get Wake when they straight annihilated music instead of slipping into post-post-metal. Well, happily your prayers have been answered through the debut EP from the Haifa-based (best musical city on earth) Rites, who will tear your heart out while blasting beats into your colon while you weep over the sorry state of mankind everywhere and also where I live. Sorry indeed. The riffs won't heal that pain, but life is better with them.

Dark Citadel – "Sainted," by Atrocity (Avant-Garde Black/Death Metal – Independent). Peoria, Illinois' finest are back with some soul-bending riffs, this time in the form of this slight-yet-powerful split with synth project Cathedral Architecture. A windy road of wind-swept, harmony pitched weirdness that could fit quite nicely on a David Lynch nightmare scene (RIP to one of the GOATs) as well as, well, an experimental split of proggy black metal/death and synth/dungeon synth. Cool ass shit.

Silver Knife – "Reticent Paroxysm," from Silver Knife (Atmospheric Black Metal – Amor Fati Productions). The easy intro into this one is that Silver Knife is one of the best atmospheric black metal projects around that and they are finally releasing a follow-up to the absolutely magical Unyielding/Unseeing is like (atmospheric black metal) music to the dead ears that lead sound into my dead soul. The other easy thing is that every time I think of Silver Knife I also think about the unfortunate fact that my beautiful Silver Knife longsleeve shrunk in the drier led to the another fact which that it was worn by my wife throughout her pregnancy with our third child, which means that they are family. The last easy thing is to buy the new album once it comes up for pre-sale because they deserve the support and the love. Loving hails.

Eskupa – "Nexos," from Ya No Queda Nada (Punk/Post-Punk – Espasmo Nervioso Records). A little palette cleanser here, in the form of this new EP from Costa Rican band Eskupa. All that angst from bands like Spy or Test only filtered though a heavy mush of Gang of Four and/or Wire, which makes the whole thing both beautifully nostalgic and also makes you want to punch someone in the face. Cool shit.

Grey Aura – "Opgehangen afgrond," from Zwart vierkant: Slotstuk (Atmospheric/Avant-Garde Black Metal – Avantgarde Music). Finishing off the weekly post with a bang – a new album from one of my favorite modern bands, the producers of the magnificence that is Zwart vierkant, which was my AOTY of 2021, one of the best albums of the decade (my list), and the topic of this wonderful interview. So, yeah, you could say I'm invested in this one. How does one construct a brain such as those that was inserted into the skulls of these Dutch masters? Who the fuck knows. All I do is sit back, allow the existential dread that has gripped my body and my soul for the last 15 months or so to wash my whole being, and take it all it. 

HORT FACTS ABOUT THINGS

Fact #1: Death Cab for Cutie's Transatlanticism is one of the greatest rock albums ever, and the fact that there's a tribute coming out and that it's these bands doing it is pure joy.

Fact #2: The excellent demo from Grotesque Bliss that's getting a revamped release via NWN is very cool and includes cool people. Death doom supremacy. 

Fact #3: Rival Cults, of whom I have never heard, released a wonderful death-rock-ish album, of which I had never heard, in 2023 and it rules. I know people like Unto Others. I like this better.

Fact #4: Light Dweller has kind of been hit and miss for me, but the single from the upcoming album sounds as good as they've ever sounded. Very excited.

OH OH ALMOST FORGOT: Didn't have time this week for some good DEATH METAL, but this is some good DEATH METAL from Pestilent Death.