A FEW SONGS THAT HELPED ME WITH MY SHIT THIS WEEK MAR 9 – MAR 15
Keep safe. Music below.
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.
Iggor Cavalera – "Neon Gods," from Neon Gods / Own Your Darkness (Drone/Experimental – Cold Spring). Far be it from me to summarize the talent and influence of the two artists who created this mesmerizing split, Iggor Cavalera and Shane Embury. So I won't. What I will do is express just how brilliant this understated release is. Both "tracks" are dynamic, hypnotizing, and immersive in ways that I find noise/drone to kind of fail at for the most part. It's incredible, and, on a personal note, kind of filled the Necro Deathmort hole in my heart.
Terror Corpse – "Perversion of War," from Systems of Apocalypse (Grindcore/Death Metal – Independent). What is it about perfect musicians taking their talents and working tirelessly to create gross music that makes me so happy? I don't know, but I'm happy. This releases made me happy. A new project featuring a drumming legend in the form of Mr. Dobber along with members of the magnificent Church of Disgust (and others) that sees these wizardly people allow their knuckles to drag forcefully on the ground. I'm not saying this is some Apex Profane-level shit, but I do not believe I even considered comparing any release to that slab of brutal perfection, so there you go. Amazing.
Carrion Bloom – "Battle Cries of the Crypteia," from Battle Cries of Endless Night (Black Metal – Wergild). A few facts about this one. The first is that this is from an incredible split with Occult Blood, all hits, no misses, get it now. The other fact, however, is that Carrion Bloom is slowly but surely ascending into that oh-so-coveted category of "Ron's favorite contemporary black metal projects." I have yet to hear a bad release, nay, a band track from them. Always on point with the songwriting and the atmosphere, always impeccable execution and drama. Just a really impressive progression and a fantastic band. Do not sleep.
Mankind – "Takhta Amarungkat II," from Demo III (Dungeon Synth/Black Metal – Independent). A fascinating Indonesian project doing what feels like for the most part DS with slight black metal undertones and black metal with slight DS undertones. The result is pretty mesmerizing and fascinating, which, again, isn't something I usually say about these types of things. Feels like some very creative minds at work writing very beautiful, very tasteful (yes, I said it) melodies and unsettling atmospheres. Coo shit.
Fugit – "Cieli Di Porpora," from Cieli di porpora (Post-Black Metal/Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Speaking of cool shit that has an ambient flair, this rips. Of course, if "rips" was used to mean "emotionally nuanced, dynamic, eclectic black metal infused with ambient and electronic music." I have not bee aware of this project, which is a big-word version (shout out Severance) of I've never heard of them, but am intrigued. Checked out the previous release and it's cool too, but this here is right down my weirdo alley. Beautiful.
Caronte – "Interstellar Snakes of Gold," from Spiritvs (Trad Doom/Goth – Ván Records). Yes, I am known at times to enjoy actual songs that have music and all that. And within that sub-sub-category of non-screeching tracks, I have a very limited soft spot of the heavy/trad/doom variety. It's limited. Did I say it's limited? Well, it is. And this here is very, very enjoyable. Has that rollickin' goth rock vibe only somewhat more on the doomy/metal side. Very catchy, very cool, and very streamlined in a surprisingly inoffensive way. I like it.
Corpus Offal – ״Corpus Offal," from Corpus Offal (Death Metal – 20 Buck Spin). It is time again, ladies and gents, to drag our knuckles some more. Very impressive, potent, catchy, adequately gross, and pretty overall great debut album from these riffin' Texans, that include members from some pretty cool bands. One might argue: "Hey Ron, this is just death metal." To which I would retort: "Yes, but it rules." Done right, produced right, dynamic, and brutal. A wonderful little package of fetid stenching stinkiness.
Drouth – "False Grail," from The Teeth of Time (Black/Death Metal – Independent). That rare breed of band that makes music that is as inspired and melodic as it is evil-sounding and horrifying. I'd put Woe and God's Bastard (RIP Drew) here too. The soul exploding into a supernova of emotion that just so happens that the way in which said eruption takes place is blackened death metal. Or something. Very, very cool, regardless of my idiotic wording.
Aidan Baker – "You Ate My Heart (With a Smile)," from & You Still Fall In (Shoegaze – Gizeh Records). The insatiable Aidan Baker (Nadja, Adoran, etc.) is back with a new solo record that feels like it was made in two parallel world – the first is the ambienty/drone world and the other is almost a late 70s, early 80s experimental British world. And seeing that this is he, Mr. Baker, they come together beautifully. The kind of music that makes we wish I was into buying records so I could buy the record, put it on my record player, and stare out from my huge living room window into a snowy nothingness.
FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONE: Full of Hell recorded an Audiotree thing.
TWO: I wish I could go to Kill-Town Death Fest. I need to see Portal (and a bunch of bands there, honestly) before I die.
THREE: Apparently I am now diabetic! So that's nice.
FOUR: First new single from the wonderful Fleshvessel. New album later this year.
FIVE: Don't forget that there's a new Floating album coming. Never forget that.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: New Dione is now out. They were kind enough to take part in one of my previous compilations, and they rule. Support.
