SONGS THAT LIFTED ME UP ONLY TO DROP ME APR 6 – APR 12 

Whatever. Music.

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.

Derhead – "The Weight of Emptiness," from Irrational II (Black Metal – Brucia Records). A bittersweet one, this one. Let's start with the sweet – Derhead, as I have been consistently stating, is not only one of the most underrated black metal projects of our time but one of the flat-out best black metal projects. His eel-like swerving between melody, aggression, soaring songwriting, and emotion is basically perfect, as evidenced again in this most recent much-too-short release. I put his 2023 masterpiece Grey Zone Phobia on my idiotic decade-to-date list, and I was right to do so. The bitter part is that with this release the wonderful people at Brucia Records are officially calling it a day. Labels and bands come and go constantly in this world of incessant releases and barely breaking even, but when good people depart it's an occasion to be noted. The first Irrational release from Derhead was, I believe also the first time I mentioned the label here, and fittingly the follow up will (perhaps) be the last. Hopefully we'll still hear from the guys in their artistic capacities. 

The Infinity Ring – "Elysium," from Ataraxia (Folk/Goth – Profound Lore Records). Profound Lore is a great label, this we know, but since most people go there for, mostly, other things, I have a feeling that their non-metal releases have a tendency to fly somewhat under most radars. And if there's a grave injustice amid that general condition it's The Infinity Ring. Their previous albums, Nemesis & Nativity was an unsung gem of 2023 (on my list), and their most recent release is as good if not better. Basically perfect goth/neo-folk – percent feel, perfect songwriting, and perfect performances. Perfect. 

Chepang – "Shakti (Force)," from Jhyappa (Grindcore – Relapse Records). Another member (victim?) of my 2020s list, the glorious Chepang are back, under a new label and with what sounds like some wind under their wind-recieving-object. Chatta, as evidenced by its placement on said list, is a modern grindcore masterpiece/classic, and while Swatta was cool it wasn't nearly as powerful (to me). With just two minutes of new material now released from the new album I can tell it's going to blow my face right off. My face needs that. 

Golem of Gore – "Chronic Obstructive Caustic Vomit," from Ultimo Mondo Cane (Goregrind – Everlasting Spew Records). Is there a point to writing a blurb about an incredible album the main charm of which is that it feels like being run over by zombie steamrollers? Not really. If you know what you need in life, you know already. 

P. Jackal – "Into The Street" / "Supernatural Kind" / "Victim of Flawless Design / "Out," from My Head is Violence (Post-Punk – Nach uns die Sintflut). Basically the entire EP, since I couldn't find it as separate tracks, that came out late last year and is now being served into our organs via Nach uns die Sintflut. What is it? Well, the first thing it made me think of is a fuzzed-out The Cramps, and so you can probably get whatever you can from that. Wild, rock n' roll-y, and pretty great.

CBZK – "Topiel," from Dybuctwo (Industrial/Experimental – Independent). Two stream of brilliance converge into one, insane river filled with war debris, industrial ruins, and mutating vegetation. One stream is represented by weirdos Malconfort, who released a brilliant debut full-length last year. The other is sister/brother/cousin project Sea Mosquito, who are, I think at this point, excellent friends of this show and overall wizards. Together, however, these two distinctly avant-garde acts delve into some pretty creepy, dark industrial that would fit, I think, into the weird and wonderful vein of Polish experimental black metal (Krakow version). Disturbing and great.

Clan Dos Mortos Cictriz – "Nada," from Técnicas de Morte (Punk/Black Metal – Sentient Ruin Laboratories). Punk that's truly exciting is a rare thing in my life (RIP Gel, btw), but more often than not if SR decide to release a punk band you know it's going to be amazing. And that is precisely the case with Brazilians Clan Dos Mortos Cictriz, with punk that's so reverby and punchy that whenever it does approach black metal territory it's mainly because the raw momentum and power feels like the violence of 80s proto-black metal bands. Infectious. 

Obsidian Tongue – "Orphaned Spiritual Warrior," from Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn (Progressive Black Metal – Profound Lore Records). The lovely Obsidian Tongue are back, now under Profound Lore, and definitely wearing their Ihsahn turtle necks when recording this stunning track. Shades of late-stage Emperor and early-solo-Ihsahn in a lot of this, which I love because that to me is one of the best runs of music ever. Atmospheric, brainy, and beautiful. 

Habak – "Hacia el abismo," from Mil orquídeas en medio del desierto (Screamo/Melodic Black Metal – Persistent Vision). Seeing something new coming from under the fresh, brilliant wings of Persistent Vision made me very curious as to who Habak was and what they did, but it took a while – and some prodding – for me to get to it. I am very happy I did. Living in the melancholic liminal space between punk, screamo, post-rock, and atmospheric and/or melodic black metal, Habak basically etch a cave for the themselves in the mountains once occupied by Fall of Efrafa or Downfall of Nur (more about that in the info section, btw). Grand and pissed all while crying is one of the best shades there are, and they nail it here.

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: Apropos Habak, expect new music from Downfall of Nur.

TWO: Morris Kolontyrsky's (Blood Incantation) one-man black metal project NATÜRGEIST is working on a new album.

THREE: Stumbled into this 2023 single by a Canadian post-metal project by the name of Genizah and it rules.

FOUR: Note to self: Weirdo black metal I might be into from Martre.

FIVE: The new Grey Aura is growing on me in dangerous ways. Especially the second half.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Portal are adding more and more dates to their EU run, which, in turn, drives more and and more steaks through my chest.