Self Immolation in the Form of A Few Cool Songs Jan 25 – Jan 31
Something is taking its course.
Keep safe.
If you missed the 2025 list, here.
Oh, and by the way, I have resumed – apparently following a three-year break – to post some cassette worship on Tik Tok. If that's you're type of thing.
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.
Nuée Ardente – "Vers un horizon promis," from Vers un Horizon Promis (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Sideways-inclining atmospheric black metal that sounds both profoundly wrong and, in a way, like the Platonic Ideal of atmospheric black metal. I think that has always been my own aspiration as a writer, to do something that feels off while feeling right. Beautiful mix, beautiful coming together of super-sleek production (drums, rhythm guitars) and fucking dirt (vocals + lead guitar). A wonderful thing.
Bergtagen – "In Forests Eternal," from In Forests Eternal (Atmospheric/Dark Black Metal – Nebulae Artifacta). If you happened to be wandering through a forest in the snow and were seeking a way to simultaneously connect to the forest, to the tradition of walking in a forest, and to the musical tradition of people walking in the forest, then this new release from American project Bergtagent might arouse your inner elk. Not skimping on the Agalloch worship here, complete with a cover of "You Were But a Ghost in My Arms," but that is never a bad thing when executed well. Rarely is it executed well. This is that rare occasion.
Ashbringer – "Subglacial," from Subglacial (Atmospheric/Post-Black Metal – Bölverk Collective). OK, I swear this is the last "vibey" USBM band (for now, at least), but a new Ashbringer record, one that I was not at all aware was coming, is cause for all kinds of weepy, very sensitive celebrations. As it turns out it's also an excuse to support a city and a scene both close to my musical heart that is well in the eye of a pretty horrendous storm at the moment, so a bonus at that. No one out there is like Ashbringer, or dares deliver the kind of delicate balance between an almost sweet delicacy and an outright ruthlessness. So, as I said, a cause to celebrate. Wonderful stuff.
Toska – "Solitude," from Demo 2026 (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). Did I just promise no more American atmospheric stuff in this post just a few lines ago? ME?! I guess I'm a liar. New "demo that sounds better than most albums" from yet another child of the Minneapolis tundra, Toska, featuring some pretty talented people from some pretty awesome bands/projects (Morke, Ethereal Shroud etc etc). To the surprise of no one who knows any of those other projects, a bit more of a melodic/Medieval vibe to this tree-embracing endavor, and it sounds fucking great. Couldn't stop listening to these couple of songs all week, and I have a sense I will continually listen to then all year. As catchy as crack cocaine.
This Morn' Omnia – "7Sekhem," from Insha (Experimental/Drone – Cyclic Law). A Finally leaving behind the tear-studded pine forests of the American north for the sake of the freezing emotional tundra of the inside of the human soul. Electro-tribal-drone that feels like listening to life-support instrumentation in an ICU made of dying DJs. Wonderful.
WSTRĘT – "Enlightened Misanthropy," from Enlightened Misanthropy (Death Metal – Godz ov war Productions). Sometimes the soul, whatever is left of it, needs what only good death metal can provide. And when I say good death metal in italics I mean what you think I mean, don't get fresh with me, young person. Descending riffs, primal production, and the general sense of "if you like raw Phrenelith you'd like this" type of vibe.
Unearthly Rites – "Solstice," from Tortural Symphony of the Flesh (Death Metal – Svart Records). More gross grossness for your gross self. First of all, look at that fantastic cover art. That's just great. But beyond the mere superficialities of the flesh, well, there's really nothing there. Pummeling instruments that pummel you, fantastic death metal that violates you, a vocal performance of a man about to vomit an internal organ. These are a few of my favorites things. Easily some of the best death metal I've heard since this unhallowed year began.
Lucerne Hammer – "The Grinder's Song (Atmospheric Black Metal – Independent). OK SO ANOTHER NORTH AMERICAN ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL PROJECT SORRY! This time from (I hope) friends of the show, Lucerne Hammer, who have yet failed in their quest to produce even a single bad moment since their inception last year. Sorry, best of luck in all future endeavors. A track written and released as part of the precise same maelstrom mentioned a few blurbs above, and one that delivers, I think, the adequate amount of unbridled rage. What a time to be alive (a bad one?). Fuck fascism, in all its forms and hues. Fuck it to fucking hell.
Grim Knife – "Ossuary Choir," from Grim Knife (Dungeon Synth – Independent). Fans of this very popular show know that dungeon synth isn't my vibe for the most part. Just feels like a whole album of what could have been cool transitions in a very good black metal album. This is that rare case where, to me, to me, the music and the ideas justify an actual album of just vibing out to the reverberations of the soul as it bounces off the walls of a castle/basement. Lovely stuff.
BONUS: Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – "An Adornment of Light," from Let Us Not Speak Of Them But Look And Pass On (Sludge Metal – Red Scroll Records). I just watched a tech Youtube video about the process of transitioning from an "enthusiast-based" fanbase to a "mainstream fanbase," in the context of the cellphone market. It caused some clicks to click in my clickable brain, because it made me realize that I was the "enthusiast-based" fanbase, what the video also called "early adapters" which means that I am also, according to the video, a sophisticated and yet also less-reliable customer. I say all this not because it has anything to do with the new CTTBOTO album or the first single thereof, both seem incredibly great. I mean somewhat related, because I think I count as a early CTTBOTO adapter. But the disturbing idea is that what I represent in the grand economy of music listening and/or writing is that weirdo that's always out for new stuff, that's sophisticated and unreliable, and thus am really just a station – an important one, for sure – en route to what all bands really aspire to which is mainstream success. I guess in our world that means Decibel Magazine, Roadburn Festival, and or similar venues. I'm very proud of that position, mostly because, really, this is (the blog) the best I can do with what time I have, and because I have no aspirations of become either Decibel or Roadburn. But it does kind of suck to feel like being or performing the part of a way station. Of a shoddy kiosk on the way up the mountain. Anyway, new CTTBOTO sounds as good as they've ever sounded. Very excited for the new album.
FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
ONE: Found my way quite randomly to this masterpiece of Death worshipping prog death metal from Hemotoxin (released in 2024) and it RULES. Not to make comparisons (which I am about to make) but way better than the most recent VoicCeremony, there I said it.
TWO: New album/different project from the big brain of Esoctrilihum is amazing. Only the weirdo parts, none of the freakouts, and it really works.
THREE: Very cool beatdown hardcore/alt-metal demo from Rekrucify. Bought the tape, they refunded the money, don't know why, sucks. But the EP is still pretty amazing.
FOUR: Unsane are remastering/reissuing Occupational Hazard. Get it here.
FIVE: New Këkht Aräkh is coming. Undecided on what I feel about the first single.
ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Grinding death metal that sounds like your life is ending from Degenerate Synapse.
