Feeling the Strain Getting Ready to Snap While Savoring Soul-Warping Music Mar 29-Apr 4

Yes, still alive. Great.

Keep safe

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, TIKTOK 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.

Dälek – "Expressions of Love," from Brilliance of a Falling Moon (Hip Hop – Ipecac Records). I can't even remember the last time I wrote about hip hop here, which is crazy since it used to be a real cornerstone of the blog until, I think, I realized I really couldn't listen to it when reading/writing. And it might be the case that the last time I did write about hip hop was the last time I wrote about Dälek, a crew not only legendary at this point but, importantly to me, one of the few that retains that brainy magic of either current artists like Billy Woods or veterans like Antipop Consortium and Deltron. I chose this track because of the relatively ambient beat, of the kind that might appeal to the more atmospherically inclined, but the entire album is fire. 

Fyrnask – "Í Munnlausri Dýrð," from Íosir (Black Metal – Ván Records). Have been a huge fan of everything Fyrnask since their underrated masterpiece Forn (ten years this year!) and have loved everything they/he have done, including some killer side projects (hello Monarkh). But have yet to connect with Fyrnask on the same level as Forn. Well, it seems the new album is going to do just that. The immense atmosphere is there, the aggression, the melancholy. The whole deal. Let's go.

Dead Void – "Regurgiation of Ancient Manifestations," from Cranial Devastation (Death Doom – Dark Descent Records / Me Saco Un Ojo Records). Speaking of underrated, back in 2022 Dead Void released a monster album of unique, weird somber music and they seem primed to come back even weirder. Whatever it is the Danish government has infused into the drinking water it sure helps with recording unreal death metal that sounds like it was put on tape as demons were unleashes into the rehearsal room. Ruthless, loose, and lovely for all yer Autopsy heads out there, which should be all of you.

Funebrarum – "Anhela Odor Mortuorum (The Adepts), from Beckoning The Void of Eternal Silence (Death Metal – Pulverised Records). It seems have been quite some time since New Jersey's finest released anything at all, and even longer since their previous full-length, and even LONGER (actually ever) since they released material with the wizard of all guitar Phil Tougas. But that time has come, and the first single from the long-awaited new album sounds like the best of death metal of the past few decades, tightly packaged and heavy. Mixing is perfect, sound is perfect, the music is dynamic without being a caricature of old-school death metal, and it just feels incredible. Cannot wait. Potential come-out-of-nowere death metal release of the year.

Sacrificial Ecstasy – "Wrathful Deities," from Relic of Lamentation (Death/Black Metal – Independent). It's been a long while since we've heard anything from … (checks notes) Haunter, but I guess that's not really going to happen since Haunter is no more and Sacrificial Ecstasy is the exact same band born from its ashes and/or from possible confusion with other Haunters (for instance this one). Before Disincarnate Ails Haun…, ah, Sacrificial Ecstasy had a strong claim for one of the weirdest most perfect discographies around. You may infer from that that I didn't love Disincarnate, and you would be wrong, it was OK. But this new EP, whether related to the name change or not, finds them back at the very top of the weirdo death metal game. The riffs, the atmospheres, the sound are all incredible. If this is what we are to expect going forward, hopefully also with a new full-length, then I and my body are both ready.

Cult of Occult – "I Have No Soul," from I Have No Name (Doom/Black Metal – Breathe Plastic Records). Very happy to see this horrible chunk of despondent blob pop up in my Bandcamp universe. I caught on to these French fencers of foreboding filth with their excellent 2021 EP Ruin, which, too, was a slab of horribleness served hot on a bed of stretched-out riffs of doom. It's great, it's horrible, and in a way THE most appropriate album to my state of mind since…. Well, probably since March 2020, but really October 2023. Yuck in all its amazing glory.

Iffernet – "Triumph of Death," from Life at Heart (Black Metal – Vendetta Records / Breathe Plastic. Something I discovered in the process of "cataloguing my music collection as a way to thwart death" [alarm right now, back from the shelter] is how much I like Iffernet. I forgot much much I loved their self-titled debut, and have been jamming that for a while, and now blessed with a new album that's just great. Mid-tempo black metal done perfectly with that French flair for melodramatic emotion. Fantastic album and one of the best of the year so far.

Downfall Of Nur – "And the Firmament will Burn to Quench the Pain of this Earth," from And the Firmament will Burn to Quench the Pain of this Earth (Post Black Metal – Avantgarde Music). With so much going on, Neurosis coming back, Converge releasing another album, I could have easily missed the fact that motherfuckin' Downfall of Nur are releasing a new album, and would have definitely missed it had it not been for the keep eyes of the legend Duncan over at Transmissions from the Dark (link tree to follow his work everywhere). Majestic, sublime music from one of the true pillars of the post-whatever scene in the last million or so years. I won't say this is as exciting as getting a new Neurosis with Aaron Turner, but not going to lie it's pretty fucking close. Incredible news. 

Ultha – "Sister Faith & Sister Chance," from A Light So Dim (Atmospheric Black Metal – Vendetta Records). Speaking of surprise drops, this time of a whole damn album, magicians Ultha are back from the dead (again) with their first proper full-length since the modern classic All That Has Never Been True that came out in 2022 and appears quite stylishly on both my 2022 list and my decade-so-far list as well. So, listed. And how do we find these fine German folk (volk!) in the year of someone's lord 2026? Well, apparently listening to a lot of gothy 80s music. Which, I think, I didn't see coming and which, I think, I kind of dig. Fits their already dark atmosphere like a glove, and if it means a Depeche Mode cover in the future, say, of "Policy of Truth," then that's fine by me. Too bad I struck out on the tape. But, then again, I haven't been impaled by flying projectiles, so I'm good. 

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: The new Mezulot album is very much out and if you're a fan of depression, please check it out.

TWO: A new compilation brings together a bunch of Incendiary split tracks and the such, for all ye hardcore people.

THREE: Touch & Go released a deluxe version of Don Caballero's American Don.

FOUR: Junon, whose amazing promo release was featured prominently on this shabby site, are releasing a full-length via I, Voidhanger and I couldn't be happier. Check out the first single. And watch this space.

FIVE: RIP Harm's Way guitarist Bo Lueders. Responsible for some of the best riffs and sound of the last 15 years, easy.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Double whammy: a) Intercourse released a cool cover of one of the best tracks of human history, Hole's "Violet"; b) Hilde are working on a new album. Listen to them.