Jumping Around, Pants On Fire While Reviewing Weird Metal June 7-13

A great week of music compounded by my own anxiety of having my stuff float out into the world in seemingly never-ending succession of weird shit (novel [not in English] and new article [in English]). Making shit is amazing, getting ready for it to meet the world is amazing, actually releasing it? Not a huge fan.

Also, if you missed it, I released an album premiere/interview of a split between jazz-grind mayhem machine Deddom and experimental/drone project Paxit. I suggest you listen to it, because failing to do so will result in a penalty. 

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.

Devourment – "Advanced Stage Decomposition," from Pious Impiety (Brutal Death Metal – Relapse Records). Devourment are back and they're still sick. So sick, in fact, that I am willing to place some of my well-unearned money on the fact that this is one of the best songs of the year, metal or not. I've always wanted to know what it's like to have a loving relationship with a dump truck and now I know.

Seven Chains – "Every Flame Structured, Every Face Ablaze," from Swollen, In Flux (Death/Black Metal – I, Voidhanger Records). I, Voidhanger are having their "mid-year let's dump masterpieces on their heads ha ha" [in an Italian accent] moment of the year, and this one here might be the cherry on their rotten, weird cake. On the one hand, expansive in that Abyssal/Carcinoma way. In other moments, very straightforward almost brutal death metal. At others, a Cabinet-eque propensity for cosmic horror and atmospheric dread. An incredible album. I'm a fucking fan.

Field of Fear – "Deadwood," from Field of Fear (Death Metal/Post-Punk – Transylvanian Recordings). I actually don't know what this is, what it sounds like, and what the hell these people did. What I do know is what this band and this album make me feel. They make me feel human, in pain, and that in order to express both categories I need to use the implements of what others might call "metal" or "rock," but that in fact it's beyond either. If I had a "what is this sorcery?" basket, this album would be in it. Special shit. 

Cult of Luna – ״In the Shadow of Your Shadow," from In the Shadow of Your Shadow (Post-Metal – Red Crk). Cult of Luna are among very rare company in that they are, and have consistently been, on a track of constant improvement or, if you're not a fan of "progression" on art, then at the very least the path of rare positive exploration. Their previous full-length The Long Road North wasn't just an incredible album, it was one of their best in years, all the more reason to never miss seeing them for the first time after being a fan for over 20 years, but alas that's what I did this past Roadburn. Oh well. I never said I was smart. This first single from their upcoming full-length feels much less adventurous than The Long Road but still them doing them well. Here's hoping the rest of the album is Colin Stetson improving on sax while Cult of Luna rage in the background. 

The Prestige – "Rose du Désert," from Isthmos (Post-Metal/Rock – Banshies). Slight, tender streams that lead to massive waterfalls of emotion and riffs. I guess it isn't a huge coincidence that this entry comes straight after the Cult of Luna one. Sonically they feel part of the same wider family, though the edge here feels, for whatever reason, sharper. Massive music for massive moments.

Sallow Moth – "Distended in Panglacial Advent," from Hydrophilous Brood (Brutal/Progressive Death Metal – Willowtip Records).  Garry Brents, AKA the best living death metal musician/flower delivery combo continues to press the petal to the (brutal death) metal with Sallow Moth, following the well-deserved success of Mossbane Lantern, but really following a lifetime of just fucking doing the work, whether via Cara Neir, Sallow Moth, or anyone of his brilliant projects. So, we get new sweet and weird new music, Garry gets to release via Willowtip (a match made in heaven), and everyone wins. That's a rare thing.

One Leg One Eye – "Many are my Names Besides," from Crone (Drone/Experimental – AD 93). For fans of experiencing music as someone's quite literal nightmare. I don't know if this is the appropriate comparison, but the sonics of this feel very much The-Body-back-when-they-were-still-terrifying + the apocalypse. Great stuff for people (like me) who absolutely love awful stuff.

A.A. Williams – "Breathe," from Solstice (Singer-Songwriter/Goth – Independent). Not the first time you've seen A.A. Williams' name, no doubt, but most definitely the first time you've seen it here. Never really knew what to make of Williams' music, mostly because I've never really spent any real time with it. But I was, I guess, ready this time around, and very happy I was. "Happy" not being the operative term here, since, as probably most of your already know, this is firmly "gazing into the horizon and rethinking life" music. Gaze I did, rethink I did. What a gifted person and what true, soul-burning music.

Ghost Tears – "Cold Chain," form Endless Turmoil, and the Cold Chain ov Damnation (Ambient/Black Metal – Jems Label). I wrote with some glee about the wonderful U.S.-based one-person weirdo-black-metal project Ghost Tears a while ago, and if you were wise to heed my words then you would be overjoyed to hear that they released a full-length a while back – that includes the two tracks on the previous promo – and that it's as strange and brilliant as that first EP/demo, if not moreso. Part trip-hop lounge, part black metal dungeon, part drone show in your friends house, this is one of those rare occasions where a curious, creative soul (a weeping one at that) takes full advantage of the post-modern buffet that is art in the twenty-first century and burns the whole place up. Haunting, mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind music.

Pylar – "Apoteosis," from Delyrio (Avantgarde Doom Metal – Cyclic Law). Pylar are back, motherfuckers. Music to which one must set their demons alight, music to the light of which you shall dance on the ashes of said demons, and music, finally, to bring out the tears to quell those demonic fires. Is this even doom metal? I guess, it's kind of slow. But it's mainly not that. It's mainly a "fuck you" to your mind. May their riffs and chants kill what needs killing in your soul. Also: best cover.

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: WAYYY too much stuff to deal with this week, but basically listen to the entire recent I, Voidhanger drop. All of it.

TWO: Gnarly, hardcore-in-spirit doom/stoner from Badgoat.

THREE: In case you feel like crying rage tears, French screamo/post-rock band Soiltone are here for you.

FOUR: Noise rock gone tribal and horribly wrong? With reverb? Heathen Axe.

FIVE: Chat Pile have a new single from a new album. I have unresolved issues with Chat Pile. I might need help.

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: And for the weirdo corner of the week: Dark Citadel have new shit out. Yes, it's weird. Yes, it's brilliant.