The Squelching of Fetid Flesh that is Another Week in Weird Metal – Nov 1 – 7

Keep safe. 

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Idol I Am – "לא יותר טוב," from יד רוחצת יד רוצחת גוף (Grindcore – Light Emerges Records). The meteoric rise of fascism has, contrary to popular opinion, not been great for the local music scene. You can blame it on the shock and awe of events, the speed in which those events seems to come, like a factory machine of gut punches, and, naturally, that ever-green effect of escalating societies – musicians moving away. This in addition to the bands that had already a kinda-sorta mainstream appeal shifting to the right, not necessarily in musical themes but in that general "everyone hates me" whiny schtick. So, what am I left with, me who, at least for the time being, am destined to stick around? Not much. Spirits are low, artistic output is, understandably, low. So when something real does come around, made up quite unsurprisingly, by known entities of the once-exploding grindcore/sludge scene, that helps. Here we have  a charming duo made up of members of such bands as Mahluta, Bygones, and NUR coming together to make a lot of wonderful, aggressive noise. May it mark the return of everything angry.

Lucerne Hammer – "Spell of Rain," from Spell of Rain (Atmospheric Black Metal – Fiadh Productions). Another brilliant release from one of the best, most urgent atmospheric black metal projects out today, and one that I have had the pleasure of following from its beautiful inception. I am a simple person with simple desires (all-consuming love, peace on earth, etc), but if I could have one small wish I'd ask to be able to write words the way theironmountain writes music. 

Floating – "Wet Grass," from Firewatching (Post-Punk/Death Metal – Transcending Obscurity Records). I am thankful Floating exists, given how much I have appreciated that existence, from their masterful The Waves Have Teeth onward. No one is even touching, or attempting to, for that matter, their mastery of the post-punk death metal sound, and they seem to be only getting better with each release. Hesitating Lights (#1.3 on my very sane year-end list, interview here) was amazing, and there's zero chance this new one won't be. I am also thankful, moreover, that this thing will only be released in February of next year – my AOTY list for 2026 is already under too much pain.

Det eviga leendet – "Avail," from Vehemence (Black Metal – Debemur Morti Productions). The return of the spaced-out-yet-still-very-evil band of merry black metallers is back, right on time (they're really into that four-year gap between releases). Melodic enough to open up the music enough for your face to fit in the gap, black-metal enough to crush it once it's there, and spacey/weird enough to feel like you're both doing something not quite right and feel smart about it. Late-arriving landmark release.

NΩX – "T.S. / Testimonium XII – Somniatoris Damnati," from Stases (Industrial Black Metal – Debemur Morti Records). The man of a thousand black-metal-but-kind-of-industrial projects, who just so happens to be one of the most important musicians of our time, Vindsval (Blut Aus Nort, Forhist, Yerûšelem etc) is back with, yes, another black-metal-but-kind-of-industrial project. I have no idea why he feels the need to do this, which made my expectations drop pretty low, and that was even before I saw the god-awful cover art. But, I mean, what I am going to do, sit here and say this isn't amazing? It is amazing. Feels like sped up 777-era BaN only way meaner. Again, this could have been a new BaN record, but who cares. It's amazing.

Owl – "Home Alone,: from After You Are Gone (Post-Metal/Industrial – Total Dissonance Worship). No one in human history is going to hear the words "Jesu worship" and say "Nah, not for me." No one sane, for that matter. Did I see Owl swerve all the way into the very heart of post-punky industrial metal? No, I didn't. But, as amazing as they've always been, I'm very happy they did. Sensitive heavy music for sensitive humans who like to cry of feel like they're on the verge of crying and need that extra nudge.

Dimscûa – "Repine," from Grief & Silence (Post-Metal – Independent). Speaking of sensitive humans, a new and wonderful EP from one of the best post-metal bands on earth right now. Yes, it's the "wave after wave of riffs a-la Cult of Luna," but who ever said that was a problem? A real ear for space and even more space (see closing track) as well as to when to hit your head with a heavy hammer of riffs.

Cave Sermon – "Every Splintered Branch Brings Me Closer," from Deeply Personal Sounds (Everything Metal – Independent). Friend of the show Cave Sermon is back, not that long after their spectacular Fragile Wings (#2.1.3 on my completely normal year-end list) which had also marked Cave Sermon mastermind Charlie Parks shift into the vocal department. I was a fan of Charlie's instrumental stuff as well (see short note here), but the inclusion of vocals, first via MICO's Miguel Mendez on the perfect Divine Laughter, and then with Charlie himself just shot the whole thing through the roof. All of which is to say: How lucky we are to dwell on the same planet as Charlie and his driving creativity, one that seems, at least this time around, to sweep some of that jangly Suffering Hour-style vibe into its vortex. Also, I have to add, Charlie was generous enough to agree to participate in my most recent charity comp. Cave Sermon for life.

Spider God – "400 Victims of Joji Obara," from Murder Machine (Black Metal – Independent). Another friend of the show, of which I was another early-ish fan (receipts), and another much appreciated comp-alum. Gotta say, I must have slipped or something because I apparently missed a whole slew of recent Spider God releases, but am more than happy to make up for lost time. Not many have ventured into the forbidden no-man's land of pop/black metal, and few if any have managed to not only get there but explore the sweet, melodic and yet always-cutting side of harsh music. I have a whole lot to get through seeing this is just the third part of a trilogy, but can't wait.

FIVE MORE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ONE: There was a kinda-sorta Aerosmith tribute-ish concert in L.A. recently and I believe Steven Tyler eats fresh babies every morning, because he – and the band – have no right sounding this good.

TWO: The GODS, Locrian, have released a box set of some of their rarer, out-of-print stuff. If you have ears and money, you need to buy anything Locrian ever did, especially this shit right here.

THREE: Surgent is an Estonian band (recommended online by Thunraz's Madis) that does that Meshuggah thing without being annoying about it. Heavy, tightly packed music with a good amount of air.

FOUR: On the one hand, Totenmesse have a new album coming and I should be happy. On the other, I'm not. I think I'm waiting for the whole thing to come out.

FIVE: Reader and nice human Elizabeth recommended this new release by Threestepsfromtheocean. Very nice, post-rocky noise rock. If that makes sense. 

ONE LAST THING, PROMISE: Keeping up with my "place it last on the post, write about it next week" tradition, this from Sulphuric Night is very good black metal.