We’ve been doing monthly Spotify playlists for a while now, picking five tracks each that we’ve been listening to of late. Now we have this blog, we thought it’d be nice to share some thoughts about the tracks to go along with them, in the hopes that you all find some nice new sounds for your ears, perhaps even spot some threads into our own songs. Listen and read on below.
Nick – Guitar
Junius – Black Sarcophagus
Pretty bleak track this one. They have the miserable vibes of My Dying Bride and Katatonia with some really nice layers of guitars and synths. They’ve got some hard hitting moments as well
Herod – Fork Tongue
This band slaps and this album is in my top 10 for this year and it’ll take some beating. As opening tracks go, this one is like that bit from that film when the ship hits an iceberg, but in a good way.
Charli XCX – Blame It On Your Love
Hard to pick a track off this album but this is a contender. Really strong album and I can see many artists following in Charli’s footsteps in the coming years. Without doubt one of the most forward thinking and interesting pop acts around at the moment. Fucking catchy too.
Plini – Electric Sunrise
This one has grown on me actually, I’d heard a lot of hype around Plini for a while. At first I wasn’t particularly sold on him and I’m yet to determine where he shall sit on my list of favourite prog metal instrumentalists (we all have those right?). But this track is a banger and I’m looking forward to exploring more of his stuff.
Omega Massif – Im Karst
I have a weird habit of discovering german sludge bands that are no longer around, quite sad but at least I am discovering them. One of my less useful talents for sure but hey, it’s something right?
Tom – Guitar
Oathbreaker – Ease Me
The vocal loop at the start and that reappears through the song is what grabbed me. That, and that it’s not heavy at all.
Cult of Luna – The Silent Man
The new album is fantastic and ‘The Silent Man’ is a great collection of big riffs and interplay between guitars, synths and percussion, without sounding cluttered.
Deafheaven – Luna
Its just a good savage riff and my favourite track off the album.
Cave In – Stained Silver
I’ve always loved Cave In, but tend to forget the Antenna record – but the opening track is massive.
Portishead – Roads
My favourite Portishead track. It’s one of those songs that I can happily play any time or mood.
Richard – Bass
Torpor – Mourning the Real
I’ve been waiting for the new Torpor record since I first fell in love with them after seeing them in Sheffield in 2017. They’re are a top-3 underground UK band for me, and this does not disappoint in the longform-crushing department.
Daft Punk – Da Funk
I went to see the movie The Shock of the Future recently, and although they didn’t feature, the general concept of cool French dance music made me return to Daft Punk’s house roots and get my boogie on.
The Body – Nothing Stirs
I’ve been borderline obsessed with The Body this year after ignoring them before for no good reason, and this track is a double whammy because it also features a stunning performance from the inimitable Lingua Ignota. Raw, honest and savage.
Sikth – Sanguine Seas of Bigotry
Djent years before djent was even a word. I’ve always admired their scattershot and schizophrenic songwriting, but for some reason recently this song and album has properly hooked me more than ever before.
Fieldhead – 812 Keefer
Top tier glitchy ambient from our pals at Gizeh Records. I can’t believe it took me until recently to check out Fieldhead, because the a correction record is incredible if you like a mix of warm ambience and some Carbon-Based-Lifeforms-esque minimal grooves.
Joe – Vocals
Formicarius – May The Rats Eat Your Eyes
Played several shows with this brilliant black metal band who have just released an album. Interlacing keyboards and lead guitars, extremely old school vocals and an ability to keep things interesting in a genre that all too often treads water.
Violet Cold – She Spoke of Her Devastation
Exceptional black metal, awash with layers of noise and atmosphere that gradually builds to a fantastic crescendo. Essential listening for anyone who likes their black metal raw but beautiful.
Her Name Is Calla – Pour More Oil
I saw this band opening for Solstafir one time and they absolutely blew me away. This track in particular just oozes emotion from start to finish.
Rolo Tomassi – A Flood of Light
It’s coming up on the year anniversary of Ba’al opening for RT so I’ve been thinking about this track a fair bit. By far the best on the latest album with a second half that is laced with pure atmosphere.
Cairiss – Disgraced
The best black metal band in the UK by a country mile. Since finding out they are playing Winter Warhorns I’ve been spinning their EP Fall on repeat. Incredible musicianship and fantastic ranging vocals from delicate cleans to harsh black metal rasps. Absolute masterpiece.
Ba'al 
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