Ba'al

After a little tour break last month, we’re back with some words and tunes for you, showcasing our blackbelt music taste

Richard – Bass

Bleaklow – Grains in the Water

I’ve had the pleasure of catching Bleaklow – the latest project of Rich and Claire Knox of A-Sun Amissa/Shield Patterns/Gizeh Records – live twice in the past few months and both times I have been absolutely absorbed by their vast, lush soundscapes. The music of their debut EP is the exact midpoint between the droney, dark ambient guitars of A-SA and the heady, melodic dream pop wash of Shield Patterns. Yum.

Follakzoid – V-III

These guys are new to me, and apparently over the course of five albums have moved steadily from psych rock to minimal techno. This new one, V, is firmly in the latter camp, with the repetitive grooves and pounding kicks overlaid with evolving sounds and textures. I’m excited to dive into the back catalogue.

Entropia – Paradox

As I’ve no doubt opined here before, Entropia are a fascinating act and one of my all-time black metal favourites. I’m loving their new record, but I recently went back to their second album, Ufonaut, and remembered what an absolute powerhouse it is; it’s like Enslaved on bad acid with a bunch of beatdowns thrown in.

Telos – Bastion

The midpoint between Amenra and Frontierer that I didn’t know existed and that I didn’t know I needed. Building-levelling grooves with a chaotic energy. Get in my ears.

Ofnus – Echoes

Of course, one of us needed to mention our new Welsh besties and October touring partners. It was an absolute joy and honour to join Ofnus for 6 shows up and down the UK, and this track is the one that keeps coming back into my head, with one particular chord change in the deep, hypnotic sequence in its back half hitting me in the heart every time.

Chris – Guitar

Defod – Embers Linger At Eventide

These Welsh lads joined us and our other Welsh touring pals Ofnus for a show in Liverpool this month, and I was hugely impressed by their sound – a potent mix of bands like Fen, Saor, Primordial and early Dissection while remaining unique. Highly recommended!

Borknagar – Up North

I’ve loved Borknagar since I was about 17 and first heard them at college, and this song is a true all-timer in the catalogue – it’s basically power black metal, with soaring Vortex vocals and occasional blasts. Plus the lyrics are literally about how much he loves being in nature in the North, perfect!

Taylor Swift – Blank Space (Taylor’s Version)

1989 was the first Taylor Swift album I heard, so I’ve been keenly awaiting the re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” of it – and it’s as good as it was first time round, just with a fresher and slightly more modern production. I could have picked any number of tracks but this is a particular highlight.

Myrkur – Valkyriernes Sang

The new Myrkur album is very different from her previous full-length, Folkesange – but at the same time it retains elements of the atmospheric, delicate neofolk on that record, while blending in more overt Danish pop and black metal sounds and influences. Truly like nothing else I’ve listened to this year.

John Carpenter – Night

Hey, did you know that John Carpenter (legendary director of Halloween, Assault on Precinct 13 and The Fog)  also did the soundtracks for all those movies? And that he’s released a bunch of solo albums which take that even further? This record is one of the first vinyls I bought when I started collecting and it’s phenomenal – pulsating, dark synths and layered atmospheres. Listening to it is like being in your own John Carpenter movie, and who doesn’t want that?

Joe – Vocals

Afterbirth – Devils With Dead Eyes

This is a ridiculous track from a ridiculous album of bonkers technical death metal awash with weirdness that works. It conjours an image of a frog gargling on diarrhoea stumbling through a junk yard before dropping acid and listening to prog. Fair to say there probably isn’t something for everyone here…

Wormhole – The Grand Oscillation

Many people know I love Artificial Brain as I mention them frequently. Wormhole have a similar style, theme and aesthetic but are still very much their own thing. A fine mixture of technicality and heaviness that is never impenetrable or over stays its welcome.

Kvaen – Sulphur Fire

Quite possibly one of the most catchy, hook-laden and, dare I say, “danceable” black metal tracks ever written. There’s a strong Taake and Tsjuder vibe here and it gives the Dark Fortress track ‘Edge of Night’ a run for its money in bopability.

Germ – An Overdose On Cosmic Galaxy

It’s rare that atmospheric black metal manages to be this euphoric. I did hear somewhere that this track was inspired by stargazing while indulging in mushrooms but can’t confirm if this is true. The clean sung vocals seem like they shouldn’t work, but they do.

Hanging Garden – Ennen

A band that heavily brings to mind My Dying Bride, Draconian and later Katatonia, this is a patient track that slowly swells to a heartfelt crescendo. It feels delicate and pure in its atmosphere, a real gem. 

Nick – Guitar

Ellende – Ruhelos

Top tier German thing, of all the German things, Ellende is one of the best things, from Germany. Absolutely a favourite project for me.

Unreqvited – Disquiet

Top tier Canadian thing, of all the Canadian things, Unreqvited is one of the best things, from Canada. Absolutely a favourite solo project for me.

Agalloch – In The Shadow of Our Pale Companion

Top tier American thing, of all the American things, Agalloch is one of the best things, from America. Absolutely a favourite group project for me.

40 Watt Sun – Reveal

Top tier English thing, of all the English things, 40 Watt Sun is one of the best things, from England. Absolutely a favourite group/solo project for me.

Sylvaine – Severance

Top tier Norwegian thing, of all the Norwegian things, Sylvaine is one of the best things, from Norway. Absolutely a favourite Norwegian project for me.