Ba'al

We’re a bit late with our tunes and words this month because of various factors, including some of us galivanting at music festivals which will no doubt influence next month’s post… Anyway, have at it below.

Richard – Bass

Porcupine Tree – Harridan

Despite them releasing some of my favourite music of all time in the past, I was sceptical about the Porcupine Tree reunion album, not least because of the notable and un-commented-upon absence of bassist Colin Edwin (who still hasn’t said a word on the matter), but also because of Steven Wilson’s gradual ascent up his own arse. These low expectations worked in my favour, though, as I’m surprised to say that Closure / Continuation is currently one of my albums of the year. It’s got the hallmark PT sound – downbeat prog rock with some alternative rock weirdness, split up by hefty metal riffs – but I think, if anything, the 70s prog dial has been turned up yet further, and the hooks are just absolutely infectious.

Thomas Köner – Meta Incognita

Thomas Köner’s supremely icy album Permafrost was one of the myriad ways I tried to keep myself cool during the ludicrous temperatures recently (Sheffield was, briefly, one of the top 5 hottest cities on the planet for an hour one afternoon – insane). You can file Köner’s music under “ambient music so minimal, you’ll have to keep checking it’s still playing” Classic Köner-listener catchphrases include: “is it still playing or is that my computer fan?”, “is it still playing or is that distant traffic?”, “is it still playing or is that my tinnitus?” and “is it still playing or did it finish half an hour ago and I didn’t notice?”. Crank it up, though, and you’ll be in a sublime, motionless freeze.

Tómarúm – Where No Warmth is Found

Another one hovering near the top of my AOTY list is this album, which I truly cannot remember who told me about. If you imagine Australian extreme prog masterminds Ne Obliviscaris shot their violinist and replaced him with more straight-up prog-death and even more surging melodies, you’re not far off Tómarúm’s sound, but they also have a voice all their own. Also another helpful song title for avoiding thinking about the recent weather.

Akua Naru – The Backflip

“For those of y’all waiting for hip-hop: she’s here.” I’ve been soundtracking some of my recent car journeys with Akua Naru’s debut album, a near-flawless, oft-overlooked gem of conscious hip-hop. Naru’s smooth vocal tones and superb wordplay effortlessly roll over a mix of grooving samples and a wide array of live band instrumentation. Top class.

The Streets – Geezers Need Excitement

From one kind of lyrical mastermind to another (!). Another recent revisit for me has been the iconic Original Pirate Material, which I am coming to realise may be one of the absolute best rap-related albums to ever come from the UK. Mike Skinner’s stories of the everyday from the streets of working class Birmingham are told with such flair, humour and engaging flow that you have to marvel at how engrossed he can make you in verses about going to the chip shop or being late to meet your girlfriend because you were doing your hair.

Chris – Guitar

Jambinai – Sawtooth

Interesting, evolving, massive post-rock with a unique approach to timbre and texture. This was an out-of-nowhere discovery, check out the rest of the album if you like big sounds (which, if you’re here, you almost certainly do).

Uneven Structure – Quittance

I picked this album up years ago on a whim, and rediscovered it recently – I’m not a big djent person (unlike Nick and Luke) but this shit slaps. Big, frosty, space atmospheres enshroud the riffs (which are good in their own right). I’m still not a djentleman but I’ll make an exception for this lot!

Chat Pile – Why

Listening to this album was like having a rage-induced panic attack, and I mean that as a positive. One of the most intense, uncomfortable, unforgettable albums I’ve heard in some time, and this song is one of the crown jewels therein. Listen to it, get angry.

Brymir – Herald of Aegir

This gives me strong Eluveitie vibes – similarly bouncy and riffy with big choruses – but there’s a power metal vibe in there as well, and a black metal-ish album cover? It’s a big mishmash of genres, basically, but it works very well if you’re in the mood for something uplifting!

Metric – What Feels Like Eternity

I’ve been a big fan of Metric since I heard ‘Black Sheep’ on the Scott Pilgrim movie soundtrack, and they continue to put out great albums. This is off their latest, and it’s another certified earworm of undulating bass and synths overlaid with catchy vocal lines.

Nick – Guitar

Vildhjarta – All These Feelings

All these feelings that I’m feeling when I’m listening to ‘All These Feelings’ are feelings of pleasure at hearing all these massive riffs. Feels good.

Death Goals – Shrike

Overheard this track whilst we were packing down after our last show. Had to do an embarrassing speed walk to the sound desk to see what the song was. Turns out we were supposed to play with these guys at some point but the gig fell through for some reason which I cannot recall. Regardless it would’ve been a great gig, probably.

Ithaca – Hold, Be Held

‘Hold, Be Held’? More like hold my beer whilst we release one of this year’s best albums. I really enjoyed The Language of Injury but They Fear Us feels like such a confident step up, it’s in a different league altogether.

Ashenspire – Plattenbau Persephone Praxis

This album really resonated with me because A). It’s an incredibly powerful and authentically performed post-metal album, and B). You can tell they fucking hate the Tories. 5 stars from me.

Alexisonfire – Sans Soleil

This new album was a bolt from the blue and it’s arguably the best thing they’ve ever done. A noteworthy departure from the post-hardcore roots that made them such an important band, it’s probably the most mature they’ve ever sounded and I’m 100% here for it.

Joe – Vocals

Ultha – Bathed In Lightning, Bathed In Heat

Strong contender for album of the year for me and certainly going to be in my top five. All That Has Never Been True is an ugly piece of doom laden experimental metal from a badly unappreciated band.

Gaerea – Glare

A new album is incoming, but I still spin the last one regularly. This band is on a wave of popularity right now, but something I see few people mention is how good the vocalist is. His voice is fairly typical for black metal, yet resonates strongly with emotion, subtle but captivating.

Cairns – When Days Grew Shorter

Fellow Clobber label mates with a strong slab of atmospheric black metal and an anthemic clean sung chorus. Brings to mind Cairiss and Wodensthrone, which is obviously bloody awesome.

Unreqvited – Anhedonia

I’ve always enjoyed this project and been listening to them a lot lately. This offering is from my favourite album Stars Wept To The Sea and it’s lovely.

The Caretaker – It’s Just A Burning Memory

For the love of whatever fictional character you worship, go and listen to Everywhere At The End Of Time. It’s essentially an audio art exhibit on the onset of dementia and it’s one of the most heartwrenching things I’ve ever heard. This is the very beginning and it’s a haunting indication of what is to come.

More monthly tunes and associated words from us this month, including the return of Luke, gushing about the bands he discovered at TechFest.

Joe – Vocals

Richard – Bass

Krallice – Cnestorial

I’m very late to the party getting into Krallice, especially as they’ve just released a new album and this is from their debut which came out in 2008, but I’m a bit obsessed. Here they take black metal progressions that could be straightforward in the hands of another band and twist it into weird shapes with odd chord voicings and bass notes. Weird whilst still being accessible (for frenetic black metal), and still full of atmosphere.

Prince & the Revolution – The Beautiful Ones

Apparently I’ve been a Prince fan ever since I was a toddler, as my parents have told me tales of me repeating The Purple One’s raunchy lyrics to them at a very young age, blissfully unaware of the usually very horny meaning of them. I’ve been returning to the absolute pop masterclass Purple Rain recently, and I think this dreamy synth ballad is an underrated track that really goes to some cool places.

The Ephemeron Loop – Lattice Dysmorphism of Lysothymic Onerioid Cytoterrain

Where to start with The Ephemeron Loop? I discovered this album – Psychonautic Escapism – via a BandCamp email and it’s shot right up amongst my albums of the year so far. Dream pop, ambient, metal, noise, shoegaze, trance, grind… It’s all of these things and more, with lyrics dealing with issues around mental health, trans identity and, yes, psychedelic drugs, made by someone called Vymethoxy Redspiders. There’s little more to say after that – just give it a go.

Author & Punisher – Drone Carrying Dread

Despite being incredible live, obviously, it’s taken me some time to come around to A&P on record, but I managed to get onside just before the release of this new album, and I’m really digging its especially doomy, industrial vibe.

Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas

Another otherworldly pop classic this month, this time in the shape of dream pop visionaries Cocteau Twins and their truly ethereal cocktail of heady soundscapes, nonspecific nostalgic feelings and confusing nonsense half-words that might trick your brain into thinking you’re having a stroke. Genius.

Luke – Drums

A Night in the Abyss – Begotten

These guys were a lovely discovery for me. Combining tech-death instrumentals, guttural vocals, and orchestrals in a manner reminiscent of earlier Fleshgod Apocalypse, they hit with a ferocious amount of energy and speed which just gets me going.

Grey Lotus – Azure Rain

Fuck me these guys are talented. Their vocalist has incredible gutturals, screams, and cleans and can change between them with ease. The drummer is a force to be reckoned with, and the guitars are beautiful, groovy and br00tal. lovely stuff!

Anima Tempo – The Infinite Eye

A fantastic mix of groove, video-game-esque synthy sounds, and all manner of fun stuff with beautiful clean vocals, offset with raw growls in the odd breakdown section.

Black Orchid Empire – Natural Selection

Do you want a singalong? This band have a great talent for mixing catchy vocals with odd time signatures and grooves that you just can’t help moving to. They’re kinda reminiscent of earlier Biffy Clyro but with more prog!

The Ocean – Cambrian II: Eternal Recurrence

Long post metal sections interspersed with heavy riffs and some of the most compelling vocals. This band have a good shot at making you feel things and making sure you dance with those feelings.

Gigs are finally back on the way for us, but we’re still blasting tunes at home in between, so here are some of our picks for the month along with some words on why we like them so much.

Joe – Vocals

The Black Dahlia Murder – On Stirring Seas Of Salted Blood

Shocked and saddened by the passing of Trevor Strand who seemed an affable and down to earth chap writing songs about monsters. It only seems right to pay tribute with my favourite TBDM track. Rest in power.

Benediction – Scriptures In Scarlet

This is bouncy old school death metal perfection with sublime vocals from everyone’s favourite time lord Mr David Ingram. It’s been a regular on my mp3 player for the last few weeks.

Heriot – Coalescence

This band appears to have a rocket attached to them right now and it’s easy to see why. Atmosphere mixed with claustrophobic dissonant chonk makes for a well layered and tasty cake.

Cult of Luna – The Watchtower

The first track I ever heard from Cult of Luna and I found it genuinely terrifying in its slow, mechanical preamble into the blistering chorus. A big influence.

The Great Old Ones – When The Stars Align

HP Lovecraft and black metal? Who would have thought that would work, eh?

Richard – Bass

Oranssi Pazuzu – Tyhjä Temppeli

Have you ever experienced the thing where you go to see a band you love, they’re great, and you come home with a song of theirs in your head, but it’s one that they didn’t even play? Weirdly, it happens to me a lot, and it’s what’s happening here. Oranssi Pazuzu were fantastic when I saw them in Manchester recently, playing stuff just from their most recent two albums, but probably thanks to my listening homework ahead of the gig I’ve had the winding bass riff and swirling guitars of this track from their 2013 album Valonielu (which might actually be my favourite of theirs) in my head a lot.

Meshuggah – Broken Cog

It is frankly shocking that a bunch of guys who are mostly in their 50s are still able to sound this crushingly heavy, dizzyingly complex and just downright alien on their 10th album, losing absolutely none of their vitality or extremity with time. I think this unseats ‘Stengah’ as my favourite Meshuggah album opener, and was a stunning beginning to their live show recently that quite literally made people jump with its sudden start. I just love how you have no idea where the beat is for the first few rotations of the riff, and then when the snare drum finally does come in, you realise they’ve picked the most satisfying possible option.

Charli XCX – 1999

Rounding out a trio of songs from great gigs I’ve been to in the last month, this track is my biggest current earworm and most repeated listen, despite me having never knowingly heard it until the gig, as my Charli knowledge only extended to the last two albums at that point. Nick got COVID at the Charli XCX show, though, as did his partner and also mine. However, I staved it off for a full week and even then only tested positive for one day with no symptoms, so what I’m saying is that I think I have superpowers and I’m shoehorning that in here so that everyone knows it.

Tuskar – Matriarch

Tuskar have really leveled up with their debut album, honing everything that made their riff-heavy sludge compelling in the first place whilst also morphing into a properly dynamic, impactful post metal band. Massive sound, humungous tone and sledgehammer riffs galore – what’s not to love?

DevilDriver – End of the Line

This is a pure nostalgia hit for me. I recently revisited the first two DD albums for no particular reason, finding the self-titled debut to stand up very poorly to the test of time, but being pleasantly surprised at how much The Fury of Our Maker’s Hand still slaps. I dropped off from following the band probably less than halfway through their career to date, and never seek out this kind of stuff now, but this is just a groove metal banger.

Chris – Guitar

Rotting Christ – Holy Mountain

I always enjoy listening to Rotting Christ – they have just the right balance of melody and aggression. This appears to be a track from a forthcoming new album; it’s skewing a bit more towards a kind of anthemic rock than their previous stuff, but it still slaps.

Kirk Hammett – High Plains Drifter

Years of Metallica using ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ by Ennio Morricone for their live sets has clearly influenced Kirk Hammett, as this track (from his new solo album/EP) really fits into that atmospheric Wild West/Morricone vibe. Very enjoyable, and not what I was necessarily expecting from a guy whose specific style has never been my favourite!

Desolate Shrine – The Dying World

This one was a recommendation from our erstwhile frontman Joe – big, sludgy, apocalyptic riffs with all-enveloping production were just what I needed occasionally last month. There’s nothing particularly new or revolutionary about this, it’s just BEEFY GOODNESS.

Sojourner – Winter’s Slumber

Sojourner sit at the same table as bands like Summoning for me – everything they release evokes mist-shrouded natural landscapes dotted with ancient castles, myth and magic. This, the opening track off 2018’s The Shadowed Road is still my favourite track of theirs, and immediately transports me away from the mundanity of everyday existence.

Chthonic – Supreme Pain For The Tyrant

I’ve been a huge Chthonic fan for years – I picked up Seediq Bale on CD back in 2006 when it came out and was immediately taken with it, and they’ve gone from strength to strength. May saw me struck with the desire to listen through their discography and while there are bangers on basically every release they’ve done, the chorus on this one is particularly ferocious. They’re at their best when they weave political sentiment into their music, given the… ‘unique’ situation that Taiwan is in (a subject beyond the scope of this blog), and vocalist/elected politician Freddy Lim doesn’t hold back!

Nick – Guitar

MiNOA – Glitter

COVID giveth, COVID taketh away. Sadly the gods of Corona recently grounded us 1 day prior to flying to Stockholm to see Myrkur, a most heartbreaking turn of events, especially having managed to avoid catching COVID for the past 3 years whilst working in a hospital. Thankfully the dreaded rona departed a week later, just in time for me to catch Hang Massive for the first time after following them for many years. Extremely pleasant vibes also came from the support for the evening, Swedish producer/singer MiNOA’s energetic mix of techno, new age and apparently everything in between was an excellent surprise, and needless to say her beats have been on rotation in Gosling Manor for the past week.

Aurora – Queendom

The only queendom I celebrated this bank holiday weekend is a continuation of the Nordic flavour of my monthly picks. I would have picked a track from her sublime new album but this track is a blinder and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make a little dig at the fucking shambles that is the UK and the rampant jingoistic bollocks that our media constantly peddles about the royal family, an institution built on the back of slavery and genocide that has no place in a modern and….(fades into a blur of continued anti-royalist sentiment).

Ashen – Crying City

Recently watched the acclaimed new Taiwanese horror film called The Sadness not really knowing what to expect beyond a well-done zombie film. What it actually turned out to be was a striking social commentary-cum-vehicle for a practical effects studio to use the 50 metric tons of blood and gore they had lying about. This track features at the end and is a pretty accurate sonic summary of an insane movie.

Polaris – Pray For Rain

Recently acquired my first 7-string guitar and my modern metalcore intake has risen exponentially as a result.

Doves – Black and White Town

A song I’ve always associated with an earlier period of my life (because it was on FIFA). Despite not knowing what the song was about, it has always brought me into a state of melancholy and ennui, perhaps the time period it reminded me of was one marked by general indifference and awareness of how dull life can be sometimes, or maybe it’s simply very good at communicating the feeling of being bored and hoping that life has more to it than this. A couple of quick caveats: it’s a brilliant song and my childhood wasn’t actually as depressing as perhaps this paragraph suggested.

We’ve finally got some gig announcements in the pipeline, but in the meantime you can check out our usual wafflings about what we’ve been listening to of late, as well as a playlist of the tracks.

Nick – Guitar

Parkway Drive – Idols and Anchors

Recently found myself watching back live videos of Parkway Drive and blissfully recalled what an important band they were for me in my formative years. Whilst I certainly have a greater affinity for their pre-Ire discography, I still hold a great deal of respect for the arena-dominating direction they’ve taken in more recent years. Undoubtedly one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen and by all accounts a wholesome bunch of dudes.

And So I Watch You From Afar – Jettison (Full Score)

Listened to a couple of tracks whilst in the shower and thought it was kinda wack. Then realised it was mostly the sound of our extremely powerful shower (it’s like a jet engine). Listened to the album in full on good speakers with my eyes closed and laughed at my past self thinking it was anything less than magnificent.

Allegaeon – Vermin

Been consuming a lot of tech death recently and Allegaeon’s latest has definitely been the pick of the bunch. There’s something delightfully masochistic about listening to better musicians play riffs that I’m too garbage to play myself.

Party Cannon – The Dirty Bubble

Anything that features Dennis Reynolds is an automatic 10.

Ho99o9 – SKINHEAD ft. Saul Williams

Death Grips but with riffs. Death Griffs? Death Licks? Riff Riffs? Dick Legs? I don’t know, anyway it’s good shit.

Joe – Vocals

Coldworld – Horizons (not on Spotify so not in the playlist – check it out here: https://coldworldofficial.bandcamp.com/album/toteninsel)

Excellent atmospheric black metal band, this one from their split with Farsot managed to escape me until recently, but it’s more awesomeness with a nautical-esque mid section.

Wolvencrown – Infernal Throne

Been enjoying our labelmates Wolvencrown for some time now and was lucky enough to see them live recently. This is one of my favourite tracks.

Darkthrone – The Pagan Winter

Sometimes you just have to go old school…

Rolo Tomassi – Prescience

The latest album is solid, but taken a little bit of time to grow on me. This track has an eerieness to it throughout and the vocals verge on black metal. Top banana.

Artificial Brain – Estranged From Orbit

Science fiction themed tech death that sounds like a rusty junk yard floating into Uranus.

Richard – Bass

Kluizenaer – Verweigerung (not on Spotify so not in the playlist – check it out here: https://kluizenaer.bandcamp.com/album/ein-abbild-der-leere)

These guys are a great new discovery for me and are certainly in contention for my current album of the year. Nasty, ambient-soaked, noisy atmospheric black metal guaranteed to give you the willies and make you do the stank face.

Altar of Plagues – Twelve Was Ruin

Along similar musical lines, I’ve been revisiting these much-missed Irish black metal legends recently, with their swansong Teethed Glory and Injury finally really clicking with me after I didn’t really understand it when I first heard it many years ago. Ferocious, ominous and shot through with industrial weirdness, Altar of Plagues really went out with a bang.

Primitive Man – Loathe

I saw Primitive Man in Sheffield recently for the fourth time and it was, as it is always, one of the most oppressively horrible but immensely enjoyable times I’ve had at a gig in recent memory, further cementing them as my go-to nasty sludge/doom band, an all-time favourite act overall, and a high-water mark for nihilistic brutality. Though they’re notorious for abandoning their past material and only playing newer stuff, this track off their 2015 EP Home is Where the Hatred Is never fails to get me going.

Chali 2na – 4 Be Be

Breaking up the tirades of grim metal, here’s the smoothest voice in hip-hop – Jurassic 5’s baritone icon Chali 2na – in full reflective, sombre mode eulogizing a dead relative in rap form. His debut solo album Fish Outta Water is definitely a mixed bag, but this and a few other highlights are sublime, and its all worthwhile just to hear his silky tones over full songs, because any J5 fan is lying to themselves if they say his verses aren’t their favourite.

Dirge – Epicentre

Surprise surprise, we’re back in unpleasant waters. This time it’s in the form of the expansive, introspective and utterly crushing post metal from these oft-overlooked Frenchmen who called it quits in 2019 seemingly through frustration at never gaining any traction. Dirge are certainly not for the faint of heart or the short of attention span (the stellar title track of the album this song is on makes up half of the album’s two hour runtime on its own), but if you’re a fan of Neurosis and contemplating existence, then get stuck in.

Chris – Guitar

High Noon – Wolfhand

“Dark Cowboy ambient” is the best descriptor I have for this very enjoyable band/album. It has some weight and some riffiness but mostly it’s about the vibes of spending a cold night in the desert fending off coyotes!

Bad Luck – Otoboke Beaver

Shouty Japanese riot grrl punk isn’t my usual go-to genre, but I definitely have a soft spot for it. This is nothing more complex than a 2-minute chunk of shouty punk aggression, and sometimes that’s all you need.

ΛΔΛΜ – …And Then There Was Light

This band are impossible to Google (thanks to the funky symbols comprising their name) so I have been able to find out very little about them, but I’m very much a fan of this kind of chilled out atmosphere.

Amon Amarth – Valhall Awaits Me

Show me someone who doesn’t love the cheesy Viking melodeath of Amon Amarth and I’ll show you a liar. This track is on here because I greatly enjoyed Robert Egger’s new movie The Northman this month, and couldn’t get this song out of my head afterwards. Skøl!

Sylvaine – Mono No Aware

Atmo-black metal recommended to me by the erstwhile Gaz of Heel Turn Promotions – more big atmospheres and melancholic melody to really make you think about the inevitability of death. Cheerful thoughts for a Tuesday afternoon!

Another of our monthly playlists to go alongside the video content that is now coming thick and fast too (make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube!). Check out this month’s picks in the playlist below, along with some of us waffling about our picks.

Richard – Bass

40 Watt Sun – Behind My Eyes

Patrick Walker has returned to make us all cry once more. 2016’s Wider Than the Sky was a flawless album in my opinion, so I wasn’t sure how he’d be able to take that sound any further, but by making the wise decision to mix it up slightly without changing the tempo or the emotion, he’s crafted another winner. There’s more variety in Perfect Light‘s  instrumentation and tonality, but it’s still the same achingly beautiful, unendingly sorrowful core. Alternatively, as a friend put it to me recently, it’s R.E.M. played in slow motion.

Radwall – Red Rain

I came across this track on reddit of all places, but it won me over instantly. Radwall (a band I had never heard of before) have covered my favourite Peter Gabriel song specifically in the style of Ocean Machine, Devin Townsend’s iconic debut solo album. Not only does this feel like a cover custom made for my musical interests, it is an incredibly convincing impression. Wild.

Kurokuma – Ololiuqui

Sheffield’s premier tribal doom outfit have kept us waiting for their debut album for years, so it’s a good thing it’s so good. It grooves, drones, funks and dirges in all the right places, and the Aztec aesthetic and theme really suits their earthy tones.

Fallujah – The Night Reveals

I’ve been revelling in an out-of-character resurgence in interest in technical death metal of late, and part of that has been getting immersed in Fallujah’s proggy 2014 album The Flesh Prevails. The surging melodies are what set this band apart, without coming close to diluting the aggression or technical acrobatics.

Foo Fighters – Arlandria

I couldn’t let this month pass without mentioning the tragic loss of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Foo Fighters were a big band for me as a teen and I still return to some of their stuff with some regularity. Perhaps controversially, I think it was around 2007-11 that they really hit their stride with consistency over full albums, and Wasting Light might be my favourite (and also the most recent of theirs I’ve listened to… oops). By all accounts, Hawkins seemed a real force for good in the music world, as well as a powerhouse of a drummer. I can’t imagine what Dave Grohl is going through having this kind of tragedy happen a second time in his career. RIP.

Nick – Guitar

Sea Power – Fire Escape In The Sea

Half an hour into this album and I was already loving every second of it, but then I get to this track and immediately recognise the instrumental from one of my all-time favourite video games. That game of course being the incomparable Disco Elysium, of which Sea Power composed the score for. It’s a great track that reflects the dreamy yet dystopian landscape of Martinaise, and the addition of vocals give the track a whole new personality. Me gusta.

Wilderun – Exhaler

This is easily one of the most polished and exquisitely produced prog metal albums I’ve heard on a while. The sheer volume of electronic and orchestral layers give an unrivalled density to an album that’s already chock full of big riffs and noodly goodness. J’adore.

E-L-R – Fleurs of Decay

Had the pleasure of playing alongside ELR a few years ago when they did a little tour with Hundred Year Old Man. The zenith of that gig was ELR joining HYOM on stage to perform a number of collaborative tracks. I hope that one day these tracks will be released into the world. Regardless, their new album Vexier is a more than worthy continuation of their ethereal, psychedelic purl.

beabadoobee – Talk

Exquisite fuzz rock meets bedroom pop track. beabadoobee’s debut album was an absolute gem and one of my picks from 2020. I was already looking forward to her next full length release (slated to come out in a few months time) and that excitement is growing exponentially if this track is anything to go by.

Earthless – Death To The Red Sun

A delicious slice of semi-improvised psych and an explosive coda to their latest album. My condolences to Isaiah’s wah pedal, mans must be knackered.

Chris – Guitar

CHVRCHES – How Not to Drown

I went to see CHVRCHES for the first time this month (with Richard and others) and it was a delightful evening of lush synth-heavy pop and catchy hooks. CHVRCHES just seem to get better with each album, and this is the stand-out (for me) of their most recent release.

Ibaraki (w/Gerard Way) – Rōnin

I’ve raved about Matt Heafy doing proper black metal on this blog before, but this is the strongest track he’s released so far – melodic vocals, catchy vocal lines and some BIG RIFFS for Gerard Way (?!) to shriek over. I never thought this collab would sound like this, but I’m delighted with the result!

Litany for the Whale – Something in the Way

Fronted by an American friend of mine (Michael W Conrad, of DC Comics fame), Litany for the Whale are a post-hardcore act with some filthy tones and crunchy riffs. This cover of one of the most mournful Nirvana songs dials up the anthemic feels into a climax that feels like being crushed by a lead slab.

Konvent – Into the Distance

Speaking of crunchy riffs – heavy (but not impenetrably so) doom abides here, from Denmark’s Konvent. This is one of a couple of BandCamp discoveries this month and perfect for clearing out the winter cobwebs as we tentatively step into spring.

Véhémence – De feu et d’acier

My second BandCamp discovery comes from France: atmospheric, medieval black metal with plenty of melody and folkish elements, but without veering into cheese territory. They basically sound like a 14th century battlefield full of bright, blood-stained banners (if said battle was soundtracked by Batushka!)

Joe – Vocals

<Code> – Brass Dog

The gramophone stylised opening that repeats throughout combined with riffy, but grim sounding black metal is just glorious. Unsung greats of UKBM who don’t get nearly enough credit.

Pure Wrath – Footprints of the Lost Child

Indonesian atmospheric black metal with a similar cadence to Drudkh and Winterfylleth, with added keyboard flourish. Beautiful album artwork too.

Nature Morte – Night’s Silence

Exceptional post-black metal from France, surely one of my favourite albums from last year. This oozes atmosphere and reflection.

Urfaust – Hypnotisch Bevel De Daimonische Mensch

Eerie nightmare fuel, like music for a 1996 Quake level. Love everything about it. Guaranteed to give you the willies.

Sun of the Dying – Orion

Reminiscent of early Swallow the Sun with hints of My Dying Bride. There’s an instrumental mid-section to this track so beautiful it really made me smile the first time I heard it.

Yes, we’ve got more varied blog and video content now (make sure to subscribe to us on YouTube!), but that doesn’t mean we’re done with our monthly playlist nonsense. Check out this month’s picks in the playlist below, along with some of us waffling about our picks.

Richard – Bass

Gilmore Trail – Echoes of Solitude
Our good friends, Sheffield’s post rock visionaries Gilmore Trail, have recently released their third album and it is simply sublime – and I would say the same if I wasn’t biased, which I definitely am. They’ve really upped their game on all fronts, including going properly metal for the first time at a few points, but this track is just an absolute powerhouse of emotion, with warm synth strings and a wonderful guest saxophone spot adding a very special extra layer of melody at the song’s apex.

SOPHIE – Face Shopping
I’m several years behind Nick and the rest of the world in getting into wild electronic experimentalist SOPHIE, and sadly too late to ever have a chance to see her live after her tragic death a few years ago. Regardless, I’ve been absolutely rinsing her ludicrously titled album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides this year. Joyous, in-your-face, punchy, weird and catchy as hell, this is manic electro-pop like nothing else.

Stomach Earth – Watchers
I heard the self-titled Stomach Earth a few years back but for some reason didn’t go back to it until a recent doomy phase took hold, and by god am I glad I remembered about it. Earthy, crushing, death-metal-infused funeral doom that rolls forwards with viscerally huge riffs and vocals pitched so low that they’ll rattle the brains out of your skull via your various facial orifices.

Genesis – Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
I’ve also enjoyed a big return to daft 70s prog of late, mainly the big names that – like probably most of the few fans my own age – I got into via my dad. Peter Gabriel fronting Genesis has to be one of the greatest periods of musical history for flambouyant showmanship and over-the-top musical excess, but it’s also packed with unique melodies and a playful spirit that still lives on all these years later.

Shape of Despair – …to Live for My Death…
Shape of Despair are a band I’ve also been shamefully slow to get round to, and doing so recently has been a gloriously dismal time. MIsery that is composed and crafted in meaningful and engaging ways that really draw you into their mournful narrative, rather than just hitting the right cry buttons. TL;DR – boohoo, big growly metal band are sad for 17 minutes and it’s great.

Chris – Guitar

Venom Prison – Comfort of Complicity

I’ve never really gotten into Venom Prison before – not for any specific reason, purely because there’s too much music in the world to keep up with all of it. I’m very glad that our vocalist Joe raved about their new album Erebos, because it absolutely slaps, and this track is a particular highlight. Death metal with interesting vocals and song structures about Greek mythology! PUMP IT INTO MY VEINS

Zeal & Ardor – Death to the Holy

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the new Z&A and it doesn’t disappoint – it might not quite reach the lofty heights of Stranger Fruit but it comes very close indeed. There are a lot of great tracks on the record, so it was hard to pick just one, but this one in particular highlights some wonderfully demonic shrieking vocals from Manuel Gagneux. Try not to join in, I dare you.

Florence + The Machine – King

Regular readers of this blog will recall me raving about Florence + The Machine not too long ago – and now they’re back with new material, a delightful surprise of a track which showcases Florence’s unique and powerful vocals to perfection.

Jinjer – Pisces

I actually only learned this month that Jinjer are from Ukraine – I (like most other people, it seems) found them via a studio performance video they did which showed off vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk’s masterful command of both a guttural death metal roar and soulful clean vocals, but didn’t register their country of origin. That obviously takes on a new significance this month, given world events…

Hoth – The Unholy Conception

I’m choosing to believe this band took their name from the frostbitten Star Wars planet featured in The Empire Strikes Back, and refuse to check and see if I’m right. Melodic blackened death metal with a pleasantly bouncy production and some intricate riffs, this track puts me in mind of early Dissection with the reverb turned right down (and presumably without the whole “stabbed someone, went to jail, got out, committed ritualistic Satanic suicide” thing..!)

Nick – Guitar

Bishop – Untitled II

A rancid concoction of noise and blackened sludge. Make sure you listen to this within the confines of your own home because you’ll feel like you need a shower straight after, and you might vomit as well. But I mean all that in a good way of course.

Sylvaine – Fortapt

Prepare to have all your subdued emotions brought violently into the fore. This track is a highlight from a sublime album that is all highlight. Beautifully arranged and performed black metal/shoegaze and probably the strongest record of her career thus far.

Abraham – Fear Overthrown

Switzerland are fucking good at churning out great post-metal bands it seems. Abraham are one of them, and their new record is of the gnarliest variety. It will come as no surprise that they’ve played with Cult of Luna and The Ocean and if either of those tickle your turnips then Abraham will be right up your boulevard.

Dream Division – Wolf

An ode to 80s horror b-movies featuring delicious ambient synths and spoken word. I checked the artist’s bio whilst typing this and was shocked beyond belief to find that he is into John Carpenter (I was not shocked) and I am 100% here for it.

Avril Lavinge – All I Wanted feat. Mark Hoppus

Honestly this is a fairly bog standard albeit very fun pop-punk track, but she is royalty and punk wouldn’t exist without her so I can forgive the lack of esotericism.