Ba'al

More waffling about music we’ve been listening to this month – enjoy our revolving door of misery in the playlist below.

Joe – Vocals

Toadeater – Molten Gold (Down Your Throat)

Another to list under “great band, bit of a silly name”, but this is a lengthy black metal track that oozes atmosphere and pivots and turns like a creepy short story.

Omega Infinity – Iron Age

I’m a sucker for bands that have a space/science theme and Omega Infinity do this with aplomb. This track is dense and hypnotic, guest vocals by the always awesome Adrienne Cowan are the icing on the cake.

Anorexia Nervosa – The Shining

I mentioned them in my last playlist, gone but not forgotten. This is very much what would happen if Emperor channeled Fleshgod Apocalypse.

Abduction – Dismantling the Corpse of Demeter

Utilising traditional black metal but with engaging riffs and innovative song structures, Abduction are a rough diamond. It’s easy to see why they are revered on the UK black metal scene and rightly so.

Hellripper – The Nuckelavee

I used to collect Monster In My Pocket, a series of little rubber figurines linked to a card game back in the early 90’s. My favourite was Nuckelavee, I even wrote a song about it myself in my past band Lacrota. This track by Hellripper is absolute fire and does the terror of the Orkney Islands proud. 

Chris – Guitar

Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God

I make no secret of my love for Amon Amarth – they remain a delightful bastion of bouncy melodic death metal riffs and OTT Viking themes. I listened to this track a few times last month for writing inspiration for a short comic, and it remains a fun banger.

Orphaned Land – All Is One

Super uplifting progressive metal which incorporates a ton of middle-Eastern instruments into their soundscape: check! This isn’t their strongest album (Mabool still takes the crown for me) but it is one of their most anthemic and hopeful songs.

Pyramid Mass – Eyes Wide

If space-infused death-doom with a weighty production that sounds like obsidian slabs crashing to the surface of a distant alien planet is your thing, then Pyramid Mass are here to help. Lovely cover artwork too!

Metroid Metal – Tallon Overworld

Speaking of alien planets, I’ve smashed through the remastered version of Metroid Prime recently (once on normal, once on hard) and it’s reminded me of my love for Metroid Metal. This track is just groovy as fuck, and the leads are *chef’s kiss*.

Zef/Danimal Cannon – The Lunar Whale

Extremely beefy chiptune here, with production that’s like being punched in the stomach by a pixellated boxing glove. Danimal Cannon does a lot of shred guitar type stuff, so his metal influences on this bouncy, fierce collaboration really stand out to me.

Richard – Bass

Alrakis – Gas und Staub zwischen den Sternen

Following Joe’s theme of spacey metal (and my own from last month with Almyrkvi), I’ve been revisiting the superb first Alrakis album recently, Alpha Eri. Where Swiss masters Darkspace aim to scare you with the looming, black abyss of space and all it could conceal, Alrakis instead focus on the melancholy and loneliness of floating through the void, hosting depressive black metal introspection in the cosmos and enriching it with deep ambience.

Blue Hawaii – In Two

Dreamy, electronic indie pop featuring the vocalist of Braids and underpinned by some chilled but propulsive dance beats. Lovely, relaxed stuff that still grooves.

Aes Dana – Heights

Did somebody say ‘lovely, relaxed stuff that still grooves?’ Oh, it was me. Well, that couldn’t be more accurate in describing Aes Dana’s music too, albeit in a different way. His genius lies in psybient soundscapes driven by trance kick drums and a heady, gently trippy atmosphere. If you’ve ever been to Secret Garden at the Hallamshire House in Sheffield, you’ll know the vibe.

P.O.S – Savion Glover

I’m really late to the game getting into P.O.S’ revered 2009 album of leftfield hip-hop, Never Better, but I’m loving it at the moment. Conscious, political messages in tight, impeccable flows and a real mix of musical genres, taking in classic boom-bap beats, rock riffs and more, this is a must for hip-hop heads.

Nickelback – Savin’ Me

Am I trolling? Maybe a little bit. However, Nickelback’s output up until about 2005 has a special, nostalgic place in my heart, and Nick and I have often talked about how they genuinely had some great moments. The album All the Right Reasons is absolute hilarious trash lyrically, but for my money has some of their best tunes, and this midpaced, overwrought number is the pick of the bunch, even if it is basically ‘How You Remind Me, Pt. II”.

Nick – Guitar

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – Atlas Stone

Spent a good 7 minutes saying the name over and over until I could say “Pigs” the correct number of times without counting to 7 in my head. Incidentally this track is the 7th track on the album and I first listened to it on my birthday (which is the 7th). Apologies to any heptaphobes reading this, I mean no ill will.

Hangman’s Chair – Cold & Distant

Recently went deep diving through a Pallbearer-tinted lagoon and came across this band. As expected they carry a similar weight of stacked guitars and delicious clean vocals but it’s got some subtle grunge/shoegaze notes thrown in there too, lovely. Speaking of grunge…

Alice in Chains – Man in the Box

I’d put money on this track being on one of our playlists before, courtesy of Richard if not myself, but it’s that good we’re having it on here again, I don’t give a toot. Despite how fickle I can be, it’s no risk for me to publicly declare this track one of my top five favourite tracks from the nineties and AIC are comfortably my preference over the other ‘big three’ grunge bands.

Hologram Earth – Circadian

A massively under-appreciated band. I had resigned myself to the belief that Hologram Earth were sadly no more due to their lack of online activity, but hark! They recently announced they have a new album coming soon, so all is good, as they say, in the hood.

Boss Keloid – Peykruve

Had the pleasure of sharing a stage with these gents on my birthday, a joyous way to enter my 28th year. Melted on the Inch is absolutely one of my all-time favourite prog releases and to hear parts of it live (alongside their other stellar material) and performed with such precision and heft was pretty groovy.

We bottled it on the 2022 AOTY post in the end (just too much good stuff to rank), but we’re back with our first monthly playlist of 2023, with some tracks we’ve been listening to in the playlist below, and some words on our picks.

 

Chris – Guitar

The Ocean – Preboreal

My favourite band of all time are back with new music and this beefy cut off their upcoming release Holocene. I apologise in advance for how fucking insufferable I am going to be when it comes out later this year.

Boucle Infinie – Monument

Synthwave/vaporwave/whatever you want to call it hits a sweet spot for me – blissful digital vibes and nostalgia for my youth spent playing Megadrive games. Boucle Infinie’s previous release was an absolute gem and the new album from last year is more of the same great shit.

Ahab – A Coral Tomb

Joining the chorus of everybody talking about this band – I’d never heard of them before they dropped this album in the first week of 2023 and it’s very good indeed. Big, atmospheric, oceanic doom is right in my wheelhouse and this track is a perfect example of it.

Sonja – When The Candle Burns Low…

Continuing January’s trend of catching up on new albums that I missed last year with Sonja – this is an excellent album opener, heavy rock/classic metal with a claustrophobic and crowded production that sounds tonally unique and makes it stand out. Good riffs, too!

Foo Fighters – I Am A River

Look, I know that Foo Fighters are the epitome of “dad rock”, but I genuinely loved the Sonic Highways TV series they did a few years back (music history/documentary with them recording in iconic studios across the US is absolutely my thing) and the album that came out of it is the best thing they’ve done in years. This song is a highlight, with added string sections that give it more bombast and atmosphere than you might expect.

Joe – Vocals

…And Oceans – Wine Into Water

A solid blackened death metal band who have really solidified their sound with this earworm of a track. An essential listen for fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse and the badly missed Anorexia Nervosa.

Saor – Origins

The title track from the new Saor album has one of the most uplifting and gorgeous closing sections I’ve heard in a long time. I’ve always struggled to get into this band, but this track hooked me instantly.

Winterfylleth – The Ruin

An older track from Manchester best known atmospheric black metallers. I would love to hear them play this track live, the ambient mid section is hauntingly beautiful.

Aara – Sonne der Nacht

Debemur Morti really does release some spectacular black metal. Excellent atmosphere, harmonic underlying clean vocals and some of the most caustic harsh vocals ever recorded.

Këkht Aräkh – Thorns

All the trve and kvlt black metal weeaboos went into collective frost bitten orgasm over Pale Swordsman. It is great though. Lo-fi but oozing wonderful song writing.

Richard – Bass

Sons of a Wanted Man – Kenoma

It may essentially just be Deafheaven-worshipping, riff-heavy post-black metal, but this track is honestly one of the best examples of that genre I’ve come across. Not only that, but SOAWM’s vocalist reminds me a hell of a lot of our own vocalist Joe, which is unnerving (in a good way) – and he agrees.

Periphery – Wildfire

I don’t know if I’ve ever put such a recently released single off an unreleased album on the playlist, as I’m not usually one for getting invested in advance singles, but I just can’t get this one out of my head. The song is packed with crushing grooves, but that chorus is really something else; it’s so off-kilter rhythmically, with weird chord progressions too, but it still manages to have an absolutely enormous hook. Obviously your enjoyment of this (like all Periphery songs) will hinge on if you enjoy Spencer Sotelo’s vocals, which many don’t, but I am a huge fan so this is a win for me.

Rival Consoles – Afterglow

I can’t believe I only recently discovered Rival Consoles, because this is well up my street. If, like me, you love the atmospheric grooves of the likes of Jon Hopkins, Kiasmos or latter-day Vessels, you’ll find a lot to love in the microhouse vibes of Rival Consoles and I heartily recommend Howl.

VRTRA – My Bones Hold a Stillness

Sludgy, horrible black metal with some giant, lumbering doom riffs thrown in, a big sound, and an overall atmosphere of caustic evil? Count me in.

Almyrkvi – Fading Hearts of Umbral Nebulas

I think it’s actually impossible to form a bad black metal band if you’re from Iceland – maybe even to make bad music at all? Almyrkvi do the combo of black metal and spacey ambient with much more actual weight and presence than many, and it’s a stirring, powerful sound.

Nick – Guitar

Au-Dessus – Epiphany

Something bleak to soundtrack a bleak few weeks. Fell down a little rabbit hole after listening to a lot of bands like Regarde Les Hommes Tomber, Ultha and Schammasch, and this band are more than a match for the aforementioned filth. Winter isn’t over til it’s over.

Glass Ocean – Beyond Us

I’ve been getting much of my prog-metal fix from Sydney’s Glass Ocean recently after a sudden rediscovery. I’d been a listener of theirs many years ago after they emerged as a side-project of Northlane’s Nic Pettersen (whose first two albums are in my own personal pantheon of adored records), but I lost track of them over the years until hearing this sublime album from 2020.

KEN Mode – The Irate Jumbuck

Still waiting hear the band’s long awaiting sister project, DEIRDRE Mode lololololol. Sorry, it’s a great track.

Kvelertak – Tordenbrak

I think Meir may actually be my favourite Kvelertak album. It’s not got quite the same abrasive energy as their debut but the songwriting is every bit as strong and it’s got some of the best hooks the band has ever written, of which there are a great many. All killer, no filler.

Sonny Rollins – On Green Dolphin Street

Picked up On Impulse! on vinyl after my partner asked me to play some records that are less aurally oppressive (that’s a diplomatic translation). So I opted for something that’s challenging in a different way, this time in the form of an absolute don of improvisational Jazz saxophone.

Before we get to the all important AOTY post, we’ve got one more standard monthly playlist for you, with our thoughts on our picks below and all the tracks in a handy Spotify playlist.

Richard – Bass

Porcupine Tree – Sleep Together

I know i’ve had PT on here recently, but I can’t not include them again after seeing them last month in London – something I never thought would happen. It was three hours of prog bliss, with most of the classics aired, but I was surprised at how much this song stood out; I’ve always enjoyed it, but it’s never been at the top of my favourites list. Live, though, it was absolutely majestic, with its simple, heavy chords and bubbling synth part. Magic.

Abraham – Maudissements

I have Nick to thank for alerting me to this Swiss sludge/post metal outfit. Their album from this year is great all round, but this song in particular really stands out, with its incredibly weird production effects causing everything to gradually phase in and out of tune with itself at different rates, creating a really disorientating, queasy effect.

clipping. – Nothing is Safe

clipping. were another excellent recent live experience, and right from the opening of the set with this song, it was immediately apparent that Daveed Diggs is an absolute powerhouse in the live arena. I’ve seen some great rap shows in my time, but nothing compares to the consistent clarity of delivery he displayed, no matter the insane pace of the bars or the amount he was jumping around. Not only that, but he seems like a lovely guy, and is absolutely jacked. Unfair, really.

worriedaboutsatan – The Tower and the Steward

Since diving into his catalogue as part of my ArcTanGent homework over the summer, I’ve been really enjoying worriedaboutsatan’s ambient techno vibes, and this track in particular marries those modern, subtle beats with a little retro space ambient feel.

bigLOVE – Harnessing the Nectar from the Queen Bee

Do you like Crowbar? Do you like Alice in Chains? Do you like Godflesh? Well, if you want all of those things mashed together and produced by members of Employed to Serve, then look no further. Chonky, slow riffs, a battery of programmed drums, and shrieking – simple pleasures.

Joe – Vocals

The Antichrist Imperium – Vilest of Beasts

Featuring members of Akercocke, Voices and The Berzerker it’s no surprise that The Antichrist Imperium conjour some wonderfully crafted experimental metal with a strong theme of Satan and boobies. This is a stand out track from their latest offering.

Audn – Veröld Hulin

I’ve just witnessed this Icelandic atmospheric black metal power house pull off an awe inspiring live show here in Sheffield, so it would be silly not to include them. This track handily replaced the theme tune to early 90’s gameshow Big Break as the tune I couldn’t get out of my head.

Constellatia – Adorn

Somehow this glorious post black metal band with a billion other cool elements flew under my radar until just now. Absolutely loving everything they do and it’s right up my street.

Torture Killer – I Bathe In Their Blood

This is a good old school death metal track and I like it.

Ageless Oblivion – Anvil Chorus

The best kept secret on the UK underground, it would be a disservice to call Ageless Oblivion a death metal band because they are so much more. Lengthy technical songs that never overstay their welcome, there’s echoes of early Mastodon amongst the precise riffing and well thought out structures.

Chris – Guitar

Paul Leonard-Morgan, Mogwai – She’s A Pass (Mogwai Remix)

It’s frankly criminal that we never got a follow-up to the 2012 movie Dredd, with Karl Urban fully embodying everyone’s favourite fascist Judge. The soundtrack was a particular highlight – filthy, pulsating synths and sharp pads galore. For the 10th anniversary of the movie, post-rock pioneers Mogwai have done this remix of one of my favourite themes from the movie and it’s just very good – it retains the atmosphere and vibe of the original but coats it in Mogwai goodness. 10 years in the iso-cube, perp!

An Abstract Illusion – In The Heavens Above, You Will Become A Monster

Atmospheric/progressive death metal is always fun, and this is a very well executed cut of that particular genre. I don’t have a lot to say other than that this album slaps and you should listen to it 

Master Boot Record – 8086

I’m a sucker for good chiptune, and when you smush it together with metal you get a very pleasing result – MBR have put out some great records over the years and this latest one continues the trend of bludgeoning synth riffs programmed with the ferocity of a mid-00s death metal band.

Borknagar – Up North

It’s rare that a band I’ve loved for… jesus, probably around 18 years at this point manages to put out a new track which reaches the lofty heights of their back catalogue. It’s human nature – you’re more attuned to stuff you grew up with, before your brain ossifies and it’s harder to latch onto new music. That aside: this song is an absolute fucking masterpiece. Anthemic riffs and soaring vocals about nature and the seasons (from golden-throated wizard ICS Vortex) are squarely in my wheelhouse. Listen to this, but be warned – you will get the chorus stuck in your head!

Ghold – Chaos Reigns

I was recommended this band by a friend from the comics scene at Thought Bubble Comic-Con this month, and I’m glad for it – grimy, glitchy, noisy sludge with vocals that sort of put me in mind of Nirvana, with a similar tonality and tortured feel. Definitely a “surrender to the riff until it’s firmly lodged in your brain” kind of band.

Nick – Guitar

Perfume Genius – Eye In The Wall

Sublime song from a sublime album. Every sound, every timbre on this track is so delicate, each one could have it’s own 4 hour ASMR loop and I’d listen to each and every one nightly.

DVNE – Towers

The best thing to happen to progressive sludge since maybe Boss Keloid like a year  or so before them, which is still quite the fucking achievement. Riffs for days.

Ellende – Unsterblich

This album is every bit as good as the hype promised. Potentially my black metal album of the year…potentially, there’s a lot of competition this year.

Whitechapel – Possession

One of the many exemptions to the supposed rule of deathcore being crap, which I personally don’t think has any merit. Sure there are some crap deathcore bands but no more than any other genre, metal heads are just fragile about their own tastes and need something close to home that they can project their insecurity onto. Also breakdowns are great so stfu.

Carcass – The Scythe’s Remorseless Swing

I hope this song…. can bring some comfort to you all. Amen.

We’ve got a couple more great shows lined up for this year and some exciting things taking shape for the next, but in the meantime we continue to waffle about the music we’re blasting at home – read on below and enjoy our Spotify playlist containing all our picks.

Richard – Bass

Mizmor & Thou – Drover of Man

Whilst I do really like both of these artists, I somehow wasn’t expecting their collaboration to be as good as it is, and sometimes middling expectations really work in your favour – Myopia is in contention for my AOTY now. Genre-wise it’s more in Thou’s doomy ballpark, but Mizmor’s black metal tendencies influence things to make them even more nasty, counterbalancing the monolithic, melodic riffs very nicely. Crushing in all the best ways without being inaccessible.

Conan – Grief Sequence

I have often stated my controversial opinion that Conan are the best doom band, but whilst there are subtle yet important differences between all their albums, you usually pretty much know what you’re getting with a Conan record. Well, throw that idea out the window when you get to this closing track on their new album Evidence of Immortality: it’s a 14-minute instrumental track that is part drone metal and part 80s-horror-soundtrack, driven by some big synth leads. A curveball that really makes the album for me.

Björk – Enjoy

Ahead of the release of her new, tenth album (which I’ve not got round to yet), Björk started a podcast going through her albums in order and explaining the sounds and circumstances surrounding each, helping me to fully realise my true form as an adorer of both her music and her Icelandic speaking accent. All of them have been fascinating, but I particularly enjoyed hearing her experiences of the dance music and rave culture in London in the 90s around the release of Post, and I think this song captures her take on that quite well.

Murmuüre – Amethyst

Murmuüre combine atmospheric black metal and ambient music in a way that is quite unlike any other artist I’ve encountered, belying a true, deep knowledge and appreciation of both genres and creating some very absorbing, unusual soundscapes. Recommended for weirdos.

Deathstars – Mark of the Gun

After a conversation at band practice the other week about how ridiculous Deathstars are (particularly the lyrics and overly forced deep voice of singer Whiplasher Bernadotte), I fell down the rabbit hole of nostalgia with their first two albums. This track is just pure stupidity, with all the Rammstein riffs you could ever need, big goth-glam vibes, and a chorus which is essentially just an acrostic poem spelling ‘DEAD’ (if you’re interested, the words are ‘destroy’, ‘enforce’, ‘absolute’ and ‘darkness’).

Chris – Guitar

Falkenbach – Vanadis

This is very much one of my comfort albums – atmospheric viking metal from 2003, in the same sort of arena as Bathory and Summoning, which I’ve listened to more times than I care to think about. It’s the perfect music for BIG NATURE and landscapes, and this month it was part of my soundtrack for a delightfully scenic 4-hour round trip to pick up a new guitar (an Ibanez Iceman, to be precise)!

Blackbraid – The River of Time Flows Through Me

Atmospheric black metal written by indigenous American Sgah’gahsowáh, this manages to put a fresh spin on a genre that can often be quite by-the-numbers. I love to see how different cultures can shape musical styles I’m familiar with; this track has plenty of frosty riffing but keeps it interesting throughout.

BAND-MAID – From Now On

You would think, given how much I’ve listened to Babymetal, that I’d already be familiar with this band – but no, I just discovered them this month. A group of Japanese girls who wear maid outfits and play heavy rock/metal with some very solid riffs is possibly the most Japanese thing I’ve ever heard of and right up my street.

Bobby Darin – Beyond The Sea

Binge-watched the third season of The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel this month, an absolute visual/aural feast (and also just a very good show) – this track featured prominently in one episode and reminded me how much I enjoy listening to old-school crooners now and then.

Cluster -Im Süden

The best description I can give you for this track comes from Matt Berry (of What We Do in the Shadows/Toast of London fame), who recommended it in a YouTube video. He described it as “early electronic nightmares” and he was absolutely correct. It’s 12 minutes of nightmare synths and dark atmosphere which you definitely should not listen to while on a long drive home late at night, like I did. Enjoy!

Joe – Vocals

The Spirit – Of Clarity and Galactic Structures

What would Dissection have sounded like had they been inspired by the images from the James Webb Space Telescope? This, probably… I don’t know, I’m not a scientist.

Afsky – Tyende Sang

Just an exquisite piece of atmospheric black metal from an outstanding album. Extra credit for main man Ole Pederson Luk showing himself to be truly good person too.

Voices – Last Train Victoria Line

Voices have always done weird very well. Voices have always done eerie very well. On this track Voices, somewhat unsurprisingly you might predict, have done weird and eerie very well.

The Monolith Deathcult – Kindertodeslied

A powerful track told from the point of view of a 12 year old member of the Hitler Youth defending Berlin from the Soviet Union, complete with samples from the movie Downfall and sections seemingly sung by children who’s voices warp and become distorted. It’s an intentionally tragic listen that stands out on a relatively tongue in cheek album.

Werewolves – We Are Better Than You

Few are doing death metal as well as this Australian outfit, which is hardly a surprise when they feature two core members of The Berzerker. “How dare you buy our music, we are better than you”; no argument here.

Nick – Guitar

Boris – Ghostly imagination

Not one but two top drawer albums this year from the only entity I will ever recognise under the mononym Boris. Where W was ethereal and hazy as a foggy autumn morning, the latest Heavy Rocks is effectively summarised by its leopard print cover art. Brash and vulgar yet not lacking in artistic provocation, it’s the album to go for when subtlety is not on the agenda.

Povarovo – Ronald

Summer is well and truly over, it’s getting dark early and frost keeps forming on my bedroom window in the morning. At last I can once again revel in gloomy darkjazz and obsess about achieving the perfect noir lighting. All I need now is a case to solve and a crippling opium addiction.

Jesus Piece – Lucid

Recent events have made me an angry little bunny rabbit. This track accompanied me on a particularly trying morning and it’s a miracle I didn’t suplex that arrogant prick that popped his chest at me for crossing the road when I CLEARLY had the right of way.

The Devil Wears Prada – Hallucinate

TDWP really hitting hard in the feels this year. I’ve never been one to pay much attention to lyrics but for some reason this album’s vocals completely drew me in. Get ready for some big sad. Some great and varied songwriting and production going on as well and possibly their strongest ever release; a pleasant surprise all around.

From The Bogs Of Aughiska – The One Whitethorn Bush

I didn’t think stories about fairies and weasels could make me feel unsettled until I heard this band. Captivating dark ambient from the Irish west coast.

More monthly tunes and words from us (including Richard banging on about ArcTanGent) below – check out the playlist and read our ramblings on why we like things.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dS2YAO2TCHKyOwOwM5ZRY?si=kkhpGlGBSBOKaEMMUsTCsg&dl_branch=1

Joe – Vocals

Lvcifyre – Wolves Of The Great Dark

A band that can easily be listed as under appreciated stalwarts of UK extreme metal alongside the terrific Ageless Oblivion, both perhaps due to limited live presence. This is pummelling blackened death in the vein of Desolate Shrine and Arkhon Infaustus.

Mistress – Fucking Fuck

Sadly no more, Mistress always delivered a wonderful slurry of blackened crusty punk infused metal. Hilarious song title and feels like a cheap lager inspired punch up away at some lower league football club… like Oldham Athletic or something. Yeah, that’ll do.

Tableau Mort – Their Throats Are Open Graves

Had the pleasure of playing with these chaps a few times with Hecate Enthroned and love their engaging take on black metal. This track has an ending that just gives me goosebumps.

Cobalt – Pregnant Insect

The US has really caught up when it comes to black metal and Cobalt has a unique and nuanced take on the genre. Sinister and laced with uncomfortable atmosphere but still delivers the riffs.

Sadness – Kiss In October

Just one Mexican lad in his 20’s with a prolific out put. This is simply one of the most emotive pieces of music I’ve heard in a long time. Sorrowful and beautiful.

Nick – Guitar

Unru – Die Wiederkehr des Verdrängten

Haunting and unruly in equal measure, this track completely t-bones the senses after the solemnity of opening track ‘Kråkstad’. I had nasty thoughts listening to this album.

Tyrannus – Light The Last Sun

Had the immense privilege playing with these guys the other week. Wholesome group of dudes playing deliciously nasty black metal. A great choice if you want some old school BM without worrying about endorsing neckbeards.

Konvent – Sand Is King

This whole album took me by surprise and remains one of my standout releases from this year. Brilliant, massive, aggressive death-doom from Copenhagen.

Norma Jean – Spearmint Revolt

For me this band have perfected the marriage between 90s metalcore and sludge. Their new album is savage all the way through, a great outlet after a day of dealing with the general public.

Zombi – Mangler

I remember being immediately drawn in by the sinister opening bassline and understandably the track builds itself around this entrancing foundation. A bit of Wikipedia-ing informs me they’ve previously toured with numerous bands including Isis and Goblin which comes as no surprise as they sonically land somewhere betwixt the two.

Richard – Bass

Cult of Luna – Cold Burn

I went to my first ArcTanGent last month, which pretty much dominated my listening for a while, so I’ll start with an obvious “I Am In A Post Metal Band” pick. Cult of Luna’s headline set was absolutely incredible and deafeningly loud – as per for them. The setlist was heavily weighted towards the last few albums, and it really helped songs off the new one, like this colossal opener, to properly click for me. Mighty stuff.

Leprous – Third Law

Leprous being on the ATG lineup was the final push I needed to actually listen to them for the first time, and although they didn’t play this track, it (and the album it’s from, The Congregation) has really got stuck in my head over the past month. It’s prog metal in its most accessible form, with absolutely soaring vocal melodies. I dare you to listen to this and not sing the chorus at the first person you see afterwards.

Steak Number Eight – Dickhead

My partner and I were the only ones amongst our friends who chose to go and see Stake (the new incarnation of Steak Number Eight) over Mono at ATG, because clearly we are incredibly cool and unique. When they dropped this, the one SN8-era track in their set, I was pleasantly surprised to see everyone go absolutely mental, making me realise that I clearly am not the only person who got really into them when All is Chaos came free with a copy of Metal Hammer in 2011. For a melodic sludge/post metal track with such a stupid title and lyrics, it was actually a surprisingly wholesome crowd singalong moment.

Emma Ruth Rundle – Body

On the completely opposite end of the emotional scale, ERR’s stripped down solo set – with our man Cedric on sound, who drove us and did sound on our tour with Gozer last year – was a haven of blissful melancholy amongst a weekend of big riffs. She played Engine of Hell in full, and although she sometimes battled against the sound from other stages outside, her unique vocal stylings were absolutely captivating.

Ozric Tentacles –  Ayurvedic

Totally unrelated to ATG, I threw myself into the bizarre world of Ozric Tentacles recently and I’m hooked. Mixing the most flagrantly OTT aspects of 70s prog rock into a space/psych rock template and adding in dashes of ambient, dub, reggae and electronica, it’s just as technicolour and bizarre a world as those depicted on the album covers, and I suspect that illegal influences may have been at play.

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!