New Releases:
October 19th, 2018
Yet again, we stand face to face with another epic weekend in the world of metal. In fact, it seems as though this Autumn has yet to see a weak Friday. Today, we're looking at a more blackened, technical lineup with some outstandingly heavy albums guaranteed to rattle your skeleton.
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Moss Upon the Skull - In Vengeful Reverence
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With the seemingly infinite diversification of death metal in the modern era, one often wonders how newcomers could possibly hope to present fresh ideas without lapsing into a rehash of older ones. But Belgian death metallers Moss Upon the Skull have completely obliterated even the loftiest of expectations with a sound that I can only describe as progressive blackened tech-death on their debut LP In Vengeful Reverence. Citing influence from the likes of Gorguts, Pestilence, and Morbid Angel, Moss Upon the Skull have combined these tones into a style all their own, offering up an unprecedented gem of a debut.
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You can stream or purchase In Vengeful Reverence now via I, Voidhanger's Bandcamp page.
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Gorod - Aethra
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French prog/tech-death group Gorod is one of the genres most consistent acts, putting out release after release of jazzy, hyper-complex material. Their latest record, Aethra, is their first since 2015's A Maze of Recycled Creeds, which struck a tone slightly darker than usual for the band. Now it seems they have taken yet another atmospheric turn into more upbeat, melodic territory, all while retaining their signature sense of mind- blowing technical, progressive style. Gorod can do no wrong.
Aethra is out today via Overpowered Records, and can be streamed in full on Youtube or ordered physically via Overpowered's merch site.
Esoctrilihum - Inhuma
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Another I, Voidhanger release, Esoctrilihum's Inhüma is a follow-up to his second album Pandaemorthium, released just months ago. Composed, performed, and recorded all by one man under the moniker of Asthaghul, Esoctrilihum is a truly prolific project, creating a maddening chaos of atmospheric, apocalyptic black metal complete with dark synthesizers and the added flair of violin. Diving even deeper into his Lovecraftian pit, Asthaghul has conjured yet another nightmarish beast for us to behold with Inhüma, his most holistically arcane record to date.
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Stream or purchase the record now via I, Voidhanger's Bandcamp page.
Negativa - 03
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You've heard of the various black metal scenes in the Pacific Northwest, the UK, and of course Scandinavia, but how about Spain? Valencia's Negativa has proven that Spain is capable of making some kickass black metal that stands right up there with the greats. Their latest album is - you guessed it - the third so far in their discograpy. Their obsession with numbering their material goes so far as to titling every track they've released sequentially with roman numerals, with o3 containing tracks XVII through XXII. It's a relatively straightforward black metal record, but it is nevertheless incredibly solid. The record is available today via Sentient Ruin Laboratories.
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Stream or purchase Negativa's 03 now via Sentient Ruin's Bandcamp.
Internal Bleeding - Corrupting Influence
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New York brutal death metal legends Internal Bleeding are back with their sixth full-length record, released via Unique Leader Records. "Featuring all of the raw, crushing, groove heavy aggression that fans have come to expect from the group, the album also sees the group continuing to push themselves and the sound that they help create in new and unexpected ways." Incorporating elements of slam, deathgrind, and good ol' classic death metal into their sound, Corrupting Influence is yet another great installment in Internal Bleeding's catalog of underground classics.
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Stream or purchase the album now on Unique Leader's Bandcamp page.
Valdur - Goat of Iniquity
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Crafted in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Mammoth Lakes, CA's black metal stalwarts Valdur are back with their sixth full-length record, Goat of Iniquity. Creating an undeniably harsh and frostbitten sonic landscape, replete with dark synthesizers and echoing church bells, Valdur have proven yet again that they have mastered their own brand of demonic underground black metal. As if there were any doubt about the band's own artistic intentions, they describe the record's sound as "filthy and loud and certainly not for trendy ears. If you're a fan of relatively straightforward atmospheric black metal, Valdur is the band for you.
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Goat of Iniquity is out today via Bloody Mountain records, and can be purchased or streamed via the label's Bandcamp.
Satan's Satyrs - The Lucky Ones
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Continuing on the goat theme, we've got the latest LP from Virginia's doom/classic metallers Satan's Satyrs. Hailing from my own hometown of Herndon, Satan's Satyrs presents a unique mix of genres that the band describes as "a punky, sleaze rock groove (perhaps even a whiff of 70s glam) meeting NWOBHM melodic fury, Blue Cheer mass and volume, and Ozzy’s dramatic charisma condensed into a sound all its own." The band has recently added a second guitarist, Nate Towle into the mix, which has "expanded the band's steamrolling capacity tenfold." This LP comes on the heels of their February 2018 split with Virginia neighbors Windhand, who also put out a new record this month.
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Check out The Lucky Ones, and maybe consider purchasing the record via the group's Bandcamp.
Posted October 19th, 2018