Reports from the Underground: Halfway Through 2022

Hello Subway readers, Sebastian here.  I bet you’ve all been wondering where all the “Album of the Month” posts have been the past six months or so. I’m sure, I have. 

To give a bit of a news update, over the past year we’ve had 7 old reviewers retire (or take on an indefinite hiatus) as external life has been pretty tough for a lot of them, the same goes for some of us who stayed. This staff shortage led to a bit of a slow period after 2021’s Album of the Year post as you might have noticed our output dwindle a bit as Mathis, Will, Zach, and I did our best to hold down the incoming underground releases that came our way thus far. 

However, there is a bright ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to some of our longtime fans, The Progressive Subway’s application process this year has been one of the largest and most successful in our history, as we have taken in 7 new writers! Such a large influx of talented young reviewers represents not only a pivotal moment in Subway history but is an essential rebirth in who we are. I want to give sincere gratitude to all of the people who applied, and all who made it in. The latter includes Cooper, Doug, Mark, Kiernan, Francesco, Andy (u/notyourlandlord), and Christopher (u/ifthisisausername). In addition, Nick has rejoined the crew and is back at it with his straightforward and outspoken reviews. 

If you are on r/progmetal, then chances are you will already know of two of our new members as they have had success with underground prog metal pursuits of their own. Two years ago, Andy has made a few prog metal tournaments that received significant engagement from the Reddit community, and I believe had the highest viewership out of any non-admin r/progmetal tournament. You probably also know Christopher from his famous “Ten Underrated Prog Artists Who are Awesome and Deserve More Love Here”, twenty-two part series that shares our niche of shining a spotlight on underground prog metal artists. For years, we have been working alongside these independent content creators and a merge of our efforts will be of great value to our fellow connoisseurs of underground prog. Most of these new members have been fans of our blog for a while and mustered up the courage to test their skills. And skills they definitely have! These writers represent the core of our community of prog metal fans and I am downright thrilled to have them on board. You will be seeing their reviews from here on out.

Now, moving on to the content. We’ve gathered up 18 of our favorite underground prog metal albums that have come out this year from the pool of January through June. Like always, I am quite happy with our selection and think we’ve assembled a good variety of genres, though our tastes do tend to lean on extreme prog metal. After this post, you should expect us to get back into our normal rate of monthly “Album of the Month” posts, so please stay tuned for “July 2022 Albums of the Month”. 

Without further ado, I present to you our recap of the first half of 2022!

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Hath – All That Was Promised (US – NJ)
Style: Blackened progressive death metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Slugdge, Abiotic, Sulphur Aeon
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Zach

Let it be known that I love Hath. They make the kind of music I want to write and play for an audience, and as such, I’ll say that I’m slightly biased. They have a billion great riffs per song and the atmosphere to match it up. But as their debut, Of Rot and Ruin, was an immediate banger, this one took a bit longer to germinate. I still don’t think the first half is nearly as good as the second, but it’s grown on me quite considerably since my review. However, a grower is a grower. 

And All That Was Promised was one hell of a grower. Upon repeated listens, there were too many sections that stood out in my mind in each song. Each blackened trem riff hits harder than the last. The chuggy sections are headbang worthy, and the rare clean singing sections are where some of the album’s high points are. Hath have shed away some of their influences in favor of a more refined sound, and I think it’s for the better. Sure, I miss the Opethian structures of Rot, but this album drips with atmosphere and originality. A fair tradeoff, in my opinion.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Decollation, Death Complex, Casting of the Self, All That was Promised
You may also like: Hands of Despair, Warforged, Stargazer

Crown Compass -The Drought (Netherlands)
Style: Progressive Metal, Thrash Metal, Alternative Metal (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Gojira, Textures
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook
Pick by: Mathis

The Drought is anything but dry, in fact, this thrashy death metal album from Crown Compass can wash down gooey fresh baked cookies with ease. A refreshing glass of milk, and I’m not talking skim baby. Give me that freaking whole milk! The musicianship of Crown Compass is astounding from insane vocal range, to guitar solos a plenty, and bass lines as thick as that whole milk I just mentioned. There is plenty here to dig your teeth into! One more thing. Did I mention this band is a supergroup? That’s right, members from Cynic, Textures, Exivious, and Pestilence have joined forces to bless us with The Drought. As you may expect Crown Compass’ proggy death metal thrash sound is a result of the various experiences the band members share. The Drought is quite refreshing, but be warned the lyrics can get dark at times. Each track tells a tragic story.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Ecdysis, Gilbert, Transborder Migration
You may also like: The Offering

Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods (Belgium)
Style: Stoner Metal, Prog Metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Mastodon, Intronaut, Gojira, Baroness
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Sebastian

Cobra the Impaler is a new supergroup made of members from Megadeth, Aborted, Von Detta, Almighty Mighty, and Bear who have come together to craft a debut that is very close to what a person might imagine a Mastodon revival album might sound like. There are very many parallels to albums like The Hunter or Blood Mountain, even outside of the psychedelic cover art. Each song emphasizes strong melodies in both the guitars and main choruses which do well at juxtaposing more extreme elements thrown into the batch, such as their primal gutturals and dissonant blast beats. Cobra the Impaler‘s dual vocals harmonies, aggressive guitar riffs, and overall progressive, technical instrumental performances give Colossal Gods an immediate hook. With continued listening, their thick atmosphere invokes anxiety of natural and supernatural phenomena that lie hidden in the boreal wilderness. 

This album has a straightforward structure of 8 tracks, each about 5 to 6 minutes in length, which is fairly tame for progressive metal. Nonetheless, the band utilizes this to deliver tighter and more focused songwriting. In consequence, memorable material is commensurately spread through the album, allowing it to fly by without inconveniencing the listener with ambient interludes or over-indulgent songwriting. It is the high level of consistency that makes this album most impressive as there are subsequently no weak tracks. And for this reason, this is a band worthy of high praise amongst their scene of knock-off Mastodon bands. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Spirit of Lyssa, Colossal Gods, Blood Eye
You may also like: Vokonis, The Erkonauts, Calyces, Boss Keloid, Mothman and the Thunderbirds

Bríi – Corpos Transparentes (Brazil)
Style: Minimalist Folk/Experimental Atmoblack/Trance (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Fishmans, Kaatayra
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Pick by: Andy

Caio Lemos, mastermind behind Bríi and Kaatayra, claimed “everything is rhythm” upon the release of my 2021 album of the year runner up Inpariquipe. This time around, he expands that idea in a single track of epic proportions. Propelled forward by numerous drum styles–from trance beats to furious black metal blasts to traditional Brazilian percussion–Corpos Transparentes also contains pianos and keyboards to take the place of eclectic guitars and that function in two ways: providing intricate, layered melodies and as a rhythm instrument unto themselves. All of this rhythm ebbs and flows like the wind as interlocking snippets of those melodies and percussive maelstroms change slowly through post-minimalist songwriting gestures. 

The genius of Corpos Transparentes is in its emulation of the natural world. Flowing like the wind or tide, Corpos is also reminiscent of birdsong, bells and fluttering synths placed so expertly in the mix and overall song that Caio seems divinely inspired, his songwriting transcendent to a natural state. A thousand words couldn’t do this album justice, let alone the couple hundred I have to work with here, but Corpos Transparentes is *the* bar that has been set for experimental and progressive music through the first half of 2022 for this reviewer.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Corpos Transparentes lol
You may also like: Heimsrkingla, Wreche, Plague Orphan

Breaths – Though life has turned out nothing like I imagined, it is far better than I could have dreamt (US – VA)
Style: progressive emotional death metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Anathema, Arab Strap, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Rivers of Nihil
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Will

This year seems to have seen the rise of a new motif in the new music I’ve been reviewing: dark music with a hint of optimism. It makes sense that after two years of pandemic, an ongoing climate emergency, and the reheating of a cold war that writers of heavy music want to try and find a glimmer of light in the darkness.

Breaths is a band that does this beautifully with this emotional roller-coaster of an album. Jason Roberts, the band’s sole member, explores the trauma of losing multiple family members; sonically sifting through childhood memories, exploring old wounds and the empty spaces left by departed loved ones. And that exploration is absolutely beautiful.

Howling vocals expressing outrage and grief at the cards life deals us and crushingly heavy guitars give way to keyboard driven sonic landscapes and dreamy, faraway vocals. But ever-present, even in the darkest corners of this album, is a sense of hope. Hope that the pain will pass, and a sense of resolve to continue living despite the challenges that life throws our way.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: The Elders, The Patriarch, The Wayward
You may also like: Infant Island, Still, LLNN, Devil Sold His Soul, Rolo Tomassi

Lamentari – Clavis Aurea (Denmark)
Style: Death Metal, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal (Harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Emperor
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Christopher

The Danish masters of symphonic blackened death metal delivered their second EP earlier this year, and it’s a rapturous, cinematic triumph. From the moment the pensive horns and urgent strings cut in on the opening of “Deisis” you know you’re in for a wild ride. It might be only four tracks long, but Clavis Aurea is impeccably crafted: the riffs gallop at breakneck speed, the solos will give you sympathy blisters, the machine-gun fire drumming will have you ducking for cover, and the growls sound like some foul beast from beneath the Earth’s mantle.

However, it’s the symphonic side that really sets Lamentari apart. They record with a real orchestra and choir and it makes such a remarkable difference; they surpass even Wilderun in the symphonic stakes. The resulting music is what you’d get if Antonín Dvořák had grown up listening to Emperor. Clavis Aurea sees them giving the symphony and choir more responsibility, both in augmenting the thundering metal, and in giving the tracks more dynamic range with pianissimo solo symphony sections. A lot of metal bands are described as having an ‘epic’ or ‘apocalyptic’ sound, but Lamentari are one of the few who truly earn such plaudits; it’s the soundtrack to the world falling apart and it’s bloody wonderful.

Recommended tracks: Synodus Horrenda, Sede Vacante
You may also like: Xanthochroid, Aquilus, Exanimis

earth7 – Shine (US-PA)
Style: Progressive Metal, Djent, Jazz Fusion (instrumental)
Recommended for fans of: Plini, Intervals, The Helix Nebula, StarSystems
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Doug

“Instrudjental” band earth7 have grown considerably from humble beginnings as a solo artist in a small home studio. This latest EP is their best work yet, and boasts excellent guest performances by Richard Henshall (Haken) and Stephen Taranto (The Helix Nebula and numerous guest appearances). Although they don’t quite break away from the bog-standard style of their genre, earth7 do present a rich sound that’s enjoyable to listen to and sufficiently distinct from their peers that it doesn’t feel like listening to the same djent album for the 100th time in a row. Shine showcases excellent writing and musicianship, and although it’s only a short EP, it provides a fun, well-crafted, self-contained listening experience. Having already established themselves as a strong up-and-coming band with their prior LP, with Shine earth7 show even more consistency, individuality, and ability to create instrumental music that I’m excited to listen to.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Paper Tiger, Glass Cannon, Colors
You may also like: Asymmetric Universe, Deeply Woven, No Ostriches

Nimrod – As Above So Below (Lebanon)
Style: Electronic, Progressive Metal, Djent, Deathcore (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Shokran, Born of Osiris, Rings of Saturn
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Francesco

An eccentric introduction to this album sets the time period as some 4000 years ago in ancient Egypt and might be able to convince you that this will be a symphonic or folk metal album but when the next track truly kicks into gear you’re immediately made aware that this is absolutely not the case. With heavy electronic influence and even Arabian folk elements prominent in the arrangements the Lebanese djent outfit Nimrod is able to very uniquely colour their sound and prevent it from ever becoming drab. Start-stop riffs and heavy palm-muting are abound, and the lead guitar work provided by none other than shred-guitar virtuoso Michael Angelo Batio soars overtop at blistering speeds while the machine-gun double-kick catches every note. If you’ve ever longed forlornly for a djent equivalent to Nile, your search is over. With As Above So Below, Nimrod earns their passage into The Field of Reeds.

Recommended tracks: Amun Ra (The Invisible Oneness), Seth (The Usurper)
You may also like: Riverwood, The HAARP Machine

Charlie Griffiths – Tiktaalika (United Kingdom)
Style: Progressive Metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Haken, Between the Buried and Me, Pagan’s Mind, Devin Townsend Project, Dream Theater
Related links:  Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Zach

Most of you know me as the tech-death/prog-death guy around here, but every now and then, I like to go back to my roots and listen to some good old-fashioned regular prog. And none is doing it better this year than Charlie Griffiths. The Haken guitarist has put together such a staggering array of prog that it nearly makes my head spin. The riffs are heavier than being dragged down to the earth by a pool of tar, and the vocal performances are setting this record on course for an AOTY nomination. 

This album rejects chaotic unpredictability, and instead, opts for an ever-evolving song structure. Like the fish that crawled out of the water, each song winds, ebbs and flows before reaching some kind of incredible climax. Take the first four songs being a buildup to the downright jaw dropping SOTY contender ‘In Alluvium’. Sure, the song is great on its own, but the callbacks to all the previous tracks make it so much sweeter. If prehistoric prog is what you seek, look no further! 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Luminous Beings, In Alluvium, Digging Deeper, Crawl Walk Run 
You may also like: Novena, Lucid Awakening

Human by Nature – Eläimys (Finland)
Style: Progressive Metal, Alternative Metal (Clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Sikth
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook
Pick by: Mathis

While on a fishing trip far from home you stumble upon Human by Nature deep in the woods. You are scared at first when you hear the alluring, mysterious sounds flowing from the bark like nymphs signing hymns. Turns out Human by Nature are just playing Eläimys, their stellar debut album. Listening to Eläimys gives you the shivers. Shivers from the eerie lingering soundscapes, shivers from the pleasant acoustic melodies, shivers from the sudden jolting vocals. Are Human by Nature really human? Or detritus that have become animated. They scare you, but you can’t turn away, can’t stop listening. You have to keep listening. You need to listen.

Now, they have you.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: You Decompose, Root, The Practice
You may also like: A Kew’s Tag, Gargoyl

Wilderun – Epigone (US – MA)
Style: Symphonic Metal, Melodeath, Folk Metal (mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Persefone, Devin Townsend
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Sebastian

Since I’ve been writing for TheProgressiveSubway™, this is the first time that my album of the year choice aligns with my underground album of the year. As much as I love Papangu (2021) and Novena (2020), a couple of mainstream prog metal album releases beat them out by a smidgen. 

For those who have not yet heard of Wilderun, they are known for taking the formula established by Opeth in the 90s and 2000s, and adapting it with large-scale, epic symphonic arrangements. The band has the same outlook on creating valleys of contrasting elements with high-gain electric guitar riffs, blast beats, and low gutturals on one side, and diverse clean vocals, acoustic guitars, airy synths, and lush stringed instruments on the other. 

For those familiar with Wilderun but are not convinced that Epigone stands up to their previous efforts, allow me to give a case here. The band has always experimented with sharp aesthetic dynamics, but in Epigone, their deeper mix and mastering give them the medium to experiment with even greater ranges of sound. And this is exactly what they do, perhaps to a fault. Here, they utilize harsher dissonant sections which contrast with their cinematic orchestrations and airy acoustics. Wilderun are still innovating, changing up their sound, and have garnered bundles of critical acclaim in consequence. Because of their growth, they now borderline on what is considered underground so I would expect this to be the last year Wilderun will be featured here.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Identifier, Passenger, Woolgatherer, Exhaler
You may also like: Lör, Iomair, Aquilus, Xanthochroid

OU – One (China)
Style: prog metal (clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Haken, VOLA,  Voyager
Related links: Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Andy

What happens when you take a group of various Chinese jazz musicians and tell them to write a prog metal album? You get OU, whose take on prog metal is revitalizingly fresh. Imagining the wackiness of early Haken crossed with the heavy synths of VOLA and the poppy core of Voyager starts getting the mind into a place mentally ready for One, OU’s debut, yet even then it frequently changes that formula. Tracks like “Ghost” and “Euphoria” play into the more atmospheric, shoegaze-y side of things while others like impossibly catchy “Travel” require pitch-shifted vocals not too dissimilar from hyperpop. If you think you’ve heard everything standard prog metal can do throughout the djentrification of the last decade, think again. OU bring a breath of fresh air.

Recommended tracks: Travel, Euphoria, Prejudice 
You may also like: An Isolated Mind, Lalu

Epitaphe – II (France)
Style: Progressive Black Metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Opeth, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Toundra
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Will

Epitaphe are inches close to cracking the secret formula for whatever the underground progressive music equivalent of the Elixir of Life is: Their second album draws clear influences from Opeth as well as some of the black metal progenitors such as Venom, Bathory, and Celtic Frost, but manages to create something completely new from it through what can only be assumed to be some unholy alchemy involving elements of post-rock and synth-driven ambience.

The result is a dense multi-layered album that reflects the band’s Romantic aesthetic: it stands in awe of the world around us, and begs us to do the same.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Recommended to listen to the whole thing in one sitting.
You may also like: Hands of Despair, The Fall of Every Season, Izthmi, Fen

Soulsplitter – Connection (Germany)
Style: Progressive Metal (Mixed vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Haken, The Contortionist, David Maxim Micic
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Christopher

After the raw potential delivered in their 2019 debut Salutogenesis, Soulsplitter’s stunning sophomore sees the German five-piece clarify their sound as a massive, melodious, and atmospheric work of stunning progressive proficiency with an impressive conceptual vision. Connection is a sublime work that narrativises an existential journey, beginning at disconnection from the self, delving into the core of what it means to live, and ending in self-actualisation.

It’s all shored up by some incredible musicianship; the rhythm section work with the precision of a watchmaker, and the lead guitar work of Simon Kramer and the frankly astonishing piano playing of Lewin Krumpschmid jointly deliver a collection of jaw-dropping musical moments. It’s a superlative work on every metric and everyone should give Connection a listen because these guys are going to go far.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Disconnected, Thrive, Reconnected
You may also like: Umpfel, Effuse, Mental Fracture, Soledad

Aethereus – Leiden (US – WA)
Style: Technical death metal (99% harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Inferi, Virvum, Archspire, Vale of Pnath, Artificial Brain’s spooky arpeggios
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Zach

Aethereus is possibly one of the coolest things to happen to tech death since Archspire. They bridge the gap between big, technical riffs and dissonant, spooky arpeggios in a seamless fashion. And, as such, has a wholly original sound that’s really hard to come by. Combine that with bass wizardry and downright bestial drumming, and you had one of the freshest debuts to come out of The Artisan Era-Era of tech death. And somehow, that got even better with Leiden. 

See, by honing those ideas into what is essentially one giant, ever-evolving song, Aethereus crafted a masterpiece. Starting out melodic and ending up crushingly dissonant, with each reprise of main riffs and ideas getting farther and farther away from “pretty” by the end few songs. It’s an incredible idea executed extremely, extremely well, with more than enough originality in a genre where everything seems to be blending together. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Aberration, Shrouded In Kaleidoscopic Skin, The Living Abyss, Behold, The World Eaters, Upon Infinite Seas
You may also like: Virulent Depravity, Arkaik, Deviant Process

The Dali Thundering Concept – All Mighty Men (France)
Style: Progressive Deathcore, Progressive Metalcore (Harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Erra, Northlane, Novelists FR, Monuments
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook
Pick by: Mathis

The Dali Thundering Concept has been around since 2014, but I really didn’t care for them at all until the release of All Mighty Men. Every chance I gave them was squandered by generic lackluster djent. I want to make it clear how little I cared for this band, to show how miraculous it is that I loved All Mighty Men. 

This album takes the best parts of deathcore and blends them with the best parts of nu-metal. At its core All Mighty Men is a djenty progressive deathcore album, but not as heavy and basic as most. Hints of nu-metal shine through the dense fog of crushing riffs. Dance beats, drum tracks, spoken word, and rap liven up the mix. As a listener, you have a decent idea of what will come next, but still find yourself pleasantly surprised from time to time. It’s a darn good album that shows massive growth for The Dali Thundering Concept; I expect to keep this album in my rotation of -core music for years to come!

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Long Live Man, Serenading SIlence, The Sea Starts Here
You may also like: Krosis, Kadinja

Mental Fracture – Disaccord (Israel)
Style: Prog Rock, Prog Metal (clean vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Camel, Haken, Leprous
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Sebastian

Out of all of the albums this year that journey the borderlands of prog rock and prog metal, this debut album by Mental Fracture might be the best. Yes, this includes albums from Pattern-Seeking Animals, Soledad, Lalu, Lacrimae, and I’m just going to say it, even Porcupine Tree’s comeback album. Speaking of which, Disaccord is influenced quite a bit by Porcupine Tree. You can hear it in their songwriting style utilizing complex song structures, catchy vocal melodies, precise guitar riffs, groovy basslines, and atmospheric, Pink Floyd-esque synth chords in the backdrop. 

However, the synths do not only take on the mellow attributes of Floyd, in Disaccord they are one of the most utilized and dynamic instruments in an album of masterclass instrumental performances. They range from sappy and subtle, to loud and aggressive. Sometimes they take on contemplative pianos, and other times, pedal-distorted and deep-fried synth tones. My favorite instance of the latter is during their instrumental title track. It’s not something that I have heard much of before but the closest comparison I can make is to Camel‘s Mirage. Though the synth work in this is what stands out the most, what makes Disaccord succeed is its excellent display of instrumental harmony and all of the individual performances are great across the board. For fans of traditional prog metal, prog rock with prog metal influences, or fans of great melodies and progressive music in general, this should be on top of the 2022 listening queue.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Goodbye Forever, Inception of Fear, Disaccord
You may also like: Pattern-Seeking Animals, Moon Machine, The Cyberiam, Soulsplitter, Altesia

Heaving Earth – Darkness of God (Czechia)
Style: Tech Death, Prog Death, Dissonant Death Metal (harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Ad Nauseam, Gorod, Gorguts, Ulcerate
Related links: Bandcamp | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Andy

Ad Nauseam gained some serious notoriety across the metalsphere with last year’s release of Imperative Imperceptible Impulse, due in large part to their production by my reckoning. While the dissonant death metal core of III had other bands’ marks across it, the spacious production which allowed every single clacking bass note and drum hit to come across as clearly and impenetrably as if I were sitting in the studio while the band were playing. That seems like a long intro to purely talk about another band, but I promise it’s for good reason: Andrea P. of Ad Nauseam did the production on Heaving Earth’s newest work, Darkness of God, and it shines. The band really sounds like Ad Nauseam here in the best way imaginable because of the production, but the style is more in line with Ulcerate by way of Gorod’s techy grooviness than last year’s dissonant superstar. 

The album is hardly one note, though, the songs bouncing around across various tech styles. Tracks like “Forever Deceiving Dismal Gods” (which I would bet money was written first) lean much harder into the standard tech death tropes of noodly guitar, million mile per hour blast beats, and frequently changed riffs than a track like opener “Violent Gospels (Ordination of the Holy Trinity)” with an almost Nile level heaviness in the bite of the vocals and drums melded with Ulcerate’s sickening dissonance. Beyond quite literally sounding like Ad Nauseam because of the production, Heaving Earth excellently maneuvers showing their influences without replicating them

Recommended tracks: Violent Gospels (Ordination of the Holy Trinity), Apologetics (Of Failure and Fall), Cardinal Sin 
You may also like: Artificial Brain, Replicant