Hey there. Notice anything? That’s right, our website finally looks decent! Thanks to the work of Chris we have a new theme for the website. The previous theme we used had a very nasty word wrapping we couldn’t find a way to work around. This one fixes that issue, and has a much nicer font. I’m quite happy with it myself, and I hope you are too.
So, April huh? I’ve always said that April is one of the best months of the year for new releases (along with September), and this April seems to continue that trend. In 2018 we had Hands of Despair and Venus in Fear releasing near-perfect records, in 2019 we had Tanagra and Dead to a Dying World among others as major stand-outs, in 2020 we had my personal album of the year from Hac San, and otherwise some excellent records from Cryptic Ruse, Vampire Squid, and more; and now, in 2021 we have a whopping 8 albums on our albums of the month post. It’s absolutely nuts. And half of them are black metal in one way or another. Like I said in my BS rambling for the March post, when did we become so kvlt? Not to mention 3 of the remaining 4 being tech death. This post makes it seem like we are an extreme metal publication! And we are really not that. Clean vocals prog bands, step up your game!
Anyway, I have no inspiration for some supreme grade BS this time, so sorry if you came to this post for that (apparently there are people that do now so… o_O). I could try to milk myself, but unfortunately I do not have any of the organs, nor the reproductive qualities necessary for that. You’ll have to do with the milk from last time, which has probably become cheese by now (yikes). And there isn’t any cheese in this post either due to an absence of good power metal. Sigh (great band btw). We really did become an extreme metal publication, didn’t we? Well then, I’d say head to your local church and bring your torches, because this is about to get kvlt. Bye.
Cicada the Burrower – Corpseflower (USA)
Style: adult contemporary, black metal, jazz (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Dan
Corpseflower is an ambitiously unique solo effort that filters honest, raw, challenging and painful emotions through a lens of calm and beauty and grace. I’ve never in all my days heard anything quite like it – pained, blackened harsh vocals collide with a gentle layer of looping drums, warm fuzz, and hypnotic clean guitars in a way only someone who has lived these feelings could put to tape. This one cuts deep.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: all of them
Recommended for fans of: Oranssi Pazuzu, Deafheaven, Victory Over The Sun, Holy Fawn, crying
Moral Collapse – Moral Collapse (India/Germany)
Style: tech death (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Callum
Moral Collapse is a transcontinental, mini-supergroup involving Hannes Grossmann of Necrophagist, Alkaloid, Blotted Science, and Obscura fame. On this debut they also feature guest musicians from the likes of Gorguts, and Death. The influences of all of the death metal behemoths above are palpable, resulting in an extremely solid, short but sweet album of good old fashioned tech-death. The addition of non-traditional strings and saxophone add heaps of atmosphere that sets it apart from other recent releases. The stomach-dropping djembe drums on “Suspension of Belief” are something to behold and worth checking out if nothing else.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: Abandoned Rooms of Misspelled Agony, Suspension of Belief, Sculpting the Womb of Misery
Recommended for fans of: Morbid Angel, Gorguts, Necrophagist
Massen – Contraesthetic (Belarus)
Style: progressive black/folk metal (mixed, Belarussian vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Vkontakte | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Sam
It’s been a long time since I’ve been so instantly floored for an album I found for this blog that I was already blown away before I finished sampling the first song. Last time that happened was with Karma Rassa back in 2018 for their astonishingly beautiful atmospheric take on prog metal. This time the honor is to Massen for releasing an incredibly emotionally potent black/folk metal album in Contraesthetic. They do both the black metal aggression and the beautiful violin-driven folky parts extremely well, resulting in some of the most powerful music I’ve heard yet. Some mixing and pacing issues hold the album back from being truly out of this world, but the sheer potency of this band’s music definitely is out of this world. Highly, highly recommended.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: Cold Clouds, By Water to the Sun, Contraesthetics Pt. 1
Recommended for fans of: Arkona, Moonsorrow, Ensiferum, Ne Obliviscaris
Aetheria Conscientia – Corrupted Pillars of Vanity (France)
Style: progressive black metal with saxophone! (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Dan
These guys have come a very long way from their debut album, and have returned with a captivating beast of a follow-up. Corrupted Pillars of Vanity is hugely dynamic progressive / post- black metal with a non-gimmicky and well-integrated saxophone. There are ritualistic bass-driven hypnotic grooves that form the basis for long builds, à la Sunnata, and the occasional stomp and thick, snarly vocals make the payoffs satisfying. The melodies are memorable and lush, from the densest peaks of intensity to the sparsest valleys, all with impeccable flow. It’s a high quality effort with enough unique elements to stand apart from the crowd.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: all of them
Recommended for fans of: Névoa, White Ward, Blut Aus Nord, Oranssi Pazuzu, Katharos XIII, Khonsu, Mare Cognitum, Enslaved
Intonate – Severed Within (Canada)
Style: tech death (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Evan
This album mixes up the dissonant death metal formula by adding in touches of death doom and black metal. Intonate combine the best of intricate tremolo riffing, abuse of dissonant chords, oppressive atmosphere, raw but still clear production, and dynamic songwriting. While the song structures are unpredictable, the atmosphere and aggression is relentless. Ultimately, Severed Within is a fine addition to the wonderful body of its genre, and any of the genre’s fans would be doing themselves a grave disservice in not giving it a spin.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: Within, Yearn, Prolong
Recommended for fans of: Ulcerate, Gorguts, Portal
The Stranger – Kaleidoscope (Australia)
Style: traditional prog metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram
Pick by: Nick
Solid new traditional prog metal bands seem to get less and less common as the years go on. Now that we’re long passed the years of Dream Theater worship and only recently climbing out of the subgenre’s djentrification, we’re seeing increasingly slimmer pickings from a once bustling subsection. It almost feels hopeless. Almost. But then a band like The Stranger comes and just blows you away. Taking inspiration from groups such as Haken, Caligula’s Horse, Dream Theater and the like, they use tight songwriting and genius composition to stand their ground as one of the most promising bands in metal as a whole. Don’t miss this release because they’re just about to break.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: Jester, Siren, Kaleidoscope
Recommended for fans of: Leprous, Caligula’s Horse, Haken, Dream Theater
Stone Healer – Conquistador (France)
Style: progressive black/death metal, math rock (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Dan
This is a lovely and fresh blend of vaguely grunge-inspired twisting, blackened, progressive-as-fuck death metal. The meandering mindfuck of these two brothers’ blackened bits is among the most satisfying journeys this side of Krallice, and when paired with massive dynamics and meaningful clean passages, it really hits home. The songwriting is outstanding, and the excellent production includes some clanky bass and really nice acoustic layers. If you can come around to the heartfelt but raw vocals, you’ll find that Conquistador presents a noteworthy blend of styles, and executes them with enviable aplomb.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: One Whisper, Surrender, Until My Will is Gone, Into the Spoke of Night
Recommended for fans of: The deranged spawn of Opeth, Alice in Chains, Bask, and Krallice
Unflesh – Inhumation (US-NH)
Style: melodic tech death (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page
Pick by: Chris
You can always get a bit wary when a band self-describes themselves with 3 or more subgenres, but Unflesh’s Inhumation is not a disappointment. The cover of this album perfectly represents and foretells the dark and large atmosphere within. The blackened take on some death and tech styles brings a nice flavor to the table without feeling too much like previously made albums. The use of acoustic guitars as layers help build a more unique sound, but the real shining in the album may just be the mood mastery along with the constant tasty drum changes and bass counterpoint to the guitar sections. A great album for those who love a techy band that is unafraid to be melodic.
You can read the original review here.
Recommended tracks: Vast Forest of Impaled Cadavers, Inhumation, Amongst Horrors I Must Dwell
Recommended for fans of: Revocation, Necrophagist, Obscura
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