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Golden Light

Sacred Colour of the Source of Light
Iron Bonehead (2020)

Black metal has a limited association with light-emitting objects. The genre's name references a void, or space that is absent of light. Most album art features monochromatic night scenes. And lastly, its adherents tend to be pale (that is pre corpse paint application) and vitamin D deficient from an apparent lack of sun exposure. There is a Darkthrone album that … Read more

Kvelertak

Splid
Rise (2020)

There is a party going down in the Norwegian woods. There is a massive bonfire and hundreds of long-haired figures, stumbling around it, charging at each other and howling at the moon. The golden light of the flame reflecting off their leather jackets. Beer slacking their throats in preparation for the next bellow. It seems like a good time, but … Read more

Alien Nosejob

Suddenly Everything Is Twice As Loud
Drunken Sailor (2020)

With a name like Alien Nosejob I was expecting something a little more spacey or out there than what you get on Suddenly Everything Is Twice As Loud. A one man band of sorts, led by Jake Robertson (Ausmuteants, Hierophants, Drug Sweat, and more), Alien Nosejob is melodic and thoughtful, playing a variety of punk-inspired sounds over 13 songs. The … Read more

Dodenbezweerder

Vrees de Toorn van de Wezens Verscholen Achter Majestueuze Vleugels
Iron Bonehead (2020)

You ever get lost while driving in the woods at night? I grew up in Wisconsin and this happened to me often before I got a GPS. It will spook you good if you're not careful. The roads stretch into the night and disappear into the surrounding landscape. The roads become more narrow the longer you drive. Low hanging branches … Read more

Code Orange

Underneath
Roadrunner (2020)

What is it that even makes a good album, good? Good is a slippery concept of course, and your definition is going to be shaped and tinted by your life experience, environment, and even physiology (some people naturally just have more acute hearing than others). Tomes could, and have been written, about what combination of sounds constitutes an "objective," scientific … Read more

Conway the Machine & The Alchemist

LULU
ALC Records / Griselda Records (2020)

A few short months ago, I was sitting in a dark bar with some friends on a late Friday afternoon, and we started chatting up another group of equally-inebriated compatriots. We went through the standard cycle of introductory conversation topics and one guy mentioned that he was from Buffalo. I asked if he listened to Griselda, the exponentially-rising rap trio … Read more

The Claudettes

High Times In The Dark
Forty Below Records (2020)

Usually I get to pick what I review. This (partly) explains why you might sometimes feel I am an overrating bastard. To counter that I accept my portion of homework from our grand commander. When he assigned me to review The Claudettes’ previous album Dance Scandal At The Gymnasium! two years ago I was pleasantly surprised that my homework was … Read more

Postvorta

Porrima
Sludgelord Records/22 Dicembre Records (2020)

With this album the Carmentae have found each other. If you haven’t studied Roman mythology this might mean nothing to you. If you have you will know Postvorta is the goddess of the past and her companion Porrima is the goddess of the future. So now you know. Is this knowledge of any use for you? No, but as a … Read more

Temple of Void

The World that Was
Shadow Kingdom (2020)

Doom-death is not a crowded field, but it is one that can feel difficult to innovate in. There are only so many ways you can bolt doom elements on to death metal at all. A band can slow down the tempo, add more distortion, maybe toss in a few more blues riffs, but after they may find themselves be carving … Read more

Beast of Revelation

The Ancient Ritual of Death
Iron Bonehead (2020)

There is a lot of scholarship devoted to determining which monstrosity in the Book of Revelations is its titular "Beast." Revelation 11:7 introduces us to a creature that rises from the abyss (or the sea… it's somewhat unclear), a mysterious creature, adorned with crowns and proclaiming blasphemy. The second contender emerges from the ground and immediately gets down to business, … Read more

The Eradicator

Peak Eradicator
Say-10 (2019)

Hoo boy! What am I really supposed to say to introduce The Eradicator. The concept is based on a Kids in the Hall sketch, and it definitely draws some inspiration. But it’s also hard to picture the small stature, screeching Bruce McCulloch character being into this style of hardcore. He seems more like an Iron Maiden kind of guy to … Read more

200 Words Or Less

Earth Mother Fucker

I Fuck Therefore I Am
Antigen Records (2019)

Calling your band Earth Mother Fucker is a statement in and of itself, and having the audacity to go for such an aggressive sounding moniker should stand a project in good stead for the coming years. Should. For this wildly named band, the lights of the stage were few and far between and despite existing for just over a decade, … Read more

Butcher

666 Goats Carry My Chariot
Osmose productions (2020)

Bütcher takes you on an epic journey to a parallel universe. A universe that is very similar to ours. A universe where cars are referred to as chariots. A universe where we do not mention horsepower, but talk about goatpower. And Bütcher is here to introduce their new ride! Sorry, was that too corny? I know, I can’t help myself. … Read more

Wrekmeister Harmonies

We Love To Look at the Carnage
Thrill Jockey (2020)

Wrekmeister Harmonies style is one that is hard to pin down and give a definitive name, yet the duo of JR Robinson and Esther Shaw do create music that is beautifully intimate and stark in equal measure. Latter day works are much more stripped back and streamlined, a change from the huge swells of sound that coloured earlier works and … Read more

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