Sparrows – Mark of the Beast: Extinction
It’s as if you had an M4 Sherman tank that could convert into an ‘82 Firebird with the push of a button.
Primitive Man – Immersion
Immersion is still an overwhelming and pummeling experience, but it’s one you might be able to share with an extreme music friend who wants to get into the band but doesn’t know where to start.
Pessimista – Sanidade?
Pessimista works first and foremost from a thematic base of DSBM, though stylistically, I find a lot of raw influences present as well (though not Raw, if you understand the difference).
BLACK BILE – DAMNATION AS LIBERATION
DAMNATION AS LIBERATION is a brilliant rearrangement of established, even tired, tropes into an ambitious and novel style of being dark and heavy.
Jack/Sete Star Sept – Split
This release is a highly recommended (by me…right now) split between two bands showing different takes on the style.
Naglfar – Cerecloth
“If it’s not broken, outfit it with aftermarket parts and just make it perform on a higher level”.
Riot – Rock World
If anything, look at Rockworld as an enjoyable primer for the next Riot V record. Mark Reale (R.I.P.) would be proud.
Dearth – Of Martyrdom And Polluted Faith
There is no beauty here, nor should there be. There is only a righteous simmering rage leaking out of a tightly lidded container.
WAMPIRVS SINISTRVS – Blood Of The Vampyre
This cold vampyric black metal demo is everything a trve black metaller would want from a release.
Rebel Wizard – Magickal Mystical Indifference
The fact that the entire album and all its parts came from the mind of a single individual helps contribute to the cohesive feel of MMI which avoids the pitfalls of riff salad and influence drift that can derail a project like this one when too many contributors have too much say.