News, Reviews and Interviews
Heavy Metal Around the Globe
Tzompantli – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force
“Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force” is a war cry against the oppressive forces of modernity and a calling forth of ancient warriors and ancient ways.
TRACK STREAM: Februus – Gentrification of the Soul
If you’re an adventurous sort, this album is for you. If you’re not, well you will be by the time you’re done listening, because this album is for you anyway.
EXCLUSIVE TRACK PREMIERE: Miasmic Serum – Infected Seed (Featuring Fiore Stravino from Fulci)
Give this one a listen…it’s got some punch.
Niboowin – giving in (Review + Interview)
I just walk away from listening each time feeling like I’ve grown or changed in some vaguely satisfying way, like I’ve achieved a catharsis I didn’t even really know I needed.
Lust Hag – Lust Hag (Review plus Interview)
TL;DR – Lust Hag by Lust Hag is a dark, swirling, yet well balanced masterpiece of raw black metal tension.
EXCLUSIVE FULL ALBUM STREAM: Done – Rest to Rust EP
The six tracks are more nuanced, more blackened, and meaner than what was found on the already stellar prior releases.
EXCLUSIVE TRACK STREAM: Fractal Generator – Cryogenian
“Convergence” is absolutely visceral and will hold its grip on you for a long time to come.
TRACK PREMIERE: Glyph – Of The Caverns
The evolution happens bit by bit, piece by piece, almost under the radar, and all in service to the ‘stretching of wings, to fly into the sun.’
FEATURE: Malevich – Trembling and Dowsed EP (plus tour news and an interview)
Michiganders please note that they are at the Regal Beagle in Ann Arbor on May 5th. Sell it out.
Best of March 2024
Our very belated round up (my fault, not Andy’s) of our favorite releases in March.
Hecatoncheir – Nightmare Utopia
It has enough maturity and musical understanding to help keep its freshness
Kólga – Black Tides
Just in time for the sunshine and the summer’s warm embrace, we are given an album that will be played a lot during the scorched daze ahead.
Feed Them Death – The Malady (plus an introduction to the first single: Panopticism II)
The album is visceral and difficult to be sure, but also a brilliant Trojan horse for potential.
Protosequence – Bestiary
Band: Protosequence Album: Bestiary Country: Canada Genre: Death Metal Release Date: April 5th, 2024 Label: Lacerated Enemy Records Author: Michael Litteral Let me start by saying this album has been such a pleasure to review. I'm a huge black metal guy...
EXCLUSIVE TRACK STREAM: Hekseblad – The Taste of Ash
Do not sleep on this one. I’m confident I’ll be talking about it again at the end of the year.
Decibel Magazine Tour Coverage – March 14, 2024
My views on this year’s edition of the Decibel Tour, as experienced in Detroit at the Magic Stick.
Best of February 2024
This is coming at you a little late, but enjoy some of our favorites from February 2024.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Icosandria – A Scarlet Lunar Glow Pt. 1
“A Scarlet Lunar Glow” is a powerful statement about to be released on the world.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Mind Prisoner – 3:33
Bleak. Dark. Hopeless. That is the “3:33 EP.”
EXCLUSIVE ALBUM PREMIERE: Wounds – Ruin
The key point here is that the album is excellent, a brutal example of tech death as it should be, chock full of malevolent soul and spiteful menace.
EXCLUSIVE TRACK PREMIERE: Nuclear Tomb – Fatal Visions
Prominent bass, nasty riffs, and an overall belligerence do make Fatal Visions a memorable track.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Wounds – The Archfiend’s Apothecary
It is clear that the band has a clear and brutal vision, that they are gifted composers, and that they are talented musicians.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE: Dødsferd – Restoration of Justice
The video contains some live footage, but also scenes of violence, destruction, and civil unrest in recent years in Greece.
My Bandcamp Friday – February
My February Bandcamp Friday pick-ups.