Entrenched - Demo 2024
Entrenched is killing it with this demo. Two tracks of high-energy crossover, the band skillfully blends thrash and hardcore to appeal to aficionados of both genres. Fucking rage!
Gom Jabbar - Obsidian Black Carrion
I completely missed the limited edition physical release of Obsidian Black Carrion a few weeks ago, but, thankfully, the band recently decided to also release it in digital form. Punishing and abrasive death doom that incorporates industrial and drone elements, this is an absolutely devastating album. Recommended.
Lautrec - Martyrdom Impaled
Thirty minutes of expertly crafted black metal from this one-man project, it’s hard to believe Martyrdom Impaled is just a demo and not a full blown album. If you’re a fan of black metal, you need to check out Lautrec.
Nocturnacul - Crypt of Eternal Echoes
Raw black metal from Indonesia, Crypt of Eternal Echoes is surprisingly harmonious, even incorporating a neoclassical piano selection into one track. That’s not to say Nocturnacul isn’t aggressive and spiteful, just their sound is a bit more complex than many bands in this genre.
Nukekubi - Last Offering
A project “inspired by Japanese culture,” Nukekubi plays dissonant black metal that includes folk instruments like the koto and shakuhachi. It works quite well and makes for an engaging album. Because Nukekubi is a French project, Last Offering may seem like an example of Japonisme, but the fusion of traditional Japanese musical elements and folklore into the band’s music and lyrics is more than just a superficial element or cultural appropriation.
Ov Shadows - Heresiarch
Cold, hypnotic black metal that alternates between melodic and ferocious, Heresiarch is an impressive album. The vocals are a little more raspy and less prominent than I prefer in black metal, but here it compliments Ov Shadows’ sound. Unfortunately, this is the band’s final release, but they’re ending things on a high point. Recommended.
Unheetethiin - In Forgotten Tongues
The debut release from Norwegian atmospheric black metal duo Unheetethiin, In Forgotten Tongues is an enthralling journey through a somber, doomy soundscape. The use of ambient passages throughout the album adds to the haunting aura and intensifies the black metal segments. I can't wait to here more from this project.
七生報國 - デモ 二
Blistering, raw black metal from Japan, 七生報國 (Shichisei Hokoku) is a force to be reckoned with. The five tracks on this demo are relentless and harsh, but still manage to include some melodic undertones, which keeps your attention throughout デモ 二.
