White Suns – Totem [US, Noise /Experimental] (2014)

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Flenser Records |3-14-14

Flenser Records |3-14-14

It is important to realize that Totem, the 8th release from New York based White Suns shares little in common with heavy metal. In fact, experimental noise or avant terror is more fitting as this band seems less concerned with playing music that scaring the daylights out of its listeners. I have come to respect and adore the bands that fill the outskirts of hardcore, experimental, and heavy metal. Far off the highway lies an abandoned structure where White Suns plays music — possibly for no one.

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As We Draw – Mirages [France, Sludge / Hardcore]

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Throatruiner Records | 10-4-14

Throatruiner Records | 10-4-14

Before we begin, it is important to note that As We Draw is not like many things on this site. Sure, this French band has elements of atmospheric sludge and could draw their lineage to bands like Neurosis but other than that things get blurry. As We Draw fits into the disputed territories which lie in the middle of metal, hardcore, and heavy experimental music. In these borderlands are things which sort of resemble traditional genres but have long gone feral. Mirages may have been a sweet record at one point but is now rabid and out for blood.

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Hexis – Abalam [Denmark, Black / Hardcore] (2014)

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Halo of Flies } 1-11-14

Halo of Flies | 1-11-14

This is how one meets their demise — through a concentrated burst of terror and deconstruction. Abalam, the full length debut from Danish death squad Hexis, has been out for a few months. In fact, Hexis released Abalam close to the beginning of the year. Since then, the band has released a split with Primitive Man and been spreading dark clouds of pestilence over parts of Europe. I did not want this year to go by without acknowledging a record which has the ability to make fields of crops spoil with disease.

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Fange – Poisse [France, Sludge / Noise] (2014)

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Self Released | 4-14-14

Zugzwang Productions | 4-14-14

Yes. Yes. Yes. This is what I like to hear. Fange is a three piece French act who plays impossibly loud sludge to the point of becoming a noisy act of violence. Sludge has always been very confrontational by design though Fange has decided take the angst and misanthropy which nurtured the style and make it monstrous. What is contained within Poisse are looming spires of hate and misery which rain down on listeners like crumbling hell rain. That is right — hell rain.

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Plebeian Grandstand – Lowgazers [France, Black / Hardcore / Noise] (2014)

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Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Goddamn it, I love Throatruiner. Since finding this French label a few years ago, my appreciation for the bastard offspring between black, hardcore, sludge, and noise has grown exponentially. What I didn’t understand at the time has now transformed into an appreciation for genre-less heavy music and a recognition for the freedom it promotes. Plebeian Grandstand is a testament to the heights and depths a band can reach when throwing off the shackles of expectation. There is only one goal for Lowgazers, and that is pure annihilation.

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Daggers – It’s Not Jazz, It’s Blues [Belgium, Hardcore / Metal] (2014)

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Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

I would like to point out that the album cover for It’s Not Jazz, It’s Blues by Belgium based Daggers ruins a nice black and white aesthetic which I have been trying to maintain. In fact, I dislike this cover immensely. It makes me uneasy, anxious and, quite frankly, ruins my day. I feel this is a great starting point to embrace Daggers.

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