Charred Hanging Victim – Charred Hanging Victim [US, Raw Black] (2016)

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Self Released | 7-26-16

Self Released | 7-26-16

“Birthed From Sorrow. Life Is Shit.” This is the slogan which appears on Charred Hanging Victim’s Bandcamp page. I made mention of it since it is the only information regarding this band. No Metal Archives page, No Facebook, No Discogs, just these four tracks of unadulterated fury and despair. This stuff may not be for everyone but for those few who enjoy taking off all of the filters in black metal, this could be the perfect thing for the morning.

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Dagger Lust – Aggramica [US, Black / Death] (2016)

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Vrasubatlat | 7-10-16

Vrasubatlat | 7-10-16

Hype! Hype! Hype! Ever since the 2015 release of Uškumgallu, I have been enthralled by the work of Portland based collective Vrasubatlat. To be quick, a guy from Ash Borer is teaming up with other musicians from the area and making dark noise released in demos and full lengths. If one were to recall the Triumvir Foul LP that was priased by myself and others at the end of last year, that could be your starting point to a misery laden universe of hate and turmoil.

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Celestial Grave – Burial Ground Trance [Finland, Black] (2016)

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Iron Bonehead | 7-7-11

Iron Bonehead | 7-7-11

Cool name. Check. Cool album title. Check. Iron Bonehead check. Finland. Check. Demo. Check. Cryptic artwork. Check. Well it looks like we got everything we need ladies and gentleman. Sometimes a release already comes with so much to like about it, it is amazing how much it grows beyond expectations. Celestial Grave already has at least 50 fans just on paper but this Finnish duo’s demo is so impressive that it may have the ability to capture the tortured imaginations of so much more.

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Sanctuaire – Le Sang sur l’Acier [Canada, Black / Ambient] (2016)

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Les Productions Hérétiques | 5-28-16

Les Productions Hérétiques | 5-28-16

I feel that putting Ambient and Atmospheric on top of an album as a description can be akin to pushing it in certain direction that may not be appropriate. Le Sang sur l’Acier is not ambient in the same way as lets say Darkspace but it is not atmospheric in the same way as the thousands of other bands that share that style. There is a small knoll of earth reserved for bands that not only love atmosphere but also rotting vocals, organs, and perhaps some woodsy chants. For all of that, this space of earth is perfect for Sanctuaire.

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Draped Urn – Degenerate [Brazil, Black] (2016)

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Self Released | 5-16-17

Self Released | 5-16-17

Wow. Careful now. Don’t burn yourself on how new this is. Put it down. It is too hot. This release is almost 24 hours old and as of right now it has no other points of contact other than the few bits of information. All we have to go on is that Draped Urn is from Brazil and the sound is fucking ferocious.

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L.O.R.E. – Demo [US, Black] (2016)

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Self Released | 5-8-16

Self Released | 5-8-16

I make jokes about the black metal stock market in that you feel good when you find a band before everyone else does. The joke goes that you can buy low and then sell at a profit. I obviously have a very limited knowledge of stock trading but I feel pretty confident on finding out of the way black metal. I know nothing about L.O.R.E other than their Bandcamp Page and a few tags on Facebook. This is all surprising because their demo which appeared out of nowhere looks like it is designated for greatness.

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Utzalu – Drowning in Sanguine Screams [US, Black] (2016)

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Vrasubatlat | 3-31-16

Vrasubatlat | 3-31-16

This demo is recommended in the hopes that people eventually stumble upon the nest that is Vrasubatlat. Vrasubatlat is the nucleus of “R” and his many connected black, death, punk, and mixed bands including Urzeit, Uškumgallu, Serum Dreg, Triumvir Foul, Dagger Lust, and finally Ash Borer. R and collected company have put out 8 releases since June 2015 ranging from demos, EPs, splits and full lengths all within the category of damn good to amazing. I have reviewed these other bands before and the same is true for each releases — these demos are fantastic on their own and become near unholy when taken as a collective force of destructive violence.

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Eichenwald – Eichenwald [US, Black / Ambient] (2016)

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Self Released | 3 - 27- 16

Self Released | 3 – 27- 16

I have made jokes in the past about black metal’s obsession with nature sounds and landscape arrangements. This sort of joke never gets old as long as bands keep putting in field music into their records. Case in point, Eichenwald’s debut demo/album opens with an honest to goodness, all hands on deck, wind/rainscape that extends into a 12 minute meditation. I feel the desire to lampoon things like this would be so much greater if the artist was more well known as well as if things like Eichenwald’s debut were anything less than exquisite and interesting.

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明日の叙景 – 過誤の鳥 [Japan, Post Black / Hardcore] (2016)

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Post black is difficult to discuss because no one can really agree on what it is. Supposedly an extension on black metal it has come to be an umbrella term for blackgaze, atmospheric black with heavy post rock elements, and just straight up experimental black. If one was to really pin down the style with a few descriptions it would be starting around black metal and then traveling to far off places usually ending up with unconventional themes and imagery. Aside from a few social media pages, there is little about 明日の叙景(Asunojokei)aside from being a hardcore/post-something band from Tokyo. If one was to really pin down the band with a few descriptions it would be energetic with a well of potential.

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Khanus – Rites of Fire [Finland, Death / Avant] (2016)

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Self Released | 2-11-16

Self Released | 2-11-16

I maybe way off base but this is fucking weird. Wait, that is not way off base. This is fucking weird. I hesitate stepping into this because this is so weird that it is bordering on exhilarating and terrifying. Khanus is from Finland and that is about the extent of my own knowledge as all searching on the internet brings people to the Bandcamp page. As of writing this review, there is only a Facebook and Bandcamp associated with the band. Sure this lack of inforamtion is not a stretch in terms of underground metal but by just listening to this short EP, it sounds like the band and has the world to say.

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