Verberis – Vastitas [New Zealand, Black/Death] (2014)

Iron Bonehead | 4-3-14

16 minutes is not a lot of time for introductions. I mean what can this short span of time really communicate about ones’ intentions and plans for the future? With so much new music being released everyday, what can 16 minutes do in the face of hundreds of other demos? New Zealand’s Verberis has chosen to take this brief opportunity to make their sound memorable by hypnotizing their audience and showing them a world where black / death can be slightly psychedelic or at least mind erasing. This isn’t usually how I feel when listening to black / death but I will take it as a sign that things, for a little bit, are going to be from the land of strange.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Yith – Yith [US, Black / Doom] (2014)

Self Released | 3-28-14

Hands down, one of the most eerie covers of the year. Who would have guessed the combination of black and white pencil and white eyed specters could be so unnerving? Yith has spent most of its time releasing demos in sequential order. There is nothing which separates the fourth demo from the previous three aside from the self title. Right now maybe the perfect opportunity to allow Yith to come and darken your heart.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

LVTHN – Adversarialism [Belgium, Black] (2014)

Self Released | 1-1-14

I have decided to start tagging record labels as I feel it is important to support ones which put out consistent material. LVTHN is a darkhorse as their existence was unknown to many before a few days ago when the very well liked Fallen Empire put up their debut demo for stream. If one needed any more reason to pay attention to lesser known releases, the two song demo for LVTHN serves as a reminder in the form of a punch to the face.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Heavydeath – Demo I [Sweden, Death / Doom] (2014)

Caligari Records | 4-5-14

I have already raved about Caligari Records. Not only does this label dedicate their existence to underground black, death, and doom but the quality of material they release is fantastic. Take this demo from the Swedish group Heavydeath, with members from both Necrocurse and Runemagick. If not for Caligari records I would not be aware of this project. Heavydeth comes with much excitement, as every member involved in the process of this record comes from bands with much veneration. Heavydeath’s first of three 2014 demos not only surpasses expectations but shows how much is possible on a cassette series.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Etoile Filante – Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière [France, Black / Ambient] (2014)

Self Released | 3-21-14

I am not going to lie, Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière, the debut EP from French act Etoile Filante is weird. I am going to say this again, em>Traité sur le Monde et la Lumière is weird. It takes 4 minutes into the four song EP to get to any sort of metal instrumentation. Though ambiance and introduction are usually used by metal bands, Etoile Filante concerns itself with sci fi clips and a preoccupation with synthscapes. Though space has been explored in black metal, this is probably the first time I have heard it so cosmic, wondrous, and bright. If one likes Darkspace, it is time to meet their younger and oddly dressed brother.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Ggu:ll – Waan : Hoon [Netherlands, Sludge / Doom] (2014)

Tartarus | 4-4-14

Yep, Here is a time when I do not know whether to be more confused by the album title or the band name. I can take solace in the fact since there is literally zero information about this Dutch sludge doom band, I will never know how to pronounce this band name. Confusion is apart of the charm for Ggu:ll as the band has proven, to a very small audience, they are capable musicians with a near unsearchable band name.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

False Prophet – Second Death [US, Thrash / Death] (1991)

Blood Harvest | 1-14-14

I feel that I sometimes overstate my adoration for the internet and its ability to uncover lost artifacts covered by the winds of time. False Prophet was a death/thrash act from the US who self released one record before being buried in the early 90’s. The Second Death lay untouched until a few years ago when Heaven and Hell records, archivists in forgotten heavy metal, re-released the debut along with the Sign of the Cross demo. Blood Harvest is heading up the vinyl reissue complete with enhanced and over the top artwork. This celebration for False Prophet seems fitting given the caliber of music which was almost entirely forgotten.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Aphonic Threnody / Ennui – Immortal in Death [International / Georgia, Funeral Doom] (2014)

GS Productions | 3-24-14

I mean, why would’t a funeral doom album have a cover with a casket and the lying dead? Seriously. This can’t be the first time this has been thought of. Splits are hard enough to categorize but it makes even more difficult when one band has three countries attached. Ennui is from Georgia, thankfully, while Aphonic Threnody is from the UK, Hungary, and Italy. You guys are going to make the heavy metal Olympics really hard to pick out uniforms.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Plagüe – Unholy Offerings [US, Black / Thrash] (2014)

Self Released | 1-1-14

It is about that time when things completely break down and chaos ensues. Plagüe is a California based black thrash act who has yet to find a label to call home. Unholy Offerings is the band’s first somewhat official release following two demos of near evil. Though this EP probably will not be considered anything past a longer demo, Unholy Offerings has brief glimpses of exceptional madness and potential to fuck shit up without mercy.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Skelethal – Deathmanicvs Revelation [France, Death] (2014)

Iron Bonehead | 3-4-14

Hooray French death! It should be noted that this band has two releases in 2014. One is this EP and the other is a reissue of the band’s 2012 demos packaged together with Swedish death act Inisans. That other release is being handled by Caligari Records while Deathmanicvs Revelation is headed up by our trustworthy friend Iron Bonehead. Enough time spent hopping around lesser known labels will reveal a network of filth, evil, and interconnected madness. By Hook or crook, Skelethal is entering in through your front door.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.