RECOMMENDED

Time Lurker – Time Lurker [France, Atmospheric Black] (2017)

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Les acteurs de l’ombre production | 06-02-17

This review takes some projection as this whole album will not be out until June but all of its material is already available as of late 2016. I have some sympathy for bands who put out material late in the year when the years are turning. I am pretty neutral on rereleases on wider distribution. I also have less sympathy for atmospheric black metal bands. Time Lurker pulls at many emotions for me and if it wasn’t for this French band being so enthralling, I probably would have moved on by now. The fact I am still here must mean something.

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Cioran – Bestiale battito divino [Italy, Black / Punk] (2017)

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Caligari Records | 1-13-17

Oh fuck, this is goddamn gross. Already from the support from Caligari Records, I knew that Italian act Cioran would be horrid sounding. Named after the turn of the century Romanian philosopher who espoused pessimism and misery, Cioran has constructed an anthem of decay. With the tags of hardcore punk sitting next to black metal, imaginations run wild as Bestiale battito divino shapes up to be one of the more blistering releases of the year.

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Funeral Chant – Funeral Chant (US, Black / Death) (2017)

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Self Released | 2-3-17

Funeral Chant is already experiencing a small queue of interest from the internet and this can be directly related to the feature from Cvlt Nation. Aside from that however, the interest for Funeral Chant and the growing popularity for this bay area black death act seems to be catching like fire die to other reason. Perhaps this is an example of a quality record that is gaining popularity through its own merit. I am still skeptical.

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Imperceptum – The Eternal Path to Nothingness [Germany, Black / Funeral Doom] (2017)

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Self Released | 2-1-17

I believe that it is in the interest of most metal to capture a theme or feeling. whether simple or complex abstract or concrete, most heavy metal intends to fill the listener with a focus. The second album from German black / doom outfit Imperceptum does an admirable job at wrapping in the various emotions of existential obliteration. While this sounds like a very niche focus, the sound of stars collapsing and ceasing to be apart of the material world seems to be a destination for this particular band.

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Hypnosinosis – Delirium [Chile, Black / Death] (2017)

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Self Released | 1-20-17

I believe it to be this blog’s quest and motivation to find lesser known metal, throughout the year. A large goal and benchmark I have been working towards is finding bands before they have a Metal Archives page or below a certain number of listeners or just online presence. This isn’t some contest to find the most obscure band rather recalibrate my journey through the wretched halls of lesser known heavy metal. Though this search does not turn up gems everyday, if one is patient they will find something truly horrid. Hypnosinosis is one of the winners for January.

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Tome Of The Unreplenished – Cosmoprism [Cyprus, Ritual Ambient / Noise] (2017)

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I, Voidhanger Records | 2-3-17

Back in 2015, Tome Of The Unreplenished sounded different. It isn’t that much of a change but the Cypriot born now British band’s debut was much more geared towards atmospheric black metal that frayed at the edges of concrete. Cosmoprism: The Theurgy – Act I shatters all bonds with the material world and travels towards the celestial nothingness with an EP that attempts to fathom the unknowable and reign in the horror of the indescribable. This, of course, will not be done in 4/4 time or with any sort of musical structure.

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Brainshock – Rehearsal [Norway, Death] (2016)

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Self Released | 12-11-16

Self Released | 12-11-16

Things like this are why I started this blog. I do not do many rehearsals and in fact many rehearsals that are out there are released under the that banner just for the raw credibility as being as far from professional as possible. Brainshock’s Rehearsal is really a practice as you can hear chatter between tracks, uneven audio levels and an air of “let us see how this goes.”Cap this off off with an internet picture of Phillip Channard from Hellraiser II and one has a record that was just put up literally 2 days ago. The reason why rehearsals are still used as an aesthetic is to represent perhaps the raw and baseline potential for a band. If we were going to a projection, Brainshock has the ability to conquer the world.

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East Sherman – Desertification [US, Black / Crust] (2016)

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Self Released | 12-8-16

Self Released | 12-8-16

The intersection between black metal and hardcore punk can be a visceral one. Since the two styles are intertwined at the roots, the exploration of the grey era between punk and metal is a minefield with large craters in the ground with festering water collecting near the bottom. East Sherman is a self proclaimed Vegan Blackened Hardcore outfit out of the Pacific Northwest and Desertification is the band’s loudest debut aside from all those other splits.

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Maltheist – Maltheist [US, Death / Grind] (2016)

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Nailbat Tapes | 11-12-16

Nailbat Tapes | 11-12-16

I am actually getting sort of mad at the West Coast for having such a gnarly scene of disgusting black and death metal. Out of left field comes another act with little information a loud bite. Where are all of these bands coming from? Do they all Maltheist is from Portland Oregon and their 11 track demo has the consistency of gasoline igniting in a glass bottle.

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