Myopic / Torrid Husk – Crawling Mountain Apogee (2014)

Grimoire Records | 10-7-14

One of the more interesting records labels I discovered this year has been Baltimore based Grimoire Records. Already, this label has put out an impressive selection of unconventional black and doom metal. I have previously reviewed the Cavern EP, a wonderful album from Torrid Husk, and an EP from Dweller in the Valley, which is already making rounds on other blogs. Once again, Grimoire Records has impressed me, as Crawling Mountain Apogee, a split between Torrid Husk and Myopic, continues to fortify the foundation of a non traditional metal empire.

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.

Wrought Iron – Rejoice and Transcend [US, Black / Death / Grind] (2014)

Grimoire Records | 6-24-14

By any means necessary. Grimoire Records has already shown themselves to be a label who has sympathies for non traditional extreme metal. Though the label sports a number of black, death, and doom bands, the tendency for most of the music they support is to go in different yet interesting directions. Wrought Iron is from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, which isn’t a place known for a legacy in heavy metal. From the brief amount of time I spent there, I have to assume that this western Pennsylvania hub is a gate to nowhere: filled with high hills, overcast clouds, and abandoned factories. Wait. Hold on. This may be perfect.

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.

Dweller in the Valley – Younger Dryas [US, Black / Death / Doom] (2014)

Grimoire Records |5-31-14

There is something positive to be said about an unconventional in heavy metal. Younger Dryas, the first EP from US based black metal act Dweller in the Valley, starts with singing bowls and throat singing and ends with the same thing. What follows between is a highly responsive style of mid fi black metal whose flirtation heavy grooves, slow tempo death, and a hardcore extended family makes the mix entirely unique but nowhere near out of place. In a style marked with dark ruminations and tormented aesthetics, Dweller in the Valley has found something equally as dark but far from the frostbitten conventions of the past.

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.