Fyrnask – Fórn [Germany, Black / Avant] (2016)

Ván Records | 5-20-16

Black metal? Yes. Rituals? Yes. Angular structures? Yes. Artsy album cover? Of course. A sensing grip of fear and dread? Hell yes! when finding something like one realizes how well put together all of the elements they enjoy being made into one album.On Bandcamp, this album comes wityh the tag of “Cascadian” which maybe fitting only in the deep sense of nature as Fyrnask has hiked out leagues ahead of where other Cascadian black metal bands have stopped and found that weird shrine with all those bones.

Haunter – Thrinodίa [US, Black / Death / Progressive] (2016)

Self Released | 5-30-16

There are sometimes when an album or even a band can baffle you to the point of taking a while to process. There are sometimes when a band’s sound is so untraceable that it develops a type of charm in its mystery. This is what the Texas based band Haunter is doing. This is what Haunter is doing. While the style of cryptic black/death has been well explored, this Texas based band is riding through the cavernous sound on a rickety progressive rollercoaster. Unlike even other bands who do the same thing, Haunter’s dedication or addiction to lo-fi production and destruction makes this release a treat or complete fucking puzzle for some people.

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

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.

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

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.

Messa – Belfry [Italy, Doom] (2016)

Aural Music | 5-6-16

Doom can be so hot and accessible. Usually my searches through Bandcamp trawl on on the bottom of the ocean floor looking for new black and death albums with the occasional doom thrown in for good measure. Belfry, the debut album from Italian traditional/stoner doom outfit Messa, has come on the wings of no previous material nor no huge press hype yet it has been 6 days and already it is relativity popular and a hit with certain crowds. Why is this? Well, it is my belief that not only is doom with female vocals backing traditional doom enticing to people but Messa does this formula exceedingly well.

L.O.R.E. – Demo [US, Black] (2016)

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.

Isolert – No Hope, No Light...Only Death [Greece, Black] (2016)

Ogmios Underground |5-1-16

Yeah I know, I am not that enthusiastic about the artwork either. It is not the digital painting depicting a hanging corpse in the middle of a grim forest is bad rather it doesn’t really match the precision of the band’s grey logo. I feel comfortable point this out, at the beginning of the review, because my deflated attitude towards the cover is only dwarfed by my enthusiasm for the music contained within. There is always something that you can point out with a record that is pretty damn great.

Vidargängr – A World That Has To Be Opposed [Germany, Black] (2016)

War Anthem Records | 4-29-15

Oh Lord, listen to that sound. If the cover art by fellow German metal musician Alexander Kavtea was not enough indication, A World That Has To Be Opposed is really about that one violent push back against, well, everything. situated in violent brushstrokes, the entire cover plus logo, is painted giving the design a raw and unnerving disposition. Cover art is important ass it is the first impression for most listeners. By this notion, Vidargängr is literally spitting on people who get too close.

Prisoner Of War – Rot [New Zealand, Death] (2016)

Iron Bonehead | 4 – 18 – 16

Paging through new metal releases, there is a certain through process behind what to discard and what to put to the side for furthur investigation. Seeing the tags “New Zealand,” “Death,” and “Iron Bonehead” together made for an interesting proposals which was immediately followed by a fulfillment of all expectations. If the gross cover was not enough indication, New Zealand’s Prisoner of War is going to come to your house and fuck everything up.

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

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.