Artifact of Skulls – III: Luciferian Blasphemy [US, Black / Death] (2016)

There are sometimes when great things just fall into one’s lap. There are other times when it descends from a tree, with the intent of killing, when you are least expecting. Artifact of Skulls is a black/death/war outfit from somewhere deep within the United States that has been on a 2016 tour of wanton destruction and satanic death. III: Lucerferian Blasphemy maybe the band’s first full length but it is just another chapter of basement/garage level black metal which substitutes all aspects of production for the sheer intensity of chaotic devotion.

Death Fortress – Deathless March of the Unyielding [US, Black] (2016)

Fallen Empire Records | 4-4-16

Death Fortress will always have a special place in my heart. I not only discovered them on a cassette mix but through that same compilation, I found the wonderful Fallen Empire. “Master-Deceiver” which was provided on the SVN OKKLT mix was a harrowing introduction to a grinding black metal band from New Jersey. Now more than 3 years later this band continues toiling in the hellish landscapes of the afterworld, intent on bringing this existence to its foreseen close.

Into Coffin – Into a Pyramid of Doom [Germany, Black / Death / Doom] (2016)

Caligari Records | 4-8-16

Look. At. That. Fucking. Cover. There is a certain feeling one gets when they find a style that clicks with their personality. Into a Pyramid of Doom has everything from occultic obsessions to comic book styled horror. I do not know exactly what it is about Lovecratian monsters looming over Ancient Egypt, but I know Into Coffin knows exactly how I feel.

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

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.

Putrid Coffin – Under the Cementery [Chile, Death / Thrash] (2016)

Self Released | 3-15-16

I want you to marvel at that album title because it speaks wonders and volumes. Putrid Coffin is having the time of their lives and everything is fair game. I do not even know how to say “cementery” without laughing. If this is all fun and fucking games to you then, the sound of ripping death thrash which makes a line right across your throat should add to the hilarity.

Ad Baculum – Opening the Abyss [Brazil, Black] (2016)

Hammer of Damnation | 3-15-16

Oh Lord look at that cover. I wonder if Gustave Dore knew his legacy would be enshrined in the work of so many heavy metal album covers. What is on the cover of Ad Baculum’s third cover is a picture of “The Suicides” from Dore’s extensive illustration of Dante’s Divine Comedy. What was meant to be perhaps spiritually horrifying educating wayward Christians to a brighter path has turned into being an ominous cover for a cool as fuck metal band. Its a fair trade off.

Fuath – I [Scotland, Atmospheric Black] (2016)

Fortriu Productions | 2-1-16

Andy Marshall is a busy person. In 2014, his project Saor broke out of the relative thicket of atmospheric black metal and gave a larger audience something to hope for in that style of music. Saor’s Aura was a wonderful record which did not do so much new things int he style rather just do them very well. Fuath is another project from Marshall and seems to be a repository for all of the music which doesn’t fit , thematically, with Saor. From the folk laced atmospheric black metal of Saor we dive into a pile of snow surrounded by ritualistic statues.

Ripper – Experiment Of Existence [Chile, Death / Thrash] (2016)

Unspeakable Axe Records | 3-4-16

All hail the era of new cool death. Finding good bands with cool sounds that also has an unflappable sense of style can be difficult. This goes especially true in the style of death, thrash, and death/ thrash. Death is currently undergoing a renaissance embracing a cavernous sound and occult outlook. Thrash, in general, has been under arrested development for quite sometimes save for a sparse output of innovation. This is certainly a lofty introduction for ripper and I wouldn’t want to infer anything aside from Experiment Of Existence being a wild ride through the catacombs of both styles just with a white knuckle sense of exhilaration.

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

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.

LVTHN – Eradication of Nescience [Belgium, Black] (2016)

Fallen Empire | 6-6-16

“It seems some citizens were so impatient for our new offering that it got leaked. As the leaked version is an unfinished version, we adjudged to release the final version officially at bandcamp as a ‘name your price’ download. This way, everyone is able to attain it there and give us some backing would they wish so. Zazas, Zazas, Nasatanada Zazas! So, it begins…”

It is difficult to keep anything a secret even at this level. What you just heard was the collected gasps of a few but a very excited few. One of those gasps was me as LVTHN represented one of the first Fallen Empire releases for me way back int he days of 2014. At the time their debut demo Adversarialism was a blistering step into clear mid fi black metal with the flirtation with raw lo fidelity but none of the morning after headache. Eradication of Nescience continues this work forged in the 11 minute demo and expanding it to a robust 47.