Marissa Straw

  • Blood Incantation & Midwife @ The Canal Club, Richmond – November 22nd 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts 2024 November 27.

    © Marissa Straw

    On this crisp November night, Blood Incantation and Midwife took the stage. They are more than halfway through their tour showcasing Blood Incantation’s newest and highly acclaimed album Absolute Elsewhere. Nicklas Malmqvist of Swedish progressive rock band Hällas accompanies Blood Incantation’s set on keyboards.

    © Marissa Straw

    Midwife, self-and-aptly described as “heaven metal,” is American multi-instrumentalist Madeline Johnston. With piercing eyes, quiet vocals, pedals, and guitar Midwife has a calm, haunting presence center stage amongst the dust-moted otherworldly lighting effects.

    © Marissa Straw

    Blood Incantation, accompanied by Malmqvist, started their set in the dark and went through waves of light throughout the night. Their set was beautifully and masterfully played, and included their fourth and newest album in full and ended with Inner Paths (to Outer Space), and then an encore with Obliquity of the Ecliptic after a gong intro played by drummer Isaac Faulk.

    An American death metal band with psychedlic, cosmic inclinations already, album Absolute Elsewhere solidifies this for Blood Incantation with even more drone and progressive sounds. On tour, Blood Incantation are selling a deluxe media album package that includes All Gates Open: In Search of Absolute Elsewhere, a 73-minute documentary set during the summer of 2023 at Hansa Studios where they recorded Absolute Elsewhere. Watch the trailer for All Gates Open here.

    Blood Incantation setlist

    The Stargate [Tablet I]
    The Stargate [Tablet II]
    The Stargate [Tablet III]
    The Message [Tablet I]
    The Message [Tablet II]
    The Message [Tablet III]
    Inner Paths (to Outer Space)
    Obliquity of the Ecliptic

    Midwife setlist

    Colorado
    Vanessa
    2018
    Killdozer
    No Depression in Heaven
    S.W.I.M.

  • IDLES & English Teacher @ Rabbit Rabbit, Asheville – September 14th 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts 2024 September 16.

    British punk rock band IDLES has just come off their fourth break in their year-long Love is the Fing World Tour ’24 tour with a sold-out show at Rabbit Rabbit in Asheville, North Carolina. IDLES has not let up on the energy and heartfelt interactions with the crowd.

    ©Marissa Straw; IDLES @ Rabbit Rabbit, NC, 2024 September 14

    A few memorable between-songs moments throughout the concert were “free Palestine” chants, Joe Talbot’s declared “Fuck the King” national anthem, and a snippet rendition of “All I Want for Christmas is You”.  And in typical IDLES fashion Talbot brought someone up on stage—a teenager who held up a written “PLS SIGN MY BIRTH-DAY DRESS” sign; the teen wore a pink dress with “DRAG IS NOT A CRIME” written on it, to which Talbot responded “…no, drag is not a crime” and gladly signed the dress and gave them a hug.

    ©Marissa Straw; IDLES @ Rabbit Rabbit, NC, 2024 September 14
    ©Marissa Straw; IDLES @ Rabbit Rabbit, NC, 2024 September 14

    Love is the thing
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    (Is the thing, is the thing)
    Love

    English Teacher’s first night of the tour set a great tone for how the rest of the night and surely how the rest of the tour will go. Lily Fontaine stated the band would join the crowd for IDLES’ set and kept up great banter. Fontaine joked how she would like to say that she meant to wear her shirt adorned with two rabbits on it for their night at Rabbit Rabbit, but that she definitely did not do it on purpose. This year English Teacher won the Mercury Prize.

    ©Marissa Straw; English Teacher @ Rabbit Rabbit, NC, 2024 September 14

    IDLES’ world tour began December 1, 2023 in Hong Kong and ends December 7, 2024 in Manchester. Future show locations include a few more in the United States, along with concerts in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, and one in Ireland. Many dates have been sold out but some tickets are available on their website.

    IDLES’ Set List

    IDEA 01 (Tangk, track 1)
    Colossus (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 1)
    Gift Horse (Tangk track 2)
    Mr. Motivator (Ultra Mono, track 3)
    Mother (Brutalism, track 3)
    Car Crash (Crawler, track 4)
    I’m Scum (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 3)
    Jungle (Tangk, track 9)
    The Wheel (Crawler, track 2)
    1049 Gotho (Brutalism, track 6)
    When the Lights Come On (Crawler, track 3)
    War (Ultra Mono, track 1)
    Wizz (Crawler, track 12)
    Gratitude (Tangk, track 10)
    Benzocaine (Brutalism, track 11)
    POP POP POP (Tangk, track 3)
    Television (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 8)
    The Beachland Ballroom (Crawler, track 7)
    Never Fight a Man with a Perm (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 2)
    Dancer (Tangk, track 6)
    Danny Nedelko (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 4)
    Well Done (Brutalism, track 2)
    Rottweiler (Joy as an Act of Resistance, track 12)

  • Omar Apollo & Malcolm Todd @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh – September 11th 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts September 13, 2024.

    Omar Apollo brought his God Said No tour to Red Hat Amphitheater Wednesday night. Apollo’s second studio album has received tall praise from various critics, including those from Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, The New York Times, and more, and the love was shown in Raleigh, North Carolina. Apollo’s music is often mercurial and introspective but with a pop-indie foundation which makes for a full emotional experience when at one of his concerts.

    Malcolm Todd is a strong opener, along with his bandmates Jonah Cochran, Asher Kartman, Luke Tyler Shelton, and Charlie Ziman. In between songs, Todd mentioned he will be turning 21 in a few days while still on tour with Apollo. The energy was definitely high, while the music has such a calm nostalgic and groovy indie sound.

    Both artists’ music has that combination of loss whether that be from heartbreak or nostalgia which pairs so well together on tour. Kevin Abstract and Ravyn Lenae will be joining while they travel the West Coast. Apollo’s upcoming tour dates are shown on his website.

  • Fallujah, Persefone, Vulvodynia, Dawn of Ouroboros, & Detest the Throne @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro – July 6th 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts July 9, 2024.

    For Fallujah‘s 10 year anniversary tour of their sophomore album The Flesh Prevails, they are joined by Persefone, Vulvodynia, Dawn of Ouroboros.

    ©Marissa Straw; Fallujah @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC, 2024 July 06

    On this sweltering second night of the tour it was wonderful to have a great mix of metal bands, from brutal to melodic and back again. Detest the Throne, a deathcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, opened for the night and provided some powerful messages and music.

    Dawn of Ouroboros, the tour opener, is a beautiful melodic-melancholic death metal band California. Vulvodynia is a deathcore band from South Africa and really brought out the brutal metal with extremely high energy.

    Persefone is a melodic progressive death metal band from Andorra, and is in the United States for the first time in six years—they truly are a cannot miss band.

    ©Marissa Straw; Persefone @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC, 2024 July 06

    Fallujah, a progressive death metal band, is based in California. They have been around since 2007, with their first album released in 2011. On stage, they have such positive energy actively keep the crowd engaged.

    Unique Leader Records’ remixed and remastered version of The Flesh Prevails was released on July 5, 2024.

    Fallujah’s North American tour still has several more dates through August 3rd and tickets are on sale.

    ©Marissa Straw; Vulvodynia @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC, 2024 July 06
    ©Marissa Straw; Dawn of Ouroboros @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC, 2024 July 06
    ©Marissa Straw; Detest the Throne @ Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC, 2024 July 06

  • Orville Peck, Durand Jones, & Debbii Dawson @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh– May 30th 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts June 02, 2024.

    The second night of Orville Peck’s Stampede Tour was filled with laughter and dancing on and off the stage at Red Hat Amphitheater. Plus it was fairly nice outside for a North Carolina summer night—not much humidity, enough shade to go around, and everyone comfy in their Western getups.

    ©Marissa Straw; Orville Peck @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC, 30 May 2024

    All three acts for the night and for the first leg of the tour fit a soulful, raw sound with a little country, folk, soul, or indie–or a mix of them all. The acts blended well together and made for a memorable night.

    First out on stage was Debbii Dawson, she stood alone with her guitar while delivering a powerful performance. Her voice is strong and beautiful, while also full of yearning, which pairs well with her dreamy guitar playing. 

    ©Marissa Straw; Debbii Dawson @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC, 30 May 2024

    Middle act Durand Jones, who is performing as a solo act for this tour, played with a full band. He was full of energy and all across the stage with his saxophone and soulful singing.

    ©Marissa Straw; Durand Jones @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC, 30 May 2024

    Crooning cowboy Orville Peck, the headliner, played songs across his collection with his touring band. The first three songs alone were off all three of his LPs–Pony, Bronco, and Stampede: Vol.1. Peck, like Durand Jones, sang and danced across the stage with fellow bandmates. His deep, soulful voice filled the amphitheater to lots of cheers. It is difficult to talk about Orville Peck without mentioning his signature look. His new Stampede-era style look, for tonight, included a black mask plus lots of colorful embroidery that contrasted well with his black ink tattoos; he had an embroidered: cowboy hat, jeans, and vest.

    ©Marissa Straw; Orville Peck @ Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC, 30 May 2024

    Each and every performer had infectious smiles, foot tapping, and swaying, which audience members gladly mimicked.

    For the tour, Orville Peck is of course promoting his new album, Stampede: Vol. 1. Debbii Dawson also has an upcoming EP How To Be Human out on June 28, 2024. Last year, Durand Jones came out with Wait Til I Get Over.

    The Stampede Tour is one not to miss and has several upcoming dates from now through October, featuring several more accompanying performers such as The War and Treaty, Goldie Boutilier, Jaime Wyatt, Nikki Lane, Gold Star, Emily Nenni, and Vincent Neil Emerson.

  • 2024.04 April Music Recs

    written 2024 Apr 25

    Folterkammer

    Weibermacht

    “Die Unterwerfung”

    In the mood to be calmed by operatic black metal. Weibermacht is Folterkammer’s second full length album and came out 19 April 2024.

    written 2024 Apr 22

    Zeal and Ardor

    GREIF

    “to my ilk”

    Listened to Zeal and Ardor’s new song “to my ilk” from bed this morning—heavenly, haunting. It feels a similar calm as Der Weg einer Freiheit‘s “Haven”, Cult Leader’s “To: Achlys”, and Leprous‘ “Observe the Train”. Although different meanings, they all share a desperation or hope that provides soothing sadness.

    written 2024 Apr 18

    Insect Ark

    Raw Blood Singing

    “Youth Body Swayed”

    I somehow missed this single released almost a month ago for upcoming album Raw Blood Singing. Super excited about this and ready for more soothing drone noise. Insect Ark is Dana Schechter (Swans/Angels of Light) and Tim Wyskida (Khanate, Blind Idiot God).

    written 2024 Apr 16

    Owl

    Ghosts of Summer

    “Young End”

    I got to catch half of the last night of Decibel Magazine’s Metal & Beer Fest 2024 while on a trip in Philly. For once I got to be the concertgoer instead of the photographer. I got to thrash around and make friends without saying a word. Owl’s Ghosts of Summer (20 February 2024) makes me feel the way I felt at that fest, thrown and caught up in the pit. Dissonant death/hardcore madness.

    written 2024 Apr 09

    SeeYouSpaceCowboy

    Coup De Gr​á​ce

    “Chewing The Scenery”

    There’s something about SeeYouSpaceCowboy that makes me feel like I’ve been listening to them since I was 12 years old when they hadn’t even become a band until I was about 26. They are ultimate sasscore and are coming out with a new LP on 19 April 2024. All songs on Coup De Gr​á​ce sound so distinct and mix well with my From Autumn to Ashes and Glassjaw moods and listens.

    written 2024 Apr 06

    Frail Body

    Artificial Bouquet

    “Critique Programme”

    Artificial Bouquet came out 29 March 2024 and it’s brutal beauty right to the center of the chest. Hardcore at its finest. I absolutely love Frail Body and it was amazing to photograph and experience them at Saint Vitus Bar with KEN mode and Aeviterne. I hope to see them again. I’m heading back to Brooklyn and Philly soon.

  • Unprocessed @ Brooklyn Made, Brooklyn – April 11th 2024

    originally posted on Concert Addicts April 12, 2024.

    German progressive metal band Unprocessed played Brooklyn Made in Brooklyn, New York with three of their four band members. Manuel Fernandes (vocals, guitar), Christoph Schultz (guitar), and Leon Pfeifer (drums) played to an intimately packed venue.

    Unprocessed is known for their melodic, yet intricate sound and they were able to beautifully convey that during their set. Their set featured many songs off their most recent album …And Everything in Between (2023) and previous album Gold (2022). Interwoven throughout the set were songs from both albums plus singles (and favorites) “Deadrose” and “Haven.”

    Bassist David John Levy is able to make it for the rest of the tour and the full band played the next night at Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia. Canadian metal band Red Handed Denial is touring with Unprocessed. In Brooklyn and Boston, American metal band Aviations opened.

  • Blue Karma “Shadows” Music Video @ Self Titled Media, Wilmington – February 9-10, 2024

    Neo-psychedelic band Blue Karma released their Shadows music video today. Filming happened over two days in Wilmington, North Carolina.

    Jacob Adams (Blue Karma) dedicated the song and music video to his friend and bandmate Zack Bowes. The raw sensitivity and care that Adams brought to the project carried over to the crew and allowed for a shared and heartfelt experience.

    This is the first time I have been a behind-the-scenes (BTS) photographer for a music video. I could not have been on a better crew and would love to work with everyone again.

    Credits for the music video include: Director/Editor: Josh Stevens / Self Titled Media; Cinematographer: Anthony Gabriel; Production Designer: Ashley Weston; Camera Assistant: Sydney Weston; Art: Nat Revell; BTS Photographer: Marissa Straw

  • 2024.03 March Music Recs

    written 2024 mar 30

    Cult Leader

    “Learn to Love It”

    New Cult Leader single “Learn To Love It” is out (yesterday, 29 March 2024). Time for the catharsis to begin again. Seriously, their music has broken open the little bits I didn’t think could. An almost spiritual/meditative experience every time. Cult Leader is brutal and raw cathartic hardcore.

    written 2024 mar 28

    Grimdor

    A Long-Expected Party

    “Goodbye My Dear Bilbo”

    I…A sliver of my childhood lives with me in this music, right now. Grimdor continually puts out heartfelt Tolkien-inspired music. A Long-Expected Party is the newest album and keeps with the dark/deep euphoric synth sound.

    written 2024 mar 22

    A Pregnant Light

    You Know Who

    “Inverted Pyramid”

    Ah, thank you, Bandcamp for this album “send” to my feed. You Know Who (15 March 2024) is a compilation of A Pregnant Light‘s music and it’s the first I’ve heard of his work. This gazecore/crustgaze (whatever fun genre to call this project) is full of emotional and raw tracks that are (a theme of my likes too) some metal equivalent of crusty dark pop that brought my dark mood up the other day and now I’ll keep coming back to it. Please keep making more.

    written 2024 mar 22

    Russian Circles

    Guidance

    “Afrika”

    New [photography] post and music rave/rec all in one, let’s go! I first saw Russian Circles in 2016 and have been listening since 2006. They played in the dark the two times I saw them until this [third] show in November 2022. It is beautiful to see how happy and into the music they are as they’re playing, lights on. Their discography is soft yet dark, harsh yet stunning. I absolutely love going to shows, you can feel the music more, literally reverberating, and with Russian Circles the feeling is the same for me no matter where I listen. Utterly enchanting.

    written 2024 mar 20

    The Sawtooth Grin

    Jabberwocky

    “A Cloud A Cauldron A Colony”

    I didn’t know this was what I needed. “It’s the re-discovery and re-classification of a missing link. One that proved too unwieldy for our younger selves to unearth.“—The Sawtooth Grin excerpt description about their new album, Jabberwocky (15 March 2024). I started listening to The Sawtooth Grin when their first album came out (I was around 11 years old 🐥) and it feels a step beyond nostalgic, they hit the spot in all of their math-grind glory. For me, their lyrics and musical tone line up with what I have been reckoning with as an adult…to face the darkness that was childhood with a new understanding and care for the child that never was/never got to be. Some members of The Sawtooth Grin are/were also in The Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, Palm Ghosts, Cloacal Kiss, and Black Table.

    written 2024 mar 18

    Weston Super Maim

    See You Tomorrow Baby

    “See You Tomorrow Baby”

    It’s a bird, it’s a plane, nah it’s Weston Super Maim. This one is for my wonky metal lovers—they’re compared to Meshuggah and Car Bomb in reviews but I think you also gotta include cult 80s or 90s movie club scenes to get the full picture. See You Tomorrow Baby features tracks with members of Frontierer, Soreption, and Blindfolded and Led to the Woods.

    written 2024 mar 18

    Birds in Row & Coilguns

    You and I in the Gap

    “The Blessing”

    Thanks to this combo EP You and I in the Gap that came out 02 February 2024, I got introduced to noise rock band Coilguns after having heard about Birds in Row. These three tracks made over 7 days are raw yet glossy, and well done. I’ve been listening to it on repeat.

    written 2024 mar 18

    Recent Listens

    Bleak, KOLLAPS\E, Convulsing, Horseboy, Church Chords, Omerod, Sorcerer, Griffon, Grails

    written 2024 mar 16

    Sorcerer

    DEVOTION

    “Devotion”

    This little one [babycat] is judging me for not sharing music for the past little bit. I gave Sorcerer a listen as soon as their new single Devotion came out on 2024 March 08. They are a French hardcore band and they provide some real nice breakdowns that are just nonstop. Check out their small album, Strangers, with Pencey Sloe that mixes Sorcerer’s hardcore sound with Pencey Sloe’s shoegaze that’ll make you want more—reminiscent of Bloodmoon: I, the Converge collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe.

    written 2024 mar 13

    Bleak

    My Body Is Not Where I Belong

    “Vile Blades”

    So, I just heard of this band called Bleak. They came out with an album two days ago called My Body Is Not Where I Belong and they sound like a cross between the Queen of the Damned soundtrack and the band Movements and I love it. It just makes me so happy. Thank you, Bleak for being so relatable that your sad, energetic hardcore music “be stills” my dissociative heart.

    written 2024 mar 08

    Omnerod

    The Amensal Rise

    “Spore”

    Not sure how more people haven’t heard of Omnerod. They’re a prog death metal band with comparisons to Devin Townsend and with hints of bands like Between The Buried and Me, Leprous, and even Incubus circa Fungus Amongus (with Omnerod’s song “Spore” especially). They’re so mood boosting and full of energy. It would be an incredible experience to see them live.

    written 2024 Mar 07

    Cult Leader

    A Patient Man

    “to: Achlys”

    I must be feeling some type of way to be listening to this album by Cult Leader, especially before going to a show. Never fails to make me cry (see album cover). Some of the rawest music I’ve heard, and in progressive hardcore parcel that seems to made for me. I would love to go to one of their shows some day and photograph them.

    written 2024 Mar 01

    Idles

    CRAWLER

    “MTT 420 RR”

    I ordered IDLES‘s CRAWLER only a few days ago along with their hug shirt and it came in on my birthday🥺. My friend and I message their lyrics back and forth to each other. I love them. Their dancing. Their rawness. A gift for every day. They feel like a beautiful cathartic cry.

  • 2024.02 February Music Recs

    written 2024 Feb 29

    Uncle Woe

    Oblivion and Further Disasters

    “Oblivion and Further Disaster” (off Well)

    With a name like Uncle Woe it’s unsurprising they sound like longing and something played at an End of the World Party. Songs off Oblivion and Further Disaster (to be released 08 March 2024) reminds me of falling asleep on the phone past midnight with a childhood crush, drinking on the beach watching the sunrise, and sitting out in the rain too long after everyone has gone in. There’s a quality of feeling detached yet pulled in due to the distortion/echoing. It’s poetic and melancholic post-doom metal and a lovely new find for me.

    written 2024 Feb 28

    Job For A Cowboy

    Moon Healer

    “Into the Crystalline Crypts”

    I’ve known about Job For A Cowboy since I was a baby preteen back in the early 2000s (so, since they started out) but I am/was stubborn because I like to discover music on my own and these guys were recommended to me by someone I met online via AOL chat and I didn’t give them a real listen—I also wasn’t into tech death at the time 😱. They’re back with a new album (23 February 2024), their last one came out 10 years ago, and I really enjoyed it. Drummer Navene Koperweis (Entheos, Fleshwrought; formerly Animals As Leaders, Animosity, Hoods) is on the album and does beautiful work. Moon Healer is cohesive and potentially more melodic than their last albums. As someone who still doesn’t listen to tech death as much as some, I am very pleased.

    written 2024 Feb 27

    Glassjaw

    Worship and Tribute

    “Stuck Pig”

    Another record store find, this time of Glassjaw, a band who I first started listening to around 2001/2002 when I was 11/12 years old. I found out about them shortly after Neurosis (Pain of Mind) and Glassjaw ended up being that other side of hardcore—post-hardcore and sweet, acidic, and not so much punk—they ended up being a repeat Walkman listen (“home is where the heart is” /) “on the bus“. They do purposeful beautiful chaotic music well.

    written 2024 Feb 26

    Weekend Nachos

    Worthless

    “Dubviolence”

    I want to say that I listened to Weekend Nachos when I was a kid but can’t say for sure. I was reminded of them while doing BTS work for a music video a couple weeks ago, and today found their Worthless album when on a whim stop-in to a record store. They’ve got me happy and nostalgic for all the anti-capitalist, queer/ally hardcore bands I listened to as a kid and have been listening to again—it all goes in waves, doesn’t it. I appreciate the brashness, yet thoughtfulness of the lyrics and sludge/hardcore mixed together.

    written 2024 Feb 23

    HIPPOTRAKTOR

    Stasis

    “Silver Tongue”

    HIPPOTRAKTOR released a single 20 February 2024 which is how I first heard about them…only 3 days ago! They remind me a bit of Junius or The Ocean with their prog/post-metal sound; some industrial metal slips in too. The full combination is quite mesmerizing. When I listen to their last album, Meridian, it feels like being called out across the sea, similar to a siren song, and soon pulled in and dealing with turbulence and the journey across.

    written 2024 Feb 21

    Cult of Luna

    Somewhere Along the Highway

    “Finland”

    Somwhere Along the Highway by Cult of Luna is one of my favorite albums and left one of the deepest impressions. I first heard the album when it came out in 2006 and I had just turned 16. Later when I got my license I would drive for hours listening to it, often—along the highway—on my trips to and from the mountains. I’ve always loved the mixture of vulnerability and harshness in music and Cult of Luna solidified that love. They’re also a band who continues to create beautiful music that ages well and makes you want to listen to again and again. Because of my relationship with their music I usually have to prepare for deep emotions when listening, but maybe they evoke that in everyone(?). Whatever the case, their atmospheric sludge, post-metal sound is one I’ll continue to listen to, and have for almost 20 years now.

    written 2024 Feb 20

    HORSEBOY

    HORSEBOY

    “Deep Hunger”

    I like a few bands with “horse” in their name and this is the newest one. HORSEBOY has the energy of Brainiac mixed with some Cobalt and Dillinger Escape Plan. I messaged a friend about this band saying, I really like HORSEBOY, and they responded, excuse me, they’re called centaurs. Anywho, please listen to these amazing noisy post-hardcore centaurs! Also, if you haven’t checked out Brainiac yet, please do. Brainiac have been a huge influence on so many bands—and I’ve loved them since I was a teen.

    written 2024 Feb 20

    Olhava

    Sacrifice

    “I See Myself in Your Eyes”

    Olhava’s new atmospheric/melodic/blackgaze post-metal album was released last month and is soothing af; it’s constant(ly) in flow. I may only be able to compare it to Violet Cold, maybe some Breaths? It’s music I could study with, cocoon in blankets with, and get lost in thought with. So beautiful <3.

    written 2024 Feb 19

    ORUM

    Kosmos

    “Silent Hunt”

    I had been getting into fast, fast, fast music when I happened upon ORUM whose music is slow, slow, slow. And maybe it’s that it was the end of the night because the transition was seamless—although I attribute it more to their atmospheric post-doom sound. They have a great buildup and tension, which is just what I need lately.

    written 2024 Feb 17

    Griffon

    De Republica

    “La Loi de la Nation”

    I do not mean to adore French metal specifically but I seem to not be able to help myself. Here’s looking at you Plebeian Grandstand, Year of No Light, Aodon, and more. Griffon is a band I stumbled upon today, their album “De Republica” came out yesterday, 16 February 2024, and today I listened to it in full, in one sitting, before work. Griffon has some classic black metal sound with occasional overlapping vocals, which I love, fast drums, beautiful guitar/bass breakdowns, which makes the crashing waves of melodic black metal that I cannot get enough of, add in some experimental elements and it’s *chef’s kiss* 👨‍🍳💋

    written 2024 Feb 17

    Ihsahn

    Ihsahn

    “BLOOD TRAILS TO LOVE”

    Ihsahn has a new album out. The sound is proggy black metal over an old film score. Activating memories from childhood watching film noirs and musicals on VHS and listening to metal quietly in my room. What a gorgeous combination.

    written 2024 Feb 16

    Aseitas

    Eden Trough

    “Libertine Captor”

    My first introduction to Aseitas is their new song “Libertine Captor” and I’m all for listening to new first (believer in continual improvement). They’ve got this almost experimental slow hardcore sound, but death metal that is easy to love. With all of their songs there is no “down point” even during the slower more melodic bits. I am definitely awaiting their new album, and as a new listerner I won’t be waiting long.

    written 2024 Feb 15

    Haunted Horses

    The Worst Has Finally Happened

    “Golden Stairs”

    I only happened upon Haunted Horses in 2022 but I could not stop listening and still keep going back and back. Their music reads like a film (am I saying anything right?) filled with chaotic / avant garde noisy goodness. Also, can we please appreciate that their website is named Spooky Ponies. Put out another album soon!

    written 2024 Feb 14

    Ὁπλίτης

    Π​α​ρ​α​μ​α​ι​ν​ο​μ​έ​ν​η

    “Μ​ῆ​ν​ι​ν ἄ​ε​ι​δ​ε​, θ​ε​ὰ π​α​ρ​α​μ​α​ι​ν​ο​μ​έ​ν​η ἐ​μ​ο​ῦ​.​.​.”

    Jazzy, avant garde, chaotic, prog metal made by one dude. Ὁπλίτης (“Hoplites”) is one of my favorite chaotic bands on par, for me, with Plebeian Grandstand or KEN mode.

    written 2024 Feb 08

    Départe

    Failure, Subside

    “Ashes in Bloom”

    Départe‘s album stunned me silent and gave me shivers when I first heard it until all I could say was, holy shit. This album takes you on a beautiful journey, one that for me started on my 29th birthday. There’s a lot of sadness and in beauty in every song. Can’t wait to see what In Throes does (which has overlapping band members with Départe). I am really excited to see new music being made.

    written 2024 Feb 07

    Lord Dying

    Clandestine Transcendence

    “Break in the Clouds (In the Darkness of Our Minds)”

    Every song on Lord Dying‘s Clandestine Transcendence feels inbued from other music, then I looked and saw that most people comment the same thinga bout them. I feel the crashing waves of The Ocean and Neurosis and that permeating heartbreak of Baroness, mixed in with a whole lotta other stuff. Which got me thinking that maybe they’re the kinda band that has this nostalgia and familiarity for a decent amount of their fans and everyone has their own references within. One could say that about most art but this band seems a conduit for it.

    written 2024 Feb 07

    Slimelord

    CHYTRIDIOMYCOSIS RELINQUISHED

    “The Beckoning Bell”

    Slimelord‘s “The Beckoning Bell” = The Fantômas Melvins Big Band 🐔+ but make it black metal – 1/2 experimental noise. I need to check my math on this because I haven’t listened to Millennium Monsterwork 2000 in a sec.

    written 2024 Feb 06

    Cower

    Celestial Devastation

    “Aging Stallions”

    I’ve been obsessed with Cower for a little bit now. Gothic newwave hardcore goodness.

    written 2024 Feb 06

    Chapel of Disease

    Echoes Of Light

    “Shallow Nights”

    I really enjoy how they blend classic metal into their music, and I’m someone who isn’t a huge fan of the more well-known metal bands back in the day.

    written 2024 Feb 02

    Persefone

    Lingua Ignota: Part I

    “Lingua Ignota”

    Cower

    Celestial Devastation

    “Hard-Coded in the Souls of Men”

    Cower‘s Celestial Devastation is released today along with Persefone‘s Lingua Ignota: Part I. Today is a good day.

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