Marissa Straw

music review

1 December 2024

2024.11 November Music Recs

written 2024 Nov 30

Múr

Múr

“Vitrun”

Múr somehow evokes bands Cult of Luna, Gojira, Devin Townsend, Ulcerate, Meshuggah, Opeth, and more. Múr’s self-titled debut album is likely one of the best if not the best debut from a band I have ever heard. Múr is solid, their sound so well put together whilst still combining so many elements of post-metal, with atmospheric undertones. I gladly await to see more of this band and their journey. Many of their songs sound like landscapes, flowing like wind and fog. Múr’s debut released 2024 November 22.

written 2024 Nov 29

Tonnen von Hall

Ein Abdruck vom Messer im Herzen

“Erdmantel”

Tonnen von Hall is technical avant garde math metal, and although I don’t have as much experience listening to this particular kind of music I knew I wanted more the second I heard it. I feel like this is the kind of music people say is a musician’s musician/music and I say, please let me join in on the joy. Tonnen von Hall feels like falling into Oz or Wonderland. Ein Abdruck vom Messer im Herzen is out 2025 January 31.

written 2024 Nov 27

ASkySoBlack

Touch Heaven

“Boy Like a Bruise”

As M./Doomseer from Bandcamp said, “This is the vibe”. Debut LP by ASkySoBlack deserves much love for it is indeed *mood*. With bedroom shoegaze style sound and lyrics, it captures the moment of clarity in chaos during an emotional breakdown (or is it breakthrough). Song “Carousel House” is the most laced with metal influence out of the three songs streaming now. All have post-hardcore melody with hints of mid-2000s. ASkySoBlack’s Touch Heaven out 2025 January 31 via New Reality Zine.

written 2024 Nov 15

Haunted Horses

DWELLER

“Grey Eminence”

Spooky Ponies are back and I’m very excited for it. Haunted Horses released a single off their upcoming album DWELLER. So far the new keeps up with their industo-punk noise and hint of new wave. Never bought a pre-order so fast.

written 2024 Nov 10

Isleptonthemoon

Only the Stars Know of My Misfortune

“I Belong to the Void”

Isleptonthemoon (blackgaze/post-black metal) is so calming, they are like a softer Holy Fawn who are calm and beautiful themselves. With lyrics like: “Hold still/ I’m breaking me down into smaller parts / So you can see all the little ways / I’m heading for an early grave“…”I have been followed by an ever-present void / And now each and every glimpse of light has been destroyed“…”Only the stars will know the pain I feel / I fell apart and blocked my own paths to heal” how can you not love Isleptonthemoon. Only the Stars Know of My Misfortune released 2024 November 08.

written 2024 Nov 08

PLOUGHSHARE

Second Wound

“Thorns Pressed Into His Head”

The kind of music PLOUGHSHARE (black/death/doom) makes feels like a warm embrace (to me)…the won’t-let-up thrumming of each instrument and overlapping melodies is like a waltz rather than a funeral doom (dirge). Bands that make me feel this way in that genre or adjacent are Départe, Plebeian Grandstand, Der Weg einer Freiheit, Ulcerate, Norna, and more. Second Wound released today, 2024 November 08.

written 2024 Nov 06

Envy

Eunoia

“The Night and the Void”

Envy continually makes solid albums, this is their eighth, and they have been around since 1992. I hadn’t listened their newest until yesterday. I was reminded of From Autumn to Ashes—another nostalgia band I guess—which goes to show how influential Envy has been for so many years. I love how texturally beautiful and calm this album is. Eunoia was out 2024 October 11.

written 2024 Nov 06

Lie After Lie

4 Dni

“Dzień 2”

Lie After Lie was my morning listen today and much needed. “Melodic-hardcore-punk” fits well in describing them. There’s more sadness there than anger (which I’m drawn to). I think if you’re a Birds in Row fan you should give Life After Lie a listen. 4 Dni out 2024 November 07 via Arcadian Industry.

written 2024 Nov 03

Augurs of Eden

Reverie in Half-Light

“HOPE”

I’ve been more introspective than even usual lately and this was a really nice find to help out or into that mindset. Augurs of Eden is super playful (and beautiful) grindcore. Love the snippets of interwoven styles of metal. Reverie in Half-Light came out 2024 October 31.
1 March 2024

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

Παραμαινομένη

“Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεὰ παραμαινομένη ἐμοῦ...”

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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