This Toilet Tuesday (11/11/14)
Ahh, November. The weather has cooled, the trees are barren, and the snow falls like angel shit. It’s fucking miserable: the perfect time of year for metal. Whether you try to push through the bleakness with some uplifting power metal or succumb to the graying dark with DSBM, Stockhausen, W., and I have brought you that which you need. Fight it or embrace it; the Void draws ever closer. -Spear
Usnea – Random Cosmic Violence (Relapse) [Doom]
Listen to “Healing Through Death,” “Random Cosmic Violence”
I know a lot of you chumps are excited for this release, and if you’re not, pause your Frozen soundtrack or whatever and listen to this album. Anything with the words “doom” or “sludge” in it automatically puts up a red flag in my brain that says “Stockhausen, bro, you may not like this.” Thankfully, Usnea kicks that flag in the face, grips my face, and pulls me in with the most heavy-handed of approaches. The word “epic” has been ruined by our trendy culture, but Random Cosmic Violence cares not for such trivial associations, and thunders through a positively monolithic album that reclaims the word for right reasons. (Stockhausen)
Hombre Malo – Persistent Murmur of Words of Wrath (Disiplin Media) [Sludge/Doom]
I actually have a little bit of random history with Hombre Malo. I took a trip to Norway this past summer, and I happened to be there for the Oslo Musikkfest (a complicated Norwegian phrase that translates to “Oslo Music Fest”). I also happened to meet up with a guy I met on a metal website that shall not be named (not nearly as sketchy as it sounds), and he took me to the heavier section of the outdoor fest. I found myself watching a really fun, gritty band that was rooted in rock and roll but explored everything from hardcore, sludge, and thrash. That band was Hombre Malo, and I was more than happy to keep up with them once I got home. Persistent Murmur of Words of Wrath rocks, rolls, thrashes, and stomps a messy trail across a vaguely black metal landscape, giving us seven tracks of blistering fun and nasty games. (Stockhausen)
Spires – The Whisperer (Eulogy Media) [Progressive Metal]
I haven’t been listening to much prog metal lately since I’M NOT A FUCKING NERD half the bands that label themselves as “progressive” are either shitty deathcore bands trying to make excuses for their inability to write a coherent song; are guys in their early 40’s shamelessly aping Dream Theater’s sound (minus any of the actual talent/ability to play outside of 4/4); or are Mikael Åkerfeldt retreading musical ground that was covered 40 years ago and calling it innovative. Spires’ second full-length, The Whisperer, might be the album to draw me back in. I’m not going to call it the end-all be-all progressive metal album of 2014, but the organic structure of each of the songs offers a refreshing change from the prog-for-prog’s-sake BS that their contemporaries tend to vomit out. The Whisperer is heavy but mellow; clean and lightly distorted guitars are abundant, creating an atmosphere that is at once beautiful and unsettling, at times echoing the works of Gorguts and early Mastodon without sounding overtly like either. In any case, I highly recommend it. Minimal flushing. (Spear)
Nesseria – Fractures (Throatruiner) [Black/Grind]
Nesseria are a band intimate with the void. They have watched it, studied it, drank of it. They have learned its ways and crafted a monolithic portal as a conduit to the void. This portal, Fractures, is a transformative work of black metal and grind that somehow transcends both. You can always tell when a metal band is from France because there is a deep conviction and emotional weight to the music. There is a pressing sense of hopelessness and sorrow that permeates this entire release. If you want grind that espouses more than just rage and hate, look no further. (W.)
A Pregnant Light – My Game Doesn’t Have a Name (Colloquial Sound) [Purple Metal]
I’ve decided to spend my limited TTT space this week discussing A Pregnant Light because my good buddy and original metal online hetero life-partner Edward is a big fan. APL is typically referred to as Purple Metal because the music incorporates elements of black metal while residing in a distinctly different spectrum. The tremolo riffs and blasts are limited and used to accentuate the poppy hooks and punky barks. If you’re a fan of the void, you might not like this. However, if you want a unique take on the BM formula and don’t mind some lighter sensibilities, check out My Game Doesn’t Have a Name. (W.)
Acid Age – Drone Shark Ethics (Witches Brew) [Thrash]
Listen to “50,000 Robot Archers”
Akyrviron – Dreamscape Requiem (Independent) [Instrumental Symphonic Metal]
Preview
Al-Kamar – Ouroboros Ring (Independent) [Black Metal]
Preview
Anatomy of Habit – Ciphers + Axioms (Relapse Records) [Doom]
Listen to “Radiate and Recede”
Anguish – Mountain (Dark Descent) [Doom]
Listen to “Snowhammer”
Appalachian Winter – The Epochs that Built the Mountains (Nine Gates) [Folk Metal]
Stream
Arroganz – Tod & Teufel (FDA Rekotz) [Death Metal]
Preview
Askrinn – Hjørleifsljóð (Independent) [Pagan Black Metal]
Preview
BanDemoniC – Fires of Redemption (Steel Gallery) [Heavy Metal]
Listen to “The Awakening”
Blind Petition – Law & Order (Breakin’ Records) [Rock]
Listen to “Won’t You”
Blodhemn – H7 (Indie Recordings) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Evig Heder”
Born of Fire – Dead Winter Sun (Pure Steel Records) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Dead Winter Sun”
Cadaveric Spasm/Clit Eastwood – Cadaveric Spasm/Clit Eastwood (split- Horror Pain Gore Death) [Grind]
Listen
Carcass – Surgical Remission/Surplus Steel (Nuclear Blast) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Livestock Marketplace”
Carcharodon/Southern Drinkstruction – Pizza Commando (split- Revalve Records) [..?]
Listen to “Zuppa Romana”
Carnal Agony – Preludes & Nocturnes (Sliptrick Records) [Thrash]
Cryostasium – Stalwart (Symbol of Domination) [Black Metal/Crust]
Stream (Rough Mix)
The Dead – Deathsteps to Oblivion (Transcending Obscurity) [Death/Sludge]
Stream
Deaf Eyes – Deaf Eyes (Argonauta Records) [Instrumental Post-Metal]
Listen to “The Eyes of Regret”
Death Fortress – Among the Ranks of the Unconquerable (Fallen Empire Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “King’s Blood,” “Arrogant Force”
The Deathtrip – Deep Drone Master (Svart Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “A Foot in Each Hell”
Dire Omen – Wresting the Revelation of Futility (Dark Descent) [Blackened Death]
Listen to “Foretold Untethering From Existence”
Dominanz – Noxious (Industrial Silence) [Industrial Black Metal]
Listen to “Salvation”
Downfall of Gaia – Aeon Unveils the Throne of Decay (Metal Blade) [Black Metal]
Stream
Drakum – Torches Will Rise Again (Independent) [Folk Metal]
Listen to “Around the Oak,” “Spirit”
Forsaken World – Fragments (Art Gate Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Our Own Society”
Foreseen – Helsinki Savagery (20 Buck Spin) [Thrash]
Listen to “Market Target”
From the Sunset, Forest and Grief – …Empty, Cold and Forgotten (Naturmacht Productions) [DSBM]
Stream
Godmaker – Godmaker (Aqualamb) [Doom]
Listen to “Megalith”
Grorr – The Unknown Citizens (ViciSolum Productions) [Djent]
Listen to “The Fighter- Pandemonium,” “The Dreamer- Unique”
Hands of Orlac – Figli Del Crepuscolo (Horror Records) [Doom]
Listen to “Last Fatal Drop”
Hangar – The Best of 15 Years, Based on a True Story (Dynamo Brazille) [Prog Metal]
Listen to “Let Me Know Who I Am”
Hellhound – For Whom You Pray (Brutal Infection Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Fantamorgana Agama”
Hollow Earth – Silent Graves (Panic Records) [Hardcore]
Stream
The House of Capricorn – Morning Star Rise (Svart) [Doom]
Stream
Implode – Aeon Clockwork – I of Everything, Chapter 1 (Cramada) [Melodeath]
Listen to “Stress Communion”
Incursed – Beer Bloodbath (Independent) [Folk Metal]
Job For A Cowboy – Sun Eater (Metal Blade) [Progressive Death Metal]
Stream
Kolony – Sledge (Independent) [Melodic Metal]
Listen to “Echoes,” “Sledge That Shit”
Kontrust – Explositive (Napalm Records) [Groove Metal]
Listen to “Just Propaganda”
Krokodil – Nachash (Spinefarm Records) [Progressive Metal]
Listen to “Shatter,” “Reptilia Familiar”
Kynesis – Kali Yuga (physical release- Red Sound Records) [Post-Metal]
Stream
Laugh at the Fakes – Dethrone the Crown (Independent) [Crossover Thrash]
Listen to “Death Awaits”
Lebensnacht – uudelleensyntynyt ikuiseen pimeyteen (Naturmacht Productions) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Blutmeer,” “uudelleensyntynyt ikuiseen pimeyteen”
Los Buscadores del Movimiento Perpetuo – Mil Días de viaje (Independent) [Doom]
Preview
Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds (Nuclear Blast) [Thrash]
Stream
Mortician – Shout for Heavy Metal (Pure Steel Records) [Heavy Metal]
Preview
Mortuary Drape – Spiritual Independence (Iron Tyrant) [Black Metal]
Preview
Mothership – Mothership II (Ripple Music) [Doom]
Listen to “Priestess of the Moon”
Nightingale – Retribution (Inside Out Music) [Melodic Metal]
Listen to “Chasing the Storm Away”, “On Stolen Wings”
Old Man Gloom – The Ape of God (Profound Lore) [Real Funny Jokes Metal] Review
Listen to “The Lash,” “Predators”
Pagan Spirits – Memorias de un pasado olvidado (Nebula Forest) [Black Metal]
Pain of Salvation – Falling Home (Inside Out Music) [Prog Rock/Metal]
Listen to “1979”
Pentacle – The Fifth Moon …Beyond and Back (Vic Records) [Black Metal]
Project 86 – Knives to the Future (Team Black Recordings) [Hard Rock]
Listen to “Pale Rider”
Pyöveli – Still Underground (Witches Brew) [Thrash]
Listen to “Heavy Thrasher”
Red Enemy – Red Enemy (Mediaskare Records) [Flushcore]
Listen to “(mis)leaders”
Saga of Sorrow – War of Wolves (Independent) [lolbuttz]
Listen to “As the Bodies Fall”
Saille – Eldritch (Code666/Aural Records) [Epic Black Metal]
Listen to “Eater of Worlds”
Satanic Warmaster – Fimbulwinter (Werewolf Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Fimbulwinter’s Spell”
Shiran – Warm Winter Day (Independent) [Melodic Metal]
Listen to “The Child”
Silent Planet – The Night God Slept (Solid State Records) [Metalcore]
Listen to “First Mother (Lilith)”
Skálmöld – Með Vættum (Napalm Records) [Viking/Folk Metal]
Preview
Skelator – King of Fear (Swords & Chains) [Power Metal]
Listen to “Necromancer”
Space God Ritual – From Void to Ocean (Independent) [Doom]
Stream
SS – Limp.Gasp.Collapse. (Prosthetic) [Crossover Thrash]
Listen to “Slave to Persuasion”
Stealing Axion – Aeons [Djent]
Listen to “Lost Awakening,” “Exiled”
Steignyr – Tales of a Forgotten Hero (Art Gate Records) [Folk Metal]
Stream (ends 11/14)
Stormvold – Third Bestial Mutilation (Xtreem Music) [Blackened Death]
Listen to “Brilliance of Thunder”
Stubb – Cry of the Ocean (Ripple Music) [Doom]
Listen to “Sail Forever”
Tourniquet – Onward to Freedom (Pathogenic Records) [Power/Heavy Metal]
Listen to “Onward to Freedom”
Uganga – Oppressor (Sapólio Rádio) [Thrash]
Preview
V-Anger – In Shovel We Trust (Independent) [Crossover Thrash]
Listen to “Revenge”
Vorbleed – Book of Genesis (Independent) [Metalcore]
Listen to “Genesis I: Wrath of the Phoenix”
Warhorde – Kiss the Goat (Barbarian Wrath) [Black Thrash]
Stream
Did we forget a new release? Is there a way we could improve this list? Let us know in the comments below!
(Photos VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, VIA, and VIA)
