This Toilet Tuesday (12/30/14)
Greetings, toilet urchins! Our main man Spear is taking care of some business today, so he asked me to once again seat my cheeks upon the gilded bowl. I will do my best to mimic his sweet stench for you. As you’re likely aware, the end of the year typically presents a dearth of new releases, but if you really put some elbow grease into it, you can scrape along the bottom of the rim and find some cling-ons to satisfy your vile, claggy tastes. So pull on those rubber gloves, grab the Scrubbing Bubbles, and get to work with us. [W.]
Abysmal Darkening – Sub Terra (Totalrust) [Blackened Doom]
Listen to “From the Grail”
Abysmal Darkening bring the slow-burning pummel on “From the Grail.” Blending the artistic sensibilities of black metal with the occult leanings and ponderous pace of doom metal, this track from the upcoming Sub Terra offers an intriguing look at how to blend these two disparate subgenres. Things start off a bit uneventful, but by the end of the track, your soul has been seared by a crawling conflagration. I’m definitely interested in hearing the rest of this blasphemous rite. [W.]
Cryostasium – Cryostasium (Satanath/Crucial Blast Records) [Black Metal]
Stream
My interest is always piqued with something involving Crucial Blast Records (NSFW album art in that link), even if it’s just a distribution deal. We’re only given a preview of Cryostasium’s new album, but this intensely noisy and horrifying album is sure to deliver on the whole. Electronics play a primary role here, but a band-like sound can be heard beneath the walls of fuzzy static, along with buried screams and nasty samples. The hypnotic, cycling patterns recall some twisted form of shoegaze, but only if yours eyes haven’t shut in a year and had sand blasted into them while you’re still trying your hardest to gaze. [Stockhausen]
Dawn of a Dark Age – The Six Elements vol. 2: Water (Independent) [Black Metal]
Listen to “The Old Path of Water (Where You Rot Slowly)”
Dawn of a Dark Age also dabble in slower, sinister black metal. “The Old Path of Water (Where You Rot Slowly)” is so saturated with dank fuzziness that even KJM could catch a contact high from it. Don’t be deceived by the slow start and raw production, though. There are some devilishly clever techniques at play, including killer riffs, abyssal bellows, and sweet sax/clarinet licks. This is unique black metal that should not be missed. [W.]
The Temple – As Once Was (Independent) [Doom]
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I’m not typically drawn to doom, and when I am, I prefer it nasty, blackened, heavy, or otherwise be-filthed. In an effort to broaden my doomrizons, I sat through a full run of The Temple’s new EP, the independently released As Once Was that follows a more classic approach to doom. I was not at all disappointed, as there was something supremely catchy woven in the dark and hazy riffing. “All Hope is Gone” has a distinct, well-crafted folk tinge to the meandering vocal lines, and these guys know when to keep things moving to avoid boredom. The production has plenty of mid-range thickness, and the deep snare sound really ties the room together. The physical EP is limited to 300 copies on their Bandcamp, and priced very reasonably. Get your hands on this one. [Stockhausen]
Znafelriff – Ruin (Independent) [Black Metal]
Stream
Independent black metal can be really hit and miss, especially when the band has a name that looks like a Scrabble board after an earthquake. Znafelriff dials in a raw, lo-fi approach without overdoing it, topped off with some nasty, gargly vocals. The opening statement of the album is immediately captivating, and while some of the guitar work is lost in the production, there is still enough frostbite in the riffs to stick in your head. Bands with a similar sonic approach tend to blast the album away with no variation in intensity, but Znafelriff take time for some icy moments of cold, grim space, adding a layer of complexity to this highly enjoyable raw black metal effort.
Artificum Nex – Epitaph for Life (Satanath/Black Plague Records) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Behold the Agony”
Cendra – 666 Bastards (Xtreem Music) [Black Metal]
Listen to “Satánic D-Beat”
Defaced – Forging the Sanctuary (Rising Nemesis Records) [Death Metal]
Listen to “Venomous Eden”
Delusional Parasitosis – Ingurgitating Intestinal Rot (New Standard Elite) [Brutal Death Metal]
Listen to “Gluttonous Consumption of Prenatal Malformation”
Entities – Novalis (Independent) [Djent]
Listen to “Esuna”
Funeris – Funereal Symphonies (Independent) [Funeral Doom]
Listen to “Mournful Procession”
Hellucinate – Destroy (Independent) [Black Metal]
Stream
Mazzey – Reincarnation (Capcomia Studios) [lolbuttz]
Listen to “Fuck the Haters”
My Darkest Fury – Hectic Existence (Satanath Records) [Melodeath]
Listen to “A Road to Nowhere”
Sabbat/Hades Archer – Unus Cantus Bestiae/Melody of the Unknown (Veins Full of Hate) [Black Metal]
Surra – Somos Todos Culpados (Independent) [Hardcore]
Volition – Wreck Among Ruin (Totalrust) [Sludge/Doom]
Listen to “A Wreck Among Ruins”
Witchrist – Vritra (Iron Bonehead) [Death Metal]
Stream
Witchrist/Antediluvian – Witchrist/Antediluvian (Martyrdoom) [Death/Doom]
Listen to “The Burning Reprieve”
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, and VIA)
