O Bowl of Thy Soul, O Portal ov Püüp, Thy roar is ferocious as a maelstrom. This week, we’ve got a KWEEN slate, lawn care, and academic doom. An algal bloom of species Lolus buttzii clouds much of the waters today, so be careful when you take the plunge, and let us know what we missed in the comments!

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Sargassus – Vitruvian Rays (Inverse Records) [Melodic Blackened Death / Post-Metal]

Sargassus released King of the Sun, the young band’s third EP, in 2023; with Vitruvian Rays, they’re diving into their first full-length with confidence beyond their years. “Spirit of Gravity” is a fitting title for the blast of dissoblack that introduces listeners to the album—the improved production adds an oppressive weight not heard on previous material, making the lush interludes all the more ethereal when they surface. Judging by the available singles, the LP format has allowed Sargassus space to unpack their ideas and influences, streamlining the compositions while retaining an eclectic edge. From the droning melodies of viking metal (“The Lone Idunn Grows in Shade”) to galloping melodeath (“Pahat veräjät”), each track weaves through myriad tempos and emotions without becoming prog metal a Frankenstein’s monster of genres bolted together. What surprises lurk in the remaining tracks? Friday lies across a sea of time, but at least I have some seaweed snacks to tide me over. -Roldy

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Abuser – Purge the Depraved Body: Mutilate to Manifest Purity (Independent) [War Metal / Noise] [WARNING – LOUD!!!]

Antiquus Scriptum – Fábula (Independent) [Black / Ambient]

Ara – Mutterseelenallein und aus eigener Kraft (Into Endless Chaos Records) [Black]

Basement Torture Killings – The Gallery of Monsters – Part 1 (Independent) [Deathgrind]

Binary Creed – Explore the Unknown (Independent) [Prog/Power]

Blind Watchmaker – Shadows over Elysium (Independent) [Heavy Metal]

Bryan Eckermann – The Fall of Heaven (Bonespill Recordings) [Symphonic Blackened Death]

Burial Ground – Sentence Passed (Independent) [Death]

Burning Sun – The Shadows of Darkfang Keep (Independent) [Dungeon Synth]

Byzantine – Harbingers (Metal Blade Records) [Thrash / Groove Metal]

Daggr – Torn Veil of Existence (Independent) [Thrash]

Dark Matter Secret – New Matter (The Artisan Era) [Prog Death]

Deathgoat – Dragged into Realms Below (Xtreem Music) [Death]

Drēor – Hell’s Kitchen (Independent) [Death]

Evadne – The Fragile Light of Fireflies (Meuse Music Records) [Folk]

Fabula Rasa – Tome II: The Beyond (Independent) [Power / Folk Metal]

Fairyland – The Story Remains (Frontiers Records) [Symphonic Power]

Fallujah – Xenotaph (Nuclear Blast Records) [Prog/Tech Death]

Hexvessel – Nocturne (Prophecy Productions) [Psych Folk / Doom]

Insania – The Great Apocalypse (Frontiers Records) [Power]

Itinerum – Resurgence (Independent) [Symphonic Metal]

Karçaz – Estrela Pálida do Silêncio Mórbido (Independent) [Black]

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island (p(doom) Records) [Alt Rock]

Klesha – A Void Beyond All Comprehension (Independent) [Atmo-Sludge]

Leafblower – Burn Cruise (Max Trax Records) [Sludge / Doom]

Lights of Vimana – Neopolis (Dusktone) [Symphonic Death/Doom]

Lipoma – No Cure for the Sick (Gurgling Gore) [Melodic Goregrind]

Memories of a Lost Soul – Songs from the Restless Oblivion (My Kingdom Music) [Prog Death]

Motorjesus – Streets of Fire (Reaper Entertainment) [Stoner Metal / Hard Rock]

Navarkotah – Five Whispers From the Ethereal Forest (Independent) [Black]

Nightbearer – Defiance (Testimony Records) [Melodeath]

Outergods – Dethroned & Devoured (Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings) [Blackened Death]

Professor Emeritus – A Land Long Gone (No Remorse Records) [Doom / Heavy Metal]

Prophets Tomb – Through Pain (WormHoleDeath) [Prog Blackened Death]

Ritual Awakening – Greed (Independent) [Melodeath]

Skyborne Reveries – S/T (Naturmacht Productions) [Atmoblack / Folk Metal]

Supersonic Dragon Wagon – Bitter and Bold (Independent) [Stoner Metal / Hard Rock]

The Archon Rift – The Harrowing Path Between Loathing and Love (Independent) [Prog Tech Death]

The Risen Dread – Death from Above (Time to Kill Records) [Death / Metalcore / Groove Metal]

Unborn Suffer – Da Fukk Is This?? (Fat Ass Records) [Deathgrind]

Under the Ashes – Sacrifices Heaped (Independent) [Deathrash]

Vadok – Diabolical Hymns – Pests & Priests, The Children of Degeneracy (Pulmotshan ob the Vadokan) [Raw/Lo-Fi Black / Dungeon Synth] [WARNING – LOUD!!!]

View from the Soyuz – Ubiquitous (Independent) [Melodeath / Metalcore]

Wizzo – Place of the Chosen Lords (Independent) [Stoner Doom / Hard Rock] [NSFW ART!!!]