terraasymmetry Features

SYNCHRONY: Music News, Week in Review & Upcoming (2/07/2020)

SYNCHRONY is a weekly feature focusing on relevant heavy music news, new releases, upcoming releases, as well as a week in review to help folks keep up with all of the content on GrizzlyButts. This’ll also include a list of upcoming releases and some preliminary notes on upcoming reviews or coverage. If I can’t hear it, I won’t cover it! If you have New Releases, show announcements, or important heavy music news that’ll be relevant or interesting to folks contact me at: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

THIS WEEK IN NEWS (2/01/20 – 2/07/20)

  • Ah, what better way to rip into fuckin’ February than the righteous announcement that French death metal legends LOUDBLAST have officially signed on Frédéric Leclercq as their bassist along with former No Return drummer Jerome Point-Canovas on second guitar. Why the full staff? Listenable Records have announced they will release the band’s new album, ‘Manifesto’, in September of this year! They’ve suggested the band are aiming to surprise with an unexpected extension of their ‘Burial Ground’ album from a few years back. The artwork will be done by Eliran Kantor and the album is currently being produced by HK Krauss and guitarist/vocalist Stéphane Buriez as you read this. Follow Loudblast on Facebook to keep up with them: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Creator-Destructor Records have signed San Francisco based blackened heavy metal band NITE for the March 20th release of ‘Darkness Silence Mirror Flame‘. I know you’re thinking you’ve heard a thousand black/heavy metal bands but these guys have alumni from Satan’s Wrath, Dawnbringer, and High Spirits who collectively bring a breathy, snarling Lizzy-esque heavy rock menace to the party. Very catchy stuff in preview so far! Check out the video for the first single, “The Way”, on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

  • Ohio black/death metal band VALDRIN have announced completion of their third album ‘Effigy of Nightmares‘ which’ll be available this Spring by way of Blood Harvest Records. This shorter album finishes the upsidedown saga of Nex Animus, the villain of their own unique cosmic occult mythology, where a description of the torture chamber (a hospital of death) beneath the underworld is revealed in grotesque detail. They’ve suggested that upon wrapping up this part of the main tale things will circle back to the themes of their first album, ‘Beyond the Forest (2014), and focus on the protagonist whom the band’s name refers to. Learn more about the band and watch for an upcoming preview track on Facebook: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

  • Caligari Records have announced they will release psychedelic, psychotic, blackened occult thrashing rock Hell upon ears on March 12th as Chilean eccentric mutant lord SIGN OF EVIL‘s debut EP, ‘Psychodelic Horror‘ is ready to crack its claws through the doors of their cassette crypt! Shit, if there’s anything I learned in 2019 it was to grab their weirdo releases early because they go fast. Shake n’ wriggle your nerve up, and witness “Horror!” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Finnish death/doom metal band SOLOTHUS are finally ready with their third full-length ‘Realm Of Ash And Blood‘, it’ll be their first for 20 Buck Spin and first recording to feature new guitarist Aleksi Luukka. These guys have always had a knack for mid-paced mid-90’s Bolt Thrower high-fantasy rhythms that ooze with doom metal to some degree but this first preview “The Watcher” is a masterful first glimpse of what considerable thought they’ve put into this third record. The vocals are brilliant, absolutely love the depth of his bellows in contrast with distant rasps. Check out “The Watcher” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Bleaaargghhh! Spittin’ and thrashing with a greasy bone-snapping furor, the reckless and dangerous old school death metal of ALTERED DEAD finds home in the cult fathoms of deathgods Memento Mori, who’ve signed the wretched duo on for the CD version of their upcoming second full-length! These guys are really great at putting some uber putrid stink on a groove without sounding like basketball shorts death metal. Check out their grimy fuckin’ debut on Bandcamp and stay tuned to Memento Mori for updates on the new album: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • One of the best death/doom metal acts to break into 2019, PULCHRA MORTE have announced Wolvhammer’s John Porada and Adam Clemans have joined the line-up for their second (thus far untitled) full-length, which is on track to release this year. In the meantime they’ve premiered the first preview from the album, “Knife of the Will”, on a popular metal website. You can grab it direct on Bandcamp as well. Though I think that Godthrymm album is going to be a hit, this one might be the big one for classic melodic death/doom this year. Check out “Knife of the Will” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • South London doom-rockers GREEN LUNG have signed with the venerable Svart Records for their impending plans, not the least of which will include reissues of their discography this far, starting with their 2019 record ‘Woodland Rites‘. Believe it or not many folks missed out on it last year so it’ll be great to revisit the album with fresh ears and fresh mug of mushroom tea. You should be following Svart Records on Facebook, merge with their fantastically Finnish world of weird and expressive beauty: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Temple of Mystery Records have announced they’ve set April 2nd as the release date for the debut full-length from Canadian NWOBHM-rockin’ quartet FREEWAYS debut album, ‘True Bearings‘. Definitely been looking forward to this one since that killer Trapped Under Ice compilation from early last year. From the second “Sorrow (Love in Vain)” you’re going to feel those smooth-rockin’ mid-70’s dreamboat bell-bottomed vibes along with a main riff strictly Slough Feg in its pumps. Very slick, very catchy stuff. Check it out on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Stoked out of my skin to parlay the news that the soulful classic doom and heavy rock of Scottish quartet KING WITCH will once again grace us in the form of ‘Body of Light‘, their second full-length and follow-up to one of my absolute favorite records from 2018, ‘Under the Mountain’. Guitarist/producer Jamie Gilchrist and vocalist Laura Donnelly do incredible work together and this is suddenly my most anticipated record of 2020. ‘Body of Light’ will release through Listenable Records on April 24th. In reference to her cover artwork, Donnelly suggests a theme of “Astral Projection and having the ability to straddle between different worlds.” as integral to the subject matter explored in the record. Follow the band on Facebook and jump into ‘Under the Mountain’ if you haven’t already: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • Werewolf Records have announced the long anticipated debut full-length from THE TRUE WERWOLF entitled ‘Devil Crisis’ will release on February 28th. The True Werwolf is Graf Werwolf, original Horna vocalist and the mastermind of innovative Finnish black metal band Satanic Warmaster. So, there is much to anticipate here both in terms of the artists lineage, the incredible cover art, and the emphatic suggestion that this album will color outside of the lines of expectation. Steel yourself to the screams resultant with a first blast of “Spellbound” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

  • Saturnal Records have announced that no page of the Quran wil be left unburnt by the hand of Finnish black metal band CURSE UPON A PRAYER when their third full-length releases on April 10th. With Christianity all but an old formality decimated in most civilized populations, ‘Infidel‘ turns upon Islam as the next logical target. I liked their last EP so I’m hoping this is largely in that same style. A preview track, “Al-Masih ad-Dajjal”, is available on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

  • Xenokorp have announced vein-busting, carpet staining, splatter patterns will commence flinging this Spring as PUTRID OFFAL return with their latest full-length ‘Sicknesses Obsessions‘ on May 22. It’ll be the first album in five years from these old school deathgrinders, who’ve been around in some form since 1991. Follow Xenokorp on Facebook to keep with with the details: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • For her thirty-third solo album JARBOE haunts our world in examination of impermanence and the illusory self on ‘Illusory‘ which will release on Consouling Sounds on April 17th, featuring album artwork from Dehn Sora. Beautiful symbolism, Buddhist introspection, and Jarboe‘s ever-adaptive avant garde soul await the most daring among mankind. A video for the title track “Illusory” is up over on Billboard and pre-order info can be found on Consouling Sounds‘ website: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
  • NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: Today is the Day, Pestifer, Beast of Revelation, Fotocrime, The True Werwolf, Trauma, Viogression, Pure Wrath, Xpus, Faustian Pact, Sicarius, Deathless Legacy, Lord Buffalo, Aevangelist, Polaris, Pale Mare, Chrome Ghost, Truerwilg, Sign of Evil, Remission, Azure Emote, Dirt Woman, and several more. Look for coverage in the near future. Don’t see your album listed? Send it to me: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

GRIZZLY BUTTS‘ WEEK IN REVIEW (2/01/20 – 2/07/20)

FEATURES:

  • …From the Tomb 2/03/20: “Ouranos falling from above.”
    • This year Ten From the Tomb changes to …From the Tomb and is no longer limited to ten releases. It will post every Monday with a list of at least ten new releases coming out during that current week and a short review will be included for each one. This week features reviews for fifteen new releases.
    • Favorites: Dråpsnatt, Drittmaskin, Seven Planets, and Malignament.

REVIEWS: Big releases this week from The Spirit, Serpent Noir, and Sepultura but the ones I’d recommend most are the split from Atavisma / Void Rot as well as the latest from Karg. Reviews for Karg, Tzun Tzu, and Ensnared will publish today or over the weekend.

UPCOMING SHOWS:  [That I’ll likely attend]

  • TODAY IS THE DAY w/Child Bite February 24th @ Funhouse – Seattle, WA
  • LORD DYING w/Black Label Society, Obituary March 3rd, @ Showbox SODO – Seattle, WA
  • VASTUM March 20th @ The Highline – Seattle, WA

RELEASED/OVERLOOKED THIS WEEK (2/01/20 – 2/07/20)

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NOTE: This small sample includes overlooked releases that are either not yet reviewed or covered but nonetheless recommended. Some of these will still be featured in other coverage. An asterisk (*) indicates that a review is drafted or in preparation. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

UPCOMING RELEASES (2/08/20 – 2/14/20)

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NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list, some titles are already reviewed and/or covered and some have yet to enter the final queue for consideration and processing. An asterisk (*) indicates that a review is drafted or in preparation. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

Did I miss something important this week? Send me an e-mail and tell me about it. It is always worthwhile to speak up for the lesser known stuff. Please remember you can donate to help keep me in front of the computer writing about metal. Thanks.

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