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 Grizzly Butts. 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

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THIS WEEK IN NEWS (2/29/20 – 3/06/20)

• New Zealand avant-technical death metal trio ULCERATE (technically) enter their second decade in accord with the dark tide of the globe beneath their feet. Black sands shift and a pale beige malaise seeps over all waters, crumbling all barriers and calling the innovative trio to ready their sixth full-length, ‘Stare Into Death And Be Still‘, on April 24th through Debemur Morti Productions. They have revealed this announcement alongside a preview track, the title track, already a crown to wear heading into the next couple of months, knowing that they will reclaim it. I’ve found some of their production values were clipped wings on certain records in the past but this sounds incredible, not to mention the Svartidauði-worthy guitar tone. Great enthusiasm for this record on my end. Listen to “Stare Into Death and Be Still” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Tons of great death metal news this week and the most exciting for my own taste is the announcement that Memento Mori/Dawnbreed Records will team up to release Russian death metal band PYRE‘s second full-length ‘Chained to Ossuaries‘ on April 27th with Dawnbreed‘s vinyl version coming at a later date. If you don’t know the band, they play an incredibly authentic ’89 Swedish death metal sound, none of the buzzsaw excess and all of the death/thrash energy of bands like Repugnant, Entrapment, and that style. Their sound has not ‘modernized’ by any means but you can tell they’re channeling more than ‘Left Hand Path’ on this record when firing up the first preview track “Impaler the Redeemer” over on Memento Mori‘s YouTube channel: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Born in the early 90’s and fired up in the 2010’s Spanish death metal band APOSENTO have announced their third album, ‘Conjuring the New Apocalypse‘, will release this May 5th through the true domain for Spanish death Xtreem Music on both CD and 12″ LP. I’m actually looking forward to this one, I liked their previous record and the preview track for this one, “Liber al Vel Vegis” is strong while still retaining their taste for moshable riffs. They are a very straightforward ‘old school’ death metal band so don’t expect anything goofy, just killer chunking death metal. Check out “Liber al Vel Vegis” on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Agonia Records have announced the tenth album from Italian blackened melodic doom band FORGOTTEN TOMB entitled ‘Nihilistic Estrangement‘ will be up for release on May 8th. The band comments: “I chose specific vintage microphones from the 60s/70s for the studio sessions and mostly played on early 80s instruments, as well as using both analog tapes and mixing desk. It was pretty much recorded like an old album from 40 years ago or such.” and they particularly emphasize that the album is a push away from trends and the ‘sound of today’, further from typical over-produced sounds and emphasizing a less digital ‘cleanliness’. If this simply means they are going darker, more gritty, and returning to some of their early sounds then I am very excited for this record, plus the album art is really fantastic. Pre-orders, details, and art are up on Agonia‘s Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Triangulated in the dark, angled downward by candlelight, and presented as hymn to the black arts, arises Lucifer, I envisioned by the font of BYTHOS, a melodious conjoining of members notable for their actions in Horna, Ajattara, and Behexen. Their debut is a sorcery captured and writ upon the scrolls of Terratur Possessions who will share these wailing channels of dread and the will against all when ‘The Womb of Zero‘ births this April 24th. I am already in love with this bands sound and sensibility, beauteous and dark metal. Pray to your ‘Gods’ that you escape the snaking possession of its allure, or, force the venom into your veins with the spine-tingling ease of “When Gold Turns to Lead” on Terratur Possessions‘ SoundCloud: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Is it summer yet? I mean, where are all the big fuckin’ heavy metal records that aren’t just crying into their hands? Well, sit tight until April 3rd when Reaper Metal Productions will release the fourth full-length from Pittsburgh-based true metal band LADY BEAST entitled ‘The Vulture’s Amulet‘. I appreciate a traditional heavy metal band that moves at a pace without any anxious energy, it translates as ‘confidence’ and in this case some intentional melodic development on “The Gift”, the first preview track from the album, which is up on YouTube now. Check ’em out if you’re looking for that Satan’s Hollow, Night Viper kinda vibe: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• German death metal band DISBELIEF have released a music video for the title track from ‘The Ground Collapses’, the band’s eleventh full-length which releases in European territories March 27th, and April 17th in North America. This song in particular channels some mid-90’s Bolt Thrower guitar leads and features as one of the more memorable pieces on the record. I put up a review of it way early if you want to read that, I guess I’d gotten the release date wrong. Check the video for “The Ground Collapses” on Listenable Records‘ YouTube channel: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Unique Leader Records have announced April 24th as the release date for the debut full-length from Texas brutal death metal/deathcore throat-punchers I AM DESTRUCTION entitled ‘Nascency‘. The first preview song from the album “Ruinous Phantasm” is pure crunch metal, chugging and sparking its riffs loud n’ cold. I’m not sure I hear the ‘deathcore’ label so much as brutal death/slam but hey, what the fuck do I know. Check it out on Unique Leader‘sBandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• British epic true metal band DARK FOREST walk from the edge of the forest into the fields, sporting nine new epics that comprise ‘Oak, Ash & Thorn’, the bands fifth full-length since forming in 2002. They will once again partner with Cruz Del Sur Music for the release, setting an April 24th release date. If you’re not familiar with the band they tread the line between proggy epic heavy metal and late 80’s power metal. Check out “The Midnight Folk” over on Cruz Del Sur Music‘s Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Testimony Records have announced they will release the debut album from Swedish death n’ roll band REEK, entitled ‘Death Is Something There Between‘ on April 24th. This band features Rogga Johansson (Paganizer) and Håkan Stuvemark (Wombbath) and appears to aim for a sound kind of along the lines of Furbowl and post-’93 Entombed, still sporting the HM-2 guitar sound but with the mid-90’s death n’ roll jogging parts. Not my thing at all outside of a few bands but the preview track isn’t half bad. Check out “Condemned by the Hands of Pain” on Testimony‘s Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Hey we’re all still waiting for that next Power Trip album but in the meantime Michigan-based death-thrashers PLAGUE YEARS have been cranking out albums with that Rizk touch and plenty of pit-thrashing death riffing energy for a few years now. You might’ve missed ‘Unholy Infestation’ back in 2018 because I think they pulled out of their deal on it, not sure if Seeing Red ever put the CD version of it out? Either way it was great and the follow-up, ‘Circle Of Darkness’ finds the band ready as fuck! It’ll release through Entertainment One (eOne) on May 22nd. Guarantee their mix of Cro-Mags chunking pit stuff and mid-paced death/thrash will get you moving. Check out “Play the Victim” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Iron Bonehead Productions have set May 15th as day of release for the eighth album from German Pagan black metal band HORN, entitled ‘Mohngang‘, on CD and vinyl LP. It doesn’t sound like they’ve stuck with the style of the ‘Retrograd’ EP from a few years ago, instead moving in a more pagan metal direction that is still in character for Horn, a project from musician Nerrath (Cross Vault). A highly anticipated release on my end, his music is always strongly resonant. The first preview track “Satt scheint der Sud der Tat” is anthemic, earthen, and actually ends up being memorable even if you’ve no understanding of German. A video (including properly synchronized live footage!) for the song is available over on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• DOMJORD is a dark electronic solo project from Funeral Mist mainman D. Rostén, a strike into territory completely untouched by the artist ’til now and a well, a delight for folks interested in everything from SPK to video game soundtrack work. No doubt your ears will perk just as your eyebrow did in reading this, and you’re in luck because you can hear the whole thing right now. Vidfare Productions (see: Norma Evangelium Diaboli) aligned with The Ajna Offensive will release Domjord’s debut album ‘SporerOn’ this March 13th, on both CD and LP formats. As I’d stated earlier, this is also out now on NoEvDia‘s Bandcamp. Silence the mind, and maybe wait for your drugs to kick in: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: Ara, The Heavy Eyes, Order of Orias, Fires in the Distance, Glaciation, Thy Dying Light, Luctus, Kariti, Dyfari, Funeralopolis, Across the Swarm, Hohenstein, Subtype Zero, Khora, Dark Forest, Spotlights, Virocracy 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 (2/29/20 – 3/06/20)

FEATURES:

• …From the Tomb 3/02/20: “To reach the shores and bathe.”
  • 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 sixteen new releases.
  • Favorites: Lurker of Chalice, Viogression, Svengahli.
• REQUESTS – Part I (January-February) | 2020
  • A list of requests sent between late December 2019 and the end of February 2020. These came direct from the bands in most every case. I figure no band asks for a review to be hugged and preened over, so I’ve tried to be as brutal as possible while still not being too rough on obvious budget shortages or whatever. Not all requests will end up on this sort of column, some end up as full reviews. I’ll try and do this every 2 months unless pickings are slim or bloated.
  • Favorites: Angel Grinder, Nimbifer, Eyedetic, and Scáth Na Déithe.
• The Top 20 Albums of February | 2020
  • Just in case you missed this list of the twenty best albums from February 2020 which I’d posted on Saturday of last week, effectively burying it on peoples social media feeds… If you couldn’t find anything you liked last month, March is packed with a shitload of everything.
  • Includes: Ensnared, Saturnalia Temple, Today is the Day, Atavisma/Void Rot, Lowrider, Serpent Noir, Exhumation, Raspberry Bulbs, Fluisteraars, Invocation, Summon, Turia, Suum, Godthrymm, Hex A.D., Hallucinator, Drown, Internal Rot, and Sentient Divide.

REVIEWS: Big releases this week from My Dying Bride, Beast of Revelation, Trauma, Ahna, Lurker of Chalice and some anticipated albums from Cardinal’s Folly, Disembowel, and Earth Rot but I’m not on the list for ’em. Friday, Saturday and Sunday I’ll be working on Ruin Lust, Cult of Fire, and Ahna reviews plus a few others I have let fester.

• Afterbirth – Four Dimensional Flesh (2020) | REVIEW
• Beast of Revelation – The Ancient Ritual of Death (2020) | REVIEW
• Trauma – Ominous Black (2020) | REVIEW
• Sutrah – Aletheia (2020) | REVIEW
• The True Werwolf – Devil Crisis (2020) | REVIEW

UPCOMING SHOWS:  [Submit Seattle/Tacoma area shows: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com]

• VASTUM March 20th @ The Highline – Seattle, WA
• TODAY IS THE DAY w/Child Bite March 24th @ Funhouse – Seattle, WA
• ORIGIN w/Defeated Sanity, Wake etc. April 6th @Club Sur – Seattle, WA
• GAYTHEIST w/ Pinko, Post/Boredom April 11th @Substation – Seattle, WA
• TÝR w/ Heidevolk, Trollfest, Metsatöll April 13th @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
• FU MANCHU August 14th @ Neumos – Seattle, WA

RELEASED/OVERLOOKED THIS WEEK (2/29/20 – 3/06/20)

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.

• MY DYING BRIDE – The Ghost of Orion [Nuclear Blast Records]+
• LURKER OF CHALICE – Tellurian Slaked Furnace [Nuclear War Now! Productions]
• TO CONCEAL THE HORNS – Purist [Purity Through Fire]
• BORGNE – Y [Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions]
• BEAST OF REVELATION – The Ancient Ritual of Death [Iron Bonehead Productions]+
• SVENGAHLI – Nightmares of Our Own Design [Self-Released]
• AZURE EMOTE – The Third Perspective [Selfmadegod Records]
• MEDIUM – Medium [Transcending Obscurity Records]
• VISCERA – Obsidian [Unique Leader Records]
• TULUS – Old Old Death [Soulseller Records]
• WOMBBATH – Choirs of the Fallen [Soulseller Records]
• FINNEGANS HELL – Work is a Curse of the Drinking Class [Wild Kingdom]
• SCARAB – Martyrs of the Storm [Vici Solum Productions]
• TRAUMA – Ominous Black [Selfmadegod Records]+
• VIOGRESSION – Expound and Exhort [Hammerheart Records] Reissue
• PURE WRATH – The Forlorn Soldier [Debemur Morti]
• STONUS – Aphasia [Electric Valley Records]
• UNTITLED WITH DRUMS – Hollow [Seeing Red Records]
• AHNA – Crimson Dawn [Caligari Records]*
• MORTUOUS – Among the Lost / Mors Immortalis [Carbonized Records]
• SHOCKPROOF – The Will the Reason and The Wire [Time to Kill Records]
• PSYCHONAUT – Unfold the God Man [Pelagic Records]
• BANISHER – Degrees of Isolation [Selfmadegod]

UPCOMING RELEASES (3/07/20 – 3/13/20)

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.

• PUTRID – Antichrist Above [Godz ov War Productions]*
• AFTERBIRTH – Four Dimensional Flesh [Unique Leader Records]+
• SUTRAH – Aletheia [The Artisan Era]+
• ROTTING KINGDOM – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow [Boris Records/Godz ov War]*
• DEATH THE LEVELLER – II [Cruz Del Sur Music]*
• NECROPHILIAC – No Living Man Is Innocent [Xtreem Music]*
• PESTIFER – Expanding Oblivion [Xenokorp]*
• SMOULDER – Dream Quest Ends [Cruz Del Sur Music]*
• LYCHGATE – Also Sprach Futura [Debemur Morti]*
• NECROGOSTO – Ancestral Bestiality [Nuclear War Now! Productions]
• SIGN OF EVIL – Psychodelic Horror [Caligari Records]*
• FOTOCRIME – South of Heaven [Profound Lore Records]
• THE GUILT – New Knives [Heptown Records]
• NECROSTRIGIS – From Bleak Cavernous Chambers [Nebular Carcoma/Postmortem Apocalypse]
• VERBAL RAZORS – By Thunder and Lightning [Deadlight Records]
• DIRT WOMAN – The Glass Cliff [Grimoire Records]
• HABU – Distant Thunder [Self-Released]
• ORPHAN DONOR – Old Patterns [Self-Released]
• ITUS – Primordial [Self-Released]
• SICARIUS – God of Dead Roots [M-Theory Audio]
• FORMOSA – Danger Zone [Metalville Records]
• LORD BUFFALO – Tohu Wa Bohu [Blues Funeral Recordings]
• ERGODIC – Ergodic [Self-Released]
• Åskväder – Åskväder [The Sign Records]
• ARCHITECTURAL GENOCIDE – Cordyceptic Anthropomorph [Comatose Music]
• ARONIUS – Perspicacity [The Artisan Era]
• DEATHLESS LEGACY – Saturnalia [Scarlet Records]
• THE GONERS – Good Mourning [RidingEasy Records]
• CONQUEST ICON – Empire of the Worm [Godz ov War Productions]
• OATH OF DAMNATION – Fury and Malevolence [Gore House Productions]

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.