terraasymmetry Features

SYNCHRONY: Music News, Week in Review & Upcoming Releases (7/24/20)

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

THIS WEEK IN NEWS (7/18/20 – 7/24/20)

  • Listenable Records have announced French black/death metal band BLISS OF FLESH will return for a fourth album entitled ‘Tyrant‘ this October having just revealed the cover art. The art itself is meant to invoke medieval illustration with some modern twist, the band adds that the greater theme of the album is also reflected as “voluntary servitude”, the ways that we knowingly serve as peons within society that stomps on our backs and only grows fatter. Of course I’ve inserted my own color on that statement, but you get the idea. As for the music, the band are fairly accessible for my own taste but if you’re a fan of Rotting Christ or Arkhon Infaustus they are within that range. The full news and artwork are up on Listenable’s Facebook: [MORE INFO]
  • If you’re like me and you’ve been chewing your arm off waiting for a new Diskord album for what, almost a decade now? They’re working on it. In the meantime two thirds of the band have been at work on their other band DEFECT DESIGNER, something a bit more accessible and melodic but still technical and off-kilter. They’ve got two albums out and one in the works for the future. Their latest EP ‘Neanderthal‘ will release through Transcending Obscurity Records soon. Not really my thing but anything Diskord related deserves a bump. They’ve not given a date, artwork, etc. yet but a quarantine video with the song “Wrinkles” is up online for now: [MORE INFO]
  • Of all the curious things to hit my inbox, a Croatian post-metal/sludge group, ASHERAAH and a link to a music video full of interpretive dance and plenty of hellish agony, bones, embers, all a bit sparse and yet professional. No vocals, late 90’s Neurosis vibes, and I guess something to click over and check out for ~10 minutes. They’ve got an EP slated for later this year but no details were given. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the heavy use of mirrored effects, feels like an old industrial music video but, writhing in Hell. Check out the video for “Charon” over on YouTube: [MORE INFO]
  • Goathorned Productions have announced the upcoming September 15th release of French orthodox black metal band NOVAE MILITIAE‘s second full-length album ‘Topheth‘. I’d discovered this band through the 2XLP reissue of their first album on Sentient Ruin, Satanic black metal indicative of the “orthodox” era of the 2000’s when Deathspell Omega, Antaeus and several others retook the spirit of the sub-genre and amplified the artform. The intent with this second album was to intensify, “darker and more complex atmospheres” are the major goal. The immediate rupture of flame and screaming sulfuric sparks when hitting play on “Elevated to Him”, the first preview track from the album should be enough to convince they’ve met their intended goals. [MORE INFO]
  • Unholy Prophecies have announced they will release the debut album from Chilean subterranean cult INDOCTRINATE this coming September 25th. ‘Antilogos: Arcane Transmutation in the Temple of Flesh‘ is born from the bloodshed incited by Sadistik Goathammer who’ve been obliterated to make room for this most occult, much more serious offering. War-like, cavernous, rapacious and damn listen to that bass guitar tone on “Savagery” the first preview track from the eight song half hour record. Brutal and slaughterous stuff! Check it out on Bandcamp and familiarize yourself with German label Unholy Prophecies on the meantime, too. Tons of : [MORE INFO]
  • More than simple dark ambient music, the deep alignment gained by way of meditative music project SHIBALBA will unnerve at first and enlighten in time. This ever-shifting world created by Acherontas’ V.Priest has announced Agonia Records will release a new album entitled ‘Nekrologie Sinistrae (Orchestral Noise Opus I)‘ this coming October 2nd. The title should indicate that this is less laid back compared to the sublimity of ‘Stars AL​-​MED HUM’ a few years back. Check out the martial industrial feeling of the first single “Δαήμων Tunnel A” over on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
  • Melodic death/doom metal band PULCHRA MORTE have announced their signing to Transcending Records for their upcoming second full-length, due out this Fall. Good on ’em! This is one of my more anticipated releases this year and I was hoping the world falling apart hadn’t spanked the album out ’til next year. The band comments: “We were initially drawn to Transcending Records because it was obvious on first inspection that the label was more interested in releasing quality material than it was in cashing in on whatever current trends are happening in metal. Also, the packaging and attention to detail on their releases is top notch…” This means a lot both as a fan/consumer and says only good things. I see a lot of great bands jumping on dicey trendcore labels because they’re hot and putting out lazy 25 minute LPs with flop-ass paper thin vinyl sleeves etc. Anyhow, no need for a rant on my part! You can check out an early version of one song “Knife of the Will” on their Bandcamp and keep an ear out for more news on Pulchra Morte soon: [MORE INFO]
  • Amor Fati Productions have set September 30th for the first wave of indoctrination by way of NUBIVAGANT‘s birth on their debut ‘Roaring Eye‘. A solo project from celebrated drummer and multi-talented musician Omega (Darvaza, Fides Inversa, Enepsigos, Blut Aus Nord, Chaos Invocation), who as taken the entirety of performance into his own hands for this project. Of course it isn’t exactly what you expect, though the backing track is ominous and blackened in its hindering drama the vocals are almost akin to the trance-like experimental moments of Paul Chain, clean vocals that pair with the piece like nothing else. Think of Primordial but far, far more bleak. Remarkably fresh yet brutally serious, something to mull over and look forward to. Listen to “The Plague of Flesh” over on YouTube: [MORE INFO]
  • Cut ’em down! Head first! Pulverised Records have announced hellbound Norwegian speed-thrashers EVOKE‘s debut full-length ‘Seeds Of Death‘ will release the blade from it’s mortal wound this coming September 18th. Echoing across the hall, thrashing like Hell, and man this preview song (the title track) rips. Right up my alley with some ’85 Teutonic thrash whips a la Deathhammer, Black Viper, and Shakma. Pure violence, ripping stuff, check it out over on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
  • A personal favorite since 2012 and a long underrated epic black/thrash metal band MONGREL’S CROSS have revealed the cover artwork and running order for their third full-length, ‘Arcana, Scrying and Revelation‘, coming by way of the indomitable Hell’s Headbangers Records. They’ve set it for an Autumn release and I’m going to guess mid-to-late October at this rate. This will be the first album featuring Apsu’s Proscriptor on vocals, who has recently announced a new version of his his own band coming up later in the year as well. Cover art comes by way of Kris Verwimp, corpse witch, viper and all. Stoked, they’re perfectionists and troopers with good taste in ‘epic’ feeling black metal assault. Jump over and follow them on Facebook to keep up: [MORE INFO]
  • A couple of announcements in once here as Vancouver B.C., Canada’s modern sludge metal band EMPRESS have announced they’ve signed with Petrichor Records for an October 9th release of their debut full-length album ‘Premonition‘. If you pre-ordered their self-released CD version it should already be in your hands or nearby, mine came with a cool patch! Of course the Petrichor release will allow for the vinyl LP version, which I’ll want too. Who are Petrichor Records? They’re a new offshoot of Hammerheart Records as they’ll be issuing up-and-coming new acts on Petrichor while Hammerheart focuses solely ’80s/’90s bands and their brilliant, high quality reissues. Their issue of Necrophobic’s ‘Darkside’ (among others) still makes me happy just thinking about it! Empress is a fantastic choice, this album is modern, melodic, deeply emotional on so many levels and the production is vibrant and dark at… I’ll save it for the review but, get on it already. [MORE INFO]
  • Thirty-one years into their brutal career Greek death metal legends OBSECRATION are returning to their early death/thrash ways on their latest full-length ‘Onwards the Mystic Paths of the Dead‘ set to be released through Witching Hour Productions. Digipak, tape, and digital all come August 7th and limited vinyl variants arrive September 11th. This will be the seventh full-length from the band who’d begin to lean towards skull-crushing brutality beyond their underrated debut ‘Inheritors of Pain’ (1996). This new album comes seven years beyond the last and sounds absolutely murderous, they’ve never stopped being fine riff hounds! If you need proof, check out the chest-bursting shredder “Chaotic Threat” over on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
  • Polish doom-heavy hymnal black metal phenom BATUSHKA (БАТЮШКА) returns with five hymn, ~30 minute EP entitled ‘РАСКОЛ’ or ‘RASKOL’, a word meaning split or schism where the theme of the release aligns with the band’s very public bisection. There are several editions, the CD, digital, tape, and t-shirt bundles come on August 7th and the 12″ vinyl on September 25th. I would say this second preview song “Irmos III” returns to the feeling of the first album a bit more, but I didn’t think the second album was so different personally just a more elaborate theme. The EP’s tracks all form a whole, so pieces are strong but the entire thing in one listen has its greatest power. Looking forward to this one. [MORE INFO]
  • Hidden Tribe Records have announced August 28th as the parting of the grey clouds and green hills, so that black metal duo VITAL SPIRIT‘s primal ode to North American human history and indigenous culture ‘In The Faith That Looks Through Death‘, and EP on cassette and digital formats. Their line-up features Kyle Tavares (Seer) and Israel Langlais (Unbeheld), both who’re recent members of crusted melodic black metal act Wormwitch — This project had actually been conceived between the two during tour runs through the states and their greater northern home in recent years. Brilliant EP, the Vanum-meets-Ennio Morricone jam that is “Centaur” is a grand, inspired event you’ll need to hear. More details to follow soon, for now we’ve got a pre-order link, album art, and details over on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
  • NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: Messiah, Novae Militiae, Obsecration, Ingested, Transcendence, Dropdead, Blackevil, Vital Spirit, Psychosomatic, Uada, Wills Dissolve, Miasmal Sabbath, Junior Bruce, Dynfari, Hexecutor, Obsidian Kingdom, Svnth, Theyrgy, Indoctrinate, Entropy, Atramentus, Carnal Agony, Spectrum of Delusion, Ov Shadows, Goatvulva, Panzerfaust, Infesticide, Decoherence, Batuskha, Kalt Vindur, Evoke, Early Moods, The Last Reign 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 (7/18/20 – 7/24/20)

FEATURES:

  • …From the Tomb 7/20/20: “…endless leaps and forward plans will someday have to cease.”
    • 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 I chose to cover 10 New Releases from July 13th through July 24th, 2020.
    • Favorites: Antichrist/Goatsmegma, Las Historias, Evil Warriors.

REVIEWS:

Big releases this week from Defeated Sanity, Temple of Dread, Bedsore, Valkyrie, Fides Inversa, and Empress (if you pre-ordered). I’d also recommend Writhing‘s ‘Eternalised in Rot’ EP if you tend towards brutality. I did not receive new releases from Spirit Possession, Fvneral Fvkk but they both sound awesome in preview today. Gaerea released their debut for Century Media if you’re into that sort of thing, seems like a cheap Uada imitation from my point of view. I straight up got so excited for the new Defeated Sanity when it hit my inbox that I didn’t actually enter it into my ‘to do’ database and just threw it on my playlist. So, I meant to review it this week but it’ll have to come next week! Needless to say it rules and it’ll sit well next to the new Disavowed on your shelf. Reviews for Foot, Fides Inversa, and Bushpilot records are drafted and coming soon, trying to work in more non-death metal stuff but it is all folks seem to care about mid-summer.

[CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FULL REVIEW]

ILS – Curse (2020) | REVIEW
FELLWARDEN – Wreathed in Mourncloud (2020) | REVIEW
MAGGOT HEART – Mercy Machine (2020) | REVIEW
QUESTION – Reflections of the Void (2020) | REVIEW
VALGRIND – Condemnation (2020) | REVIEW
HERXHEIM – Incised Arrival (2020) | REVIEW
Temple of Dread – World Sacrifice (Testimony Records)

RELEASED/RECOMMENDED THIS WEEK (7/18/20 – 7/24/20)

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.

Cardiac Arrest – The Day That Death Prevailed (Memento Mori/Boris Records)

UPCOMING RELEASES (7/01/20 – 7/10/20)

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.

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