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 (8/08/20 – 8/14/20)

• Poznan, Poland based death metal band CANCERFAUST are ready to announced their debut full-length at two EPs in the late 2010’s. They’re calling it ‘Let The Earth Tremble‘ and it comes out on Godz ov War Productions this August 31st. The preview song they’ve posted sounds a bit like early Hypocrisy, digging it. Check it out on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
• The French black metal reality doesn’t typically allow for such subtle rise but Lyon-based duo DYSYLUMN have slowly but steadily worked their way into view. Signal Rex has announced they’ll release the heavily atmospheric band’s third album this coming October 9th, naming it ‘Cosmogonie‘ and gracing it with a fantastic cover via Karmazid. So this is quite a big release, literally it is a 3XLP and even a triple CD/tape release which I’d assume will be fairly limited. Split into three chapters with four songs apiece, this threatens to be the most ambitious and compelling work from the band to date. I am very impressed thus far in previews. Check out the first preview track “Extinction I” over on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
• Holy damn! Maryland psychedelic doom metal trio YATRA are back with another album here in 2020 and they’ve been pretty up front about their intensive touring cycle being bunged up by worldwide pandemic restrictions. This is a bit of a dual-bladed swipe because on one hand we don’t get as much touring for their fantastic ‘Blood of the Night’ records from this January but then again we get a second album from the band this year. They’re calling it ‘All Is Lost‘ and man, that Paolo Girardi artwork is pretty stellar. The band are calling it their most ambitious record thus far: “Heavier and denser, with more vibrant psychedelic poise”, sounds awesome as I’ve loved all their stuff so far. Grimoire Records is handling the release this October 9th, pre-orders are up on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
• Brutal n’ ripping Finnish death metal band KORPSESOTURI have announced their disgustingly heavy second album, and first for Xtreem Music, will be titled ‘Korpskrist‘ and it comes out September 9th CD & 12″LP digs. Featuring members of death/doom act Vainaja, this project is pretty pure old school death metal with a brutal mid-to-late 90’s Finnish polish to it, something like Corporal Punishment but hairier. Their first album was exceptional so this’ll be one to watch out for. Check out the first single “Pedon Sielu Sisältäsi” on YouTube: [MORE INFO]
• Damn, has it been that long? I remember blind buying DOWN‘s ‘Nola‘ from a BMG catalog around 1996 and falling in love with it before “Temptation’s Wings” hit its first verse. It has been 25 years since the album released in 1995 and the band are celebrating with a live stream of a multi-camera performance of the full album. They’re charging $9 to watch it and they’ve whipped up some merch for the event. Part of the proceeds for the event will go to first nation tribes in the Louisiana state area. This was supposed to be a tour with the original line-up, I’m always up for seeing Down live so I’ll be there. You’ve gotta be ready to go live August 29th (will re-broadcast the next day once) more details at the LiveFrom Events page: [MORE INFO]
• Vantaa, Finland-based death metal band GOREPHILIA have been no stranger to adversity since forming in 2007 but the passing of their original vocalist in 2018 was a sudden and gutting moment that they’ve thankfully survived. Guitarist Jukka Aho (ex-Krypts) now adds vocals to his duties and the band soldier on with ‘In the Eye of Nothing‘, the bands third full-length. First off, the cover art from Raúl González is incredible and represents the pure underground death metal that the band have always brought. The album releases October 2nd via Dark Descent Records/Me Saco Un Ojo. Previews and more info to come soon. [MORE INFO]
• Technical melodic death metal project INFERI have announced their latest release, ‘Of Sunless Realms‘ a five song EP coming this October 9th via The Artisan Era. The Nashville, Tennessee-based band have hit an upwards trajectory since 2017, picking up after intermittent activity since 2006. I’m generally looking forward to anything The Artisan Era curates, they are yet one of the finer tech/prog metal labels around. More info over on the label’s Facebook: [MORE INFO]
• Vancouver, British Colombian death/thrashers ASSIMILATION are sounding primal and possessed on the title track for their second album ‘Tainting the Purity‘, which releases through Reaper Metal Productions this August 28th. Did you love that ‘comeback’ album from Witches Hammer earlier this year as much as I did? If you’re eager for more speed metal powered extreme thrash well, this project has the guys from Witches Hammer in it and aims more directly for late 80’s thrashing death metal style. Raw high speed headrush riffs and the drums are au naturale, Assimilation go hard and somehow stand out for it. Two preview tracks have been released, the first (“Tainting the Purity”) is a great example of what Assimilation are all about and the second (“Open Hostility”) is a tribute to Razor, because Razor rules dummy. Check it out on Bandcamp: [MORE INFO]
• Cruz Del Sur Music have announced they’ve signed legendary underground Italian epic heavy/prog metal band DARK QUARTERER to their roster, a natural fit imo. The band’s seventh album, ‘Pompei‘, arrives this Fall season on CD and Gatefold LP with artwork from the indomitable Paolo Girardi. ‘The Etruscan Prophecy’ (1988) was my introduction to the band and that album art is still so awesome to me, maybe the self-titled ended up being their legacy long term but their second record is where I became a fan. More information over on Facebook: [MORE INFO]
• Extreme progressive metal machines MONSTERWORKS will release their sixteenth album ‘Malignment‘ October 2nd on Eat Lead and Die Music. Death, thrash, epic heavy metal, sludge, all of it helps to narrate the ambitious whirling of this impressive project. ‘Malignment’ is a step back from philosophical/scientific doomsaying and a peel from the science fiction narrative of their late 2000’s records. Lots to unpack here but go check out the opening track “Impending Doom”over on Bandcamp and read about the concept while you listen. [MORE INFO]
• Shadow Kingdom Records have announced the signing of retro heavy metal trio POUNDER as well as their impending second album entitled ‘Breaking the World‘, coming up this Fall. No major details beyond that but hey, if you liked that first record this’ll be one to look out for. [MORE INFO]
• BLUERRRUUGH-unng! Seven years in the gutter and they’ve still got the right reek in Stockholm, REPUKED have announced the coming release of their latest album ‘Dawn of Reintoxication‘ this October 9th via the fine folks at Soulseller Records. They’ve put together a video for “Vodka Til The Grave” and the song sounds like if early Unleashed huffed major jenkem, good stuff. Sounds a lot tighter than their other stuff so far. [MORE INFO]
• Russian old school death metal HM-2 crushers WOMBRIPPER have signed a deal with the fine folks at Memento Mori for the release of the bands unholy second album ‘Macabre Melodies‘. The album arrives this October 26th on CD format. From the sound of it they’ve embraced the slicker sound of later Dismember, keeping the Stockholm crunch on the guitars but edging into melodic death movements to keep things sharp and purposeful. If you’re huge on early Evocation definitely check the first single “Possessed by Unknown” over the YouTube: [MORE INFO]
• Denver atmospheric black metal quartet WAYFARER have announced the follow up to their well received third album ‘Worlds Blood’ will be titled ‘A Romance With Violence‘ and is due to release this October 16th by way of Profound Lore Records. Drawing parallels between the glorified and romanticized old west in United States history and dominant ideologies today, there are many layers to peel from the onion of this fantastic record. I rushed up on it when the promo hit and am enthralled. [MORE INFO]
• NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: En Minor, Wayfarer, Darkened, Furnace, Repuked, Monsterworks, Cancerfaust, Kommando Baphomet, Amiensus, Votov, Noumena, Maul, Sadistic Drive, Dephosphorous, Empress, Noitatalid, Orochen, Ocean Gates, Dysylumn, Houkago Grind Time, Defecto and several more. Look for coverage in the near future. Never got a response? I accidentally blocked gmail accounts for 3 months, re-send! Don’t see your album listed? Send it to me: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

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GRIZZLY BUTTS‘ WEEK IN REVIEW (8/08/20 – 8/14/20)

FEATURES

• …From the Tomb 8/10/20: “Violating the paradox of apologetics.”
  • 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 August 8th through the 14th. Favorites: Bear Mace, Blasphemous Putrefaction, Bull Elephant.

• An early stream of PROSANCTUS INFERI’s ‘Hypnotic Blood Art’ (2020) | PREMIERE

• An early stream of SIEGE COLUMN’s ‘Darkside Legions’ + Interview (2020) | PREMIERE

REVIEWS

Big releases this week from Rope Sect, Primitive Man, Prosanctus Inferi, Decoherence, Siege Column, and everyone seems to have forgotten Apostasy‘s latest EP already but it is good. The buzz is for Havukruunu‘s latest album though I suppose I didn’t understand the hype? It sounds quite a bit like the hundreds of bands in the early 2000’s who sounded like Thyrfing, Moonsorrow, Månegarm and Mithotyn with not any real innovation beyond it. Still, I love that stuff and it is a great album. Haunt also released the CD and cassette versions of ‘Flashback’, his fourth album via his own Church Recordings. The last album wasn’t great but ‘Flashback’ makes up for it without changing the formula much.

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RELEASED/RECOMMENDED THIS WEEK (8/08/20 – 8/14/20)

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.

• ROPE SECT – The Great Flood [Aug 12, Iron Bonehead Productions]+
• DECOHERENCE – Unitarity [August 14th, Sentient Ruin]*
• INGESTED – Where Only Gods May Tread [August 14th, Unique Leader]*
• PROSANCTUS INFERI – Hypnotic Blood Art [Aug 15, Nuclear War Now! Productions]* (Album Premiere)
• SIEGE COLUMN – Darkside Legions [Aug 15, Nuclear War Now! Productions]* (Album Premiere + Interview)
• PRIMITIVE MAN – Immersion [August 14th, Relapse Records]*
• OBSCURE RELIC – First Black Communion [August 10, Helldprod Records]
• FERMENTOR – Continuance [Aug 14, Self-Released]
• ATRAE BILIS – Divinihility [Aug 14, Transcending Obscurity Records]
• NUG – Alter Ego [Aug 14, Willowtip Records]
• BEAR MACE – Charred Field of Slaughter [Aug 14, Self-Released]
• BULL ELEPHANT – Created From Death [August 14, Eat Lead and Die Music]
• DEATHCAVE – Smoking Mountain [August 14, Satanik Royalty Records]
• TITAN TO TACHYONS – Cactides [August 14, Nefarious Industries]
• OV SHADOWS – I Djävulens Avbild [August 14th, Hypnotic Dirge Records]

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UPCOMING RELEASES (8/15/20 – 8/21/20)

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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