terraasymmetry Features

NEWS, Week in Review & Upcoming Releases (2/19/21)

A weekly feature focusing on select heavy music news, primarily involving new and upcoming releases with a list of ’em provided at the end. This also serves as a week in review, collecting all of the most recent content on Grizzly Butts in a brief additional list. Want to see what came out this week? Read the “Annihilate This Week” column every Monday. 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 send it to: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

THIS WEEK IN NEWS (2/13/21 – 2/19/21)

  • Swedish heavy rock/alt-metal band MUSTASCH celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut in 2021 with a two volume set of new releases, staggered a few months in between. ‘A Final Warning (Chapter 1)‘ will be released in April and ‘A Final Warning (Chapter 2)‘ is set for end of 2021. The first chapter has been confirmed for April 16th. They released the first single/music video “You Are Killing Me” back in December. Catchy and fun music. Check it out over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • If you are a big of a fan of ‘Gloomy Experiments’ as I am, this is pretty good news. Polish thrash metal project, whom have been based out of San Francisco for several decades, ASTHAROTH have released a new single and announced a new EP coming in 2021. “Behind the Mask of Virtue” introduces ‘Between Death and Rebirth’ which doesn’t have a definite release date just yet. Of course the band now consists of sole member Jarek Tatarek and persists with a modern progressive metal style. The single releases today (February 19th) and if you’re curious what the project sounds like today, check out their 2020 album: [LINK]
  • Austin, Texas-based blackened metalpunk band SKELETON have released a promotional demo cassette tape ‘Ordainment Of Divinity‘ through their label 20 Buck Spin. The surprise release is meant to whet appetites and hype up the band’s forthcoming second full-length, which is coming in 2021. The raw black metal artwork and trashed sound quality aren’t my gig at the moment but I am looking forward to their second album. Check it out on Bandcamp and grab the tape on the label website: [LINK]
  • Caligari Records have set March 30th as the release date for Czech death pulse MŮRA‘s clobbering debut EP, ‘Doom Invocations and Narcotic Rituals‘, on cassette tape. If you are a fan of the atmospheric chasmic feats of Antediluvian, Grave Upheaval, and Encoffination this is probably your gig. ~11 minute opener “Chambers of Decay” is up for a spin if you are: [LINK]
  • Nearly a decade after their debut, Romanian ex-Negură Bunget defectors DORDEDUH have released a stunning video for the first single, “Desferecat” (“Unchained”), from their second album “Har” (“Gifted”), which will release on May 14th. If you are already excited about the new Empyrium this should be a fine complimentary atmospheric black/folk force. Also, I’d really enjoyed this cover art from Costin Chioreanu as a fitting illustration of theme. Check out “Desferecat” over on YouTube/Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Norwegian blackened thrash/metalpunk drengr DRITTMASKIN have revealed the infectious-assed “Takk, Recovery” as the first single/music video from their second album, ‘Svartpønk‘. The whole world is going to have to deal with their dritt this September 7th when Edged Circle Productions releases the album. These guys pull from equal parts black metal, thrash metal, and hardcore punk permutations for a scummy anthemic sound that I personally love. I’ve bought all of thier stuff so far and this won’t be an exception based off of the single. Watch the video for “Takk, Recovery” on YouTube: [LINK]
  • Blood Harvest Records have announced they’ve signed San Diego’s SACRILEGA. Not to be confused with Irish black/thrashers Sacrilegia, this death metal features members of Invocation War and Rites of Thy Degringolade. This means their debut album is on its way in the form of ‘The Arcana Spear‘, which will be released late summer on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette. They’re getting Charlie Koryn’s help recording the record and have commissioned the incredible Artem Grigoryev for the album artwork. Looking forward to this one. For now get in gear and check out their Facebook and their 2020 EP: [LINK]
  • Fans of German black metal heed the call of Thuringian duo KANKAR whom have revealed the single “Dunkle Millennia” from their (same titled) debut full-length ‘Dunkle Millennia‘. An atmospheric but very present bout of evil with some inspired movements. The album sets its stage on March 19th through the good folks of Eisenwald. Check out “Dunkle Millennia” over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • Avant-deathgrind solo project FEED THEM DEATH have announced their third album ‘Negative‘ will release this May 7th again through his co-owned label Brucia Records. So far this record sounds a bit more focused, or at least the first song pushes out a few big riffs to cling to as the hummingbird grind of their rhythms maintains their signature. Check out the first single “Displeasure in Pleasure” over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • Swedish psychedelic doom metal band DOMKRAFT have released the first single, “Dawn of Man”, from their third full-length ‘Seeds‘, which arrives April 30th through Magnetic Eye Records. Though I missed their second album I remember enjoying their first quite a bit and based off of this first single it definitely sounds like the band have grown immensely beyond their starting point. Check it out on YouTube/Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Polish phenomenon BATUSHKA are back just six months after their last EP and it seems they’re doing good work evolving their unique atmospheric black/doom metal sound. This new EP will be called “ЦАРЮ НЕБЕСНЫЙ” / “Carju Niebiesnyj” / “Heavenly King” and release via Witching Hour Productions. Aiming for a more varied emotional, and dynamic result it feels like the already quite serious project is evolving with some serious meaning beyond the fracture they’d faced a few years back. More information will be available on March 19th but for now pre-orders are up for several variants along with a new song “Pismo IV”: [LINK]
  • Italian death metal band HELSLAVE are back the announcement of their sophomore full-length album, ‘From The Sulphur Depths‘. It will be released through Pulverised Records on CD and digital formats this coming April 23rd, with the vinyl release to follow on May 14th. Mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö? Check. Artwork by Juanjo Castellano? Check. Yeah I’m into it, very solid Swedish death metal sound with brilliant presentation: [LINK]
  • Belgium-based technical death metal band PESTIFER have released a documentary that focuses on the recording of their latest album ‘Expanding Oblivion‘ while also speaking to its release during the current pandemic, the strange conditions of gigs at the moment and their relationship with their label Xenokorp. This band rules, total support for what they do. Sounds like they’ve got a “live in studio” record coming up too. Check it out over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: Wenches, Poverty’s No Crime, Hallucination, Armored Assault, Kankar, Neromega, Natur, Wheel, Feed Them Death, Manbryne, Cicada the Burrower, Bound in Fear, Varmia, Hymnr, Stone Healer, Mura, Vector Seven, Syning, Exterminated, Decline of the I, Mistweaver, Neil Merryweather & The Space Rangers and several more. Look for coverage in the near future. Don’t see your album listed? Send it to me: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com
OMINOUS RUIN – Amidst Voices That Echo in Stone (Willowtip)

SITE WEEK IN REVIEW (2/13/21 – 2/19/21)

  • Annihilate This Week 2/15/21: “One who glistens horribly like a rainbow of insects; the one who quivers in a horrible manner.”
    • This year …From the Tomb becomes Annihilate This Week, still focusing on new releases from the week but now accumulating a New Releases list/discussion in addition to short reviews for around 5-10 new albums each week. It will post every Monday.
    • This week I chose to cover 6 New Releases from February 13th – 19th. The favorite(s) being Szary Wilk, Future Faces, Perihelion Gnosis.
  • Back From the Dead… January | 2021
    • New monthly feature, posted halfway into the next month. This time I’ve included seven overlooked releases from January 2021. Damnable‘s debut reissue being my personal favorite. I love Polish death metal of all eras but the obscure mid-to-late 90’s brutal stuff was my entry point beyond Vader. I tried to select truly viable stuff and a few things that were popular, even if I didn’t “get” one or two of them entirely.

This week I’d basically been catching up with stuff releasing today (February 19th) and a few records I’d missed earlier in the month. I will not realistically be able to deal with the sheer number of releases coming next Friday (February 26th). Guarantees so far for the rest of the month’s reviews are Spelljammer, Sunnata, Ominous Ruin, Medieval Demon, Chainsword, and likely Empyrium, Five the Hierophant, Mistweaver and Sullen Guest. What came out this week that rules? Check out the preamble for this week’s Annihilate This Week column for thoughts on several records. Expect a couple of premieres next week, both rule!

CHAINSWORD – ‘Blightmarch’ (Godz ov War Productions)

UPCOMING RELEASES (2/20/20 – 2/28/20)

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 full review is drafted or in preparation. A pound (#) indicates a short review is warranted and in process. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

  • PARANORM – Empyrean [February 26th, Redefining Darkness] +
  • SPELLJAMMER – Abyssal Trip [February 26th, RidingEasy Records] *
  • SUNNATA – Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth [February 26th, Self-Released] *
  • OMINOUS RUIN – Amidst Voices that Echo in Stone [February 26th, Willowtip Records] *
  • EMPYRIUM – Über den Sternen [February 26th, Prophecy Productions] *
  • FERAL LIGHT – Ceremonial Tower [February 26th, Self-Released] #
  • MISTWEAVER – Swansong [February 25th, Necromance Records] *
  • KORPSE – Insufferable Violence [February 26th, Unique Leader Records] #
  • HÆNESY – Garabontzia [February 28th, Purity Through Fire] #
  • SULLEN GUEST – Chapter III [February 25th, Self-Released] *
  • CHAINSWORD – Blightmarch [February 27th, Godz ov War Productions] !
  • SLOUGH OF DESPAIR – Catacombs of Terror [February 26th, Personal Records] #
  • FIVE THE HEIROPHANT – Through Aureate Void [February 26th, Dark Essence Records] *
  • XEPER – Ad Numen Satanae [February 26th, Soulseller Records] #
  • SIGNIFICANT POINT – Into the Storm [February 26th, Dying Victims Productions]
  • DRUADAN FOREST / OLD SORCERY – Split [February 26th, Werewolf Records] #
  • WOLVES OF PERDITION – Ferocious Blasphemic Warfare [February 26th, Folter Records]
  • SANDSTORM – Desert Warrior [February 26th, Dying Victims Productions]
  • CANCERVO – 1 [February 26th, Electric Valley Records] #
  • AMON ACID – Paradigm Shift [February 26th, Helter Skelter/Regain Records] !
  • VLADIMIR PAVELKA – Spomienky (Memories) [February 26th, Beyond Eyes]
  • LOVE MACHINE – Dusseldorf-Tokuo [February 26th, Unique Records]
  • TENEBRO – Liberaci dal Male [February 23rd, Xtreem Music]
  • INNERSPHERE – Omfalos [February 25th, Slovak Metal Army] #
  • PERFORMED – Moronia [February 25th, Slovak Metal Army]
  • THE SPLIT – Reminiscences [February 25th, Slovak Metal Army]
  • MEPHISTOFELES – A Path of Black [February 26th, Helter Skelter/Regain Records]
  • BLACK TOTEM – II: Shapeshifting [February 26th, Svart Records]
  • LOS MALES DEL MUNDO – Descent Towards Death [February 26th, Northern Silence Productions]
  • NIGHT PROWLER – No Escape [February 26th, Dying Victims Productions]
  • INFLABITAN – Intrinsic [February 26th, Soulseller Records]
  • VALDAUDR – Drapsdalen [February 26th, Soulseller Records]
  • TERMINAL BLISS – Brute Err/ata [February 26th, Relapse Records]
  • COFFIN MULCH – Septic Funeral [February 26th, Redefining Darkness Records]
  • JARHEAD FERTILIZER – Product of My Environment [February 26th, Closed Casket Activities]
  • SOW DISCORD – Quiet Earth [February 26th, Tartarus Records]
  • SHADOWS – Shadows [February 26th, Agonia Records]
  • EVULSE – Pustulant Spawn [February 27th, Godz ov War Productions]
  • CULT GRAVES – Strange Customs [February 27th, Godz ov War Productions]
  • ORDER OF NOSFERAT – Necuratul [February 28th, Purity Through Fire]
  • MEUCHELMORD – Mordmelodien [February 28th, Purity Through Fire]
  • XIBALBA (Mexico) – Reissues [February 28th, Nuclear War Now! Productions] !

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