ENDTYMER is the inevitable weekly “music news blog” series I’ve been working to avoid for some time. It hits at the end of every week with the intent of covering notable new releases, sharing news of new releases, and musing over various personal listening habits. It is largely informal, has opinions, etc. so chill out a bit. I do my best to cover as much of everything I receive in some form regardless of genre or representation, don’t hesitate to send anything and everything my way: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

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FIVE BEST OF THE WEEK

This week was all about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based progressive death metal quartet [#1] HORRENDOUS‘ latest album ‘Ontological Mysterium‘ which I did not receive for review. I might review a personal copy of the record next week. Not nearly as focused as the deeper revelation of ‘Idol‘ but a challenging, unique twist upon the path forward. [#2] GODTHRYMM‘s second full-length ‘Distortions‘ finds the band taking a more accessible and somehow more earnest approach with a somewhat different sound, still touching upon epic heavy/gothic doom metal. Otherwise [#3] BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE‘s third album ‘Aion‘ is both heavier and more atmospheric in its evocation of the great unknown, existence in eternity by way of psychedelic doom/post-metal. Garage rock band [#4] OSEES‘s latest album ‘Intercepted Message‘ will be buzzing in my mind all weekend long. [#5] PYRKAGION‘s debut mLP ‘The Katechon and the Unending Flame‘, proposed a bestial yet orthodox black metal activated form which took some time to absorb and appreciate.

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“NEWS”

Black/speed/heavy metal duo DIABOLIC NIGHT have announced their sophomore full-length ‘Beneath The Crimson Prophecy‘ will release once again through renowned German label High Roller Records. The album will be released on October 20th this year on CD and vinyl with Mortal Rite Records handling the cassette tape. Expect a darker record overall, still inspired by classic British and German heavy metal but also swinging into early 90’s black metal a bit. You will feel some of that right away with the first single “The Sacred Scriptures”:

Sights set back upon the frost-draped marble halls of central European decadence and war-torn decay, Invictus Productions and The Ajna Offensive have once again announced they will conspire to spread the influence of glorious MALOKARPATAN upon we plebs. They’ve announced October 27th as the release date for the band’s fourth album, ‘Vertumnus Caesar‘. Likewise the bands first three albums will be reissued on vinyl. The theme of the album “expands into the band’s Central European identity. Mapping the mysterious life of Emperor Rudolf II, infamous for his involvement in the esoteric arts, the album is an adventurous ride through the days of late renaissance hermeticism, an occult rock opera” Of course we can only expect Top 10 of the year material from these folks, believe it in earshot of their first single “Koár postupuje temnomodrými dálavami na juhozápad”:

Southern Lord Records have announced ‘Further In Evil‘ as the title for the debut full length album from solo project MARTHE. The album will release on all relevant formats this coming October 20th. Consider her sound something of a metalpunk take on the solo black metal format with some clear love for the early-to-mid 80’s. The artist comments: “I always loved metal and heavy sounds, too, but playing music was mostly a political form of activism to me, so I’ve been playing punk for pretty much my whole life, [Marthe is] music for broken souls that can’t find peace.” If previous releases are any indication it will be an inspired release, check out a short album preview:

Eisenwald have announced ISKANDR‘s latest full-length record for a September 29th release on CD, vinyl LP, and digitally. ‘Spiritus Sylvestris‘ will take the already adventurous spark of the band into a new direction which emphasizes psychedelic folk, neofolk and smaller touches of martial industrial in their sound. The goal is to expand far beyond their roots, with notes about expanding horizons and such littering the notes on intent and you’ll find this is certainly the case on this first single “Hoor het smeken”:

Profound Lore Records have announced Berkeley, California-based death metal trio FABRICANT‘s debut full-length album will release this coming September 15th. As we Mefitis fans have already noted these folks are meticulous and pragmatic to no end and ‘Drudge to the Thicket‘ has been well considered, chipped away at in thought and practicum since 2010. They’ve described it as a “forbidden riddle to solve.” but even a quick listen will reveal a triumphant event, anyhow if you’re chasing dramatic depth and machinery in death metal this is one to sidle up with quickly:

Majestic Mountain Records have announced ‘Grieve‘, the second LP from U.K. doom metal band MORAG TONG, will release this coming October 6th. The London-based quartet state: “we wanted to create something huge and heavy, but also gorgeous, textured and atmospheric. Incorporating both massive, aggressive wall of sound sections and more pensive, stripped back ambient instrumentals I think we have hit that sweet spot – something anguished and anxious, crumbling and dangerous, yet eerily beautiful and oozing with a love for life itself.” No doubt the album is imposing in its first impression:

Amor Fati Productions have announced October 11th as the release date for German black metal band HAGATIZ‘s debut album. ‘Cursed to the Night‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP. These folks are best known for their work in Dauþuz, Häxenzijrkell and Lunar Chalice and present a work of old-school black metal in the ’90s tradition noting elements of Scandinavian, German and central European influence in their sound. Check out the first preview song “Demimonde”:

Polish experimental group GRUZJA have released a new single “Od przedszkola do okopa” (“From kindergarten to the trench”), which will be a part of the band’s upcoming album which is scheduled for an October 6th release. What is the name of the album? I dunno. What is the record label? I dunno. What is the song about? “It talks about very serious things, such as: birth, death, promotions in discount stores and war”. Great song. Watch “Od przedszkola do okopa” music video:

Purity Through Fire have announced September 22nd as release date for pagan black metal project HJEMSØKT‘s debut miniLP, ‘Mystikk & Mørke‘, on CD format. The 12″ vinyl LP will release October 27th. This is one of several projects from Peregrinus (Solus Grief, Kvad, et al.) and their focus is clearly the classic early to mid 90’s pagan black metal sound. Check out the first preview song “Dans i den visnende skogen”:

Instrumental post-music project SOARS from Cult of Luna‘s synthesizer head Kristian Karlsson has announced his second album ‘Repeater’ will be released on November 17th via Pelagic Records. The artist comments: “Soars is a personal journey and expression of a sound that has been developed over the years,” Check out the music video for the first single “Uprise”:

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THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS / REVIEWS

Catch up with the latest YouTube video review/features and written reviews here. New videos post each week for the most part. You can click on the link provided to read the review/article, each review has the related video embedded in the original post as well. Videos are fairly casual and meant to accompany the written review with some extra context and generalized notes. The written review and the video review are complimentary -not- interchangeable. Subscribe, share, leave a comment, etc. if you feel like it.

GODTHRYMM – Distortions (2023) | REVIEW

TEMPLE OF DREAD – Beyond Acheron (2023) | REVIEW

BEES MADE HONEY IN THE VEIN TREE – Aion (2023) | REVIEW

PYRKAGION – The Katechon and the Unending Fire (2023) | REVIEW

INCANTATION – Unholy Deification (2023) | REVIEW

ASPHODELUS – Sculpting From Time (2023) | REVIEW

Short Reviews | August 16th, 2023

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COMING UP NEXT WEEK:

Here is a tentative list of what is coming up next week in terms of reviews. The following records have been listened to extensively, a preliminary review has been drafted (or completed), and I’ve locked them in for coverage. In terms of the “Short Written Reviews + Video” column, these are more tentative, some of them may be cut if I do not have enough time to get around to everything. These choices are subject to change as the final drafts evolve and other releases might potentially take priority:

LONGFORM REVIEWS + VIDEO:

HORRENDOUS – Ontological Mysterium [August 18th, Season of Mist]
EXMORTUS – Necrophony [August 25th, Nuclear Blast]
VISION MASTER – Sceptre [August 25th, Gates of Hell Records]
UNDERGANG – De syv stadier af fordærv [September 1st, Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo]
MARDUK – Memento Mori [September 1st, Century Media]
DOMKRAFT – Sonic Moons [September 8th, Magnetic Eye Records]

SHORT REVIEWS + VIDEO:

Instead of multiple Short Reviews columns for the month of September I will have a different feature every week. Next week won’t feature an extra column and will instead be spent working on Mystification as well as some video game related writing.

• Week II: “Under the Radar Pt. I” a collection of releases I’d missed or overlooked in the first ~six months of 2023 including: Solar Temple, Odz Manouk, Paroxysm Unit, Sektarism, Ara Solis, and many more.
• Week III: Short Reviews for September (All): Highlights include — Black Magic Six, Luring, Bio-Cancer, Swami Lateplate, The Coffinshakers, Grift, Vengeance, Solus Grief & 30 releases in total. Still accepting submissions and late inclusions for this.
• Week IV: Noise Rock Pt. I (2023), noise rock, post-hardcore, art rock and experimental works fitting in this realm are included. Everything I’ve missed and liked this year. The second part will publish in early December.
• Week V: 20 Best of September 2023

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