ENDTYMER is the semi-weekly recap, blogspace, and new release round-up column. It hits at the end of (most) 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, might contain 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 THIS WEEK

[#1] UTTERTOMB (‘Nebulas of Self-Desecration‘, Pulverised)
[#2] ENGULFED (‘Unearthly Litanies of Despair‘, Dark Descent/MSuO)
[#3] KAWIR (‘Kydoimos‘, Soulseller)
[#4] SELBST (‘Despondency Chord Progressions‘, Debemur Morti)
[#5] HIGH ON FIRE (‘Cometh the Storm‘, MNRK Heavy)

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UPCOMING RELEASES

Catch up with the latest new release announcements for albums I am likely to cover.

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Rotted Life Records have announced they will release the latest EP from Philadelphia-based death metal crew CAVERN WOMB this coming May 24th. ‘Stages of Infinity‘ will release on vinyl, CD, cassette, and digitally. We haven’t heard from them since 2021 per a split with Noxis and this appears to be a more substantial release, already making a huge first impression with dat cover art and four respectable kosm-yanked death metal pieces. Stoked for this one, check out the preview over on Bandcamp:

Brutal death metal quartet PATHOLOGY have announced their twelfth full-length album will release this May 17th by way of Agonia Records. ‘Unholy Descent‘ upholds the line-up from the previous two records and follows the start of a tour kicking off on April 17th. Drummer Dave Astor comments: “We are very happy to release this album to the world. It delves into conspiracies and ancient mythos, while incorporating new elements to the music. Making this album was incredibly enjoyable, and we hope our fans appreciate it as much as we do.“

Transcending Obscurity Records have announced July 19th as the release date for the upcoming debut full-length album from Swedish progressive death metal solo project FEBRUUS. A project from musician Andreas Karlsson, this first album ‘Surveillance Orgy‘ definitely leans into its idiosyncratic vision and as the label suggests it fits in with the prog-death culture they’ve stewed between signing bands like Swelling Repulsion and Atvm, newer and weirder crews. Check it out for yourself as they’ve previewed a number of songs already:

Hammerheart Records have announced ‘Written by the Devil‘, the latest full-length album from Brazilian underground black, death and dark doom legendry AMEN CORNER will release this upcoming June 7th on all relevant formats. An early example of black metal from Brazil often compared with Mystifier and Samael early on these folks have long been active but this album seems to tug at the old ways a bit more. So far I am impressed and have enjoyed going back to their 90’s records again. Check out “The War of the Antichrist”:

Night Rhythms Records have cranked out a likely already sold out 12″ vinyl version of BOGSIDE SNIPER SQUADRON‘s ‘Demo 2023‘ a melodic death metal band in the style of Arghoslent from (I think?) members of Devil Master. Limited to 150 copies, Side B is screen printed. Cool thing that will 100% be a collector dealie as soon as possible. I liked the demo quite a bit so I figured I’d mention it.

https://store.nghtrhthms.com/product/bogside-sniper-squadron-demo-2023-lp

Svart Records have announced a second full-length album from GÖDEN will be arriving this coming May 17th. ‘Vale of the Fallen’ will release on all relevant formats and once again feature the vision of Stephen Flam (Winter) in craft of a unique realm ghastly doom. The band comments: “Since the last 4 years there has been lot of darkness in the truth, a lot of hatred, humanity going mad, and a lot of people striving to find their tribe. I personally strive for hope and seek the higher realm of positivity always, but in the meantime, we find ourselves in the Vale of the Fallen” From the sound of things this is both similar to their debut but also tweaks a few things to keep it coherent, check out the title track and see what you think:

Godz ov War Productions (alongside Stygian Black Hand) have announced the latest full-length from war metal duo PRIMITIVE WARFARE will release this coming May 10th. ‘Extinction Protocol‘ brings their bestial form of death metal to a point of nuclear payload and it seems every movement has been carried out recklessly. There is never much to say about this sort of thing, merciless to say the least and they’ve suggested a strong Brazilian black/death inspiration for these sounds. See for yourself over on Bandcamp:

Scottish death/doom metal project GOM JABBAR have announced they will partner with Darkwoods for the release of this compilation of demos, ‘Obsidian Black Carrion‘ on June 5th this year. Gom Jabbar is the solo project of musician Joseph Kelly of Penny Coffin who aims for classic death/doom metal inspired craft with a dissonant/abstract touch to its rhythms. Worth checking out:

Nameless Grave Records have announced New Jersey death metal crew ALTAR OF GORE‘s second album ‘Litanies Of The Unceasing Agonies‘ will release on LP, CD, and digital platforms this coming May 17th. The band will release their own cassette version otherwise. Being familiar with their collective’s work past and present we can expect uncompromising underground filth and nothing less.

AL NAMROOD have announced their latest album ‘Al Aqrab‘ will release this coming June 9th via Shaytan Productions. This will be the band’s tenth studio album where they blend late 90’s black metal traditions with Arabian and Oriental musical influences. They have mixed it up with several very different records over the last several LPs so it will be interesting to see what they’re aiming for this time around, which so far seems more “traditiona” in some sense per this preview song:

Tampa, Florida-based thrashing anomaly TORTURER’s LOBBY have released a few preview songs from ‘Deadened Nerves‘ their latest album set for release by way of Caligari Records this coming June 14th (CD, cassette tape) and Ixiol Productions will release the vinyl version later on. Unique band, weird energy. Check what they have to say: “Truly, we just wanted to create unique music we haven’t heard, yet want to listen to,” state the band. “It’s very difficult to nail down what we play, and we like it that way. We worship no specific style, as the greats have already done it, so there is no sense in recreating some watered-down parody of it. We just wanted to be different and pursue something new, a different direction in violent ‘underground’ music. We have jokingly referred to our sound as ‘Florida shitkicker.’” I will definitely remember to use that term if I write a review.

Electric Valley Records have announced they will release WYNDRIDER‘s second full-length album ‘Revival‘ this coming June 7th on vinyl and digitally while the band will release the CD version themselves. These folks hail from east Tennessee and their smoked out brand of stoner doom metal should catch the right ancient organically achieve vibe you’d expect from their label, it was a quick hit with me at least. The album art kinda suuucks but I’m still stoked for this one:

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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. Please subscribe, share, and leave a comment, etc. if you feel like it.

NOTE: Right-click and “Open in New Tab/Window” to view on YouTube or try youtube.com/@terraasymmetry

An Exhaustive Study: Melodic Black Metal Redux [Pt. VII] – ‘A Stellarly Northern Wind’

Short Reviews | April 10th, 2024

UTTERTOMB – Nebulas of Self-Desecration (2024) | REVIEW

NUCLEAR TOMB – Terror Labyrinthian (2024) | REVIEW

ENGULFED – Unearthly Litanies of Despair (2024) | REVIEW

COFFIN CURSE – The Continuous Nothing (2024) | REVIEW

KAWIR – Kydoimos (2024) | REVIEW

NOGOTHULA – Telluric Sepsis (2024) | REVIEW

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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:

ARÐ – Untouched by Fire [April 26th, Prophecy Productions]
VØIDWOMB – Spiritual Apothéosis [April 26th, Avantgarde Music]
DAUÞUZ – Uranium [April 30th, Amor Fati]
GERM BOMB – Monochrome Nightmare [April 30th, Doomentia]
OSSILEGIUM – The Gods Below [May 3rd, Personal Records]
BLACK PYRAMID – The Paths of Time Are Vast [May 3rd, Totem Cat Records]

SHORT REVIEWS + VIDEO:

BARBARIAN SWORDS – Fetid [April 26th, Base Record Production]
MONS VENERIS – Ascent Into Draconian Abyss [May 1st, Signal Rex]
PROFANATION – Skull Crushing Violence [May 3rd, Iron Bonehead]
BISMARCK – Vourukasha [May 3rd, Dark Essence Records]
HORN – Daudswiärk [May 3rd, Northern Silence Productions]
URZA / CALLIOPHIS – Dawn of a Lifeless Age [May 3rd, Meuse Music/Aesthetic Death]

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