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] BLACK PYRAMID (‘The Paths of Time Are Vast‘, Totem Cat)
[#2] NOKTURNAL (‘Shades of Night‘, Pulverised Records)
[#3] LIFVSLEDA (‘Evangelii H​ä​rold‘, NoEvDia)
[#4] OSSILEGIUM (‘The Gods Below‘, Personal Records)
[#5] URZA/CALLIOPHIS (‘Dawn of a Lifeless Age‘, Aesthetic Death)

FIVE BEST OF LAST WEEK

[#1] EXHUMATION (‘Master’s Personae‘, Pulverised)
[#2] PENTAGRAM (‘Eternal Life of Madness‘, Listenable Records)
[#3] ARÐ (‘Untouched by Fire‘, Prophecy Productions)
[#4] BARBARIAN SWORDS (‘Fetid‘, Base Record Production)
[#5] VØIDWOMB (‘Spiritual Apotheosis‘, Avantgarde Music)

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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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Slovakian black death metal trio CEREMONY OF SILENCE have announced they will release their second album, ‘Hálios‘, on July 19th through Willowtip Records. The album will be available on CD, vinyl, cassette, and digital formats. “Unborn, all-pervading and radiant. The immutable light of the Universe, our fundamental inherent nature, and a bridge to the mythical time. “Hálios” represents a breakthrough of the sacred into the temporal world, and sets forth on an eerie journey reenacting old stories inspired by the essence of the ancient Indo-European mythology, entwined in the obscure visions and dreams.” and of course I am stoked since their debut was easily one of the best albums released in 2019. Check out the first preview song “Serpent Slayer”:

Italian psychedelic doom metal trio UFOMAMMUT will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2024 and part of those events will include the recently announced release of their tenth studio full-length, ‘Hidden‘, which releases CD, LP, and digital this coming May 17th via Neurot Records [NA] and Supernatural Cat Records [EU]. They’ve suggested this album leans into a heavier, more intense sound, and it comes with their own vision of psychedelic muse in mind. I’ve become a big fan of the band over the years so this is well anticipated on my part.

On July 5th this year Personal Records have announced they will release the debut full-length album from Turku, Finland-based melodic black metal band BLOODCROSS. ‘Gravebound‘ will arrive on CD and digitally. Formed back in 2019 these folks were mostly formerly involved in a band named Angelscourge who’d managed a full-length before splitting, for this band they’re taking clear inspiration from the Swedish melodic black/death metal realm while carrying through some of their shred skills a la Necrophobic, Children of Bodom and Ablaze My Sorrow. The first preview song “Warbeasts” definitely has a strong melodeath vibe to start:

PURITY THROUGH FIRE and AMOR FATI PRODUCTIONS have announced ‘Naturmystik‘, a split album between HÄXANU and GREVE. PTF will release the CD version while Amor Fati will release the vinyl version. They’ve suggested the songs from Häxanu here echo the style of ‘Totenpass‘ and Sweden’s GREVE should be well known by now thanks to numerous releases via the ever prolific Swartadauþuz (Trolldom, Musmahhu, Azelisassath, Digerdöden, Mystik, et al.) all of the songs here are new originals and of course I am looking forward to this one as a big fan of each band.

Victoria, British Colombia-based black metal group LIMINAL SHROUD have announced they will release new album titled ‘Visions of Collapse‘ this coming July 5th on CD, vinyl, and digital formats by way of Willowtip Records. Forward-thinking black metal is probably the right way to describe their work and its rapid evolution. “On this record we have elevated everything in our arsenal to new heights. Serpentine songwriting and cathartic conviction reflect again the elemental forces of destruction of the coast, and capturing moments of sorrow, solitude and grandeur, we seek to find ourselves in annihilation. Adherence to tradition and the will to push ever-onward find their fusion in the interplay of melody, rhythmic vigor, and subtle progressive voicing. Primordial oceans churn, searing winds howl, and a baleful void opens above – cast yourself in and submit to the scythe.” Anything for the scythe.

Former Nifelheim honcho HELLBUTCHER have announced their debut full-length album ‘Hellbutcher‘ will be released on May 31st digitally and on all relevant formats. Though it would make sense to expect the essence of his old band as part of this project I’d say this is just as focused on Swedish black metal supremacy but his sound takes on a more ‘epic’ stature. I didn’t realize Nifelheim split in 2022, Hellbutcher comments: “I realized I needed to create my own band to uphold the true spirit of metal. I was incredibly inspired!” and I think this latest single should be enough to catch the ears of folks who’d been diehard fans of his former band.

Pagan Records and Monomaniax will release the English-language edition of From Hades to Valhalla… BATHORY – The Epic Story, the unofficial biography of one of the most influential metal bands of all time, BATHORY. Written by renowned metal journalist José Luis Cano Barron, bio delves into the band’s career, offering an uncensored and carefully researched account of its groundbreaking music and enduring legacy. Looks like a solid read, previewed some of it and the discography is very detailed, plenty of pictures included, though obviously Quorthon is not around to sign off on it and provide all the details. The book will be available on May 29th 2024, and can be pre-ordered via Pagan Records.

https://www.pagan-records.com/en_GB/p/From-Hades-to-Valhalla…-BATHORY-The-Epic-Story-BOOK-PRE-ORDER/13786

Finally following up on their debut EP (‘Expanse of Hellish Black Mire‘) Cleveland, Ohio-based death metal quartet NOXIS have announced their debut full-length album, ‘Violence Inherent In The System‘. The album is due for release on June 28th via Rotted Life (US) and Dawnbreed Records (Europe). The first single “Skullcrushing Defilement” is frickin’ wilding:

THANATOTHERION the latest blackened thrashing project from the brilliant mind of Shelby Lermo (Ulthar, ex-Vastum) who is joined by Jason Bursese (Black Fucking Cancer) to create an extension of the project Naughtskeid into this debut album ‘Alienation Manifesto‘ which releases this June 7th by way of I, Voidhanger Records. I’ve already spent some time with this record and so far it has impressed. Check out the latest preview song “Nuclear Womb” for a clear idea of what to expect:

INCONCESSUS LUX LUCIS have announced their third full-length album ‘Temples Colliding In Fire‘, some of the most impressive blackened heavy metal magick from the band thus far. They’re promising a “mesmerizing odyssey into mystic realms.” And man, the album artwork from David Glomba atop all of those riffs has me hotly anticipating this record. Check out the title track and see if it is your thing:

PURITY THROUGH FIRE have announced the third album of Norway’s UNHOLY CRAFT, ‘Saa Mørkt, Saa Mektig‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP formats. These folks formed just a year ago and they’ve been wildly prolific and the main fellow behind this band has like four other projects going on, too. The intent of this band is stated as traditional Scandinavian black metal with some semblance of melody and heroic rawness. I’ve been liking this one in previews thus far and will likely review it:

Epic black metal project FELLWARDEN will return for a third full-length with ‘Legend‘ once again via Eisenwald this coming June 14th. The album, presented by way of maestro The Watcher of Fen, intends “a narrative of resilience and duty in the face of overwhelming odds.” and thus far I’m very impressed, was already a big fan of their second record. Check out the first single “Exultance”.

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR have announced a June 28th release date for all formats of their upcoming full-length ‘Fossil Gardens‘. They are suggesting this album picks up where ‘Eden in Reverse‘ the album’s theme ‘focuses on the philosophical and scientific struggle to unravel the secrets of the universe and reach new states of consciousness that defy the limits of space and time.” Synth maestro Haris speaks to the album: “This time we went more extreme than ever before, we used lots of blasts, screams and minimal black metal textures. Even so, I believe this is a positive album, since it revolves around the charm of our cosmos and the transcendence of space and time. Having this on mind, we went for a solid yet abstract sound production, meaning that we wanted the listener to perceive the music as a whole, not as the sum of individual parts and instruments. Some may find it different than our previous album, but if you watch closely, you’ll notice the extreme similarities.” I’ve only become more of a fan with each of their releases and couldn’t be more stoked for this one:

Spanish thrash metal band HOLYCIDE have announced details of their third full-length album titled ‘Towards Idiocracy‘. Squarely set within the traditional realm of late 80’s political yet boisterous thrash metal with a sharp tongue for social criticism these folks have a lot to say on this record. The album will release on June 6th via Xtreem Music in CD, 12″ LP, cassette, and digital formats.

Austin heavy psychedelic rock and Americana crew LORD BUFFALO have released the first single & video from their forthcoming album ‘Holus Bolus‘ which will be released on July 12th through Blues Funeral Recordings. Catchy first single/title track, great sound overall and I’ll definitely be taking a closer listen to this one. Check it out over on YouTube:

‘The Malady‘ is the fifth release by deathgrind project FEED THEM DEATH which will be released via Brucia Records on June 20th on digital and a special limited edition containing CD, Tape with low-fi one take rehearsals, a personalized notebook and a pin all placed inside a black mortuary bag. Since I’d enjoyed the evolution of this band over the last few years I’m stoked to hear how they’ve progressed as a trio in the years since ‘Negative‘.

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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

Short Reviews | April 17th, 2024

SELBST – Despondency Chord Progressions (2024) | REVIEW

VRYKOLAKAS – Nocturnal Dominion of Death (2024) | REVIEW

CANDELABRUM – Transmutations (2024) | REVIEW

Short Reviews | April 24th, 2024

EXHUMATION – Master’s Personae (2024) | REVIEW

ARР– Untouched by Fire (2024) | REVIEW

GERM BOMB – Monochrome Nightmare (2024) | REVIEW

VØIDWOMB – Spiritual Apothéosis (2024) | REVIEW

OSSILEGIUM – The Gods Below (2024) | REVIEW

BLACK PYRAMID – The Paths of Time Are Vast (2024) | REVIEW

DAUÞUZ – Uranium (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:

FUNERAL STORM – Chthonic Invocations [May 10th, Hell’s Headbangers]
HEMOTOXIN – When Time Becomes Loss [May 17th, Pulverised Records]
EVOKED – Immoral Arts [May 17th, F.D.A. Records]
ROPE SECT – Estrangement [May 17th, Iron Bonehead Productions]
NOCTURNUS A.D. – Unicursal [May 17th, Profound Lore Records]
NADSVEST – Slovo Meseca I Krvi [May 17th, Soulseller Records]
UFOMAMMUT – Hidden [May 17th, Neurot Recordings]

SHORT REVIEWS + VIDEO:

TERRAIN – Alamanac Man [May 14th, The Ghost is Clear Records]
SLUGPIT – Mentally Unengaged [May 15th, Self-Released]
CARDIAC ARREST – The Stench of Eternity [May 17th, Hell’s Headbangers]
ALTAR OF GORE – Litanies of the Unceasing Agonies [May 17th, Nameless Grave]
BOTANIST – Paleobotany [May 17th, Prophecy Productions]
TZOMPANTLI – Beating the Drums of Ancestral Force [May 17th, 20 Buck Spin]
PATHOLOGY – Unholy Descent [May 17th, Agonia Records]
BOLESKINE HOUSE – Miserabilist Blues [May 17th, Masked Dead/Sulphur Music]
ZIG ZAGS – Strange Masters [May 17th, RidingEasy Records]

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