ENDTYMER is the semi-weekly recap, occasional 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, 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] VILE RITES (‘Senescence‘, Carbonized Records)
[#2] CEMETERY FILTH (‘Senses of Detriment‘, Rotted Life Records)
[#3] BLIND MONARCH (‘The Dead Replenish the Earth‘, Self-Released)
[#4] HORNS & HOOVES (‘Spectral Voyeurism‘, Stygian Black Hand/Invictus)
[#5] ROTTEN ENTRAILS (‘As the Slurry Consumes‘, Iron Fortress/Rotten Tomb)

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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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Portland, Oregon-based death metal quintet COFFIN ROT have announced their second full-length album ‘Dreams Of The Disturbed‘ will release this coming September 20th through Maggot Stomp. For this album they’ve added a second guitarist in Jonathan Quintana (Decrepisy, Ascended Dead). They’re promising something heavier, darker in terms of mid-90’s death metal sounds, shredding, and even some dissonance. This first preview track is fairly straight forward but sounds great on first impression:

Invictus Productions have announced the sophomore full-length from SPITE is on the way sooner rather than later. ‘The Third Temple‘ will release on CD and trifold double-LP vinyl this coming September 27th. It has been over five years since this debut and this one looks like it’ll be a big deal, a big-ass record at the very least which promises a “both prequel and sequel to preceding works” as they detail the rise of the antichrist.

U.K.-based black/death and heavy metal band ADORIOR have announced their first album in ~19 years ‘Bleed on my Teeth‘ will release this coming September 27th by way of Dark Descent Records (North America) / Sepulchral Voice (EU). They’ve always been the type of band to be bold, extreme in their aggression and that type of presence is much needed these days. Check out the first preview song “Scavengers of Vengeance” to start:

Duplicate Records and Black Hearts/Cianeto Records have announced they will release the upcoming sophomore album from Brazilian old school death / thrash metal band AÇOITE. ‘Revanche! Hecatombe!‘ will hit LP and digital formats on October 25th. Aiming for a pure analog recording done in the old ways these folks pull direct inspiration from the raw classics of the late 80’s Cogumelo releases and their early extreme metal underground. Here we get a music video “Sinfonia Sangrenta” a brilliant cross-pissing event in a classic homebrewed style:

On September 13th W.T.C. Productions will release the eleventh full-length from Finnish black metal fixtures HORNA. ‘Nyx – Hymnejä Yölle‘ will release on CD, cassette and vinyl. Now reaching their 30th anniversary of activity and deep in the development of their sound this album promises to bridge past, present, and future. This time around they’ve replaced their rhythm section and once again focused on lengthier, involved pieces with dark entranced moodiness lingering in each. Very good news and one of my most anticipated releases for next month.

On September 13th Norma Evangelium Diaboli and Oration Records will conspire for the release of VAFURLOGI‘s debut album ‘Í vökulli áþján’. Their style is rooted in early 2000s black metal and the mind of vocalist/bassist Þórir Garðarsson (Sinmara, Svartidauði). Of course this is an even worth being excited about as we’ve not heard a ton from the Icelandic front in the last few years.

Denver, Colorado-based sludge/death metal band GLACIAL TOMB will return for another album, this time titled ‘Lightless Expanse‘, slated for release on Prosthetic Records this coming September 20th. You’ll probably recall this band from several years ago as they feature members of well-known groups such as Khemmis and this time around sport thematic inspiration from mental illness, citing gothic/surreal horror and death-doom metal style as the basis of their work. Check out “Abyssal Host”:

Amor Fati Productions have announced a third full-length album from black metal project NUBIVAGANT will come to CD and vinyl LP formats this coming October 4th. ‘The Blame Dagger‘ once again reprises the use of clean vocal and guitar tones to create a droning, possessed form of black metal still unique in its approach. I think I missed out on their second release but I recall enjoying the first one quite a bit, looking forward to this based on this preview song:

I, Voidhanger Records have announced they will release the debut full-length release from technical and experimental death-thrash metal band ODIOUS SPIRIT on CD and digitally this coming September 20th. ‘The Treason of Consciousness‘ comes as a personal project from musician James Oskarbski (Execrable, 8 Hour Animal) whose work is pitched as a fusion of Voivod, Immolation and such which of course pings my interest on both counts. Check out this preview song, “Gnawing the Fabric of Time”.

Transcending Obscurity Records have announced they will release the latest album from Swedish death metal band FERAL. ‘To Usurp The Thrones‘ will release on all relevant formats this coming October 18th. Though I expect a fairly traditional release from these folks per their track record I’ve always liked the bold and violent strikes of their work which recalls the old guard and the new exaggerations of it otherwise. Check out the latest preview song “Phantoms of Antiquity”:

Norwegian avant-garde black metal band TRELLDOM have announced their fourth full-length album ‘…by the shadows…‘ will release this coming September 13th. Not long after announcing their partnership with Prophecy Productions the long-standing but ever-changing troupe, which is longest rooted in the hands of visionary Gaahl and primary songwriter/guitarist Sir since the mid-to-late 90’s, announced this album which members of Thorns, The End, and such which leans into a far more curious real as they incorporate saxophone and… well, I think this one is easier to listen to than to describe on some level. I’ve enjoyed it so far, so I figured I’d mention “Between the World” the latest promo track:

Edged Circle Productions will be reviving Croatia-based thrash metal band WITCHCRAFT‘s legendary ‘Eternal Sea‘ demo tape on digital and 12″ vinyl formats. Formed in 1988 and quickly blasting out ten songs on a ten copy demo tape that’d reached the ends of the earth circa 1989 this is surely a raw, rough-assed obscurity but one that’d inspired many now legendary bands. Expect a heavier power-thrash kind of sound, plenty of double bass rattled pieces which fans of Artillery, Hirax, and such should definitely grab this one quick if you’re up for demo quality stuff. This reminds me, I was supposed to start my latest ongoing thrash metal feature a few months ago… ha, working on it. Anyhow I’ll probably “review” this in the sense that I’ll gather as much info as I can and then point out what their inspiration might’ve been as this type of stuff is entirely my jam.

LEGIONS OF DOOM have announced will release their latest full-length ‘The Skull 3‘ this coming September 13th via Tee Pee Records. This is essentially the passage beyond The Skull after legendary vocalist Eric Wagner‘s passing as they’ve used the material they were working on for a third full-length under that name now featuring folks from Leadfoot, Pentagram, Trouble, and Saint Vitus contributing. All of this seems pretty respectfully done and carries on in the best tradition so I’m stoked for the album, though I’m not sure this first song gripped me right off the bat, will have to jump into the whole deal soon:

Örebro, Sweden-based progressive death metal band CARNOSUS recently announced their signing with the good folks over at Willowtip Records and alongside some reissues they have also announced a new album. ‘Wormtales‘ will release this coming October 18th on CD, gatefold 12″ vinyl, cassette, and digitally. So, for a third album I think the first impression is they’re more sure of who they are and where they want to attack and I think this record finds the band delivering without any hesitation. This first preview song is eclectic as expected but also seems to be going for it a bit harder:

Swiss black metal project PAYSAGE D’HIVER have shared the massive first single, “Urgrund” (‘Bedrock’) from their upcoming third album ‘Die Berge‘ (‘The Mountains’), which’ll be released this coming November 8th. The fellowe behind the work Wintherr comments on the song “The name of the track, ‘Urgrund’, refers to the foundation – or the roots, if you will – of ‘Die Berge’ – this winter world’s eponymous mountains. The pillars of this world, which is Paysage d’Hiver, are based on the ‘Urgrund’, the primal ground.” and it is a formidable, engrossing piece one’d want from his work at this point. Looking forward to 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.

Still editing a number of videos (about ~10 for August + Best of) which’ll post early next week.

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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:

HAR – Cursed Creation [August 23rd, Dark Descent Records]
SANCTUARIUM – Melted and Decomposed [September 3rd, Me Saco Un Ojo/BlackSeed]
OFFICIUM TRISTE – Hortus Venenum [September 6th, Transcending Obscurity Records]
GRENDEL’S SŸSTER – Katabasis Into the Abaton [September 6th, Cruz Del Sur Music]
PHAËTHON – Wielder of the Steel [September 6th, Gates of Hell Records]
TOUR D’IVOIRE – Tour d’Ivoire [September 6th, Antiq Records]

SHORT REVIEWS + VIDEO:

Short Reviews will be changing into a different format starting in July. You’ll see once we’re there.

HAMMERFALL – Avenge the Fallen [August 9th, Nuclear Blast Records]
KOLDBRANN – Ingen Skånsel [August 23rd, Dark Essence Records]
GENERATION OF VIPERS – Guilt Shrine {August 23rd, Translation Loss Records]
DELVING – All Paths Diverge [August 23rd, Stickman/Blues Funeral Recordings]
EXECUTIONER’S MASK – Almost There [August 30th, Seeing Red Records]
SUR AUSTRU – Datura Străhiarelor [August 30th, Avantgarde Music]

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