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] SATAN (‘Songs in Crimson‘, Metal Blade Records)
[#2] JADE / SANCTUARIUM (‘The Sempiternal Wound‘, Pulverised)
[#3] VAFURLOGI (‘​Í v​ö​kulli á​þ​j​á​n‘, NoEvDia/Oration)
[#4] HORNA (‘Nyx – Hymnejä Yölle‘, W.T.C. Productions)
[#5] AETHYRICK (‘Death is Absent‘, End All Life Productions)

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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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This coming October 25th Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Dark Descent Records will release a new mini-LP from Canadian death metal band SEDIMENTUM. ‘Derrière les Portes d’une Arcane Transcendante‘ will get the vinyl treatment from Me Saco Un Ojo and Dark Descent will release the CD version. Of course we can trust in the atmospheric qualities and insane riffcraft of these folks based on their past work, but for now check out this preview track “Le Labyrinthe Sempiternel”:

Sepulchral Voice Records have announced the sophomore full-length album from Colorado-based bestial death metal crew BLACK CURSE. ‘Burning in Celestial Poison‘ will be released this coming October 25th and so far it sounds pretty rabid based on the first preview song “Trodden Flesh”. There was such wilding hype for their 2020 record I’d imagine this one landing nearby related projects will achieve a similar result, based on preview I would say I’ve found this one both more buck-wild and maybe a bit more substantive in its rhythms. Check it out and get in on the hype:

This coming November 1st Floga Records will release the sophomore full-length album from Hellenic black metal band TYRATHEN. Featuring a pretty insane cult gathering w/fellowes associated with Kawir, Nocternity, Varathron, and Macabre Omen one can expect bold and dramatic presentation from this album. ‘Lakonic‘ will release on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. Brilliant work with an engrossing pagan/epic feeling. Check out the first preview song “Η Πόλις (the Philosophical Poem)”:

AOP Records have announced November 8th as the release date for German black/death metal band CHAOS INVOCATION‘s fifth full-length album. ‘Wherever We Roam…‘ pivots away from the direct-to-flame scorch of their previous album, which I’d liked quite a bit, and stares into the abyss for melodic inspiration this time around suggesting the old ways and eerie waves will strike this time around. AOP have been cranking out a -ton- of quality releases lately and I am most excited for this one. Huge fan of this band. Check out “Ideal Sodom”:

On October 18th De Tenebrarum Principio will release the fifth album from Swedish black metal band SEID. ‘Hymns to the Norse‘ reprises the folken yet raw pagan black metal sound of the band, following up the brilliant ‘Svart Sól‘ (2022) once again aiming for an organic, volatile presentation which is distinctly Scandinavian in its affect, themes, and melodicism. The first preview track on offer is “My Kingdom Rise”:

Swedish death metal band TOXAEMIA have announced a November 15th release date for their upcoming Emanzipation Productions released full-length album, ‘Rejected Souls of Kerberus‘. The band comment on the first single “Blood Red”: “With ‘Blood Red’ we wanted to explore the mind of a serial killer, and that primal raw power. We wanted a real go at the mix of heaviness and speed only death metal can give. At the same time, we wanted to expand what Toxaemia is and what we can become, while still maintaining our roots.” So far I am interested to see how the album turns out.

Swedish “melodic death/thrash” metal band THE CROWN have announced their twelfth full-length album ‘Crown Of Thorns‘ will release this coming October 11th via the good folks over at Metal Blade Records. This time around one founding member has left (bassist Magnus Olsfelt) and one founding member has returned (guitarist Marcus Sunesson) with a new rhythm section bringing a ton of frenzied energy to this album. They’re emphasizing that this record is different from the last two in the messaging, some new blood in their songwriting and a focus on ripping it with more speed. Based on my previews so far this seems correct and has more fire to it. Check out the blitz of “Churchburner” to start:

Xtreem Music have announced they will release the ‘comeback’ full-length album from Texas underground thrash metal crew ANIALATOR. ‘Death is Calling‘ will release on CD, 12” LP, cassette, and digitally this coming October 22nd. It sounds like they’ve had to jump through a few hurdles to get this thing going, including a recent dispute over ownership of the band name, but they’ve managed a solid album here. I think anyone who was excited for the return of Morbid Saint will appreciate this album up front. Check out the first single “Hear the Death Call”:

Swedish stoner rock band LOWRIDER have shared their latest single, “And The Horse You Rode In On”, in support of ‘The Long Forever‘ a split album with London-based psychedelic doom group ELEPHANT TREE which releases this coming October 25th through Blues Funeral Recordings. Lowrider frontman Peder Bergstrand comments: “We just wanted to do something different. How do you follow up the 11 minute closing track everyone loved on our last album? I have no idea, but a two-and-a-half minute punk banger on the current state of the world seemed like the only way. Weirdly enough it’s also our first music video ever. I’ve done more music videos for others than I can remember (for Greenleaf & Dozer among others) but somehow this is our first. Feels nice to have ripped that band-aid, 25 years into the career haha!” and of course more from this band is a joy, loved their ‘comeback’ album to death and can’t wait for more material from ’em.

Iron Bonehead Productions have announced November 22nd as the release date for Swedish black metal band NIGRUM‘s second album. ‘Blood Worship Extremism‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP formats. Ritualistic and arcane but also firebrand in their treatment of black metal to me these folks have much more to show here on their second album and you’ll recall I’d really enjoyed the first. Check out the first preview song “Splendor of the Old World”:

An official video for “Vingthor”, a song from the latest THE FLIGHT OF SLEIPNIR album, has been released in support of their upcoming full-length album. The band comments on the video: “Vingthor visualizes the mystic journey of a fallen hero who traverses the realm between life and death. Symbolism and revelation are his only guide through an obscure and ominous domain. Until he finds himself embraced by the personification of death, battle, and victory, does he truly ascend.” The album ‘Nature’s Cadence‘ releases on September 27th via Eisenwald. Check it out:

AOP Records has announced November 1st as the release date for Austria post-black metal band ANOMALIE‘s fifth full-length album ‘Riverchild. Authenticity. Creativity. Passion.‘ This project has been around since 2011 and comes from Harakiri for the Sky live member Marrok. I wasn’t expecting all that much to be honest but this song “Perpetual Twilight” is very well realized and caught my ear per its arrangement. See what you think:

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THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS

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.

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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:

SPITE – The Third Temple [September 27th, Invictus Productions]
INGURGITATING OBLIVION – Ontology of Nought [September 27th, Willowtip Records]
ADORIOR – Bleed on my Teeth [September 27th, Dark Descent/Sepulchral Voice]
MIDNIGHT FORCE – Severan [September 27th, Dying Victims Productions]
KEITZER – Pandemonium Humanitas [September 27th, F.D.A. Records]
THE FLIGHT OF SLEIPNIR – Nature’s Cadence [September 27th, Eisenwald]

SHORT REVIEWS:

ALUNAH – Fever Dream [September 20th, Heavy Psych Sounds]
MORK – Syv [September 20th, Peaceville Records]
GLACIAL TOMB – Lightless Expanse [September 20th, Prosthetic Records]
DEATHLESS VOID – The Voluptuous Fire of Sin [September 20th, Iron Bonehead]
TYPHONIAN – The Gate of the Veiled Beyond [September 20th, Transcending Obscurity Records]
IFRYT – Nudy [September 20th, Godz ov War Productions]

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