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

---

FIVE BEST OF THIS WEEK

[#1] GIGAN (‘Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus‘, Willowtip Records)
[#2] BLACKEVIL (‘Praise the Communion Fire…‘, Dying Victims)
[#3] ATARAXIE (‘Le D​é​clin‘, Ardua Music/Weird Truth)
[#4] LOWRIDER/ELEPHANT TREE (‘The Long Forever‘, Blues Funeral)
[#5] SEDIMENTUM (‘Derri​è​re les portes…‘, Dark Descent/MSuO)

---

UPCOMING RELEASES

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

---

Australian death metal band GUTLESS have announced their debut full-length album ‘High Impact Violence‘ is due to release this coming November 22nd with Dark Descent Records issuing CD and digital options and Me Saco Un Ojo issuing the vinyl with cassette versions from both labels. At the very least you’ll recall this band’s brutal first demo tape from 2018 and their split with labelmates Mortal Wound, expect sickening brutal stuff along the lines of this first single, “Viral Infection”:

Probably the most compelling 2025 release I’ve heard so far comes from Mexican death metal band NECRONOS who’ve announced their debut full-length album, ‘Charred Tongue‘, will release this coming January 13, 2025 on CD and digitally. Featuring former members of Darkside Ritual and Summoning Death this atmospheric death metal band have a real handle on doomed pathos, brutal assault, and their own heady atmospheric edge which combines into a pretty damned thrilling release which manages true old school death appeal just as well. They’ve also got a concept/narrative running through: “[the album] tells the tale of a forgotten slave species seeking revenge through cosmic warfare and dark occult knowledge,” already stoked to crack into this one to kick off next year.

Old school Danish death metal crew MACERATION have released a digital single and music video, “Serpent Devourment” which is apparently a prompt for a new studio album. In fact this is the title track for ‘Serpent Devourment’ but the full details aren’t readied just yet. What we can note here is the doom metal influence upon this song as they press beyond their reintroduction on their most recent ‘comeback’ record. Check out the video:

Detroit power metal quintet DEMON BITCH have premiered “Master of the Games,” the title track and second single from their sophomore full-length album ‘Master of the Games‘. It’ll release via Gates of Hell Records this coming November 29th on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. This nine-song album is described as “[…] a chaotic offering of obscure and underground U.S. power metal and classic heavy metal with some eclectic moments ranging from 1970s sensibilities to more extreme influences.” and yes that is exactly what I’m looking for at any given time. Always a cool band and great to see them back after so many years.

Dying Victims Productions have announced the sophomore full-length album from HEXENBRETT, ‘Dritte Beschwörung: Dem Teufel eine Tochter‘ will release this coming December 20th on CD and vinyl LP formats. Rather than pull their sound from heavy metal classics these folks boast inspiration from European cult films and their soundtracks, of course it makes for a weird-ass band with a unique sound. I liked most of their previous work so I’m curious about this one.

Germany based black/death metal duo IMHA TARIKAT have released a standalone digital single, “Murderflesh”, as they gather notice for their ongoing European tour. ‘Murderflesh’ is meant to be a teaser for what comes next from the band though it won’t appear on their next full-length album. The band comment: “Our new song ‘Murderflesh’ deals with bitter and furious emotions. Desperate and hopeless for change, grasping for anything in the world to outgrow suffering, some will resort to extremes. In doing so, many lose pieces of themselves that they can never retrieve. Criminals, addicts, the corrupt, fanatics, apostates, and whoever you care to name – all commit murder on themselves, within their flesh, and to the flesh of others.” Of course the passion and intelligence of this fellowe has been well noted at this point, always great to hear what they come up with.

Cruz Del Sur Music have announced ‘Out of the Dark‘, the debut full-length album from emerging Boston-based heavy/doom metal band THE WATCHER. You might recall they’d released an EP in 2020 (‘Your Turn to Die‘). Their new album will be released November 29th on CD, vinyl, and digitally. Great sound on this one and very strong take on traditional heavy metal, you can hear their love of NWOBHM here but with a dark hand. Check out “Burning World”:

Stockholm-based heavy metal troupe TEMPLAR return with a new lineup and a 3-song single, ‘Treacherous Beast‘. This pure traditional heavy metal band offer a pretty authentic addition to the current Swedish scenery and hey, some catchy songs here too. It’ll release this coming December 6th via Jawbreaker Records:

Experimental death metal duo THUNRAZ have shared the music video for “Compactor” the second single off their upcoming album, Incineration Day. It’ll be self-released this coming November 22nd. This duo features folks from Estonia and the United States as they meld blunt technical grooves with noisome tones, truly an interesting rhythmic force… A few songs remind me of like, the first Helmet album’s guitar layers applied to dissodeath. Check out “Compactor” here:

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have announced they will release the debut full length album from Canadian death metal band IMMORTAL FORCE. ‘Mystic Seance Unrealities‘ will be released November 22nd on CD and digitally. The quartet “worships the old analog metal sound, the filthiest horror flicks of the 80’s, and anything bizarre, absurd and menacing!” and hey, that sounds like something I’d like, if it has riffs:

HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY have released an impressive music video for “With Autumn I’ll Surrender” the first single from their upcoming album ‘Scorched Earth‘. The album releases this coming January 24th, 2025 via AOP Records. The band comments: “With ‘With Autumn I’ll Surrender’ we’re finally releasing the first single of our upcoming album ‘Scorched Earth’. For this purpose, we chose a song that combines the HFTS typical Post Black Metal energy with riffs that hail from the glorious times of the Grunge and Indie Rock era. A first hint where this album and its songs are leading us…” At this point their work becomes more fluid, feeling like a slow-born turn towards dark metal melodicism. Otherwise I think the idea for the song/video does well to capitalize upon their knack for telling personal stories with great dramatism in mind:

---

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.

---

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:

MITOCHONDRION – Vitriseptome [November 1st, Profound Lore Records]
CRYPTIC BROOD – Necrotic Flesh Bacteria [November 1st, War Anthem Records]
THYRATHEN – Lakonic [November 1st, Floga Records]
NECROFERUM – Visions From the Necrorealm [November 4th, Nuclear Winter Records]
YOTH IRIA – Blazing Inferno [November 8th, Edged Circle Productions]
PLOUGHSHARE – Second Wound [November 8th, I, Voidhanger Records]

SHORT REVIEWS:

QAALM – Grave Impresions of an Unbroken Arc [November 1st, Hypaethral Records]
SUIDAKRA – Darkanakrad [November 7th, MDD Records]
LEGENDARIUM – For Eternal Glory [November 8th, Fiadh Productions]
AUA – Painkiller No. 1 [November 8th, CrazySane Records]
WITCHPIT – Forever Spoken [November 8th, Heavy Psych Sounds]
1000MODS – Cheat Death [November 8th, Ripple Music]

---