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] PYRE (‘Where Obscurity Sways‘, Osmose)
[#2] NACHASH (‘Eschaton Magicks‘, Signal Rex)
[#3] RELICS OF HUMANITY (‘Absolute Dismal Domain‘, Willowtip)
[#4] PENTAGRAM (‘Lightning in a Bottle‘, Heavy Psych Sounds)
[#5] GRIMDOR (‘Grey Hevans‘, Out of Season/Self-Released)

FIVE BEST OF 1/17-1/24

[#1] CENTURY (‘Sign of the Storm‘, Electric Assault/Dying Victims)
[#2] BALMOG (‘Mud to Gold‘, Self-Released)
[#3] ACOLYTES OF MOROS (‘Sphere of Adversity‘, Nine Records)
[#4] MEMBARIS (‘Black Plasma Armour‘, W.T.C. Productions)
[#5] CONCRETE ICON (‘Voracious Streams‘, Memento Mori)

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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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Polish abstract ‘old school’ death metal quartet TOUGHNESS have announced their sophomore full-length album ‘Black Respite of Oblivion‘ will release via the good folks at Godz ov War Productions this coming February 28th. A lot of great notes on this one in terms of Haldor Grunberg doing the engineering/render, Will Smith (Afterbirth) doing guest spots on three tracks, and cover art from maestro Turkka Rantanen. All of these things point to an exceptional sophomore LP from these guys, they’ve got all kinds of solid merch and every format up for this one so, high confidence going in. Check out “The Profanity that Creates an Expression of Pain at the Impossibility of Ascending to the Lower Realms”:

Shadow Records have set February 28th as the release date for Swedish black metal band VOODUS‘ second full-length album. ‘Emanating Sparks‘ will release on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. They’ve produced a shorter, more potently venomous album this time around. They’d always had an almost psychedelic grasp of melodic black metal expansion and it is good to see they’ve going head-first into this record, as suggested by the recently revealed title track “Emanating Sparks”:

U.K.-based death metal band VACUOUS have announced their new album ‘In His Blood‘ will release via Relapse Records who’ve set the release for February 28th this year. It seems like they were only just newborn a couple of years ago but now it sounds like they’ve been working hard at their own original angle on classic death metal mutations. Guitarist Michael Brodsky comments: “We’ve talked about having different influences, and it felt like a bit of a dare to push things further. Back in death metal’s formative days, with bands like Autopsy, Obituary, and Incantation, none of those bands sounded like each other: they were just pushing their collective influences together to the extreme. I think we’re still doing the same thing, just from the point of view of people who grew up in the 2000s.” […] “Our goal was to pull in our personal influences from different genres of music, blending everything together and pushing it all to the extreme in a very bold way. It’s raw, organic, unhinged, and at times, very imperfect, but feels like our most personal and honest music to date, which is what death metal is all about ultimately – to us, anyway. We can’t wait for everyone to hear it and couldn’t be more excited for the legendary Relapse Records to be releasing it.” and based off of what I’ve heard so far and their unique album art, which looks like it’d been meant for a groove metal or noise rock band from the early 90’s, has me impressed:

Thrashing blackened death metal quartet FRIGHTFUL return with their sophomore full-length album ‘What Lies Ahead‘ this year and they’ve announced it will release via the good folks at Godz ov War Productions this coming February 28th. Check these guys out, both albums rip with plenty of classic Swedish melodic black/death and thrash inspiration in their action. For now we’ve got the title track, “What Lies Ahead”, to behold via its music video:

German thrash metal legendry DESTRUCTION will release their sixteenth studio album, ‘Birth Of Malice‘, this coming March 7th by way of Napalm Records. They’ve been on more of a heavy/groove metal guided sound these last couple of records and their latest single (“A.N.G.S.T.”) feels very much along those lines as it “urges fans to confront their inner demons and break free from mental chains” Schmier comments on the song “Our very first German song title is one of two very different tracks on this new album. I wanted to write a groovin’ live track with staccato riffs, evil bloodcurdling vocals and dark atmosphere.” For me the song is a bit slow, as was intended, but I’ll give the album a serious try:

Chilean stoner doom metal band OCULTUM have announced their upcoming full-length album, ‘Buena Muerte‘ will be released on February 28th via Heavy Psych Sounds. They’ve commented on this latest single, “Drugged Wizard Walks By”: “This overture begins the ritual called Buena Muerte, electrifying portals with magnetic fangs that grind your mind to flow in an unknown heavy dimension and that will lead you to a hypnotic trance between life and death cathartic psychedelic brutality to which those who dare to listen to the other tracks on this album will be subjected. Death makes its triumphant entrance disguised as a smoking wizard turned into your ally and follows you one step away patiently waiting for the hour of your transcendence.” Rad. I’ll give it a shot if there’s more wizard stuff going on:

Greek black metal quartet LUCIFER’S CHILD have announced their second full-length album ‘The Illuminant‘ will release via Agonia Records. The album will arrive on March 28th on CD, vinyl LP, cassette tape, and digitally. Founder/guitarist George Emmanuel (ex-Rotting Christ) suggests their sound aspires to: “a journey deeper into the abyss and the emotions, where the extreme meets the melodic, and the unseen becomes manifest. Our new album represents a bold evolution in our sound. It is an intense journey that blends the dark, the emotion, and the melody. With eight blasphemous tracks, it is both a reckoning and a revelation, a fire that consumes but also renews. This is our revelation, and we can’t wait to share its intensity across the stages.” and yes, it already sounds amazing out the gates with “Antichrist”. I’d felt like I completely underrated their last album so, I’ll give this one extra attention.

South American underground death metal crew TORTURER have recently released a new music video for “Santa Inquisición“, a song from their latest album, ‘Burning Cross‘. Vocalist/bassist Francisco Cautín comments on the song: “Santa Inquisición” explores the fanatical vision of a sect that wielded the cross and the sword to combat the so-called enemies of the church. It stands as yet another example of humankind’s attempts to control and oppress the masses. How many innocent lives suffered and perished because of this?” I didn’t even know this album released, it comes from Australis Records and has been out since December 5th. Now we just need a tour with them, Sadus and Pentagram (Chl)!

The folks behind ongoing Copenhagen, Denmark-based festival KILL-TOWN DEATH FEST X have announced they will begin a series of roster announcements for this year’s “15 Years of Death, Darkness and Decay” iteration. The festival will take place from the 4th through the 7th of September in Pumpehuset (venue) in Copenhagen. Announcements begin on Thursday February 6th @ 16:00 CET. One band announcement per day for 35 days. Tickets go on sale as soon as they start naming bands, so check it out and follow the fest on social media: Facebook: hwww.facebook.com/Killtowndeathfest / Instagram: @Killtowndeathfest_666

German melodic death metal band DESERTED FEAR have released “The Truth” the first single from their upcoming sixth full-length album ‘Veins of Fire‘. The album will release via Testimony Records this coming April 25th on all relevant formats. The band comment on the song: “Although we are children of the East, we grew up in a united Germany, but now we are witnessing a growing division in our society – not brought about by walls of concrete but by a rift of distrust and hatred that is widening every day. […] Yet there are people out there, who fight for justice, peace, and humanitarian values, who never give up to inform and discuss at home or among friends, on social media platforms, and at demonstrations […] Our song ‘The Truth’ is an appeal not to get distracted by disinformation and populist simplification but to ask critical questions that are based on facts – because the truth will never die!” sounds a bit like later In Flames on this song, not sure if this one is my kinda gear yet but I appreciate the message of the song.

Auckland, New Zealand-based black/death thrash metal quartet EXORDIUM MORS a new EP, ‘Sworn to Heresy‘ this coming on March 1st by way of Praetorian Sword Records. The first single from the EP is “Oath” and of course after 2022’s ‘As Legends Fade and Gods Die‘ we can only expect the highest order of riffcraft and chaos from this brilliant band, can’t wait for to duck into this album:

Cologne, Germany-based “grunge/doom metal” band DAEVAR return for a third full-length in 2025 as they share a new single, “Siren Song”, and announced a March 28th release via The Lasting Dose Records. ‘Sub Rosa‘ will be a pretty strong highlight for March on my end as I’d enjoyed their previous record but they seem to be delivering melody and pacing to their dirges to break things up based on this song. Their last album was awesome in terms of its production values and huge sound, this one is even heavier and louder than the last one, too.

U.K.-based sludge/doom metal trio CONAN have announced the release of their seventh studio album ‘Violence Dimension‘ by way of the good folks over at Heavy Psych Sounds. It will release this coming April 25th. The band comments on the album: “Violence Dimension is our 7th full-length release. We have come quite a distance in time and space since we released Horseback in 2010. One thing that binds us all is violence, be that within a video game, or in a movie or on the daily news. Violence affects our daily life, perhaps more than love or kindness ever will. We are all bound by death, whether we like it or not. This release explores the hinterland between being scared to live and bring scared to die, and punches holes in the idea that we must live our life by one set of rules. We all live in the violence dimension, and there is no escape.” Of course I’ve been a huge fan of these folks forever, and it seems the aesthetic and their impact only gets bigger with each release.

Finnish blackened death metal quintet SEPULCHRAL CURSE are back again already with a new full-length album ‘Crimson Moon Evocations‘ and this third album will be their first for Dark Descent Records who will release it this coming February 28th. The band comment: “With Abhorrent Dimensions we truly began to find our own sound and style, and Crimson Moon Evocations takes an even deeper dive into who we are and crystallises the essence of the Sepulchral Curse sound.” and in this sense we get a very strong melodic black/death metal piece and one of many on this new album. Check it out and see what you think of “House of the Black Moon”:

French philosophic post-black metal maestro DECLINE OF THE I will emerge with their fifth studio album titled ‘Wilhelm‘ this coming February 14th via Agonia Records. Up front I have to say this album blindsided me and I am a huge fan of this already in previews. This Parisian post-black/experimental black metal project comes from A.K. (Merrimack, The Order Of Apollyon, et al.) and centers its subject upon existential philosophy specifically basing its lyricism and theme on Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, this album being the second installment of a new (second) trilogy started by ‘Johannes‘ in 2021. I was stupid to have ignored that previous album since I wasn’t a fan of where their first trilogy started. The artist comments: “Ethics demand an internal code. Loops, repetitions, the relentless nature of a law, all run through its five tracks, spanning over 45 minutes. It blends abrasive, avant-garde black metal with numerous samples, as well as elements of electro and industrial music. A constrained dive into the angst of ethics.” and yes, I can comfortably say this might be one of my (black metal adjacent) favorites of the year already.

New York City-based heavy metal crew TOWER re-emerge with a heap of big news as they’ve got a new LP and a European tour to look forward to. They’ve teamed up with Arthur Rizk to record ‘Let There Be Dark‘, which will release this spring via Cruz Del Sur Music. This new album was “influenced by the current foreboding state of the world” and vocalist Sarabeth Linden explains the first single “Under the Chapel” and its gloomy melody come form a personal place: “The song’s lyrics and melody were inspired by a Yiddish lullaby my grandmother would sing to me as a child. It always felt extremely haunting. It was really cool to use that as inspiration and also pay homage to my grandmother and my heritage.” I’m looking forward to the full album reveal and all that since their debut was very strong.

https://towernyc.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-chapel-iron-clad

Night Terrors Records is proud to announce the release of ‘Mired in the Reek of Grief‘, the debut album from Australian death-doom metal band REEKMIND. The album will release MC (cassette tape) and vinyl LP format on March 7th this year. In terms of the first single, “Cavernous Creeper”, the band describes some of the premise: “The Reekmind is a manifestation of insurmountable grief that is represented in a physical form which slowly overtakes one’s mind and causes all affected to spiral into an inescapable well of misery and mental agony.” Definitely don’t miss this album, filthy and miserable stuff.

Hell’s Headbangers Records have announced CAUSTIC PHLEGM‘s debut album, ‘Purulent Apocalypse‘, will arrive this coming February 28th on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. This band comes from the fellow behind Chestcrush and leans into the rotten, shambling sound of where primitive death metal meets up with 80’s/early 90’s goregrind. Evan V. comments: “I wanted to utilize my HM2 and RAT pedals, which I love, and play something simple, to have fun without overthinking it like I do in Chestcrush,” and I think this makes for a pretty damned disgusting ride through simpler, groove-forward ideas though we still get a sense of the artists meticulous nature in the smaller details. Definitely worth checking out:

Gates of Hell Records are promising classic underground Finnish heavy metal per the upcoming release of CABALLERO‘s self-titled debut album. ‘Caballero‘ will be available March 7th in North America on cassette, vinyl, and digital formats. The European release is slated for February 21st. Expect old school heavy metal with strong early power metal nods where they’ve referenced early Jag Panzer, Judas Priest and Omen. Definitely my kind of digs, though the choice of name and such doesn’t quite make sense at face value.

Profound Lore Records have announced the latest album from Canadian death metal quartet PISSGRAVE will release this coming February 21st. ‘Malignant Worthlessness‘ completes a suggested trilogy which begun with 2015’s ‘Suicide Euphoria‘ and the endpoint is promised to be their most punishing, deranged, and blasphemous release to date. Another Arthur Rizk produced joint and a ruthless album from what I’ve gathered in previews. Maybe this time it won’t get censored on social media? Album art is of course awful once more. Check out “In Heretic Blood Christened”:

San Luis Obispo, California-based trio MEPHITIC CORPSE will release their debut full-length album, ‘Sickness Attracts Sickness‘ this coming February 1st. Extremely Rotten Productions will release the album to European audiences with Headsplit Records (vinyl, CD and cassette) and 625 Thrashcore (vinyl and CD) releasing the album in the United States. Heinous shit, disgusting vocals, brutal grindcore/goregrind:

Iron Bonehead Productions have announced the second album from Norwegian black metal project GRYLA. ‘The Redeemer’s Festering Carcass‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP formats. I’m not familiar with the artist’s digital only debut album but this song suggests a focus on classic raw semi-melodic sounds, cold and centered around simple grooves. The album could be solid based off of first impressions, presented in a messy ‘old school’ sensibility. Check out “The Redeemer’s Festering Carcass Pt. 2”:

Black metal/grindcore quintet SCOUR have finally announced their debut full-length album ‘Gold‘ will release this coming February 21st, 2025 via Housecore Records in North America and Nuclear Blast in Europe. ‘Gold‘ will be available on CD, vinyl LP, limited edition cassette (US only), and digitally. Having been at work on various EP releases for the last ten years it sounds like the overall concept and presentation of the band has been sorted and the result is heavy as shit, crossing the brutality of late second wave Scandinavian black metal with grindcore of that same era. Not keen on another plain-as-fuck album artwork but I’ve been enjoying this album in previews so far, big sound, big grinds and they’ve worked in more than whipping brutality.

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THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS

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NEXT WEEK:

Here are the six longform reviews I have been working on for next week, these are subject to change or rescheduling to a later date.

INBORN SUFFERING – Pale Grey Monochrome [February 7th, Ardua Music]
DYSANGELIUM – Exxekratus [February 12th, W.T.C. Productions]
IZROD – Ulica, trnje i kamenje [February 14th, Signal Rex]
CHAOS INCEPTION – Vengeance Evangel [February 14th, Lavadome Productions]
DECLINE OF THE I – Wilhelm [February 14th, Agonia Records]
XENOTRONE – Into the Void [February 21st, Archivist Records]

SHORTS:
MEPHITIC CORPSE – Sickness Attracts Sickness [February 2nd, ERP/Headsplit/625 Thrashcore]
SARKASM – Carnival of Atrocities [February 4th, Xtreem Music]
NORILSK – Antipole [February 6th, Hypnotic Dirge Records]
-(16)- – Guides for the Misguided [February 7th, Relapse Records]
FUMES – Skeletal Wings Threshold [February 7th, Personal Records]
DÉLIRANT – Thoughteater [February 14th, Sentient Ruin]

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