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] CHAOS INCEPTION (‘Vengeance Evangel‘, Lavadome)
[#2] DECLINE OF THE I (‘Wilhelm‘, Agonia Records)
[#3] DÉLIRANT (‘Thoughteater‘, Sentient Ruin)
[#4] KRYPTAN (‘Violence, Our Power‘, Edged Circle)
[#5] IZROD (‘Ulica, trnje i kamenje‘, Signal Rex)

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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 April 25th Dying Victims Productions will release the fifth full-length album from PAGAN ALTAR. ‘Never Quite Dead‘ will release on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. This announcement comes alongside a new single from the album “The Dead’s Last March” which is the first we’ve heard from them in some time beyond the death of founder Terry Jones, who’d started the group back in 1978. The suggestion is that some or all of these songs were written with Jones‘ input before his passing but the album features ex-Magic Circle frontman Brendan Radigan on lead vocals. Of course this is some of the best news of the year for the doom-faithful and comes from one of my favorite doom metal groups.

Kraków, Poland-based death metal duo DORMANT ORDEAL have announced they are finally readied with ‘Tooth and Nail‘, the band’s fourth album and first for Willowtip Records who will release the album this coming April 18th. The album will be available on CD, vinyl, cassette, and digital formats. I’d liked ‘The Grand Scheme of Things‘ quite a bit and felt these guys were on the cusp of something unique so I’m stoked for this one. Guitarist Maciej Nieścioruk comments on the the first single from the album, “Halo of Bones”: “it was composed shortly after the release of 2021’s The Grand Scheme of Things and features the outstanding work of Chason Westmoreland who played drums on the whole album. [the song is] is straightforward and to the point. Enjoy the first taste of Tooth and Nail.” and now that I’ve heard the whole record I’d say this is not the whole story but a great showcase of nuance, an obvious high level of skill, and the production values at hand.

I, Voidhanger Records have announced another batch of highly creative releases this time for March and the one that’d stood out most for my own taste was Austin, Texas-based noise rock influenced avant-garde black metal band LABYRINTHINE HEIRS and their self-titled debut LP (‘Labyrinthine Heirs‘) due pit March 21st this year. The quartet explain their esoteric sound: “All members of the band come from different metal tribes in Austin, and therefore our music is not easily categorized but from the beginning the plan was to marry the sound of Touch and Go Records artists like THE JESUS LIZARD and SHELLAC with that of CELTIC FROST and VIRUS.” You’ll also note that at least one member of the underrated Phase IV also provides bass guitar in this band. Should be an interesting album to sift through.

Dark Empire Records have announced they will release the eighth album from black n’ roll/black metal group GLORIOR BELLI, a self-titled album due out “next month”. The bandleader and main composer/performer Billy Bayou states about the first single: “With ‘Weltschmerz Wield Power,’ we’re channeling the raw energy of rebellion against oppression. It’s about breaking free from the dogma that has held humanity captive for millennia. Parasitic ideologies have drained our spirits for too long. This song is a battle cry for those who dare to stand tall, to wield the power of world-weariness as a weapon against conformity. It’s an anthem for the new dawn we’re forging, where no walls can confine our liberated minds.” and to their credit this band’ve always done something interesting with rock and black metal admixture:

Chaos Records have announced ‘Lower Mesozoic Exhibit‘ an early days compilation from “prehistoric death metal” band THECODONTION will release on April 4th this year. This compilation will feature “their first demo and Jurassic EP, both of which were previously available only in analog formats.” While this isn’t such a major release for my own taste I’ve always appreciated the concept of the band: “the first half of the compilation is about archosaurs from the Triassic period, while the second half focuses on pterosaurs and sauropods from the Jurassic period,” They’re definitely worth checking out and I’m guessing this release will eventually be followed by a new release.

Translation Loss Records have announced the latest album from Liverpool, England-based extreme sludge/doom metal band COLTSBLOOD will release this coming May 30th. ‘Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk‘ has been long in development and they’ve suggested the four songs included feature “hints of the Finnish funeral doom masters [which] often collide with rotten death metal undercurrents.” huge sound, great single (assumedly the only one) and a record I’m beyond stoked to check out since I’d been such a fan of the last in the long run.

Bay Area ‘old school’ death-grind band CARTILAGE have announced a new EP, ‘Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology‘ will release this coming March 14th via Everlasting Spew Records on CD, Cassette, and digitally but the vinyl will have to wait until summertime. Cool band, liked most of their stuff so far so I’m gonna check this one out. Check out “Frothed Vomit Slosh”:

Sydney, Australia-based stoner/sludge metal band AMAMMOTH have announced their second full-length album, ‘Distant Skies and The Ocean Flies‘, is set for release via Electric Valley Records on March 21st. They’re calling this one a “detour through terrestrial and extraterrestrial themes” but in the same breath this album is suggested to explore the mysteries of the deep ocean… and I guess that means it is heavy as shit because this new song, “Satellite”, has me hyped for it already.

New York-based heavy rock/metal trio SANHEDRIN have announced they will release their latest full-length, ‘Heat Lightning‘, on March 14th via Metal Blade Records. Drummer Nathan Honor comments: “Sonically, there’s no comparison. Heat Lightning is the fullest representation of the power of this band. When you take three seasoned musicians with their favorite handpicked instruments, put them in front of two brilliant producer/engineers in a studio stacked with incredible equipment and no outside distractions, this is what you get.” Vocalist/bassist Erica Stoltz comments on the title of the album: “‘Heat lightning’ is a flash of lightning from very far away, sometimes seen in a clear sky. It is used as a metaphor for where we see ourselves at the moment in relation to climate change. Collectively we have moved further away from our direct relationship to nature and have adopted a paternal relationship with the natural world, as if we have control.” And it sounds like every song here has something to say. I was a fan of their first record but I haven’t followed up on anything since, so I’ll for sure check into this one. For now try “Blind Wolf”:

Swedish death metal band WOMBBATH have announced their latest full-length album ‘Beyond The Abyss‘ will release via Pulverised Records this coming March 14th. This will be the seventh studio album from the band and I’ll be honest I’ve barely paid attention to them over the years. They’ve promised “the band’s most aggressive material to date.” and will contain some progressive elements which they’ve incorporated over time. I’m interesting to see how all of that comes together, love the album art:

You might recall the second from Lithuanian death metal band CRYPTS OF DESPAIR from a few years back and now they’re back again with Transcending Obscurity Records in announcing a follow-up: ‘We Belong in the Grave‘ which releases this coming April 18th. They’ve suggested “the music is comparatively more condensed, visceral, intuitive, and even displays hints of melancholy.” also remarking that this material should feel like a bold step ahead for the group. I’m into this first song so it’ll be cool to see how those changes pan out on the whole deal. Check out “Expulsion to Purgatory”:

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THIS WEEK’S VIDEOS

I am now finally caught up to date with video review recording, not necessarily editing.

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NEXT WEEK’s REVIEWS:

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.

VACUOUS – In His Blood [February 28th, Relapse Records]
TOUGHNESS – Black Respite of Oblivion [February 28th, Godz ov War Productions]
HAVUKRUUNU – Tavastland [February 28th, Svart Records]
RITUAL ASCENSION – Profanation of the Adamic Covenant [February 28th, Sentient Ruin]
GRAVE INFESTATION – Carnage Gathers [February 28th, Dark Descent/Invictus]
HIRAX – Faster Than Death [February 28th, Armageddon Label]

INDEPENDENT RELEASES:

Making an effort to give short reviews for self-released records. No guarantees that I’ll cover any of these.

HEXJAKT – Hexjakt [January 31st, Self-Released]
DEMOLYN – Slay the Godhead [February 7th, Self-Released]
PYRRHIC SALVATION – When Society Crumbles [February 14th, Self-Released]
SCARE – In the End, Was it Worth It? [February 21st, Self-Released]
ASPAARN – Oblation in Atrocity [February ??, Self-Released]
ACID MAGUS – Scatterling Empire [February 21st, Self-Released]
ASASARA – 777 [February 18th, Self-Released]
SIDEWINDER – March of the Eternal Heretic [February 7th, Self-Released]
MARROWOMB – Phisenomie [February 21st, Self-Released]

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