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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BEST OF THIS WEEK

[#1] DARKSIDE RITUAL (‘Chamber of Deathlessness‘, Chaos Records)
[#2] COLTSBLOOD (‘Obscured into Nebulous Dusk‘, Translation Loss)
[#3] PUTERAEON (‘Mountains of Madness‘, Emanzipation)
[#4] GOATH (‘IV: Silencing the…‘, Van Records)
[#5] WEEPING SORES (‘The Convalescence Agonies‘, I, Voidhanger)

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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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Swedish underground death/doom metal legendry ETERNAL DARKNESS surface from the most extreme depths of yesterday for a debut full-length album which has been brewing for the last three+ decades. These folks carry a reputation as one of the eldest death-doom hands from their country and if you don’t know their demo tapes and unreleased 92 LP you’re missing out on some of the best ever made and despite how raw some of it is. This will be their first (and last LP) and Pulverised Records will release it this coming July 18th on CD, Vinyl and digitally. The album was recorded, mixed & mastered by Peter Bjärgö (Krypt Of Kerberos, etc) and at the band’s former K-13 rehearsal room. After that brilliant Moondark record last year this is amazing news and again the kind of thing I’d not expected to happen. Go check out their ‘Total Darkness‘ compilation in the meantime and while you’re at it this new lyric video for the album’s opening track, “The Beyond”:

This May 28th (a couple of days ago) W.T.C. Productions released SARGEIST‘s sixth full-length album, ‘Flame Within Flame‘, on CD format as a prompt for their upcoming European tour. Vinyl and cassette versions will follow later this year. The line-up once again includes VJS on second guitar, Spellgoth on bass and drummer Nur-i-siyah (Nawaharjan) with Shatraug on guitars and vocals. Melodious, raw, psychotic and determined… you should spend this weekend soaking this one up. I’ll review it at some point next week:

Costa Rica-based death metal crew MORTUAL now graduate their attack beyond EP releases with this newly announced debut full-length album. ‘Altar of Brutality‘ will release on vinyl, CD and cassette format this coming July 4th through the good folks at Nuclear Winter Records. This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year as I loved their ‘Evil Incarnation‘ EP. The first single “Necromancy Ritual” comes with the promise of a “a darker, more oppressive sound, dripping with heretical intent and sharpened through years of relentless underground devotion.” and I am completely stoked on the result. Check out the song over on Bandcamp:

Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Rotted Life Records have conspired for a July 18th release date for the debut album from Swedish death metal band FILTH. ‘Time to Rot‘ will release on vinyl via Me Saco Un Ojo and Rotted Life will handle the CD and cassette versions. Expect a classic kind of late 80’s Swedish death sound with its own deranged voice, a sound that I’d instantly been drawn to. Check it out for yourself via the title track “Time to Rot” over on Bandcamp:

Me Saco Un Ojo Records and Rotted Life Records have once again conspired for a July 11th release date for Quebec, Canada-based death metal band DÉCRYPTAL‘s debut album. ‘Simulacre‘ will release on vinyl via Me Saco Un Ojo and Rotted Life will handle the CD and cassette. You might recall I’d love the band’s EP back in 2023 and am interested to see how it all comes together on an LP. Another one of my most anticipated for the second half of the year. Check out the preview song “Zisurru” over on Bandcamp:

Malignant Voices have announced a June 13th release date for the debut full-length album from Polish death metal band STELLAR BLIGHT. ‘Eventide: Synod of the Dying Stars‘ will release on CD and digitally with two t-shirt designs available. They’re calling it death-driven heavy metal and the band comes from members of Shodan, Mānbryne, Blaze of Perdition, and Owls Woods Graves. Think of something as heavy metal as Dissection but bearing its own sound, atmosphere and general tone. They’ve got some songs up on Bandcamp, check these out and don’t miss this one:

Heavy metal solo act PHANTOM SPELL will return this year with a sophomore full-length album by way of Cruz Del Sur Music. ‘Heather & Hearth‘ will release this July 18th on vinyl format. There will be CD and cassette editions but those will come from the artist’s own Wizard Tower Records. The album is described as “a collection of heartfelt tales, weaving the potent nostalgia of home with vivid fantasy and cautionary storytelling.” Also suggesting a more complete dynamic engaged and more folken energies abounding with acoustic guitar being and even more important part of their work. Really interesting band, I’d only heard their split with Wytch Hazel prior so I’m curious to dig deeper into their lore.

Bergen, Norway-based black/speed metal band PHANTOM FIRE return for a third full-length album, still driven by the early 80’s classics of heavy metal. ‘Phantom Fire‘ will release this coming August 8th by way of Edged Circle Productions and features drummer, producer, engineer Iver Sandøy (Enslaved) to round out their performances to a trio. Expect another rollicking black n’ rolling heavy metal record with a lot of crazed energy running through it.

Finnish progressive heavy psychedelic rock band CRANEIUM have released a music video for their latest single, “The Flow of Time and Age”, as it appears they’re brewing a new album via Majestic Mountain Records. The song is all about mortality and their approach is a mix of humor in the imagery and something kinda deep on paper as the band comment: “Our new track dives into the weight of memory, the slow collapse of what we hold dear, and that urgent need to act before the moment slips away. It’s heavy, melodic, and it hits like a truth you weren’t ready to face.” I liked one of their records a while ago, from what I recall so I’ll be curious to check whatever comes next from these folks:

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YOUTUBE / VIDEO REVIEWS

No new videos this week, the holiday slowed me down at the end of the month and more than usual. Check in next week where I’ll catch up with the rest of May’s video reviews and get the Top Ten of the month sorted.

Please follow and subscribe to my YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@terraasymmetry

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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.

GOATH – IV: Silencing the Prophets of Deceit [June 6th, Van Records/Chaos Records]
HEXVESSEL – Nocturne [June 13th, Prophecy Productions]
STELLAR BLIGHT – Eventide: Synod of the Dying Stars [June 13th, Malignant Voices]
ANGEL OF DAMNATION – Ethereal Blasphemy [June 20th, Dying Victims]
SKJOLDEN – Insouciant Metaphysical Grandeur [June 20th, Self-Released]
PATRISTIC – Catechesis [June 20th, Willowtip Records]

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