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

---

BEST OF THIS WEEK

[#1] HEXVESSEL (‘Nocturne‘, Prophecy Productions)
[#2] STELLAR BLIGHT (‘Eventide: Synod of…‘, Malignant Voices)
[#3] NIGHTBEARER (‘Defiance‘, Testimony)
[#4] SOMNVS MORTIS (‘Onírica Evocación de las…’, Oratorium)
[#5] SIGH (‘I Saw the World End…’, Peaceville)

---

UPCOMING RELEASES

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

---

Australian death metal band BEYOND MORTAL DREAMS have announced their latest EP release, ‘Devastation Hymns‘, will release on CD and digitally by way of Lavadome Productions this coming June 28th. Expect nothing short of top-tier death metal from these folks within these six songs, including a brilliant cover of Forbidden‘s “Forbidden Evil”. Stoked on this one, big fan of all their stuff.

Greek sci-fi themed avant-grind quartet DEPHOSPHORUS will return with their fifth full-length album, ‘Planetoktonos‘, on July 18th this year. The vinyl will release via 7Degrees Records/Nerve Altar, Selfmadegod will release the CD. Aiming to expand listeners’ consciousness while “fostering a vision of a sustainable future where humanity not only survives but thrives in harmony with its biosphere – and even with AI. Much like the anarchic utopia imagined by Iain M. Banks in The Culture books, this future is one where technology and humanity coexist symbiotically.” the band expand their already mind-bending sound on this record, easily one of my most anticipated for July. Check out the first single “Pale Veins”:

Testimony Records have announced the latest full-length album from German/Bangladeshi death metal trio KHNVM will this coming August 29th on all relevant formats. ‘Cosmocrator‘ will be the fourth LP from the group and intends to “explore the crossroads of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality.” while referencing Hitchens, Jung and others in challenging conventional beliefs. I like that they still sound like an ‘old school’ inspired death metal band on this first single, “Fetid Eden”, looking forward to checking out the rest of the album:

Linköping, Sweden-based heavy metal quartet VIRAL have announced they will release their second full-length album, ‘The Merchant‘ this coming August 15th. They’ve suggested it will lean deeper into both classic heavy metal inspiration as well as some darker influences. Big fan of this band and the high standard they present in terms of presentation, personality and songcraft. Check out the second single “The Sage”:

Monrovia, California-based thrashing black/death metal quartet IMPERIALIST will return with their third full-length album ‘Prime‘ this coming September 5th by way of the good folks over at Transcending Obscurity Records. Always bringing a high standard to their own vision of sci-fi black metal with death and thrash metal inspiration ingrained this new album feels like a serious evolution beyond their 2021 release. Between the mix/master from Dan Swano and album art from Eliran Kantor they’ve ensured a really solid first impression here. Check out the Harlan Ellison inspired single “I A.M.”:

Hell’s Headbangers Records have announced they will release the debut full-length album from Tokyo, Japan-based speed metal quintet VERDALACK. ‘Force From the Grave‘ will release on CD, vinyl, and cassette tape this coming July 25th. Originally sorted from the ashes of a thrash metal group this crew brings a blend of classic speed metal, USPM influences, and Japanese hardcore punk. Great album art and the first preview song “Final Assault” has a kind of English Dogs kind of thing going on, it’ll clue you in on what they’re all about as soon as you fire it up:

Deathgrind band NEFAS have announced their debut EP, ‘Oblation ov Obliteration‘ will release this coming June 27th. The band features folks from bands like Teeth and Wax People and their style is all over the place on these three songs. Lots of psychotic energy and various tirades keep this one interesting. Check out the first preview song for yourself:

Pagan Records have announced a June 29th release date for the latest album from Sweden-based black metal band WÉKERAS. ‘Do wirów, do krzyków!‘ will release on all relevant formats and is described as “old-school black metal” in its intent. I found this song “Urok” interesting and appreciate the style/aesthetic of the release at a glance. Check it out for yourself:

Psychedelic doom metal band LITANIA have announced the release of their self-titled album, ‘Litania‘ as October 10th which will come by way of Heavy Psych Sounds and Subsound Records. With members from Serbia, Italy, and India you can expect a unique interpretation of fuzzier, doomed muse on this one. It’d caught my ear in preview and I appreciated the band’s style in general. Check out the first preview song:

---

YOUTUBE / VIDEO REVIEWS

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

---

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.

PUTRIDITY – Morbid Ataraxia [June 27th, Willowtip]
NOISE TRAIL IMMERSION – Tutta La Morte In Un Solo Punto [June 27th, I, Voidhanger]
DEVILPRIEST – Where I am the Chalice Be Thou the Blood [June 27th, Nuclear Winter]
FER DE LANCE – Fires on the Mountainside [June 27th, Cruz Del Sur Music]
BEYOND MORTAL DREAMS – Hymns of Devastation [June 28th, Lavadome Productions]
BELETH’S TRUMPET – Chapel of Bones [July 1st, Dominance of Darkness]

---