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] FLOATING (‘Hesitating Lights‘, Transcending Obscurity)
[#2] DÉCRYPTAL (‘Simulacre‘, Me Saco Un Ojo/Rotted Life)
[#3] HELL (‘Submersus‘, Sentient Ruin)
[#4] DOWNWARD (‘To Lurk As Fever‘, Katafalque)
[#5] IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS (‘A Crack in Everything‘, Self-Released)

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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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Relapse Records have announced the latest full-length album from Dublin, Ireland-based blackened death metal band MALTHUSIAN will release this coming August 8th on double LP, CD, and digitally. ‘The Summoning Bell‘ is suggested as more of a “straight up death metal album” by the band. Guitarist/vocalist Matt Bree explains the title’s meaning: “The title is based on a Samuel Beckett play called Happy Days and it’s all about existential dread laced in incredible, inherent Irish humor. A lot of it fell into the idea of that when you set your intention, you find stuff right there waiting for you; things present themselves if you’re looking for them.” The title track impressed and I was a big fan of ‘Across Deaths‘ back in 2018 so I’m stoked on this one:

Everlasting Spew Records have announced they will release the debut full-length album from Greenville, South Carolina based death metal trio IMPERISHABLE this coming August 29th. ‘Revelation In Purity‘ will naturally reflect the United States late 90’s/early 2000’s blackened death tradition and it rightfully should considering folks from Nile, Olkoth and Hate Eternal are involved. Check out the first single “Oath of Disgust”:

I, Voidhanger Records have announced the debut LP from AMPHISBAENA, ‘Rift‘ will release this coming August 1st. Featuring members of Weapon, Rites of Thy Degringolade and Antediluvian this band has been around since 2013 but haven’t released anything since their 2015 EP so this one is a surprise… and it rules. Love the cover artwork from Abomination Hammer, too. Check out the first preview song “Scaled Ekpyrotic Splinters”:

Finnish death metal band GRAVE HEX have announced their debut full-length album ‘Vermian Death‘ will release this coming August 22nd by way of Night Terrors Records (Cassette) and Cavernous Records (CD). If you’re not familiar these folks have a metalpunk edge to their sound while still reaching for unpure, rotten and old death metal sounds. This one has previewed well, solid album overall, check out the latest single “Vultural Scourge”:

Xtreem Music have announced the sophomore full-length from blackened thrash metal quartet MORTAL SCEPTER, ‘Ethereal Dominance‘ will be released September 9th this year. Of course we can expect insane old school thrash metal extremity from these folks, upholding the ancient underground standards in terms of the maniac attack of their riffs, production values, and album art. The album will release on vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally. As always Jon Whiplash‘s album art compliments their psychotic olden sounds. Check out the title track from the album:

Profound Lore Records have announced they’ve signed on New Jersey/Washington DC-based death metal duo KONTUSION for the July 25th release of the band’s debut album. ‘Insatiable Lust For Death‘ builds upon the band’s previous EP, scaling up their sound while keeping it primitive and punkish. Fronted by folks from Mammoth Grinder and Repulsion expect old school scuzz from these folks. I’ll review it towards the end of next week. For now check out “Subjugation”:

Copenhagen, Denmark-based deathgrind quartet PUSTULANT FLESH have announced their debut record ‘Gurgling Pustulence‘ will release this coming August 8th via Extremely Rotten Productions. Rooted in classic grindcore and death metal “ranging from Blood Duster to Exhumed and Carcass.” you can expect something gnarly and foul but still groove-ridden. This type of deathgrind can be pretty hit or miss but this stuff feels like a good one based on previews. Check out the first single from the album “March of the Ravenous Dead”:

Finnish death metal band MALFORMED have announced their debut full-length album will release via Dark Descent Records and Extremely Rotten Productions. ‘Confinement of Flesh‘ will release this coming July 25th and will be available on LP, CD, cassette, and digitally. Their style has been described as a “blend of classic American death metal […] mixed with the gloominess of their Finnish contemporaries” and that sounds exactly like my kind of gig. Again, always impressed by Skaðvaldur‘s illustrations, this one fits the music particularly well.

Hells Headbangers have announced August 29th as the release date for DEATHHAMMER‘s sixth full-length album. ‘Crimson Dawn‘ will release on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. Recorded with all-new gear and mastered by Arild from Nekromantheon ‘Crimson Dawn‘ attempts to shake things up in terms of doing things slightly different this time around. No, their sound hasn’t changed though this recording sounds tougher, more maniac than anything before. You’ll get what I’m saying via this shriek-heavy track “Legacy of Pain”:

North Carolina-based stoner/psychedelic doom quartet COSMIC REAPER have announced their sophomore full-length album ‘Bleed the Wicked, Drown the Damned‘ will release this coming September 26th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records. They’ve described the album as a “deeper descent into psych-doom’s haunted core and sees a big step away from older stoner elements,” The band comment on the album: ““Bleed the Wicked, Drown the Damned is an album we poured our hearts into. With our sophomore LP, we wanted to take our sound to a new level, but also call back to the roots of doom, with a touch of 90s angst. Lyrically, it touches on everything from standing up to tyranny, to revenge, to sacrifice, to love, lust and betrayal- all wrapped in themes of horror, science-fiction, and history. For the best listening experience: light one up, and turn it up loud.” and I think they’ve done well to conjure a sort of post-‘Let Us Prey‘ sound here on the single “Pot of Gold”

Northern Silence Productions and Brilliant Emperor Records have announced they will team up to release the eighth full-length album from Australian black metal band PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS. ‘Wretch‘ releases this coming September 5th on all relevant formats. If you’re not familiar with their sound expect something melodious, classicist but always focused on the riff. They’ve got a European tour going on from late August through September and an Australia / New Zealand tour in October so make sure you check them out.

Iron Bonehead Productions have announced September 26th as the release date for black/death metal band CRUENTATION‘s debut full-length album. ‘Damned Fallen Angels‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP. This band features members from Witch Tomb, Cemetery Lights, Martyrvore and such among many others but for this record they’re delivering a flattening, delirious sound meant to overtake the sense. Check out the title track over on YouTube:

Boris Records have announced an exclusive vinyl reissue of death metal band ECTOVOID‘s sophomore full-length album ‘Dark Abstraction‘. It’ll release in two colors this coming September 12th and to celebrate the reissue the band will will be playing a 15th Anniversary show @ Saturn in Birmingham, AL on August 16th. Awesome band and album, check it out if you missed in back in the day.

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YOUTUBE / VIDEO REVIEWS

New videos next week, not done editing yet.

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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.

DOWNWARD – To Lurk as Fever [July 11th, Katafalque]
ETERNAL DARKNESS – Eternal Darkness [July 18th, Pulverised Records]
KONTUSION – Insatiable Lust for Death [July 25th, Profound Lore]
HAXPROCESS – Beyond What Eyes Can See [July 25th, Transcending Obscurity]
DEHUMAN REIGN – Dawn of a Malefic Dominion [July 25th, F.D.A. Records]
MALFORMED – Confinement of Flesh [July 25th, Dark Descent/Extremely Rotten]

SHORT REVIEWS:

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

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – A Void Within Existence [July 18th, Agonia Records]
MARGARITA WITCH CULT – Strung Out in Hell [July 18th, Heavy Psych Sounds]
STOMACH – Low Demon [July 18th, Hibernation Release]
MOUTH OF MADNESS – Event Horizon [July 16th, Darkness Shall Rise]
PHANTOM SPELL – Heather & Hearth [July 18th, Cruz Del Sur Music]
IBEX ANGEL ORDER – II: Void Sermon [July 24th, Void Wanderer]

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