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] ANTHRODYNIA (‘Unspeakable Horrors…‘, Nameless Grave)
[#2] CRIMSON COVEN (‘0: The Genesis‘, Shadow Kingdom)
[#3] CASTRATOR (‘Coronation of the Grotesque‘, Dark Descent)
[#4] PANOPTICON (‘Songs of Hiraeth‘, Nordvis)
[#5] PSILOCYBE LARVAE (‘Новый дивный мир’, Self-Released)

BEST OF LAST WEEK

[#1] MALTHUSIAN (‘The Summoning Bell‘, Relapse)
[#2] THEURGION (‘All Under Heaven‘, Profound Lore)
[#3] ANTHARES (‘Espetáculo Sangrento‘, Self-Released)
[#4] CYTOLYSIS (‘Surge of Cruelty‘, Comatose Music)
[#5] BLACKBRAID (‘III‘, 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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This coming October 20th Memento Mori will release the second full-length album from blackened death metal band THAUMATURGY. ‘Pestilential Hymns‘ will release on CD format. A newer Midwest death metal entity that’d focused on death/doom metal prior here they’ve taken a more harried, riff-obsessed attack for a more dynamic result citing everything from Grotesque and Sinister to Krypts in their suggested black/death metal pathway. See how all of that adds up via the first single “Neuroticism Triumphant”:

Amor Fati Productions have announced a September 19th release date for atmospheric black/death metal band ANTIVERSUM‘s sophomore full-length album. ‘De Nemesis Omnes et Omnia‘ will release on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape. A nihil stoked project combining blackened death with doom what you might recall last released a record a lifetime ago in 2017 this is one of the more engrossing, erratic records I’ve heard in a bit. Check out the preview track “Pulsar Feralis”:

20 Buck Spin have announced they will release the upcoming debut full length album from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based death metal band RITUAL MASS this coming September 5th on CD, vinyl and cassette tape. ‘Cascading Misery‘ is something fresh from the group as they motion towards an enormous, imposing sound with a death/doom metal entrenched impact. Between the evocative artwork and the huge Earhammer Studio sound this record sounds promising so far. Check out the title track “Cascading Misery”:

Sayonara GRIDLINK and hello BARREN PATH as some of those folks’ve taken their mania to this new collaboration with folks from Maruta/Shock Withdrawal and the folks from their previous band’s ‘Coronet Juniper‘ record. The result is ‘Grieving‘ and album with maybe a shade more death metal and void of elektro-avant interruptus. From what I gather it seems to aim for a back-to-basics assault upon grinding death. Check out the the first single “The Insufferable Weight” and grab the album from Willowtip Records this coming October 31st.

This October 10th Adirondack Black Mass will release the debut full-length album from international blackened death metal project PLAGUE CURSE. ‘Verminous Contempt‘ will release on CD ​format. This band contains members of Drowstorm, Vahrzaw, Vintertodt, Burden of Ymir etc. and the cover art caught my eye for its Warhammer looking subject. Check out the label’s Bandcamp for a preview song:

Armenian melodic black metal band ILDARUNI have announced their latest studio album ‘Divinum Sanguinem will release this coming November 7th by way of Black Lion Records. They’re suggesting it will mark a new point of evolution for the band as they move “away from their pagan/folk roots to fully embrace raw, atmospheric black metal. Inspired by Hellenic mysticism and ancient lore, the record weaves dark, immersive soundscapes featuring melodic chanting, authentic choir, and grand orchestral arrangements.” And that interests me especially if they’ve got riffs. No preview track yet but you can wishlist it on Bandcamp and check out the excellent album art from the always brilliant Khaos Diktator.

https://ildaruniblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/divinum-sanguinem

Belfast, Northern Ireland-based sludge/doom metal band SLOMATICS will return this coming September 12th by way of their eight full-length album ‘Atomicult‘, set to be released by Swedish label Majestic Mountain Records. base, I’d appreciated the more accessible, varietal shape of their seventh LP and I’m looking forward to see how they’ve either loosened or refined that angle. Check out the first single “Phantom Castle Warning”:

Memento Mori have announced the signing of Helsinki, Finland-based death metal band PLAGUE VESSEL, a death/doom metal inspired prospect. You can check out their latest EP in the Bandcamp embed below but they’ve suggested they’re already working on a debut LP: “which will see them setting course toward the constellation of bands like Rippikoulu and Asphyx, but veering away from the obvious, in order to explore their own path to unimaginable terrors. The album will invoke tales of decaying flesh, cannibalistic rituals, and human misery, but in a cosmic backdrop. There is no safe place in the plagued universe. Even death brings no solace, but endless torture.” and I’m all for it. Memento Mori will release the CD version of their debut full-length in 2026.

This coming October 17th Dying Victims Productions will release the debut full-length album from Chilean heavy metal band ARMOURED KNIGHT. ‘The Quest for the Sacred Melody‘ will release on CD and vinyl LP formats. This time around they are promising a faster more energetic approach in the form of speed metal inspired by bands like Helloween, Savage Grace, Not Fragile, Viper, and Pokolgép. Check out the latest preview song “Forgotten Grace”:

SCORPION MILK is a new “apocalyptic post-punk” band from the many-talented Mat McNerney (Hexvessel, Grave Pleasures, et al.) and their debut full-length album ‘Slime of the Times‘ will release this coming September 19th by way of the good folks over at Peaceville Records. The first single might be a horrifying AI concocted monstrosity but, that might be the point to be made? McNerny comments on the song: “It is about trying to stay upright under the daily flood of catastrophe, the headlines, the numbness, the helplessness. But there’s a double edge to it: the only way to get through the abyss is to become it. To move through the darkness, you have to carry some of it inside you.” the album is a bit darker than this song might suggest.

North Carolina based psychedelic doom metal band 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. The band comment: “Bleed the Wicked, Drown the Damned is an album we poured our hearts into. With our sophomore LP, we aimed to elevate our sound to a new level while also drawing inspiration from the roots of doom, with a touch of 90s angst. Lyrically, it touches on everything from standing up to tyranny to revenge, sacrifice, 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.” All of this is very relevant to my interests.

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YOUTUBE / VIDEO REVIEWS

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.

PORENUT – Výstup k svätej Kunde (The Ascent to the Holy Cunt) [August 29th, Nomad Sky Diaries]
CONDITION CRITICAL – Degeneration Chamber [September 5th, Self-Released]
IMPERIALIST – Prime [September 5th, Transcending Obscurity Records]
PIECE – Rambler’s Axe [September 5th, This Charming Man Records]
PESTILENTIAL SHADOWS – Wretch [September 5th, Northern Silence/Brilliant Emperor]
OFERMOD – Drakosophia [September 5th, Shadow/Regain]

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