Rolling 2022 Metal Thread

^ https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcO6rgqzd4/

Ha, thanks, probably more helpful than regurgitating the press release but I was in a hurry.

dammit - Draconian euro tour cancelled :(

New Cloakroom, don't know if it fits here, but it's such a good album. Reminds me of the recent Hum album a bit. Also the Deafheaven from last year. Stonergaze ftw

I dig Cloakroom a lot and my copy of the new one is supposed to arrive later this week, definitely excited for it and comparisons to the recent Hum album only makes me more so.

track from the Amenra/Sepultura/Neurosis side project from a couple of posts ago: Absent In Body

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDhbP2KROJc

Today in streaming services selling me physical music: I wanted to listen to Godflesh, so I pulled them up on Tidal and saw a new compilation called New Flesh In Dub Vol 1. Googled that title and was sent to Justin Broadrick's website, where I found out about Long Live the New Flesh, a 4CD box containing A World Lit Only By Fire, Post Self, the Decline & Fall EP, and a CD containing all the Japanese bonus tracks from the aforementioned, and two new tracks from the Post Self sessions. I bought it immediately.

Johnny Z, aka Jon Zazula passed away. Without his vision and efforts metal would be a lot different now.

aw :(

I'm one of the Venom Prison backers around these parts, and their new one just dropped.

first few tracks a bit surprising in there's occasional clean vocals, use of synths in the background, slightly more accessible riffs, not quite as raw as previous VP.

but it's pretty effectively used overall! this definitely feels like a pivot a bit to more grandiose things, will probably piss off the fans that want them to do Samsara-esque stuff forever.

but so far I'm enjoying them feeling out this new territory. production IS a little antiseptic, but that's....a lot of metal these days.

almost feels like their Heartwork, not in sound, but in scope, and difference in relation to previous material (as well as increased accessibility without 'dumbing down' the material)

Looking forward to listening to the Venom Prison!

I have been listening to the new Saxon album that came out. It's pretty typical of latter-period Saxon releases - very solid, classic metal feel, Biff still has that distinctive voice.

I'll be buying it.

Yeah, this Venom Prison is fucking great!

Anyone know what's up with the Rise Above label? They've never really kept up with social media or updating their site, even at the best of times, but it seems to have gone eerily silent. It looks like they had another Electric Wizard vinyl reissue last year, but otherwise haven't released an album since September of 2020.

New Mares of Thrace! This is really really good sludge/something? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcgzNapaM7I

a few new releases just dropped on the new stanard elite bandcamp:
https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/

baalsebub bringing more slamming grooves with their signature pornographic levels of snare ping. find that this all goes down much easier with a 15min runtime. last track rules.

the cenotaph is quite fun too. lots of pinch harmonics, twangin bass, and blast beats.

Good release day last Friday... Napalm Death EP, Voivod, Zeal & Ardor... Some smaller bands put out things I liked as well.

There are about three black metal albums I like. Immortal's Sons of Northern Darkness is one of them. Since it turns 20 this month, I wrote about it.

Foo Fighters did a death metal song as part of that horror movie the band is doing.

Although I have little hope for the movie, the song is... Actually kinda fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj8XbTDBhXc

Holy hell this new Earthless. I love this.

god, the intro on the new Immolation is so fucking sinister. it's not like Atonement, that just begins, it builds to an ominous gong here and then onto what they do best.

abstract riffs and nightmares.

also Ross's voice always sounds great

only thing I'm not so warm about is the production, which is a little too sterile on the geetarz for my liking. but it's been like that for a bit and that's a minor quibble.

i have bought every one of their albums on drop date going back to Close to a World Below and it never disappoints.

immolation is the most consistent metal discog, y/n

hard y

the only album I seem to recall people saying "this is definitely below their usual standard" was Harnessing Ruin, which I didn't quite get, I loved that album, though the cover was stupid looking.

i have to adimt it was fun driving by a Baptist church last night with this blaring

immolation not only the best east coast "shun" death metal band (suffocation, incantation, um... malevolent creation?) but quite possibly the best death metal band

They're definitely the most consistent. Suffocation has higher peaks (Pierced From Within, Pinnacle of Bedlam), and Incantation's Diabolical Conquest is an absolute classic, but Immolation's whole catalog ranges from "really fucking good" to "holy fucking shit". The album before this one was amazing. I think this one is really fucking good but also a little overlong. Eleven songs in 40 minutes would have been fine - fifteen tracks in 52 minutes is too much.

agreed on atonement, that's right up there with close to a world below for me

also, pinnacle of bedlam, hell yeah. feel like that one might get overlooked because it's one of their later records with a goofy cover. but it's incredible.

yeah it is a wee bit longer than I usually like but I'll tolerate it.

I think Here in After is also an underappreciated one. came after their 'classic' (which let's be honest, Dawn of Possession is fantastic, but it was the band playing a completely different style of death metal, which, had they continued down that path, would have eventually made them like literally every other 90s death metal band. Here in After is where they said "lol, it's been five years, and we are completely different now".

Failures for Gods is the weirdest produced one. double bass drum on every beat, and it was clicky, and the guitars sounded a little like farts

it's also one of my favorites

it is a bit weird that it's 15 tracks. that beats their previous high of 12, on Majesty and Decay.

not really any filler tho. hard to complain when every track smokes. “derelict of spirit,” holy moly.

I wrote a full review.

Phil Kusabs aka VK of Qrixkuor, Vassafor, Diocletian, apparently (according to one source) pleads guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse imagery: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300524972/death-metal-musician-admits-sharing-child-sex-abuse-material

oh fucking hell

(he also played bass for the Chills on one tour, just for the record)

If you just heard the Blood Incantation ambient synth record, Timewave Zero, cold, you would have no idea it's by Blood Incantation. It consists of two 20-minute, four-part suites that are pure synth atmospheres, and not even particularly "dark" or "heavy"; they remind me of some of the soundtrack stuff Steve Moore of Zombi has done. Not as melody-focused as, say, Klaus Schulze, and totally drumless. I like it, but I listen to a fair amount of endless cosmic synth stuff anyway. People likely to sit down with this one and just angrily think BUT WHY NO RIFFS? for 40 minutes should just not bother with it at all.

I am anxiously awaiting my copy of that to show up this weekend, really excited for it.

I really, really enjoyed the rage over at Angry Metal Guy over it. The review itself wasn't bad, the writer was pretty fair about how far out of his wheelhouse this was, but the comments are gold.

picked up the new Embryonic Devourment and Corpsegrinder solo album, starting with CG.

That is, uh, some cover art for the Embryonic Devourment album.

so far CG doesn't sound like a CC carbon copy, which is cool. little more melodic.

I was gonna ask if this was the first death vocalist to go solo (which I'm sure it's not), but also Six Feet Under is basically Chris Barnes solo by now

just noticed that two of the lizard people are Trump and Kim Jong-Il

And Putin!

And I think the Queen and I'm not sure if far right guy is supposed to be Biden.

oh is that who it is? I was thinking "dad from Alf"

CG album is fun like I expected. songs a bit verse/chorus/verse-y though.

not really 'necessary' but glad to have it nonetheless.

Hey metalheads, who's the best new band channeling the spirit of classic Metallica/Megadeth-style '80s thrash? There have to be a few contenders in these times of cultural regurgitation + widespread technical facility and recording capabilities, right?

Sticking to this past year, here are a couple of thrashing bangers I enjoyed enough to purchase...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcOlaXl3LaA
Celestial Wizard - D&D dice-wielding power metal/thrash from Colorado

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsMO1qLH5DE
Savage Master - More like channeling Bitch, the old Metal Blade band, but still great

god that mare infinitum record is so fucking good

the 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise resumes in 2023 and these morons had the audacity to book the new Vektor. naturally, it didn't go well, and the backlash was quick and they removed them, with the expected two factions emerging in reaction to the removal.

starting to remember why I didn't dress the part of metalhead in my 20s, the people screaming in defense of Vektor are really fucking hateful, stupid idiots. I'm sure the infighting will progress to the boat over this, kinda glad i'm not going.

https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/70000-tons-of-metal-books-then-removes-vektor-from-its-lineup

I'm sure the infighting will progress to the boat over this, kinda glad i'm not going.

Nah. The people expressing the most anger over it aren't the go-outside type.

in more positive news, lineup for Mass Destruction Metal Fest in ATL for this year is out and it's sick and I'm thinking of trying to find a way to go. other than big name Autopsy (who I've been dying to see), it's a very niche lineup that just happens to be a bunch of bands I love. seen Pagan Altar live once, they were incredible, Hellwitch same. Drawn and Quartered fucking rule, as does Vulcano. Loved the Oath of Cruelty debut. really the only band I don't know is Undergang.

Autopsy
Vulcano (Brazil - Bloody Vengeance Set)
Pagan Altar (UK)
Hellwitch
Undergang (Denmark)
Drawn & Quartered
Father Befouled
Oath of Cruelty

wait I forgot what year it was