When I was a kid, I was both fascinated and terrified of what lurks in deep space. I would watch these documentaries that were voiced by people who were trying to sound mysterious, and my fear of UFO abduction only seemed to make these broadcasts even more harrowing. Yet, I always gazed at the night sky (still do to this day) to think about what’s out there, who might be hovering over us, and what we don’t and may never experience from worlds beyond our own.

The recent surge of bands who bask in the darkness of space have added to my interest and imagination (here’s where you can drop in your Darkspace reference, though there are so many others such as Mare Cognitum, Battle Dagorath, Hellebore, Archivist, etc.), and the exploration musically these bands unfurl has made it one of my favorite sub-sub-genres. This all comes back to mind with the release of “EOS” the debut record from Starless Domain, whose deep field black metal provides an enthralling, terrifying trip into the stars, into galaxies well beyond our own, where we and potentially any human within the next, what, millennium, will never see. Comprised of guitarist/drummer/vocalist AW, synth player/guitarist/vocalist AEF, and bassist/vocalist JR, the band stretches their vision over 58 harrowing minutes and 4 tracks, though it’s better to call them movements of a greater whole that is woven together front to back. The best experience with this album is full digestion from start to finish, as it’s the only true way to take this trip into the void.

“EOS I” starts the record with strange noises and overall eeriness that folds into a feeling of being lost in the stars and alien cries spiraling, which happens repeatedly over the entire record. The track opens in full and hammers, while the screeches keep slicing, the music twists and progresses, and the intensity keeps building. The track swims into a sense of ease before opening back up, with shrieks raining down, growls emerging and swallowing space, and the drums clobbering. The vocals slice and echo while it bleeds into “EOS II” and trickles with acoustics and synth chirps, the ones I remember from those old space docs. The track then rips itself apart, as savage punishment arrives, and immersive melodies enrapture, with guitars ringing back to acoustics. When the pace picks back up, it’s a frenetic assault before things get slurry, making it feel like you’re bleeding into a new realm, and this is your welcome. The shrieks then slash back with your head filling with cosmic energy, keys rush in, and the song pushes forward, with the chaos subsiding and melting into the next chapter.

“EOS III” has the keys rushing in like waves before the song punishes before a dreamy sequence takes over and captures your imagination. The track wafts psychedelically as acoustics rejoin and spark visions of alien terrain, leaving your mind numb. The track then bursts as death growls spit shrapnel, and the song lurches into the mud. The shrieks dive bomb, while the mauling, smothering final moments prepare you for entrance into finishing cut “EOS IV.” This final shift blisters right away as synth slides shades into the mix, and the shrieks echo as acoustics emerge. Cavernous growls settle behind the strange wall of keys, while synth gasps and monstrous fury become bigger factors. The drama wells up and hints at boiling over completely, with the keys zapping through like lasers, guitars droning out, and everything fading into a bizarre cloud of noise in the sky.

“EOS” is a strong, hypnotic listen that’ll lure you in with its repetition, mind-bending playing, and vocals that sound like they’ve been howled from eons away. Starless Domain’s contribution to outer space-inspired black metal is a significant one, a record that probably is best absorbed at night when you can have a better view of the cosmos. There’s no way of knowing what exactly is out there staring back at us, and this music won’t quell any of those psychological fears you hold inside.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/starlessdomain/

To buy the album, go here: http://starlessdomain.bandcamp.com/

We pretty much know the ins and outs about sadness and despair on this site. When we’re not writing about metal and secretly trying to turn into a quasi-pro wrestling site, we’re immersing ourselves in outright darkness and thick rivers and dark emotions. It’s kind of what happens when you have a lifelong battle with mental illness.

That surfaces again now that we have “Heart of Lead,” the first record from Icelandic metal duo Kaleikr to discuss. The seven tracks on this fascinating, wholly progressive and perplexing (in a good way) album dig into sadness and follow that journey down its darkest tunnels into despair before everything devolves into total mental devastation. For anyone who ever has taken that awful journey probably will feel something in the pit of their chests right away as the mental imprint from that experience always pulls you back inside. It’s sort of an odd topic for a record that’s so fascinating and punishing, music that makes your mind do weird tricks and sends you on a trip that feels like it’s going somewhere other than pain. Nonetheless, that’s where we go, and if the lyrical content isn’t something with which you can relate, their spellbinding twist of black and death metal surely will. The band—Maximilian Klimko (guitars, bass, vocals, arrangements) and Kjartan Harðarson (drums and percussion)—grew out of the remnants of Draugsol, taking their music into even more daring corners.

“Behold at Sunrise” starts in a synth fog before the drums open up the song in earnest, and the growls roar and surge. The track rumbles the earth beneath you, while later on, the band adds some different colors in for texture, while you still can’t help but shake feeling the world is imploding. Deep roars crush as sounds well, with the track dissolving into noise. “The Descent” has a chunky, punchy start, feeling proggy while the drums demolish everything. The guitars mesmerize amid harsh growls, and the punishing fury later gives way for a jaunt into space. Out of that, the savagery returns, as the music slaughters the senses, and melody slips beneath the carnage and brings on a deadly finish. “Of Unbearable Longing” has a much different beginning, wallowing in somber, jazzy vibes before the song is shredded, and crazed devastation is afoot. Later on, stardust rains down and plays with the mind before the volcano erupts again, spewing hell and fire everywhere before finally coming to rest.

“Internal Contradiction” throws a curveball with its muddy pace and downtuned guitars before furious riffs arrive, and everything melts beneath you. Chunky crushing pushes in, as the music stomps and swirls, sounds float, and everything disappear into murky strings. “Neurodelirium” begins with guitars churning and lurching growls before it splits open melodically. The vocals remain monstrous, as psychedelic guitars give the track a different spirit, thrashing into a cosmic aura. Later on, the track takes on more of a rock feel, surging forcefully before coming to a strange ending. The title track delivers dizzying clean guitars and a trippy mood, as the bass rivets and the vocals are delivered in whispers. Later on, the violence arrives, as the growls corrode, the deathly push has a doomy belly, and the album burns closed. The album ends on “Eternal Stalemate and a Never-Ending Sunset” that begins with a calculated mauling, hulking into the scene and driving toward rock-style guitar work. The riffs cut and leave bruising while the vocals turn ugly in a hurry, and the final minute unleashes intense playing and a finish that ends in a vortex of whirring noise.

The first record from Kaleikr is one that makes the Icelandic scene even richer with strong material, and it’s one of the most intriguing to come out so far in this very young year. “Heart of Lead” also packs an emotional punch that digs at very human issues that affect so many of us and that often are hard to overcome. Luckily, the music is daring and exciting, which can help ease some of that heavy burden, and it’s a great first shot from a new band that should have an expansive future.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/kaleikr/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/12-eshop

For more on the label, go here: http://www.debemur-morti.com/

It’s incredible hearing a really gifted band and great musicians progress through their career, especially if they don’t abandon the roots they grew to get out there. Record by record, you hear the music coming into its own and becoming a new beast each time out, and that makes every new creation something to anticipate and which to dissect with great enthusiasm.

I say that today because we have “Forgotten Paths,” the excellent new opus from Scottish black metal band Saor to drink up. This band has been tremendous from the start, that being 2013 debut “Roots,” and continues to this day. Along the way, primary creator Andy Marshall has created music on par with Panopticon as far as thought-provoking, emotional work that draws you in, makes your heart surge, and leaves you completely fulfilled. This record is even a step up from 2016’s “Guardians,” itself a magnificent creation, but things have been amplified to even greater heights, as these four songs are some of the best work Marshall ever created. While Marshall is the driving force behind this music, he also had a nice fleet of supporting musicians to help flesh out the record and make it even more alive.

The title track kicks off the record with driving melodies, the leads soaring, and a strong folk essence that’s woven into the song. Keys drip as the harsh cries erupt, with the tempo picking up the intensity before heading into calm, gazey ambiance. Clean wordless calls come (courtesy of Neige from Alcest) before screams burst anew, whistles flutter, and things come to a crushing end. “Monadh” is foggy when it begins, mired in mystery, before the guitars awaken, keys rain down, and the strings stir. The track blows apart with crazed shouts hammering, trading off later with clean singing, with the track easing up and melting. After a stretch where the atmospheric wind is thick, the track ramps back up, strings sweep, and the emotional toll is heavy and true.

“Brón” has a chilling opening as the guitars begin to churn and the tempo is torn to shreds. Growls and shrieks mix together, feeling wintry and spacious, as Sophie Rogers’ singing adds a different element to the track. Spirited folk glory rises up as the song stretches out and explores its surroundings with strings sending chills before the heaviness returns. Harsh wails and bleeding emotion rush to the surface as the song’s giant chorus returns and swells your chest, Marshall’s and Rogers’ voices align, as the track subsides slowly and gently. “Exile” ends the song with chamber-style strings (Italian harpist Glorya Lyr had a massive hand in its creation), angelic and dreamy passages chilling your skin, and a Medieval sense of wonder unfurling. As the track nears its end, it feels like spring crawling out from under winter’s grasp, as warmth blooms, and waves crash to the shore.

Saor remain one of black metal’s more atmospheric and ever-evolving bands, which you can hear on their stunning “Forgotten Paths.” This feels like a natural progression not only from “Guardians” but even from the project’s infancy, as Marshall continues to add his own heart and emotions into his enthralling music. Hearing this band continue to grow into its own has been a great thing, and I’d imagine this isn’t the last stop in their creative growth.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/saorofficial

To buy the album, go here: https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/forgotten-paths

For more on the label, go here: http://www.avantgardemusic.com/

Letting another human being  get close to you is a risk many people take and end up paying for in the end. As many happy people as there are in romantic relationships and friendships, there are just as many suffering from the effects of a bad union, one that has grown dangerous and poisonous. It’s enough to make one want to stay away from others forever.

UK-based metallic hardcore band Ithaca dig right into the heart of that matter on their devastating debut album “The Language of Injury.” These 10 songs spread over 31 minutes dig into heartbreak and the deep emotional scarring one can sustain when putting your faith in someone only to have them dig the knife into your back or simply just turn from you and leave you in the dark. The pain and disappointment are conveyed into thunderous, emotionally punishing songs delivered by this awesome band. Out front is vocalist Djamilia Azzouz, whose forceful shouts and growls dig right into your heart and soul and make you feel every ounce of her suffering. Aside from what the band does on this record, Ithaca also have been one of the underground champions of gender issues, ethnic diversity, and sexual identity, giving us yet another crushing band whose hearts are in righteous places.

“New Covenant” begins with feedback awakening, drums crushing the walls, and the guitars taking very Kurt Ballou-style bends toward your face. Azzouz is a force right away, as her harsh wails plaster, at one point crying, “Where did we go?” before the music eases, as do her words, and the band drops the hammer down. “Impulse Crush” races away, with the guitars spiraling and the vocals absolutely shredding. Groups shouts color the chorus before the track leans into some sludgy bits, the riffs stab, and we’re off to a pit of chaos. “Secret Space” chugs hard before pulling back a bit as the guitar jab away. Azzouz’s cries smear soot over the song, while emotional melodies cascade, the guitars splatter, and we come to a fiery end. “Slow Negative Order” starts off tricky and mathy, with deep growls emitted, Azzouz singing clean in parts, and the track going for the jugular otherwise. The band keeps aiming to crush bones before reaching an agitated end. “(No Translation)” is a quick instrumental piece built with quiet, somber guitars, crowd noises murmuring, and a pall cast over the scene.

The title track follows, sweltering and pounding, with Azzouz’s vocals delivering the emotional toll. Clean guitars slide into the mix before devastation lands again, and pieces are sent hurtling. The song eases a bit from a heaviness standpoint, as clean singing shines over the din before the power returns, and the song comes to a crash landing. “CLSR.” begins on a calm note before that’s torn apart, and the band thrashes heavily. Melody intertwines with punishment, as Azzouz cries, “Get closer!”  before a smudgy breakdown sends the track into a trickling finish. “Youth vs. Wisdom” is fiery as hell as it kicks off, with the vocals sounding like they’re splitting Azzouz’s throat and disruptive hammering breaking bones. The vocals continue to peel paint from the walls, with the band ending everything in hardcore skullduggery. “Gilt” has guitars swelling, gruff howls from Azzouz, and even smoother singing over the harsh verses. “We put each other in the ground!” Azzouz wails as the track ends in a pile of dust. “Better Abuse” closes the album with an extended exploratory section that leads you into the fog before the track explodes, with punishing playing and scraping screams. The track then eases up the tempo, as strings and horns slide into the room, bringing your emotions to a burst. Then there’s a wrenching eruption, pouring all of themselves into a chasm, and a whipping wind picks up and swallows the track whole.

This first full blast from Ithaca more than lives up to our expectations that we had coming in, and “The Language of Injury” is going to be viewed as one of the more progressive and exciting hardcore records that arrive in 2019. Hopefully those who have been through similar circumstances can find a voice in Ithaca, who know where they’ve been and how to push forward. This is a record that revels in pain, but when it’s over, there’s a good chance you’ll walk away empowered and ready to face your wounds head on.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/IthacaUK/

To buy the album (U.S.), go here: https://deathwishinc.com/collections/holy-roar

Or here: http://www.holyroarrecords.com/store

For more on the label, go here: http://www.holyroarrecords.com/

It’s common for music fans to get upset when a band or artist goes in a different artistic direction, like the listener at home has some sort of say in what moves the creator of the art. But it happens, and it’s not isolated to metal, but that’s what we’re here to talk about. That often leads to discontent, bad feelings, and records like “Load” and “Reload.”

Two primary members of Blut Aus Nord decided to follow their muse but in a direction away from their primary band. Well, mostly. Yerûšelem is the brainchild of Vindsval and W.D. Feld, and instead of going through the vortex of their brain-chilling black metal, they instead veer toward industrial sounds, strange ambiance, and even a cleaner vocal direction. That doesn’t exactly sound foreign if you’ve followed Blut Aus Nord’s run. Their “777” trilogy bathed in a lot of similar sounds as to what you hear on this project’s debut offering “The Sublime,” a nine-track effort that makes it easy to get lost in their blackened shadows and strange dreams. There’s a lot in which to immerse yourself, be it musically or metaphysically, and each section of the album is a mental adventure and a creation lurking in the fog that feels kind of familiar but is a totally different beast.

The title track gets us started with strange hisses and hypnotic melodies, with the alien words sung instead of screamed, with everything melting into your psyche. The track conjures strange mental visions before ending in echoes and sizzling. “Autoimmunity” acts as a cloud breaking and delivers a soaking storm, with guitars cutting into the picture and the singing ghoulishly floating. Thick bass barrels in and leaves heavy bootsteps behind, while a weird cloud hovers, with the track dissolving into noise. “Eternal” has beats colliding, guitars churning, and the singing feeling like it gives off a New Wave vapor. The music trickles and bubbles, while the purposely repetitive pace lures you into the maze, the music spirals, and everything ends suddenly. “Sound Over Matter” is a brief instrumental that originates in the cosmos, feeling like an alien phantom briefly showing its face.

“Joyless” opens with synth strikes before sludgy thrashing arrives, and the guitars seek to slice off limbs. The vocals bubble in your brain as the heaviness brings unease, and the track ends in a nightmarish void. “Triiiunity” is beat driven before a Godflesh-style assault is unleashed, as the band mashes away. The track feels like it overturns flooded oil tanks, letting the thick goo cover the earth, while the back end sends a panic that agitates your fight vs. flight tendencies. “Babel” has bass and beats pushing, the vocals rolling in mystery, and the guitars giving off steam. The pace clobbers later, pounding through your muscles and leaving deep bruising. “Reverso” brings guitars awakening with the riffs turning their blades inward. The vocals sound like they were spawned in a Petri dish and left to turn into a strange beast, while the playing adds a dangerous chill to the air, the guitars carry the melody, and the finish leaves the senses battered. Closer “Textures of Silence” is a quick instrumental finish based in moodiness and a haunting gaze that leaves an indelible mark.

While it might not totally scratch the itch you have for more Blut Aus Nord music, Yerûšelem come damn close to achieving that means on “The Sublime.” OK, so it’s not their bizarre and hypnotic black metal, but it definitely contains very similar strands of DNA and shows you a different side to what these artists have to offer. This is an icy, frosty new vision from two creators who already had given us some of the more thought-provoking material in extreme music even before this great new venture.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/Yeruselemprojekt/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.debemur-morti.com/en/12-eshop

For more on the label, go here: http://www.debemur-morti.com/

We’re all headed toward some sort of destination from the start of our lives until the end. A lot of us make big plans for ourselves, lofty hopes for our futures, and many of us work tirelessly to get to those goals. However, no matter how much we put in, it doesn’t always work the way we hope, and sometimes we have to face the fact that we won’t succeed no matter how hard we try.

For their fifth record “Ethic of Radical Finitude,” Downfall of Gaia examine those journeys and our hope that one day we can find a safe place we can call our own, which isn’t something everyone is able to accomplish. While not a concept record, this album from the ambitious German sludge/crust/atmospheric metal band does have that theme running through it, even if the whole thing isn’t a complete story. The band—vocalist/guitarist Dominik Goncalves dos Reis, bassist/vocalist Anton Lisovoj, guitarist/vocalist Marco Mazzola, drummer Michael Kadnar—also continues to push their sound while still reaching back to their roots that they planted more than a decade ago. This record sounds massive and huge as well, as the band is joined by guests who help color in the corners and even bring dreamy ambiance, helping make this the band’s most fully realized record.

“Seduced By…” is a quick instrumental opener that lets sounds rise, synth swirl in the cosmos, and then everything blasts into “The Grotesque Illusion of Being” that starts in gazey black metal murk. The track is both elegant and spacious as savage cries crush, a sense of desperation is in the air, and later the heat cools off while steam rises. The track reopens again later, storming and bringing chaos before everything comes to an end. “We Pursue the Serpent of Time” has drums cascading before the song tears open, with raspy growls scraping. Nikita Kamprad from Der Weg Einer Freiheit adds vocals to the track, adding depth to what’s a push and pull of sounds and emotions as the track develops. The music bleeds and gushes, with the emotions running over, a foggy passion landing, and keys dripping as the song ends in a mysterious fog.

“Guided Through a Starless Night” gets off to a clean start before the limbs are torn apart and the riffs begin to muscle up. Raspy growls arrive with the smothering riffs, as sound waves spread, and the track quakes the earth to its core. Just then, a dreamier section rises and takes over, while Mers Sumida of Black Table reads a lengthy a lengthy poetic section over the end, talking of “graves full of bones that do not make a sound,” and fully ruminating in death before the song bleeds away. “As Our Bones Break to the Dance” is thunderous immediately with a furnace blast and scathing screams driving through bones. The leads rips through like a blade, chugging and thrashing heavily, conjuring black metal spirits, and coming to a fiery end. Closer “Of Withering Violet Leaves” feels moody and shadowy as it begins before punches are thrown and melodies bathe in acid. Roared vocals lead the way, though bellowing clean singing follows that, giving off a mountainous vibe before the track corrodes for good.

After many years and five records together, Downfall of Gaia remain one of the more ambitious bands in metal, with “Ethic of Radical Finitude” standing as their strongest evidence yet. Like many of us, the band has been on their musical journey to find where they truly belong in the hierarchy, and with each passing album, they get closer to that goal. They haven’t met their ultimate destination yet, but with each new collection from the band, they climb ever closer.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/DownfallofGaia

To buy the album, go here: https://www.indiemerch.com/metalbladerecords

For more on the label, go here: https://www.metalblade.com

There’s always going to be a mushy, somewhat gross spot in my heart for thrash metal, because that’s the form of music that pretty much shaped my formative years. Bus rides to school usually were sound-tracked by bands such as Testament, Metallica, Overkill, Kreator, and Death Angel, artists that remain major parts of my record collection to this day.

That’s made the last decade or so a little tricky, because there has been so much new thrash metal out there and so many new bands playing it, and unfortunately, not a ton of that has resonated with me. So much of it just doesn’t feel right. That’s why I’m overjoyed when a band such as Chilean monsters Critical Defiance comes around and shows everyone how this stuff is done. Their debut record “Misconception” is being released by Unspeakable Axe, and if you Calso carry a torch for the glory days of thrash, this will hit you right in the feels. Driving riffs, gang-shouted choruses, vocals that mangle but are easily understood are major components of this album as the band—guitarist/vocalist Felipe Alvarado, guitarist Felipe Espinoza, bassist Ignacio Arevalo, and drummer Nicolas Pastene—ramps up the intensity and never lets it relent until nearly 40 minutes later when it ends.

“Desert Ways” gets things going by throwing punches, delivering on their thrashy promise as guitars go crazy, and the pace is nuts. The vocals come in gruff shouts, while the aforementioned gang shouts get the blood flowing, with the track coming to a blistering end. “Spiral of Hatred” has guitars spinning out as the track bursts from the gates. Alvarado’s vocals sound a lot like Tom Araya’s, as the pace punishes and chews, and strong dual guitar lines get fired up and dangerous. The track goes cold for a stretch before reigniting and hammering toward the gates. “Punished Existence” has rapid drumming, guitars flying off the handle, and the vocals pounding at your chest. The tempo chugs and blasts away, with Alvarado wailing the song’s title before the crushing ends. “507” is an instrumental that opens with cold guitars trickling before the pace kicks in and delivers punishment. The leads burn and slash, raging through the night before ending in a bath of synth.

“What About You” has drums encircling, as the pace crushes bones, the vocals shred, and they pulverize everything in front of them. The back end of the song is thrashy as hell, upping the ante over the song’s first half, which is pretty smothering. “Onset” delivers blows, with the leads guitars fluttering and everything feeling glorious as hell. Raspy howls and gang shouts send shrapnel, with the guitars driving and surging energy, as the song bubbles and bursts. The track then blasts to a crescendo, with everything coming to a head and exploding into oblivion. “Pursuit of Chaos” is bulldozing as maniacal vocals smear your psyche, and the guitar work takes command. The band hits a heavy groove, feeling like they’re revisiting old NYC-style madness, with everything coming to a massive end. The title track closes with a burst of speed, as the guitars race and explore, and the vocals are barked. The band digs deep for one final blast before freezing winds blow, and a classical-style run drives us to the finish line.

Critical Defiance put a smile on my ridiculously picky face, as “Misconception” reminds me of walking to the bus through mist, rain, and snow while I had headphones plastered to my ears with the volume impossibly high. This is Grade A thrash, the real fucking deal, and if you’re protective of the style like I am, you’ll feel pretty great when this is over. Thrash metal still lives as long as bands such as Critical Defiance are the ones carry its banner.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/criticaldefiance

To buy the album, go here: http://www.unspeakableaxerecords.com/purchase/

For more on the label, go here: http://www.unspeakableaxerecords.com/

Not all pieces of artwork get their just due in their time, which is a shame that something isn’t appreciated during its actual run. That can happen for any number of reasons, be it a matter of something not getting enough exposure, the means for distribution not being there, or the work just didn’t register at a particular time.

For Belgian doom duo Slow, one of the most fittingly named bands in metal, they don’t have to wait beyond their time for one of their records to get the attention that it deserves. While “IV: Mythologiae” was released into the world in 2015, it wasn’t produced in large numbers, meaning not a whole lot of listeners got their hands on it (at least physically), and since then, the data files for the music had been lost. That was a huge shame for a collection that stirring and strong, their fourth full-length album at the time, but that all has been remedied. The band—guitarist/drummer/vocalist Déhà, bassist/lyricist/concept artist Lore B.—decided to go back and revisit the music, re-record it, and now will put that music back out into the world to greet those who missed it the first time, or who just want to have a physical copy. The band also included a previously unheard song onto the initial five-track effort, a nice bonus on top of finally having a strong version of the album to grasp again.

“The Standing Giant” starts the record floating through clouds, with calming passages sending chills and whispers encircling. The track slowly rips open, delivering a crushing emotional toll, with the pain welling up in your chest. The song is majestic and sad before it dissolves into a bath of sounds and withers away. “The Drowning Angel” has a long, wandering intro, coasting through the cosmos and stratospheric pressure before guitars chime in deep into the song, and growls roll like thunder. The track gets harsh and wrenching, twisting at your guts, while the back end reveals a death-like elegance and a massive, flooding finish. “The Suffering Rebel” begins delicately, as guitars trickle like water from an ice collection before the glacial power is unleashed. The track lurches along like a hulk before cold waves wash over, and we’re back to a slower, gushing tempo. Fluttering synth picks up and creates steam before the track melts into the fog.

“The Dying God” is spacious and eerie as wordless calls are emitted, and even some clean singing works its way into the mix. The track then begins to change slowly, leading into skull-crushing growls, the music raining down, and the playing bleeding toward horrors. The vocals begin to leave scars, as sad melodies and utter darkness envelop, calls ring out in the night, and a strange, angelic shadow swallows the thing whole. “Sorrow’s Shadow” (formerly called “The Promethean Grief”) is the final track from the original version of the album, and it begins pounding, as growls hulk over the surface. The mammoth tempo carves into rock before chills arrive, and echoes scramble your brain. Slow mashing and blistering howls lean into bloody melodies, as the riffs spit anguish, the playing tears muscles, and everything comes to a devastating finish. “The Break of Dawn” closes the new version, and it’s a previously unreleased track that feels right at home here. Synth clouds gather overhead as the track eases into its hold before the song breaks open, and the growls crush heavily. Guitars cut through the fog, as sorrowful melodies soak the ground, yet some rays of sunlight break through to warm the earth. Keys take over and spread, while clean calling haunts before the anguish bleeds over. The track floods and gushes blood with everything crashing out in echoes.

Better late than never for this band, Slow giving us a redone, remastered version of “IV: Mythologiae” is a gift for all fans of their calculated-driving, atmospheric doom. Typically, re-recorded albums are not ones we choose for Pick of the Week, but this music is so strong and moving, we couldn’t help but trumpet this collection to more people in hopes they’ll take a chance on it. Slow is a band we’ve liked a hell of a lot over the year, and having a killer new version of this album is a treasure that will return all year long.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/slowdooom

To buy the album, go here: http://www.auralwebstore.com/shop/index.php

For more on the label, go here: http://www.code666.net/

You’re standing in a dank cave or somewhere on the plains, with the spirit of your ancestors overcoming you with inspiration and power. Your blood rushes, your rage wells inside of you, and the art you are about to create not only is there to topple the world but also pay homage to those who paved the path before you, their fires still raging in your heart.

California-based black metal warriors Blue Hummingbird on the Left (their name is the translation of the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli) encompass that organic, open-veined style of black metal, as they’ve paid homage to their Mexican heritage, along with many other members of the Black Twilight Circle, of which they’re a member. On their thunderous debut “Atl Tlachinolli,” the quartet pours fiery war-ravaged black metal, mind-altering echoed cries (vocals lines often sound like they bounce off walls, sending reverberations into each other), and primitive drive into these nine songs that not only stand apart from much of what the BTC put together but also explode past what so many other black metal artists are doing. The band—vocalist/flautist Tlacaelel, guitarist Yecpaocelotl, guitarist/drummer Yayauhqui, and bassist Coapahsolpol—also play in other bands including Axeman, Volahn, Xaxamatza, and Kallathon, and here they spread their fire and energy over these songs that easily can enrapture and stun you.

“Blood Flower” starts the record with a blast as riffs charge and carve into the earth, while the growls echo as they do throughout, with Tlacaelel wailing, “Slowly I climb towards the sun,” with his singing taking on a Lemmy-style vibe. “Sun/War Club” has tribal drumming, traditional Aztec instrumentation, and wild hoots that spark chaos before the riffs crumble, and the vocals tear into your chest. The pace is sweltering and dizzying, with the howls blasting through the wilderness, crazed calls reverberating, and the guitars crying out. “Precious Death” stomps heavily, with mind-warping vocals barreling, and a heat-inducing tempo before things cool off a bit, with melodies splashing, guitars chewing flesh, and everything swelling to an abrupt end. “Hail Huitzilopochtli” wails praise for the band’s namesake, as it’s fast, punishing, and thrashy, with the vocals twisting, rhythmic pounding leading the way, and chants of, “To him we pray! All hail! All hail!” before it smashes closed.

“Rain Campaign” has a ritualistic start, with drums encircling, shakers conjuring spirits, and wild roars unleashing spirits before riffs arrive and topple, and the drumming dusts bones. The track is heavy, crushing, and rousing, as Tlacaelel howls, “Tonight, we will learn what is hell!” as the track blazes into the abyss. “Tenochtitlan” has guitars blinding before the slow-driving pace gets the war boiling, as the vocals bounce off the cave walls. Riffs shift into a tornado, as your brain wiring is twisted, and the song comes to a crunching close. “Life Death Rebirth” also gets to work quickly, with the guitars bringing force and weird wails chilling flesh. The drums pulverize, while the guitars revel in madness, with the track coming to a gurgling, vicious end. “Storm” certainly sounds like one, with the ferocity lashing away and the guitars swimming in atmosphere. A strange feeling works its way into the mix, leaving you clutching for the walls for control and the track eventually halting before the song comes to a drilling finish. “Southern Rules Supreme – Moon” closes the album with guitars ramping up, wild cries echoing and entangling, and whistles calling out and haunting. The vocals stun the senses, as the track races toward oblivion, and the drums deliver the final blows.

Blue Hummingbird on the Left, like many members of the BTC, take great pride in their heritage and take up arms, albeit artistic ones, over those who would dare trample them, the essence of which is all over “Atl Tlachinolli.” The band’s brand of black metal prepares for war to preserve their history, and every fiber of this record is packed with their fighting spirit. This band and record also make sounds most black metal bands wouldn’t tempt, making them that much more enthralling.

To buy the album, go here: https://shop.ironbonehead.de/en/

Or here: https://shop.nwnprod.com/

Or here: https://crepusculonegro.bandcamp.com/

For more on the label, go here: http://www.ironbonehead.de/

And here: http://www.nwnprod.com/

And here: http://crepusculonegro.blogspot.com/

Almost every day, this page is filled with bands that bring negativity, violence, and unrest because, let’s face it, so much of the metal world provides that very content. This will be one of the handful of days where we’re going to look at something more positive, music that won’t make you want to throw yourself in an icy bank until wolves come to eat you.

Two years ago, Boston-based prog metal band (that doesn’t even come close to describing them) burst into the public with “Air,” a record that combined black metal melody, exciting playing, and some of the most energetic singing anywhere in metal. The music actually got inside of you and made you feel good. There was a positivity and exuberance to the record that, yeah, TRVE KVLT bros whined about on the internet because it wasn’t PURE BLACK FUCKING METAL, but those not tied down by such silliness found music that could make your heart race. They’re back with their second helping, a nine-track, self-titled affair, and while the music doesn’t race toward the sun with quite the same intensity as, say, “Up and Atom,” there is some merit in pulling back a bit, showing even more texture, and keeping you guessing all the same. The band—vocalist/guitarist Brett Boland, guitarist Casey Aylward, bassist Daniel Schwartz, drummer Matt St. Jean—focus on overcoming self-doubt and pouring oneself into art, a far cry from morbidity and chaos, but definitely a needed breath of fresh air in a world that can be utterly degrading.

“A New Color” starts the record by practically lighting up, building its intensity and unleashing strong singing. Much of the song feels like a long-running verse that weaves, rises, falls, and bursts again. Prog-friendly soloing arrives, with Boland calling, “The hope will lead us on,” as the track burns to an end. “I Dream in Lines” follows and is the ideal partner to the opener, as the riffs are a little darker, the song moodier, as Boland realizes, “If I follow, find the words to the story I’m telling, I’ll be fine.” Much of the song is told through a portrait, with a great chorus that brings the song to its end. “Lost” drips into a fog, as the track settles in a slower tempo, letting things darken a bit. But then atmosphere rushes, while much of the song is gazey and colorful, with the band end picking up and rumbling, cutting through rock. “Fault” has icy synth and a frosty haze before the song gets going, feeling a bit like a more recent-era Rush song. Later on, the track lands heavier blows, the soloing stings, and things end in a blistering echo.

“Breathe” swelters as it starts, with Borland urging, “Breathe in, breathe out,” as the energy bubbles over, and the infectious melody gets inside your bloodstream. “Water” is shadowy at the start, with a crunchy tempo and the synth floating like clouds. The track itself is a little non-descript, probably the least characteristic of the bunch, but perhaps it’s just a grower. “I Wish I Was There When the Sun Set” has a massive opening, like lava blazing to the surface, as the drums punch holes in the ground, and a strong chorus is constructed simply but effectively. St. Jean’s drumming remains the main engine of the song, a bit of a change-up for the band, which is a nice switch to the formula, as the band agitates the fires right to the crushing end. “Beyond the Scope” is heavily electronic at the start, but just when it seems they’ve fallen into a modern rock trap, they break out and inject power into the track. The vocal melodies are strong as hell, which is no surprise, with the final moments settling into a mid-tempo before ending suddenly. “Ideal World” closes the book with a sludgy pace and fog collecting before the drums pound again, and the band unleashes a thrashy assault you won’t see coming. This is easily the heaviest song on the album, as the band lets the final sparks fly before dissolving into the sky.

It took me a long time and years of therapy to realize it’s OK to feel good, and it’s perfectly acceptable to try to overcome one’s darkness, a lesson Astronoid smear all over their second record. It isn’t quite the instant burst that was “Air,” and I’m still feeling my way through it, but they remain true to their sound, their detractors be damned. Nothing can get in the way of Astronoid’s ascension, and it feels like they’re starting to scratch the surface of what they’re capable of doing.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/astronoidband/

To buy the album, go here: https://www.blood-music.com/store/

For more on the label, go here: https://www.blood-music.com/