Upcoming Metal: Week of July 6th
Doctor D
Time Loop
Releases July 11th independently
Genre: First Wave Black Metal
From the rough, demo-sounding guitar tone on the opening track “Hazardous Sewage Overflow”, the sound of the album almost doesn’t match the bright and colorful cover on Doctor D’s Time Loop album. With cavernous vocals production and vocal delivery similar to early Celtic Frost, it is a positive bait-and-switch feeling. Songs like “Punch N’ Shake”, “Riffmonster” and “Emptyhollow” truly capture that hybrid sound of First Wave of Black Metal. Awesome NWOBHM-inspired riffs with that snarling, visceral vocal delivery that would become more darker and unhinged in the genre’s second wave. Straightforward, thrashy black metal that was definitely a fist-pumping, headbanging good time.
SCORE: 4.5 / 5
Viogression
Thaumaturgic Veil
Releases July 11th independently
Genre: Thrash Metal (early); Death Metal (later)
On the band’s fourth album, Viogression pay homage to the old school death metal sound of their current era. While also waxing nostalgia with roots in their early records. “Jinx” has a nasty, harsh and abrasive guitar tone and the deep, growling vocals just come in hard and fast. Very similar to John Tardy of Obituary in sound. I do admit the interludes inbetween each track, to me, break up the pacing of the record. Going from blistering, headbanging tracks like “Renumeration” and “Pummeled” kind of want me begging for the next song to start instead of a 30-45 second interlude into the next song. This might be good to do live, but I don’t want that in an album. But if you like your OSDM mainly stemming from the Florida sound, this album is worth a listen.
SCORE: 3 / 5
Impureza
Alcázares
Releases July 11th on Season of Mist
Genre: Death Metal with Flamenco elements
France’s Impureza had me intrigued with their sound description. Death metal with Flamenco elements, which had me curious, since I do love technical wizardy on the guitar and bass and would be interested to hear how this sound would work with death metal. “Bajo las tizonas de Toledo” and its opening homage to 80’s thrash, segueing into melodic death metal, was a complex and dynamic opener. Esteban Martin’s vocals do come in harsh and fast. Guitarist Lionelito is a true riff machine on the song. Especially on this song, “Pestilencia” and “
La orden del yelmo negro”. The sound is the band’s perfect blending of easing, relaxing acoustic passages, that transition into blistering, riff heavy leads and soaring, fretboard hopping solos. A real joy to listen to and loved the integration of cultural elements into the band’s sound on this album.
SCORE: 5 / 5
As The Sea Parts
Psychosis
Releases July 11th independenlty
Genre: Doom/Death Metal
On their debut and opening track “Where Paradise Lies”, As The Sea Parts brings the melo death/doom hybrid sound that has become to rise in recent years with acts like Swallow The Sun and Novembers Doom. Paul Vanderslice’s vocals have that grizzled, nihilistic vocal tone and delivery that perfectly matches the brooding and antagonistic tone. “Among The Shadows” has a very up-tempo, Gothenburg sound to it and adds to the pounding drumming beneath the riff. The slowed down, atmospheric “Loss and Remembrance” really bathes the listener in a cascading sadness, with little flurries of death metal/thrashy riffs, before continuing the melancholy aesthetic. Overall, a strong debut and a band that has potential and I’d love to see what’s in store for the follow up.
SCORE: 4.5 / 5
Cronos Compulsion
Lawgiver
Releases July 11th on Unorthodox Emanations
Genre: Death Metal
“Obligate Condition” just goes for the throat right off the opening riff. The heaviness continues on “Maladapt”, bring a brutal death metal sound in the guitar playing and making the tone get heavier and more hostile. Especially with the sludgy/breakdown-esque tone throughout this song. Definitely Incantation vibes with this band’s sound and dabbling a bit into the dissonant sound with some of the pacing, atmosphere and overall vibe of the record. Dug this record a lot, and I want to see them continue their unholy hybrid of the three D’s: Death, Doom, and Dissonance.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Embers of Ouroboros
The Autumnal Decline and Hermetic Maturation
Releases July 11th on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Genre: Raw Black Metal
Channeling the raw, early roots of second wave black metal and the demo-like quality comes Embers of Ouroboros. With their second album, this one-man project embodies the DIY sound and delivery that acts like Leviathan and Xasthur made popular. “Innate and Gnarled” has that cassette-tape production quality and screeching vocals that I love in the raw black metal sound. Tiptoeing the line between raw and DSBM, the sound is harsh, brazen, unforgiving and dark. “The Autumnal Decline”, “Dying Too Slow” and album closer “The Incarnation of Hypocrisy” truly deliver that hopeless, bleak nature that the genre delivers. Though there were moments where the songs did drag a bit, and some “one-note” feelings did come up on a couple songs, it was a decent listen that would please anyone who likes that rougher, harsher sounding black metal.
SCORE: 3 / 5
