Upcoming Metal: Week of July 20th
Kontusion
Insatiable Lust For Death
Releases July 25th on Profound Lore Records
Genre: Death Metal
On Kontusion’s debut, this duo pays tribute to its death metal roots, with cavernous vocals and almost crust-punk style drumming. Mark Bronzino;s do remind me of Frank Mullen of Suffocation on those early records. “Endless Horror” encapsulates that raw, harsh production sound, while also fitting the dark undertone of the band’s sound and direction with this album. “Revenge” also has tinges of classic heavy metal near the halfway point, with wailing guitar leads that segue back into the pummeling, forceful drumming of Chris Moore. Definitely getting early-Autopsy vibes with this band’s sound and guitar tone (”Hemorrhage” is a good example of this). If you want your death metal to be dark and brooding with touches of random synths, this might be the perfect band for you to check out.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Bloodletter
Leave The Light Behind
Releases July 25th on Wise Blood Records
Genre: Melodic Thrash Metal
“A World Unmade” and its opening guitar riff, draw comparisons to me of acts like Sodom, Morbid Saint and Exodus. Peter Carparelli’s vocals, over his and Pat Armamentos’ guitars are just high octane, go for the throat speed and precision. Zach Sutton flies across the kit on “On Blackened Wings”, while songs like “Terminal” continue the melodic thrash sound of acts like Warbringer and Revocation. As well as drawing a sound similar to German legends Kreator on “Unearthing Darkness”. At just over thirty-minutes, it hits the sweet spot of album length with almost all killer/no filler throughout the album. A great record that will make any fist-pumping, headbanging thrash fan happy and want to replay it as soon as the final note hits.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Black Magnet
Megamantra
Releases July 25th on Federal Prisoner
Genre: Industrial Metal
Drowning in effect’s, “Endless” kicks off the record and delivers that brash, harsh and distorted vocal effect Al Jourgensen of Ministry is famous for, but more harsher. I also love “Better Than Love”, which has a nice, groovy keyboard riff amongst shrieking guitar strikes and a solid drum beat. James Hammontree’s vocals juggle from spoken, to distorted screams, and an almost call-and-response feel on the chorus. “Spitting Glass” also has a pretty nostalgic, synthwave opening arpeggio, mixed with a 90’s industrial guitar tone and vibe. If you want a hybrid of classic NIN, Skinny Puppy or Ministry, this record is right up you alley. Channeling the roots of industrial metal, while continuing to carry the flame while some of those legacy acts have faded away or shifted direction.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Kill Everything
Headless Cum Dumpster
Releases July 25th on Comatose Music
Genre: Slam/Brutal Death Metal
Headless Cum Dumpster delivers that nasty, tin-can snare tone I love in slam in the opening of “Fermented Drippings”. Johnny Abila’s vocals deliver that unintelligible, single guttural just going up or down in volume that is a staple of the genre. Brian Wynn & Brett Wilson are just riff machines throughout the album. From the sludgier, almost djenty guitar sound on “Excoriated Integumental Sludge Altar”to the more beligerent and pounding sound of “Human Tripa Tacos”. Just under thirty-minutes, the record delivers the typical slam staples, but unfortunately doesn’t deliver anything that makes it stand out from a lot of it’s peers, or any memorable tracks that made me want to re-spin the record.
SCORE: 2 / 5
False Gods
Lost in Darkness and Distance
Releases July 25th independently
Genre: Doom/Sludge Metal
With their third album, False Gods open strong with “Voice of Treason”. Giving off a stoner/sludge vibe, with the screaming angst in vocalist Mike Stack’s delivery. “Straw Dog” is also a banger of a track, with Greg March’s guitar & Devin Stracuzza’s bass just pummeling the listener with the chugging riff throughout. For me, one of the misses was “Enemy That Never Was”, with vocals and chorus that deliver a more modern metal delivery, which I think doesn’t quite the sludgier tone of the album. With more songs after that one continuing that trending tone and was just not for me unfortunately. It might work for some listeners and they might dig it, but for me, just wasn’t working and took away some of the sludgier heaviness of the opening tracks.
SCORE: 2.5 / 5
Red Brick
Thrown
Releases July 25th on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions
Genre: Sludge Metal
The debut album from Philadelphia duo Red Brick delivers that muddy, sludgy tone right from the opening of “Lies”, before morphing into an almost grindcore song in the closing moments. Chris "Chicken" Penrod’s drumming and vocals give off a pounding, dirge-like delivery of Melvins with shrieking, visceral screaming a la Scott Kelly of Neurosis. Mag Stephens’ chugging and heavy riffs just add to the unhinged nature of the band’s chaotic infusion of sludge and grind. A great example of this is “Wage” & “Incompetence”. At just a bit over twenty-minutes in runtime, its chaotic, slow, manic, unpredictable and overall heavy. And I love every second of it.
SCORE: 5 / 5
