Unsigned and Unholy: Alustrium, Mord’A’Stigmata, Status Abnormis

What the fuck is going on Eastern Pennsylvania? It’s become a hot bed for progressive death metal in recent years, first with Rivers of Nihil, then Black Crown Initiate, and now Alustrium, whose existence I’m aware of thanks to the former’s guitarist Brody Uttley and a smattering of emails and Facebook posts by MS readers. Jam Alustrium’s new track “A Tunnel to Eden” below from the album of the same name, which came out in July. That bluesy guitar solo at the end!! The tits. Grab the album on Bandcamp.

An Exclaim.ca review name-checks Blut Aus Nord, Leviathan, Catacombs, and Natchtmystium as influences for Mord’A’Stigmata, but I’m not sure any of those references get at the heart of what I like most about these Poles. They’ve got a blackened vibe, sure, but there’s something depressive and downtrodden about their music that not only hits hard, but leaves a lump sitting heavy in the pit of your stomach. A touch of Celtic Frost maybe? Check out their new three-track EP Our Hearts Slow Down below.

Status Abnormis verge onto the blackened side of the spectrum too, but their brand is way more technical than the above. Think the progressive song structures and musical proficiency of Keep of Kalessin — with healthy doses of keys and atmospherics, and trace elements of other metal sub-genres sprinkled in — and you’re close. We featured these guys in Unsigned and Unholy in January of 2014, and now they’re back with new album Amor Fati, streamable below.

http://foughtuponearth.bandcamp.com/releases