Sh*t That Comes Out Today: January 29, 2021

New metal Friday! Year is off to a solid start with some really good records that most metal writers will forget about by the time it comes to put together end-of-year lists. Here’s the latest batch.

Accept
Too Mean to Die (NB)

Accept have entered the “album title as wry comment on their longevity” phase of their career, and they certainly approach their 16th studio album with the energy of a much younger band. That’s partly because they are a much younger band — guitarist Wolf Hoffman is the only remaining original member. Still, it feels like a tighter and more focused affair than their most recent few albums, even if the returns are definitely diminished from their heyday. The band sticks to their strengths, knocking out catchy metal anthems sure to go over big at Wacken (if it ever happens again). Still restless and wild after all these years.

The Body
I’ve Seen All I Need To See (Thrill Jockey)

The Body are definitely a specific taste — I 100% respect that they’re making the art they want to make and have found a receptive audience for it, but it’s not something I would put on while chilling with my cat. Their latest full-length delivers more of their formless shrieking and walls of feedback. It’s less experimental than 2018’s I Have Fought Against It, But I Can’t Any Longer., dropping that album’s flirtation with industrial beats and sampling in favor of a purely lo-fi blast of doomy, droning fuzz. It’ll sure scare your pets.

Demon Head
Viscera (Metal Blade)

Demon Head refer to their music as “diabolic rock,” which I guess is an accurate enough description when you literally have “demon” in your band name. Their take on doom falls somewhere between Candlemass’s stately approach and Primordial’s heathenish groove, which makes for a somewhat uneasy combination at times. Still, it works surprisingly well, giving it a grandeur but not abandoning the swing that this style often needs. They embrace the candle-lit rituals effectively.

Pounder
Breaking The World (Shadow Kingdom)

Now this is my kind of stupid! Exhumed’s Matt Harvey, Carcass’s Tom Draper, and Nausea’s Alejandro Correador team up to indulge in their love of old-school heavy metal thunder and make good use of some killer riffs that don’t fit in their more death-oriented day jobs. And those are some real tasty riffs, believe you me. Sure, there are plenty of other trad metal revival acts kicking around, but these metal lifers bring a level of expertise their younger peers can’t. In other words, expect plenty of air-guitaring in your future.

Tribulation
Where The Gloom Becomes Sound (Century Media)

Album number five for vampire metallers Tribulation comes under the unfortunate weight of Kabuki-masked guitarist Jonathan Hultén’s departure — although he played on this material, one wonders where his path diverged from the rest of his bandmates. Thankfully, the Swedes seem of one mind on Where the Gloom Becomes Sound. Epically melodic riffs mix with gothy vibes and melodeath croaking to create music both familiar and wholly unique. It’s more of a refinement of their path over the past few albums, but well worth visiting the title locale.

OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT THIS WEEK

Grey Daze – Amends…Stripped EP (Loma Vista) Listen
MSG – Immortal (NB) Listen
Nopes – Djörk (Magnetic Eye) Listen
Rezet – Truth In Between (Metalville) Listen
Soen – Imperial (Silver Lining) Listen
Sonic Flower – Rides Again (Heavy Psych) Listen
Trial – Sisters Of The Moon (Metal Blade) Listen
Werewolves – What A Time To Be Alive (Prosthetic) Listen