Sh*t That Comes Out Today: October 16, 2020
New metal releases! And most of them are even metal this week!
Benediction
Scriptures (NB)
It’s tough being a band mostly known for being the stomping grounds of a notable musician prior to joining their more famous act (see also: Samson), but Benediction have been around thirty times as long as Napalm Death vocalist Barney Greenway’s stint now. Their first full-length in twelve years features the return of post-Greenway vocalist Dave Ingram, and his ferocious roar brings a lot to the proceedings. I confess to being unfamiliar with their classic work, but I can say with confidence that if you’re looking for totally solid death metal, Scriptures has the answer to your prayers (although I’m not sure why you’d pray for this stuff, it’s pretty easy to find).
HEALTH
DISCO4 :: PART 1 (Loma Vista)
Here’s the non-metal entry for this week — although the Full of Hell and Youth Code team-ups on this HEALTH collaboration compilation will kick your teeth in far more brutally than a lot of death metal. The industrial/darkwave iconoclasts invited luminaries from the rap, metal, and indie worlds to add their own personal touches to the trio’s dystopian soundscapes. The results only enhance the delicious darkness. Many of these tracks were previously released, but it makes sense to lock them all in one place where they can’t hurt anyone else.
Infera Bruo
Rites of the Nameless (Prosthetic)
Heyyy, it’s atmospheric black metal! Who doesn’t love atmospheric black metal? My mom, probably. She’d ask me to turn this off pretty quickly. Not much to say about this one, really — it’s well-executed and I got through the whole thing without getting bored, a rarity for this type of music. They throw in a lot of subtle progressive elements to differentiate themselves some. Still, it’s more of a mood listen than an active sit-through. If you’re looking for some good background music for the upcoming winter months, you could do much worse.
Sons of Otis
Isolation (Totem Cat)
When I think the name Otis, I think of elevators, and that’s an appropriate comparison for Sons of Otis: they’re heavy and slow and unstoppable once they get going. That could also apply to the wrestler Otis. Anyway, these Canadians fall on the stoner-y side of the doom spectrum, but don’t be fooled. This is more akin to The Obsessed or Saint Vitus than Fu Manchu. As the title implies, it’s perfect for listening to on your own while the walls close in around you.
Spirit Adrift
Enlightened In Eternity (20 Buck Spin)
Oh hey, it’s the best metal album of the year (if you don’t count Night Flight Orchestra). Full-length number four finds them down to the dynamic doom duo of Nate Garrett and Marcus Bryant, but you wouldn’t know it from the rich sounds within. They supercharge their already-huge songs by bringing the NWOBHM/trad elements to the forefront here. The intent was to make a big, uplifting metal record with this after the downbeat Divided by Darkness. Anthems like “Astral Levitation” and “Screaming from Beyond” are meant to be blasted from your car speakers loud enough for the entire world to hear. In other words: totally triumphant.
Wayfarer
A Romance With Violence (Profound Lore)
Imperial Triumphant do art deco black metal, so why not Western (as in, Spaghetti) black metal? Everyone needs their niche. It’s definitely better than more Satanic stuff! These guys hail from Coloradio, so it makes more sense than them trying to pretend they’re Scandinavian. Wayfarer don’t just use the cowboy motif for their lyrics — they work in Western flourishes amidst their atmospheric black metal miasma. Thankfully, it never comes across as cheesy or gimmicky. Next stop, bloodshed.
OTHER SHIT THAT COMES OUT THIS WEEK
Bergeton – Miami Murder (Self-released) Listen
The Damned – The Rockfield Files Listen
Freaks And Clowns – Justice Elite (Metalville) Listen
Henrik Palm – Poverty Metal (Svart) Listen
Molassess – Through The Hollow (SoM) Listen
Pure Reason Revolution – The Dark Third (Reissue) Listen
