
Last call! Last call! This is the last call at The Goat Review!
“Metalligator, I want pictures of Spiderman on my desk tomorrow!” Scuttlegoat yells. It’s in vain, of course, as the year’s close rapidly approaches. Lines run registers ragged at the local electronics stores as shoppers fight for new iPhones, for a pair of Air Pods to replace a fallen soldier. Gerolsteiner cases sit low in inventory as the crumbling geopolitics of sparkling water exports come to a frightening halt...
But a familiar smell weaves through the steaming ink and scorching print belts of the Goat Review office…
“Ein krapfen…” the Trans-Dimensional Editor mumbles as his nose flares with the intrigue of sweet, steamy, fried dough. “Maybe we’ll make it this year after all, Goat…”
Though not thoroughly convinced, Scuttlegoat nods in hope and takes a step outside to stare at the winter festivities that bring the streets joy, if only for a moment. “I guess it’s time to start to lock up for the season” he bleats to his ragged team. “Well… what have you got? Finally some good albums I hope. We might as well celebrate some music we actually enjoy.”
HOT OFF THE PRESSES
Scuttlegoat slides in an underground treasure...
Progressive death metal sits at an odd spot, with a lot of releases being just progressive metal that occasionally features some weak growls. Few acts actually commit to the idea of making death metal that is progressive. Cosmic Putrefaction commit to the bit, however. Now with longer songs, more shreddy solos and an image so arcane, they would fit right at home at I, Voidhanger, ironically a label they no longer call home. Despite all of this, Cosmic Putrefaction never lose sight of the plot and remain equally and abstract. This album came out at a bad time, admittedly, as it released too close to Blood Incantation’s newest platter of outer-space nonsense. But the death metal audience should not sleep on Cosmic Putrefaction, as there are still few bands who combine the styles in such a potent way and once Blood Incantation’s cosmic dust has settled, you will be glad there is more progressive death goodness waiting.
Metalligator stumbles upon a world of unforgettable colors...
With a bass so thicc it's begging to be slapped, Artificial Bouquet became the only screamo-related album that has stuck with me in 2024. Frail Body excel at writing intense songs that with grind intensity, but they also veer into the atmospheric with contemplative melodies breaking up the assault. Each song, while all feeling of the same template, always ends up in hitting differently, and the journey always entertains. While not quite equal, Artificial Bouquet sits in an lane adjacent to last year's Pupil Slicer album, Blossom. Likewise, production plays a part in the impact this album makes. The bass deserves another mention simply because of how growling it is, and the guitar sits perfectly as to make both chunky enough to add a pleasing heft. By finding unique dynamics, Artificial Bouquet stands above a lot of metal albums, with each of its elements holding a thought and care outside of wanting to bludgeon. When all you have is a hammer, sometimes it's better to use your hands to gently handle that bass.
Cosmo releases his marathon grip long enough to gush over...
We’re currently in the midst of a post death metal revolution in extreme music. Ulcerate were the pioneers in 2020 with Stare into Death and Be Still. And while Convulsing has been steadily mired in that lush sound since 2016’s Errata, it wasn’t until surprise third full length Perdurance that this post death sound became actualized. Perdurance is effortless when it comes to switching from intense death metal (“Flayed”) to chilled out post sections (“Inner Oceans”) and culminates in a long, magnificent closer (“Endurance”) before drifting away into the ether from whence it came. No one does post death metal better than Convulsing, and Brendan Sloan has delivered another home run with Perdurance. Also as per tradition, the digital download of the album comes with a bonus closing Porcupine Tree cover, Sloan being a prog nerd at heart. If you’re looking for something that whets your appetite after Ulcerate, Cave Sermon, or Devenial Verdict, look no further than Perdurance.
Peat overhears a karaoke club furious with talent...
Intro tracks can sometimes be a detriment to bands seeking to make their mark. So it is with Dance and Endless Horizons, where the beautifully dreamy “The Unceasing Flux” does little to indicate that fifty-six minutes of Dissection-esque black metal awaits. Tremolo melody after tremolo melody greets us, all in that dramatically aggressive vein so familiar to those who’ve loved the black metal output of 1990s Sweden. Where Dance truly succeed though is their songwriting. Tracks like “Jag hatar er all” and “Where Nightmares Dwell” demonstrate well-written, entrancing slow sections that build into furious assaults. It’s a potent combination and repeated listens to Endless Horizons has only sunk it's vicious hooks deeper. If there’s anything holding Dance back, it’s perhaps a feeling of over familiarity with the sound, even if executed to a high standard. However, given that Dance’s two members aren’t even twenty years old, I’m confident they can solve that. The future is dark and frostbitten for Dance, and it is now.
Bobo takes a break from death metal???
Full Moon Fever is a ferocious dive into eerie chaos. The French lunatics of Gravekvlt blend blackened punk with the haunting allure of a moonlit night, crafting an album brimming with raw, unpolished energy that captures the essence of the DIY spirit and '80s punk rebellion. From the first crushing chords to the last spectral howl, the atmosphere drips with spine-chilling spookiness, razor-sharp riffs and frenzied drums driving its relentless momentum. Gravekvlt channels the raw edge of early punk while layering it with a shadowy, blackened twist, creating a soundscape that's both nostalgic and otherworldly. Full Moon Fever exudes a sinister charm, with vocals that alternately snarl and scream, evoking images of abandoned graveyards and ghostly rituals — a perfect storm of distortion and dread and an ode to those who revel in the darker side of punk. Whether you’re headbanging in the pit or wandering alone beneath a full moon, Full Moon Fever will leave you exhilarated — and just a little haunted. Fans of raw, uncompromising music with a spectral edge won’t want to miss this electrifying release.