Springing from the rib of the odd opera-with-growls project Les Chants Du Hasard, Hasard takes a more conventional approach of classical infused black metal, as weird as that is to say. The titular musician Hasard is responsible for everything here apart from a great appearance from John Steven Morgan (of Wreche fame) on piano.
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Nightmarer – Deformity Adrift Review
Most Dissonant Death Metal has the unfortunate effect of making Metalligator want to fall asleep but keeping him awake with cutting squeaky noises, this makes for an angry Gatorrr usually. Is it sleepy time? Not so fast.
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Infecting the Swarm – Pulsing Coalescence Review
Infecting the Swarm claims to make music for fans of Disentomb, Defeated Sanity and Euphoric Defilement. Neither Disentomb nor Defeated Sanity comparisons apply fully. Rather, I feel the best comparison is likely Spain’s Wormed, whose dissonant, almost machine-like Brutal Death Metal approaches texture in a Brutal Death Metal context similarly to how Infecting the Swarm do it.
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Gorod – The Orb Review
Riffs are in their essence circular, a series of chords repeated over the course of a piece of music to make it feel more coherent or to carry a theme. On The Orb, Gorod ask themselves the scientific question of “What if the riffs were even MOAR circular?”, maybe even spherical? Get a load of this jawbreaker!
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7 H. Target – Yantra Creating Review
It seems that it is a rite of passage for Tech Death acts to at some point play up the transcendental nature of their music. This usually manifests either as a Buddhist influence or more general Indian mysticism. 7 H. Target, Russian Slam weirdos, have now also committed to the trope. Are they on or off target?
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Conjureth – The Parasitic Chambers Review
Conjureth are certainly talented. The band deals in a type of auditory chaos that could just as well be considered sloppy but that adds to the experience here – an album so aggressive and wild, bursting at its seams, that the musicians can barely hold it together. Enter the chambers of Conjureth!
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Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars Review
“Austerity” opens the album with some rhythmic fuckery that is unlike Katatonia but it settles comfortably into their usual style. The following songs “Colossal Shade” and “Opaline” add some unusual groove and a kind of sad, almost Jazz-y sound. It makes the first half of the album flow by as a breeze.
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Thy Darkened Shade – Liber Lvcifer II: Mahaprala Review
Ritualistic Black Metal. An instant turn-on for some, an instant “eww, gross” from others. For me, it’s one of my favorite aspects of what Black Metal can be. Thy Darkened Shade has opened its doors once again (after 8 years of nothing save for some splits) with the second part of the grand trilogy Liber Lvcifer. Is it a worthy followup to its predecessor?
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Defect Designer – Neanderthal Review
What a time to be alive—two great grindcore albums in a week! What a shame that Wormrot will inevitably overshadow Defect Designer’s Neanderthal, as the album is quite good. Don’t miss out!
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Crypts of the Unknown: 2024 Vol. 1
