Our This Week in Metal post collects our thoughts on music released in or around this week in the music world. We cover mostly metal, but we consider other genres to allow our writers poseur flexibility. Follow us on Instagram too!
Scuttle Goat's Curmudgeonly Critique
The Dark Parade has the ideal kind of throwback production. The album feels organic, warm but natural. The worst tendencies of retro producers – too much reverb and artificially roughing up the production - are mostly eschewed. RAISE YOUR SWORD!
Metalligator's Chomping Commentaries
The elitist uproar about Myrkur's debut was intense and a bit ridiculous, as even if the album is bad or not, it did manage to do enough to be called Metal. As in answer to this, Myrkur decided to prove all the naysayers right by transitioning into Folk songs on her subsequent albums. As Spine arrives, we should focus on what is important here: is Spine any good? Or is it spineless?
Hayter's name change to Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter is about switching focus toward healing rather than pain, and supplies ample reason for that change even if the music is a stone's throw away from the Lingua Ingota project. The Christian Hater returns!
Cosmo's Chaotic Curveballs
Sühnopfer's love of baroque themes makes itself known immediately in opening track “DSFR” with its classical guitar intro. These classical guitar motifs pop up throughout the course of the album, and they’re always a joy when they appear. Possibly unsavory baroque riffs.
There are moments of clarity on Burn the Circus that show hints of potential. “Clockwork God”, for example, is an early highlight. Keyboards that sound like circus organs are used heavily, and it works, along with the frankly great riffs present. When Tardigrade Inferno lean into riffwriting, it shows their penchant for writing groovy, fun riffs. But in the end, will we find Cosmo nailed to the Ferris Wheel?
Inksterium's Iridescent Impression
If Screamo and elements of Math and Hardcore variety meets Post-Rock build-ups sounds like your idea of a bad gimmick, perhaps Dreamwell's sophomore album, In My Saddest Dreams, I Am Beside You will come as a pleasant surprise. Hopefully as a good dream.
