This Week in Metal, 2023 Week 41

Stortregn produced my favorite record of 2021. Impermanence stands as what most Tech Death, and even fewer Melodic Death, Metal bands could not achieve—a Progressive album without using any of the tropes of the genre, forming instead full songs of smaller themes and motifs. I couldn't tell you what the album was about—the cover art displaying Girardi's patented space-bunghole lost all meaning years ago—but I surely felt it, on an emotional and intellectual level alike. Drink deeply of death metal and cosmic anus.

Baring Teeth aren't the most trope-oriented troupe for the most part, so the challenge in reviewing The Path Narrows lies elsewhere – if this is an above average or even good example of Dissonant Death Metal, why does our Goat not find himself particularly enjoying it? Size matters.

The Post-Metal influence is dialed up a bit and the band again reaches into what I would call Relaxing Death Metal territory (RXDM is a term me and a colleague have made up to describe Death Metal that plays around with relaxing atmospheres and major key playing at the same time as being heavy, think bands like Sweven, Gold Spire and in part, this year's Tomb Mold). But is In But Not Of in?

Interregnum seamlessly continues the sonic journey Mānbryne started on their debut album, delving deeper into melancholic tones, and culminating in an explosive finale. Cosmo might not have been fishing for a new addition to his end of year list when he got caught in Mānbryne's hooks.

This year, Gramaglia has released the follow-up Vertebra Atlantis album, A Dialogue With the Eeriest Sublime. Combining harsh, gnarled riffs and hypnotic dreamscapes, this specific blend of Progressive Death Metal may just be his magnum opus. This album is not afraid to show some real backbone, so make sure you don't leave it at the bottom of the ocean.