Very cool sludge with a touch of stoner airiness.
doom
Demonic Death Judge – We have to kill
Finish barbecue metal.
Konvent – Puritan Masochism
First song from the upcoming full-length debut album by Konvent from Denmark. If the rest of the album can hold up to this song, then we are in for pure death doom bliss. I also really like the album art.
Meanwhile, we can listen to their demo from 2017.
Besvärjelsen – When We Fall
I haven’t heard of this Swedish band before, but I’m hooked. This song starts out as pure doom and then wanders off straight into prog territory. And, oh yes, it makes me really happy to hear a Theremin.
Burning Gloom – Nightmares
This is one great guitar riff. Check out Burning Gloom’s new album for more.
Primitive Man – Victim
I’ve listened to a lot of “extreme” bands in my life, but rarely anything has hit me like discovering Primitive Man a few years ago. To me, it’s the most brutal and heaviest band. In a good way. The music is crushing, it’s devestating, even exhausting. In a good way. After listening to a full album I feel tired, but also calm and full of joy. Even science agrees: Heavy Metal can boost your mental health.
The video title says NSFW and you better take the warning seriously. Neither the music nor the imagery is for everyone. It’s highly disturbing. In a good way.
Earth – Full Upon Her Burning Lips
The new Earth album is out: Full Upon Her Burning Lips. I have been a fan since they reduced the drone and distortion to a minimum in mid 2000. Since then I’ve always thought that this instrumental slow hypnotic blend of rock and country jazz is the perfect music to drink tea by, or whisky if you prefer, and read a Barry Gifford novel. When I listen to Earth, I visualize American landscapes, especially deserts and swamps.
Morass of Molasses – Death Of All
Very cool stoner rock band with bluesy riffs and progressive twists. Bandcamp.
Bell Witch – Mirror Reaper
One song, 83 minutes. This album is a challenge for those suffering from a
hyperactivity disorder. It’s an intense and atmospheric doom metal epic. The video consists entirely of archive footage which adds to the album’s themes of grief and loss. The sound is thick and flows smooth like molasses. You can’t really tell that Bell Witch is indeed a 2-piece using only bass, drums, and organ.
The album is available on Bandcamp.
Latitudes – Part Island
Latitudes is a band I have been very much appreciating since their first EP back in 2007. It’s progressive post-metal with complex rhythms. Yet it grooves and flows and packs a lot of emotion which is something many other technical bands lack. They also use moody ambient parts and cool synths to add another layer of depths.
On their previous album, Old Sunlight, they started to experiment with vocals and consequently their new album, Part Island, has vocals on all tracks which gives it a melancholic edge. The sound also has shifted towards a more open and richer approach, yet it’s still a highly complex album and feels painstakingly crafted to the finest detail. This will probably belong to my favorite metal album releases this year.
Listen/purchase: Part Island by LATITUDES
