A quick stroll through new releases from doom, death, black and tech metal. No “reviewer” rambling, just the essence: what’s playing, what’s worth it and what simply passes by and goes away.
TODOMAL – Graveyards of Joy
The Spanish TODOMAL, with members from Asgaroth and The Heretic, continue their strange blend of epic doom, prog and gothic metal. If you had loved A Greater Good, here you’ll find less misery and more adventure: more progressive, more ambitious, a more “open” record. Not as gloom as you expected, but certainly their most mature work to date.
CRANIAL OSTEOTOMY – Vortex of the Dark Knowledge
15 years after their debut, the Russian CRANIAL OSTEOTOMY return with an almost new lineup and a much more serious production. From the old mid-paced slam with programmed drums, they move into brutal death with Deeds of Flesh / Condemned vibes. The first tracks are dynamite, but the rhythms run so fast that it takes time to “settle” in your head. The slam element is there, just now at a pro level.
APOGEAN – Waste Where Life Begins
APOGEAN from Toronto had shown potential on their debut, but here they go for a colder, more mechanical sound. Less shred, less speed, more grooves and industrial beats. The record is professional, but it’s hard to stay in the mind. There are good moments (“Black Smoke, Bleeding Earth”), yet overall it seems more “solid” than something you want to put on again.
PSYCROPTIC – The Pulse of Annihilation
The Tasmanian PSYCROPTIC continue on their known path: technicality, groove, a bit of thrash energy and dual vocals with the frequent presence of Jason Keyser (Origin). Nine tracks around 4 minutes each, all at a similar tempo and structure. Steady, strong, but it doesn’t escape the band’s “safe” formula. If you dig their previous work, it’ll click; if you’re expecting something different, probably not.
ETHEREAL ROT – Ethereal Rot
ETHEREAL ROT from Maine play blackened technical death in the mist. Heavy atmosphere, goblin-rasps over deep growls, riffs buried in layers of noise. Hard to distinguish moments on a first listen, but it’s interesting as an aesthetic: closer to an avant-garde experiment than “clean” tech-death. If you want something chaotic and blurry, it’s worth a chance.
CEREMONIAL WORSHIP – Between Sleep and Death
CEREMONIAL WORSHIP from Athens step up a level with a full lineup and a cleaner production. From the raw black of Seven Gateways to Eternal Misanthropy they move into a more organized, uptempo style with heavy/Scandi black influences and melodic touches. There are moments that recall Judas Iscariot, others that go into witching thrash. Uneven, but clearly more worked-on and stronger than anything they’d put out until now.
CHAMBER OF UNLIGHT – Avernus
The Finnish CHAMBER OF UNLIGHT return with a reinforced lineup (members from Horna, Bythos etc.) and a second record that continues the Emperor-like chaos, but with more melody and better production. Tracks like “Rise Above” and “Wraithlike” show a band that knows how to build atmosphere without losing the aggression. Less violent than the debut, but more immersive and very close to the late ’90s feeling.
FAUSTIAN – Parable of the Sewer
FAUSTIAN, with members from Werewolves, Psycroptic, Abramelin and The Berzerker, play straight-forward black/death with groove and a bit of atmosphere. They don’t reach the barbarity of Nordjevel, nor do they have a strong personality, but there are good moments (“Immaculate”, “Tenements (Only The Wicked Walk In Circles)”). It’s easy listening, but it seems like a record written over a weekend without much thought.
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