Category: Grind

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 12th, 2020

6/12/2020

Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance for the following week. Today is the day we must offload all this new music, and so, in the process, we thought it would be worthwhile to share some of our choice picks from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, June 12th, 2020:
Behold... The Arctopus, Lord, Foetal Juice, DECONSECRATION

Behold... The Arctopus - Hapeleptic Overtrove
(Willowtip / P2)

Time to ruffle some feathers. BTA do
have an endearing shtick, but at this stage in the game, I think we need to address the fact that their brand of progressive metal results in albums that are more a collection of ideas, and less a collection of tracks. Indeed, as fellow Villager Izzy recently argued, this album sounds more like segments from a rehearsal than an album proper. Sure, the hyper-technicality is impressive--it's instrumentally all over the place in the best of ways, something truly to behold--but I fail to see how this album succeeds as an album. If you're here to witness the workshop-esque qualities of BAT, this could very well indeed be the best representation of their baffling sound. All told, I do buy the statement that Hapeleptic Overtrove is at the forefront of prog wackery. I don't however, believe that Behold... The Arctopus are necessarily pushing metal in a new direction.

Find it on bandcamp here!

Lord - Chaos Raining
(Independently Released)

Let's get the obvious out of the way: Lord are an excellent band.
Chaos Raining, despite containing little new content, is no exception to the rule. The title track, taken from their prior album, is offered here in two formats, including the OG ripper and an extended cut. A new track, "A World Insane," helps flesh out the package of this limited edition EP. All told, both (or all three, depending how you coutn it?) are stellar tracks, leaning heavily into both the progressive and power ends of the metal spectrum. Lord employ a potent sense of melodic bombast to great effect, resulting in a predictably ramble-rousing endeavor. If yer unfamiliar with these Aussie stalwarts, I highly recommend allowing this EP to serve as an entry point. If you are familiar, I recommend you check this one out--while unessential, it's an undeniable banger. So, in short...recommended!

Find it on bandcamp here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 10th, 2020

4/10/2020

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On the docket for today, April 10th, 2020:
Like Rats, CURSE, Benighted, and the Women of Doom compilation

Like Rats - Death Monolith
(Hibernation Release)

Desperate times call for death metal. This, I’m fairly sure, was written as gospel at some point in the past 30-odd years. In any case, Chicago death outfit Like Rats are here to crush, mush, and otherwise pulverize this release day with their hardcore-tinged brand of OSDM. Offering up a hearty stew of Immolation riffage and Morbid Angel ‘tude, the groove is predictably strong with these guys, with every single track herein delivering an opportunity or two for a behemothian fit of headbanging.

If you’re in the mood for death without a jangly assortment of bells and whistles, I highly recommend you give Death Monolith a shot during your release day shenanigans.

Find 'em on bandcamp here!

CURSE - The Awakening..and the Old
(Redefining Darkness Records)

We’ve got two offerings from the consistently amazing Redefining Darkness Records today--the first being this tasty blackened thrash EP from Sweden’s CURSE. Those of ye who know me very well will know that I have a fondness for the black(ened thrash) arts, and these five tracks are no exception to the rule--although I will say that the general approach in a tad slower than genre convention might dictate. As a result, we’re presented with a surprisingly atmospheric assault, with the trashier elements feeling particularly visceral when they do unsheathe their claws. It’s as if the lovechild of Urgehal and early Watain were left to rot for a decade or two before being abruptly awoken. In other words: good stuff.

Find 'em on bandcamp here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: March 27th, 2020

3/27/2020

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On the docket for today, March 27th, 2020:
Wake, Chrome Ghost, Lord Buffalo, and Unholy Desecration

Lord Buffalo - Tohu Wa Bohu (Blues Funeral Recordings)

Anyone who follows my personal taste knows that I'm a sucker for Blues Funeral's offerings, and this is no different--albeit a stark turn in genre direction. Rather than peddling thunderous riffage, Tohu Wa Bohu successfully harnesses the landscape of the west, alongside a deep tradition of folk and Americana. Lord Buffalo inject their sophomoric effort with a dark, gothic, and otherwise moody energy, like unto, perhaps, a ghost town at dawn. Psychedelic blues tramp over windswept plains. Tohu Wa Bohu is equal parts morbid and comforting--that perfect place lurking, inexplicably, between comfort and unease. In a word? Haunting. Skeletal. Gorgeous. Recommended.

Find it on Bandcamp here.

Unholy Desecration - Unholy Horde (Confused Records)

You know what we all need in times like these? Yeah, that's right: blacken'd death metal. Bloodthirsty Texans Unholy Desecration get down and dirty, providing the goods in spades. Riddled with technical flourishes and melodic undercurrents, Unholy Horde primarily exudes that which we seek--namely, a ripping good time. Everything here is designed, it seems, to paint a picture of hell, from the beastial and militaristic effects, to the pure larynx-shredding enacted in the pursuit of deliciously torturous vocals. While I do wish the guitar tone was a little fuller to fully maximize the brutality of the riffage these guys lay down, I’m nonetheless quite happy to let this one keep on spinning.

Find it on Bandcamp here.

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 12th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 10th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: March 27th, 2020

Welcome!

What are ye

looking for?

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 12th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 10th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: March 27th, 2020

Welcome!

What are yelooking for?

What are ye

looking for?