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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: May 29th, 2020

5/29/2020

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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, May 29th, 2020:
Xibalba, Atavistia, Paralysis, and Held In Secret

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Xibalba - Años En Infierno
​(Southern Lord) 

​We gave this excellent album a lil' love previously, but now that it has been cast into the world for ye to all enjoy, it's worth revisiting. Xibalba  play a potent and pissed-off blend of death metal and hardcore, bringing the heft of the former and the aggression of the latter to bear with suitably impressive results. Notably, this latest effort demonstrates a refinement of the downtrodden sludge-like atmosphere that Xibalba have, in the past, approached. As I wrote previously, "This is brutality incarnate." As such, it inevitably has a wide appeal to fans of genres that deal with heartfelt violence and rage--if you're a fan of the take-no-prisoners approach, you'll find something to enjoy herein.

Find it on bandcamp
here!

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Paralysis - Mob Justice
(Independently Released)

Crossover thrash, we sclumbering scribes are happy to admit, is not everyone's cup of tea. However, if you're in the mood (as ye should be) to throw elbows, 
Paralysis' blistering  high-octane display of East-Coast-hardcore-by-way-of-Bay-Area-thrash is a solid candidate to serve as your soundtrack. I'm getting a distinctly  Iron Reagan ​vibe from this album, both in terms of the tangibly kinetic energy and the general "fuck around and find out" grit.

​Mob Justice is the definition of moshable music, plain 'n' simple. If you're on the hunt for a sample, check out the hard-hitting "Oblivious" for a particularly representative taste. Highly recommended!

​Find it on bandcamp here!
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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: May 22nd, 2020

5/22/2020

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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!  Note: there was a veritable horde of excellent music released today. As such, we tried to focus on some lesser-known artists for this edition. More reviews to follow in days to come!

On the docket for today, May 22nd, 2020:
Pile of Priests, Molder, Without Light, and Capra

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Pile of Priests - Pile of Priests​ 
(Extreme Metal Music)

That band name, right? That album artwork, right?! This looks like an absolute riot, and, thankfully, it sounds like one too. Pile of Priests play a gloriously theatrical brand of (alternately) thrashy and proggy death metal, with ample room for narrative. To their credit, these elements never conflict of clash--indeed, the narrative elements and progressive leanings, which might feel campy in lesser hands, lend the entire affair an oddly addicting charm. It takes guts to inject grunty riff-driven death metal with a soaring epic flair, but this self-titled beast handles the challenges...well, handily.

​Pile of Priests is, in sum, a fun and competent conglomerate of independent elements that make death metal enjoyable. This particular scribe shall certainly be listening in weeks (and months) to come.


​Find it on bandcamp here!


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Molder - Vanished Cadavers
(Rotted Life Records*)

Speakin' of death metal, it's time for one of the underground's hottest acts in OSDM entertain-ment. If you've been following us for a while, you'll know that we Villagers are big fans of Molder's cadaver-licking style of death metal barbarity. As such,  the release of the stellar Vanished Cadavers is a cause for much joy and celebration. This is everything I had hoped--big riffs, meaty production, vicious vocal onslaught, and a generally. This album, notably, employs a slightly thrashier edge than what we've seen before, as well as a clearer approach to rapid-fire composition. Fans of Autopsy rejoice. While it ain't fresh, Molder represents the concentrated form of everything we underground and old school death metal fans love about the genre trappings. They are, undoubtedly, going places. (*Also seeing release on Goatthrone  and Headsplit.)

Find it on bandcamp here!


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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: May 8th, 2020

5/8/2020

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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, May 8th, 2020:
...and Oceans, WitchUrn, Holden, Hadewijch, and ÆNON

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...And Oceans - Cosmic World Mother
​
(Season of Mist)

Let's not draw this out: symphonic black metallers ...And Oceans have made a remarkably  triumphant return from the depths of increasingly industrial and electronic experimentation. Here, the meloblack is (largely) back, with a renewed focus on atmospherics and melodic composition. Shylmagoghnar feels like an apt (albeit lesser) comparison, as ...And Oceans execute a blend of powerful aggression, triumphant and near-grandiose symphonics, and and gorgeous sonic accoutrements with a grace and confidence that very, very few can match. Cosmic World Mother is the kind of album that sucks you in an spits you out with the desire to immediately dive back in. This is a wonderous return to form for ...And Oceans, and is, undoubtably, an album that I will be enjoying for quite some time. 

Find it on Bandcamp here!

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WitchUrn  - The Debt 
​
(Self Released)

...But, dear readers, I am excited to inform you that today's best blackened-affiliated record may actually  
be 
the debut album from WitchUrn. At risk of gushing, The Debt delivers almost everything I love in a single package--vicious thrashy freneticism, forward-thinking aggression, dynamic (and at times damn near surprising) composition, emotive vocals, and just enough braggadocio to exercise technical prowess without flaunting it. There’s just enough death metal weight to lend the affair a groundedness that blackened thrash all-too-oft lacks, and just enough progressive meandering to allow the audience a moment to breathe. I do wish that the acoustics of the intro were implemented a tad more, but...what else can I say? This is an absolute masterclass in how to write a (one man?!) debut album. Bravo. At this rate, a full-length review will undoubtedly follow.

​Find it on Bandcamp here!

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Holden  - Ursa Minor 
​
(Self Released)

​Groove-laden post-sludge? Rest assured: this slumbering scribe is always down. On Ursa Minor, Holden demonstrate that they have studied long and hard at the school of Conan-esque riffage, leaning into sluggish heft with a languid aplomb. Meanwhile, some harsh vocals punctuate the enormity of the tone. As drawn-out riffs are the name of the game, this is not music that grabs your throat and demands attention. Rather, it feels cinematic in scope--a flowing soundtrack, not a series of distinct tracks. As such, it serves quite nicely as background tunage for those times when you want some slow riffs but aren’t in the mood to focus intently. I, for one, in spring-cleaning fervor, will be spending the day sweeping the cobwebs and mouse bones from our drafty scriptorium, Holden spinning all the while.

Find it on Bandcamp here!

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Hadewijch - Herbal Doom
​
(Electric Valley Records) 

​Sometimes we all need to sink into the ethereal plant-based bliss of post-rock infused doom. Post-doom, perhaps? Who knows. In any case, Hadewijch deliver a single track-EP with the sole intent, presumably, in helping us calm our trouble minds. This track feels relentlessly organic--like falling asleep on the forest floor and become the compost heap upon which a garden grows. "Salvia" is dreamy, droney, and tastefully heavy. ​The meld of naturalism and unconventional stoner doom convention is pretty damn seamless. 

​As aforementioned 'round these parts, this particular scribe is consistently sober--but this EP/song makes me feel otherwise. Mission accomplished. If you've got 19 minutes to simply chill, I highly recommend you sample some Herbal Doom. ​Thank me later. ​

​
Find it on Bandcamp here!

BONUS TRACK RELEASE!
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ÆNON  - In All Honesty​ 
​
(New Single!)

Normally I'm not one to go for metalcore, progressive or otherwise, but sometimes you need A. some meaty breakdowns and B. a melodic kick in the ass. ÆNON deliver both with their latest single--a Make Them Suffer/Parkway Drive-esque explosion of headbangable fury. Of particular note is the whiplash-inducing (in a good way!) use of tempo changes throughout the breadth of the track. It tugs and pulls and throws the listener, but never loses sight of the core sense of melodicism. Definitely a solid showing--I'm excited to see more from these guys. Check 'em out! 


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ON THE HORIZON: Xibalba - Años En Infierno

5/4/2020

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Welcome to ON THE HORIZON, our relentlessly infrequent feature wherein we discuss upcoming albums that have caught our sleep-encrusted eyes. Us Villagers are always on the lookout for the next best thing to wake us from slumber. On the docket today: the forthcoming full-length from Pomona, California's Xibalba​. 

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While we use terms like "pummeling" with great regularity around these parts, I'm always vaguely worried that those words have become cheapened--synonymous with "heavy," rather than with "physically damaging beyond repair. And, as fans of loud and aggressive music, sometimes we just need something that kicks it up a notch. You know, a classic skull-crushed-by-bulldozer type experience. I was in the mood for such an experience today, and, graciously, Xibalba were ready to oblige. Their forthcoming full length, Años En Infierno, will be hitting the streets on May 29th--but, more immediately, Revolver is streaming the title track from said album. It's a bruiser.

Xibalba have historically nailed that hearty combination of sinewy groove, meaty death metal riffage, and breakdown-worthy hardcore aggression. Here, that same formula is employed to great effect--with a deliberate focus on conjuring a plodding, hefty, and otherwise bone-crushing atmosphere. Momentous drums and thunderous roars lead to an ominous mid-track breakdown that can easily roll with the best of 'em. Despite its simplicity, the leisurely pace and immeasurable weight makes a serious impact. This is brutality incarnate.

As you head through your Monday, I highly recommend you give "Años En Infierno" a spin or three. And, spoiler: the rest of the album rips just as hard--if not, dare I say, harder. Without further ado: head over to Revolver to stream the excellent "Años En Infierno." If that's to your liking, check out the album trailer below:


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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 16th, 2020

4/16/2020

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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, April 16th, 2020:
At the Altar of the Horned God, FOES, REPTILIUM, and Funeral Leech

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At the Altar of the Horned God - ​Through Doors of Moonlight (I, Voidhanger Records)

Ye olde I, Voidhanger specializes in delivering music that pushes boundaries and toes lines of obscurity and invention. In that regard, At the Altar of the Horned God certainly delivers: this album is a blackened avant-garde paganistic ode to the natural order. While the majority of the ritualistic soundscape blankets the listener with an odd meditative sensuality, a sharp vicious rage frequently shows teeth. Equal parts spiritual and menacing, Through Doors of Moonlight feels like a genuine journey--although it’s yet to be determined whether said journey leads into enlightenment...or through madness. Let me get back to you on that one; I’ve only listened to this horn’d beast once. Highly recommended for those of you who like a brand of black metal as experimental as it is organic.

Find 'em on bandcamp here!

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FOES - American Violence
(Glacier Recordings)

Metallic hardcore? Not my typical genre o’ choice. But sometimes you just need an ass-kicking soundtrack, and so here we are, latest EP from OR’s hardest hardcore outfit  clutched in white-knuckled grasp. In short? These guys rip it up with elbow elbow-throwing zeal, laying down a potent mix of punishing deathy riffage and gritty hardcore swagger. Muted chugs throw down alongside breakneck percussion and the most furious vocal delivery of the week.
 FOES are not here to make friends, and, in the process, will likely end up gaining themselves some fans instead--after all, if there was ever a time to be fuckin’ furious, this is surely it.
American Violence succeeds because it wears its vitriolic intent on its ragged and punk-patch ridden sleeves. Check this one out.

Find 'em on bandcamp here!


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SEEKING ESCAPE: A Comprehensive Look at the Musical Life, Death, and Rebirth of Underoath

10/3/2019

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Examining the Years 2004 to 2019

Written by: Ancient Hand

Underoath:  A group of musicians that stretch the definition of “metalcore” to its limits. Also defined as: “Christian Metalcore”; more accurately defined as: A tidal wave of experimentation in a dry desert of formulaic metalcore in the mid-2000s (with the exception of Converge). ​​​

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After years of experimenting with black metal sounds and lyrics dealing with topics ranging from sexual assault to failing relationships, all under the lens of Christian faith, Underoath reinvented itself. With a new vocalist, Spencer Chamberlain, front-manning the group, the sound of the band began an evolution that would never cease-- even to this day. This era of Underoath, often dubbed “The Spencer Era,” is all the band considers themselves to be nowadays, even stating that their famous album, They’re Only Chasing Safety, is their “first album.” To many fans, this is a slap in the face to the band’s beginnings, but it is important to note the drastic shift between the band’s first 3 releases (Act of Depression, Cries of the Past, and The Changing of Times) and their world-famous 2004 release, They’re Only Chasing Safety. While I will not spend my time discussing these first few releases, I still do consider them a part of Underoath. What I do want to discuss are the many aspects of the band post-2003. The shift in the Underoath’s sound, musical stylings, lyrics, and approach to making music all culminate in a band that can only be described as important. 


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