Category: Release Day Roundup

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY...erm, SATURDAY: July 4th, 2020

7/2/2020

Every Friday--in today's case, Saturday--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, July 4th, 2020:
Ancient Hand, Northern Crown, Gramma Vedetta, and Pale Witch

Ancient Hand - Best regards,
(Independent Release)

If you follow our shenanigans on Instagram, you may be aware of (unsubstantiated) rumors that I have accepted a sizeable bribe in exchange for this review. Let me dispel said rumor thusly: I love Ancient Hand's body of work, and Best regards, is his best work yet by a significant margin. Moving away from dungeon synth roots and into increasingly experimentally turbulent waters, this album is a wholly heartfelt exploration of pain, anger, and inevitable catharsis. Sonically, Ancient Hand embraces a palette of heft and aggression, moving into the arenas of dark(er), ambient, boom-bappy hip-hop beats, industrial noise, and EDM. It's a dynamic approach, and one that oozes emotive results--from the hard-hitting "metacognition" and "ORAL," to the reflective Interludes I & II, the intent is clear--but yet remains a joy to experience.

Find it at bandcamp here (for NYOP!)

Northern Crown – In A Pallid Shadow
(Independent Release)

This album, I am pleased to report, has been quite the grower. Occupying a strange space between, the respective mid-eras of Candlemass and Kansas, In A Pallid Shadow takes the traditional epic doom template and amps it up with a significant prog-rock extravagance. One wouldn’t think that the flair of the former former would benefit from, well, the flair of the latter, but here, Northern Crown have found a delicate balance that works remarkably well. Besides the tasteful application of the standard Hammond fare, the vocals are powerful and emotive, and the songwriting, while certainly not trim or restrained, feels meaningful and well-considered throughout the (pleasingly short) breadth. All told, this is an excellent album—almost certainly a candidate for many a doom-laden year end list.

Find it at bandcamp here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 26th, 2020

6/25/2020

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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. oday 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. When the wagon overflows with such wealth, it's up to the weary peasants to make sure everything gets delivered. As such, our very own Volt Thrower stepped in to help provide some extra reviews. Enjoy the bounty!

On the docket for today, June 26th, 2020:
Pyrrhon, The Third Kind, Battle Born, Uprising, Green Claws, Pale Divine, Fleshvessel, and Ohhms

Pyrrhon - Abscess Time
(Willowtip Records)

I'll be honest: I genuinely had no clue how avant-garde metal mavericks Pyrrhon were ever going to top 2017's brilliant What Passes For Survival. As it turns out: they don't. But that's okay, 'cuz despite not pushing boundaries when taking their own work into consideration, this crew has once again proven their prowess in the avant-garde arena. This behemoth runs a veritable gamut of genres and influences, from grind, to raw death metal, to overtly experimental noise. The complexity on display is effectively unmatched by...well, anything other than the band's own past work. In sum? While Abscess Time didn't blow my expectations out of the water, it remains a prime example of Pyrrhon's dominance in the game.

Find it on bandcamp here!

The Third Kind - Man vs Earth
(Independent release)

Amen! My kingdom for a 23 minute album! I love frenetically brief onslaughts,
particularly when wrapped up in crossover thrash glory. As a street thrash outfit by trade and ethos, The Third Man is scrappy and tough, albeit with a subtly modern edge. There are skinned knees and elbows a-plenty to be had herein, with an emphasis on fast-paced verve and nose-bloodying groove. Tghe entire affair, of course, oozes NYC hardcore 'tude and swagger.

These guys don't even come close to reinventing the wheel with Man vs Earth, but I sincerely doubt that was ever the point. This is dynamic and energetic music perfect for a mosh or a bare-knuckle streetfight.

Find it on bandcamp here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY...erm, SATURDAY: July 4th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 26th, 2020

Welcome!

What are ye

looking for?

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY...erm, SATURDAY: July 4th, 2020

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 26th, 2020

Welcome!

What are yelooking for?

What are ye

looking for?