What, dear reader, makes a song--or an album, or an artist for that matter--quintessentially metal? That's obviously a question so broad as to be belligerently provocative, so let me just assert my two cents and get on with it: (italicized) metal is epitomized by chunky riffs, hefty atmosphere, a certain adherence to heartfelt aggression, and a devil-may-care attitude. Sure, the vast majority of music falling under the assorted subgenres will divert from this basic formula, but the existence of those factors can mean only one thing: metal is present. Time to break out the headbang. New York's very own DemonScar are quintessentially metal, and their latest single--"MDCXCII," which we are honored to premiere here today--is a perfect exemplar of their Motorhead-by-way-of-Sabbath-by-way-of-Corrosion of Conformity aesthetic. In regards to the track in question, DemonScar state: “our new song has got a lot of those classic doom, stoner, and witchy vibes. Groove along with DemonScar as we journey back to Salem, 1692.” It's a tempting invitation, and I hope you take 'em up on the offer. Have yerselves a listen below:
12 Comments
Moonlow presents “apocalyptic noise poetry," and if that particular combination of descriptors wasn't what you were expecting to encounter today, join the club. This one-person artist in question writes music for fans of Current 93, Laurie Anderson, Crowhurst, A Forest of Stars, and Brian Eno--which, frankly, is an odd enough roster that an actual template isn't exactly apparent. The instrumentation is equal parts harsh and tranquil--a peaceful mediation routinely and unexpectedly beset by paralysis demons. The lyrics are spoken, whispered, and guttural fried with alternately tranquil and chaotic abandon. It's ritualistic, and enchanting, and....kind of scary. In a word: this is delightfully weird stuff. Moonlow is the veritable poster-child of musical invention. Who Are You? is a strange and grand album, and "Day 3 (You Diminish Me)" is a prime representation of what lurks within. As such, the track before ye--and Who Are You? as a whole--is a wholly indescribable experience. Without further ado, then: listen for yourself! While we Villagefolk are all-too-oft content to snooze whilst wrapped in the suffocating embrace of music's more extreme edges, a little diversification in the genre department can go a long way. I, for one, am a big fan of the murky and ill-defined worlds of dark ambient and experimental electronic--particularly when the artist in question plays with expectations in a, well, unexpected fashion. Enter Emerson Sinclair--classically trained, but since described as "quietly metal as fuck,"--who combines seemingly incompatible elements of dark synth, rock, baroque, electronic, and traditional liturgical. Just the level of experimentation we needed to wake us from slumber. Needless to say, this combination of sounds and influences is a melding that is better witnessed than clumsily described. As such, we're happy and honored to premiere here today the music video for Emerson Sinclair "Singularity." This arresting track is the second single from the forthcoming Never Without The Pentagram, a split collaboration between the genre-melding artist featured here today, and cello-based black metal ensemble Hvile I Kaos. Without further ado: check out the video below! We'll meet you on the other side.
For those of ye unfamiliar with what we're about to drag, half-moldered, from an early grave, allow me to sum it up thusly: Some Dead Bodies play some certifiably nasty death metal. It's a brand equally informed by the stomping drive of OSDM; a distinctly forthright heft and aggression generally reserved for the more brutal end of the death metal spectrum; and a fetid respect for horror grotesquely. Now, over the course of two releases, this mysterious outfit has repeatedly demonstrated that their harsh 'n' raw delivery works...quite well indeed.
From both an aesthetic and thematic perspective, today's track premiere in question is a stellar representation of the forthcoming Infernal Death as a whole. Without further ado, then, we're happy and honored to premiere "Skinwalker" here today. Give it a listen below, and (provided you're still standing intact) we'll meet you on the other side! While steeped in Some Dead Bodies' trademark application of lo-fi brutality, "Skinwalker" is defined in my mind by the back half--a somber, haunting, and otherwise spine-tingling atmospheric affair. Haunted house organs. Undiscernable noises. Gasping sobs in empty spaces. In a word: eerie. The balance here with the churning assault demonstrated in the track's first few minutes makes for a complete story, a moment of near-narrative transition that often goes amiss in the world of death metal, and OSDM in particular. This dynamic quality only makes sense; indeed, the veritable auteur Nobody (also ofvide infamy) possesses an undeniable sense of drama when it comes to leading--or dragging?--a listener through a track. Of particular note here are the drums, which crash and roll with a furious abandon. Meanwhile, the vocals, which exist largely as howls and tormented shrieks, are as horrific (in the best sense of the word) as you might expect. There's a tension and simultaneous compromise between the simple churning riff and the caustically anguished vocals that Some Dead Bodies continue to nail. All told? I'm a big fan of this track--and a bigger fan of the release as a whole entity, because some things are best experienced in the context of the overall package. If Infernal Death is like unto a rotten cadaver pulled from a mildew'd coffin, "Skinwalker" is a tantalizing glimpse at that visceral visage. Some Dead Bodies - Infernal Death will be released July 31st, and will see a cassette release from Blood Moon Productions and a vinyl release from Jems Label. I also highly recommend you check out that vinyl preorder! We slumbering scribes subject ourselves to aural bludgeoning day in and day out, so when the opportunity to feature something a little lighter on the sonic spectrum comes our way, I jump at the opportunity. That's not to say, however, that we aren't dealing with some appropriate emotive weight: today's singer-songwriter in question is undeniably heavy in tone and content. Perhaps moreso than the majority of classically "metal" music that enters our humble halls. To kick the day off, then, we have the honor of featuring the trailer for Covered Mirrors by kariti, a darkly acoustic exploration of death, mourning, sorrow, and parting. In the articulate words of the artist, this project is an expression of "cathartic peregrination through bereavement." This is folk in a true down-to-earth sense: real emotion uncovered in the exploration of real-world problems. Without further ado, however: the album trailer for Covered Mirrors--the somber video for which was created by Chariot of Black Moth--can be viewed below!
Some time back, we slumbering scribes reviewed Continuance, the forthcoming full-length from Fermentor, San Diego's (presumably) finest instrumental death metal duo. After writing said review, I've kept the album in question in heavy rotation, and am honored to premiere a track here today within our humble halls--the raucous "Stage V."
By way of intro, I'll blatantly self-plagiarize: "Whereas most groups would be significantly hindered by the lack of bass, vocals, and other such (seemingly necessary) fluff, Fermentor give "scarcity" a fresh coat of paint...whether flitting over thrashy pastures, sliding into smoky jazz-lounge-from-hell apparel, or stomping over the line where the technicality and unpredictability hits a level of proficiency that practically qualifies it the mathcore leagues, Continuance qualifies as an unpredictable ride no matter how you slice it." Before we get too far into the analysis, however, I highly recommend you give "Stage V" a listen here:
As if to prove a point, nearly all of the aforementioned genre and sonic descriptors apply in the context of this track. While the bulk is defined by a distinctly thrashy forward momentum--indeed, that militaristic drumming and the balls-to-the-wall guitar wouldn't feel out of place with some Angelripper shrieks over the top--there's also a sense of nuance that permeates Fermentor's work. Halfway through, for example, we're treated to a groovy-yet-proggy riff that sounds something like, I dunno, Pantera briefly covering Primus? The outro, in contrast, leans into a bluesier motif, which stands adjacent to the ceaseless and furious percussion.
Of course, the lack of vocals creates, by necessity, an increased focus on the instrumentation that exists in the confines of Fermentor's world, and "Stage V" feels like a solid argument for why the band succeeds without the standard accouterments. Regardless of motifs on display from moment to moment, the technical adeptness of this dastardly duo is something to behold. Otherwise, there's a drive to this track that prevents stagnation--rather than just repeating the same riff over the course, they keep things pleasingly varied. Bottom line: if you're a fan of heavy music that strives to switch up the game and try something new in the face of genre convention, you'll undoubtedly find something to enjoy lurking herein. Fermentor - Continuance will be released August 14th. You've still got some time before this bad boy is released, but in the meantime, you can spin "Stage V" above as many times as ye please.
Here's a question: where exactly does one go after successfully nailing a death metal cover of Haddaway's "What Is Love?" If you're Zimbabwean one-man outfit Nuclear Winter, the answer is obvious: you pull out all the stops. You really go for it.
In other words, you make like Weezer and cover the greatest soft rock track the 80's had the honor of conceiving: Toto's "Africa." Did this timeless track with it's nonsensical lyrics and disgustingly hooky melody need a death metal cover? Probably not. But does Nuclear Winter knock it out of the park in a manner we've only come to expect? Absolutely. Thus: without further ado, we're inordinately pleased to present a premiere of the cover in question. Listen below!
I obviously don't know about the particulars of your, well, particular locale, but this afternoon at Ye Olde Sleeping Village, feels like the first real summer day of the year. The sun is out. It's hot, and bright, and sweaty as hell. As such, because I enjoy aesthetic uniformity (perhaps a tad too much,) a soundtrack to fit said atmosphere would do nicely.
Enter Veins of Mosquito, a Floridian instrumental outfit that boasts a self-described sound ranging from "psychedelic to hard rock to grunge." These guys have put out several albums over the past few years, and have a new one on the way--arriving, in fact, tomorrow, May 25th. Immediately preceding said release is the excellent "Celebration," the track leering before ye now. For those unfamiliar with their earlier output, "Celebration" (and, one can only presume, Hemogoblin as a whole,) has a significantly crisper feel--still grungy, still damp, but a little cleaner cut 'round the edges. It's a great track, and before drive you away with incessant chatter, I highly recommend you give it a listen below!
Given the current state of, well, everything, I have serious doubts that there is anyone amongst us--Villagers and passers-by alike--who isn't in need of a pick-me-up. In times like these, much to the annoyance of my compatriots, I typically turn to the unfiltered bombast and jubilance of power metal to raise spirits. Although high-flying hooky choruses, meathook melodies, stomping riffage, and lusty battle-born comraderie may not appeal to everyone, very little rivals the charybdian draw of power metal's trademark infectious chest-pounding braggadocio. As such, regardless of your contradictory opinions, and despite the (generally) bloody subject matter, an untouchable positivity seems to reigns eternal in this particular arena--for better or for worse, the genre offers a highly energetic and uplifting experience. And, for that alone, power metal has earned a perpetual (if often uninhabited) timeshare in our township.
To that end: let me introduce Solar Flare, a five-man crew attempting to put Ohio on the power metal map. In combining the flamboyance and flair of the European scene with a Jag Panzer-esque American momentum and drive, Solar Flare deliver a self-titled debut stuffed with the hallmarks of the 80's power metal and NWOBHM scenes. We're pleased and honored to offer an exclusive stream of their full album below...so, without further ado, give it a listen! You know what death metal, as an institution, needs more of? Saxophone. Don't get me wrong: I don't think every death metal band should have three or four saxophones. In most cases, just one really talented saxophonist would do just fine. Obviously being a tad facetious, but I am firmly of the mind that a little exploration and innovation in the brassy department can only stand to benefit death metal as it continues to grow outside the mold established (and stoically defended) by the tenets of OSDM. Imagine my pleasure at discovering that Dystopia A.D., today's tech-by-way-of-prog death metal duo in question, subscribes to this notion as well. Yes, dear readers: saxophone does indeed make a delightful appearance in the (excellent) track we're premiering here today. For your viewing pleasure, the Sleeping Village is pleased to present the music video for "Plaguebringers," ripped, still-beating, from the chest of Rise of the Merciless, Dystopia A.D.'s forthcoming sophomoric album. It's a killer track and a well-constructed DIY-style video, and, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, I wholeheartedly recommend you watch for yourself: |
Welcome!We provide thoughtful reviews of music that is heavy, gloomy...and loud enough to wake us from slumber. Written by a highfalutin peasantry. What are ye
|