FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 30th, 2021, Feat. GOREGÄNG, Greyhound, Becerus, Bevar Sea, Order of the Wolf / Pessimista, and Alpha Boötis

Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance for the following week. Today is the day we must offload all this week's new and noteworthy 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--and have been--listening to this week at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so! 

We slumbering scribes were slightly more productive this week than normal, so enjoy an additional two mini-reviews!
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​On the docket for today, April 30th, 2021:
GOREGÄNG, Greyhound, Becerus, Bevar Sea, Order of the Wolf / Pessimista, and Alpha Boötis

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GOREGÄNG - Long Live The Grime
(Blood Blast / Listenable Insanity Records)

Now this...this is how you do a damn EP. This highly palatable appetizer from GOREGÄNG features four new tracks, four live tracks, and, as if that weren't enough, a White Zombie cover. For those unfamiliar, this particular GOREGÄNG presents an unholy combination of crust-infused Swedeath with the blatant brutality and swagger of their Floridian environ. In other words, they revel in filth, be it by benefit of the gross guitar tone or, well, the grosser vocal tone. This duo excels at the kind of high-energy pit-worthy performance that inevitably results in sweat and blood--a quality, of course, shines brightly on the live tracks contained within.

​In terms of New Stuff, the fantastically dynamic "Farm The Mother" is possibly my favorite, but realistically, nothing here is worth skipping. If this unique brand of crust-punky death is your speed, I highly recommend you check this one out (as well as their excellent Neon Grave, which came out back in 2019.)

​Find it on bandcamp here!

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Greyhound - Dennis Exists
(Independently Released)

Wow. This is an album that I checked out due to a well-timed reminder email, and I'm really glad I did. This Aussie doom/ gothic rock/post-rock crew excels at constructing an atmosphere to a glorious crescendo--in their words, music "shimmering until it explodes into apocalyptic heaviness." Dennis Exists ​is primarily instrumental, which allows ample space for exploration and slow-burning evolution. It's a celebration of the landscape, and, as such, feels tangible and grounded in a way that music under the "post" umbrella typically is not. While the instrumentation that makes up the majority of Dennis Exists​ is quite intriguing, the spoken word narrative on "Riverbend" serves as the album's centerpiece. It's an excellent piece on it's own, and fits into the framework of the album surprisingly well. All told, this is a lush and gorgeous album that rewards attentive listening. I highly recommend throwing on a pair of earphones and letting the music take over for the duration.

​Find it on bandcamp here!

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Becerus - Homo Homini Brutus 
​(Everlasting Spew Records)

Look, I'll be blunt--which, incidentally, is exactly how the band in question are prone to operate. If you enjoy death metal of the 90's variety, you'll undoubtedly find something to enjoy in the brief-yet-brutal debut from Italy's Becerus. Big beefy caveman (erm, Homo Homini Brutus) riffage and lyric-less vocals are the name of the game, with the percussion doing a non-insignificant amount of work in term of ferocious momentum. This isn't fresh stuff sonically or aesthetically, but it also doesn't feel dull. This intrinsic level of interest is due, in large part, to the sheer boisterous confidence and swagger with which these death dealers conduct themselves. 

​All that said, this most definitely isn't just big dumb death metal--the leads sidewind with a surprising lightness, and the sheer sense of groove is seldom overbearing or repetitive in its hulking presence. As a fan of solid OSDM in any form, I suspect I'll be returning to this one frequently this summer. Really enjoyable stuff!

Find it on bandcamp here!

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Bevar Sea - The Timeless Zone
(Independently Released)

After enduring a hearty death metal bludgeoning, how about a little stoner-infused hard rock to heal yer headbang-inflicted wounds? Alas, now isn't the time to get too comfortable: on their latest single, Bangalore's Bevar Sea lean pretty hard into the Orange Goblin school of hefty riffage + gritty vox. No bones about it: The Timeless Zone is a certifiably down 'n' dirty affair.

While the instrumentation is undoubtedly  inoffensive to fans of big riffs, the deliberately strained and raspy vocals may be a hurdle for some. That said, I personally enjoy 'em quite a bit--the sandpapery aesthetic gives the entire track a deliciously unsettling vibe. Meanwhile, an extensive solo in the back half adds a level of exploratory languidness that contrasts nicely with the aforementioned harshness of the vocals. And, for an eight minute track, it doesn't feel particularly overwrought. A win on all counts!

​Find it on bandcamp here!

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Order of the Wolf / Pessimista - Split
(Trepanation Recordings)

We reviewed this stellar split back in October, but today, it is seeing a well-deserved re-release through an equally stellar label. To egregiously self-plagiarize said review: "These two artists are quite different, both in their aesthetic and compositional approach. However, they seemingly serve to balance each other out in a fashion that doesn't result in dreaded overshadowing...variety is the spice of life, and here, we have a release that exudes variety while still maintaining a solid sense of cohesion. If that isn't a win for both artists--and splits in general--I don't know what is."

In short, if you're a fan of raw black metal or melodic black metal, I highly recommend checking this one out. Two unique artists for the price of one. How can you go wrong with that?

​Find it on bandcamp here!

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Alpha Boötis - Jump To Alpha Boötis
(Independent Release)

Lo! Self-described "Space disco synth metal" outfit Alpha Boötis are back with another delightful genre-melding sci-fi narrative--or, rather, the beginnings of a narrative. This crew has a whole lot planned for the universe they hath wrought, and it's quite enjoyable to see it grow in real time. In terms of sonic quality, this track represents quite well the Alpha Boötis formula, if we can call it as much. Sitting somewhere between sax-infused progressive rock, power metal, and synth-based dance music a la RAM-era Daft Punk, the resulting concoction is jubilant and expansive. This is feel-good music that you didn't know you needed. The prominent saxophone steals the show here, almost acting in the stead of an absent vocalist. All told, I'm really excited by this track, and can only hope that this  cosmic genre-hopping crew.

​Find it on bandcamp here!

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