Written by: The Administrator
In the past, I (lovingly) equated listening to Disgustingest, Colorado's premiere brutal slamming deathgore band, to the experience of "enduring a fecal sludge aerobics class while the instructor simultaneously pummels you with cinder blocks." The short and lavatorial Purging Suppuration, released in June of 2025, was a very strong instruction to Kendrick Lemke's brand of gross-out brutality, and despite all of the seemingly negative words I used to describe it, I anxiously awaited more. Luckily, the wait was relatively short-lived. Disgustingest's second EP Coagulating Putrescence will be released February 20th via Paper Wings Records, and the morbidly curious good taste havers amongst ye can check out the single "Digital Cyst" now. Must like the debut EP, Coagulating Putrescence is as brisk as it is gross. 5 tracks, 11 minutes. I'm also pleased to announce that this sophomore Disgustingest outing may very well be more disgusting-est than the first, which, in and of itself, is quite an accomplishment. That said, it feels oddly more refined, with clear care apparent in the songwriting. It's not entirely overwhelming in its titular putrescence; a surprising variety of engaging moments abound. The occasional ambient elements are a nice touch. There's a potent head-nodding groove that permeates, and the closing track "Fragments of the Self" sheds a little of the slamming brevity in favor of some slightly longer form and--dare I say?--progressive composition. Coagulating Putrescence is a gnarly banger across the board, a prime demonstration of the efficacy of snappy and well-constructed brutality. This is exactly the kind of follow-up release I was hoping for from this project, and while brutal slamming deathgore doesn't exactly attract a sizable audience by any metric, I hope this EP turns some heads.
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Written by: The Administrator
When promo for Death Throes of a Drowning God, the new EP from Austria's GUYOÐ, hit ye olde inbox, I was suitably intrigued. The title aught my attention, the seasick churn of the artwork reinforced my suspicions, and a quick look at their back catalog had me suitably hooked before even pressing play Why, exactly? I'm a sucker for a lot of things, musically speaking, but for things that are overt oceanic--as is GUYOÐ's oeuvre--I'm the biggest sucker of all. When vacationing near the sea, I am liable to spend ever single second in the water. I'm not a great swimmer, but I can tread for days. My wife thinks that someday I won't come out, and I agree that she might be on to something there. The call of the abyss is a genuine siren's call, and I think I'd be fine, actually, living down there with the lobsters and the fishes under a reef, lungs be damned. Actual marine environs aside, I have an overt and fierce love for oceanic metal. Throw waves or a lighthouse or an octopus or a big fish eyeball on the cover and I'm diving in, no questions asked. Metal that seeks and strives to capture a mere fraction of the sea's majesty, power, and near-mythical unknowability is tantalizing. It draws me, riptide-like. I'm pleased to say that GUYOÐ have joined the amorphous pantheon of oceanic metal notables with this latest. Their dark blend of black, death, and doom metal is appropriately heavy and morose and bleak. Though the use of both ambient interludes and unpredictable songwriting, Death Throes of a Drowning God feels far more vast than its 29 minute runtime might indicate. It is just unapproachable enough to inspire the kind of curiosity that drives one to swim a little too deep. 
Written by: The Administrator
Whelp. Here I am once more, basking uncomfortably in the midst of list season, justifying why my year end lists are published a year behind schedule. If you've been around for a while, please feel free to skip ahead to the good stuff. If you're wondering why I do it this way, here's a brief explanation: I firmly believe that staying power is an important aspect of music appreciation. The ability of a project to outlast the narrow moment in time immediately surround release day is a testament to its quality. In deliberate spite of the inevitable industry churn, I enjoy the process of looking backwards to revisit old favorites at this time of year. But mostly, I started doing this because I got wildly off-schedule and found great value in committing to the bit. This is the way it is, now and forever. If you are at all interested, you can check out my Favorite Album Artwork of 2024 here, and my Favorite Albums of 2024 list will follow at, y'know, some random and inopportune point in the future. So: here are 20 EPs from 2024 that, given significant hindsight, are still my favorite EPs of 2024. They made an impact and stuck around in my rotation, and that's worth celebrating. As per established precedent, the following list draws from the assorted genres and subgenres that interest me, mostly within the sphere of metal and rap. I took some liberties with the "EP" label; some may technically be mini-albums, so apologies in advance. The list is alphabetical and unranked. Everything comes highly recommended. I'd also like to issue a massive umbrella "thank you!" to every artist who contributed to the releases contained within this list. And to you: thank you for your readership of this little music blog! You're very cool and I appreciate you very much. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
The Norwegian extreme metal act Nithe took formation a few years ago, but never saw themselves with label representation until their third outing appearing on Caligari Records, my favorite tape slingers. Their catalog already consists of a demo and an EP, making Funeral Death their third outing. The truth is, I think all three of them could have been labeled either or. The band is rather tough to label other than somewhere within the black and death realm, perhaps with a thrashy attitude. Much of this is due to the fact that the coarse and mean production with such attitude in presentation somewhat dances all over the place, but those very things help keep it together. Consisting of four songs, we start on a blistering note with “Chains Of The Abyss,” loaded with blast beats and harsh shrieks before breaking into a punkier stomp. “Primordial Ooze (Mother Of Woe)” follows up with a thrash driven approach, not only sneaking some clear leads into the main riffage, but even allowing some gang chants in the chorus. It’s rather unorthodox amidst the ugly and unforgiving atmosphere, especially with the tremolos worked in, but I can’t complain (especially with that slow bass bridge connecting everything). 
Written by: The Administrator
Look. This one came out a while ago and I am extremely and unfashionably late. There's no time nor reason for a meandering introduction: we're dealing with a bayou blastbeats recommendation featuring some sick as fuck cover art. Which is, frankly, already a winning combination in my book. Let's get into it, shall we? On the five-track Black Starless Sky, Lafayette, Louisiana's own Pale Misery play a unique brand of second wave black metal that revels in doomy dourness. Sonically speaking, this release does feel quite dismal and dreary compared to their 2019 EP Black Candles and Gutter Scum, which was generally more crusty, more explosive, more outwardly incendiary. In contrast, the tracks lurking herein center an overwhelming ominous gloom that melds with the harsher elements, lending the entire package a notably dark and caliginous aura. I wouldn't consider this "atmospheric" per se, but they have certainly done well to establish an atmosphere. This is depressing stuff, as morose as plumbing a decrepit well and finding nothing but the reflection of the titular black starless sky. 
Written by: Blackie Skulless
Ever since its inception, Norway’s Dødskvad have held my interest due to their rough and primal doses of death metal that has yet to surpass the EP format. Every other year tends to see another release now, and their latest, Krønike III, rages forward with the naming structure of simply “Krønike” followed by which “chronicle” number it is. Once more going through Caligari Records, this delivers a very familiar approach. Cavernous howls, a degraded overcast, and pummeling rhythms that have a sharp edge are once more the name of the game. And if I’m being honest, the first two tracks “Dodens Sverd” and “Lenket Til Bunnen” work in exactly the same way as what we’ve seen before. Neither track distinguishes itself very far from the powerhouse that was the first two EPs, and while they’re both executed with a murky gradient that’s fun to submerge in, I struggle to conclude that the songwriting on either is as good at capturing me as before. Both do work in their dungeon-like tricks and unsettling bottom, however, which fit nicely with the massive closer “Ved Manas Bredd.” Opting for a long closer like in the first EP, this ten minute rumbler sneaks in higher lead guitar wails to contrast the harsh and unforgiving ground. Extra bounciness with such a raw reflection bounces off of the percussion, and it’s this track that makes the third EP worth visiting. In my humblest of opinions, I think it’s time Dødskvad reaches for an album. They’ve got a healthy blend of doom and death metal that very much has a unique identity, and I think that Krønike III would have worked better with a few more songs turned into a full-length. Everything the band has done thus far has been great in terms of conjuring up striking ideas, but I think we’re ready for a full ride. Basking in and cleaning up the general direction of the third track should set some masterful groundwork. Dødskvad - Krønike III was released July 26th via Caligari Records. Find it here! 
Written by: The Administrator
Full disclosure: I have very little frame of reference for the thematic content that informs the Stormland brand. Gundam remain a mystery; my knowledge in this particular department is regrettably nonexistent. That said, I am a sucker for art that serves as a lens and love letter to something that the artist is clearly passionate about. Indeed, sole member Justin Pierrot has successfully imbued Stormland with an immediately recognizable sense of excitement. I've always loved that the project has a lot of charisma and character, regardless of my personal connection (or lack thereof) to the subject matter at hand. And, of course, Stormland serves as a reliable delivery agent for my most favorite subject of all: sick fuckin' riffs. The Altar of War, Stormland's new-ish EP, pretty much picks up right where 2022's The Human Cost left off, with the first three tracks exemplifying the solid foundation of combat-ready riffage upon which the band is built. 
Written by: The Administrator
A quick stroll through the archives will indicate that we slumbering and ink-splattered scribes are no strangers to hosting a good ol' Through Mists premiere. Back in 2022 we dropped a couple if 'em back-to-back, writing about the both the overtly referential "Awaken The Sleeping Village" and the epic bird-centric concept album "Mindless Automations." Since then, Through Mists has proven prolific to an intimidating degree, releasing a frankly astounding six(!) albums in 2023. Of these, I was a particular fan of Starkiller, which embraced an aggressive yet proggy sonic palette and a distinctly mythical lyrical direction. Perhaps the best album from the project to date, in my opinion. Time moves on, and the Through Mists machine churns ever onward, albeit with a slightly longer timeframe separating the old and new material. And so here we are, with a new Through Mists release on the cusp of official droppage. The appropriately entitled Prolific--a four track EP--will be available tomorrow, April 25th. In the hours preceding, we are honored to host a premiere of the EP in full here in our less-than hallowed halls. Give it a listen below! As always, we'll meet ye on the other side to discuss.
The Sleeping Village has been around for a few years now, and during that time, a lot of reviews have unceremoniously disappeared into the dark confines of our archives, destined to never see the light of the front page again. Music appreciation, however, is a timeless affair, and in that spirit, here is a review retrieved from the deep dark depths.
Written by: The Administrator (originally published Jan. 5th, 2020)
If medical waste is unceremoniously disposed, as I like to imagine, in a dumpster out back behind the hospital, San Jose's Aseptic is the resulting viscera stew that oozes from bio-hazard bags and pools in the bottom. Not sure what I mean? Just imbibe in the sluicing juices and slimy riffage of the intro to Cascading Fluids. If you're still having trouble painting said picture--and god help you if that's the case--it may help to take note of the irrefutable fact that this EP legitimately sounds like it was recorded in a dumpster. Hyperbole aside, this is good stuff. If you happen to be familiar with Aseptic’s stellar Senses Decay EP, just know that this is an entirely different kind of beast. Same killer riffs, but the aesthetic is stripped to the bone.
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of one of Hus Kingpin's many, many 2023 releases.
Written by: The Administrator
The tree has, alas, been discarded. The strands of light coiled in storage. The stockings haphazardly--carelessly, even--crammed in a drawer. Despite a distinct lack of holiday decor 'round these parts, I'm not ready to let go of that alleged magical Christmas spirit quite yet. Hence today's spotlight on Holiday Hus 2: Cocaine Christmas. This seasonally appropriate soundtrack, courtesy of the ridiculously prolific Hus Kingpin, provides a short and sweet lingering taste of the most wonderful--scratch that--worst time of year. Featuring no features and seven tracks across a delightfully brisk eight minutes, this project shows Hus Kingpin's characteristically confident raps over some tastefully dusty, chilly, and occasionally eerie instrumentals. Hus eschews hooks and classic song structure in favor of quick coke rap snapshots, giving the whole affair a laissez-faire and airy feel that contrasts wonderfully with the subject matter. It's a fun juxtaposition, and he plays into the implicit humor of the contrast--the entertainment factor is high. Had I heard this prior to publishing my EPs of the year list, it would most certainly have made the cut. I've had this on repeat for the past few days, and it has yet to grow stale. If forced to pick, my favorite tracks herein are the debonair yet somber "Fireplace" and the calmly menacing narrative of "Snow White." With that said, every song here, including the intro and outro, are absolutely worth your while if you enjoy--casually or otherwise--the allure of underground hip hop. Despite already dropping two (!) additional projects since this EP was released, Hus has another new LP coming in just a few weeks. Before the next in a looooong line of quality releases arrives, I recommend checking out this one out. Listen below and find it here! Hus Kingpin - Holiday Hus 2: Cocaine Christmas was released Dec. 15th, 2023. |
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