Category: Fresh Meat Friday

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 12th, 2024 Feat. Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

4/12/2024

On the very occasional Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with sustenance. 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 choice cuts from this veritable mass of fresh meat. This is what we’ll be--and have been--listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, April 12th, 2024
Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

Necrot - Lifeless Birth
(Tankcrimes)

Yeah. I don't anticipate that you are expecting me to report anything to the contrary, but Necrot have this whole death metal thing down to a science. Lifeless Birth gets in and gets the job done with absolutely zero excess. In comparison to prior efforts, this is a little more melodic in the guitar department--check out "Winds of Hell" in particular. There is an added emphasis on earworms that burrow long after the tracks are over, and as an outspoken fan of catchy songwriting in the OSDM space, these are the moments that put a big grin on my face. That said, they haven't let up on the aggression in the slightest--Lifeless Birth is markedly mean. This album reads as confident and precise, and will surely sit comfortably in many a year end list.

Find it here!

Corvus Corone - The Finality of Winter
(Syrup Moose Records)

With a runtime stretching over the 1.5 hour mark, The Finality of Winter is a commitment unto itself. And if you have the time and enjoy drinking deep of funereal waters, the time is well spent indeed. This album is a slow burn in the absolute very best sense, and Corvus Corone demonstrates the power of calmly and sparsely developing a motif rather than piling on layers of oppressive texture. The doom elements aren't as intense or heavy as you might find in most examples of the style--this is primarily lightfooted, minimalistic, and often ambient. Airy, even, with ample cleans. I very much enjoy the use of bells throughout to enhance the somber vibe, as well as the harrowing harsh vocals. An album built for contemplation and revisitation, if e'er there was.

Find it here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 24th, 2022 Feat. PAGANIZER, Horned Wolf, Tabahi, and 10,000 Years

6/23/2022

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Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance. 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--and have been--listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, June 24th, 2022:
PAGANIZER, Horned Wolf, Tabahi, and 10,000 Years

PAGANIZER - Beyond The Macabre
(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Look, you hardly need me to tell you that the latest from PAGANIZER is a high quality death metal album. This is a given. Regardless, here I am telling you that Beyond The Macabre is, well, a high quality death metal album. This is quintessential stuff, from the buzzing Swedeath tone, to the cranium-cratering double bass, to the meathook riffage, to the sweaty aggression of Rogga Johansson's burly vocal delivery. PAGANIZER sustain their knack for slipping a lil' sliver of progressive death into the fray, which grants Beyond The Macabre a level of interest that transcends the pure knucklehead aesthetic. That said, if you're solely in it for the hallmarks of Swedeath, you will enjoy this one regardless. In a year that is staggering under the weight of excellent death metal, PAGANIZER still manage to make a sizable dent. For those of ye in the mood for good death metal: this'll certainly do the trick.

Find it here!

Horned Wolf - Become Like They Are
(Independent)

Before I get too far ahead of myself, let me just state that this Fresh Meat Friday iteration of the Horned Wolf writeup is but an appetizer for a longer review to follow. In short, then: Become Like They Are is a very intriguing album from a band that is notably difficult to pigeonhole. Horned Wolf fling genre convention and expectation out the window. Instead, they elect to provide a collection of tracks defined less by sonic compatibility and more by snarling 'tude and the sheer power of Sav MangelsDorf's dynamic vocals. From bluesy doom to pop-laden prog to borderline death belligerence, Become Like They Are presents an exceedingly unpredictable journey, and that is a quality I very much enjoy.

But anyways. Much more on this later! In the meantime, give Become Like They Are a well-deserved listen.

Find it here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 17th, 2022 Feat. Void Witch, Trocar, Valley of the Sun, and Inexorum

6/17/2022

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Every Friday, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance. 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--and have been--listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

This Friday, Bandcamp is holding their third annual Juneteenth fundraiser, where they donate 100% of their cut of sales to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Win/win!

On the docket for today, June 17th, 2022:
Void Witch, Trocar, Valley of the Sun, and Inexorum

Void Witch - Void Witch
(Everlasting Spew Records)

Either you love Void Witch's 2021 demo, or you were, until now, unaware of Void Witch's 2021 demo. After much anticipation, said demo is reborn, having been bolstered with a new song and granted official "debut EP" status. The three tracks contained within are diagnostically bad to the bone, as engrossing as they are gruesome. "Boudoir Bloodfeast," the newest addition to the Void Witch repertoire, is a notably excellent track, with a keen sense of dynamic play between the component death-y and doom-y parts. Nothing sits or feels stagnant, and in my mind, it is that restless sense of movement that has quickly made Void Witch stand out despite their newcomer status. In good time, this EP is gonna be considered a classic, so you should obviously check it out now and establish your legacy as a true fan of their early stuff.

Find it here!

Trocar - Four Forfeit Digits
(Independent, released 6/14)

There's no question that "gross" and "goregrind" generally go hand-in-hand by sheer nature of the beast. That said, this debut EP from Trocar elevates the art of grossness to sincerely admirable levels. The first three tracks are blistering affairs, raging forth with a burbling putridity and a mechanized drive like unto a piece of flesh-mangling machinery that unexpectedly kicks into high gear when you climb inside to clean out the gunk. While I particularly love "Orphaned Organs" for it's sheer absurdity, the standout track is closer "(Every Day Is) Halloween," which rolls forth with a distinctly electronic bounce, lending a new meaning to the "mechanized" descriptor. In a few short minutes Four Forfeit Digits features a dizzying array of sights and sounds, and ultimately serves to seriously whet my appetite for more. Good shit, 'nuff said.

Find it here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 10th, 2022 Feat. Yatra, Dust Prophet, Adamantis, and Pillärs

6/10/2022

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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 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--and have been--listening to today here at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, June 10th, 2022:
Yatra, Dust Prophet, Adamantis, and Pillärs

Yatra - Born Into Chaos
(Prosthetic Records) Records

Yatra has evolved, and in this humble scribe's opinion, they are better off for it. Previously known for the ability to churn out sludgy stoner metal at a remarkably steady rate, this trio's new album tunnels out of the doomy mire and into an open grave. That's right: they've gone Death Metal, and with a transformation this effortless, it's hard not to root for them. Born Into Chaos is predictably heavy as all fuck, and Yatra's palette remains similar. the riffs are still mammothian, just sped up a bit. The snarled vocals are as mean as ever. And the atmosphere is simply crushing.

Yatra has always had a savage streak, and this album feels like an excellent step outside of a more comfortable formula. I applaud a band taking a big leap. Yatra have done just that, and they have stuck the landing.
Find it here!

Dust Prophet - When the Axe Falls (Independent)

Dust Prophet is a fun band to follow, because every new Dust Prophet single is a little bit of an adventure, a little bit outside the wheelhouse. The also just keep getting better, as far as I can surmise. Indeed, When The Axe Falls might be my favorite thing from them yet. The first half of the song sits of the strong shoulders of churning riffage and a very catchy chorus, and the back end features a gentle instrumental passage before falling back into the central motif. Dust Prophet routinely nails the structure necessary to keep these longer songs interesting. The thematic underpinnings are quite interesting as well–the track details the Axeman of New Orleans, an unidentified serial killer. I'm not a true crime junkie in the slightest, but a little narrative intrigue never goes amiss. In short? This is another great track from a great band.
Find it here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - Feb. 4th, 2022, Feat. Golgothan, Titanosaur, Iōhannēs, and Krystal Swords

2/3/2022

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On (occasional) Fridays, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance. 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 listening to today at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, Feb. 4th, 2022: Golgothan, Titanosaur, Iōhannēs, and Krystal Swords

Golgothan - Leech
(Lacerated Enemy Records)

If the promo utters the phrase "brutal death metal" and evokes the name of the almighty Aborted, there's an excellent chance I will enjoy what lurks inside. Case in point. This is a blaring and putrid affair, coated in gore and slime, yet gloriously boisterous in its presentation. The grooves are pythonian, the percussion is like unto a jackhammer, the belligerent attitude is present without feeling cringy, and the vocals are delightfully maniacal in their range. This is some seriously competent stuff--check out "Lard is My Shepard," "Gravy Train," or "Parent Organism" for particularly prime examples of what this crew can muster. I haven't heard many people hyping 'em up, which is an absolute shame--Leech is my go-to gym playlist these days, and I doubt it will leave rotation anytime soon. This is a killer album, and deserves a little time in the bandcamp day limelight.

Find it on bandcamp here!

Titanosaur - Absence of Universe
(The Swamp Records)

Here's a fact: NY's one-man outfit Titanosaur keeps getting better and better. Absence of Universe is a culmination of potential, and here, a mighty formula hath been struck with stellar results. The Titanosaur approach overtly draws from the gruffly hard-rockin' appeal of Monster Magnet, Red Fang, and Motorhead, and yet this project delivers a sense of individuality through wry self awareness, notably pounding riffage, and thick application of late cretaceous groove. Axemanship aside, the rough 'n' ready vocals are a strong suit, and if you enjoy the gravelly aesthetic, there's a whole lot to love. Absence of Universe constitutes some really impressive stuff, delivering heft and earworms in equal measure. Titanosaur will inevitably gain some new fans off the back of the mighty beast. There's nothin' subtle about it, and that's what makes it so damn enjoyable.

Find it on bandcamp here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - January 28th, 2022, Feat. Rotborn, SARTORI, Mt. Echo, and Depleted Uranium

1/28/2022

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On (regrettably infrequent) Fridays, a wagon arrives at the Sleeping Village’s crumbling gates, stuffed to the brim with our sustenance. 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 listening to today at the Village HQ. We hope you join us in doing so!

On the docket for today, January 28th, 2022:
Rotborn, SARTORI, Mt. Echo, and Depleted Uranium

Rotborn - Genocidal Resolution
(Redefining Darkness)

This is unrelenting death metal with a distinct penchant for utterly bulldozing the listener, and two tracks is all ye need. Rotborn play fast and hard, confidently delivering the kind of frantic-yet-crushing riffage that can only bring bloodshed and destruction to mind. I'm a particular fan of the second track herein, the enormously belligerent "RULES OF MANIPULATION." Here, the guitar and drums work in tandem to present a furious forward march, presenting no reasonable option for retreat. It's onward unto the breach with this one, and, despite the fact that this is their first release as a collective unit, Rotborn are playing with an admirable cohesion. Good death metal is always worth a listen, and this is most certainly good death metal--another feather in Redefining Darkness Record's increasingly feathered cap.

Find it on bandcamp here!

SARTORI - Dragon's Fire
(Rockshot Records)

Here's a sad reality: we don't review nearly enough traditional heavy metal 'round these parts. That's frankly a damn shame, because when one overlooks the lighter fare in favor of brutality, one inevitably overlooks gems such as this. Dealing in fairly neo-classical fare, Sartori and Co. deliver a debut record that will certainly appeal to fans of the decidedly epic approach. Despite feeling a tad untamed at times, the soaring vocals and flashy axemanship are the stars of the show, and while in lesser hands the glimmering aesthetic would have the potential to wear thin, the group proficiently illustrates how truly enjoyable a good ol' heavy metal album can be.

Dragon's Fire is straightforward and fun as hell. You've encountered the formula before. The nostalgia is strong with this one. 'Nuff said.

Find it on youtube here!

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FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: April 12th, 2024 Feat. Necrot, Corvus Corone, Heavy Temple, and Exist

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 24th, 2022 Feat. PAGANIZER, Horned Wolf, Tabahi, and 10,000 Years

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 17th, 2022 Feat. Void Witch, Trocar, Valley of the Sun, and Inexorum

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY: June 10th, 2022 Feat. Yatra, Dust Prophet, Adamantis, and Pillärs

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - Feb. 4th, 2022, Feat. Golgothan, Titanosaur, Iōhannēs, and Krystal Swords

FRESH MEAT FRIDAY - January 28th, 2022, Feat. Rotborn, SARTORI, Mt. Echo, and Depleted Uranium

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