SYNCHRONY is a weekly feature focusing on relevant heavy music news, new releases, upcoming releases, as well as a week in review to help folks keep up with all of the content on Grizzly Butts. This’ll also include a list of upcoming releases and some preliminary notes on upcoming reviews or coverage. If I can’t hear it, I won’t cover it! If you have New Releases, show announcements, or important heavy music news that’ll be relevant or interesting to folks contact me at: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

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THIS WEEK IN NEWS (3/07/20 – 3/13/20)

• Hiking along an overgrown trail and wandering off to piss, I stumble upon a secluded outcropping, a minor cave, and it dawns upon me… This will be your grave! Time to murder, the terror starts now as Indianapolis, Indiana-based death metal band OBSCENE slam the shovel into the soil, to stir the worms in readiness for the bodies by way of Blood Harvest Records. They’re ready to pile ’em high as the release of their debut full-length, ‘The Inhabitable Dark’, is set for May 15th (tentatively). The guys have made a point that they’re not some riffless caveman bunk but aiming for thunderous and venom-spewing fuckin’ death, referencing the thrashed-out Netherlands, U.K., and east coast United States death metal classics. They’ve been working on this one for a while so I’m psyched to get my ears on it. Check out shrieking murderous thump of “Isolated Dumping Grounds” on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Keepers of the coffin’s sweet fermenting nectar, Me Saco Un Ojo Records have announced the May 2nd release for Bristol, England death metal band CRYPTWORM‘s debut EP, ‘Reeking Gunk Abhorrence‘, on 12″ vinyl LP format with Pulverised Records putting out the CD version. Expect another bout of belching, burly, bottom-end blasting death from this duo. They’ve got a solid mix of chunky cavebro thug heaviness by way of New York and Finnish death metal riffing. No preview track for the EP yet but check out their song from a split with Archaic Tomb last year: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Limburg’s finest set of thrashing grindcore stranglers are back with a very inspired… death, oh. After twenty years four albums and countless other stabs at it COLLISION are calling it quits and going out with a blast of an EP entitled ‘The Final Kill’. It’ll be out on April 17th through the venerable Hammerheart Records and then they’re toast. I didn’t know about the band until their live record released last year and I’m liking this EP quite a bit, might need to dive into their past a bit and see whats good. Check out the first preview track “Sweet Vermin” on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

• Signal Rex have announced May 1st with crack the seal upon their crypts, unsettling the dust upon ANCIENT BURIAL‘s debut album, ‘Beyond the Watchtowers‘, on vinyl LP and cassette tape. Ancient Burial are a stunning presence within Portugal’s devout and dour raw black metal stew. Their sound is cacophonous to the point of nearly shattering before it reaches the ear, and I can’t wait to be stymied and mutilated by it. Check out the first preview song “Nighthunt” on Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

• Finnish cult psychedelic sludge band DARK BUDDHA RISING have returned to the heralded Svart Records roster for the release of their yet untitled seventh album, which has been announced for release on October 2nd this year. The absolute success of Waste of Space Orchestra alongside their EP with Neurot Recordings has lifted the station of the band considerably but more importantly recent years have found great change within their rhythmic modus, and I am psyched to death to know they are working on something new that is certain to be dark, spiritual, and texturally unique. Don’t know the band’s work? Check out this short Spotify playlist in the meantime: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• Always readied for the most stoic and forward-thinking corners of the dark arts, French label Les Acteurs de l’ombre Productions have announced the May 8th release of ‘Tome II‘, the debut album from Ukrainian black metal band GRAVE CIRCLES, on 12″ vinyl LP and digipak CD. Dreary, atmospheric, melodic but thundering along there is something a bit special about the guitar arrangements on the first preview track “Thy Light Returneth”, subtlety goes a long way towards the first impression. I’m interested to hear more. Check out “Thy Light Returneth” on YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• The evolution of Vancouver, British Colombia death metal band AUROCH has been a leap into atmospheric black/death insanity from roots of thrash, Amon-esque death metal, and sorcery beyond. They’ve returned, having remained silent since their 2016 full-length ‘Mute Books’, which is yet criminally underrated. 20 Buck Spin have announced April 24th as the day and date they will unhinge the gates of a new EP ‘Stolen Angelic Tongues‘ a mini-LP with its own artwork. To avoid any confusion, a CD version is likewise announced but in the form of a compilation entitled ‘All The Names of the Night‘ which includes this upcoming EP, the ‘Seven Veils’ EP, and their side of a split with Mitochondrion. This will collect all of their vinyl exclusive items onto CD for the first time. Now that everything is in order, blow it all up and harass your mind into the infinite void by way of “Coffin Nails”, which you can hear over on 20 Buck Spin‘s Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

• 2020 readies another triumph in classicist progressive/technical metal ways as Blood Harvest Records set May 4th as the day of release for death/thrashers CRYPTIC SHIFT‘s debut full-length, ‘Visitations From Enceladus‘, on CD, 12″ vinyl LP, and cassette. This Leeds, England based band just weren’t ready back in 2015 when I first heard ’em on a split with Bestial Invasion but it sounds like they’ve put in some major work because the first preview track from the album, “The Arctic Chasm” is straight up awesome. Technical, filthy, and yet another fantastic rendering by Damian Herring over at Subterranean Watchtower Studios, who has polishing up some amazing bands in recent years. The fretless bass is fuckin’ killer on this song. Check out “The Arctic Chasm” over on Blood Harvest‘s Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

• Pasadena’s answer to classic Priest in a speed metal age are back and signed to Shadow Kingdom Records! TYRANT have announced their latest album ‘Hereafter’ will release on May 15th on CD, 12″ vinyl LP, and cassette. Active from 1978 through the late 80’s, Tyrant were best known for their two full-lengths through Metal Blade Records during the labels true metal kickstart. ‘Too Late to Pray’ (1987) is the one to check out if you’re unfamiliar, a dramatic and stunning epic heavy metal record. ‘Hereafter’ comes nearly 25 years after their last record and vocalist Robert Lowe (ex-Candlemass, ex-Solitude Aeternus) takes the band in what appears to be a blend of epic heavy/doom metal not unlike fellow legends Sorcerer. Check out the dramatic title track for the album over on Shadow Kingdom‘s YouTube: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]

• Now here’s a solid death/doom band with all of their shit in order! New York-based death/doom metal band FUNERAL LEECH have announced their debut full-length, ‘Death Meditation‘, will release this April 17th through Carbonized Records. Chapel Black Studios render, Arthur Rizk master, gorgeous Karmazid artwork, drippin’ ass logo, and some of the filthiest, righteously pure death/doom I’ve heard in a while. Beyond excited to hear the full thing, for now you can listen to “Statues” over on Carbonized Records‘ Bandcamp: [Click/Tap HERE for more info]
• NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: The Wizar’d, Road Warrior, Black Vice, Obscene, Pyre, Gloom, Lord Fowl, Cryptworm, Hexvessel, Graveir, Bythos, Khost, Ritual Clearing, Horn, Sovereign, Curse, Tyrant, Noroth, Grieve, Crowhurst, Errant, Beggar, I Am Destruction, Pyrior, Reek, Armnatt, Cordyceps, Ancient Burial, Mystic Priestess, Wailin Storms, Dool, Barrens, Cryptic Shift, Destroyed in Seconds and several more. Look for coverage in the near future. Don’t see your album listed? Send it to me: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

GRIZZLY BUTTS‘ WEEK IN REVIEW (3/07/20 – 3/13/20)

FEATURES:

• …From the Tomb 3/09/20: “Haunted by their barking echoes.”
  • This year Ten From the Tomb changes to …From the Tomb and is no longer limited to ten releases. It will post every Monday with a list of at least ten new releases coming out during that current week and a short review will be included for each one. This week features reviews for 11 new releases.
  • Favorites: Fotocrime, Lychgate, Necrophiliac.

REVIEWS: Big releases this week from Afterbirth, Putrid, Sutrah, Smoulder, Pestifer, Sign of Evil, Ruin Lust, and I didn’t receive it for review but the new Disembowel album from last week is great.

• Sweven – The Eternal Resonance (2020) | REVIEW
• Cénotaphe – Monte Verità [Vinyl] (2020) | REVIEW
• Rotting Kingdom – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow (2020) | REVIEW
• Pestifer – Expanding Oblivion (2020) | REVIEW
• Thanatos – Violent Death Rituals (2020) | REVIEW
• Putrid – Antichrist Above (2020) | REVIEW
• Ruin Lust – Choir of Babel (2020) | REVIEW
• Cult of Fire – Nirvana / Moksha (2020) | REVIEW

RELEASED/OVERLOOKED THIS WEEK (3/07/20 – 3/13/20)

NOTE: This small sample includes overlooked releases that are either not yet reviewed or covered but nonetheless recommended. Some of these will still be featured in other coverage. An asterisk (*) indicates that a review is drafted or in preparation. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

• PUTRID – Antichrist Above [Godz ov War Productions]+
• AFTERBIRTH – Four Dimensional Flesh [Unique Leader Records]+
• SUTRAH – Aletheia [The Artisan Era]+
• ROTTING KINGDOM – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow [Boris Records/Godz ov War]+
• CENOTAPHE – Monte Verità [Nuclear War Now! Productions]+ Vinyl issue
• DEATH THE LEVELLER – II [Cruz Del Sur Music]*
• NECROPHILIAC – No Living Man Is Innocent [Xtreem Music]
• PESTIFER – Expanding Oblivion [Xenokorp]+
• SMOULDER – Dream Quest Ends [Cruz Del Sur Music]
• LYCHGATE – Also Sprach Futura [Debemur Morti]
• SIGN OF EVIL – Psychodelic Horror [Caligari Records]*
• FOTOCRIME – South of Heaven [Profound Lore Records]
• THE GUILT – New Knives [Heptown Records]
• NECROSTRIGIS – From Bleak Cavernous Chambers [Nebular Carcoma/Postmortem Apocalypse]
• VERBAL RAZORS – By Thunder and Lightning [Deadlight Records]
• DIRT WOMAN – The Glass Cliff [Grimoire Records]
• HABU – Distant Thunder [Self-Released]
• ORPHAN DONOR – Old Patterns [Self-Released]
• ITUS – Primordial [Self-Released]
• SICARIUS – God of Dead Roots [M-Theory Audio]
• FORMOSA – Danger Zone [Metalville Records]
• LORD BUFFALO – Tohu Wa Bohu [Blues Funeral Recordings]
• ERGODIC – Ergodic [Self-Released]
• Åskväder – Åskväder [The Sign Records]
• ARCHITECTURAL GENOCIDE – Cordyceptic Anthropomorph [Comatose Music]
• ARONIUS – Perspicacity [The Artisan Era]
• DEATHLESS LEGACY – Saturnalia [Scarlet Records]
• THE GONERS – Good Mourning [RidingEasy Records]
• CONQUEST ICON – Empire of the Worm [Godz ov War Productions]
• OATH OF DAMNATION – Fury and Malevolence [Gore House Productions]

UPCOMING RELEASES (3/14/20 – 3/20/20)

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list, some titles are already reviewed and/or covered and some have yet to enter the final queue for consideration and processing. An asterisk (*) indicates that a review is drafted or in preparation. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

• SWEVEN – The Eternal Resonance [Van Records]+
• THANATOS – Violent Death Rituals [Listenable Records]+
• MALOKARPATAN – Krupinske Ohne [Invictus/The Ajna Offensive]*
• SALTAS – Mors Salis: Opus I [Nuclear War Now! Productions]*
• GRIFT – Budet [Nordvis Produktion]*
• TAAKE / WHOREDOM RIFE – Pakt [Terratur Possessions]
• HEMOTOXIN – Restructure the Molded Mind [Unspeakable Axe Records]*
• SOLILOQUIUM – Things We Leave Behind [Rain Without End]*
• V/A – 4 Doors to Death Vol. II [Unspeakable Axe Records]
• TETHRA – Empire of the Void [Black Lion Records]
• BAXAXAXA – The Old Evil [Iron Bonehead Productions]
• NECROGOSTO – Ancestral Bestiality [Nuclear War Now! Productions]
• ULVDALIR – Hunger For the Cursed Knowledge [Inferna Profundus Records]
• NITE – Darkness Silence Mirror Flame [Creator-Destructor]
• CASKETS OPEN – Concrete Realms of Pain [Nine Records]
• O ZORN! – Your Killer [Seeing Red Records]
• SOLIPSISM – Trhliny v (ne)skutocnosti [Sun & Moon Records]
• SATAN’S CROSS – Celebration of the Fallen [Sun & Moon Records]
• PIRKAN – Pirkan [Sun & Moon Records]
• LEIRU – Ido [Sun & Moon Records]
• WARDAEMONIC – Acts of Repentance [Transcending Obscurity Records]
• NECRO CHAOS – Spiral of Obscurity [Helldprod]
• ESCUELA GRIND – Indoctrination [Armageddon Label]
• VECTIS – No Mercy for the Weak [Helldprod]
• INSISTENT – Suspect [L’Inphantile Collective]
• NECK OF THE WOODS – The Annex of Ire [Pelagic Records]
• POSTHUMANBIGBANG – Jungle Eyes [Czar of Crickets Productions]
• TIMO KAUKOLAMPI & TUOMO PURANEN – Maria’s Paradise OST [Svart Records]
• VIROCRACY – Irradiation [Black Sunset/MDD]

Did I miss something important this week? Send me an e-mail and tell me about it. It is always worthwhile to speak up for the lesser known stuff. Please remember you can donate to help keep me in front of the computer writing about metal. Thanks.