terraasymmetry Features

SYNCHRONY: News, Week in Review & Upcoming Releases (5/21/21)

A weekly feature focusing on select heavy music news, primarily involving new and upcoming releases with a list of ’em provided at the end. This also serves as a week in review, collecting all of the most recent content on Grizzly Butts in a brief additional list. Want to see what came out this week? Read the “Annihilate This Week” column every week. 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 send it to: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com

THIS WEEK IN NEWS (5/15/21 – 5/21/21)

  • If you’ve been watching clips from Brutal Assault Festival shows on YouTube for ages the Czechia-based festival curators have started uploading full shows to a new Vimeo account this week starting with Animals as Leaders circa 2016, Sadistic Intent in 2018 and Vampilla in 2019. Profits from views/ad revenue ends up shared between the artists and the festival coordinators so, this means more bands will sign up over time. They have a huge archive so, support this if you enjoy watching live sets online. Check out the channel over on Vimeo: [LINK]
  • Olympia, Washington based doom metal solo act VOUNA aka Yianna Bekris has announced a new full-length album titled, ‘Atropos‘, to be released this coming July 16th through Profound Lore Records. Whereas the first Vouna album focused on deeper synth driven atmospheric dirges the guitars begin to play a more central role on this second album. I am beyond intrigued by this one not only for some iteration on the already intricately layered first album but also for the theme of fate-weaving. Check out the first preview track “Highest Mountain” over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • Funeral doom quartet SUFFER YOURSELF have marked a deal with the good folks over at Aesthetic Death to release their third album ‘Rip Tide‘ this coming June 25th on vinyl and CD formats. From what I have previewed so far this one is even better than their last one, which released back in 2016. Well worth the wait for fans of distraught, Evoken-esque funeral death/doom metal. Pre-orders are up on their Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • The cold, dark steel weaponry of the XenoKorp points at us all from the maw of the gate as it unlocks… The Korporation have announced December 10th will see the release of a new EP from long-encased French death/doom metal band CATACOMB after twenty years of dormancy. Well, it is technically a re-recorded version of ‘In the Maze of Kadath’ now titled ‘Back to Unknown Kadath‘ and available on vinyl LP and cassette, but I am a thousand percent on board for a new version of the classic 1993 demo, an iconic cult item from French death metal history. Follow Catacomb on Facebook to stay up to date: [LINK]
  • Nuclear War Now! Productions have announced October 1st as the date they’ll free anthropological wonders CAVEMAN CULT from their pen, for the sake of their second album ‘Blood and Extinction’ and its vinyl LP release. Pure guts-grinding bestial horror, heavy as hell sound on this first track “Conquistador de Hierro”, let that shit slap all your goddamned face-meat off over on Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Danish funeral doom metal duo FUNERAL CHASM have announced their partnership with Aesthetic Death to release their debut album ‘Omniversal Existence‘ this coming July 2nd. Funeral Chasm features Morten Lund (ex-Devil, ex-Kaos666) and Danny Woe (Altar of Oblivion, ex-Woebegone Obscured) who’ve collaborated before in various projects, this one deals with the psychosis of insomnia head on. Excellent album in a purely defeated funeral doom metal sense, I couldn’t help but preview it in full today and am already stoked for its release. Check out the first preview track “Sunrise Vertigo” over on Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Greek black metal duo ELDINGAR have announced the release of their debut full-length album titled ‘Maenads‘ this coming July 1st via Pest Records. I’m not entirely sure what to think of this first impression, kind of messy work. Though they are aiming for a somewhat traditional sound their influences clearly are not limited to the Athens-specific sound of the early 90’s, featuring a Sabbath-esque jog on the second half of this first preview track “Trauma”, which you can check out over on YouTube: [LINK]
  • Swedish black metal legends LORD BELIAL have announced they’ve signed to Hammerheart Records for their soon to be recorded ninth studio album, aiming for an early 2022 release. The band had announced they’d reactivated back in 2020 followed by an essential compilation of their first two demos. Follow the band on Instagram in the meantime: [LINK]
  • Iron Bonehead Productions have announced September 10th as the release date for TRANCE OF THE UNDEAD‘s debut album ‘Chalice of Disease‘, on CD and vinyl LP. Subterranean grinding blackness, stuff that fans of Crurifragium and Demoncy will spew over. Listen to the endless abysmal hum of “Grave Sacrament” over on SoundCloud: [LINK]
  • Inferna Profundus Records have announced they will release the latest album from Polish black and viking metal stalwart GRAVELAND which will be titled ‘Hour of Ragnarok‘ in a limited edition vinyl release set for August 23rd. The color variant of the vinyl has sold out within just a day, a black 180gram version is still up, this with just the “Wolf of Twilight” song available for preview. I’m only familiar with four or five records from their extensive discography so, I’m looking forward to taking a closer look. Pre-orders over on Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Werewolf Records have set June 25th as the release date for WARMOON LORD‘s second album ‘Battlespells‘ on CD format. The vinyl LP version will follow later this year. Warmoon Lord is the solo black metal project of Lord Vrăjitor, a Finnish fellowe best known for his work in dungeon synth act Old Sorcery. We can consider this album an unholy wedding of prime Finnish black metal movement and heavy “symphonic” elements, rapaciously melodic yet inventive and arcane a la early Ancient. Impure enthusiasm for this one! Check out the first preview track “Of a Moribund Vision” over on Bandcamp: [LINK]
  • Alright then, I’m not entirely sure if I read this right but, Greek progressive/post-black metal act HAIL SPIRIT NOIR will celebrate their 10th anniversary with “horror-like and disco-driven” album which looks quite a bit in the vein of synthwave. It will be titled ‘Mannequins‘ and release this coming September 10th on Agonia Records. It sounds like a synthwave horror-themed concept album with a few remixed to be non-metal songs on the side. Cool. Can I hear it? No. Alright well you can learn more and pre-order it over on their website: [LINK]
  • NOTABLE ALBUMS AT PRESS THIS WEEK FROM: Hell Strike, Vouna, Coffin Lurker, Soul Grinder, Distant, Arcane Existence, Suffer Yourself, Oslo Tapes, Thun, Mosara, Wanderer, Funeral Chasm, Godslave, Lykhaeon, Eradicator, Narbeleth, Taake, Dos Cobros, Warmoon Lord, Graveland and several more. Look for coverage in the near future. Don’t see your album listed? Send it to me: grizzlybutts@hotmail.com
PORTAL – ‘Avow’ (Profound Lore Records)

SITE WEEK IN REVIEW (5/15/21 – 5/21/21)

This week was surprisingly busy outside of internet as I prepare to finalize the bulk of the layout for Mystification Issue #1. I’ve done my best to catch up with records coming out today but I’ve still got Esoctrilihum, Thanatomass, Majestic Downfall and Jess and the Ancient Ones in the works. Since I’m not keen on spending the year reviewing last weeks best, I’ll either drop some of these or move more quickly through next week’s list. If you’re stumped this week and looking for more shit to try out, I’d recommend grabbing Hippie Death Cult‘s second album ‘Circle of Days‘ and Jarun‘s ‘Rok spokojnego słońca‘ and seeing if either stick, both likely sleeper hits for folks looking for something unassuming and redeeming. Portal‘s latest album ‘Avow‘ is on its way to my doorstep since I’ve pre-ordered the vinyl edition but I’ve honestly not previewed it and did not get a promo copy so there will be no early review. Aiming for Sunday in terms of the Cross Vault review.

GOSUDAR – Morbid Despotic Ritual (Rotted Life Records)

UPCOMING RELEASES (5/22/21 – 5/31/21)

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 full review is drafted or in preparation. A pound (#) indicates a short review is warranted and in process. A plus (+) indicates that the album has already been reviewed. Click/Tap on RECORD LABEL name for preview, stream, or store.

  • GHASTLY – Mercurial Passages [May 28th, 20 Buck Spin]+
  • CROSS VAULT – As Strangers We Depart [May 28th, Iron Bonehead Productions]*
  • RIEXHUMATION – The Final Revelation of Abaddon [May 28th, Lavadome Productions]*
  • THE FLIGHT OF SLEIPNIR – Eventide [May 28th, Eisenwald]*
  • GOSUDAR – Morbid Despotic Ritual [May 28th, Rotted Life Records]*
  • HEAVY SENTENCE – Bang to Rights [May 28th, Dying Victims Productions]*
  • GOATS OF DOOM – Shiva [May 31st, Purity Through Fire]*
  • ALASTOR – Onwards and Downwards [May 28th, RidingEasy Records]*
  • DÖDSRIT – Mortal Coil [May 28th, Wolves of Hades]#
  • HIGH N’ HEAVY – V [May 28th, Electric Valley Records]#
  • PALUS SOMNI – Monarch of Dark Matter [May 28th, BlackSeed Productions] #
  • SADISTIK FOREST – Obscure Old Remains [May 28th, Transcending Obscurity Records]
  • IMPALED NAZARENE – Eight Headed Serpent [May 28th, Osmose Productions]#
  • ALLUVIAL – Sarcoma [May 28th, Nuclear Blast]
  • PARISH – God’s Right Hand [May 28th, Dying Victims Productions]
  • EISENHAND – Fires Within [May 28th, Dying Victims Productions]
  • BLOODY HEAD – The Temple Pillars Dissolve Into the Clouds [May 31st, Hominid Sounds]
  • ASCETE – Calamites & les Calamités [May 28th, Antiq]
  • INCARDINE – Seeds of Doom [May 28th, Vic Records]
  • BRUTALITY – The Complete Demo Recordings 1987-1991 [May 28th, Vic Records]#
  • HEIR APPARENT – Foundations I [May 28th, Vic Records] !
  • PALE DIVINE – Cemetery Earth [May 28th, Cruz Del Sur Music] Vinyl Reissue
  • NOCTULE – Wretched Abyss [May 28th, Translation Loss/Church Road]
  • ADARRAK – Ex Oriente Lux [May 27th, Sathanas/Blood Blast]
  • UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION – Decennium Ruinae [May 28th, Willowtip Records]
  • BLEETH – Harbinger [May 28th, Seeing Red Records]
  • NO POSSESSION – Third Times a Charm [May 28th, Melodic Passion]
  • LUNG KNOTS – Golden Dirges, Molten Larynges [May 28th, Tartarus Records]
  • ARMNATT – Eternal Flame [May 28th, Signal Rex]
  • VRITRAHN-WERWOLF – Vritrahn-Werwolf [May 28th, Werewolf Records]
  • KING OF ASGARD – Svartrviðr [May 28th, Trollmusic]
  • MENTAL CRUELTY – A Hill To Die Upon [May 28th, Unique Leader]
  • GIUNTINI DEATHLINE – V [May 28th, Giuntini Records]
  • ANGSTSKRIG – Skyggespil [May 28th, Despotz Records]
  • SOURCE – Ethereal Self [May 25th, Self-Released]
  • BLACK FLARE – Black Flare [May 25th, Firecum Records]
  • SCHISMOPATHIC – The Human Legacy [May 28th, Selfmadegod Records]
  • OUIJA – Selenophile Impia [May 28th, Negra Nit]
  • CMPT – Mrtvaja [May 28th, Osmose Productions]
  • HEAD OF JEDDORE – How to Slaughter a Lamb [May 28th, Self-Released]
  • JUSTIN SULLIVAN – Surrounded [May 28th, earMUSIC]#

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