Back to Bandcamp: May 1, 2016

Louisiana Sadness - Swale
(https://louisianasadness.bandcamp.com/album/swale)

Louisiana Sadness (guess where they're from) play some of the fuzziest, murkiest doom around. It's droning, repetitive, and dark; the kind of music that requires full headphone immersion to even hear properly. Basically, it's Electric Wizard sinking slowing into the Louisiana bayou. "Southern Hatred" plods along like the soundtrack to an airboat zombie hunt, drowning the listener in waves of muddy riffs. Opener "Answer," on the other hand, feels stiff and mechanical, and the lack of vocals throughout the record emphasizes the music's repetitive quality—sometimes to the individual songs' detriment. But the interesting production and unique Louisiana feel make up for Swale's repetitive song structures (most of the time), and the riffs are thicker and heavier than swamp muck.

Recommended.


BRÆKKE - Indulgence
(https://braekke.bandcamp.com/album/indulgence)

If experimental or progressive metal has a fault, it's that it rarely feels like a sledgehammer to the face the way good death metal or thrash does. It's more likely to make you look bemused than bang your head, and that's fine, but it's always a pleasure to listen to a band that makes you do both.

Minnesota's BRÆKKE certainly induce both bemusement and whiplash: their hardcore roots come through as chugs and screams on aggressive tracks like "Iscariot" and "Indulgence," but never without progressive melodies and unexpected song structures. The album's extensive line-up of vocalists and guest musicians shines throughout: "The Dead Don't Speak" lumbers along forlornly like one of Giant Squid's doomier numbers, complete with female vocals and appropriately harrowing lyrics, while "Skin On Skin" ventures boldly into indie rock territory before morphing into a symphonic post-rock anthem. If Indulgence has a weakness, it's a lack of focus, but the band explores so many interesting sounds and ideas it's hard to fault them for it.

Highly Recommended.


Sunspell - Memento Mori
(https://sunspell.bandcamp.com/album/memento-mori)

Despite the Sunspell's anything-but-average origins (the project is one of Greenland's four active metal bands, according to the Metal Archives), its brand of atmospheric, post-Leviathan black metal doesn't score high on originality. Memento Mori hits all the usual notes for bedroom black metal: fuzzy guitar riffs, throaty and distorted screams, minimalist production, etc. It does work well occasionally. "Pale Angels" adds an ethereal pad and occasional breaks from the wall of guitar fuzz, and "Upon The Altar of Sacrifice" includes clean vocals and chanting—a welcome change from the otherwise forgettable screams. But in all other regards this project is painfully average.

Not Recommended.

Back to Bandcamp: April 9, 2016

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The Great Lucian - The Flood
(http://thegreatlucian.com/album/the-flood-ep)

The Great Lucian are one part folk, one part psychedelic, one part prog, and no parts metal. So why is the Thurible of Darkness reviewing this Texan foursome? Because if this band distorted their riffs, they'd be playing some of the most creative occult rock you've ever heard. The riffs are catchy, the vocals are haunting, and the general vibe is somehow funky and spooky at the same time. Amrit Khalsa's gorgeous vocals are the project's main attraction, but they're backed up by experimental sensibilities and progressive melodies and song structures that even the kvltest among us could give an appreciative nod. Give this band a listen. Their unique and sometimes eclectic style is hard to capture in words.

Highly Recommended.


Blood Chalice - Demo 2016
(https://bloodchalice.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2016)

Reach far back enough into the history of black metal, and you'll find a period (pre-Mayhem, of course) when black and death metal were barely differentiated. This was the heyday of bands like Possessed and Helhammer, writing songs about vampires, the occult, and the devil without fully transitioning away from their thrash metal roots. Although plenty of black metal fans dismiss this formational period of black metal out of hand, daring to dabble in Bathory or Celtic Frost at most, they're frankly missing out, and I'm always ready to check out a band that hearkens back to the earliest days of my favorite genre.

Blood Chalice play early black/death metal splendidly, with thrashy riffs, monstrous howls, and a perfect recapturing of the feel of this music they're imitating. The production is a little rough for my taste, but "demo" means "demo," and I've forgiven much worse in this department (see my favorite early black metal album, Tormentor's Anno Domini). If you're hungering for a little 80s extreme metal nostalgia, check out this Finnish band that have pre-Mayhem black/death down.

Recommended.


Akvan - شاه شاهان
(https://akvan.bandcamp.com/album/--2)

Remember Akvan, the "Aryan" (as in Iranian) black metal act combining the folk music and culture of Persia with the lofi savagery of Scandinavia? Well, Akvan is back with another short release: a patriotic hymn littered with references to the history and legends of one of the world's oldest civilizations. The folk-influences are more effectively integrated than before, strengthening the band's esoteric atmosphere and great songwriting. As with Akvan's last release, this single leaves me hungering for a longer one, where Akvan expands his artistry to a scale befitting his influence and subject matter. Until then, I'll have to settle for a song or two at a time from this "True Aryan Black Metal" project.

Recommended.

Back to Bandcamp: December 5, 2015

Here's your weekly roundup of indie releases:

Blackhand - Death Takes Root
(http://blackhand.bandcamp.com/album/death-takes-root)

If you can't stand the recent fetish for meandering, lumbering, 12-minutes-a-song doom/stoner metal but you're down for unapologetic, occult-infused fantasy and huge hooks, Blackhand should be right up your alley. This Delaware band cranks out earth-shaking riffs and howled choruses on every track on Death Takes Root, combining stoner songwriting sensibilities with old-school doom imagery. From the aggressive sacrilege of "Bound by the Coven" to the supernatural warfare of "Army From the Void," Blackhand unite old-school heavy metal motifs with modern stoner rock head-bobbing for a listen that's both fearsome and fun.

Recommended.

Dead on Both Shoulders - Juggler
(http://deadonbothshoulders.bandcamp.com/album/juggler).

Juggler is a fascinating listen. Progressive metal sensibilities unite this experimental little collection, but little else does. "Neither, Both" and "Without (Everything Will Be Okay)" are hypnotic, jazzy instrumentals with melancholy guitar leads. The short "Juggler" evokes Tool with just a touch of Kid A-era Radiohead. And "ABCADEBCA," perhaps the closest thing to a traditional song, briefly throws in a dash of autotune on the bridge, presumably just to keep the listener guessing. It's quite a trip, and while Juggler never reaches the level of odd that sends headphones flying across the room, it's quirky enough to keep the listener's attention and entertaining enough to make up for its lack of cohesion.

Recommended.

Secrets of the Moon - SUN
(http://secrets-of-the-moon.bandcamp.com/album/sun)

To call Germany's Secrets of the Moon "black metal" frankly borders of the disingenuous. No self-respecting worshiper of Burzum, Mayhem and Darkthrone would write something that sounds as much like an outtake from Mechanical Animals-era Manson as "Dirty Black," or anything as hum-along as "Hole." Secrets of the Moon can brand themselves however they want, but they're about as grim and kvlt as Ghost at this point. Probably a little less, actually.

And that's not a problem: as highly-accessible, listen-with-your-girlfriend goth metal, SUN holds up. Secrets of the Moon still have an edge to them–vocalist Philipp Jonas' shouts are too rough to be radio friendly, and SUN has enough doomy riffs and aggression to interest fans of heavier stuff–but fundamentally, this record has more in common with recent releases from Katatonia or In Flames, and occasionally ventures into post-punk territory on tracks like "Here Lies the Sun." If even the name "In Flames" makes your blood boil, SUN probably isn't your thing. Otherwise, it just might hit the spot if you're craving a lighter heavy listen with a few doom and black metal touches.

Recommended.