"Ear Hunters" - 10/26/2020

“The spirits of our dead are readying themselves for the Samhain crossover, and the living warriors infused with their souls are calling! Calling forth into the mystical night… hoping, searching, hunting… Hunting to be heard by the virgin ears of new, fanatical converts… Hark, and heed the call!”

· Sarcoptes

Hometown: Sacramento, California USA

Release: Plague Hymns EP

Label: Transcending Obscurity Records (October 2nd, 2020)

Genre: USBM

For Fans of: Dissection (early), Naglfar, Dark Funeral, Gaerea, Serene Dark

Like many artists required to lockdown and quarantine because of the pandemic, Sacramento, California’s Sarcoptes took advantage of the extra time and inspiration to lay down a germane new EP, Plague Hymns, available now from Transcending Obscurity Records.

Containing two protracted, melodically charged black metal offerings, “The Vertigo Soul” and “La Moria Grandissima” (or “The Great Death” in Italian), Plague Hymns brilliantly encapsulates the cold essence of calamity and confusion that we’ve all undeniably felt some semblance of since this horrible reality befell us. An all-around excellent effort that is pleasantly pithy, to the point, and poignant. Rating: 94 / 100 (A)

· Johansson & Speckmann

Hometown: International

Release: The Germs of Circumstance

Label: Soulseller Records (October 2nd, 2020)

Genre: Deathrash

For Fans of: Master, Abomination, Revolting, Ribspreader, Repuked, Troops of Doom

Forged as a bond between two of the most battle-tested and grizzled metal veterans that the world has ever known, Johansson & Speckmann have joined forces once again to release their fifth full-length collaboration, The Germs of Circumstance, available now from Soulseller Records.

Continuing in their long traditions of straddling the boundary between death and thrash, Rogga Johansson and Paul Speckmann each command their own auras of ultimate respect and prolific awe, and when they coalesce as a unit, the end results are almost always sonic gold.

Containing eight pacey new cuts that tear society and its faults apart limb from limb, The Germs of Circumstance’s only flaw is that the production is softer than one usually expects from these legends’ individual acts; but ultimately, the music is what’s most important, and the music of this album kicks some serious ass... and that fits perfectly with what we’ve all come to expect from Johansson & Speckmann. Ripping good shit (again) from some of the underground’s finest. Rating: 89 / 100 (B+)

· Empress

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia CAN

Release: Premonition

Label: Petrichor (October 9th, 2020)

Genre: Post Metal/Sludge

For Fans of: Elder, Seer, Snow Burial, Huntsmen, Loviatar, Scientist

Originally slated for independent release in late July, Premonition is the debut full-length as laid down by the new Vancouver collaboration between Craters’ drummer Chris Doyle and Seer guitarist Peter Sacco, christened Empress. Picked up by the new Dutch label Petrichor, Empress and the label pushed back the release in order to promote and back it properly, and now that October has finally arrived, so has Premonition it all its glamor and glory.

Well-produced and highly polished, Premonition will undoubtedly appeal to anyone who’s heard Craters or Seer, but with Sacco’s impressive vocals making the entire release sound so new and accessible, fresh fans from outside the bounds of its parent acts should also find Empress easily. Highly addictive stuff here, people. Rating: 94 / 100 (A)

· Goratory

Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts USA

Release: Sour Grapes

Label: Everlasting Spew Records (October 16th, 2020)

Genre: Extreme Technical Death/Slam

For Fans of: Internal Bleeding, Suffocation, Gorgasm, Malignancy, Cognitive

What is one commonality that well-known acts such as Job for a Cowboy, Deeds of Flesh, and The Black Dahlia Murder all share? Why Goratory, of course! Formed in 2000, Goratory’s original lineup – whose average age at the time was fourteen – consists of Alan Glassman (Job for a Cowboy), Darren Cesca (Deeds of Flesh, Eschaton), and Max Lavelle (Black Dahlia Murder); and although Lavelle was replaced in 2003 by current bassist Zac Pappas, it is fair to say now, with the benefit of hindsight, that this once minor act’s members have made quite a major impact on American metal as a whole.

Now reformed and repurposed, Goratory have triumphantly returned to release their first LP in sixteen years, Sour Grapes, and it’s a fuckin’ gasser!

Paying respectful homage to the original, East Coast Slam sound while still placing their own technical spin upon it, Goratory’s Sour Grapes is eight new tracks worth of perverse, tongue-in-cheek death metal that absolutely kills. Rosy and kid-friendly titles such as “I Shit Your Pants” and “Evolutionary Wart” give you an idea of what you’re in for, but honestly, if the well-endowed album art doesn’t let you know just what kind of an listening experience you’re in for, then truly nothing else will. Hated One’s suggestion? Give Goratory your ears now, before they stuff something in them themselves... Rating: 93 / 100 (A-)

That wraps another edition of “Ear Hunters”. Thank you for reading, for listening, and for supporting the bands in any way that you can! Stay metal! \m/

"Ear Hunters" - October 12th, 2020 Edition

"As the weather grows colder and the nights grow longer, roaming hordes of surly metal acts are scouring the Earth and seeking to invade the fresh ears of new fans!"

· Varg

Hometown: Coburg, Germany EUR

Release: Zeichen

Label: Napalm Records (September 18th, 2020)

Genre: Melodic/Folk Death

For Fans of: Unleashed, Amon Amarth, King of Asgard, Wolfheart, Battlesword, Countless Skies

Possibly sailing in under your prospective, collective ears are Germany’s hidden death metal gem, Varg. Back for a second go-around with Napalm Records, Varg’s seventh full-length Zeichen (“Characters”) also contains a couple of firsts for the long-tenured act. Having swapped out their customary red-and-black-striped body paint for matching sets of Viking woven-leather body armor, Varg seem to possess a more intensified, rustic connection with their Pagan roots now, and have even added a female vocalist to their ranks (Fylgja) to enhance the folky ambience. Overall, Zeichen is an excellent new effort featuring an even more excellent new approach from these Bavarian veterans, so don’t miss out! Rating: 94 / 100 (A)

· Plague Years

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan USA

Release: Circle of Darkness

Label: eOne Heavy (September 18th, 2020)

Genre: Crossover Thrash n’ Death

For Fans of: Power Trip, Ringworm, Psychosomatic, Expander, Paralysis, Raider

Detroit’s Plague Years planned for Circle of Darkness to see the light of day much earlier in 2020, but with eOne Heavy picking up the newly formed thrash quartet just ahead of the initial issue date, the release was moved back in order to bless it with the proper big label backing. Finally unveiled in September, Circle of Darkness is the second LP to be conjured by these Michigan metal maniacs who combine aspects of thrash, death, and crossover to mosh-inducing effect. You can seriously picture the legs of the stage-divers flailing in the air to the thunderous cacophony created by Plague Years, so it’s a shame that touring is on hold currently, because it sure would be fun to experience in person. Circle of Darkness: A finely crafted album for its genre. Rating: 85 / 100 (B)

· Under the Oak

Hometown: Fredrikstad, Norway EUR

Release: Ripped Up by the Roots

Label: WormHoleDeath

Genre: Classic Thrash

For Fans of: Forbidden, Anthrax, Hirax, Overkill, Holycide, Defiatory

Bringing the old school vibrations in piles and mounds are the brand new Norwegian thrash quartet, Under the Oak, whose application of classic-style vocals upon their debut LP, Ripped Up by the Roots, makes you feel as though you’ve stepped through a time warp and wound up back in the late 80’s again. Founded by four experienced veterans of the Fredrikstad scene, Under the Oak sound as if they’d fit perfectly on a bill with legendary acts like Forbidden and Anthrax in their heyday, but instead, they’ve only just coalesced recently in the 21st century. Ripped Up by the Roots may be this act’s first release, but it reeks of maturity and purpose. Great shit. Rating: 88 / 100 (B+)

· The Room Colored Charlatan

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Release: The Mandate EP

Label: Independent

Genre: Progressive/Melodic Metal

For Fans of: Between the Buried and Me, Carpenter-era The Contortionist, Exist, White Arms of Athena, Without Waves, Ignea

Hated One has been intrigued by the Indianapolis-spawned progressive collective known as The Room Colored Charlatan ever since 2013 and their second LP, Primitives, even going so far as to offer free driveway parking to a couple of their members when they flew out of Chicago to play England’s UK Tech Fest in 2015 (long-term airport parking isn’t cheap, you know?). But after the release of 2017’s brief Awe EP, it sadly appeared that The Room Colored Charlatan might fold up shop for good. Thankfully though, in 2019, The Room Colored Charlatan suddenly reappeared with a ripping new single, a powerful new full-time singer (Jonathan Carpenter, formerly of Exoplanet/Intrinsic-era Contortionist fame), and bearing news of a fresh EP to come in 2020. Well, it’s 2020, and The Mandate EP is finally and officially upon us all!

Seriously, for those of you who’ve been missing Carpenter’s fantastic vocals, The Mandate EP feels like a long-needed reawakening, and his addition to the progressive magnificence of The Room Colored Charlatan’s players can only mean more great things – like this stunning EP – going forward, so get this sublime shit in your ears, like yesterday! Rating: 98 / 100 (A+)

Like what you've read and heard? Then do the right thing, support the bands, share them with your friends, and keep the cycle going! Stay metal! \m/

"Ear Hunters" - September 28th, 2020 Edition

“In the dark of the night, they prowl... These creatures of the foul, black abyss who bear untapped vessels of chaos and unrest… They are seeking your ears, new listeners… Will YOU let them in??”

· Khors

Hometown: Kharkiv, Ukraine EUR

Release: Where the Word Acquires Eternity (September 15th, 2020)

Label: Ashen Dominion

Genre: Melodic/Post Black

For Fans of: Uada, Gaerea, Katavasia, Vindland, SVNTH

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s melodic black metal veterans Khors have returned with their seventh full-length album since forming back in 2004, Where the Word Acquires Eternity. Despite having pedaled their wares for over fifteen years now, Khors have heretofore remained regional; however, the release of Where the Word Acquires Eternity may finally bump this hitherto subaltern act into the spotlight of international recognition and top-of-the-bill status. Cerebral, melancholic, and bedecked with inflections of folk and symphonics, this latest effort from Khors should appeal nicely to a wide audience, as it just as easily understood as it is enjoyed. Good stuff. Rating: 93 / 100 (A-)

· The White Swan

Hometown: London, Ontario CAN

Release: Nocturnal Transmission EP (September 18th, 2020)

Label: Independent

Genre: Melodic Doom/Sludge

For Fans of: Loviatar, StoneBirds, Marrowfields, Goatess, Dirt Woman, Kittie

Canada’s The White Swan are a newer, sludgy, doomed out trio from the London, Ontario area who’s claim to fame is being fronted and founded by none other than former Kittie drummer, Mercedes Lander. In a stark departure from her past nu-metal ways, however, The White Swan is all about the doom: trudging, haunting, deep, and refreshingly devoid of any similarity to past acts.

As difficult as it can be for once-established artists to attempt new ideas and new sounds – especially if you were established in a time that was as cliched, and subsequently admonished, as “the nu-metal craze” – Lander nonetheless shows courage and creativity upon The White Swan’s latest EP, Nocturnal Transmission. She not only capably handles the drumming and lead vocal duties, but also records keyboards and additional guitar work, so The White Swan is obviously “her baby”, and it’s a good baby indeed. Nocturnal Transmission: an entrancing listen. Rating: 87 / 100 (B)

· Proscription

Hometown: Kuopio, Finland EUR

Release: Conduit (September 24th, 2020)

Label: Dark Descent Records

Genre: Blackened Death

For Fans of: Bloodbath, Excommunion, Sepulchral Curse, Lantern, Venomous Skeleton

From what has become fertile ground for the modern, blackened death sound, Finland’s Proscription may be new, but the wealth of experience they possess among their members is legion. With Excommunion’s vocalist, Christbutcher, and Lantern’s guitarist, Cruciatus, combining their formidable forces, Proscription were already a powerful, preordained force in the blackened death scene before they even put pen to paper or pick to string; and so it comes with no great surprise that Conduit – the debut LP to be offered up by Proscription – is laudably estimable. Containing nine apocalyptic hymns to the darkest of splendors, Conduit is a commendable collection of blackened death metal maliciousness. Get it in your earholes, people! Rating: 89 / 100 (B+)

· Hate Unbound

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan USA

Release: Darkness Becomes All (September 25th, 2020)

Label: Independent

Genre: Groove n’ Death

For Fans of: Lamb of God, DevilDriver, Exhorder, WoR, Repentance

Sharpening and honing their grooving, death-driven sound since 2013, Detroit’s Hate Unbound have made a solid name for themselves in the Midwest region of North America, and they’ve done it via the old fashioned way: getting out there, playing gigs, and spreading the word through action... oh, and lest we forget about dropping the occasional release, too, such as this past Friday’s Darkness Becomes All.

Representing the quintet’s second independent LP (and sporting a new bassist in Deanna Kaczala), Darkness Becomes All contains nine ripping cuts of groove metal grandeur. Seriously, to those of you out there who drooled all over the latest DevilDriver, you wasted your saliva on the wrong album. Darkness Becomes All from Hate Unbound is just as crushing as anything put out by the big names, if not more. Because they want it more. Having doubts? Well, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, so press play below, all ye skeptics and believers alike, and find out for yourselves! Rating: 95 / 100 (A)

Thanks for reading this edition of Hated One's "Ear Hunters"! Be sure to visit the bands and give them your support if you've enjoyed anything you've read or heard here! \m/