"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/

"Ear Hunters" - September 15th, 2020 Edition

"Be aware! Marauding metal acts with new releases have been unleashed and are ransacking the land in search of the fresh ears of new fans!"

· Narcissistic Necrosis

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta CAN

Release: The Art of Deformity (Aug. 28th, 2020)

Label: Independent

Genre: Extreme/Brutal Tech Death

For Fans of: Origin, Unmerciful, Devangelic, Cognitive, Banisher

Coming in from the cold, Canadian Cowtown of Calgary are a hot new tech death quartet known as Narcissistic Necrosis who’ve brought the brutal fire upon their independent debut LP, The Art of Deformity. Decidedly situated upon the extreme, slamming side of tech death, the ten cuts that constitute this seminal release are as refreshing as they are relentless. Straying from the accepted norm of employing “toilet bowl” vocal stylings across the entire release, Narcissistic Necrosis’s William Bigcrow instead uses a dynamic range of inflections, holds, and powerful heaves and pitch sweeps that intrinsically completes the overall package of savage ferocity that is The Art of Deformity. Totally revivifying and highly suggested. Rating: 94 / 100 (A)

· Hinayana

Hometown: Austin, Texas USA

Release: Death of the Cosmic EP (Aug. 28th, 2020)

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Melodic Death n’ Doom

For Fans of: Novembers Doom, Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, Swallow the Sun

Staying relevant with a batch of five fresh compositions to please the quarantined masses are Austin, Texas’s Hinayana, who’s new EP Death of the Cosmic is available everywhere now from Napalm Records. Sometimes soaring through spinetingling, melodious anthems and sometimes sinking into the deep abyss of doomier dirges, this mini-effort packs a major punch! Joining to release new music in 2020 with their fellow Austinites in Black Vice, Dining with Dogs, Skeleton, and Expander, Hinayana aim to break out further and bring even further renown to their hometown scene. Death of the Cosmic: A wholly excellent EP. Rating: 96 / 100 (A)

· Theotoxin

Hometown: Vienna, Austria EUR

Release: Fragment: Erhabenheit (Sep. 11th, 2020)

Label: AOP Records

Genre: Black Metal

For Fans of: Mayhem, Watain, Dark Funeral, Ulvdalir, Winter Deluge

Vienna, Austria’s Theotoxin haven’t been around long, per se, but that hasn’t kept this classically influenced black metal assemblage from keeping prolific. Coming with their third full-length in only four years, Theotoxin are blatantly seeking to quickly establish themselves as one of Europe’s finest, up-and-coming metal acts, whatever the genre; and if they keep issuing gems like Fragment: Erhabenheit, then that’s precisely what they’ll achieve. Viciously menacing and facinorous, the seven cuts of Fragment: Erhabenheit come blasting out of your speakers like a screamin’ demon from the deepest depths of all Hell and damnation – and it’s a wonder to behold. Seriously, get this sinful goodness in your ears, like yesterday! Rating: 99 / 100 (A++)

· Calarook

Hometown: Winterhur, Switzerland EUR

Release: Surrender or Die (Sept. 11th, 2020)

Label: Independent

Genre: Pirate Metal

For Fans of: Alestorm, Rumahoy, Swashbuckle, The Dread Crew of Oddwood

Bringing a perfect blend of Alestorm’s folksy fun and Swashbucke’s death metal philosophy is Switzerland’s newest act to toss their tricorns into the pirate metal ring, Calarook. Using a live violinist to round out their authentic pirate sound, Calarook’s independent LP Surrender or Die is an ambitious, one-hour-and-nine-minute collection (aye, you read that right, maties) of sixteen piratical anthems done up in a melodic death metal methodology. Although maybe a song or three should’ve been saved for the next release and would’ve kept this album a little briefer and more concise, Surrender or Die should nonetheless be mighty enjoyable to all the fans out there of this niche subgenre.

Yes, pirate metal is quirky, yes, sometimes it’s silly, and yes, sometimes it’s also downright immature, but so what? It is also fun, and that’s because it is meant to be. Seriously, some of you metalheads out there take shit way too seriously, so how’s about lightening up a little and answering Calarook’s rap at your cabin door? Avast! Rating: 84 / 100 (B)

Well, that does it for another edition of Hated One's "Ear Hunters". As always, thank you for reading and for listening, and of course, please support all the bands you've enjoyed here today by visiting their sites and purchasing their merchandise! Stay metal! \m/