"6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should - 12/17/19 Edition"

1. Third Chamber (Calgary, Alberta, CAN)

Album: Harvesting Our Decay EP (Independent)

Release Date: November 22nd, 2019

Genre: Melodic Death

Contemporaries: At The Gates, Misery Index, The Crown, The Eldritch Grimoire

Hitting the ground running hard, Calgary’s brand-new melodic death metal quintet Third Chamber have independently released their debut EP, Harvesting Our Decay, and this inaugural release smacks of polish and skill. Five songs long and filled with vim and vigor, Third Chamber’s Harvesting Our Decay EP will undoubtedly gain this budding act an initial following; now let’s see where they go from this satisfying first effort… Rating: 8.5 / 10

2. Lord Mantis (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Album: Universal Death Church (Profound Lore Records)

Release Date: November 22nd, 2019

Genre: Blackened Sludge

Contemporaries: Wolvhammer, Inter Arma, Immortal Bird, Plaguewielder

Although they’ve been around the proverbial block a few times already, Chicago’s Lord Mantis looked to be split-up not but two short years ago. But apparently time apart made the heart grow fond again, and last year, the blackened sludge four-piece reconvened to write and record Universal Death Church, out now on Profound Lore Records. Loud, abrasive, and so sludgy it should come with a warning label, Universal Death Church is not only a great album, it is also a great revival. Welcome back, Lord Mantis. Good to hear from you again! Rating: 8.75 / 10

3. Reveal! (Uppsala, Sweden, EUR)

Album: Scissorgod (Sepulchral Voice Records)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: Progressive/Blackened Deathrash

Contemporaries: Sigh, Master’s Hammer, Jordablod, Hail Spirit Noir

Baffling, amorphous, peculiar…all these words and a million more are applicable to Sweden’s progressive, blackened deathrash quartet, Reveal! Yes, progressive, blackened deathrash. Honestly, there’s no other way to put into words what this four-piece concocts without using multiple adjectives and adverbs, and while we here in the music journalism field know full-well how much this can annoy the living batshit out of many of you readers out there, what else can we do? Especially when bands like Reveal! and their ilk refuse to neatly conform to any one genre or subgenre? Well then, we are forced into using multisyllabic gobbledygook to describe what is, essentially, the musical equivalent to multisyllabic gobbledygook. Long story short, the only way to understand what in Satan’s name that is trying to be said here to is listen to Scissorgod and hear for yourself just how truly - but still enjoyably - bewildering it can be sometimes. Rating: 8 / 10

4. Nefarious Dusk (Cumbria, United Kingdom, EUR)

Album: The Wanderer of the Cold North (Purity Through Fire)

Release Date: November 30th, 2019

Genre: Modern Black

Contemporaries: Watain, Highland, Krater, Avslut

Hailing from the northwest of the main English isle, Nefarious Dusk is a not-so-newly formed black metal trio whose debut full-length, The Wanderer of the Cold North, has a sound which harkens back to black metal’s murkier, earlier days, yet still maintains just enough of a 21st century cleanliness to be considered “modern”. Austere, raw, and uncompromising, Nefarious Dusk are a dark light in an all-too-bright world. Listen now if you enjoy your black metal dirty, but not too dirty. Rating: 8.75 / 10

5. Hellsodomy (Kadiköy, Istanbul, Turkey)

Album: Morbid Cult (Saturnal Records)

Release Date: December 6th, 2019

Genre: Deathrash

Contemporaries: Possessed, Master, Oath of Cruelty, Necropanther

Fast, aggressive, and ambitious, Hellsodomy have returned with their sophomore full-length, Morbid Cult, and the metal underground should be on high alert for this banger. Although a smidgen unrefined overall, the filthier production gives this album a gritty feel that seems to blend well with the music itself. This album is definitely not one for the picky audiophiles out there, but is still jam-packed with listenable riffs and tunes, nonetheless. Rating: 8 / 10

6. Bethledeign (Centreville, Virginia, USA)

Album: Iconography of Suffering (Edgewood Arsenal Records)

Release Date: December 13th, 2019

Genre: Extreme Blackened Death

Contemporaries: Skinless, Origin, Hate Eternal, Abysmal Dawn

Good things come to those who wait…an incredible amount of fucking time! Virginia’s Bethledeign have been kicking around since not long after the turn of the century, but name changes, lineup changes, and long hiatuses conspired to keep this material on the shelf for over a decade. Unrelenting and unyielding, the music that makes up the debut full-length Iconography of Suffering has been written, tweaked, and tinkered with ever since 2006, and it shows in the overall tightness and execution of the songs themselves. This is some heavy, heavy shit, people. Do not miss this killer album! Rating: 9 / 10

Hope you have been enjoying these "6 Bands" pieces, everyone! This will be the final article in the series for 2019, as the next multiple-artist articles to post just before the end of the year will be "The Best of 2019 Lists" and "The Best 50 Albums of 2019", so be sure to be on the lookout for those not long after the Yule season concludes! Until then, enjoy the solstice, and thanks for reading!

"6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should - 12/7/2019 Edition"

1. Façade (Dordrecht, Netherlands, EUR)

Album: The Eternal Dance (Independent)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: Doom/Post-Metal

Contemporaries: Yob, Ufomammut, Kongh, Krigsgrav

Deep, dark, and transcendent, Façade’s independently released sophomore full-length The Eternal Dance is a beautiful mix of classic doom with post-metal leanings that takes you on a journey of the mind. Hypnotic and entrancing, this five-track, fifty-four-minute album is exceptional in all phases, from production to execution, and everywhere in between. Do not miss out on this incredible offering. Rating: 9.75 / 10

2. Aggressive Perfector (Manchester, United Kingdom, EUR)

Album: Havoc at the Midnight Hour (Dying Victims Productions)

Release Date: November 22nd, 2019

Genre: Thrash/NWOTHM

Contemporaries: Exciter, Whipstriker, Hellripper, Bewitcher

Anachronistic and anarchistic, England’s Aggressive Perfector have announced their presence to the world with their ripping debut full-length, Havoc at the Midnight Hour. With their sound seeming to hail from heavy metal’s earlier days, this thrashing trio have fused time-honored techniques and sound with 21st century sensibilities, and the result is one satisfyingly sturdy album, fully worthy of your time and attention. Rating: 8.75 / 10

3. Deivos (Lublin, Poland, EUR)

Album: Casus Belli (Selfmadegod Records)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: Progressive/Technical Death

Contemporaries: Decapitated, Cryptopsy, Deeds of Flesh, Decrepit Birth

Following the lead of their Polish brethren in Decapitated, Lublin’s Deivos bring the progressive, technical death rain on their sixth studio full-length, Casus Belli. No newbies to their craft, Deivos have been banging out the goods since the late 90’s, but as is so often the case today, it has taken far too long for this fantastic quintet to get their due and proper in global attention. Casus Belli and its eight shredding tracks may just finally do the trick, though, for this is one excellent album. All killer and no filler. Great stuff. Rating: 9 / 10

4. Raptvre (Cologne, Germany, EUR)

Album: Monuments of Bitterness (The Crawling Chaos Records)

Release Date: November 22nd, 2019

Genre: Black/Blackened Death

Contemporaries: Suffering Hour, Convulsing, Bölzer, Grave Miasma

Dissonant, atonal, and utterly crushing, the debut full-length, Monuments of Bitterness, from Germany’s inchoate quartet Raptvre should turn many a head quickly their way. Just formed in 2018, this nascent group shows fantastic promise with their uncompromising approach to sound. Unsettling in all the appropriate ways, Raptvre utilize discord to its every advantage to fashion a sound that is orphic, ominous, and completely spellbinding. Not an album to be passed up by any means. Rating: 9.5 / 10

5. Rhodium (Athens, Greece, EUR)

Album: Sea of the Dead (Sliptrick Records)

Release Date: December 3rd, 2019

Genre: Progressive Power

Contemporaries: Holy Grail, White Wizzard, Savage Messiah, Scars of Armageddon

Greece’s Rhodium may be relative newcomers having only been formed in 2017, but their sound is one full of experience and talent. With a vocal range that reaches to the skies and soaring solos and riffs to match, Rhodium’s Sea of the Dead is ten tracks (one intro, nine full compositions) worth of progressive power metal illustriousness. Dig it, dig it now. Rating: 9 / 10

6. Seventh Circle (Santa Barbara, California, USA)

Album: Cycle of Violence DEMO (Caligari Records)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: Blackened Doom n' Death

Contemporaries: Coffinworm, Lord Mantis, Wolvhammer, Immortal Bird

California has been a birthing ground for exceptional music since the middle of last century, so it comes with no surprise that another fantastic act has come forth from the land of golden dreams and gold itself. Santa Barbara’s Seventh Circle have brought forth a three-song demo, Cycle of Violence, that slays and destroys. Punishing, punitive, and ferocious, Seventh Circle’s Cycle of Violence DEMO has laid a bedrock-solid foundation, now let’s see what the future holds for this burgeoning act. Perhaps a killer EP or full-length in the new year? Let’s hope so, because this demo is the motherfucking shit! Rating: 9.75 / 10

That's all for now, venerated readers. May your Yule season be continually blessed, and thank you as always for reading and listening! \m/ \m/

"6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should - 11/26/2019 Edition"

1. Tragediens Trone (Brekstad, Norway, EUR)

Album: Tragediens Trone (Osmose Productions)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: Black

Contemporaries: Shining, Uada, Watain, Wormwitch

Dark, depressive, and doom-laden, Norway’s Tragediens Trone have spent many moons in hiding since their 2007 formation and original demo release, but now return with their full-length debut, Tragediens Trone, out November 29th, 2019 on Osmose Productions. Containing seven black metal offerings of varying lengths, moods, and levels of ferocity, Tragediens Trone by the band of the same name is sure to put this nearly wholly unknown act on the map. Rating: 9.25 / 10

2. Canyon of the Skull (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Album: Sins of the Past (Independent)

Release Date: November 20th, 2019

Genre: Instrumental Doom/Sludge

Contemporaries: Bongripper, Pelican, Moss (R.I.P.), Serpent Throne (USA)

Originally formed and developed in the fertile Austin, Texas music scene, Canyon of the Skull have recently laid down new roots in the global capital of doom and sludge metal, Chicago, Illinois; and to make their presence known, this sludgy, instrumental doom trio have independently released their third full-length, Sins of the Past. This fifty-nine-minute effort – featuring the current drummer of Chicago’s better-known The Atlas Moth – is only two tracks, “The Ghost Dance” and “The Sun Dance”, and both cuts are absolutely crushing. Leaden, lingering, and lengthy, Canyon of the Skull’s Sins of the Past is an absolute doom/sludge humdinger. Don’t miss out. Rating: 9.25 / 10

3. Flamekeeper (Stockholm, Sweden, EUR)

Album: We Who Light the Fire EP (Invictus Productions)

Release Date: November 29th, 2019

Genre: NWOTHM / “Epic Heavy Metal”

Contemporaries: Eternal Champion, Altar of Oblivion, Gatekeeper

With a sound rich in Mediterranean influence, Stockholm’s Flamekeeper isn’t your average Swedish metal fare. The band’s founder Marco S., originally from Rome, Italy, recently moved to Sweden to take advantage of the country’s deep metal culture and community, and the result is this stunning six-track debut EP, We Who Light the Fire. Part folk, part power, and all classically influenced, We Who Light the Fire is colossal and highly habit-forming. Great stuff. Rating: 9.5 / 10

4. Dizastra (Montreal, Quebec, CAN)

Album: Elder Sun (Independent)

Release Date: November 22nd, 2019

Genre: Blackened/Classic Thrash

Contemporaries: Sodom, Bewitcher, Sadistic Ritual, Dismemberment

Although more blackened in theme and imagery than in overall sound, Montreal’s germinal thrash quartet Dizastra are obviously inspired, ambitious, and hungry. Forming only five short years ago, this burgeoning four-piece have brought forth their initial, independent full-length, Elder Sun, and the metal world should immediately take notice. Containing nine tracks and clocking in at around fifty minutes, Dizastra hasn’t held anything back. Heavy in songcraft and towering compositions, Elder Sun is an excellent debut. Don’t skip “Vae Victus”, “Gnosis”, or “Astaroth” upon first listening. Rating: 8.75 / 10

5. Ectoplasma (Nikaia, Attica, Greece)

Album: White-Eyed Trance (Memento Mori / Caligari Records)

Release Date: October 31st, 2019

Genre: Classic Death

Contemporaries: Autopsy, Possessed, Gruesome, Cardiac Arrest, Chthonic Deity

Fresh on the scene with an old school stench is Greece’s Ectoplasma. Formed in 2012, this Greek death metal quartet have been quite prolific since their inception, releasing at least two splits and/or EP’s in between each of their three full-length albums. White-Eyed Trance, their latest (and third) full-length, is nine tracks worth of gritty, groovy, grimy, graveyard death metal. Ectoplasma’s workman-like attitude towards recording and gigging should serve them well, and the strength of White-Eyed Trance will only add to this emergent act’s reputation. A strong release, to be certain. Rating: 8.75 / 10

6. Casket Huffer (Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA)

Album: Filth Ouroboros (Hibernation Release Records)

Release Date: November 15th, 2019

Genre: Blackened Death

Contemporaries: Incantation, Excommunion, Abyssal, Desolate Shrine

Not yet even five years forged, Cheyenne, Wyoming’s Casket Huffer possess a sound that is far beyond their minimal years of experience together as an act. Vehement, assailing, and unrelenting, Casket Huffer’s sophomore full-length, Filth Ouroboros contains eight punishing tracks of skull-splitting metal barbarity. Filth Ouroboros is some utterly merciless shit, ladies and not-so-gentlemen…so, word to wise, don’t fucking sleep on it. Nema. Rating: 9.5 / 10

Happy Eating-Dead-Bird-With-Your-Family-and-Friends Day (otherwise known as "Thanksgiving" here in the States) to all of the American readers out there, and be sure to show these six spectacular acts some love by visiting their pages and purchasing their music and merchandise if you've liked what you read and heard here. \m/