"Six Bands You May Not Know, But Should" June 17th, 2020 Edition

1. Undesiccated (Virginia, USA)

Album: Tseh’-Makh EP

Release Date: May 17th, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Grindcore

Contemporaries: Wvrm, G.R.I.D., Chopping Mall, Escuela Grind

Setting grindcore blasts to imagery of and lyrics about the local flora of your home region is an unusual concept to say the least, but Undesiccated thought that the idea was worth a go. Since early 2019, this enigmatic grind trio has been releasing efforts that pay homage to the native (and sometimes invasive) vegetation and verdure of Virginia. But while grindcore’s subject matter normally tackles everything from politics to the perverse, Undesiccated have done away with such traditions by blending a little nature into the mix instead, and truth be told, it’s not half bad! Besides, nobody can really tell what most grind vocalists are barking about anyway, right? So, if you’re looking for some grindcore that’s a little outside of the box, Undesiccated’s discography – including the recently released Tseh’-Makh EP – is ready and waiting for you!

2. Close the Hatch (Dayton, Ohio, USA)

Album: Modern Witchcraft

Release Date: May 22nd, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Melodic Doom/Post-Metal

Contemporaries: Huntsmen, Loviatar, Marrowfields, Death the Leveller

Ohio’s Close the Hatch seek to follow in the footsteps of such great acts as Huntsmen and Loviatar in creating melodious, thought-provoking doom metal with touches of post that tingles the spine and entrances the soul. Active in the Dayton scene since 2013, Close the Hatch recently released their fourth independent full-length, Modern Witchcraft, and if this album doesn’t get this act some sniffs from some labels, someone ought to report it as a crime. Well-written, no-nonsense tunage, all around.

3. Féleth (Alta, Norway, EUR)

Album: Depravity

Release Date: May 22nd, 2020 (DeadPop Records)

Genre: Melodic Death

Contemporaries: Kalmah, Burn Down Eden, Voices of Ruin, The Eldritch Grimoire

Striking out into the plague-riddled night upon their debut full-length crusade are Norway’s Féleth, whose album Depravity just dropped recently on DeadPop Records. Pacey, cumbrous, and with just enough melodic riffage and vocals interspersed to keep you satisfied, the production on Depravity is killer in the speakers. Even flirting with progressive at times, Féleth have displayed some excellent instincts on this fantastic first full-length. Dig it, dig it now!

4. October Falls (Helsinki, Finland, EUR)

Album: A Fall of an Epoch

Release Date: May 30th, 2020 (Purity Through Fire)

Genre: Atmospheric/Folk Black

Contemporaries: Fen, Gloosh, Fellwarden, Blaze of Sorrow

Helsinki’s October Falls have mostly ditched the neofolk on their latest effort, A Fall of an Epoch, in favor of a more purely atmospheric black metal bent. Don’t be mistaken, though, there are still some folky elements to be heard, but overall, the five lengthy compositions that make up A Fall of an Epoch are riding the fresh wave of airiness and ethereality that has so thoroughly swept through the black metal world. While unfortunately rather thin in the production and light in the speakers, the music contained within these tracks is still enjoyable and admirable nonetheless, so give October Falls’ newer atmospherics a listen by pressing play below!

5. Sorge (Washington, District of Columbia, USA)

Album: Sorge EP

Release Date: June 5th, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Stoner/Psychedelic Doom

Contemporaries: Yob, Windhand, Monolord, Acid King

Bringing pounds and pounds of stony, psychedelic wavelengths upon their virgin EP release are Washington, D.C.’s newest of newcomers, Sorge (pronounced “sor-guh”). Fresh out of the conceptual womb and still green around the gills, this stunning, self-titled debut yawps loud and clear from the rooftops of the world that Sorge are another new force to be reckoned with in the stoner/psychedelic doom community. Fuzzy in both riffage and vision, Sorge by the band of the same name is one hell of a “how do you do?”, so go ahead and turn yourself on by tuning in to the press play dial below, and drop out of reality for a while courtesy of Sorge!

6. Ulthar (Oakland, California, USA)

Album: Providence

Release Date: June 12th, 2020 (20 Buck Spin)

Genre: Modern Black/Blackened Death

Contemporaries: Suffering Hour, Yaldabaoth, Predatory Light, Raptvre

Half black metal, half blackened death, and all evil are Oakland, California’s Ulthar, whose one foot in and one foot out approach is back for another full-length go-around with 20 Buck Spin. However, if their 2018 debut with the growing label (Cosmovore) failed to commence your acquaintance with this up-and-coming act, then the recently dropped Providence finally just might. Rough, raw, and rancorous, Providence is eight tracks worth of what equates to an audible flogging, complete with the delicious dissonance of a cat-o’-nine-tails’ thwaps against bare flesh. Totally fucking ruthless, and totally fucking worth a listen!

That wraps yet another installment of “Six Bands” from Hated One Metal Reviews! Thank you so much for reading, for listening, for checking out the bands, and for continuing to stay metal even whilst weathering a plague or two. Your continued support of the international metal community has been nothing short of spectacular. Keep that shit up. \m/

"6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should" - June 7th, 2020 Edition

1. Ashtar (Basel, Switzerland, EUR)

Album: Kaikuja

Release Date: May 15th, 2020 (Eisenwald)

Genre: Blackened Doom

Contemporaries: In the Company of Serpents, Culted, Seventh Circle, Head of the Demon

The Swiss-born blackened doom duo known as Ashtar have returned with their sophomore full-length, Kaikuja; and immediately, the immense promise and talent of these newcomers is palpable and unavoidable. Vocalist, bassist/guitarist, and violinist Witch N. and drummer/guitarist/backing vocalist Marko Lehtinen have crafted an album that both stuns and stupefies the listener from start to finish by brilliantly bridging the yawning divide between black metal and doom. Shamanic repetitiousness enhanced with folky, psychedelic inflections accent these five phenomenal tracks, of which “Between Furious Clouds” is the longest and most striking. Fantastic and darkly delicious.

2. Shadow in the Darkness (Keratsini, Greece, EUR)

Album: Erstwhile Befell

Release Date: May 19th, 2020 (Sliptrick Records)

Genre: Technical/Progressive Death

Contemporaries: (Early) The Faceless, The Zenith Passage, Virulent Depravity, Virvum, Symbolik

Slowly germinating for the past decade in the Greek metal underground, Keratsini’s Shadow in the Darkness have finally emerged and ascended with their debut full length, Erstwhile Befell. Highly reminiscent of Planetary Duality-era Faceless material that has smashed head-on with the oncoming train of technology à la The Zenith Passage and Symbolik, the eight tracks of Erstwhile Befell twist, turn, and tick by with enjoyable ferocity. Seemingly a long time coming, Shadow in the Darkness have emphatically announced their (overdue) arrival with this kick-ass collection of tunes. Great stuff.

3. Wolftooth (Richmond, Indiana, USA)

Album: Valhalla

Release Date: May 22nd, 2020 (Ripple Music)

Genre: Stoner/NWOTHM

Contemporaries: (Early) The Sword, Black Rainbows, Elden, Spirit Adrift, Sumerlands

Expertly blending traditional heavy metal chord progressions and vocal stylings with the ever-popular foundations of stoner sludge are Richmond, Indiana’s Wolftooth, whose sophomore full-length Valhalla just dropped late last month on Ripple Music. Easy to sing along with and enjoy, Wolftooth’s Valhalla joins with Black Rainbows’ Cosmic Ritual Supertrip and Elden’s Nostromo as some of the finest metal of not only their own genre, but also overall, to be released so far this year. You do not want to miss out on this amazing album, so get it in your earholes now!

4. Devil with No Name (Arizona, USA)

Album: Devil with No Name EP

Release Date: May 22nd, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Modern Black

Contemporaries: Krater, From the Vastland, Horned Almighty, The Rite

Drawing from aspects of blackened sludge and progressive black are Arizona’s Devil with No Name, and this should come with no surprise, as current members of Chicago’s blackened sludge juggernauts Lord Mantis and Madison’s progressive/atmospheric black gems Tragic Death comprise two-thirds of this remarkable new project. Their eponymous debut EP officially released independently a couple weeks ago, and immediately, the underground was abuzz with excitement about these four excellently produced cuts by Devil with No Name, who are, ironically, beginning to make quite a name for themselves already. Do not sleep on this wicked good shit. Rating:

5. Ruadh (Glasgow, Scotland/UK, EUR)

Album: The Rock of the Clyde

Release Date: May 22nd, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Atmospheric/Folk Black

Contemporaries: Wolves in the Throne Room, Aethyrick, Blaze of Sorrow, Gloosh, Fellwarden

From the mythic, grey-green mists of Scotland comes the reverberated, melodious folk black of Ruadh (pronounced “ROO-ah”), who despite only forming two short years ago have already produced their second full-length album, entitled The Rock of the Clyde. Although the production is a bit thin, this independently produced album is spectacular in every other way, from composition, to songwriting, to dynamics, and beyond. Resplendent ebbs and flows abound throughout the five meandering tracks that make up this magnificent effort. Hear for yourself by clicking play below now!

6. The Hallowed Catharsis (Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN)

Album: Killowner EP

Release Date: June 2nd, 2020 (Lacerated Enemy Records)

Genre: Progressive Death

Contemporaries: Obscura, Beyond Creation, Inanimate Existence, Gorod, Svengahli

Featuring short compositions that are jampacked with progressive/technical death delectableness and enhanced by jazzy influences and interludes, Vancouver, British Columbia’s The Hallowed Catharsis (or THC for short) have just released their fourth EP in seven years, Killowner, out now on Lacerated Enemy Records. Despite having never released a full-length album, The Hallowed Catharsis have still built a solid reputation upon tight, technical performances replete with uncontained vim and fury. Killowner? Absolutely killer. Next from THC? A full length. Pretty please, with sugar on top. And a cherry.

That wraps up yet another edition of “6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should” from Hated One Metal Reviews and Interviews. Thank you as always for reading. Stay safe and strong, EVERYONE. Diversity of life and all its existence (which thus includes humanity’s art, which thus includes metal) is all around you, and always has been... Embrace it, don’t hate it! \m/

"6 Bands You May Not Know, But Should" - May 17th, 2020 Edition

1. Marrowfields (Fall River, Massachusetts, USA)

Album: Metamorphoses

Release Date: April 24th, 2020 (Black Lion Records)

Genre: Melodic Doom

Contemporaries: Yob, Pallbearer, Swallow the Sun, Loviatar, Doomraiser

Hailing from just outside of Boston, Fall River’s Marrowfields are combining aspects of their influences in Yob, Pallbearer, and Swallow the Sun to admirable effect on their debut full-length, Metamorphoses, available now on Sweden’s Black Lion Records. Atmospherics and melodious tones interweave between traditional elements of heavy blues and doom to produce an album that Marrowfields can be proud of. Still in their nascent stages, this band is only just beginning their journey, and a strong start is always a good way to kick things off. A fine first effort. Rating: 8.25 / 10

2. Bythos (Tampere, Finland, EUR)

Album: The Womb of Zero

Release Date: April 24th, 2020 (Terratur Possessions)

Genre: Modern Black

Contemporaries: Behemoth, Horned Almighty, The Rite, Theosophy

Often flirting with the doomier side of black metal, Finland’s brand-new entity known as Bythos have offered up their debut release, The Womb of Zero, now available from Terratur Possessions. Skipping the usual process of at least releasing a demo or an EP first, Bythos have gone right for the jugular in issuing a full-length studio recording straight out of the gate. Similar to Behemoth’s in structure and composition but more akin to classic black in its production, the music of The Womb of Zero is enjoyable, yes, but by the last third of the album, it starts to sound rather tired. Still, when a song from this album pops up in the random player, it’s always a good listen. Rating: 8.75 / 10

3. Voices of Ruin (Ontario, California, USA)

Album: Path to Immortality

Release Date: April 24th, 2020 (M-Theory Audio)

Genre: Melodic Death

Contemporaries: Crimson Shadows, Kalmah, Fires in the Distance, The Eldritch Grimoire

Southern California’s Voices of Ruin have returned with their third full-length, Path to Immortality, and if you’ve not heard of them yet, then perhaps this is finally the album that acquaints this talented act with the rest of the world. Playing textbook, melodically inflected death metal that blisters and burns its way through ten properly produced tracks, Voices of Ruin have released an admirable and praiseworthy album in Path to Immortality. Be on the lookout, for Voices of Ruin is on the rise! Rating: 9 / 10

4. Arida Vortex (Moscow, RUS)

Album: Riders of Steel

Release Date: April 30th, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Power Metal

Contemporaries: Powerwolf, Holy Grail, Ironflame, Burning Witches

From Russia with love, indeed! Power metal veterans Arida Vortex have been galloping their way along through the Moscow metal scene for over twenty years now, but with the departure of their original vocalist after their previous album’s release in 2016, things were looking a bit grim there for a minute. But with the acquisition of new singer Evgeny Epishin in 2017, Arida Vortex decided to keep on keeping on; and now, a few years later, the fruits of the new lineup’s labor are here for all to enjoy upon Riders of Steel, the band’s eighth full studio release. This is some great shit! Enjoy! Rating: 9.5 / 10

5. Omniarch (Edmonton, Alberta, CAN)

Album: Omniarch

Release Date: May 8th, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Technical Death

Contemporaries: Decrepit Birth, Symbolik, Inferi, Carrion Vael

Straight out of Edmonton comes yet another Canadian crusher of an album in the year of 2020. This time, Alberta’s newfangled tech death troupe known as Omniarch are the providers of the punch with their eponymously titled and independently produced debut release, Omniarch. Bursting at the seams with progressively tilted and melodically enhanced technical death distinctiveness, Omniarch’s album of the same name is one hell of a fucking how do you do! Only formed last year, Omniarch are already beginning to make waves in the tech death sector, so get this killer release in your ears ASAP! Rating: 9.5 / 10

6. Shogun (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)

Album: Addendum

Release Date: May 8th, 2020 (Independent)

Genre: Stoner/Doom Metal

Contemporaries: Monolord, The Sword, Electric Wizard, Elder

Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Shogun! Wait, that’s not right, is it? Oh well. Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s stoner/doom consortium known as Shogun are back again with their sophomore full-length, Addendum, and if you’ve yet to hear of this gifted group from the beloved Beer City, then this album just might be the one to change all that. Loaded with jam session solo freak outs, fuzz, and reverb, Shogun often blends the pummeling power of Sleep/High on Fire-like drums and rhythms with more traditional stoner/doom riff sensibilities and vocals to the tune of eight accomplished compositions. Addendum was independently released on the 8th of May (Eighth, get it? Haha), so if you’ve been on the prowl for some solid new stoner/doom tunes, Shogun’s got you covered! Rating: 8.75 / 10

Thank you for reading and checking out the bands from this edition of "6 Bands"! Some states have begun to open up further and further, so perhaps live music will slowly make its local comebacks sooner than later. Keep those fingers crossed and those circles closed! Until next time, stay metal always! \m/