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Album Ratings 570 Objectivity 65%
Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am Joined 01-01-70
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| Deweekly: February 2nd to February 8th
Hello February...! Ok I have no idea what to write here anymore. So what's this? Deweekly is a list where I go through 25 releases of the week, I hear them, I rate them and I write some nonsense about them that no one really reads. This week seemed a bit dry but... is it really? Let's find out! | 1 | | Plantoid Terrapath
Bella Union // Progressive Rock
The first release that has caught my attention this week has been this jazzy prog band from Bristol, and one of the reasons is that the album was released under the auspice of Bella Union, which is known for releasing heaps of quality and they hardly miss. They didn't miss with Plantoid either. These guys can PLAY, but it's not their instrumental prowess what captivated me, but the ethereal and lush vocals of their singer, Chloe. Not entirely sold on the instrumental side of it, but the songs where Chloe's voice is on top are just wonderful.
Highlight: Modulator
https://plantoidworld.bandcamp.com/album/terrapath | 2 | | Big Scenic Nowhere The Waydown
Heavy Psych Sounds // Stoner Rock / Desert Rock
Bob Balch has been extremely busy. Just last week we were listening to his sludge covers album of Slayer songs (Slower) and now here we are with another one of his projects. BSN is his stint with members of Yawning Man and Mos Generator. It's the first time I hear this band but this is their third release already. There are a couple of songs I wasn't a fan of but half of this hits a sweet spot between Fu Manchu and Yawning Man so any fan of those two bands should check it.
Highlight: The Waydown
https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/big-scenic-nowhere-the-waydown | 3 | | Necrowretch Swords of Dajjal
************** ALBUM OF THE WEEK ************************
Season of mist Underground Activists // Black Metal
Where the hell did this album come from? Apart from France I mean. I've seen this band labelled as death metal but this sounds like black metal to me. Really impressive record from this four-piece, the drumming in particular is mindblowing. Vox shreds, guitars spit out as many riffs as epic and melodic passages and the production is top notch. Hell of an album.
Highlight: The Fifth Door
https://necrowretch.bandcamp.com/album/swords-of-dajjal | 4 | | The Last Dinner Party Prelude to Ecstasy
Universal // Pop Rock
Friday was busy so I had to push a couple of albums to the weekend. This one... hm... It's hard to argue against the industry plant argument when you have such a perfectly looking band doing such perfectly polished music that sounds like the juice of every succesful indie artist since Florence + The Machine. On the other hand, the material included on this debut album from the London quintet is fairly enjoyable, it's well performed and there's little I can say againt the quality of the recording. The album though, it lets you see through its shortcomings, with some songs being empty husks without a soul and just existing because they have to. Divisive, to say the least.
Highlight: Sinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pETz4IMmeDU&ab_channel=TLDPVEVO | 5 | | Ches Smith Laugh Ash
Pyroclastic Records // Electronic / Jazz / Experimental
You may know Ches Smith for his contributions on the drum kit for bands like Secret Chiefs 3 or Xiu Xiu. On this "Laugh Ash" he steps outside of the kit to push buttons and fuck around with friends. That'd be the abridged version of what this album is about. In depth, this album is quite a trip through different subgenres of electronic music and jazz pushing its limits with some risky ideas and some that didn't work for me but they may work for other people. The tracks featuring Shara Lunon on vocals were the highlights for me.
Highlight: Sweatered Webs (Hey Mom)
https://chessmithpyroclastic.bandcamp.com/album/laugh-ash | 6 | | meth. Shame
Prosthetic Records // Sludge / Grindcore / Noisecore
It's really a shame that this band don't go a step beyond the dissonant, chaotic brutality that reigns on this record, introducing moments of respite or balancing it out with a bit more of murky melodies on the background. Hesperus said it well on the review thread, bands like this or Altarage that somehow refuse to step out of the maesltrom of their sound end up with a slab of monotony that doesn't really take you anywhere. And it's a shame because there are great ideas encapsulated on this record that could be just... more.
Highlight: Blush
https://methil.bandcamp.com/album/shame | 7 | | Jacob Anderskov I Sang
April Records // Jazz / Choral
Danish pianist Jacob Anderskov recovers and adapts songs from the tradional Danish "music book" used in schools. It's sang in the local language, but some of the interpretations are very impactful, especially the ones using a whole chorus. Singers Soffie Viemose and Jakob Munck , who also plays tuba and trombone on this record, also contribute with their voices and Munck's sounds like an alternate universe's Tom Waits. Great production and immaculate performances. Great album for a rainy day (like today).
Highlight: Se nu stiger solen
https://jacobanderskov.bandcamp.com/album/i-sang | 8 | | Obsidian Tongue The Stone Heart
Self released // Atmospheric Black Metal
A little EP that showcases new music from the Portland duo. This is their first release since their 2020 full length "Volume Two" and as I haven't heard anything from the band before I can't really say how this compares to their old material. This EP includes three songs, one of them instrumental and it's atmoblack by the book with a couple of surprises. It definitely left me wanting for some more.
Highlight: The Stone Heart
https://obsidiantongue.bandcamp.com/album/the-stone-heart-ep | 9 | | Kyros Mannequin
White Star Records // Progressive Rock / Pop Rock
Well this was a curveball. I've read comparisons from Yes, to Ulver and then to Frost and I can only say that the only one I would consider more or less accurate, would be the last one. This sounds nothing like Ulver or Yes. It's progressive rock with a strong virtuoso flare and 80s pop songwriting, also a LOT of synths. The vocals have some moments but they turned me off for the most part. Most of the songs have some cool grooves that will undoubtedly make your head bop but something about the more commercial sound of this band doesn't really click with me. You check it out and let's see what you think.
Highlight: Illusions Inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQGbHdn_SJ0&ab_channel=KYROS | 10 | | Manu Delago Snow From Yesterday
One Little Independent // New Age / Ambient / Experimental
Manu Delago, who you may know as the man who was behind the beats in Bjork's "Biophilia" and from that moment also one of the pillars of the Icelandic queen's live performances, returns with a solo album in collaboration with vocal ensemble Mad About Lemon. If you're a fan of the wonderful sound of the hangdrum, and believe me, I am, you'll be very satisfied with this record. The ensemble performances are also very fitting and that's all I will say about this because Sunnyvale has promised to review it and I won't spill more beans. If you need something chill for the week, make this your best option.
Highlight: Modern People
https://manudelago.bandcamp.com/album/snow-from-yesterday | 11 | | Solbrud IIII
Vendetta Records // Atmospheric Black Metal
New release from the cascadian BM crew from Denmark with new member David Hernan on vocals. The concept is interesting. Every member contributed with a set of songs individually making it a four part album or four mini-albums in one package. The execution is debatable. Consider that this endeavour makes up for an hour and a half of atmoblack metal that sustains itself on very little surprises. Lethargic is a good descriptor, and to be honest at the time of writing this I still have to listen to the last two tracks. It's exhausting.
Highlight: (so far) Nar Solen Brydes Del III...
https://solbrud.bandcamp.com/album/iiii | 12 | | KMFDM Let Go
Metropolis Records // Industrial
This was entertaining. I'm pretty late to this band so I lack the background to fully grasp if this album is an improvement of sorts, the same thing they've done, revolutionary, a debacle... I don't know. I'd leave it to fellow staffer insomniac to clarify this in his glowing review, so go read that instead!
Highlight: Next Move
https://kmfdm.bandcamp.com/album/let-go | 13 | | J Mascis What Do We Do Now
Sub Pop // Indie Rock
I have no idea why did I even check this. I've never been a fan of Dinosaur Jr, never listened to a full album by them but somehow the singles dragged me to give this album a chance. It's a good jam. The songs are simple and effective, the album flows well and never felt the need to skip any track but at the same time I doubt I'll ever go back to it.
Highlight: You Just Don't Understand Me
https://jmascis.bandcamp.com/album/what-do-we-do-now | 14 | | Ariel Kalma, Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer The Closest Thing to Silence
International Anthem // Ambient / Space Age Pop
This was a lovely little thing and I can't really explain why. Alien sounds entangled with earthly sounds to create music that fits a pub in the Blade Runner universe as well as background music in a Space Station shopping mall. Relaxing, beautifully produced but also elusive to the ear.
Highlight: (Ummm not that kind of album really)
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/the-closest-thing-to-silence | 15 | | Persefone Lingua Ignota: Part I
Napalm Records // Progressive Metal
The mighty Persefone seem to be on a constant downfall since losing their previous vocalist and even this not so brief showcase of the qualities of the new screamer can convince the skeptics of otherwise. I personally never been too attached to this band so i could listen to it from some relative distance. It's not a bad collection of songs, all in all, pretty serviceable prog metal that would have probably fared better if it was released under a different name.
Highlight: The Equable
https://persefone.bandcamp.com/album/lingua-ignota-part-i | 16 | | Morcolac Drawbridge To Citadel Of No More Dawn
Duskstone / Black Metal
Third album from the Italian vampiric black metal stalwarts led by... he he, Sadomaster. It actually blurries the line between EP and LP since it's 30 minutes but I have added it to DB as an long play becasuse, why not. Morcolac's blend of black metal relies heavily on melody and oozes cheesy and glorious synths without abusing the always tempting blast beat solution. As a result, their music has a goth rock shin that makes it stand out from the crowd.
Highlight: memorialmoon Narrates the Morbose
https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/drawbridge-to-citadel-of-no-more-dawn | 17 | | Britti Hello, I'm Britti.
Easy Eye Sound // Soul / Country / r&b
Debut album of the New Orleans singer songwriter Britti. Co-written and produced by Dan Auerbach from the Black Keys, this album is a beautiful tribute to the soul of the 60s, with influences of Motown and a mid-section that puts that on pause to focus on Dolly Parton. The interesting thing here is that Britti handles both styles with impressive ease, and her lukewarm voice fills the space with melodies that repeat themselves trying to make their home into your psyche. Promising debut.
Highlight: So tired
https://britti.bandcamp.com/album/hello-im-britti | 18 | | Transit Method Othervoid
Brutal Panda Records // Punk / Prog / Alt Rock
What a crazy blend of styles these guys from Texas have achieved on this new album, their fifth full length, I believe. The cover art is hardly an indicative of the sound of the band. I went in blind expecting death metal and was greeted by a punk rock anthem. And from there it's just the most random salad of genres I've heard in a while. Surprisingly, it works really well.
Highlight: Into Your Mind
https://transitmethod.bandcamp.com/album/othervoid | 19 | | Gaspar Poet In The Deep
South of Disco // Ambient / Vaporwave / Glitch
New album from our fellow sputter Osmark. This was such a nice soundtrack accompanying me on my way home yesterday. The city lights at night from the train with this being infused straight into my ears became quite a memorable experience. Great album for reading science fiction or just letting yourself go in bed with eyes closed to impossible cities beyond your imagination. Review terminator pizzamachine was also kind enough to write it up so go read his thoughts too!
Highlight: IDT005 / ITD007
https://gasparpoet.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-deep | 20 | | Baratro The Sweet Smell Of Unrest
Improved Sequence Records // Noise Rock / Post hardcore
Fans of Unsane, rejoice, cause Dave Curran is back with another project that sounds... like Unsane. Well maybe it doesn't sound as gritty and savage like Unsane but it comes close, the DNA is definitely there. Anyway, this is a very solid recording, noise rock with hardcore leanings packaged with amazing cover art and god the orange vinyl edition looks so good.
Highlight: Don't Look At Me, I'm Hideous
https://baratro.bandcamp.com/album/the-sweet-smell-of-unrest | 21 | | Vera Sola Peacemaker
City Slang // Folk / Singer Songwriter
Second album of the Americana singer songwriter. This album blends her folk roots with chamber music instrumentation to create quite a lovely album. The album is produced nicely and it's a pleasure on headphones and the songwriting is engaging. Vera's singing is kinda quirky sometimes but it works wonders with her style. Good album if you're into a folk kick.
Highlight: Get Wise
https://verasola.bandcamp.com/album/peacemaker | 22 | | Fullmoon Rite Draped In The Shade Of Luciferian Light
Fullmoon Rite Records // Melodic Black Metal
One man black metal project from Germany that aims to reproduce the glory of the Norwegian second wave faithfully. If you're a fan of black metal without too many flourishes and that doesn't get lost in experiments this is your album. It's raw, it's evil and it has a weird high frequency somewhere that just kills part of ears. Oh, and there's clean singing, and it's good!
Highlight: Fullmooon Rite (Invocation of the Beast)
https://fullmoonrite.bandcamp.com/album/draped-in-the-shade-of-luciferian-light | 23 | | Mean Mistreater Razor Wire
Self released // Hard Rock / Heavy Metal
I was already craving somethign like this. If you remember that Bloodstar album last year (I know you don't), this is more or less on the same vein. Early Motley Crue mixed with Warlock, Leatherwolf and a lot of NWOBHM influence. I still prefer Bloodstar by a mile, but this band is definitely promising.
Highlight: Bleeding the Night
https://meanmistreater.bandcamp.com/album/razor-wire | 24 | | Kim Krans MIRRORMIRROR
Echo Magic // Indie Pop / Ambient Pop
This album was very well hidden, and I didn't realize about it until the very last day of the week. Well I'm glad I did because it's a really interesting record from this Californian artist. The album is built on esotherics, poetry and rites that repeat while the song builds on top of them. Kim's singing is nothing spectacular but it carries the album with ease letting the different arrangements and electronic beats fill the space. She reminds me of someone but for the life of me can't remember of who right now.
Highlight: Dead Stars
https://kimkrans.bandcamp.com/album/mirrormirror | 25 | | James Jonathan Clancy Sprecato
Maple Death Records // Psychedelic / Ambient / Folk
Last minute rec by someone (our someone not just like anyone), and it's a very sweet album but in all honesty and partly to an intense Chelsea Wolfe session that kept me busy during the writing process for her last album's review, I couldn't give this album the time and attention it deserved. from the little I grasped: folk with ambient synths and jazz instrumentation signed by the owner of Maple Death Records himself.
Highlight: Precipice
https://mapledeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sprecato | 26 | | Necrowretch Swords of Dajjal
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Top 10 of the week
1. Necrowretch - Swords of Daijal
2. Manu Delago - Snow From Yesterday
3. Transit Method - Othervoid
4. Plantoid - Terrapath
5. Kim Krans - MirrorMirror
6. Mean Mistreater - Razor Wire
7. Britti - Hello, I'm Britti
8. Jacob Anderskov - I sang
9. Gaspar Poet - In The Deep
10. Morcolac - Drawbridge to Citadel of No More Dawn
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |
Dewinged
02.02.24 | Are we ready ladies and gentlemen? | someone
02.03.24 | here ya go
https://topographies.bandcamp.com/album/interior-spring
https://falseidols.bandcamp.com/album/king-perry | Dewinged
02.03.24 | Never been a fan of dub or Perry so I may pass on that one but topographies sounds good! | someone
02.03.24 | Oh well then
If ever you decide to reconsider, Perry is a good easy entry point for dub. | DoofDoof
02.03.24 | might check 2, sounds close to my thing
couldn't find any '90s survivors this week...there must be one out there | Dewinged
02.05.24 | @Doof, as 90s survivors maybe KMFDM and J Mascis count?
@someone Got it! I skimmed over a few tracks and it was alright. Will leave it on the bench and include and if I don't find anything else that spurs my interest. | Dewinged
02.05.24 | Also, updating now! | garas
02.05.24 | I'm glad you also dug that new Necrowretch album. Stay tuned for Necrophobic's upcoming album too (March 15th), since these French guys pretty much "copied" their black/death formula. | garas
02.05.24 | If you have some free time, I can highly recommend you to check the second Necrophobic LP, Darkside (from 1997). That's one crazy good black/death album with also a stronger emphasis on black metal. | Dewinged
02.05.24 | Sounds like a good prep work for march, will do! Tx garas! | someone
02.05.24 | a few recs i'm somewhat looking forward to
https://mils.bandcamp.com/album/mils009-to-the-jungle
https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/album/freak-dreams
https://samesideca.bandcamp.com/album/oh-no
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/the-closest-thing-to-silence
https://vennart.bandcamp.com/album/forgiveness-the-grain
https://thebigidea.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-crematie
https://nickwheeldon.bandcamp.com/album/waiting-for-the-piano-to-fall-2 | someone
02.05.24 | particularly To the Jungle, Freak Dreams, and The Closest Thing to Silence | Dewinged
02.05.24 | I had freak dreams on my list but after a few minutes I realized I am not ready for rap metal to come back just yet.
The intlanthem release and vennart are on my list!
I didn't like what I heard from same side.
Will check the rest, thanks Gene! | Dewinged
02.08.24 | Late update but this week's been crazy at work. Actually starting to be worried about the continuance of this endeavor lol | someone
02.08.24 | lil sth on the weirder side (but not too weird)
https://mapledeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sprecato | Dewinged
02.08.24 | Looks good! I have one spot left, I'll give it a check! | someone
02.08.24 | yay | Dewinged
02.09.24 | Thank you gene for keeping busy until the very last minute lol
This week is done!! It's time for a new list with Chelsea Wolfe, Chapel of Disease, Spectral Voice and more! | DoofDoof
02.09.24 | 21 was my 'intensive listening' album of the week, it was decent, did you know she's Dan Akroyd's daughter?
I'm going to go further and say his 'favourite daughter' because every photo he's always next to her ahead of her two sisters, apple of his eye it seems.
She probably got a lift up in the industry but honestly the album is strong so fair do's, would have liked her to duet with the late Mark Lanegan, little tinge of gothic country and a rockist sensibility in there at times. | Dewinged
02.09.24 | Wtf I didn't know that! Well it is a lovely album for sure, good pick Doof!
Damn I forgot to do my top 10! | someone
02.18.24 | thx for adding the top 10, i needed to know what to catch up on | Dewinged
02.18.24 | No prob, it's very biased though, I don't think you'll enjoy mean mistreater from that list XD |
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