Best Metal from November 2020
Featuring Beltez, Liturgy, Anderwelt and other exceptional metal artists
Every year something has to come along and throw a wrench into our plans. The bad news, it happened again this year, as some of the year’s best metal got released in late November, throwing all of my carefully curated lists into complete disarray. But in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal and was probably bound to happen anyways.Â
The good news is that 2020, if nothing else, has taught all of us how to be more adaptable. Whether that adaptation was turning your life structure upside down, canceling plans, figuring out how to vote by mail or any number of things, this year has been a steady downpour of wrenches onto the unsuspecting skulls of our plans.Â
Great metal getting released is also great news. Regardless of how much it impacts the difficulty of creating this newsletter, getting to hear exceptional new releases is always a treat. And with that, let’s take a sampling of some of the treats from this past month, because there were a whole lot of tasty snacks to sink your teeth into.
DISCLAIMER: Two of the month’s exceptional albums feature nudity. We’re all adults here so you can handle it, but perhaps don’t linger on this email too long at work (though presumably most of you aren’t in offices right now).
Beltez - A Grey Chill and Whisper
Based on a book titled Black Banners which was written specifically for the band by German author Ulrike Serowy (and read aloud by the author in the Bandcamp edition of the album) A Grey Chill and Whisper takes the concept album to the next level. But regardless of whether or not you can understand the lyrics (chances are you won’t on the first go) the album succeeds impressively enough on a musical level that it’s well worth the investment. Incredibly tight, and surprisingly fluid, the album weaves a web of destruction that is an absolute joy to be caught in.Â
pg.lost - Oscillate
Deftly skirting the line between prog metal and post metal, pg.lost makes magic on their latest effort, Oscillate. Each song is forceful and driving, and even without the presence of vocals they each possess a powerful narrative capable of sweeping away anyone with a soul. It’s also an excellent album to show people that are new to metal or who are looking for a way to get into the genre without all the pesky screaming and blast beats.
Anderwelt - 2084
As a noted fan of big sweeping music (catch me weeping at the next Godspeed You! Black Emperor concert in your city) Anderwelt has managed to tackle the genre of post metal with an impressive ear for the cinematic. Even better, they don’t fall into the trappings of post metal, namely its penchant for overreliance on a build/destroy cycle, and it’s probably because they aren’t post metal. Bandcamp gives them a lot of listings, doom metal, death metal, post metal, dark core (whatever that is), but the real truth is that they’re one of a kind. Chock full of excellent vocals and guitar work, these guys would have made magic no matter what, but the song structures are absolutely impeccable and keep the longer tracks on the record engaging and exciting the entire time.Â
Liminal Shroud - Through the False Narrows
Black metal has always been a more atmospheric genre than most other styles of metal, but in the last few years, many bands have jumped the shark in terms of their capabilities. Liminal Shroud uses Through the False Narrows as a thrilling endorsement of nailing the basics. While their sound is undoubtedly influenced by the modern blackgaze movement, the vocals, drum patterns and heft of the instrumentation don’t have that wispy, airy quality that so many underdeveloped black metal bands do these days. This is bold, in your face black metal that demands respect, lucky for Liminal Shroud, it more than earns it.
Alustrium - Insurmountable
In some metal circles, this might get me flack, but progressive death metal is easily one of the most thrilling genres in metal when done well. And of the bands currently doing it, Alustrium might have one of the strongest grasps on how to make the style shine. Deadly riffs, gut-rending screams and a blistering pace all coalesce into a seething mass of fatal fury that powers this must-listen project. Though this EP only lasts for four songs, and clocks in under 30 minutes it has more than enough heft and depth to sit in your mind for days or weeks afterwards.  Â
Coffin Apartment - Full Torso Apparition
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it sounds like to go into a manic rage, Full-Torso Apparition is probably the closest you could ever get without becoming a public health liability. This positively unhinged record grabs you by the shirt collar and never lets you go. Complete with a menacing smile on it’s deeply entrancing and upsetting album cover, you can’t help but feel the band snickering to themselves as they drag you to your cell in the asylum. Thankfully this is the one sanitarium you’ll never want to leave.Â
Liturgy - Origin of the Alimonies
Having spoken about this record at length in the most recent newsletter, it’s good fortune that there’s a lot of things to say about this record. Narratively, it does nothing but fascinate, and not just within the text. Loads of metatextual elements work to enhance the listening experience, but none moreso than the public coming out of frontwoman Hunter Hunt-Hendrix coming out as transgender. I do not wish to imply that Hendrix’s bold move to publicly come out is anything other than a deeply personal choice that Hendrix made for their own benefit to affirm their own identity. But knowledge of her coming out does enhance the experience if only because it imparts a greater understanding of the multifaceted musical modes within which Hendrix plays on Origin of the Alimonies. Having listened to thousands of metal albums I can confidently state that this is one of the most complex albums I have ever heard. The nuance, depth and density of the musical layers and choices is unrivaled by almost all music. This record is an absolute triumph and worthily stands on its own, as does Hendrix’s public and confident affirmation of her own identity.
Bather - Phantom Guilt
What could I possibly say about this record that would do it justice? Brutal, unrelenting, forceful, crushing and deadly, Bather combines the best bits of doom, death and metalcore then beats them into a chimera-like form that lusts for nothing but blood and busted eardrums. Despite being less than 20 minutes in total runtime, the fury billowing from every inch of the project and its detail oriented approach to numerous styles mean that there’s plenty to chew on for even the most dedicated of metalheads.Â
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron
Look, I’m fully aware of my constant inability to properly respect power and heavy metal. Something about the cheesy nature makes it difficult to fully dive into without reservation, and the imagery associated with the genres is embarrassing and misogynistic enough that I’ve considered writing it off as a whole. But every time that thought appears it’s just as quickly squashed by a truly excellent record. Eternal Champion, album cover aside, delivers exactly what the people want. The vocals are consistent and powerful, the guitar work flashy but standing primarily in service of the overall song structure, everything just works. The album cover isn’t my cup of tea at all, but the music certainly is, and I can’t deny the triumphant fist-pumping adrenaline rush this record provides.