Corporate Benevolence and a Reprieve from Reality
Featuring System of a Down, Thou, Mr. Bungle and dozens of juicy metal explosions
Sweet merciful Satan is this week finally over? In what has seemed like the longest week of all time, the metal world didn’t really step up to do their part to distract us. There were a few great things, including two 8/10+ albums, but the sheer volume of music was lacking. Even still, we’ve got plenty of great riffs, punishing fills and menacing breakdowns to keep you from having a breakdown of your own.
Luckily, there was some very exciting news that popped up on Friday. System of a Down, the band that got countless people into metal (and socialism, anti-fascism, environmentalism and a ton of other good “-ism’s”) has reunited after 15 years of studio silence. The two songs they released, “Protect the Land” and “Genocidal Humanoidz” aren’t perfect, but they are great. The latter track really digs into the current moment with the cynicism, vitriol and intensity that SOAD is known for. If this is the harbinger of albums to come, I’m more than on board.
Album of the Week
Stälker - Black Majik Terror
To be completely honest, this isn’t necessarily the best album of the week, the Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou collab exceeds it in every measure, as does the Mr. Bungle album, but this particular record just struck a chord with me. I honestly don’t even know if it is good? Bear with me, I’ll try and break down the thought process here. Black Majik Terror indulges itself in the worst trappings of power metal and heavy metal. Somehow it emerges all the better for it.
Take the title track “Black Majik Terror” for example. Every vocal section that could be termed as good falls apart. The lead vocalist can’t resist reaching for high notes, but instead of being grating it’s endearing. That same love of the bombastic can be heard in the guitars. Solos abound, sometimes they completely interrupt the flow of the track, other times they’re great, but there’s no consistency. And still it works.
This is, without a doubt, the most perplexed I’ve ever been by my feelings about an album. Typically a through line or some concrete opinion emerges. Black Majik Terror has me at a total loss. Give it a listen and let me know if you love it or hate it, this week may have irreparably damaged my brain so I don’t know that I know anything anymore.
Great Metal from this Week
Longtime metal fans may recognize the above image as Mr. Bungle’s The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny. Well, the band released re-recorded demos of the album and it positively bangs. Despite the silly title, the album holds up rather well and has quite a bit to say about the current state of the world, which should be frustrating considering it came out in 1986. In any case it was part of four tremendous records that came out last week, and while that number may be smaller than usual, there’s a lot to dig into. As always, 8/10+ albums are in bold and don’t hesitate to let me know if I missed an album you loved.
Label Highlight - I, Voidhanger
This week, we’re visiting the Italian black metal label, I, Voidhanger. Founded in 2008, I, Voidhanger is known for demanding releases that “are the result of an obscure, unique, and uncompromising artistic vision.” If that sounds like a lot to deal with right now, that’s fair, but don’t write them off forever.
I, Voidhanger takes their mission seriously. Their releases are challenging, dark and intense. Most of their bands exist in the coveted sub-5000 monthly listeners range on Spotify, and while they may wish more people listened, it keeps the music uncompromising and powerful.
Despite having been around for only 12 years, I, Voidhanger has highlighted a key space in the world of metal. Their penchant for endorsing art that is informed by other art (their Facebook page states that “Apart from our regular CD/LP emissions, we will also work on special thematic releases centered on the strong, osmotic relationship between metal music, Art and Literature.”) has pushed the collaborative nature of metal further than ever. Not content for the typical dull LOTR concept bands, they release music that questions the very definition of music, sound and art.
If you’re looking to get started with I, Voidhanger records, here are a few of their best releases from 2020:
If that’s not enough head over to their Bandcamp page by clicking the button below.
Meaty Merchandise
Last month Melted Bodies released one of the most stirring metal albums in recent memory. At the time, I was struck by how much they thematically and sonically reminded me of System of a Down. Of course, on November 6th, System of a Down released their first new music in 15 years. Shortly after receiving the email that they released new music, another email from Melted Bodies appeared in my inbox. It announced the arrival of a new pressing of their debut full length on “marbled meat.” Clearly leaning into the gross angle of the album, it includes a meat shaped air freshener (no I don’t know what it smells like and I don’t know that I want to) and comes wrapped in butcher paper. As a former experiential marketer (please shame me for this convoluted and pretentious term) I love the experience they’ve crafted. As a metalhead, I like that they want to gross me out.
Something Completely Different - Corporate Generosity?
If it hasn’t been made abundantly clear by all of the previous articles in this newsletter, I’m wary of corporations. Sure, there are a few good ones out there, mostly small businesses who don’t make enough money to exploit their employees, but most large companies have a rotten core built in by design. But whatever drives these companies to take advantage of people was clearly not present when Ethan Diamond, Shawn Gunberger and Neal Tucker founded Bandcamp in 2008.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Bandcamp business model, the basic idea is that artist control is paramount. They made the music, so they should have control over how it is sold, marketed and treated after release. It’s a labor-centric view of a company that you don’t see very often, but it’s very much welcome. Bandcamp also acts as a “one stop shop” for fans. Those who want to get a taste of a band’s music can stream albums and songs a limited number of times before Bandcamp asks you to purchase the album. You’re not compelled to do so, but the reminder helps. More invested fans can buy digital or physical copies of releases, and some bands even make merch available on the site. While the interface and lack of a playlist function makes it more difficult to use than Apple Music or Spotify, the benefit it provides to artists is more than worth the minor inconvenience.
This year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and its outsized impact on the music industry, Bandcamp did the unprecedented — they waived their share. If you’re not decently familiar with the music industry, this may sound like a kind gesture, but it’s a lot more than that. See, hosting platforms like Bandcamp use their share to keep music hosted on their site. Yes, some of that ends up in the pockets of the founders, but people deserve to be paid for what they do, so that’s not really an issue. By waiving their share each Friday, Bandcamp puts more money in the pockets of small artists like the ones this newsletter discusses every week. Ensuring that those groups can afford to keep making music.
The fact of the matter is that most bands, and especially the bands that I talk about, have more in common with you and I than they do with Metallica. Most bands don’t make much money. They rely on tours and merch sales to just break even, a lot of them do it for the love of the music itself. If you’ve got some spare cash on the first Friday of December, consider throwing some of that towards an album or some merch. Bands are part of the working class too.
Non-Metal AOTW
food house - food house
If you’ve been living under a musical rock, the term “hyperpop” may not have made it to your ears just yet. But if it hasn’t yet, trust that it will soon. Described aptly by a friend as “if Youtube Poop’s were music” hyperpop takes everything people love about pop music and cranks it up past twelve. Seemingly these artists want to see how much “good” they can give us before it becomes too much. food house, a collaboration between hyperpop artists Gupi and Fraxiom, starts to hit the edge but in the most fascinating way. Loud, abrasive, political and candy-coater, this album has it all will drag you kicking and screaming into its cotton candy nightmare.
Pleasant Patches
A few weeks back I fell in love with the latest album by Woodkid, S16. It scratches an itch similar to artists like James Blake and Elliot Moss, but there’s a more triumphant edge to his sound. What really blew me away though was the front to back construction of the record, and how well it was assembled. His first record, The Golden Age, was no slouch, but it was haphazard and not fully conceived, but you could see the bones of something great. Woodkid’s greater ambitions on S16 have paid off, not just in the music but in the aesthetic surrounding the album as well. Personally, as a Patch Guy™ I’m drawn to patches. The patch, designed by Woodkid himself is effortlessly cool. Made of rubber, brightly colored and easy to apply, it stands out on any battle jacket or bag, and it’s just really cool. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
Productive Shoegazing
Admittedly, this past week made it very hard to live in the now (as I’m typing this, the election has yet to be called but the trend of where it’s headed is finally clear). Luckily, we’ve got some decent metal coming down the pipeline and some highly anticipated non-metal records too. Both Ólafur Arnalds and Novo Amor will provide some much needed solace and calm after such a chaotic week.
Metal Albums
Sólstafir- Endless Twilight of Codependent Love
Dark Quarterer - Pompei
Shaidar Logoth - Chapter III: The Void God
Non-Metal Albums
Ólafur Arnalds - some kind of peace
Novo Amor - Cannot Be, Whatsoever
Ennio Morricone - Morricone Segreto
Shrinekeeping
Metal isn’t the best place for sincerity, but given the stress of last week, be kind to one another. We don’t have to be all sunshine and smiles, but kicking a few recommendations over to a friend might be just the thing they need to pull through the rest of this marathon of a year.
Oh hey, speaking of sharing recommendations with friends.
Hopefully the rest of the year is a bit less of a hellscape then it has been so far. You deserve some rest and so do I. If this is your first time checking out the Apotheosis newsletter, thanks for giving us a look! I hope you enjoyed what you’ve read, and more importantly, what you’ve listened to. If you’d like to hang around for awhile, click the button below, or meet me at the dilapidated church in the photo.
Keep an eye out for the best metal albums of October newsletter in the next few days. Normally, I try to get the “best of the month” letters out earlier but given… everything, it got a little delayed. Until then, stay fresh. No really, the old gods hate it when I bring them rotten sacrifices.