Finally the release schedule is beginning to pick back up and I am living for it. We got so much exciting new metal this past week, some from the usual suspects and even more from bands I had never heard of prior to this past week. We also got some very solid entries in the non-metal space that I can’t wait to tell you about. And since I can’t wait, I won’t.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Woman is the Earth - Dust of Forever
Man, few things hit with the same force as great black metal. Born out of the Black Hills in South Dakota, Woman is the Earth knows what makes American black metal exciting. Dust of Forever features a huge, relentless sound that never forgets to place a valley between its massive peaks. It contains all the things you expect of black metal, tremolo picking, harsh vocals, blast beat laden drums, it’s all there. But to balance that all out, there are beautiful choral arrangements and unorthodox instrument choices that lend an air of mysticism to the entire project. The whole affair assumes a reverential quality, as if it stands before the mighty power of the Earth in awe of the force it can unleash. It’s one of the best pieces of black metal this year.
Great Metal from this Week
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Ox en Mayo Alto - Mot, The Valuator, Incredible God: At times shoegazey, at times post hardcore, this short EP from Argentine metalheads Ox en Mayo Alto more than whets the palate for future projects.
Portrayal of Guilt / Chat Pile - Split: Chat Pile is a favorite of mine and while this is only a two song split, the Chat Pile contribution “Brutal Truth” has me stoked for future albums.
Deafheaven - Infinite Granite: Look, Pitchfork and Fantano are going to gripe about this album for entirely opposite reasons and they’re all welcome to their opinion, but it’s good shoegaze. It’s not mind blowing shoegaze, but it is good, and that’s fine.
Warkings - Revolution: Super fun dudes rock style power metal. Let’s remember some dudes that went to war.
Between the Buried and Me - Colors II: The prog metal dudes of the mid-aughts remain prog metal dudes in 2021. It’s still pretty impressive.
Catch entries from all of these albums (that were on Spotify) by checking out the Fresh Kills playlist.
Non-Metal AOTW
Sturgill Simpson - The Ballad of Dood & Juanita
In a totally unsurprising twist of fate the guy who makes the best country music in the modern era continues to do so on The Ballad of Dood & Juanita. My only complaint is that the bluegrass-laden, story-driven album is too short and it also is sad and I want there to be more. Justice for Sam the dog.
Runners-up
Kam-Bu - Black on Black: UK grime continues to prove that it has the most interesting beats in popular music.
Trippie Redd - Trip at Knight: Trippie Redd does his best Playboi Carti impression and it mostly works.
James McMurtry - The Horses and the Hounds: The son of the late author Larry McMurtry pens an album that could’ve been a book.
Orla Gartland - Woman on the Internet: Orla Gartland tells great stories, you should listen to them. They sound good when she tells them too.
Things to Look Forward to
Oh boy it’s another incredible lineup we’ve got rolling down the pipeline this week. Tons of great experimental-ish metal and new non-metal from some of my favorite artists. It’s going to be great and I’m so incredibly stoked.
Metal Albums
Leprous - Aphelion
TesseracT - PORTALS
Spirit Adrift - Forge Your Future
Fluisteraars - Gegrepen Door de Geest der Zielsontluiking
Botanist / Thief - Cicatrix / Diamond Brush
Jinjer - Wallflowers
Non-Metal Albums
CHVRCHES - Screen Violence
Turnstile - GLOW ON
Big Red Machine - How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last?
Space Afrika - Honest Labour
The Bug - Fire
Look! New CHVRCHES! God I love that band so much,it’s great to see them returning so quickly after their last album.
Let me know what you’re stoked to hear this week!
Shrinekeeping
Nothing too exciting going on in this world. I finished a big project at work so you’ll finally get some month recaps and the half year recap is rolling in about two months behind schedule. Don’t @ me I’m not on Twitter anymore anyway.
Provided the big project continues to be finished. I should actually get to play catch up the next week or two so keep an eye on this space. I know I say that every week, so hopefully I don’t make myself a liar this time.