Once again...

nearing the email length limit.

Gonna have a lot of stuff here without much detail. Transylvanian Recordings brings out AULNES - Resilience to play. This recording is light years ahead of the 2017 self-titled release, the music even more crushing than before. Slow, heavier than hell guttural filth. Winter, disembowelment, Grief are place markers for these Canadian sludge mongers.

New Impetuous Ritual announced by Profound Lore for May 12, 2023. You already know what you’re going to get… murkwork death from members of Portal. As Portal gains clarity in their recording Impetuous Ritual gets uglier, meaner.

Starkweather’s Vincent Rosa doing bass duty with UltraMantis Black. The other starkweather tie being guitarist Vince Spina (Edgewise) is the guilty party for Crossbearer vinyl back in the 20th Century on his Harvest Records imprint, now known as Harvcore. Feed the Soil with Revenge brings a throwback thrash grind sound across 4 songs under 10 minutes.

Indonesia’s Avhath return with a new recording and different approach to their metallic hardcore attack. Long form and more experimental, no less exacting. And, of course, with this title how can one not think of Elvis Presley? I know members of Poison Idea would ask you to Pick Your King. Me, I’ll angle toward the lesser known, but, metallic hardcore bent Born Without A Face.

Born Without A Face cover “Heartbreak Hotel” on their Worship ep.

A bit of a throwback death metal sound from Chile’s Sporae Autem Yuggoth. Caught the announcement of this release from Personal Records and on Saturday NCS reminded me to add this 6 piece’s track to the mix. Musically this has an old school feel similar to fellow countrymen Inanna though not as technical in terms of composition. Hint of the Key keyboards add vintage horror/sci-fi soundtrack feel and the guitar solos have a Trouble meets Paradise Lost element.

I’ll be damned if the intro to the new track from Poland’s Ukć “Uchodz​ą​c” isn’t distinctly Bathory - hammerheart meets Swans - “Will We Survive” Great track that melds this melodic edge and fierce black metal. Looking forward to how this new album shapes up. This is monumental, epic stuff quickly following on the heels of last year’s Przemijanie.

Sure, when I saw the band name and title Wékeras - Pochwa​ł​a Cienia I assumed this was from Poland. Nope. Sweden. 4 song blackened blitz with witchy vocals.

Hyrgal Session Fun​é​raire anno MMXXIII brings even more ferocity than before. Sure, previous recordings were frantic and fraught with blistering speed, there is something about this track elevates the intensity to new heights. Something more raw and weighty. Could simply be a different approach to the mix and instrument placement. Whatever the case, this preview track smokes.

Translation Loss announces a new album from NJ technicians East Of The Wall. Dysrhythmia meets The Mars Volta at Bada Bing/Satin Dolls. New track is an exceptional drum clinic.

Keeping it post but moving to the EU… KAHR from Graz, Austria has a debut worth investigating. Elements of noise rock, post punk, indie rock and sludge are on a collision course. Get down with this minimalist approach and soak it all in.

Paenil Era bring post elements to their black metal alchemy on Deviere. Working long form songs with a heavy dose of melodic guitars having an indie and shoegaze aesthetic at times. Overall it musically could make one think of Novembre crossed with Alcest and Lifelover.

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New Head of the Baptist released in all its corrosive crust drenched fury.

And here I was thinking Sodality and Thy Darkened Shade were the black metal albums to beat thus far this year. Well, Verminous Serpent is laying claim to the crown, too. This has a more ragged, raw live recorded approach than my other quick picks for 2023 black metal supremacy. A quick peek at the personnel (members of Dread Sovereign, Malthusian, Slidhr, etc) is all you need to know this operates on a high level across all gears.

Another preview to the forthcoming healthyliving release. This track makes me think of raise era Swervedriver and you can’t go wrong there.

A second Wallowing track from Earth Reaper.

I know, I know, I bagged these guys in favor of Dead Register. And I will still do it, but, it isn’t to say Spotlights isn’t good. They are. They have a new EP in advance of their forthcoming album. 2 of these songs will be on Alchemy for the Dead and 3 exclusive to this offering.

All of this spooky ouija board imagery… shall we wind it back to 1985 and Current 93.

Good looking out to José Carlos Santos at the Devil’s Mouth for reminding me this is the 25th year anniversary of Beyond Dawn’s Revelry. Go there for the the lowdown on one of the most Swans sounding releases Gira and company didn’t release.

Once again, this ugly mug and mouth finds himself on The Fiendish Five Podcast.

And with that, I bid you farewell until my schedule corrects and I can get my writing on schedule.