Aversed – Impermanent
Aversed’s first full length is an adrenaline rush of constantly changing, vibrant and unpredictable melodic death full of tasteful progressive flourishes. When you combine that with the fantastic alternatingly beautiful and nerve-shredding vocal performance here from Haydee Irizarry, you have one of my favourite releases this year, never mind March.
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Wolfheart – Skull Soldiers
Less than a year after the latest album Wolves of Karelia, the most prolific death metal band in Finland is back with an EP package in Skull Soldiers, delivering 2 new songs, one live version of ‘Reaper’ from Wolves of Karelia and a beautiful acoustic take on “Aeon of Cold”, the opener of the band’s 2015 album Shadow World, featuring raw sounding guitars and clean vocals from the band’s bassist Lauri Silvonen. The new songs find Wolfheart at their most blackened point thus far with the orchestra and melodic elements reduced consistently, fitting for the war theme of the lyrics. Overall, this package should not be missed by fans of Finnish metal of any sorts! Check it out!
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Autarkh – Form In Motion
Back in 2012 I was properly introduced to the world of progressive/experimental black metal through Dodecahedron’s debut and my musical tastes were instantly affected by that unprecedented, cacophonous sound. 9 years later, the entity of Autarkh have released hands down the most ambitious album of the year. Form in Motion is a record packed with ferocious energy, dizzying compositions and perhaps the most intense programmed percussion to ever be heard on a metal release, resulting in a really individualistic and personal sound that can rarely be found on a debut album. Perhaps this is the album of the year, if anything it will surely be among the highest ranks in my list.
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Stortregn – Impermanence
Switzerland Geneva’s blackened progressive death metal maniacs in Stortregn unleashed Impermanence onto the world! 44 minutes of relentless onslaught batter the listener with roaring progressive riffs, blast beats, growls and evil cinematic melodies packed together in a tightly wrapped package of 8 monstrous tracks, flowing into each other seamlessly. From the moment the album kicks off, until it ends, the Swiss death metallers aim to pulverize both in technicality and in aggression but also to reward with such advanced composition that not a single moment feels out of place. Impermanence is one of the most massive albums I’ve heard in ages and any fan of the extreme noisy arts should check it out!
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Agent Steel – No Other Godz Before Me
The conspiracy born from beyond the stars has now resurrected with the return of the original and highly enigmatic front man of Agent Steel John Cyriis. Though now surrounded with an entirely new crop of instrumentalists than the ones that helped him carry the clandestine torch of speed metal mayhem in the 80s, that same frenetic and eccentric spirit has been retooled for the present day. Beginning and ending in something of a storybook fashion, 2021’s No Other Godz Before Me recalls the glory days of 80s heavy metal played too fast for human comprehension, and with a duo of master guitar shredders and a thunderous rhythm section at his back, Cyriis has once more become the unstoppable force that many remember. Highly recommended to fans of King Diamond, Crimson Glory and early Queensryche.
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Saidan – Jigoku: Spiralling Chasms Of The Blackest Hell
Saidan’s debut album, Jigoku: Spiralling Chasms of The Blackest Hell, was a revelation to me. It hits all of the notes that I like in black metal, being an excellent mix of rawness and melody. The closest comparison I would make is to fellow USBM act Lamp of Murmuur, but with an added, subtle, but very distinctive J-rock influence. The use of these melodies is what really sets Jigoku: Spiralling Chasms of The Blackest Hell apart, and it’s an excellent, unique take on black metal.
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Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon
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Turbulence – Frontal
Good news for Haken’s fans: they can finally stop playing Virus on heavy rotation while they wait for the next Haken’s album to come out. Frontal – the latest record by prog metallers Turbulence – is a more than valid replacement. Hailing from Lebanon, this quintet of extraordinary musicians have all the songwriting and playing chops to compete with the very cream of the crop in the progressive metal universe, Haken included. Frontal is a dense concept album, filled with shifting tempos, crazy polyrhythms, thunderous drumming, extravagant keyboard parts, and chugging guitars – in short, everything you need to embark in a mind-boggling prog metal tour-de-force. Add on top of that a fantastic lead singer, with a voice that has both range and character, and what you have is an unmissable record for anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.
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Baest – Necro Sapiens
I never expected Denmark to take the death metal world by storm, but by jove, Baest have made their mark and then some. Both Danse Macabre and Venenum showcased immense potential, but Necro Sapiens is another level. Despite being expectedly brutal and technical, this album is also uncompromisingly fun. There are quirks here and there which give Baest a unique flavour, and helps to make them surprisingly accessible. This would be a great gateway death metal album if it weren’t so damn clever. The prog-tinged semi-epics like “Genesis” and “Goregasm” will require repeated listens to reap their rewards, whereas the insta-hits like the title-track or the pummelling “Sea Of Vomit” will bore into your brain immediately and never leave. I just cannot fault it.
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Enforced – Kill Grid
Yep, that’s right. For the first time since I’ve been at TMO, I couldn’t choose between two March LPs for my album of the month. It was late in the month when I finally got round to hearing Kill Grid but the US crossover monsters of Enforced utterly bombarded my earholes and left me senseless. This is immensely intense thrash metal, bordering on death, in true Demolition Hammer style. 2019’s At The Walls was just as fiery, but lacked the refinement and, ironically, joyous abandon that Kill Grid brings. There are so many riffs on this record, I find myself constantly surprised and barraged by grinding, gritty riffs from the wasteland. Knox’s vocals are relentless and, although sometimes indecipherable, have the perfect tone. No time for respite, just spin the disc and MELT. YOUR. FACE.
