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MetalMatters: April 2020 - Notes from the Quarantine

In times of quarantine we listen and we write, so here are 20 extreme (and some experimental) records to spin during these times.

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Frayle Deliver Anthems for the Persecuted Via '1692' (album stream) (premiere)

Living dark may be the best revenge as Cleveland's Frayle suggest on their debut LP. Fans of gothic and black metal will rejoice as will those who love Portishead and Cocteau Twins.

Music

MetalMatters: January 2020 - One Year Anniversary

The new year, and the new decade, kick things off in the most promising way possible as a combination of newcomers and established acts produce amazing works across death, black, metalcore, power and thrash metal.

Music

Music, Drama, and Philosophy with Liturgy's Hunter Hunt-Hendrix

Liturgy founder Hunter Hunt-Hendrix discusses religion, philosophy, history, and music from Johannes Brahms to Waka Flocka Flame.

Music

MetalMatters: December 2019 - The End of the Decade

The last month of the 2010s was defined by an explosion of black metal grimness, modern and retro sprinkled with death metal brutality, caustic hardcore and some historic re-releases.

Music

MetalMatters: November 2019 - Winter Is Coming

Filled with everything from extreme doom/death and progressive death to experimental avant-garde jazz induced visions and screamo dreams, November does not disappoint.

Music

Sunn O))) Revisit the World of 'Life Metal' with 'Pyroclasts'

The companion piece to Sunn O)))'s masterful Life Metal completes the most organic and minimal chapter in the drone masters' journey.

Music

MetalMatters: October 2019 - What's That Noise?

October is dominated by heavyweight returns from noise rock pioneers Swans and Lightning Bolt, while also filled with the black metal bleakness of Blut Aus Nord and the Great Old Ones, while Vastum continue 20 Buck Spin's death metal master class streak.

Music

Timelost Give Marilyn Manson's "Cryptorchid" a New Lease on Life (premiere + interview)

Lo-fi, black metal-cum-goth-ish outfit, Timelost share a cover of Marilyn Manson's "Cryptorchid". They talk with us about the importance of making the old new.

Music

Black 'n' Roll Purveyors, Thonian Horde Meditate on These Troubled Times with "The Narcissist" (premiere)

A doomy concoction with black and thrash metal undercurrents, Thonian Horde throws extreme metal some groove on this blast from the upcoming LP, Downfall.

Music

MetalMatters: March 2019 – Beware the Ides of Metal

From Drastus' monumental second LP to Mystifier's righteous comeback, to Venom Prison's evolution towards death metal infamy, and enthralling debut full-lengths from Devil Master, VLTIMAS, Heaume Mortal, and more, March's MetalMatters highlights a bounty of subversive brilliance.

Music

Chrome Waves Arrives With Debut Album, 'A Grief Observed' (album stream) (premiere)

Former members of Wolvhammer, Nachtmystium, and the Gates of Slumber unite as Chrome Waves on album that unites shoegaze, post-rock, and extreme metal.

Music

Sigh's 'Heir to Despair' Is a Stylistically Diverse Exploration of Madness

Japanese black metal stalwarts Sigh explore madness through folklore and experiment with new sounds on Heir to Despair.

Music

Vouna Introduce Their Blend of Extreme Atmospheric Music

In her debut record with Vouna, Yianna Bekris combines the ferocity of black metal and the weight of doom/death with traditional Greek folk influences to produce an intriguing release.

Music

Fave Five: Fire-Toolz

Fire-Toolz's debut album is one of 2018's most ambitious and self-sabotaging albums: a compelling, confounding listen that mixes vaporwave beats with death metal wails and somehow it all works. Mastermind Angel Marcloid's Fave Five pick? Her five favorite New Age jazz records.

Evan Sawdey
Music

Mutilation Rites Breaks with Black Metal Traditions on 'Chasm'

Brooklyn-based black metal band Mutilation Rites hone their style and with Chasm deliver their best album so far.

Music

Deafheaven's 'Ordinary Corrupt Human Love' Takes the Strengths of Its Predecessors and Refines Them Even Further

Sunbather will forever be Deafheaven's iconic album, but Ordinary Corrupt Human Love might just be their best record.

Music

The Antichrist Imperium Push Against Their Stylistic Confinements on New Album

On their second album, the Antichrist Imperium make an attempt to extend their progressive death/black metal sound by embracing thrash elements.

Music

At One with Nature: An Interview with Wolves in the Throne Room

Solidifying their return to black metal with Thrice Woven, Wolves in the Throne Room detail their connection with the essence of their home in the Pacific Northwest.

Music

Black Metal Group Lychgate Explores the "Unity of Opposites" Via New Video (premiere + interview)

Lychgate's complex and illuminating new album, The Contagion in Nine Steps, explores weighty philosophical and social themes. The band's James "J.C." Young discusses some of them.

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

Soul Dissolution Contemplates "Stardust" (premiere)

Belgian metal unit Soul Dissolution issues video for titular track from sophomore release.

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

Raven Throne Draws on Belarusian Poetry, Heritage for "Living Blood of Living Bodies" (premiere)

Sixth album from Minsk-based outfit Raven Throne arrives 2 May and promises to be one of the atmospheric dark metal releases of the year.

Jedd Beaudoin
Music

Portal's Carnage Continues with 'ION'

Australian extreme experimental alchemists Portal pursue a different approach to their devastating blend of death metal brutality.

Music

Summoning Traverse Middle-Earth on Black Metal Laden 'With Doom We Come'

Austrian Tolkien fanatics Summoning return five years after Old Mornings Dawn and continue to explore the lore and fables of Middle-Earth through their atmospheric brew of black metal.

Music

Watain: Trident Wolf Eclipse (album review)

Trident Wolf Eclipse is a traditionalist album for Watain; they have focused on straight-for-the-throat Swedish black metal without any stylistic detours.

Music

The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2017

There's common ground between all 20 metal albums despite musical differences: the ability to provide a cathartic release for the creator and the consumer alike, right when we need it most.

Music

Aosoth: V: The Inside Scriptures

French black metal force Aosoth unleash a pivotal entry to their discography with a record that combines their musical heritage with the ferocity of '90s death metal.

Music

Blaze of Perdition: Conscious Darkness

Polish black metal outfit Blaze of Perdition returns with a furious and cathartic etude of black metal induced darkness.

Music

Chaos Moon: Eschaton Memoire

In a furious return three years after Resurrection Extract, Chaos Moon re-establish their bitter atmospheric take on black metal and reach a creative peak with the ambitious Eschaton Memoire.

Music

Midnight - "Crushed By Demons" (audio) (premiere)

The mid-tempo groove of Midnight's "Crushed By Demons" is sickening, absolutely hooking you in from the first drum hit.

Music

Satyricon: Deep Calleth Upon Deep

Adding subtle orchestral cues to their double kicks and power chords, Satyricon experiment with new ideas on their latest release.

Music

Sannhet: So Numb

Without changing their identity, Sannhet travels deep within their core to further progress their unclassifiable sound on So Numb.

Music

Ex Eye: Ex Eye

Led by Colin Stetson and augmented by drummer Greg Fox, Ex Eye makes a black metal/jazz amalgam that is cathartic in its athleticism.

Music

Foscor - "Instants" (video) (premiere)

Veteran metal act Foscor offers glimpse of upcoming release, Les Irreals Visions.

Music

Black Anvil: As Was

American black metal outfit returns with a smart, snappy collection that will give air guitarists carpal tunnel and purists plenty to chew on.

Music

Okkultokrati: Raspberry Dawn

Oslo-based unit takes us down to the dungeon where the jams are dank and the torture is pretty.

Music

Negură Bunget: ZI

Negură Bunget returns with the second installment of its Transylvanian Trilogy.

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