In a busy and exciting month for metal, Boris arrive in rejuvenated fashion, Imperial Triumphant continue to impress with their forward-thinking black metal, and death metal masters Defeated Sanity and Lantern return with a vengeance.
In times of quarantine we listen and we write, so here are 20 extreme (and some experimental) records to spin during these times.
Neo-folk/black metal artist Myrkur bolsters her impressive discography with yet another distinctive and enthralling album that draws on other music while remaining uniquely her own.
February in heavy music features long-awaited returns from Psychotic Waltz, Envy, and Today Is the Day, along with a healthy dose of black metal and experimental music.
Hunter Hunt-Hendrix and his comrades in Liturgy combine ambitiousness, risk-taking and sheer skill into a fresh triumph on H.A.Q.Q.
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.
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.
Liturgy founder Hunter Hunt-Hendrix discusses religion, philosophy, history, and music from Johannes Brahms to Waka Flocka Flame.
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.
Filled with everything from extreme doom/death and progressive death to experimental avant-garde jazz induced visions and screamo dreams, November does not disappoint.
The companion piece to Sunn O)))'s masterful Life Metal completes the most organic and minimal chapter in the drone masters' journey.
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.
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.
A doomy concoction with black and thrash metal undercurrents, Thonian Horde throws extreme metal some groove on this blast from the upcoming LP, Downfall.
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.
Former members of Wolvhammer, Nachtmystium, and the Gates of Slumber unite as Chrome Waves on album that unites shoegaze, post-rock, and extreme metal.
Japanese black metal stalwarts Sigh explore madness through folklore and experiment with new sounds on Heir to Despair.
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.
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.
Brooklyn-based black metal band Mutilation Rites hone their style and with Chasm deliver their best album so far.
Sunbather will forever be Deafheaven's iconic album, but Ordinary Corrupt Human Love might just be their best record.
On their second album, the Antichrist Imperium make an attempt to extend their progressive death/black metal sound by embracing thrash elements.
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.
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.
Belgian metal unit Soul Dissolution issues video for titular track from sophomore release.
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.
Australian extreme experimental alchemists Portal pursue a different approach to their devastating blend of death metal brutality.
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.
Trident Wolf Eclipse is a traditionalist album for Watain; they have focused on straight-for-the-throat Swedish black metal without any stylistic detours.
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.
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.
Polish black metal outfit Blaze of Perdition returns with a furious and cathartic etude of black metal induced darkness.
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.
The mid-tempo groove of Midnight's "Crushed By Demons" is sickening, absolutely hooking you in from the first drum hit.
© 1999-2020 PopMatters.com. All rights reserved.
PopMatters is wholly independent, women-owned and operated.
