🌶️ To The Teeth: Katharos, Primitive Man, Nechochwen, Master Boot Record, Behemoth, Moon Tooth, Mournful Congregation & much more!
New albums
🌶️ Katharos (symphonic black from Sweden. FFO: Emperor)
A bit like last week's I Am the Night, this is full on Emperor worship. Yes, yes, I really want another Emperor record, I admit. And yes, yes, Katharos fill that gap in my heart a little bit. But the songs here really are too good, too intricate and too compelling to brush off as some kind of tribute. Katharos are the real deal.
🌶️ Nechochwen (folk/black from the USA. FFO: Panopticon, Obsequiae, Falls of Rauros)
Heart of Akamon made room for Native American heritage in black metal - and maybe the broader metal world with it - which now seems so indispensable. So important. Their new record again beautifully swings between sweet and raw, with a lot of character.
🌶️ Primitive Man (sludge/doom/noise from the USA. FFO: Indian, Thou, )
It took me a while to get this band. In fact, it wasn't until Roadburn last month that I think I got it. This band is like a cold, harsh rainstorm you just needed to feel alive.
🌶️ Opeth (prog from Sweden. FFO: Katatonia, Ihsahn, Amorphis)
This is an ep, three b-sides in two versions (English and Swedish). I'm annoyed they didn't release this as a standalone ep but chose to add it to the boxset version of In Cauda Venenum. I (and many more fans) already have the boxset. But.. this is still my favourite band and these songs still fucking rock. I'm as much of a fan of older Opeth (Oldpeth) as the next dude, but I also love their newer output (outputh?) to death (odeth? Stop). The quality of these mere b-sides is just another great example. By the way, did you know Mikael Åkerfeldt did a Netflix soundtrack?
There's more: Moon Tooth (🌶️ prog from the USA), Aara (🌶️ atmoblack from Switzerland), Mutilatred (brutal death from the USA), Morgue Supplier (death/grind from the USA), Master Boot Record (🌶️ industrial/electronic from Italy), Cavernlight (sludge/drone/doom from the USA), 1648 (raw black from ??), a 4-way split from Deiquisitor, Phrenelith, Taphos & Undergang (all death from Denmark), Synteleia (black from Greece - out saturday), Sacred Son (🌶️ black/ambient from the UK), Circle of Sighs (edm/hiphop/black from the USA), Vital Spirit (black from Canada), Cora's Heart (🌶️ atmoblack from Mexico - this is from the very talented Victoria Carmilla H., who has many projects worth your time), Zwart (black from The Netherlands), RYLR (instrumental prog from the USA - w/ members of Locrian, Pelican), Misery Index (death/grind from the USA), a split from Blood & Nunslaughter (🌶️ death/grind from Germany & death from the USA - this shouldn't be out yet, but it's up on Spotify) and Gonemage (post-black/chiptune from the USA).
Plus: enjoy an early full stream of the majestic new Mournful Congregation (🌶️ funeral doom from Australia).
New singles
There are new songs out from: Behemoth (🌶️ black/death from Poland), Altars (🌶️ death from Australia), Oceans of Slumber (prog from the USA), Soilwork (melodeath from Sweden), Decapitated (death/groove from Poland), Shining (experimental prog from Norway), Wormwitch (black/crust from Canada), Deathwhite (doom/gothic from the USA), Origin (tech/brutal death from the USA), Holocausto Canibal (brutal death/grind from Portugal), Perdition Temple (black/death from the USA) and a whole bunch of cool I, Voidhanger bands with new songs: Esoctrilihum (black from France), Bekor Qilish (avantgarde from Italy), Serpent Ascending (🌶️ atmospheric death from Finland), Merihem (black, international - w/ members of Oculus, Suffering Hour, Israthoum) and Ornaemental Shine (avantgarde black from, I think, the USA - w/ members of Uada, Black Hate). The rest is in the playlist!
Next week
Non-metal album of the week: Kendrick Lamar - Mr Morale & the Big Steppers (hiphop from the USA)
I’m looking forward to next week because of: Cave In, Blut Aus Nord, Evergrey, Predatory Light, Septicflesh, & Sadist.
Have a great weekend people, stay safe - Peter
PS I've added a small batch of merch here.