Dead Now–Dead Now
Genre: Stoner Rock, Sludge Metal
FFO: Torche, Kadavar, Day Old Man
Featuring the signature fuzzy styles of alumni Torche guitarist Andrew Elstner as well as members of Riddle of Steel, Tilts, and Day Old Man, Dead Now is a brand new power trio any fan of metal should drop what they’re doing immediately and listen to.
The three piece’s self titled debut should be cranked to the highest possible volume setting as it contains five loaded tunes of fuzzy, loud stoner rock.
Be sure to stream below!
Jesus Piece–Only Self
Genre: Metalcore
FFO: Code Orange, Harms Way, Xibalba
Philly’s heaviest band, Jesus Piece, releases their debut LP via Southern Lord and it’s everything I was hoping it would be. The quintet incorporates the tendencies of ’90s era metalcore acts such as Disembodied or Earth Crisis with embedded death metal, sludge, and industrial influences.
The breakdowns are still present and crushing as ever, but Only Self illustrates a notable maturation in growth and a desire and ability to write powerfully heavy music without relying entirely on the breakdown build up.
If you like heavy music of any kind, keep a well-deserved eye out for these guys.
KEN Mode–Loved
Genre: Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, Noise Rock, Hardcore Punk
FFO: Melvins, Trap Them, Black Tusk
The Canadian sludge trio self-dubbed as “Kill Everyone Now” Mode reclaims the throne of noisy, dirty sludge. Loved is a beautiful return to form for the three-piece and features a vast array of complimentary genre combinations. It has its punk moments, crushing sludge moments, and even dabbles in jazz.
Be sure to stream below!
Morne–To the Night Unknown
Genre: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Crust Punk, Avant Garde
FFO: Neurosis, Seven Sisters of Sleep, High on Fire
After a five year break, Boston’s Morne strikes back with full intensity with a brilliant fourth addition to their discography titled To the Night Unknown.
This record is haunting and most importantly: massive sounding.
The sludge quartet has been known to shift their sounds throughout the Doom/Sludge spectrum with some previous LPs showcasing a more traditional funeral doom feel along the lines of Bell Witch (Shadows or Asylum) and others displaying a more crust punk/thrashy feel (Untold Wait.)
To the Night Unknown feels like a neat convergence of Morne‘s strength with extra experimentation sprinkled in. This record brought be back to the first time I heard the tribal drum intro of Through Silver and Blood and for those reasons I strongly recommend this release to my head-banging brethren.
The Secret–Lux Tenebris
Genre: Black Metal, Death Metal, Post Metal
FFO: Darkthrone, Tribulation, Panopticon
Italian black metal outfit, The Secret, offer their latest EP via Southern Lord.
Lux Tenebris is a short but sweet listen with just as much crusty, hard-hitting malevolence, atmospheric soundscapes, and intricate, layered instrumentation as one would hope.
Stream below!
Thou–Magus
Genre: Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Drone Metal, Black Metal
FFO: Grief, The Body, Bongripper
After multiple servings of sonic appetizers, Lousiana’s Thou presents their highly anticipated fifth LP (and fourth release this year alone). The three mini albums that built up to Magus each took an aspect of the groups’ massive sound and honed in respectively.
The House Primordial channeled Thou‘s droney tendencies, Inconsolable found the group delving into doomy folk music, and Rhea Sylvia emphasized the alternative rock elements generating what seemed to be an evil version of Alice in Chains. Magus sees Thou returning full circle blending all of the unique sounds together into one massive, brilliant record.
If you like heavy music but haven’t heard this yet, your homework assignment is to check the stream below.