Attan–End of
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Post Hardcore, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Sludge Metal
FFO: Converge, Neurosis, Cursed
This Norwegian hardcore outfit sets the scene ablaze like a wildflower with an absolutely insane debut full length.
End Of proves to be an immensely destructive listen from start to finish with plenty of fast-paced blackened crust moments that will bring Cursed to mind paired with pulverizing sludgy breaks that will make you constantly check the albums credits to see if Scott Kelly or Steve Von Till contributed vocals/riffs.
Boose-de-Nage–Further Still
Genre: Black Metal, Post Rock, Post Hardcore, Screamo
FFO: Deadheaven, Ghostbath, City of Catepillar
Perhaps best known for their split with Deafheaven back in 2012, it is interesting to note the dramatically different path the Californian quartet Boose-de-Nage has taken with their sound.
Upon the split’s initial release, it appeared the two groups had very similar sounds to offer, but with Further Still, the four piece seems to stray from their “blackgaze” roots and instead implement a much harder-hitting, punk driven opus.
Conan– Existential Void Guardian
Genre: Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal
FFO: Sleep, Bongripper, High on Fire
The self-proclaimed pioneers of the “Caveman Battle Doom” genre are at it again. Conan returns for a fourth LP and it as absolutely crushing as any fan of the genre would hope.
Existential Void Guardian finds the UK-based trio experimenting with faster, punk-drive tempos while remaining true with the unmatched heaviness of their earlier works and the results are absolute filthy.
Dödstrit-“Spirit Crusher”
Genre: Black Metal, Crust Punk, Post Rock
FFO: Deafheaven, Bosse-de-Nage, Totem Skin
Formed from the ashes of Totem Skin, Swedish artist Christoffer Öster continues to blend the beautiful, atmospheric qualities of post rock and the intense, raw brutality of crust punk in his latest project under the Dödstrit moniker.
Spirit Crusher marks the second release under Öster’s solo venture yet truly feels like the third Totem Skin album all of us metalheads were saddened we may never hear. The rage-filled passion, the melody, and the journey this album will undoubtedly take you on are all unmatched and likely set this record up as a year end contender.
Horsewhip–Horsewhip
Genre: Hardcore Punk, Crust Punk, Metalcore
FFO: Cursed, The Suicide File, Reversal of Man
Featuring members of older hardcore groups such as Reversal of Man, Early Grace, Combatwoundedveteran, Order of Importance, Sutek Conspiracy, and many more, the Florida-based crust quartet known as Horsewhip storm into the scene already equipped with experience on their belt.
The production and instrumentation found thoroughout the seven tracks of this self-titled match the raw, filthy, agonizing vocal performance by Matt Grantham. This record is a quick one but its intensity eliminates everything in its path.
Infernal Coil–Within a World Forgotten
Genre: Death Metal, Black Metal, Grindcore
FFO: Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice, Chthe’ilist
If you’re like me, nothing makes a metalhead more happy than seeing a completely illegible band name slapped on some creepy looking album art. I truthfully felt as if this was all I needed to know exactly what to expect from Within a World Forgotten.
I was mistaken.
From the moment the album’s opener, “Wounds Never Closed”, kick in I felt as if the Idaho-based blackened deathgrind outfit had a found a way to brutally reach deep inside my head and crush my eardrums with their pummeling instrumentation and vocal performance.
Within a World Forgotten is probably the most pulverizing record I have heard in years. Definitely support these guys and stream below.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs–King of Cowards
Genre: Stoner Rock, Kraut Rock, Pyschadelic Rock, Sludge Metal
FFO: Uncle Acid & The Dead Beats, High on Fire, Conan
The seven swine strike back with perhaps their most focused work to date. The UK-based stoner outfit whose band name I don’t feel like typing again apply their unique concoction of pounding sludge doused in psychedelia in a more straightforward way with shorter song lengths. The songwriting here does anything but suffer.