Ramuh - Glowing Civilization (2018)

Ramuh is a new grind band with Mauro Cordoba (Maruta) on guitar, Dylan Walker (Full of Hell) on vocals and Balázs Pándi (well known in the undrground noise/drum&bass/experimental scene, played with Merzbow, J.K Broadrick, Bill Laswell, Venetian Snares, Zu, etc.) on drums. As expected this EP (on the excellent Nerve Altar label) called  Glowing Civilization is not completely traditionnal grind but it's more straightforward than Maruta or what Balázs Pándi usually does. Fast and technical but keeping the simple intensity of grind in those 7 tracks played in 6 minutes. Good stuff.

The BC page.

Dead Neanderthals - Womb of God (2017)

Dead Neanderthals are experimenting a lot with different collaborations and different style but this time the core duo of DN (René Aquarius on drums and Otto Kokke on sax) are joined by one of their regular collaborators Colin Webster (on sax, he often takes parts in other various free jazz/noise projects) and with Womb of God they are not far from what is the basis of their music : droning and howling sax and hard beating drums. I won't complain since it's among their bests albums I think. This time they stessed the hypnotic, repetitive, droning side of their music and they really managed on those two tracks to slowly build a mesmerising trance that progressively get more frenetic and harder and culminate in a wild climax. Strong "psychedelic ritualistic" side effects, powerfull noise magic operating. you've been warned. Obviously not for everyone but I love it.

The BC page.

Deathgrave - So Real its Now (2018)

So Real its Now is the excellent first album (releaed with Tankcrimes) from Californians Deathgrave. Their deathgrind, taking from the Carcass school is really well done, brutal and groovy and the death/doom/sludge parts are also good, with some nice slow, dirty and heavy riffing. Its a really enjoyable album and I'm glad I discovered them. a new band to follow for deathgrind afficianados.

The BC page.

Sallow Moth - Deathspore (2018)

Sallow Moth is the new death metal project of Garry Brent and the cool Caligari Records released this CD/Tape called Deathspore (around 20 minutes, can we call it an album? I don't know and I don't really care). I knew from Cara Neir that Garry Brent is a skilled songwriter, Cara Neir touched hardcore, grind, black metal, trash, whatever, and it always end up being good. So I'm not surprised at all that he's also very good at crafting old school death metal songs, taking from both the scandinavian and US school (from what I hear), d-beat, morbidangelic heaviness, etc. I really enjoy these five excellent death metal songs. Good stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

Lament Cityscape + Theologian - Soft Tissue (2016)

This one, released two years ago is an interesting collabaration between the band Lament Cityscape and Theologian. On this album called Soft Tissue the post-metal doom of Lament Cityscape and the dark ambient / power electronics of Theologian mix very well together. the result is not really surprising, but who cares since it is well done and works really well ? If you like it dark, heavy and industrial there's no reason you wouldn't like it. Seperately the two are good but maybe they are even better together. A really sucessfull collaboration, at least an enjoyable one to listen to...

The Bandcamp page.

Sissy Spacek - Ways of Confusion (2018)

Third release for Sissy Spacek this year (the two first are free/noise albums), this time Ways of Confusion is surprisingly released with Nuclear War Now! Productions. They are no less brutal than the rest of NWNP catalog (and it even may be their most brutal release actually!) but they are far more experimental and non traditionnal. Sissy Spacek is a bass/drum (with vocals and electronic noises) duo composed of Charlie Mumma and John Wiese. They tried differents dosages of experimental/grind/noise in their numerous releases (they are among the most interesting extreme bands to follow), this time Ways of confusion is brutal and relentless noisegrind at it most extreme (ok there's no "soft" noisegrind but I mean this really is especially extreme). 39 very short, fast, and very well executed noisegrind tracks. If you like uncompromising noisegrind look no further.

The BC page.

Skeletal Remains - Devouring Mortality (2018)

Devouring Mortality is another excellent album from Skeletal Remains, their third one. They managed again to make old school death metal, floridian style, sound fresh (they're Californian but still, they especially reminds Obituary and also Death), with a good balance between melody and being brutal and technical. With their musical and songwriting skills they're one of the most enjoyable recent death metal band and this new album is another proof of this.

The Bandcamp page.