Blood Incantation - Absolute Elsewhere (2024)

Chances are, a death metal album named Absolute Elsewhere won't be a basic death metal album. And a Blood Incantation album has zero chance to be a basic album. Their previous (and excellent) two tracks release was a good indication of what to expect : the progressive/technical and with a Morbid Angel feel death metal of their first two albums, but with also elements from their synth/ambient in a Tangerine Dream/Popol Vuh vein album, to push their death metal further into strange territories, able to go from Morbid Angel to Pink Floyd in the same song. And as usual with Blood Incantation, it sounds at the same time very natural and very special. Certainly one of the most memorable album this year and highly recommended! 

The BC page.

 

Aluk Todolo - LUX (2024)

 

It's great to have Aluk Todolo back with a new album, eight years after the previous one. And LUX is again a very fine piece of free rock with a dark ritualistic vibe, in their own very  special style. And maybe that's what we can regret, sticking maybe too much to their style, without really bringing in new elements to it. That won't prevent me from enjoying it, but after eight years I would have expected something more surprising, not sounding so much like a "disc 2" of their previous one. Or maybe listening to it some more times will reveal some changes I didn't get at first? In  ny case they are already so different from other bands that just another typical and good Aluk Todolo album is maybe already enough.

The Bandcamp page.

Fulminate - High Caliber Decimator (EP 2024)

Fulminate is a new grind band from Chicago and this EP called High Caliber Decimator is their latest release (and their fourth one this year!). They play excellent old school gore grind, raw and noisy but with a nice groove. It's really good stuff, and I recommended the rest of their discography as well.

The BC page.

 

Grand Magus - Sunraven (2024)

It was really worth waiting five years for a new Grand Magus album. The Magus never disapoint, but Sunraven comes very close to perfection, really. Quintessential traditionnal heavy metal through and through, heavy metal in all it's simple but glorious epicness. JB is delivering maybe his best vocal performance and nearly all the songs sounds like instant classics, from the opener Skybound with its awesome chorus to the more subtle Black Lake with its folkish elements. Sunraven is their best album since The Hunt. I've already said that Grand Magus are the best traditionnal heavy metal band of the XXIth century, Sunraven is another shining proof. 

The Bandcamp page.

Green Beret - Standing At The Mouth Of Hell (2016)

Green Beret latest album was released in 2016 so I guess they're not active anymore, but that's a pity since Standing At The Mouth Of Hell is an outstanding piece of old school hardcore in a Madball, AF or Terror vein, and is as good as most albums these bands have released. They're really a band you need to know if you're into that kind of stuff, and I guarentee you would enjoy this album. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

 

Fabricant - Drudge to the Thicket (2023)

Drudge to the Thicket is Fabricant first album, but the Californian band have been around for 15 years. And we can definitely hear all the time and efforts they put into the album. It is an excellent piece of technical death metal, full of interesting and memorable songs.I just hope they won't need another 15 years to make it! Even if albums of this caliber are worth some waiting... Recommended stuff!

The BC page.

 

The Body - The Crying Out of Things (2024)

The Body have been sucessfully experimenting in collaborations with many artists, but it's also good to have them back with a new album on their own (their ninth). The Crying Out of Things sounds a bit like a return to the basics of their  industrial / noise with drums, guitars, screams and electronics sound. But like always they also introduces something new, and I'd say here it would be the use of background synths, bringing at times discreet melodies and at times an additional layer or colour to the overall atmosphere of the song. But no worry, it is enriching their sound, but without making it losing its raw and noisy feel. 25 years after their beginning, The Body keeps on evolving and delivering albums as good as ever. Thank you guys! Keep going!

The BC page.