Chepang - Lathi Charge (2016)

Chepang is a newcomer on the grind scene, they are New Yorkers from Nepal and Lathi Charge is their first album (10 minutes of music but this is grindcore so we could say it's an album isn't it?). And it's a very good one. They include elements of old school grind but overall they are on the modern side of grind, with technical riffing a bit like Maruta, and they also have some Suffocation style death metal elements. This mix makes an original and fresh sounding result. Among the more interesting recent grind releases, and a new band I will follow with interest.  

Their BC page

Council Estate Electronics - Arktika (2016)

Council Estate Electronics is one of the project of Justin K. Broadrick, here in duo with Diarmuid Dalton. Their new album, Arktika, is the third one, and I think the best. The music is ambient electonics / industrial dub. While the first two were ok but a bit too ambient too my taste (let's say it, a bit boring actually), I think the new one is great : heavier, more rhythmic, which brings more diversity, and also the melodic elements, always subtle, are more presents, which also helps making the music more "multi-dimensionnal".  Arktika manage to sound at the same time quiet and slightly menacing. First half of the album is best but overall it's great stuff!

The Bandcamp page.

Gouge - Beyond Death (2015)

If you like old school death metal and thrash metal this one is not to be missed. Gouge is a Norwegian band playing some thrash / death that sounds like when thrash was turning into death metal. So it's between early death metal (like stuff from Paul Speckman for exemple) and early Slayer (Reign in Blood) or even early Sepultura as well. Fast, raw, death metal vocals, some blast beats and an aggressive thrash metal vibe. All that makes their album, Beyond Death, released last year on Hells Headbanger, a very enjoyable album, especially if you're fond of the early extreme metal era it evokes (I am!).


The Bandcamp page.

Beastwars - The Death of All Things (2016)

Beastwars, from New Zealand, is simply put the best you can find in "traditionnal meets modern" heavy metal. Their third album The Death of All Things, following two excellent ones, is another testimony of it. In their songs the epic feel and classic songwriting of old school heavy metal meets the heavier and rawer side of modern doom metal. And there's also elements that reminds the heavier and more rooted in heavy metal grunge bands (think Alice in Chains and Soundgarden). The music can appeal to a wide range of people and I really recommend it to everyone into heavy music.

The Bandcamp page.

Six-Score - Lebensräume (2016)

Ok, their grind / hc is not the most original (the Nasum influence is obvious) but they're good at writing powerfull modern grind songs. Six-Score, from Austria is doing that since 2009 and their new release, Lebensräume, is a very reliable and efficient album in that style, nothing more, but nothing less. I'd like to hear them live and maybe that's the most important thing a good grind album should do...

Their BC page.

S.B.S.M. - Joy / Rage (EP 2015)

S.B.S.M. is a band from Oakland, CA. They play an original kind of post-punk that sounds a bit like a combination of power electronics and no-wave. A lot of noise and screaming around some punk elements and spirit. The Joy / Rage EP is their latest release (in 2015) and is a very good and interesting listen. Far from easy listening but really enjoyable. Recommended stuff. 

The BC page.