Schismopathic - The Human Legacy (2021)

The Human Legacy is the first album from Schismopathic despite the fact that the band was formed in 1988. They play some old school death/grind that remind Terrorizer and Extreme Noise Terror. And they get the good balance between speed and groove. It's excellent and is very likely to appear in my soon to come list of best grind in 2021.

The BC page.

 

Fange - Pantocrator (2021)

This new album from Fange is a bit less overtly industrial than their EP Poigne, but on the two long, bleak and atmospheric songs that make up Pantocrator we hear Fange at their most Godfleshian. And the result is really fine. Excellent stuff again from the sludge-death-industrial French band.

The BC page.

 

G36 vs JK Flesh - Disintegration Dubs (2021)

G36 vs JK Flesh - Distintegration Dubs is a split album with Justin Broadrick as JK Flesh (the name he uses for his more electronic music) and Kevin Martin with Gorgonn, his live collaborator in The Bug, as G36. Unsurprisingly, this is dark and heavy industrial dub music. And of course it is excellent.

The BC page.

 

 

Sunless - Ylem (2021)

Sunless plays a kind of technical death metal, which kind? Not so easy to say, it's not really brutal, nor especially melodic, a bit dissonant but without being very weird or evil sounding. Maybe we could say progressive, a subtle and balanced mix of different death metal elements. Could remind Ulcerate, but perhaps less atmospheric. Anyway, like the previous one, their new album Ylem is good. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Internal - Primal State (2021)

Internal is the one-man band of Trevor Vaughan (Wound Man, Brother, Rival Mob, Breathing Fire, Wolf Whistle, XFilesX, etc.). Like the other Internal  releases, Primal State is pure, concentrated powerviolence. Even the slower somewhat sludge parts sound typical powerviolence. A good way to discover powerviolence if you don't know what it is. 

 

The BC page.

 

Anthony Joseph - The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives (2021)

The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running for Their Lives is another masterpiece in Anthony Joseph discography. A fine blend of afro-jazz and Caribbean music, with the spoken/sung vocals of the singer/poet from Trinidad/London. Memorable songs played by a crew of excellent musicians (Shabaka Hutchings, Colin Webster on sax, Florian Pellissier on piano, among others). And of course with such a title (borrowed from CLR James) you can't go wrong! Recommended!

The Bandcamp page.

 

8 Hour Animal - Resigner (2021)

Sentient Ruin is a label best known for its extreme metal releases, but they also deal good industrial music, like this first album from the one-man project 8 Hour Animal, called Resigner. A very strong piece of power electronics/rhythmic noise, punishing, but not in the "test your patience way", thanks to its diversity of beats. Among the best recent industrial music.

The BC page.

 

Mortiferum - Preserved in Torment (2021)

Preserved in Torment is the second album from Mortiferum (with guys from Caustic Wound and Bone Sickness), again with Profound Lore Records. They have some fine melodic leads and mourning riffs, but overall they are mostly on the more death metal side of death doom, of an old-school, raw and putrid kind, some blast-beats included (and the drumming, the sound and the playing, whether in the slow or the faster part, is something I enjoy especially on this album). Maybe the best death-doom album this year, but also among the best death metal albums of the year. Heavily recommended!

The BC page.

 

Amyl and the Sniffers - Comfort to me (2021)

Terrible cover art, isn't it? Fortunately, that's the only thing that is wrong about Comfort to Me, the second album from Amy and the Sniffers. Better this way than the other way round... I discovered their singer Amy with their featurings on the new Viagra Boys and Sleaford Mods albums where she's awesome. This album is another proof she's excellent and special as a vocalist (and for writing good and memorable lyrics as well), and the band and the songs doesn't disappoint either, basic punk rock but done just with a right attitude and feeling. Fun, full of energy and really enjoyable. Highly recommended not just for people into punk music but also to anyone into any kind of rock'n'roll.  

The BC page.

 

FLUIDS - Not Dark Yet (2021)

Not Dark Yet is the third album from FLUIDS, which is probably the best band following the Mortician recipe, and also kind of modernizing it, with the use sampled horror synthwave here and there, some slight trap elements in the drum programming. And on Not Dark Yet there's also a final death-doom song which is a good way of ending the album with something different. Heavy, groovy, gross, and fun.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Metadevice - Studies For A Vortex (2021)

Studies For A Vortex is the first Metadevice album, a new project of Andre Coelho (Sektor 304, Beyond Enclosure). Excellent industrial music blending power electronics, death industrial and dark ambient. Should please anyone into industrial music. Released by the mighty Malignant Records. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

Danko Jones - Power Trio (2021)

While I felt Danko Jones previous album (A Rock Supreme in 2019) was good but less inspired and memorable than their best ones, Power Trio really sound like a return to form. Sharper, more rocking, their hard rock/garage rock is again at its best, the vocals and lyrics are as good as usual, the guitar playing is simple but done with just the right feel, and many songs on the album would be worthy additions to their setlist. One of the best hard rock / rock album of the year. Really recommended.

Official website

 

Lock Up - The Dregs of Hades (2021)

Two line up change son this new Lock Up album called The Dregs of Hades, Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer) replaced Nicholas Barker on the drums, and Tomas Lindberg is back while Kevin Sharp is staying, so they're both doing the vocals, and that's a nice addition. Shane Embury, on the bass is now the only original member remaining while Anton Reisenegger is doing the guitar. What's not changing is that, like on the previous album their death/grind makes more space for slower/mid tempo songs, which, with all due respect, doesn't fit the band so well in my opinion, the slower songs tending too much to sound like average old school death metal and I really prefer the old relentlessly fast Lock Up. Among the slower songs only the final one, reminding a bit what Napalm Death did on their slower albums in the nineties, is interesting. Not a bad album, but Pleasure Paves Sewers and Hate Breeds Suffering were definitely more my cup of tea. That been said, I'd still run to see them live again anyway...

The Bandcamp page.

 

Cut Unconscious - Antipositional (2021)

As a chess player I've been first attracted by the cover art and the title. And it turned out I like the music as well. Cut Unconscious is M. Komarov making industrial music. It can be more power electronics, like in the split with Talk Show, or more industrial techno/rhythmic noise like on this four tracks called Antipositional. Good driving beats over industrial noise. Maybe not really groundbreaking, but well done and enjoyable. The other stuff on Damien Records are also interesting, there's The Rita, Sissy Spacek, Gnawed, among others good industrial or powerviolence bands.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Bror Gunnar Jansson - Faceless Evil, Nameless Fear (2021)

On the previous Bror Gunnar Jansson album the boogie garage-blues was different mostly thanks to the inclusion of some Earth inspired "drone rock" elements. On the new album  Faceless Evil, Nameless fear there's still an Earth flavour but mostly in one long song. This time the mood is more on the heavy blues side, starting with the first song with its riff that reminds a lot Pentagram. Maybe the album is a bit less surprising, but it's also more cohesive and it's nicely rocking. Again among the best and memorable rock albums of the year. 

BGJ website

 

Obscura - A Valediction (2021)

After two more progressive albums, technical death metalers Obscura are back with A Valediction, an album more focused on speed and melody, more in a melodic thrash/death vein. And since they managed to keep things interesting and intense (more intense actually, even if songs are a bit more predictible) it's ok for me. Not their most groundbreaking work for sure, but an enjoyable one anyway.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Yura Yura - Substance Noire (2020)

Substance Noire is the third album from French producer from Dijon Yura Yura, all have been released by the good industrial/tech label Hands, and indeed he's been doing well from the start, but Substance Noire is its best so far. Substance Noire takes you in a dark journey into powerful industrial techno and rhythmic noise territories, with also dark ambient elements, and if you're into this kind of stuff there's absolutely no reason you wouldn't enjoy it as I do. And if it's not your usual kind of listen it would do an excellent introduction to the more industrial and dark side of techno (or the more techno/rhythmic side of industrial/noise?). Recommended.

The BC page.

 

Asphyx - Necroceros (2021)

Asphyx was formed in 1987, and in 2021 they'ere still here, releasing their tenth album Necroceros. Respect. They keep on delivering quality old school death metal, with elements of thrash and also some heavier doomy parts. Ok, it won't stay as most memorable album of the year, but pleasing anyway.

Official website.

 

Death Toll 80K - The Future is yours (2021)

Finnish band Death Toll 80K has earned a lot of respect in the grind circles thanks to their two excellent albums (released in 2011 and 2017). They are now back with this EP called The Future is Yours, released by To Live a Lie Records. This time again they deliver some high quality grindpunk, in the old school spirit, but sometimes even faster and with a sharper and more modern sound.

The BC page.

 

Dr. Octagon - Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation (2018)

Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation released in 2018 is the real return of rapper Kool Keith as Dr. Octagon. The album called in 2006 "The Return of Dr. Octagon" was a good album but, not produced by Dan The Automator, less dark and more funky, it did not sound like a genuine Dr. Octagon album.  This time we can again listen to the unique mix of old school, abstract and horrorcore (but always keeping a twisted fun) hip hop. And Kool Keith as an MC is as talented and usual. It's arguably as good as the first album "Dr. Octagonecologyst" was. Cool stuff.

Antediluvian - The Divine Punishment (2021)

On their new album The Divine Punishment,  Antediluvian went one step further into free form/avant-garde territory, with even some psychedelic elements at times, while keeping their cavernous sound and death metal elements, blast beats, growls, etc. Not every moment is successful, but you don't try and experiment without taking some risks, and overall this is an interesting and good album. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

Bill Laswell - Against Empire (2020)

Bassist and producer Bill Laswell is always releasing a lot of music, so it's hard to keep up, but I'd say its best album in recent years is this one, Against Empire (released last year). What is sure is that it's excellent. The music is in a fusion jazz vein, but Bill Laswell style, with of course his trademark bass playing style and sound, and around him is an impressive crew of musicians, with no less than Herbie Hancock on the electric piano and Pharoah Sanders on sax (bringing a spiritual jazz feel), with also Peter Apfelbaum on sax, flute and keys and sharing the drumming duties : Jerry Marotta, Chad Smith, Hideo Yamaki, Satoyasu Shomura, and on percussions Adam Rudolph. Four long tracks with no dull moment. Recommended !

The Bandcamp page.

 

 

Archspire - Bleed the Future (2021)

Archspire previous album Relentless Mutation has been for a few years the technical death metal album to beat. And still is, because Bleed the Future is not as good, which is not surprising since RM was so awesome. These guys are maybe humans after all... There are still gravity blasts aplenty, an impressively fast vocal delivery, the neoclasical leads, the brutality, the over the top everything... but, with maybe the opening track excepted, the songwriting is less inspired and the songs less memorable than those in RM. That being said, Bleed the Future remains anyway an impressive and enjoyable technical death metal album.

The Bandcamp page.

Droit Divin - Les Nouveaux Moralistes (2021)

This tape called Les Nouveaux Moralistes is from the French duo Droit Divin, from Bordeaux. They craft some excellent power electronics that is sometimes bordering on ritualistic dark ambient (it's not the most noisy kind of power electronics, it's more about building an atmosphere than about the sheer impact of harsh noise). The vocals are in French, and good. So far my favourite power electronics album of the year. I also recommend their previous album Prohibition.

The BC page.

 

Blockheads - Trip To The Void (2021)

Blockheads never disappoint. And their new album, Trip To The Void, is no exception. This sixth album,  to be released November the 15th by Bones Brigade Records & LIXIVIAT Records have been recorded, mixed and mastered by Steph Tanker in his Disvlar Studio. Blockheads have been delivering the best grindcore for 30 years and Trip To The Void is proof they still are at the top and still are a perfect embodiment of pure grindcore. Total grind intensity in 25 songs and 28 minutes. There is little doubt that Trip To The Void will stay as the best grindcore album of the year.

The Bronx - Bronx VI (2021)

As you can guess, Bronx VI is the sixth album from The Bronx, who, as you cannot guess, are from Los Angeles. Like their previous albums, this is really well-crafted rocking and positive punk-hardcore, in a vein that is really their own. Recommended!

Their BC page.

Blood Spore - Fungal Warfare Upon All Life (EP 2019)

Blood Spore is an American death-doom band singing about evil fungus. I really enjoy their EP Fungal Warfare Upon All Life released in 2019 (3 tracks in about 20 minutes). Their music is on the aggressive side of death-doom, with a raw delivery that can remind Autopsy. Good riffs, good vocals, good grooves. And fungus. Cool. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

Ministry - Moral Hygiene (2021)

The last memorable album from Ministry was Rio Grande Blood in 2006, so expectations weren't especially high for this new album, called Moral Hygiene. But it turns out it's their best one since Animositisomina (2003), and some would maybe even go back to Filth Pig (1996) or Psalm 69 (1992). Moral Hygiene reminds vintage Ministry, with more groove, basslines (there's even a dub track in the end) and there's also a Killing Joke feel running through most of the album (oh, and there's Jello Biafra singing one song). It's surprisingly good, and those whose gave up on Ministry are going to be shocked. 2021 is fucked, but at least a totally good time for a good Ministry album. Enjoy!

The BC page.

 

ZillaKami - Dog Boy (2021)

Intended to review a City Morgue album for a while, but the last album of the trap duo Toxic Boogaloo was a bit disappointing (was ok but not as good as As Good As  Dead) and it seems a new City Morgue album is gonna drop soon (called Bottom of the Barrel). So for now I'm reviewing the solo album of one og the City Morgue member, ZillaKami, the most versatile vocalist of the two and he also seems to be the most creative element of the duo, rapping, singing and producing. His first album Dogboy is an excellent exercise in trap metal, with tracks going from aggressive to depressive, the first ones with riffs the could reminds Slipknot (the quick intro featuring Corey Taylor is not here by chance) and the others with riffs more in a Deftone and grunge vein and with more melodic vocals. This rap/metal mix have sometimes produced atrocious results but KillaKami is really good to make it work and Dogboy will probably stay as one of the best trap/hip-hop album of the year. Recommended stuff.

Fuck On The Beach / Endless Swarm - split 7'' (2020)

This split 7'' bring together two good powerviolence/grind band, the Japanese Fuck On The Beach whom I discover, with pleasure, and Endless Swarm from Scotland whom I follow since some years now (I reviewed their latest album HERE). This is old school and relentless goodness, no surprise it's been released (last year) by To Live A Lie Records. 

The BC page.

 

Dope Purple - Grateful End (2021)

 

Dope Purple is a new psych rock band from Taiwan and their first album Grateful End is released by two interesting labels, Riot Seasons and VW Sorcerer Productions. It's combining more trippy moments, including some heavy blues riffing that could remind Led Zeppelin's Dazed and Confused, and more rocking wild and noisy parts that reminds Acid Mothers Temple. Strong stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

 

 

Ruin - Spread Plague Death (2021)

 

Spread Plague Death is the third album from Ruin, and they keep on delivering especially filthy and raw old school death metal, with a groove that could remind Repulsion and Autopsy, but also Mortician. I'd say their first album (reviewed HERE) is still their best, but this one's enjoyable as well.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Botanist / Thief - EP0 Cicatrix / Diamond Brush (split 2021)

 

EP0 Cicatrix / Diamond Brush is a strange split with two strange musical entities, what they have in common is that both are mostly one-man projects, and also that the one doing Thief have been a live musician for Botanist. But both are really different. Botanist is floral themed black metal with only drums, vocals, and hammered dulcimer, unique and excellent, while Thief is more electronic music oriented with elements of synthwave, bits of trap metal and hip-hop, and choirs and spoken words that could remind Zeal and Ardor. For the first time with live drums and guitars in this split. A mix a bit disturbing at first but don't run, the result is actually very good.

Recommended!

The Bandcamp page

 

Torn Relics - Burning Injustice (2021)

Torn Relics have a new album out, this time released by the excellent label Instruments of Discipline, a good match. The album's called Burning Injustice. First half of the album is in line with their previous work (I reviewed HERE their previous album), mostly some classy dark ambient with violin and percussions and a few subtle techno beats. Then they bring some new elements, the most spectacular being the synthwave with vocals track "Disguise", an excellent song and a good surprise, then for the second half of the album  their sound is getting harder going in an industrial techno direction, good as well, done with their usual sophistication and good taste. So it's a successful second album (and third release), keeping strong their basics while adding new elements to make their music even more interesting. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

Repugnant - Demo (2014)

I discovered this band called Repugnant from the Philippines with this 2014 demo, but they have also three more recent releases which are good as well (one in 2015 and two in 2017). They play some old school grindpunk, suitably raw and wild. Repugnant is a delight!

The BC page.

Iceage - Seek Shelter (2021)

Seek Shelter, the new album from Iceage is a bit disturbing at first (and that's why it took me so long to make up my mind and review it) because they added some indie rock/pop to their post-punk. But since their songwriting skill is still there, and the vocals are as good as usual, it works. Maybe won't stand as my favourite Iceage album, but still an excellent album that I enjoy.   

 

The Bandcamp page.

Blush Response - Reconstitution (2021)

Reconstitution is the new album from Berlin based Cuban/American producer Blush Response (Joey Blush). Another feast of industrial techno with a noise element, sometimes more ambient, sometimes more hard hitting and beats driven, always dark and heavy. Recommended.

The BC page.

 

Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent (2021)

Eight Headed Serpent is the twelfth album (once again with Osmose Productions) from the legendary Impaled Nazerene and I'm a bit surprised it's the first one I review here since I love their music since I discovered them in the late nineties. But they haven't been very active in the last ten years, and I started Blasting Days in 2012 (and had been disappointed by Vigorous and Liberating Death in 2014)... My favourite IN albums are the ones in which they balance their war/black metal punk aggression (they say "nuclear metal") with a more rocking and epic feel with some heavy metal melodies, like from "Nihil" to "All that you Fear". Eight Headed Serpent is, on the contrary, one of their more straightforward album, sounding like a return to the black metal/punk brutality of their early days. OK, why not, it's indeed very Impaled Nazarene, and they're good as well like this.

The BC page.

 

Liberosis - Conjuntivitis En El Tercer Ojo (2021)

Conjuntivitis En El Tercer Ojo is the second release (first one is good but with a more "demoish" production) from Liberosis, a band from Costa Rica. They play some old school grindcore (and sing in Spanish), and know how to do it well. Good stuff.

The BC page.

The Bug - Fire (2021)

After a more quiet / ambient and I'd say less memorable In blue, bass music legend Kevin Martin is back with a really strong The Bug album, aptly called Fire. The heavy and dark industrial dub sounds are perfect soundtracks for an awesome team of vocalists from the jungle/ragga/dubstep/hip-hop scenes, from the poetic spoken words of Roger Robinson to the fast rapping of grime finest Flowdan, with also Moor Mother and other good vocalists. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

 

Roadwolf - Unchain the Wolf (2020)

 

If you're into traditionnal / NWBHM heavy metal, the first Roadwolf album Unchain the Wolf  (released last year) is a great pick. An album filled with great songs reminding the early works of  Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. Really cool stuff. 

Roadwolf website

 

GA-20 - Try It…You Might Like It! GA-20 Does Hound Dog Taylor (2021)

In this second album, Try It…You Might Like It! , the Bostonian trio (two guitars and drums) GA-20 cover one of their main influences, the Chicago blues legend Hound Dog Taylor. I preferred their awesome first album (reviewed HERE), but this one's also very enjoyable, the songs are very good, the band is very good, so if you're into vintage electric/Chicago blues and/or into modern garage blues there's no reason you wouldn't like it...

The Bandcamp page.

 

Halo - Degree Zero Point of Implosion (2000)

Halo is another band I discovered thanks to the OPIUMHUM blog. At the time of Degree Zero Point of Implosion, they had become a bass/drums duo. This one was done after Guattari, their first album with Relapse. And as they always did, the album is a live improvisation. Their music is a kind of noise/industrial doom, sounding like a mix of funeral doom and Godflesh. Yes, it is crushing and bleak. And it is good.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Husmanskost - Sykkelstjæling (EP 2021)

Husmanskost are back as a duo (guitars / drums) with this new EP called Sykkelstjæling (I already reviewed some of their previous releases HERE). This is maybe their most deathgrind release, with Niklas Mortensen drumming bringing the grind part and Kai Andre Kofoed guitars bringing the death metal (old school) part, and it works fine, with good songs with a good balance between speed and groove, as should be with deathgrind. I enjoy it.

 The BC page.

Sanguisugabogg - Tortured Whole (2021)

Usually I'm not that much into the brutal/slam kind of death metal, but I have to say I really enjoy Tortured Whole, the first Sanguisugabogg album, with its nice injection of large doses of Mortician and Obituary grooves into more modern brutality. One of the best death metal album released this year.

Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready (2021)

While on the previous Lingua Ignota album Caligula the harsh noise elements were less present, now it disappeared completely in the new one Sinner Get Ready, there's also less screaming. But the noisy element is still there in the form of some dissonant/out of tune piano play. Lingua Ignota music is now almost only piano and lyrical and somewhat lyrical singing. A bit like a pissed off and chaotic Nick Cave (which means it's a lot more interesting and better than what Cave is doing now!). I preferred Caligula, but Sinner Get ready is also a strong album and even if overall it's softer, there's still in Lingua Ignota's music an intensity that is matched by few. 

The Bandcamp page.

 

USA Nails - Character Stop (2020)

Character Stop is the fifth album from UK post-punk/noise rock band USA Nails. Softer than Unsane but maybe noisier than Idles. With good vocals and an uninterrupted festival of high quality sharp riffs this album is excellent from beginning to end. I also recommend their back catalogue, USA Nails deserve more recognition.

The BC page.

 

Moldering Vibration - Endless Cycles of Insanity (2021)

I already really enjoyed Moldering Vibration first demo EP last year (and reviewed it HERE) and am pleased to see them back for a third EP called Endless Cycles of Insanity. They get a better production but still play some excellent old school death/grind with a few doomier parts, reminding Repulsion sometimes, but also a more primitive Incantation when they slow down. Good stuff again.

The BC page.

 

 

RNXRX - Impreciso (2021)

Impreciso is the first album (after a few shorter releases, good as well) from producer RNXRX. It sounds modern, but blends different kinds of more old school elements : industrial techno but also EBM and jungle. There is a wide diversity in the songs, with cinematic/atmospheric parts and more hard hitting ones. It should please people into any kinds of dark industrial/electronic music. Quality stuff.

The BC page.

 

Cancer Bats - You'll Never Break Us - Separation Sessions Vol. 1 (2020)

To be honest I have never been interested in Cancer Bats usual records, but I'm really happy I gave a chance to this EP called You'll Never Break Us - Separation Sessions Vol. 1 and featuring acoustic reworking of 6 of their classic songs (with banjo, guitars, organ and drums and percussion). I totally dig this EP. Less electricity, more intensity! Whether you like Cancer Bats, hardcore, metal, metalcore, folk, country, and whatever, just try it.

Highly recommended !

The BC page.