Blush Response - Sprawl (2024)

I've been slightly disappointed by the music Blush Response (producer Joey Blush) released last year. So Sprawl is a good (semi) surprise. Still quality dark and industrial techno, but the most memorable part of the album is the couple of songs with vocals (from Marc Heal), showing that Blush Response could totally, with equal success, turn into an industrial metal band (reminding a bit NIN or Author & Punisher). Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

Blazon Rite - Wild Rites and Ancient Songs (2023)

The second album from Blazon Rite, Wild Rites and Ancient Songs, released last year, is, from beginning to end, from songwriting to execution, top quality traditional heavy metal / power metal. If that's your kind of stuff, not checking them is not an option. Highly recommended.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Wormed - OMEGON (2024)

Only knew Wormed by name, because their previous album was five years ago, and, while I got into death metal around the time they released their first album (1999), up to a few years back I wasn't interested in the more modern and technical side of death metal. So I can't compare OMEGON with their previous works, but what I can say is that it's indeed excellent : often clearly leaning on the most brutal side of tech death, even bordering goregrind by some aspects, they also can also venture, with equal success, into more progressive territories. I recommend it (and will definitely check all their albums!).

The BC page.

 

Bitter Branches - Your Neighbors Are Failures (2022)

I just discovered with their Bandcamp bio that "Bitter Branches consists of veterans from the 90’s punk hardcore scene, having served time in Calvary, Deadguy, Lifetime, Lighten Up, Kiss It Goodbye, No Escape, Paint It Black and Walleye." Well, I'm not surprised, this band sounds like the musicians knows what they are doing, for sure. On their first album Your Neighbors Are Failures they are excellent at doing their Am Rep noise flavoured noise rock thing. And the more ambient parts with somewhat spoken words reminding strongly Oxbow are nice as well. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Beaten To Death - Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis (2024)

Well, after what I've called their "emoviolence grind" album, Norwegian grinders Beaten To Death are back to their usual "technical and melodic" grind. Sunrise Over Rigor Mortis is unsurprisingly surprising, with bits from nearly every kind of metal thrown in the mix, but as usual with BTD the result is surprisingly cohesive and mostly sound like Beaten To Death. Another enjoyable album from our favourite "melotech" grinders!

The BC page.

 

Ying Yang Audio - Inner Nature (EP 2023)

This Inner Nature EP isn't Ying Yang Audio latest release, but I prefer this one over the Sustained Clarity album released this one, which is more ambient and minimalistic, while on Inner Nature the mix of industrial techno and dark ambient feels a bit darker and heavier. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

Solitary Sabred - Temple of the Serpent (2023)

Temple of the Serpent is the fourth album from Solitary Sabred, from Cyprus. I don't know their previous album, but will definitely check it if I have the occasion, Temple of the Serpent is a really fine piece of power / traditional heavy metal, with great vocals, great songs, some diversity, from near doom to speed metal. I already listened to it many times, and anyone into old school metal should enjoy it.