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.

 

Ingested - The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams (2024)

Ingested is a band I always respected, even when I wasn't at all into modern death metal (they mix deathcore, slam, and even sometimes add some bits of nu metal and djent). I felt they were among the best doing it. The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams is their eight album and I think it will stay among their most memorable, keeping on, like the two previous album, writing more cactchy songs, with some clean vocals here and there and some melodic lead guitars. But don't run, they do it with a good balance between more catchy songwriting and keeping a massive and brutal groove. Good stuff.

 

The BC page.

 

Handsome Jack - A Good Thing (2024)

I enjoy A Good Thing as well as the previous Handsome Jack album, but what really won me was seeing them live (at my usual lair the Bar de l'U in Besançon a few month ago), where their classic / boogie rock with a soulful feel really get an extra dose of warmth and groove. A Good Thing indeed! I recommended it.

Their BC page

 

Liberosis - Hedonismo Nihilista (2024)

Hedonismo Nihilista is the third album from Costa Rican band Liberosis, and another excellent piece of old school grindcore. Previous album was a good discovery for me, and I'm happy to said this new one is a good confirmation, I'll definitely keep on following their releases! Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Grave Pleasures - Plagueboys (2023)

After two albums that were good, but not as memorable as I expected from people coming from Beatsmilk/Hexvessel (singer Mat MacNerney, and for Beastmilk bassist Valtteri Arino) and Oranssi Pazuzu (guitarist Juho Vanhanen), Grave Pleasures released last year Plagueboys, which this time lived up to my expectations, even exceeding it. Plagueboys is less gothic rock and more post-punk/new-wave, in terms of writing and sound. Stripped-out songwriting, and sharp and/or echoing guitars, basslines pushed forwrad, simple and catchy beats.It reminds The Cure/Joy Division more than previously. But the main point, the key tot he improvement is the songs, they are more memorable, and just better. Highly recommended!

The BC page.