Usurper - Hand of the Usurper (2024)

After an already excellent first album in 2021 Usurper, from Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK), released a five track release, called Hand of the Usurper and also full of very traditionnal NWOBHM heavy metal, with a strong influence from Iron Maiden (and I guess Powerslave might be their favourite album, and I won't blame them for sure). Heavy and epic, with good vocals and memorable riffing. Not scoring much on the originality scale, but great for everything else. I enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to their second album.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Oranssi Pazuzu - Muuntautuja (2024)

Each album from Oranssi Pazuzu is different and special, and Muuntautuja is no exception. This time the prog/psych elements is less obvious and the band goes in a more dissonant industrial avant-garde black metal direction, with also some ambient/trip-hop elements. Like always with Oranssi Pazuzu it defies easy description, but imagining a music somewhere between Blut Aus Nord and Massive Attack could give you an idea of the kind of atmospheres they built in Muuntautuja. Another sucessful experiment and really interesting album from Oranssi Pazuzu.

The BC page.

Killa P & Numa Crew - Killing Time (2024)

Killing Time is the first album from London vocalist Killa P and Italian collective Numa Crew. But everything sounds very British bass music with most vocalists (Killa P and guests) expertly delivering a ragga style flow, over productions going from grime to jungle to dubstep to dancehall and dub. Really recommended for anyone into these kinds of music. Good stuff!

The BC page.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Mammoth Volume - Raised Up By Witches (2024)

Raised Up By Witches is the second Mammoth Volume album since their return and it's another epic piece of finely crafted progressive heavy rock. Once again they deliver a unique mix somewhere between doom metal and stoner rock, with a strong progressive component. They can remind Mastodon as much as QOTSA (or for those stuck in the previous century we could say they sit between Black Sabbath and Yes). Very nice!

The Bandcamp page.

 

My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (2021)

I've been liking My Morning Jacket for close to a quarter of a century, and their latest, self-titled, one is probably my favourite. So I think we can say they really earned their review on Blasting Days... In the meantime their music evolved from indie rock/americana to indie/soul/progressive/psych rock (now evoking band like Pink Floyd or Yes at times, and the quality remained and even improved. Highly recommended!

The Bandcamp page.

 

Warfuck - Fail. repeat (EP 2024)

This five track EP called Fail. Repeat is a short but intense reminder of how good Warfuck is now. We could say they repeatedly fail to fail and keep on producing top quality modern / post-Nasum grindcore. Recommended! 

The BC page.

 

Slave To Society - Thrown To The Wolves (EP 2023)

Slave To Society is Andrew Bowen and the music is finely crafted drum & bass / breakcore with creepy synthscape in the background. On threes tracks plus a hardcore techno remix of one of those done by Rebekah, the remix isn't my favorite but at least comparing the original and the remix shows well the difference between drum & bass and techno, in case you're not familiar with it. In any case, Thrown To The Wolves is a very good EP for people into the darker & Harder side of drum & bass.

The BC page.

Hideous Divinity - Unextinct (2024)

Unexctinct is the Fifth album from Hideous Divinity and they sure make clear that as long they will be releasing albums like these, brutal & technical death metal will stand tall. Once again, they provide a good example of how intense death metal can be. Took me a bit longer to really get into this one than with Simulacrum and Adveniens, but that's probably because it doesn't benefit from the initial shock anymore. In any case it's another excellent album.

The BC page.

 

Dark Brown - American Instrument (2024)

Well, there's really a lot to say about this album American Instrument. The instrument there is the drum set, the drum set having been invented in America and the album is a kind of tribute to drumming by drummer Bryan Lee Brown, playing here as Dark Brown. But don't be mistaken, it's a treat for drummers, but shouldn't be reduced to an album for drummers. It's an excellent psychedelic rock album, with a minimalistic feel, bordering drone or krautrock repetitive patterns at times. Recorded over 13 years in 9 studios it features some famous other drummers (John Stanier, Jon Theodore, Brad Wilk, Dave Catching), but there's also Eric MacFadden on guitar, and
you sure will also notice the legendary surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

 

FLUIDS - Reduced Capabilities (2024)

Fourth album from these modern morticians (yes, I do mean their music sounds like a modernized version of Mortician), Reduced Capabilities, unlike the previous album, doesn't experiment, with one exception, but one you'll notice : it's a Moby cover. No joke. I think Not Dark Yet was more memorable overall, but Reduced Capabilities is still an enjoyable listen, heavy, groovy, and fun in FLUIDS twisted way.

The BC page.

 

SECT - Plagues Upon Plagues (2024)

SECT is a band with vocalist Chris Colohan (Cursed, Burning Love, Left for Dead), Scott Crouse from Earth Crisis, and three other experienced musicians from the hardcore scene. Plagues Upon Plagues, their third album, is a nice slice of slow and sludgy metallic hardcore that would feel at home on your shelf close to Vision of Disorder, Crowbar or Brutality Will Prevail. Good stuff.

The BC page.

The Ragged Jubilee - Mulholland Overdrive (2023)

Remember very well reviewing The Ragged Jubilee first album in 2012, not only because that was only the tenth post on Blasting Days (this one is the 1452!), but also because I really liked it. In the meantime, four albums and more than ten years later their music sounds heavier, still reminding The Doors at times, still with elements of garage rock that became more prevalent since their second album (that I also reviewed back in 2012), but no more americana/folk elements and Mulholland Overdrive is more like The Doors meets Black Sabbath, joined by the Black Keys. And that's totally fine, since the quality is still there. Good stuff!

Their Bandcamp page (unfortunately Mulholland Overdrive is not yet on it...).

Today is the Day - No Good to Anyone (2020)

No Good to Anyone? This latest album from Today is the Day is probably good for you, and for sure I do enjoy listening to it. It's a finely crafted mix of all TITD have done in its career, from the Am Rep twisted noise rock to the more recent extreme metal elements, and there's also a large dose of doom metal as well, showing it can fit very well Today is the Day. Interesting songs, interesting album. And a good way to enter the world of Today is the Day if you don't know it yet. Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Sick/Tired - Whip Hand Paranoia (2024)

Powerviolence/grind band Sick/Tired took their time to come back, but that was definitely worth the wait! Whip Hand Paranoia is a ferocious album filled with short super condensed blast of PV/grind fury. And to make things more interesting and add a bit of diversity they also bring some somewhat noise/indus guitar work, at times reminding a bit of Napalm Death experiments. Appropriately, it's released by Nerve Altar, currently the best grind label. Strong contender for best grind album of the year ! 

The BC page.

 

Hyperdontia - Harvest of Malevolence (2024)

Harvest of Malevolence, the third album from Hyperdontia will easily find its way among the best old school death metal release of the year. I discovered them with the excellent EP they released last year, and this album is totally up to my expectations. Perfect old school feel and atmosphere (taking from both the US and Swedish schools) with especially good guitar work (and the bass & drums are doing a good job as well). Recommended!

The BC page.

 

Dub Killer - Jungle Escape (2024)

Some reviews could almost write itself: Dub. Killer. Jungle. Escape. Got the picture? Well, almost, because, a bit unfortunately I would say, there actually ain't a lot of Jungle here, don't expect many old school drum & bass jungle loops and  breaks. This is a lot closer to modern dubstep. Jungle Escape is nevertheless a good dub techno album, I enjoy listening to it and i'll check Dub Killer other releases.

 

The BC page. 

 

Nile - The Underworld Awaits Us All (2024)

See that whirlwind of unfathomable brutality on the cover ? This depict perfectly what Nile music is, and if you forgot how powefull their technical and brutal deah metal can be, The Underworld Awaits Us All will be a merciless reminder. After some good (the average Nile album is still above 99% of the other bands releases...) but a bit disapointing albums, this is a spectacular return to form and maybe their best album after their early classics. You know what you have to do... listening is mandatry, and if you don't, expect to be "Hung Upside Down on A Stake in the Underworld and Made to Eat Feces by the Four Apes". You've been warned!

The Bandcamp page.

 

Brother Dege - Aurora (2024)

The news of the death of Dege Legg known as a musician as Brother Dege really came as a shock to me. Not only because I liked his music (and I loved his music! Still do). I spent a large part of last year translating from English to French his book, Cablog (released in French as Cabdriver) and Dege music was something like the soundtrack of my life at that time. I admired him as a man and as an author as much as I admired him as a musician. I was looking forward to at last meet him at last during his European tour scheduled after the release of Aurora, his new album. He will really be missed. Now, is Aurora living up to the expectancy? Yes, definitely, his garage/blues/psych/southern rock got more personal and emotional, and it's as good and maybe even more memorable than the previous excellent albums. At least Dege left on a very high note. Thank you for that and for all the rest, brother...

The Bandcamp page.

 

The website. 

 

Botanist - Paleobotany (2024)

Paleobotany is the twelfth album from Botanist, in which the post-black metal one-man band playing hammered dulcimer instead of guitars and singing about plants move further away from black metal, with a totally convincing result. On Paleobotany the focus was on creating memorable songs, and it sounds like there have been a lot of work dedicated to the clean singing parts, which is now the most important part of the singing. And the work paid off, those clean vocals are great. The extreme metal vocals are still present, rare but more impacting thanks to the contrast. The blast beats are also still there, and the drumming as good as usual. Maybe my favourite Botanist album so far, I really recommend it!

The Bandcamp page.

 

Squid Pisser - Vaporize A Tadpole (2024)

Vaporize A Tadpole is the first of the two albums Squid Pisser released this year (I have to catch up witht he one thy released in June...), after a first one last year.  The Californian duo (Tommy Meehan & Seth Carolina) play what could be described as "alien chaotic hardcore" with some noise and samples added for more weirdness. Over the top intensity through and through. To complete the picture I can also say it's been released on the label of The Locust frontman and theere's a featuring by Malt banana singer. Rarely chaos is so pleasing.

The BC page.

 

Babe Roots - Through We (EP 2021)

Did not review this EP at the time (2021) because it's just three tracks plus an alternate version one, and I hoped an album was coming soon. Unfortunately, this Through We EP is still Babe Roots latest release. I really hope it's not the last. Along with the Kevin Martin (The Bug) stuff (but in a vein less dark & indus) it's my favourite recent dub related artist. Deep & immersive digital / tech dub, with always excellent choices of vocalists. Recommended!

Soundcloud stream.

 

LWSTNDRS - Songs of Atrocity (2024)

Intended to review LWSTNDRS previous release for a long time (been released in 2019...), but now that have a new one released by Nerve Altar, so here we go. The new album Songs of Atrocity feels a bit more polished, more in a blackened hardcore vein, even if the grind noise elements are still in the background. Good stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Algiers - Shook (2023)

Shook, released last year, is Algiers' fourth album. They still deliver some kind of soul infused post-punk but they brought many people to collaborate with them (Zach de la Rocha, Backxwash, billy woods, Mark Cisneros, Patrick Shiroishi, among others) and as could be expected Shook is the most versatile album they have done, gaining in diversity what it loses in cohesiveness. The many hip-hop and spoken words elements give the album a kind of ambient / soundtrack feel. But describing it is a bit pointless, you have to experience it. I really recommend you do (and check their previous albums as well!).

The Bandcamp page.

 

Judas Priest - Invincible Shield (2024)

I'll assume you know who Judas Priest are. But maybe you don't know they recently released a truly glorious album, Invincible Shield. It features everything the Priest have done, from more progressive to more aggressive, and it's an hour of Judas Priest greatness from beginning to end. And, believe it or not, Rob Halford at 73 is still as awesome as he always have been.

Candy - It's Inside You (2024)

Candy is a kind of new mutation of hardcore, and it keeps evolving. In their new album It's Inside You, beatdown is still the main component, but the Full of Hell style blackened & noisy hardcore nearly disappeared, and the nu-metal element is getting more prominent, including Slipknot style cuts & jungle breaks samples and some melodic chorus. The result is more straightforward and mainstream, but no less effective and satisfying. Most purists will probably stay away from it, but some might enjoy it as a kind of "guilty pleasure".

The BC page.

 

Toadliquor - Back in the Hole (2024)

With Back in the Hole I understand now why I knew Toadliquor by name even if they've been silent for more than 25 years. Will have to check their old stuff. For now, Back in the Hole is an excellent piece of doom sludge, with parts in a traditional sabbathian vein, and parts more raw and dirty. In any case, excellent riffs and songs.

The BC page.

 

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.

Ulcerate - Cutting The Throat of God (2024)

Cutting The Throat of God is the seventh album from Ulcerate and with it they push their tech/dissonant but atmospheric death metal further in a melodic and progressive direction. And since the album is so good that's totally fine for me, no question asked, I just enjoy it. Again, and again... 

The BC page.

 

Four Stroke Baron - Data Diamond (2024)

Been thinking for a long time about reviewing their previous album Classics (which I recommend, as a nice "guilty pleasure"), but now they're releasing a new one, Data Diamond. So I'm reviewing their new stuff (even if maybe I prefer Classics).  Four Stroke Baron is an American duo with a daring approach to songwriting, often walking the fine line between genius and bad taste. Their music could be described as a kind of mix of Deftones and Depeche Mode, with maybe a bit of Faith No More for some added craziness. I don't like every moment of the album, but I keep going back to it (like with their previous one before). Will you dare to try it ? 

 

The Bandcamp page. 

 

 

Midnight - Hellish Expectations (2024)

The world seems determined to turn into a vile pool of shit, but at least we still can rely on Midnight to get our regular dose of speed, thrashing dbeating, traditional metal, or maybe we could call it blackened speed metal, you get the idea. Their sixth album is Hellish Expectations and we indeed get the hell we expected. And's when it's fun hell coming from Midnight it's great!

 

The BC page.

 

Ubruxum - Ultimo Bruxismo (2023)

Looking for some nice, smooth and smart music? Go to my previous post. This one is the opposite : Ubruxum music (from Toronto) is ugly and gross. But good as well, and if you're a death metal freak like me, you might enjoy it! Their album Ultimo Bruxismo released last year is a good piece of brutal death / goregrind with machine drum, reminding the Mortician groove (but they spare us the horror movies samples). Recommended if you're into this kind of stuff.

The BC page.

 

 

Work, Money, Death - Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction (2022)

Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction is the second album of British jazz crew Work, Money, Death around tenor sax player Tony Burkil and with musicians from sorcerers and the Nate Birchall band. The band confirms how good they are in the spiritual jazz area, lyrical and melodic, following the footsteps of Pharoah Sanders, and Alice and John Coltrane (especially reminding A Love Supreme), with also a slight hint of afro-beat.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Holy Grinder - 10 Desecrations (2024)

I discovered this one, 10 Desecrations by Holy Grinder, thanks to Cephalochromoscope (one of the best blog about grindcore around).  Excellent album of bass/drum noisegrind, noise refering to the raw and sludgy bass sound but also to the use of power electronics / harsh noise elements. Could have been monotonous and boring, but it's diverse and exciting (at least if you're brave enough to stand a noisegrind assault). things like a good instrumental track with sax, reminding a bit Brainbombs helps making the album interesting and standing out. Good stuff.

The BC page.