The Bug - Machine (2024)

Last year, The Bug (producer Kevin Richard Martin) released a series of five EP called Machine, from I to V, and then compiled some of its tracks on this Machine album released by Relapse. As expected from The Bug, it delivers the best dark and industrial dub. This time it's all instrumental, perfect for feeling the power of the beats and getting lost into the pulsating bass. Strong stuff!

The BC page.

 

Kesem - Wander (2024)

On one hand I regret the near punk energy of their more rocking first album (the awesome Post-Terra), ont he other hand I like when bands are not replicating the same album and bring something with a different mood. And that's what Kesem did with Wander, an album more on the quiet side of progressive rock, evoking at times King Crimson, sometimes Porcupine Tree, but keeping some heavy psych rock moments as well. In any case it's another excellent piece of progressive/psychedelic rock. Recommended stuff!

The Bc page.

Vile Species - Disqualified As a Human (2024)

Disqualified As a Human is the third album from old school grinders from Greece Vile Species, confirming they are trustworty dealers in quality grind. Good stuff!

The BC page.

 

 

Gigan - Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus (2024)

I won't compare Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus with Gigan previous four albums, because I'm discovering them with this one (No, I don't live under a rock, but previous album was seven years ago and by that time I was still mostly sticking to the old school death metal). But what I can say is that it's an awesome album, the embodiment of how mind-blowing technical death metal can be. Gigan is tech death at it's most radical, dissonant and abstract, but also progressive and catchy in it's very special kind of unhuman groove. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

Graveyard - 6 (2023)

Usually graveyard is where people end, but for a change I'll start this new year for Blasting Days with a Graveyard review. Their sixth album, called 6, and released in September 2023. After a couple of albums in which they had modernised a bit their sound, they are back to their proto-heavy metal / heavy blues roots. The result is a very quiet album, but filled with excellent songs that I enjoyed listening many times. Good stuff.

GAUDI - 100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter) (2020)

GAUDI is an English dub producer who has worked with the best in the scene. On this very special release, 100 Years of Theremin (The Dub Chapter), called he's paying tribute to Theremin  (the theremin is an electromagnetic instrument invented by Russian inventor Leon Theremin in 1920) with a dub album with theremin. He's playing the theremin and invited the best dub producer to craft the riddims : Mad Professor, Scientist, Prince Fatty, Dennis Bovell, and Adrian Sherwood among others. So we have theremin melodies over dub riddim and the result is really catchy and trippy. Highly recommended!

The BC page.

 

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.