MIDNIGHT - Rebirth by Blasphemy (2020)

Rebirth by Blasphemy is MIDNIGHT fourth album (one every three year since 2011) and they stay faithful to their hard/heavy/speed metal in a Venom vein (but played tight and sharp), it's similar to their previous albums, and it's as good. Traditional metal done right.
Cool stuff. I enjoy it.

The Bandcamp page.

Sole - Worlds Not Yet Gone (2020)

Sole describe this new release Worlds Not Yet Gone as "A collection of short story science fiction rap songs". 6 tracks plus the six instrumentals of those 6 tracks. I think it's not as good as Destituent was last year, but it's still a lot better than most rap releases and it has what he does so well : smartest lyrics in hip-hop, radical social critique that avoids the usual clichés, with good producing in an "alternative hip-hop" style reminiscent of his older material, and good mcing as usual. A nice addition to his impressive discography.

The BC page.

Biesy - Transsatanizm (2020)

Blast beats? Check. Industrial techno beats? Check. Weird psychedelia? Check. Transsatanizm, the new album from Biesy, Polish one man band of Faustyna IHS Moreau, fits perfectly on Blasting Days. But of course it's not often to have all that in the same album. For sure the black metal component dominates, but still... If you're into the most avant-garde / experimental side of black metal this one's a mandatory listen, but it's not only good for its curiosity value, it's also a well done and solid album, surprising and intense. A good listening experience. Oh, and if you wonder, Transsatanizm is a play on words not only referring to christian transhumanism but also to transgender.

The Bandcamp page.

Meth Leppard - Woke (2020)

Finally, a first album from the Australian grind duo Meth Leppard! Five years after their start (and a demo and several splits, some reviewed on this blog, Here). Woke is a fine piece of pure grindcore, in the vein of Napalm Death or Extreme Noise Terror, but with a modern sound.
If you need your grind dose, this one will perfectly do! Good stuff.

The BC page.

Biblical - The City That Always Sleeps (2017)

Biblical is a band from Toronto and The City That Always Sleeps is their second album, released in 2017. Their Bandcamp says they "magically reconciles Motorhead swagger with Bad Seeds dread". But actually most of the time they're closer to Hawkwind than to Motorhead for there is also a strong psychedelic element in their heavy rock. Anyway they really found a personal sound with this interesting and well crafted mix of various styles. Recommended stuff.

The Bandcamp page.

Torn Relics - Abolish the Dogma (2020)

Torn Relics is a duo making industrial music, Romek Boyer is doing the beats while Aimee Mullen is playing violin and Bodhan and also sometimes singing. Abolish the Dogma, their second album, is nicely sophisticated and mixing elements from various styles, industrial techno, dub techno, dark ambient and even doom metal. They are good at creating dark and mysterious atmospheres.

The Bandcamp page.

Fange - Pudeur (2020)

Pudeur is the first Fange album that I really find interesting, so far I felt their "blackened sludge Entombedcore" was ok but a bit generic. But on Pudeur they replaced the drummer by a drum machine and the industrial element it brings really adds a dimension to their sound, making it even more inhuman and bleak while keeping their dirty and heavy side. Recommended! (as well as the 4 tracks, called Poigne, they just did and which continue in the same direction)

The Bandcamp page.

The Comet Is Coming - The Afterlife (EP 2019)

The Comet Is Coming is a London based trio with saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings (also in Sons of Kemet, Shabaka and the Ancestors, etc.), keyboardist Dan Leavers, and drummer Max Hallett. The Afterlife is an EP and a kind of sequel to their previous album Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery (both released by the famous free jazz record label Impulse!). Their music is a shining mix of lyrical and melodic spiritual jazz, psychedelia and krautrock. There are some vocals on the excellent starting track with the featuring of Joshua Idehen, but otherwise it's completely instrumental. The band managed to recycle old elements into something sounding different and fresh and it's a very enjoyable listen that should please anyone into free/psychedelic music.

Their website

Cognizant - Cognizant (2020)

Eight year and a half after its beginning, this is the 1 001th post on this blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy doing it.

Ok, le'ts go back to reviewing...

Another innovative release from Nerve Altar. Cognizant is a technical death/grind (or maybe "math grind") band with Bryan Fajardo on the drums. Their first, self-titled album is more about crafting a weird, dissonant and futuristic atmosphere than about relentless blast beatings. The result is interesting and really well done. Quality stuff.

The BC page.

5RVLN5 - The Black Mark (2020)

The Black Mark is 5RVLN5 first release, five tracks of finely crafted industrial metal that reminds NIN and Author & Punisher. Should satisfy anyone into this kind of music. I enjoy it.

 The BC page

King Gorm - King Gorm (2020)

King Gorm was a Danish king, but this King Gorm is a Californian band. On this outstanding first album they sound half 70' style progressive rock and half early heavy metal, imagine a mix of Yes, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, and Ghost. Keyboards melodies? Check. Epicness? Check. A bit cheesy? Well, yes, check, but here it's more a plus than a problem. A very nicely crafted and addictive album, I really enjoy it.
Oh, and I can't resist posting the picture of the band, I usually don't do that, but they are so triumphantly magnificent on this picture...

The Bandcamp page.

Disturbance Project - Gritas Mientras Puedas (2014)

I should have paid more attention to Gritas Mientras Puedas, the album from Spanish grinders Disturbance Project, when it came out in 2014. Did not review it then because I hesitated if it was OK or good, then moved on to other stuff. Which was silly because actually it's very good : straightforward, raw and brutal grind of the best quality, it has everything you'd want from a traditional grind album. Good stuff. When is the new album guys?

The BC page.