Morgue - The Process to Define the Shape of Self-Loathing (2002)

Yes, it's not a typo, 2002, this album been released twenty years ago. And aged very well, The Process to Define the Shape of Self-Loathing was the second album from Morgue (South of France). Their super intense kind of death/grind with a chaotic hardcore feel (sometimes reminiscent of the Brutal Truth craziness) placed this release into the most memorable albums of the French grind scene, up to this day. Even the long jungle / breakcore / power electronics closing track is a success. I really recommend you discover / rediscover this album!

The Bandcamp page.

Cancer Bats - Psychic Jail Break (2022)

When I reviewed Cancer Bats first accoustic release two years ago (I recommend it again, it's awesome!) I wrote that I've never been interested in their usual releases. Well... I should have paid more attention. I gave a chance to their new album Psychic Jail Break and actually enjoyed it, tried again their older stuff, and enjoyed it. They're not just another metal hardcore band after all. Helped by the versatility of their excellent singer and of their songwrting/riffing that can go from Minor Threat, to Black Sabbath, to Black Flag, they manage to transcend the genre (in a way that reminds me what Vision of Disorder did) and breath fresh air into it. Psychic Jail Break is a cool album exuding positive energy.

Their website.

Backxwash - I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES (2021)

On I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES (a good album, but I hate this all caps thing!) there are a few screams and a bit of trap, but this is more classic horrorcore with noise elements than trap metal. But any way you describe it, what matters is that it's excellent dark underground hip/hop from Backxwash, modern sounding but rooted in the old school. 

The BC page.

 

Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection (2022)

In 2015 I wrote that Evil Invaders first album Pulses of Pleasures would be hard to surpass. And indeed, like previously Feed Me Violence, Shattering Reflection is not as impressive. But in all fairness, Pulses of Pleasures is probably the best speed metal album of the XXIth century so far and Evil Invaders are still an excellent band, and Shattering Reflection is a great album to listen to. On Shattering Reflection, maybe even more than on Feed Me Violence, the Belgian band kept the speed metal/thrash intensity but overall are less fast and aggressive, evolving more in a traditional heavy metal direction. The good thing is that they also are very good at that, and with Shattering Reflection they produced another old school metal classic.  

The BC page.

 

 

Wovenhand - Silver Sash (2022)

David Eugene Edwards, mainman of Wovenhand (singer/guitarist/composer) has first been known as the leader of 16 Horsepower and their dark armericana/gothic folk feel also lives in Wovenhand (which has now released more albums than 16H I believe). But Wovenhand is also even more a rock band, and their new album Silver Sash, following the path taken by other recent albums, is rocking harder than ever. One way or another they manage to always keep the intensity at a high level and it's good.

Wovenhand website

 

Gets Worse - Teen Wolf (2022)

You can always rely on Gets Worse for some good powerviolence, and their new release Teen Wolfe (9 tracks, one long and most of the others around a minute long) is no exception. You'll get your blistering fast paced powerviolence punctuated at times by slower hardcore or sludge moments. Enjoy!

The BC page.

HORSKH - WIRE (2021)

HORSKH is a band from Besançon (east of France), their second album WIRE, released last year is a very fine piece of industrial metal, with a strong and nicely old-school (but well-produced) EBM flavour. I highly recommend this album, but also their live shows, where their music become even more powerful.

The Bandcamp page.

Deathspell Omega - The Long Defeat (2022)

Deathspell Omega is a French black metal band known for its innovative take on the genre and for its mystical flame. On their new album The Long Defeat, the innovative elements (choirs, post-metal instrumental parts, dissonance, etc.) are the ones we found on previous album, it brings some diversity on the album, even if it is mostly present on the first track (too long and too post-metal). So the mystical flame is not what it used to be, but there is still a strong epic feel on the most traditional black metal parts (with ferocious blast beats and everything), and they still do that expertly. Definitely not a major album for Deathspell Omega, but still head and shoulders above the vast majority of black metal albums.

The Bandcamp page.

 

Richard Pinhas - Reverse (2017)

Reverse, is an album released in 2017 by French avant-garde guitarist and composer Richard Pinhas (known for his music with the band Heldon, but not only). Playing on the albumis an impressive crew of talented musicians : guitars  by Pinhas and Oren Ambarchi, drums by Arthur Narcy, bass by Florian Tatar, Masami Akita (yes the one doing Merzbow) plays analog synths, Duncan Nilson-Pinhas digital synths, and William Winant percussions. The result is a mix of prog/space/kraut rock, drone, and electronics. Droning guitars, free drumming, synth soundscapes, forming weird and futuristic trippy atmospheres. Awesome album, really recommended!

The BC page.