Upcoming Metal: Week of June 8th
The Biscuit Merchant
Tempora
Out June 13th independently
Genre: Progressive Death Metal
On Tempora, The Biscuit Merchant create a complex and diverse sound that could draw comparisons to prog heavyweights like Devin Townsend or Dream Theater. From the piano-focused opener “Temporal Delusion”, to bombastic drumming and soaring guitars on “Kill Time”, the band loves to bask in the waters of creativity and genres throughout metal’s history. Though for me, some songs do seem to peak and some dip to me, the album is a powerhouse of complexity, talented musicianship and a production scale equivalent to match the scale the band is going for with this album.
SCORE: 4 / 5
Outergods
Dethroned & Devoured
Releases June 13th on Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings
Genre: Black Metal/Grindcore
On the band’s second album UK’s Outergods continue to go for the throat with their hybrid mix of black metal and grindcore. Album opener “Origin” gives off Gaahl-era Gorgoroth vibes, combined with a wall of distortion production style. Adding a dark, ambient undertone to the song’s sound which is a great touch in the mix. “Sprawling Chaos” is pure grindcore in the hostility in the vocal performance, mixed with the high-octane drumming and bombastic guitars. An almost three-minute sonic assault on the ears. Songs like “Phantasm” add unique, doomier elements to the harshness of the vocals and eerie guitar tones on the songs. This is a must get for a sheer sonic blitzkrieg of distortion, shrieking and unhinged violence, all in a forty-five minute package of death and destruction.
SCORE: 5 / 5
Dolven
In My Grave…Silence
Releases June 13th on Winding Stair Records (vinyl), Fladh Productions (CD & Cassette) and independently (digital)
Genre: Acoustic Doom Metal
An interesting take on the doom metal genre, Dolven add an all acoustic variation of the genre. Creating a historical, Bard/Baroque-era sound to the band’s take on doom metal. Nick Wusz’ guitars create a beautiful arrangement that gives off a vibe of sitting around a campfire and Jori Apedaile telling you dark tales of years past. “Sun Bleached Stones” embodies that sound perfectly, especially with the simple, but heartbeat-esque percussion of Hunter Ginn. “You’ve Chosen”, “Just Like All The Rest” and the instrumental “Standing Among The Ruins” are standout tracks for me. If you are fan of traditional doom like My Dying Bride or Paradise Lost, this might not be for you, but if you do like extreme metal bands shift musical direction (like Opeth’s Damnation or Ulver’s Kveldssanger for example), you will like this record a lot
SCORE: 3.5 / 5
Masseti
Odds and Ends
Releases June 14th independently
Genre: Progressive Metal
With album opener “Serpents and Whores”, the musical talent of Masseti begins to shine. Opening synths, choir, pummeling drums and strings create this grand production scale and just starts the album off strong. Vocals have comparisons to power metal acts like Russel Allen of Symphony X and a dash of Dio. The album’s title track, “Gone”, and “The Singer in The Arms of Winter” were just so epic in scale, and the musical creativity and instrumentation was top-notch. With moments of classic, old-school heavy metal, dispersed with booming drums and thundering double bass and notes of extreme metal. A record that would check all the boxes of everything a metalhead loves in metalhead.
SCORE: 5 / 5
