Welcome back to our monthly segment, Under/Current. Here we will cover the music we currently find inspirational, the music we look forward to in the near future, and what we, J.C.L., X.K. and P.S., are currently listening to. We encourage you to check out the artists with the links provided in the texts (Marked in yellow).
Currently inspirational:
What an impressive find I did earlier this week when browsing Bandcamp. These German faultlessly hit the sound here with the mixture of the atmospheric parts and the German language that gives the harsh, more of an attitude to the project. This EP is the first and hopefully not the last from Antrisch.
- X.K.
Enslaved is a Norwegian band that has gone through a bit of an transformation since the formation in 1991 as a black/pagan metal band in. Early they became a part of the wave of black metal bands that are now considered the godfathers of the genre, yet soon they began to reshape their sound and incorporated a lot more prog elements, which took them and their sound to the next level. In my opinion this is best exemplified on the 2017 album simply titled E; from the first song "Storm Son" all the way through the whole album, we as listeners are taken through an epic story with lots of brilliant moments of prog-pagan-black metal. The high praises for this album was well deserved, and I recommend this album fully
- P.S.
For a long period, Panopticon has been a hit or miss for me. But as I have grown and eternally been a devotee of the instrumental, particularly the ones that vibrate nature has substantial influences in my ears. ...And Again Into the Light, the latest addition to the long collection of releases, has matured on me. The vocals lay way back in the mix and evoke a natural feeling of standing at the most beautiful place you have ever seen. Very expressive!
- X.K.
Svartkonst is a Swedish one-man black/death metal project, which I was recently recommended. Imagine if you will the best of Swedish death metal thrown together with the black satanic hatred of Finnish black metal, and just a bit of Nails-style Hardcore. The result is Devil’s Blood, an unforgiving album which hits like a freight train and grinds as a rusty chainsaw. Absolutely uncompromising sound production as well, which further amplifies this album, which seems to have no filler material. Also check out the album Black Waves from last year, also well worth a listen.
- J.C.L.
I’ve felt like I’ve wanted to talk about this EP for some time now, but never got around to doing it, but here we are. E Tika Mateu was one little EP that surprised me late last year, and even made it to my Top-EP-list (If that matters). The thing is, this is the debut effort from Te Ruki, a band from French Polynesia, of all places, which punches WAY above their own weight class. The production is solid, there are numerous Polynesian tribal elements sprinkled throughout the EP, with lyrics in a critically endangered language, Tuamotuan, which just brings joy to my linguistic heart. Beyond just that, it is just a very solidly composed release, especially in the drum-department, with some great melodies. I will be watching you, Te Ruki, with interest.
- J.C.L.
Currently looking forward to:
This month I am looking forward to the new release from one of Sweden's death metal icons. At the Gates, who returns with an album. Already, from what I have heard of it, will be a good one. I mean the riffs are there, as well as the sing-along part. The Nightmare of Being releases the 2nd of July from Nuclear Blast
- P.S.
We have one hell of an interesting album coming from a Russian band, who has emigrated to Norway. Beyond that story, Vi Overlevde is going to be the first full-length album from Bizarrekult. Already with the first two singles “Galskap” og “Ut i Skogen”, you are bombarded with odd time-signatures, off-beat drums and guitars, which taps from both the fountains of Norwegian black metal and prog-metal. Already I’m thinking this will be an absolute delight, and worthy of further investigation when the album drops on the 2nd of July.
- J.C.L.
It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Switzerland. Granted, the usual suspects are all still going, but I found Lykhaeon a few months ago, and they have grown on me. Their upcoming second album Opprobrium promises to be a heavy dose of occult black/death caveman-metal that would arouse the spirits of those who know their fellow countrymen Bölzer as well as Vassafor and Irkallian Oracle. Lykhaeon explains that with this album they are telling a classical Greek tale of Persephone’s abduction by Hades, and musically they seem to get that vibe pretty much spot on. Look for the 21st of July for this release.
- J.C.L.
Black Label Society - The Blessed Hellride
Listened to this week:
Over this week I really have been digging into some straight heavy metal and one of the bands that have been putting out a bunch of great albums within that genre for some years now and it has been a bit of a challenge to just pick one album to focus on. In the end, I chose The Blessed Hellride; This album is Black Label Society's fourth album and it is just a great album to get pumped up to party to. It has classic riffs, great sing along parts, especially on songs like Stillborn and Doomsday Jesus. Even though the album is full of great powerful heavy metal songs there is also room to unplug and bring out the acoustic guitar for the title track, which gives you a nice break from where you as a listener can reflect for a moment before returning to heavy metal heaven with Funeral Bell.
- P.S.
About a month ago, this debut album, Wreched Abyss, was released by this UK-based one-woman project Noctule, and is themed around Skyrim. With the tendency to linger in the more melodic, she manages to bring tones of the familiar French black metal sound forward in both the vocals and her atmospheric guitar riff details. The entire album might be monotonous to a distinct point, but she has quite the potential and I look forward to picking up the record and the next one.
- X.K.
Towers of Silence, the sophomore album by Plasmodium was released back in April, but only now did I get to dive into it. Cosmic death metal is a genre that lends itself to numerous interpretations, and these Aussies chose the more bestial side of it, straddling a fine line between acts like Portal and Mitochondrion, with a fair slice of psychedelic ambiance thrown into the mix. A tough album to get into, but worth the effort, if alone for the unworldly soundscape.
- J.C.L.
Ireland really does make some interesting black metal, especially with bands as Slidhr, Malthusian and Rebirth of Nefast. Another dissonant addition to that list is the newly formed Valais, who have chosen to let the music speak for itself on their self-titled debut. No info, no names (although I’m willing to bet that members of aforementioned bands are involved), just 36 minutes of dissonant, brooding mid-tempo black to rethink your existence, and what a statement it makes. Special kudos goes to the exceptionally hard hitting drum-sound and the atmospheric nuggets throughout the album.
- J.C.L.
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