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:
We haven’t had much metal from Poland on Under/Current this year, however that’s not a lack of trying holding them back. Last month Black Blood of the Earth released their second effort and debut full-length titled Bleak Light, Fervent Dark, an aptly titled album which forays into a melancholic, doomy and dark soundscape. Sounding unlike most of the Polish bands we're familiar with currently, it's actually refreshing to hear something else. An album which is perfect for brooding and reflection, one for fans of Katatonia, TotalSelfHatred and Agalloch.
- J.C.L.
Choir - Songs for a Tarnished World
I've listened to my fair share of apocalyptic and doomsday-inspired metal, but few invoke such nefarious and incomprehensible horror as what Choir does on Songs for a Tarnished World. We do not know much of this project at all, other that its a solo-project based in Singapore. In terms of soundscape, low-tuned dissonance is paramount. I would say that the sound is somewhere in the vein of the disorientation from the likes of Portal and Mitochondrion, but that wouldn't do it justice entirely, as this feels more vast and cavernous, even unfathomable. There is no remorse to be found here, it is 45 minutes of relentless blight and entropy upon the world.
- J.C.L.
German Black metal with lyrics in a local dialect is hardly a new thing, usually it means more effort put into a narrative or universe. The relatively new German duo Gráb utilizes their native Bavarian on their debut Zeitlang to create a majestic atmosphere. Standing out among the usual black metal instrumentation, the hammered dulcimers further adds to the impressive soundscape, which drags the listener into another time and place. Zeitlang oozes with quality atmosphere and powerful moments, whether it be the epic title-track, the hard-hitting Nordwand or the absolutely beautiful folky Auf da Roas, this album hits a lot of tangents, all to near perfection.
- J.C.L.
Currently looking forward to:
Eöl of Basque Black/Dungeon synth titan Elffor is one productive fellow. While last years release Unholy Throne of Doom was one of my favorites, he has since ramped up production of music, to an extent that I haven’t been able to keep up with them all. Having already released material this year, there was still room to squeeze in one more on the penultimate day of 2021, titled Kaosaren Mendi Odoltsuetan. Already the released single harks back to the style of Unholy Throne of Doom, which bodes well for the rest of the upcoming release tomorrow, the 30th of December.
- J.C.L.
American mystery solo-project Mizmor is back with a two track EP titled Wit's End. So far we know very little of this album, except for a short teaser and the artwork, but given Mizmor's past endeavors, I hope to hear another blackened drone/doom release early next year. Wit's End releases on the 14th of January.
- J.C.L.
Listened to this week:
The dark past lives on in the Carpathians. Krolok from Slovakia delivers only their second full-length with Funeral Winds & Crimson Sky, and it’s an unapologetic step back to the early 1990’s, in terms of feel, production and musical cues. In essence it is a purely retrospective album, which is the strongest point; There is just something to that old-school feel, the cold riffs, the haunting subtle synth and the vampiric vocals which is cryptic(!) and drenched in evil, without going a more modern and bombastic route. Perhaps unsurprising for a band which is formed by the same guys who brought us Malokarpatan as well.
- J.C.L.
I confess I have a love/hate relationship to band-names which are supposed to be unpronounceable, as they don't really make themselves easy to speak about. Nonetheless RüYYn is a new French solo act, and the eponymous debut album from earlier this year is a ferocious take-off. The biting cold lead guitars and the ever-present drums pounding a mortal march are some of the highlights, but with less than 30 minutes of runtime, this album falls just a bit short. Still, for what you get, it's a potent and aggressive package.
For fans of Mgla, Gorgoroth
For fans of Mgla, Gorgoroth
- J.C.L.
Perhaps one of the most blandly named bands this side of "Death", Temple of Evil from Cyprus nevertheless shows some surprising aptitude and depth on Apolytrosis, their second offering. Soundwise, the instrumentation is impeccable, with clear hints of inspiration from the Greek metal scene, especially bands like Rotting Christ and Varathron, yet beyond paying tribute, the production by Stephen Lockhart add his signature rich and distorted sound to this album, which sets it apart.
- J.C.L.
From Estonia we have the pagan black metal duo Wolfskrone, debuting with The Hunt. While the album itself sounds a bit like what's coming from their Finnish cousins across the gulf, there is some interesting stuff going on also. The Pagan and ambient elements adds some good flavor to the album, but its held back by the similarity of the songs, with little to discern between them. Apparently this album was written, recorded and released in just 2 months, which is absolutely insane, and while this debut is still acceptable, there is room for some improvement and unique character on their next release.
- J.C.L.
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