The new Old Nick is really fun. Pretty out there stuff. They're one of those bands that if you're on bandcamp in the metal tab, they have a 50/50 chance of being in the "hot right now" or whatever section. They're SUPER prolific, they released like a half dozen releases last year - makes Haunt look like Wintersun But luckily they're good. Kind of unique, black metal with some dungeon synth elements - while that's not uncommon at all, dungeon synth tracks as interludes is pretty common, the dungeon synth kind of "cheesy" horror synths are incorporated into most every track. Really kind of bizarre effect to the music. They have a pretty weird sense of humor, too. They're absolutely gonna be one of those big cult bands in a couple years.

I cannot stop listening to this. Easily the best thrash album since Terminal Redux.

old nick is the best thing to happen in bm for a long, long while imo. new album fucking rules.

This new Thorium is a rock solid dose of trad/power metal with really nice leads and charismatic vocals. The cover art and logo make it look like a retro throwback project but while influence from 80s acts certainly seeps in (I hear some late 80s Rage), it sounds more modern than the aesthetic suggests. The songs get more adventurous and nuanced as the album goes on.

Baest - Necro Sapiens

Their 3rd full length in 4 years and they don't show any signs of slowing down, liking it a bit more than Venenum. I have no doubt that they can release solid material annually, but I wouldn't hate it if they took a few years off. I'd bet if they just rested a little bit then Baest could release a truly incredible slab of Death Metal.




Dauthuz - Cold

Here's another great Death Metal album that released last Friday. Been alternating this one with the new Baest every day since.

The first song had kind of an annoying chorus (really sounds like he's singing "Excrement" there...) but I'm liking the second one - definitely something to listen further for sure.

I get you For what it's worth, the opener is probably my least favorite track and it gets a lot better after that. Also worth noting that there's a thirteen minute song towards the end which is packed with nothing but badass sections and recalls Pharaoh in terms of musicality.

nice and riffy black/death over here, if you ignore the cringy intro words to the first track:

https://thefuror.bandcamp.com/album/obliteration-matrix

Knuckle dragging slam for all the cavemen out there https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytkueaAp-hs

Redd Barron's Sands of Time is a good album of solid heavy metal:

for fans of portal:
https://knollvhs.bandcamp.com/album/interstice-2

and some death/black to those who'd like teitanblood to be less murky/cavernous:

Really digging the new Bloodletter album, excellent melodic thrash that keeps the pedal to the metal all the way through (as all good thrash should). Yoth Iria released a worthwhile album as well -good mix of black metal and NWOTHM, similar in places to I's Between Two Worlds.

Old Nick is cool and all, but that is some statement. Comedy black metal, but the good kind, I guess.

I'm struggling a bit this year to find things that really grab me but the releases from Kjeld, Ŭkcheănsălâwit, Blurr Thrower, Wanklank, and Los Males Del Mundo (which I already posted above) are among the best.

fuck never knew how young knoll looked lol

that invultation link seems broken but that album rules. good shout on the teitanblood comparison

Soo this just blew me away. Not even precisely certain how to describe it, so I'll let the music speak fot itself. Anyone interested in progressive metal of whatever type should at least give it a shot.

Christ, I've been busy this year finishing up a second master's degree plus 54 additional graduate credits on the side. I've had no time to check stuff out, but things are slowing down now, so I took the morning to catch up a little. Some thoughts:

Tribulation is still the best of the year for me so far

The new Orden Ogan is awesome and consistent throughout. That ballad Alone in the Dark is exceptional. these guys have always been talented songwriters, and this might be their best since Easton Hope.

The Crown's new album sounds absolutely killer so far - still need to finish it - but yeah, these guys are such a powerful force

Those are sort of well known bands. Have I missed anything obscure that's a must-listen?

My recommendation of the year so far are As nauseam, Suffering Hour, Alkerdeel, DSKNT, Misotheist and Sulpur.

Ah fuck I didn't know Orden Ogan's one was already out. Guess I have to give that a listen now.

New EP from Lovebites is really good. I also liked the new Orden Ogan. Very solid.

The new Mare cognitum album is already out and it's great.



Monte Penumbra new album is cool black metal too.



https://montepenumbra.bandcamp.com/albu ... -firmament

My favorite release of the year so far. Massive and captivating.

The new Tribulation and Suffering Hour are close behind on my list.

Demiser - Through the Gate Eternal

Blackened speed/thrash done really welll. Very riffy, tight, and perfect production. This should be on a lot of end of the year lists for thrashers.

Enforced - Kill Grid (Crossover/Thrash)
The Crown - Royal Destroyer (Melodic Death/Thrash
Skullsplitter - Demo 2021 (demo) (Melodic Death/Thrash)

New Panopticon went up for pre-order on Bandcamp today.



I can definitely relate to the feeling that their releases lately are more like experimental jam sessions than planned albums, which is weird because the early ones had such a keen progression. If you swapped two tracks on Diotima, it could break the album. If you swapped two tracks on a newer one, I honestly might not notice.

But I look at it like these dudes gave me four of my all-time favorite albums in a span of five years and I can hardly fault them for continuing to have fun together after that initial spark of inspiration fizzed out a bit. I guess I go in with fairly low expectations and enjoy the basic fact that they're still making music? Given more extended repetition, I don't see Demonic Wealth pushing a competitive spot on my 2021 list, but I definitely got a kick out of the weird approach they took on it. Mass Cathexis kind of left me going what are you even doing anymore.

I'm really digging the new Dvne album, they've got that prog/stoner/sludge sound down pat, and managed to do a good job following up the Omega Severer EP. I'm not sure if this is as good as Asheran, but it's definitely one of the best releases in this genre I've heard so far this year.

Ulthima - Symphony of the Night Finnish Melodeath, not innovative but pleasant sounding
Upon the Altar - Absid ab Ordine Luminis Blackened Death, hateful, fierce
also Vindsval's AtmoBM project Forhist

Thron put out a really good melodic black metal album last month that went a bit overlooked IMO.

I guess this was technically first released in 2020 so it sort of doesn't count, but the Debemur Morti reissue is the first I've heard of this band so I'm going to include it here. From what I understand these guys started out as a straightforward brutal death metal band, but they completely shifted gears and turned into a somewhat dissonant, cavernous death metal band.

Technically this hasn't been released yet, comes out april 29th according to bandcamp (and the price there as to be a joke for being available early) but since there's already a full stream available on youtube and you can listen to the whole thing on bandcamp as well, I felt it would fit better here instead of the anticipated albums thread, mods can delete it if that's not the case.

Misotheismus - Demo I
https://misotheismus.bandcamp.com/releases



Geat early 90's style Black Metal demo. A band to keep an eye on.

The new Fuath album is pretty good:

Jesus. Thank you for sharing this! What the hell is it? Who are these guys? This is seriously impressive stuff.

I thought the vocalist sounded familiar, and yep, it's Jón Aldará from Barren Earth!

Cool stuff. The one thing I would change is that mind-shatteringly loud snare.

Ah man, I've been trying to place the vocals all day. I didn't know it is the Barren Earth guy. He actually reminds me of someone else, but I can't put a finger on it. It's been driving me crazy.

I figured it out the moment I heard the vocals, his cadence and delivery are pretty unique and easily recognizable if you've listened to his other projects (Hamferd and Barren Earth).

To stay on topic, I'm digging the new release from Kankar.

Been trying to get into the new Iotunn album, but I can't get into the vocals at all. I really really really enjoyed their debut EP from some years back, The Wizard Falls, but it had a different singer with a very different vocal style to the Barren Earth/Hamferd guy.

Otherwise, really digging the new Drüben album. Nothing new under the sun, but pretty solid 2nd wave norwegian black metal ala Burzum minus synths and Panzerfaust-era Darkthrone.
https://drueben.bandcamp.com/album/ormene-der-fuglene-til-sidst

If you're into dark, cavernous death metal like Dead Congregation, Spectral Voice, Engulfed, Cruciamentum etc. I'd suggest you check out this EP by Fossilization, a new band formed by members of Jupiterian.

Hell yes, was just about to post that. Everlasting Spew is my new must-buy-everything label. They've basically become the European Dark Descent.

Everlasting Spew has definitely put out some great releases over the past few years. I'm looking forward to that Diabolizer album they'll be releasing later in the year, which should be killer.

For anyone looking for heavy/speed metal that hearkens back to Japanese bands like Loudness and X Japan, the new Significant Point album might be up your alley.

Invultation - Unconquerable Death


Released earlier this month. Black/death in the style of stuff like Archgoat and Profanatica. Has some groove to it that helps it stand out from the crowd. Maybe, my favorite death metal album so far this year.