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What’s up, everyone. We hope all is going well in your corner of the world. Welcome back to the void where we ramble about yet another box of new-ish tunes and odd frequencies for you to explore.
In this one, we cover territories that lean into realms of industrial metal, cosmic death metal, chug-da-chug hardcore, minimalist dungeon synth, balmy crust punk, and noise-oozing powerviolence. There are quite a few grotty timbres harbored in this one, but there are a few tufts of calm that pock the episode’s duration. Many of these releases dropped in the early summer months of 2022, so we hope our ramblings shed some light on releases you might have missed. That being said, you can peruse the full list of what’s covered throughout this episode below. Timestamps are provided for each single, EP, split, or album, in case you want to jump to any particular segment of the conversation.
If you have some artists, albums, singles, or any other form of musical media you’d like us to consider for an upcoming episode, please feel free to send us an email or reach out at one of our various social media channels. We’ll be back in about a month with more tunes to yammer about. Thank you all so much for your continued support!
Segment 01: Band Developments
Dawnwalker‘s fifth studio album, House of Sand, will release on August 19, 2022. We’ll be rambling at length about it in the next episode. You can peruse a couple of its tracks, “R.I.P.” and “Coming Forth By Day”, on their Bandcamp page. If you’ve not checked them before, we highly recommend exploring their prior LP, Ages, as it’s a progressive metal epic pocked with lush folk melodies
We also spoke about Shinedown‘s latest record, Planet Zero, as well as a new track from Disturbed (“Hey You”) and Hollywood Undead (“Trap God”). Don’t ask us why. We already know we wasted our time (and brain cells). We did it so you didn’t have to.
Segment 02: New(-ish) Tracks
Tulip – “Creature, Not a Bug” (00:14:30)
The lead single from the Minneapolis synthgrinding quartet, Tulip. This comes off their final record, Derangement, Exquisite Tenderness, which was fully released on July 15, 2022. (Highly recommend checking all of their output, especially their self-titled release from 2019).
Black Magnet – “Floating in Nothing” (00:16:58)
A single from the Oklahoma City-based industrial metal solo project, Black Magnet (helmed by James Hammontree). The full album dropped via 20 Buck Spin on July 29, 2022.
Valborg – “Sehnsucht nach Unendlichkeit” (00:18:54)
The first new single from the German industrial death-doom trio, Valborg, off their upcoming album Der Alte (releases September 9, 2022). Quite the dreamy atmosphere percolates.
END / Cult Leader – “Eden Will Drown” / “Ataraxis” (00:21:40)
Two fresh and bludgeoning cuts from END and Cult Leader. These come off their upcoming four-track split, Gather & Mourn, which will release on September 9, 2022, via Closed Casket Activities.
Labyrinth of Stars – “Star Pervertor” (00:25:53)
The debut single from a novel death metal trio, featuring members of Valborg and Lantlôs. Spectrum Xenomorph, will be out on September 30, 2022, via Translation Loss Records. It’s a treat to hear Markus (of Lantlôs) making repulsive music again.
Gonemage – “Stairwell of Gore and The Faceless Apparition” (00:30:32)
The lead single from the latest chiptune-infused black metal project, Gonemage. This is a special track for us, as the narrative running through it is inspired by a few harrowing spells of sleep paralysis experiences I endured several years ago. Handheld Demise will release on September 30, 2022.
Segment 03: EPs, Splits, and/or Demos
Riversleem – A Debut Release (00:35:22)
As the title implies, this is the debut EP from the Saskatoon hardcore quartet, Riversleem. Vociferous vocal squawks, molten riffs, and punishing percussion. This was originally independently released by the band in February 2021 but was then re-released by Zegema Beach Records on June 22, 2022.
Hekselbad – Abattoir Dust Vol. 2 (00:39:50)
Three new tunes from the Michigan/Massachusetts black metal duo known as Hekselbad. Frost-bitten riffs and mystifying wisps of ambience inspired by the Witcher series. You can peruse the full split (with bands Vér and Nachtheir) via wilt-shine.
Threats / Smug Anime Face – Split (00:45:40)
Absolutely nanners hardcore punk (Threats) and off-kilter noise-punk/cybergrind (Smug Anime Face). Three tracks total, clocking in at about eleven minutes, from two Hobart bands we hadn’t known of until stumbling upon this split.
Glazeddeathdoughnut – scoobydoo (deathonvhs) (00:49:48)
Honestly, I thought this was going to sound like shoe shit. To my surprise though, it ended up being a fun death metal romp with a Mr. Krabs sound sample. A succinct two-track EP from a death metal joke band.
Moon Pussy / Mirakler – Split (00:54:04)
A couple new tracks from the noise rock buds Moon Pussy (based in Denver) and Mirakler (based in Pittsburgh). The Ghost is Clear Records has been putting out some killer material as of late, turning us on to a slew of noise rock artists, like Infinity Land, NERVER, and Big Water.
Segment 04: Weird Bandcamp Picks
Forever Stuck on This Nightmare They Called Planet Earth – Stagnant Rain (00:59:33)
This one made me question Connor’s sanity for a minute. Though the vocals really aren’t my cup of tea, I enjoy its warbling guitar frequencies, vibrating low ends, and ambient touches (the crashing of waves, the chirping of birds, etc.).
feth – O death, where is thy sting? (01:05:33)
Some stellar minimalist/lo-fi dungeon synth from the U.K. This is their second album, which was released on June 23, 2022. Imagine being strapped to the back of a beetle as it trawls through a network of tunnels burrowed by its colony. If you’re keen on what you hear, be sure to check their other releases: Field, Forest, & Fen, With Great Wings and Many Feathers, and The Beast Aeon.
Segment 05: Forgotten Recents
Rigorous Institution – Cainsmarsh (01:11:50)
The debut record from the bedraggled crust punk outfit known as Rigorous Institution. They’re from Portland, OR. I absolutely adore this record, as it’s laden with a balmy and stifling atmosphere, mostly propelled by thick effusions of synth. It ranks among one of my favorite discoveries from this year. It was released on May 6, 2022, via Black Water Records.
Arkaik – Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (01:18:22)
The fifth studio album from the Santa Cruz tech-death trio, Arkaik. Both Connor and I hadn’t heard of this band until this release of theirs. We theorized that the concept of this record pertains to the ghosts’ perspective of getting maimed by Pacman. This album was released via The Artisan Era on March 11, 2022.
Trauma Bond – Winter’s Light (01:22:18)
Grotty, noise-oozing powerviolence from the U.K. duo Trauma Bond. They formed in the winter of 2020. Hammering drums, caustic riffing, and venomous vocals culminate into a sub-22-minute encounter with blunt force trauma. Winter’s Light was released on June 6, 2022.
Segment 06: Albums of Focus
Hermit Knight - Once
Timestamp in episode: 01:25:26
The sophomore record from the solo cozy synth project Hermit Knight. This project is helmed by Nicholas, the founder, and owner of WereGnome Records, based out of Rochester, NY. Once was released under WereGnome Records on June 24, 2022.
White Ward - False Light
Timestamp in episode: 01:35:15
The third opus from Ukraine’s noir black metal project White Ward. Saxophone-infused black metal with a litany of fascinating tonal variety that spans the gamut of post-punk atmosphere, dark jazz, and post-metal. False Light was released by Debemur Morti Productions on June 17, 2022.
Sunrise Patriot Motion - Black Fellflower Stream
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If you’ve scrolled this far, thank you so much for perusing the bands featured in this episode. All the links to our socials can be found below.
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