EMIL’S DEEP UNDERGROUND RECOS (part I)
As if you actually needed more music recommendations this year. As I’ve mentioned in the past, 2018 is the best year for rock and metal new releases, in the last 25 years. Even with that abundance of new music you’ve got to listen to recently, I felt that this ten most recent – deep underground, mostly overlooked releases deserve further attention. Enjoy the music!
ALTERSELF “Frost” 9/24/2018 Athens, Greece
Outstanding death/thrash power trio! Well conversed brutality. Impeccable riffage throughout. Sophomore effort from the (still) unsigned act. Count Vlad made the parallel with 89-91 era Sepultura!
FATE BREAKS DAWN
“Deviate” 9/13/2018 NYC, New York, US
Great debut effort. Well recorded, modern, slightly hardcore tainted, progressive power/trash. Variety of vocal tones (full range), styles and delivery. High energy – bridges very well old school with newer trends.
LUCIS ABSENTIA
“Gehenna Gate” 8/25/2018 Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Formally known as Gomorrah. Blend of modern and old school thrash metal with progressive and death elements. Independently released full-length album w/ over 70 minutes of music.
THE JOURNEY
“Another Reality” 9/17/2018 Nicaragua
Terrific heavy metal debut effort. Music and Lyrics by Maverick Rosales Sequeira (all instruments). Vocals, production, mixing and mastering by Chris Clancy (frontman of Mutiny Within).
UPON RUINS
“Legacy Of Desolation” 9/21/2018 New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fantastic blend of melodic death metal, traditional thrash and heavy metal, on this debut album by the East Coast Canadians. Lyrical themes focused on the conflicts of past civilizations. Euro death and Viking metal fans take note.
IGNORANCE FLOWS
“Rotten Riot” 9/14/2018 Italy
With 10 “in your face” tracks, absolutely rooted in the 80s, Ignorance Flows mixes influences both from the Teutonic and the Bay Area thrash scenes. Debut released by Italian Death Storm Records.
PRAISE THE PLAGUE
“Antagonist” 9/13/2018 Berlin, Germany
Über-quality blackened doom metal from the young German outfit. 90s black metal style production and throat-shredding screams. After this approximately 30 minutes of pure desperate, dark depression, you’ll be left wanting more! Re-play!
DISHONOUR THE CROWN
“The English Way” 9/10/2018 UK
After a short hiatus the crossover/hardcore/punk/thrash South West Londoners unleashed the fury with the arrival of their debut full-length. Cited influences: Slayer, Pantera, Discharge, The Exploited & Testament. Ringworm fans will truly appreciate this.
KRIGSGRAV
“Leave No Path To Follow” 9/22/2018 Keller, Texas, US
The Texan doom tainted post-black metallers return with a vengeance! Recorded as a duo: David Sikora (bass/drums/clean vocals) and Justin Coleman (guitars/harsh vocals). Krigsgrav means “war grave” in Danish.
ANTIVERSE
“Under The Regolith” 10/19/2018 Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Wall of guitars! Melodic death/trash executed with talent and precision. Very good songwriting skills on this full-length sophomore effort. The two guitarist are also sharing vocal duties. Fans of the latest Tribulation will find enjoyable.
© 2018 by Emil Chiru