Metal Riot

While brains reel from the moronic false equivalency that rappers are “bullied by the Gay community” (according to T.I.), let me just ask if I imagined “No Vaseline” being critically acclaimed for years despite how problematic it always was? Or Army Of The Pharaohs being basically unlistenable to me due to how many times the songs say F++got. If you want to use a genre that is inherently supposed to be anti-bigotry to spew insecure, weak projected cis het toxic masculinity, see a fucking therapist. It’s 2021, enough bullshit.

Underdark finally have released their Our Bodies Burned Bright On Re-Entry opus, which felt at times like it would never arrive! Five sturdy tunes from the anti-fascist black metal collective full of atmosphere, dark grace and hope for a better world! What’s not to love? The distortion will knock you backwards and the compositions are very well arranged with never a drop of feeling sacrificed. And they aren’t narcissistic draconian conservative edgelord bootlickers misdirected into thinking they are rebels! Always a plus in black metal! And that cover art is stunning.

By the time you get through the numerous explosive, heart rending moments to the climactic dirge of “Skeleton Queen” your jaw will be on the floor.

For Vinyl/CS/ Digital Downloads, Please visit:

Surviving Sounds (UK): survivingsounds.bandcamp.com

Through Love Records (Euro): shop.throughloverec.com

Tridroid Records US/CAN): tridroid.bandcamp.com

Kris Esfandiari has some of the most inventive vocal patterns in modern music, soothing, terrifying, jazzy and commanding from one measure to the next.

Also out today of course is the essential new King Woman album Celestial Blues, which I couldn’t possibly gush about more. It is truly a divine day for groundbreaking and imaginative, soul-stirring heavy releases. You can read my review of Celestial Blues right here, five out of five stars. Fucking Hell, I’d give it more if our site module was designed that way, lol. Kris and company deserve all the props in the world for how real they go into places many fear to tread, genuine shadow work shit. The way out is through. Fucking unreal levels of awesome. “Golgotha” and “Morning Star” ALONE as a two song 7″ would already be two of the most memorable songs of any year, compelling vocal layering paired with sophisticated musical choices creating massive results.

These two records are two of my absolutely most stoked for releases for 2021 and I am thrilled they have arrived to make life more bearable, especially after a week where we had so much loss in the metal and rock world. Forward, march.

Helloween‘s S/T new album is, frankly, smashing some pumpkins! That is to say it is kicking ass! The album is the first released with the “Pumpkins United” line-up, which marked the return of original member Kai Hansen on guitars and vocals and Michael Kiske on vocals in 2016, in addition to the five-member line-up active since 2005.

Says the veteran heavy metal institution: “Our new album, Helloween has now reached top positions worldwide, more than ten Top 10 entries with an incredible number #1 in Germany and Spain, as well as more #1 positions at the physical charts in Sweden, Finland as well as the rock charts in the United Kingdom! THANK YOU, PUMPKINHEADS AROUND THE WORLD!”

The Germany and Spain news gave me power metal chills of joy and reverence. How rad to see metal still loved and welcome in the wider world. Are they having the “Best Time” of their journey? Hard to say, but certainly an awesome win for the band! All Hail the Pumpkin King, etc.

Irish metal band FOR RUIN is proud to release a 10-track CD titled SET IN STONE. The CD will be available from today as a special limited edition from the band’s Bandcamp.

Set In Stone features two brand new and previously unreleased tracks, unique to the Set In Stone physical CD release along with the 8 songs that were previously released digitally as the ELAPSE and RELAPSE EPs during the past year. The new songs plus old bangers (including the punishing “Only The Dead”) showcase this band’s expert control over the carnage inducing power of melodic yet extreme metal guitars, churning rhythms and take no prisoners vocals. RIYL At The Gates, Cradle of Filth, etc.

The 10 songs have been mastered by Marko Tervonen (The Crown) at Studio-MT, in Sweden. Artwork for the CD comes from Ken Coleman (Morbid Angel, The Cranberries etc).

1 – Wrack & Ruin
2 – Set In Stone
3 – Elapse
4 – Fuel To The Fire
5 – The Worm Turned
6 – The Measure Of A Man
7 – Devout
8 – Only The Dead
9 – In Vain
10 – Bastion

Band Discography

Set In Stone CD (2021)
Relapse EP (2021)
Elapse EP (2020)
Ater Angelus CD (Full length, 2013)
Mortal EP, (2013)
Last Light (CD, 2009)
Enlightened EP, (2013)
December (CD, 2007)
Demos – Split (2004), Shade (2005) & Obsidian (2006)

Noise architect Gridfailure, the experimental ongoing catharsis of David Brenner, has teamed up with world-renowned trumpet player Mac Gollehon for an entire album, Dismemberment Cabaret. Stream it at MetalSucks HERE in advance of its official Nefarious Industries release tomorrow, May 21. Open your mind and let these masters of avant-garde brain melting noise jazz  alter it forever. RIYL Miles Davis, Nadja, Boredoms, John Zorn, Painkiller.

With simply one listen to ’68’s thunderous opening track “The Knife, The Knife, The Knife” from new (third) record Give One Take One you will know you are not only witnessing a special moment in the band’s development into something even more formidable but it is also very obvious that this crowd pleaser in waiting for live shows is destined to be a complete free for all when people can enjoy raging to it safely.

Produced by Grammy-winner Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Alice In Chains) has managed to help coax the band into catchier territory that renders them even more anthemic without losing ANY of their immediacy. Few bands out right now could pull off what “Life And Debt” does without sounding overly earnest or self-conscious.

Give One Take One combines the band’s penchant for two man carnival showmanship with higher than ever octane Black Flag meets Blues Explosion spiritual adrenaline highs. The whole thing leaves competition in the dust and shows better than ever the insane chemistry of this duo.

Josh Scogin grew by leaps and bounds as an entertainer during the reign of the fabulous and chaotic post hardcore band The Chariot (who surpassed Norma Jean in quality quite rapidly). ’68 however continues to stake a claim for the most theatrical project from Scogin yet, which is saying something! Nikko Yamada is unstoppable, combining Lightning Bolt-esque jaw dropping feats of daring with finesse and groove and a very adept talent for knowing when less is more and more is even more.

Speaking on the album release, Scogin said:
“This album has been a long time coming. We recorded in the summer of 2019 and had to sit on them until now, the next step in to see these songs fulfilled live. I’m hoping that comes sooner than later.” 

He further commented on the creation of the documentary:
“While we sat in limbo during the 2020 shutdown, I gathered all my footage that I had and created a documentary. It was mostly done for fun, to keep me from losing my mind because I’m not good at sitting idle.  The end product shows a small glimpse into the world of ‘68 and how winging it by the seat of your pants can be a real adventurous way to live.”

Seriously, this record is pure rock’ n roll, about as good as it gets in 2021 or any year.

The new release Void & Decay from WITHIN NOSTALGIA drops today, a well produced yet spirited blend of creative expression, oppressive musings and glimmers of hope. The five song effort is a cool late year addition to a 2020 that was stuffed with impressive material from many artists in the metal world, as worthy as anything else out there of your time and more so than many. The digital album is just $5 on Bandcamp and could appeal to fans of colder USBM or psych metal. I would kill to see them play a concert with Cardinal Wyrm, who also just released a super trippy and killer late 2020 effort.

There is a video for my favorite track from the release called “Desideratum” you can vibe with below.

Refusing to be restricted to a single sub-genre, Within Nostalgia flirts with a wide range of influences, including black, doom, and death. The band comments on the album:

“We’re very excited to put this release out. Not only for fans but for ourselves as well since we’ve really found our sound and direction. You can obviously tell there is a black metal influence but it’s so much more than that on this album. We’ve really embraced the strangeness of our sound and let go of any preconceived notation of what “metal” is to us.”

I am gonna be sure to crank this a bunch as I channel the weird energy building up to the important December 21st, 2020 Jupiter and Saturn conjunction, baby.

On October 16th, Rivers of Nihil will release LP re-issues of their sophomore album, 2015’s Monarchy, via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order your copy now at: https://www.metalblade.com/riversofnihil – where hoodie, t-shirt, guitar tab book and flag bundles are also available!