My whole thing is doing a single article covering my five favourite records released each month. It’s easy for me to keep up with (he says, having never posted an article on time) and it’s theoretically of greater value than picking and choosing individual albums to review every week. This is concentrated curation.
That being said, most months there are albums I really feel bad missing out. October’s releases were so strong I can probably pull out another 10 albums that are genuinely worthy of your time. I’m going to give it a go now anyway, and you can let me know if I’m wrong. As always, these are in no order, and can all be found on my October playlist.
The fourth release from this American black-metal adjacent metal band. Atmospheric in places, symphonic elements used tastefully, brutally heavy when required. Really enjoyed this one.
Malcolm Pugh is tech death’s Misha Mansoor. I’m sure you know who Inferi is. If not, Of Sunless Realms is as good a starting place as any.
Inferi is the new standard for technical death metal.
A two-track album from this French post-black outfit, coming in at just shy of 44 minutes.
As many doom acts know, there’s a lot you can do in a song if you just make it 20 minutes BUT there are no wasted moments here. *kiss*
A prog metal debut this good from a three-piece?! Well, there are also nine guest musicians credited. But I’ll forgive them since it’s taken them 4 years to write and release it!
There’s been a lot of love put into this and it shows.
Arkheron Thodol – Rituals of the Sovereign Heart
This was so close to replacing Toadeater, but I simply listened to that more.
The 3rd release from this 5-piece who utilise a 12 string guitar to flesh out their fantastic atmospheric black metal.
I mean, obviously. This is a great record and it wasn’t on my list because I chose to highlight work that others may not have heard and everyone fuckin loves Touché Amoré anyway.
I felt Anaal Nathrakh’s release was stronger than this, and I didn’t want to put too much similar on my list.
Sarcoptes is not directly analogous to AN, however!
This is very sick atypical black thrash I will be buying.
Undeath – Lesions of a Different Kind
This wasn’t on my list because I didn’t listen to it enough.
It’s a bit good though, eh…
Plus, who the fuck else is opening death metal songs with a rototom fill?
Emma Ruth Rundle, Thou – May Our Chambers Be Full
This release was marked by a music journo wankfest. And rightly so, but I left it off my top five list simply because I didn’t put enough time into it to judge it realistically.
A spectacular release.
Wake’s Devouring Ruin is one of my favourites of the year. It shows them expanding from death-grind and growing proggy and melodic arms and legs.
Confluence is a 3-track EP showcasing what I hope to be their future direction. Anything but generic.
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