I had this week’s column basically wrapped up, and then I heard the news that Neseblod Records had a devastating fire, and that sort of changed my outlook. For the six of you living under a rock, Neseblod is a record store in Oslo that is operated out of the location that used to be Helvete, the store owned by Euronymous and the launchpad of the activities that got most of us interested in black metal in the first place. To say there’s a cosmic irony that a fire occurred there would be in poor taste, but it’s not like I’m known for being a decent human being. In recent times, Neseblod has beco ..read more

When it comes to being burned out, Sundowner are very nearly religious about it. The Australian sludge band take an over-the-top approach to nihilism and despondency, instilling a mystic quality in their deep-rooted antipathy. As you listen to their new album Lysergic Ritual, which we’re streaming here ahead of its 4/20 release date (because, of course), let the album’s harsh approach to riffy sludge tap into your wellspring of negativity. It’s okay to feel bad, Lysergic Ritual says, offering up some of the worst stuff the world has to offer as proof. … SUNDOWNER · Lysergic Ritual … While you ..read more

Alright, I won’t bury the lede here – beyond hinting that a new album is ‘coming soon’, cosmic death metal entity Blood Incantation so far has not revealed any details on what’s to come. However, to stimulate your minds and prepare those neurons for their next dosage of galatically-oriented frequencies, today they’ve released an incredibly fitting music video for “Luminescent Bridge,” the B-side instrumental and title track of their recent Decibel maxi-single. It’s bizarre, but on brand and nails the song’s atmosphere. … … Blood Incantation comments: Originally conceived as an acou ..read more

Ixion has always been a band that applies their chosen subject matter of science fiction more broadly than most. They make their stories vast and their scope grand, and then position their deeply personal music against these backdrops as if arraying them to heighten the contrast. Though the French band explores the cosmos through atmospheric doom metal, they do so while remaining intensely emotional and always inquisitive. Their newest project is a sort of meta-album, Evolution, that looks at humanity’s fate alongside the rise of androids. The first part of this work, the Extinction EP,  ..read more

Norway’s Inferno Metal Festival is a yearly celebration of extreme metal that always commands a stunning lineup. This year was no different, with a selection of legacy metal acts like Candlemass, Dimmu Borgir, and Cynic joined by a ridiculously stacked lineup of black metal – everything from Saor to Winterfylleth and Gorgoroth – plus a well-rounded selection of other genres and even some adjacent acts like the revered Arthur Brown and Jo Quail. The fest ran from March 28th to March 31st of this year. Our photographer Kass Carmona was on the scene and captured a huge swath of the bands in detai ..read more

The Second Wave(Northeast Dungeon Siege in Worcester MA, 3/28-4/1) [Note: More photography for both shows is available on Kap’s blog – Synth Digest] I am just joking about the second wave of dungeon synth, by the way (I also have a joke about post-dungeon synth.) Though if you were to entertain the idea of dungeon synth, since the pandemic, growing into another era, I think you could find evidence about it being something new and being steered by passionate artists, promoters, labels, and fans. It’s almost as if, following the 2023 installment of the Northeast Dungeon Siege (NEDS), live dung ..read more

Back in 2022, Sonja‘s debut album Loud Arriver did exactly what it said it did — it came on the scene with a bang. The Philadelphia-based group, led by Melissa Moore of Crossspitter, mixed heavy metal, gothic rock, and velvet sensuality into a heady concoction that nailed a vibe very few bands have ever achieved. It reached the #5 position on our “best of” list back in 2022, one of only three debuts to land in that list. Now, although their future plans are still shrouded (except for a lot of upcoming tour dates – see below), Sonja has signed to Century Media and released a new single to mark ..read more

Already known for wreaking chaos on a global scale, Swedish metallic hardcore unit God Mother are returning with their new EP Sinneseld and more of their trademark madness. I originally ran into this band at New York City’s Terminal 5 as part of the original run of Dillinger Escape Plan farewell shows, one that also included a performance of said band’s Irony Is a Dead Scene EP with Mike Patton. Their live performance was enough to make sure I followed them on subsequent releases, including their previous full-length, 2017’s Vilseledd which was featured on Dillinger’s label Party Smasher. Thei ..read more

In the six years since Thou‘s debut on their current label Sacred Bones, Magus, the band has dropped a slew of collaborations, compilations, and other offerings, but the last two years have been radio silence. Today, the silence breaks in characteristically caustic fashion with a new album announcement and a new ‘youth crew anthem’ single with a lot more distortion than that phrase implies. The band’s sound takes a new shape each time we hear from them, really, and this time that shape is unrestricted violence: the lead single “I Feel Nothing When You Cry” laces hardcore punk with sludgy bile ..read more

Here are all the new releases for April 7th through April 13th. Releases reflect proposed North American scheduling, if available. Expect to see most of these albums on shelves or distros on Fridays. See something we missed or have any thoughts? Let us know in the comments. Plus, as always, feel free to post your own shopping lists. Happy digging. Send us your promos (streaming links preferred) to: editors@invisibleoranges.com. Do not send us promo material via social media. New Releases 4/7-4/13 Whores. — War | eOne | Sludge Metal | United States (Atlanta, Georgia) The latest Whores. album bo ..read more