Written by Kep, Westin, Ellis, Kirk, and Espi Kvlt Welcome to the midpoint of 2024! This year we’re mixing it up, and instead of a June release roundup, we’re doing individual quick-hit best album lists. Read on for five “Best of 2024…So Far” lists from our writing staff and make sure to hit us up on Twitter to let us know how vehemently you disagree. We begin with the writer whose taste is by far the most well-rounded: WESTIN (Albums listed in alphabetical order) Allie X – Girl With No Face This is one of the most addicting albums I’ve listened to all year; Allie is an absolute master at ..read more

Written by Kep Amiensus – Reclamation: Part 1 > Progressive black metal > Minnesota, US > Releasing April 26 > M-Theory Audio When you think about black metal, there are probably certain adjectives that spring immediately to mind. Cold, for example, or maybe something like “icy” if you’re feeling frisky. Furious. Animalistic. Angry, or maybe anguished? Evil, I guess (sorry, I might be rolling my eyes a little bit). Unrelenting. Raw, maybe, depending on what sort of black metal most quickly comes to mind. “DIY” is one I think of also, since so many of the black metal ..read more

Written by Kirk Lotus Thief / Forlesen — Lotus Thief – Forlesen > Black/doom/post-/drone  > California, US > I, Voidhanger Records  > Releasing January 26 What do you know about black metal? While the history of black metal has been muddied by the racist and xenophobic tendencies of some of its forebears, nothing can compare with its inherently raw, amalgamous nature. Easily the most intense and extreme sub-genre of heavy metal, as an art form, it cannot, at its core, bear any singular meaning or ideal. These are and always have been inferred by the observer, often t ..read more

Written by Kirk Alright, fellow music lovers, the final push is here. I gave you my favorite singles of 2023, and then I gave you my favorite EPs. Now it’s time for the list you’ve all (not really) been waiting for: MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023. But, before I get started, I just want to point out that I think I listened to more new albums in 2023 than I’ve ever listened to in a single year in my entire life. From the first two Gorgons Alter releases from January 1 through Espi Kvlt’s album on December 27, this year has been nothing but wall-to-wall music. And while not all of it was metal or met ..read more

Written by Kirk I don’t know about you, but I love a good EP. Maybe it’s my ADHD or the fact that I spend so much time listening to music (seriously, it’s a lot), but I get kind of put out when I listen to an album that has, like, one or two really good songs and the rest don’t measure up. A good, tight, strong EP really is a treat, and you should never overlook them. EVER. 2023 was probably the first year in a while where I didn’t come across a lot of EPs. Between Bandcamp subscriptions, Noob Heavy reviews, and just personal shopping preferences, I was drowning in albums but barely up to my a ..read more

Written by Kep Welcome in, folks. This is my list of 2023’s best albums. I’ve got five honorable mentions and then 24 ordered entries. Why 24? Because I started to attempt a top 10 and it quickly swelled to an unmanageable number, which I then pared down as far as I could. I’m on vacation and there’s no time to waste, so let’s get going! The Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order): Acausal Intrusion – Panpsychism Convocation – No Dawn for the Caliginous Night Drache – Devenir le rien Fardeaux – The Den Has Become an Abyss Fires in the Distance  ..read more

Written by Kirk At the end of every year, we get flooded with lists of favorite albums. But what about those beloved songs that didn’t make it onto a full-length record? What about the tracks that got left on the cutting room floor or were left to stand on their own? That’s right, I’m talking about the singles. They deserve love, too, and I’m going to tell you my favorite single of 2023. Before I start going through my list, let me explain something: I don’t rank my releases. There are two categories—LOVED and HONORABLE MENTION—and I think they’re pretty self-explanatory. Also, I list the ..read more

Written by Westin, Kep, Ellis, and Kirk I know, the title is bad. I must be stopped, etc. Anyways, spooky season has ended, but luckily we can keep listening to October’s most kickass records forever. We reviewed several, but there’s a whole bunch more we loved. Dig in below for a dose of the good shit. Quick links to our reviews for October releases: Notturno – Inside Body Void – Atrocity Machine Aiwass – The Falling 20 Watt Tombstone – The Chosen Few Afterbirth – In but Not Of Howling Giant – Glass Future Lightlorn – At One With the Night Sky Adzes – InverHebephrenique – Non Compos Mentis An ..read more

Written by Kirk Adzes – Inver > Atmospheric sludge metal > New Zealand > Releasing October 27 > Self-release (digital)/Philip K. Discs (CD)/Euphoriadic (cassette) When discussing sludge metal, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For me, it’s an abrasive, aggressive approach to doom metal that shares a border with hardcore. Obviously, bands like Crowbar, Eyehategod, and Acid Bath come to mind as they were amongst the progenitors of the sub-genre, but the style has grown by leaps and bounds since its early days in the American deep south. Much like how Cajun culture bec ..read more

Written by Kep Dimwind – The Futility of Breathing > Instrumental post-metal > Sweden > Releasing April 21 > Trepanation Recordings I’ve reviewed releases from Dimwind twice before (their debut LP Slow Wave Violence and last year’s split with Breaths), and both times I was struck by their ability to convey a depth of emotion and a real sense of narrative in their signature instrumental texture. It’s easy to write music without vocals, but it’s often difficult to make the songs feel like they really mean something. Dimwind’s songwriting ..read more