1. // Zeal & Ardor – Greif (Redacted Gmbh)
Masterminded by Swiss multi-instrumentalist and singer Manuel Gagneux – Zeal & Ardor have a unique style which blends elements of Post-Black Metal, with an alternative Delta-Blues kind of influence. And from their debut Stranger Fruit (2018) through to the release of their incredible self-titled album in 2022, this is a sound that Gagneux has honed to perfection. With Greif, for the first time the visionary musician has invited his touring band into the studio to record with him. And the result is a record which may just be their finest yet, as it develops their style and takes the music deep into new waters.
Opening with Gagneux’s instantly recognisable vocal tones on the intro of ‘the Bird, the Lion and the Wildkin,’ a rumbling and ominous bass tone drops before the incredibly catchy ‘Fend You Off’ takes a hold of your senses, in the best possible way. ‘Kilonova’ is incredibly funky and melts into the soft and chilled ‘are you only one now?’ – lulling you into a false sense of security before the song delivers a blackened blast of fury. Some of the tracks such as ‘Disease,’ ‘Thrill’ and ‘Sugarcoat’ provide a crossover Rock sound similair to QOTSA or The Black Keys. While others such as ‘Clawing Out,’ ‘Solace’ and ‘Hide in Shade’ provide intriguing experiments in darkness … a curious blend for sure! KZ
2. // Spectral Wound – Songs of Blood and Mire (Profound Lore Records)
Spectral Wound rose from the Black Metal scene in Montreal, Québec – to establish themselves as one of the premier genre bands in the Canadian / North American scene. In particular their 2021 release A Diabolical Thirst stood out as one of the best Black Metal releases in recent years. They’ve always purveyed a dark, frenetic and thoroughly Old-School style of the art, with a high quality of music that has firmly established their reputation. And it’s safe to say that ‘Songs of Blood and Mire’ delivers more of the same quality, across seven new intoxicating songs.
‘Fevers and Suffering’ opens with a Speed-Punk infused rhythm. The vocals are piercing and venomous. Yet sit perfectly in the mix, never over-powering the music. ‘At Wine-Dark Midnight in the Mouldering Halls’ opens with an infectious tremelo riff, dark and deadly in its execution. It then drops the pace momentarily, with the arrangement and style drawing comparisons with recent releases from the likes of Dödsrit and Downfall of Gaia. ‘Aristocratic Sucidal Black Metal’ is as Old-School sounding as it gets, and a little Black N Roll in places. The riffs are intensely dark throughout, yet the rhythm is often uplifting – as showcased on ‘A Coin Upon the Tongue,’ and the epic closer ‘Twelve Moons In Hell.’ KZ
3. // Umbra Vitae – Light of Death (Deathwish Inc.)
Umbra Vitae are one of many side projects from Converge vocalist Jacob Bannon. And are perhaps the closest in sound to his legendary metallic Post-Hardcore band, as they purvey a thoroughly chaotic style of extreme music … albeit taking inspiration from more of a traditional Death-Metal style. Formed alongside members of Hatebreed and The Red Chord (who Bannon also plays with in the experimental and more melodic project Wear Your Wounds) – Umbra Vitae released their debut album Shadow of Life in 2020, before dropping this follow up back in June 2024.
And they certainly don’t mess around, as opener ‘Leave of Absence’ shows their hand with an immediate blast of aggression, and where Bannon’s unmistakable vocal rasp spits venom over jarring distortion. ‘Belief Is Obsolete’ pays homage to Old-School Floridian Death-Metal with its pummelling riff. While ‘Anti-Spirit Machine’ provides a slice of Sludgy-Thrash, before breaking out into stomping Death-Metal once again. Light of Death leaps from one blast of frenetic pounding aggression to the next, but this is broken momentarily by the slower, haunting ‘Velvet Black.’ A captivating song with a cleaner vocal style from Bannon. KZ
3. // Respire – Hiraeth (Dine Alone Records)
Another Canadian band who have released a stunner of an album this summer, are Toronto’s Respire. Following up the excellent Black Line (2020) with Hiraeth – a scintillating and highly experimental blend of Black-Gaze, with Avantgarde-Screamo and vast orchestral elements. Taking influence from the Post-Black Metal scene as well as the Post-Rock style of their compatriots Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hiraeth provides a sonic overload of the senses! As well as a lyrical concept inspired by the immigrant experience – exploring the reasons behind why humans are forced to uproot and move their lives.
Opening with ‘Keening,’ Respire provide a traditional European Folk feel with a funky bass and cinematic strings. Soft melodies contrast with blasts of tempestuous excitement, pretty much summing up the whole record to be fair. ‘The Match, Consumed’ bursts out of the blocks, harsh and aggressive – while ‘Distant Light of Belonging’ begins in far calmer waters, with an infectious bouncy rhythm which descends into typical chaos. The contrasting clean singing and venomous blackened vocals on ‘First Snow’ and ‘Home of Ash,’ again showcase the records range – evident throughout, as Hiaeth provides a thoroughly engaging and wholly unique listening experience, from start to finish. KZ
5. // Copse – MMXXIV (Church Road Records)
Hailing from Bristol, Copse are a band who have already made their mark as one of the UK’s finest purveyors of contemporary Post-Black Metal. Building their reputation with two quality EP releases on Church Road Records, and a number of formidable live shows. MMXXIV released in August 2024 joins together the four tracks of their two previous Ep’s, wrapped around a serene and dream-like interlude. A sombre intro sets the tone of the release, as the crackling of a fire sits alongside a soft organ and echoing clean guitar – eventually giving way to the tempestuous blackened drop of ‘Mara.’
Fast, deep and mesmerising, the song evokes a powerful emotion from within. ‘Mondrem’ offers a darker yet alluring riff, on a song where uplifting melodies contrast with sweeping Black Metal. Beautiful yet haunting, ‘Old Belief’ is a heavier cut which really highlights the impressive rasping vocals of Ed Garrod-Gibbs. While the 14 minute ‘New Despair’ provides the only clean singing on the release. As the song masterfully slow-burns, building the tension before eventually exploding to life … and providing one hell of a climax! KZ
6. // Nails – Every Bridge Burning (Nuclear Blast Records)
It’s been eight years since Nails released their last album You Will Never Be One of Us (2016) – and their cult-like status in the Grindcore scene has meant this this has been one hotly anticipated new release. Formed by ex-Terror guitarist Todd Jones back in 2009, Every Bridge Burning marks their fourth LP release, and see’s the frontman joined by an entirely new line-up. Recorded by Converge guitarist and all-round production wizard Kurt Ballou in his God City Studio, the record somehow manages to provides ten songs … in less than twenty minutes.
And as ever, Nails produce music that is not for the faint hearted, which the crunching power and speed of ‘Imposing Will’ makes clear from the opening bars. ‘Punishment Map’ rubber stamps their authority as Nails deliver pummelling pit-inducing noise. This is music at its most extreme, as the record delivers an almost relentless rage for the duration of its short sharp blast of a run time. However they do find time to drop the pace a little on the Doomy-Death Metal of ‘Lacking the Ability to Process Empathy.’ And again on closer ‘No More Rivers to Cross’ – with the latter providing a sumptuous guitar lick and an old-school Slayer vibe on the final lead riff. KZ
Words by Abstrakt_Soul
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