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Reviews 170 Soundoffs 167 News Articles 23 Band Edits + Tags 272 Album Edits 1,063
Album Ratings 548 Objectivity 66%
Last Active 01-01-70 12:00 am Joined 01-01-70
Review Comments 32,020
| Deweekly: February 16th to February 22nd
It's that time of the month friends, happy new releases day. I hope you're ready for the likes of Darkspace, Ihsahn and Idles cause I believe those are the ones I'll be focsing on but let me know what are you're hyped about. Also, this week brings CHANGES (details in the comments, cause no one ever read these...) | 1 | | Ihsahn Ihsahn
Mnemosyne Productions / Candlelight Records // Symphonic Black Metal
I've read in a few places now that Ihsahn has effectively become the Devin Townsend of black metal, and believe it or not, this statement is not devoid of truth. The man's solo catalogue was already a force to reckon but this last album cements him as a true genius. He incorporates symphonies and orchestral arrangements into black metal in a way that dont feel likt each element belongs to different albums, plus his singing... well, that would need an entire new article. Just "magnifique"! Easily my favorite album this week.
Highlight: Blood Trails of Love
https://ihsahnalbum.bandcamp.com/album/ihsahn | 2 | | Darkspace Dark Space -II
Season of Mist // Black Metal / Ambient?
The long awaited follow up to their 2014 last release. It has taken 10 years and while a cursor listen might make you think "10 years for this?", Dark Space-II feels like a continuation of their first album instead of taking from where "Dark Space III I" left. I know, complicated album names... This release is one track of 40+ minutes, a basic 3 or 4 parts that repeat themselves playing with intensity and textures while a lady recites some kind of psalm... or it could be a diaper TV ad, who knows. In any case, the album hides a lot of details but it needs PAtience, lots of it.
Highlight: That one track...
https://darkspace.bandcamp.com/album/dark-space-ii-2 | 3 | | whyohwhy Bruises
Day After Records // Folk / Slowcore
You're not crazy. I did have Idles here at first but that album was such a disappointment that I decided to replace it with GOOD music. Anything on this "top 10" will be rejammed along the year and god knows I dont wanna hear that Idles album ever again. Someone (our someone, not just any someone) recommended this and as it's becoming customary, his rec was on point. Really amazing album, a crossroad between Big Thief and... I don't know, something else I can't pinpoint. Harmonized lady vocals and great musicianship and songwriting. Also Sunny just reviewed, in case you needed more proof this is worth peeking!
Highlight: Souvenir
https://ohwhyohwhy.bandcamp.com/album/bruises | 4 | | The Obsessed Gilded Sorrow
Ripple Music // Stoner Doom
Wino is back! The man is on his 60s but he sounds honestly great on this comeback. Fairly impressed with what The Obsessed has produced on this album, the songs are pretty solid and the album sounds great, although I could see anyone not familiar with the band having a different opinion.
Highlight: Daughter of an Echo
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/gilded-sorrow | 5 | | Laryssa Kim Contezza
City Tracks // Ambient / Soul / Experimental
Surprise of the week without a doubt. I immediately thought of something released by Ninja Tune looking at the cover, maybe she sounds like Andreya Triana... Well this, italo-congolese DJ and songwriter based in Belgium (quite a story there, I'm sure) managed to twist my expectations in a way I didn't expect. From the eerie ambient that opens the album to the songs that are graced with her singing (in 3 languages, no less), the album keeps taking turns for the whole run. Strongly recommend.
Highlight: Blue Velvet - Fortezza Sacra | 6 | | Pestilength Solar Clorex
Debemur Morti // Death Metal
Spotify shows that most of this album's listeners don't make it past the 5th track and most of the reveiws I've read for this claim this album is frontloaded. I disagree, and it's a shame most people will miss on this but this album's best material actually starts on track 6. This duo from Spain is on their third album and they do like their fair share of dissonance ala fellow countrymen Altarage but they're not even close to be as chaotic as them. They prefer to indulge in doom. That been said, there are some moments that still don't make much sense in my head on the first half.
Highlight: Dilution Haep
https://pestilength.bandcamp.com/album/solar-clorex | 7 | | Shadow Show Fantasy Now!
Stolen Body Records // Indie Rock
Not much to say about this band from Detroit. Solid indie rock ala Death Valley Girls or Goat Girl with some strong songs and some that are less fortunate. Unless you need a fix on that kind of sound, this won't wow you by any means, but it's still fairly enjoyable.
Highlight: Vertigo
https://shadowshow-detroit.bandcamp.com/album/fantasy-now | 8 | | Farsot Life Promised Death
Lupus Lounge / Prophecy Productions // Black Metal / Progressive
More or less the same case with Chapel of Disease. These guys have doubled down on the restraint and mellowness of their music exploring new paths for their and the results are mixed. The vocals are especially grating not because they're bad, but because the production choices doesn't make them justice. They sound dry and very high which takes the attention on everything else that is happening in the background. Still, it's a record that presents a band being ambitious and wanting to sound different and that's always something I can appreciate.
Highlight: Buoyant Flames
https://farsot.bandcamp.com/album/life-promised-death | 9 | | Illumishade Another Side Of You
Marquee / Napalm Records // Symphonic Metal
About time there was some quality pizzamachine-core dropping this year, and I'm not talking about crunkcore, but of cheesy lady fronted metal that wants to be Amaranthe and sure why not. They have a strong vocalist in Fabienne Erni and they know how to write a catchy chorus for sure. Not a big fan of the chug chug in the style of Spiritbox or the ballads but the good surpasses the mid on this album. On the other hand, an hour of this is just no. 4 songs could have been cut and this would be a way better package.
Highlight: In the Darkness
https://illumishade.bandcamp.com/album/another-side-of-you | 10 | | Ponte del Diavolo Fire Blades From The Tomb
Season of Mist // Doom / Black Metal
Interesting band from Turin (Italy) that reminded me of that incredible Mansion album of last year. Although not as strong as the band from Finland, PDD pull off some sweet stuff in here. The vocals are gonna be divisive to say the least, especially on the first track, but somehoe you get used to their frantic nature as the album goes by.
Highlight: Covenant
https://pontedeldiavolo666.bandcamp.com/album/fire-blades-from-the-tomb | 11 | | Friko Where we've been, Where we go from here
Not my cup of tea but these guys have crashed #2 at RYM and they are amassing numbers in other music sites. "Crashing Through" is a jam though. | 12 | | Royel Otis Pratts and Pain
A younger version of MGMT? | 13 | | Refore Illusion of Existence
This could have easily made it to my top 10 this week. Thrash metal revival is more real than ever. | 14 | | Molly Lewis On The Lips
Another deceiving cover. I was expecting some bouncing disco pop but got an Space Age, Exotica, Lounge record. Sounds interesting and it's released by Jagjaguwar so must be a big deal. | 15 | | Praise the Plague Suffocating In The Current Of Time
Atmoblack sludge from Berlin. One one of my favourite French youtubers, Mélo from Made Out Of Metal seems to like this a lot so i'd trust him. Check his channel by the way, he delivers recs weekly!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7Wuv7Pm6NE&t=1300s&ab_channel=MadeoutofMetal | 16 | | Shooting Daggers Love and Rage
Could see myself swapping this one with Shadow Show. Feminist hardcore punk from London. | 17 | | Grin Hush
This could have been on my top 10 but I just discovered them yesterday. Stoner doom with great atmosphere, from Germany. It's the band's 4th record. | 18 | | John Surman Words Unspoken
Legendary figure of European jazz. From the little I've heard, this seems to be very chill and nice music to work/study. | 19 | | Barren Womb Chemical Tardigrade
I haven't heard from Barren Womb since 2017 or so, but... new album? Opener rips. | 20 | | Griffon De Republica
I've seen this also featured in several metal outlets and the label usually puts good stuff out so worth checking out me thinks. | 21 | | See You Next Tuesday Relapses
So this seems to be a revision of their album of last year "Distractions", which of course I haven't even heard. But maybe you did! I love the cover by the way. | 22 | | Sundrifter An Earlier Time
The continuation of their 2018 release "Visitations". You guessed right, they do space stoner rock. | 23 | | Witchorious Witchorious
Came for the name, stayed for the stoner doom. | 24 | | Gvllow Twin Flames
Gothic post punk, you've heard it before, but it's good. | 25 | | Chapel Perilous The Tower of Silence
It's always hard to choose the last one but I'm gonna go with this melodic black metal thing I just found that's not even on bandcamp, yet it sounds great. | |
Dewinged
02.16.24 | SO. The 1300 albums challenges is unfortunately an EPIC FAIL.
It was never meant to be we all know that XD From march my workload is gonna increase significantly so I don't wanna stress myself with unnecessary challenges. Like I said at the beginning, it's fun while it's fun. I still wanna introduce music to anyone who cares and I'll try to increase my review imput in exchange though so look forward to that (maybe).
Anyway this leaves us with 3 options:
1. I list 10 albums and blurb them all, cause that's the amount of new music I'm planning to listen to every week, also looking into listening to more oldies.
2. I list 25 albums like every week, even if I didn't hear them as a sort of "this could be interesting, check it out", but no blurbs, just some small data and maybe a one liner.
3. Dewi, my man, no one cares.
Let me know what you think, or not, I'm not your mum. | SlothcoreSam
02.16.24 | Yo Dewi, start a spreadsheet and add a paragraph there.
Then wait until the end of each quarter and dump a mega list | Dewinged
02.16.24 | Uf, quaterly drops sounds like very heavy stuff. Like even if you'd make smth for Q1 with 10 albums a week that'd still be 120+ records in one list lol
I think weekly is easier to digest/down, plus there's the name! | Manatea
02.16.24 | I knew I should have bet on the under on this one. Dewi I would appreciate this list however you want to do it < 3 | DoofDoof
02.16.24 | Option 1 is fine with maybe one space below where you can put one album and just then list a load of albums you think might be interesting for yourself at a later date in the comments with zero pressure to add things?
10 new albums a week is still a lot in reality ;) | Dewinged
02.16.24 | Couple of albums a day, commute should cover that without much pressure ;=)
I think I'll go for option 1 for now! | Sunnyvale
02.16.24 | Option 1 is my vote! And thank you for your service! | someone
02.16.24 | Yeah 1 seems the way to go, tho I also used you as a radar for overlooked releases, so I'd welcome 2
That said, a band from my neck of the woods made a dreamy slowcore album
https://ohwhyohwhy.bandcamp.com/album/bruises | garas
02.19.24 | Oh damn, the new The Obsessed album is already out? I need to jam it asap. | Dewinged
02.21.24 | Cheers Gene, added to the list.
@garas it's pretty good IF you really like Wino. I know it's an acquired taste. | Sniff
02.21.24 | I second alternative 2. Also how's that Farsot album??? | Dewinged
02.21.24 | Farsot was ok, weaker than the last one I'm afraid but if you value experimentation and evolution, there is plenty on it.
I hear you Sniff, I'll update this today with the 10 albums I heard this week plus 15 that I found had potential. | Dewinged
02.22.24 | Well I guess that makes 25! | someone
02.23.24 | a few suggestions for the new week
Amigo the Devil - Yours Until the War is Over (tagged murderfolk, sounds gnarly and soulful at the same time, old timey folk music)
Little Kid - A Million Easy Payments (charming folk, but the vox take some getting used to)
Bleib Modern - 2 Afraid 2 Leave (dancy darkwave compilation, rework of the band's last album but it's all covers by their friends)
Laetitia Sadier - Rooting for Love (the lady from Stereolab makes more quirky music and it sounds crisp af) | Dewinged
02.23.24 | I had 76 albums lined up for this next week, 3 of them were on your list and only 1 survived the initial culling to like 50 albums. Now, half of them have to go. | someone
02.23.24 | i have the biggest hopes for Laetitia and Amigo tbh, the former more so than the latter | Dewinged
02.23.24 | You got it right! | garas
02.23.24 | > I know it's an acquired taste.
I'm totally into that stuff, so I might have acquired taste?
I'm also commenting here because of that Griffon album. I want to check out that one too. | someone
02.23.24 | Okay, scratch every one of my recs, go check And Also the Trees' newest. | Dewinged
02.23.24 | It's on my list! | someone
02.24.24 | Hell yeah | Sniff
02.25.24 | You should add new Visit Kalvhaga to this list | someone
02.27.24 | how's this week going? | Dewinged
02.27.24 | Sorry team, the week is going terrible. I've been sick since Friday, so haven't heard much music since then. Hopefully I'll get back to my deeds soon. Keep those recs on a warm and safe place. | someone
02.28.24 | Dont strain yourself, daddy, we can wait |
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