Garas is the grumpiest contributor on Sputnikmusic and one of the nicest people on the internet. Today, he digs!

Hello, welcome to the Grumpy-Digbox, where you may experience a short and madly niche list containing some of my favourite picks from the very recent times. I’m usually more of an “album-type” instead of a “song-type”, but from time to time my obsession with certain songs breaks my limits. Chances are you might hate these songs, but I really hope at least some of you might enjoy blasting them (with me)!

[“Digbox” – reimagined by SandwichBubble, 2021]

Slayer – South Of Heaven 

According to last.fm, thrash metal claimed the crown of being the my most listened genre at the end of February – I’m sure you can guess which one is my top listened genre otherwise. And pretty much South Of Heaven had the biggest role in this historical event. The song is not just the perfect choice of being the album’s opener, but this also the greatest Slayer song as well, I daresay. Most sinister mid tempo tunes and neck-breaking heaviness: perfection.

Craft – Again

“Awakening. World Suffering

Twisted things empathise with nothing.”

There is no better way facing daily stress than strangling it with a good amount of black metal, I’d say. Craft’s “anti-everything” philosophy is not easy to digest, but one thing is for sure: these guys just can’t release bad music. Every single album in their catalog is at least excellent-tier stuff, and revisiting their latest, White Noise And Black Metal, was just what I needed recently. Their unique twist on the genre still feels very refreshing at every listen, since it could please both the old-school traditionalists’ and the modern dwellers’ ears through crushing and unforgiving riff storms. For me especially this song stood out, and I think I fell under the title’s “spell”, since I always feel I have to listen to this song again.
“And again and again – And again.”

Black Sabbath – The Thrill Of It All

Spring is coming, more sunlight, more vitamin D, the hormones rumblin’ etc… It always felt great giving a few spins to Sabotage when this season begins. But I can’t connect any logical reason to this case, I simply get into a very good and kind of “spring” or “summery” mood when I’m listening to The Thrill Of It All. Perhaps because the very upbeat vibe: catchy riffs and bass lines + Ozzy’s (arguably) best performance. “Forget your problems that don’t even exist” – that is what I’m talking about! “Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Sodom – Blasphemer

Early Sodom is really something. Especially In The Sign Of Evil, and not just because it is my favourite from them. The diabolical laughter at the very beginning always sends shivers down my spine, and I’m a huge fan of their somewhat primitive style because they could create a really terrifying atmosphere. And not to mention some of their infamous lines like: “Black metal is the game I play – ‘Cause no one show me the right way”.

Thank you garas for your hellfire and paragraphs!

Please volunteer your Digbox! Keep the dig going! Hit me up with 3-9 blurbs, Spotify links, and an introduction paragraph at your convenience.