January '25 Jams
A selection of releases from January 2025 I enjoyed. |
| 1 |  | Discordant Meditation
Tragic Creature
TDM (USA-CO)
https://discordantmeditation.bandcamp.com/album/tragic-creature
https://open.spotify.com/album/2TiTDPRk9YKdVGIPfXWugf
Meandering tech death with some disso nods. Rips. |
| 2 |  | Dripped
Utopia of Euphoric Envisionment
BDM (AUS)
https://dripped.bandcamp.com/album/utopia-of-euphoric-envisionment
https://open.spotify.com/album/4oD4s9CFuRxDUSIRdN8xMl
Fun little EP. Mostly straightforward bdm with some tech and slam moments. Drums could use some more variance, but are adequately relentless. Spoiled by Lille at this point. |
| 3 |  | Mura
Needle Cathedral
Blackened Death Doom (CZE)
https://muradoom.bandcamp.com/album/needle-cathedral
https://open.spotify.com/album/0YsqsWwPXYNspR1smqiFID
Another EP. Slow, cold and suffocating - does what the genre tags imply. A pleasant surprise. |
| 4 |  | Flaying
Unrecognizable Waste
BDM | Slam (USA-NV)
https://flaying.bandcamp.com/album/unrecognizable-waste
https://open.spotify.com/album/4oh9UDS5wIwsTvZdAU7JhC
A demo that sounds like one. The Myspace-af, rehearsal room quality prod job fits like a glove. Minimalist writing with some early dxc vibes. All in all, pretty fun. |
| 5 |  | Pyre (RUS)
Where Obscurity Sways
OSDM (RUS)
https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/where-obscurity-sways
https://open.spotify.com/album/4g6VjB6YoGDJVtiicYKDKj
Already knew their 2014 album, so was expecting this to be good. It delivered. Pretty convincing 90s emulation. |
| 6 |  | Relics of Humanity
Absolute Dismal Domain
BDM (BLR)
https://relicsofhumanity.bandcamp.com/album/absolute-dismal-domain
https://open.spotify.com/album/5o0WRW3MaHUYIE8XtC8bi2
This wore off pretty quickly. Nice guitar and snare tones, bad mix. The slow parts crush, but the songs and the album as a whole ultimately lack identity. Would have worked better if condensed to an EP. Bonus points for not quantizing the blastbeats. |
| 7 |  | Revenge (CAN)
Violation.Strife.Abominate
War (CAN)
https://revengeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/violation-strife-abominate
https://open.spotify.com/album/2YSe4hELKvUAmF2Or7Cv34
If you've heard the band before, you know what to expect at this point. Devoid of real highlights for me, although the overall quality was on par with their previous releases. |
| 8 |  | Repugnator
Foul Transfixation
DM | BM (PRT)
https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/foul-transfixation
https://open.spotify.com/album/5n9eekJVP3tR4fGfxjqKni
Debut EP by these guys. Lacks memorable moments that make it stand out in the blackened dm landscape, but a solid, perfectly competent first effort. |
| 9 |  | Goremorphosis
Demo 2024
BDM | TDM (IDN)
https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/goremorphosis-demo-2024
Two-track demo with blasts galore. Loved every second of it. |
| 10 |  | Fallen Fortress
At the Heart of Emptiness
DM (CHL)
https://open.spotify.com/album/4wRNN5SJJW5nz7OwvJZJXK
Slightly blackened Chilean Gojira, more or less, albeit without the infectious grooves and with less charismatic vocals. |
| 11 |  | Putrescent
Infected Blood by Inhuman Practices
BDM (CHL)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_pP75wQAn8
Gargleargh frog burps type release. |
| 12 |  | Hierarchies
Hierarchies
Dissodeath | Avant-Garde (USA)
https://hierarchiesdm.bandcamp.com/album/hierarchies
https://open.spotify.com/album/5PNjl94rw6FCDFlo8ajchy
The chef's rev says it all. Production needed some getting used to, but I dig it. |
| 13 |  | Insalubrity / Excrescence / Anal Stabwound / Theurgy
Sheol
BDM | TDM (ECU | USA-WA | USA | ITA/THA/USA)
https://newstandardelite.bandcamp.com/album/sheol-4-way-split
Buy one, get three free! |
| 14 |  | Uulliata Digir
Uulliata Digir
Avant-Garde (POL)
https://uulliatadigir.bandcamp.com/album/uulliata-digir
https://open.spotify.com/album/62UQN8XMSxbZrUVC8HK8UP
Atmospheric stuff with lots of influences - and some brass. |
| 15 |  | Balefire
Balefire
Blackened DM (USA-PA)
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/balefire-balefire
A comfortable listen without any big surprises. Some evil riffs tho. |
| 16 |  | Naked Whipper
Chapel Defilement
War (DEU)
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/naked-whipper-chapel-defilement
https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZtjG6RzY25lxcKh3GrL2q
Not so much a rec as a reminder that these guys just awoke from a 30-year slumber. If you like your war metal with a side of grind'n'roll, give this a peep. |
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