Dewinged
Staff

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

 Lists
03.15.24 Deweekly: March 15th to March 21st03.08.24 Deweekly: March 8th to March 14th
03.04.24 Deweekly: March 1st to March 7th03.01.24 Deweekly: February 23th to February 29t
02.16.24 Deweekly: February 16th to February 22n02.09.24 Deweekly: February 9th to February 15th
02.02.24 Deweekly: February 2nd to February 8th01.30.24 10 Albums of 1950
01.26.24 Deweekly: January 26th to February 1st01.23.24 10 Albums of 1965
01.19.24 Deweekly: January 19th to 25th01.12.24 Deweekly: January 12th to 18th ♦
01.10.24 10 albums of 196401.04.24 Deweekly: January 1st to 10th ♦
12.27.23 Dewi's 2023: A Year in Review ♦12.26.23 10 albums of 1963
12.21.23 10 albums of 196212.18.23 10 albums of 1961 ♦
More »

Deweekly: February 9th to February 15th

Second week of February! A bit more generous than the last one for sure, but still not fully stacked. Apart from that, it's all about Chelsea Wolfe this week for me, but there's always time for more, isn't it.
1Chelsea Wolfe
She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She

************** ALBUM OF THE WEEK ************************

Loma Vista // Chelsea Wolfe but trip hop

I just reviewed this one so I'm not gonna add too much about it here. Fantastic album that cements her as one of the most important artists of the last two decades. With this one she goes back to the dark and melancholic sound of Abyss and delves deeper into electronic music and trip hop. Essential listen.

Highlight: Place in the Sun

https://chelseawolfe.bandcamp.com/album/she-reaches-out-to-she-reaches-out-to-she
2Spectral Voice
Sparagmos

Dark Descent Records // Death Doom

Leave it to Spectral Voice to name an album that sounds like Asparagus and that took seven years of waiting to absolutely shake the shit out of the death doom scene with a monster of a record. Four tracks and forty five minutes. This is all I wanted from the genre and it's gonna be hard to surpass this year.

Highlight: Sinew Censer

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sparagmos
3Brittany Howard
What Now

Island Records // Soul / r&b / Experimental

Moved from last week, the singer form the Alabama Shakes is back with a new record under her belt and what an album. Brilliant production and great performance from Brittany all around. The opener is incredible. The album loses itself a bit towards the end but it might be just a matter of giving it a bit more time to grow.

Highlight: Earth Sign

No BC anywhere so have a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bCO09FbQdE&ab_channel=BrittanyHoward
4Chapel of Disease
Echoes of Light

Ván Records // Weird Death Metal

Their last release of 2018 already showed that this German band, which was first conceived as a death metal act, was on a weird trip that no one really knew how to describe. Well, six years after and they turned the screw even more. There are bluesy sections, prog, death metal... Some moments will leave people wondering what the hell are they listening to and others will be just awe inspiring. I personally can't get enough of the weirdness, please continue.

Highlight: Shallow Nights

https://chapelofdisease.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-of-light
5Hulder
Verses In Oath

20 Buck Spin // Black Metal

I was very excited about Hulder's follow up to her last EP, like relaly hyped but that has been met with a rather confusing first impression. I want to believe that this is good but that first listen have left me colder than the winds of Valhalla. I'll reserve judgement on this because I want to believe.

Highlight: Hearken the End

https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/verses-in-oath
6Theophonos
Ashes in the Huron River

Profound Lore // Death Metal / Blackened Post Hardcore

I'm staggering this week with a late start because Monday I was busy taking care of things at home, so we're gonna spill into Friday and then catch up on the weekend. This album was on the other hand a good way of plunging back into this week's releases. It's a punch in the face. Imagine Botch doing death metal, well that's about it. The last two tracks were a bit confusing, like ideas that never got to be developed, especially the closer, but the first half is insanity. Great release from Profound Lore, as usual.

Highlight: No Reprieve

https://theophonos.bandcamp.com/album/ashes-in-the-huron-river
7The Pineapple Thief
It Leads To This

Kscope // Progressive Rock

For the uptenth record, The Pineapple Thief seem unable to let go and release some stress here and there. Great sound, superb drumming, masterful musicianship, dull songs. That's all I can say about this. It's not a bad album by any means, but I can't remember any single melody and there's absolutely no thrill when listening to this, just pretty sounds. If that's your thing, you'll find something redeemable here. Good album if you wanna check headphones.

Highlight: To Forget

https://kscopemusic.bandcamp.com/album/it-leads-to-this
8Heretic (NED)
Filthy Hymns For Sleazy Demons

Ván Records // Black'n'roll / Punk

Not gonna lie, the cover drew me to this album like moths to the flame. The contents, well, they're alright. Not sure how many albums this guys from Eindhoven have on their back, I think this is their third in like 14 years. Fairly simple, straightforward black'n'roll with a heavy dose of punk. Sometimes they get into The Cramps territory and it works really well, sometimes they go full d-beat with gang vocals and it also works but all in all, I don't think this will top my list at the end of the year. But the cover maybe will.

Highlight: Ritual Girl

No BC, but here's a vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq2EjAy-MLc&ab_channel=Heretic
9Innellea
The Belonging

[PIAS] Électronique // House Techno

What a pleasant surprise. I've never been much of an electronic music conosseur but it's always a good time finding stuff that just clicks, and this album has been love at first listen. 50 minutes and 15 tracks with multiple collaborators and even some genre hopping from techno to hip hop, dance, house... Pretty sure this classifies as good gym music. Amazing album, even more impressive considering this is their debut.

Highlight: Tarar

https://soundcloud.com/innellea/innellea-the-belonging-1
10Petrification
Sever Sacred Light

Svart Records // Death Metal

You know the good thing about Bolt Thrower worship death metal bands is that they're all fun to listen to, even if they're contributing very little to the development of the genre, or breaking any barriers. Petrification is one of those bands, much in the line of Frozen Soul, and every other band that persists in churning out riffs to smash your skull with. Good stuff.

Highlight: Oneiric Obscurum

https://petrificationdm.bandcamp.com/album/sever-sacred-light
11Infected Rain
Time

Napalm Records // Metalcore

Moldovan friends, we meet again. I actually reviewed their previous record and I'm happy to report that Lena Scissorhands have improved her screams and overall singing. The bad news is that the music has taken a hit and apart from three tracks, four if you're feeling generous, the songs on "Time" don't have anythign to hang to, no matter how much Lena tries to spice them up with her vocal delivery. It's not a terrible follow up to "Ecdysis", but I feel they again bloated the album with too many tracks and failed to put out some really catchy stuff like they did in the past.

Highlight: The Answer is You

https://infectedrain.bandcamp.com/album/time
12Kali Malone
All Life Long

Ideologic Organ // Drone / Neoclassical

I'm surprised this hasn't come out on Southern Lord considering she's married to Stephen O'Malley now (congratulations!! perfect couple!). I sadly couldn't find the willpower to commit to their joint stint of 3 hours last year so I approached this as a coward. Kali was merciful enough to include some a capella tracks performed by Etienne Ferchaud which really help to diversify the material contained in this last album. Still, I'm not sure I'm capable of grasping the appeal of her music. It is pleasant to the ear, but there's no substance to it, nothing that draws me in again. Listening to this felt like visiting a beautiful ancient monument in a foreign city, knowing it would be the first and the last time.

Highlight: Moving Forward

https://kalimalone.bandcamp.com/album/all-life-long
13Morbid Saint
Swallowed By Hell

High Roller Records // Thrash Metal

Only a fool would dispute the importance of 1989's "Spectrum of Death" in the current extreme metal scene. Morbid Saint were pioneers of a sound that has branched out in so many different ways that is often complicated to trace back the source of it all. They did something special with that album, for the time, it was absolutely revolutionary. Their career took a halt in the 90s and then they made a comeback with "Destruction System" in 2015. 9 years later they're back at again and they're still relentless. This is thrash by the numbers, but a far cry from their 89 masterpiece.

Highlight: F#&K Them All

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTMfEXFDydY&ab_channel=RUMorbid
14Joel Ross
Nublues

Blue Note // Jazz

New album from NY vibraphonist Joel Ross and his gang. The album includes a couple of John Coltrane tracks and one from Thelonious Monk plus seven originals. The covers are great. I really like his interpretations of "Equinox" and "Evidence" especially but the back end of the album gets a bit too dense. As is always the case with Blue Note, top notch production and performers but can't say I was blown away by this.

Highlight: Equinox (Coltrane)

https://joelrossband.bandcamp.com/
15Helado Negro
Phasor

4AD // Psychedelic / Experimental Folk

This was my first contact with the music of Roberto Carlos Lange aka Helado Negro. very interesting blend of psychedelia with folk bathed in electronics, with Lange's particular vocals on the forefront. Our master Koris gave it a good write up treatment so don't forget to check that up!

Highlight: Out There

https://heladonegro.bandcamp.com/album/phasor
16Torchia
Arcane Magicae

Self released // Melodic Death Metal

Third album from the Finnish melodeath crew and well, you can almost imagine how this sounds. Melodeath by the numbers. it doesn't bend the rules of the genre, and if I hadn't watched the video for "There's a Witch Among Us" I probably would have ignored this band completely. But you can see they're at least making an effort to play their part and the album itself, while not being revolutionary, is not terrible either. If you crave melodeath in 2024, this will keep you entertained to say the least.

Highlight: Red Luna Ceremony

https://torchia.bandcamp.com/album/arcane-magicae
17The Sorcerers
I Too Am A Stranger

ATA Records // Ethiopian Jazz

This is the second album I hear by the Ethiopian Jazz revivalist trio The Sorcerers, which far from being based on Africa, they bring these sounds straight from Leeds (UK). I can't say I'm too familiar with Ethiopian Jazz myself, so this sounds to me like an instrumental version of Goat, minus the psychedelia, and focusing on groove. It sounds vintage as hell, it's adventurous, mysterious and probably sounds incredible on wax. Currently only the single is available on streaming platforms but the whole album is on BC.

Highlight: Kid Mahout

https://sorcerers.bandcamp.com/album/i-too-am-a-stranger
18Astral Bakers
The Whole Story

Sage Music // Grunge folk

Peculiar band. A four piece from Paris that sound like a reprisal of Nirvana's Unplugged in NYC album on repeat, but without the applause and woohoos. Maybe it's just indie folk camouflaged as acoustic grunge or some other nonsensical label, but it's good, some songs are really enticing and it's just a good time all in all. The singer sounds like the guy from Typhoon at times and I wish the ladies had more vocals. That's about it.

Highlight: Pretty Scar

https://astralbakers.bandcamp.com/album/the-whole-story
19Nocturnal Sorcery
Captive in the Breath of Life

Kvlt // Black Metal

Now we're getting to a point that it's just ridiculous. Everything about this project from Finland looks and sound like an AI generated black metal meme. Just no, enough.

Highlight: None

There's not even a bandcamp for this, too kvlt. Bah.
20SabaSaba
Unknown City

Maple Death Records // Ambient / Industrial / Experimental

Second release from Maple Death records I check this month thanks to someone (our someone, not just anyone). Oppressing soundscapes from concrete cities beyond the veil performed by this Italian duo. Bandcamp wrote it better: "an imaginary soundtrack for a dystopian city: digital raga, horror Exotica, half-speed techno, metallic dub and organic electronics."

Highlight: Wrists Free

https://mapledeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/unknown-city
21A-Sun Amissa
Ruins Era

Gizeh Records // Drone

Ex.post rock colossi A-Sun Amissa are back with a new mammoth of a record committing full time to drone. Never their records were an easy trek and this is not different, you'll need patience and faith to traverse this one. There are some brilliant moments here but also it's a very demanding album.

Highlight: You never Knew It But I Really Was Your Friend

https://slowsecret.bandcamp.com/album/ruins-era
22Phlegmesis
The New Wave of Rotten Fornication

Syzygial Warsounds // Death Metal

"The New Wave of Rotten Fornication" exists almost as a death metal parody but it's strangely solid. If the song titles didn't give it away, this one-man project from Boston doesn't take itself very seriously. There's a synthwave section at the end of one of the tracks, lots of samples, and just all around Cannibal Corpse worship and decadence. Nicely done though.

Highlight: Septic Euphoria

https://phlegmesis.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-wave-of-rotten-fornication
23abriction
Banshee

Self released // Dream Pop / Blackgaze

You may know Meredith Salvatori's project for her collaborations with Sadness and you know, just for being an amazing bedroom popcore artist with enough releases to prove it. Thanks to quetzal for the heads up , I would have missed it otherwise.

Highlight: Streetlights

https://abriction.bandcamp.com/album/banshee
24Nils Hoffmann
Running in a Dream

Anjunadeep // Dance / House

Listening to more electronic music that I thought I would this week but this is a nice companion album to the Innellea one. Similar style, perfect weekend soundtrack if you're not a boring son of a bitch like me and you actually go out and burn the night away.

Highlight: Lonely

https://anjunadeep.bandcamp.com/album/running-in-a-dream-3
25Awon and Parental
Sublime

HHV // Hip Hop

Not much hip hop this or last week for some reason, maybe I wasn't really in the mood. This looked interesting, a slab of eastern coast hip hop from Brooklyn's Awon with jazzy samples provided by Parental. Unfortunately this didn't really grab me. Very one-dimensional, doesn't bite, and I'm pretty sure that was the vibe they went for but it just didn't tell me anything. It's a good album though, just not what I needed this week.

Highlight: Fine Lines

https://djparental.bandcamp.com/album/sublime
26Chelsea Wolfe
She Reaches Out to She Reaches Out to She

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top 10 of the week

1. Chelsea Wolfe - She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She
2. Spectral Voice - Sparagmos
3. Chapel of Disease - Echoes of Light
4. Illennea - The Belonging
5. Nils Hoffmann - Running in a Dream
6. Brittany Howard - What Now
7. Abriction - Banshee
8. Theophonos - Ashes in the Huron River
9. Helado negro - Phasor
10. Hulder - Verses in Oath

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Show/Add Comments (25)

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy