The bottomless wellspring of Bandcamp is overflowing with great shit just waiting to be discovered. This series, grimly reborn from the earliest years of BMD, aims to shine light on the freshest emanations and foulest incantations from its darkest corners, a few artists at a time (and always at NYP/minimum price). Here’s the thirtieth installment for your vulgar delectation; now in new mini-review format with ratings bestowed upon each release. Hails.
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Misanthropæ – MMXXIII EP
What better way to kick things off than with the aptly named MISANTHROPÆ, the New York dissoblack/death/grind unit which I totally fucked up on regarding mentioning it in my best of April post the other day. Nevermind – MMXXIII EP still hits just as hard a few days later, with a knack for chewing you up and spitting you out that many bands of similar ilk fail to master. Punishing stuff, fantastic drums, great Misanthropic Art cover (misanthropy all around!). Released April 28th, physical copies coming soon. FFO: Ad Nauseum, Mico, Ulcerate.
RATING: 7/10
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Avowd – Vol.1
A one-two punch of dissonant obliteration to ring in the new and improved Bandcamp Misanthropy? Why not. Another that should have made mention in the best of its respective month if I wasn’t such a forgetful cunt, Chicago’s AVOWD play spectacularly constructed chaos with tempered steel hiding at the core of its blazing flame. Released 31st March, their debut EP is of course a bit short, but this is a genuinely dazzling first strike that’ll knock you on your ass if you missed it the first time – like me. Don’t be like me, I’m a cunt. Listen now. FFO: DsO, Thantifaxanth, Suffering Hour.
RATING: 7.5/10
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Black Lycanthropy – For Satan’s Eternal Glory
Back with another killer demo is Detroit (why the fuck are all these bands American so far?) apex Satanist BLACK LYCANTHROPY, whose sole practitioner Infernal Werewolf (also of Genocidal Rites) once again tears us back through the rent veil of time to bask in the sheer power and dark ferocity of the ’90s; and all For Satan’s Eternal Glory. Two stirring, memorable tracks that do absolutely nothing new yet just about nail everything you’d want, I’m hoping he lays down a full-length soon because this brand of raw satanic hatred is damn close to what I’ve been fiending for since 1994. Plus I’d like to hear what he can do with a few tweaks and more space to let the timeless blood flow. Released April 8th. FFO: Sargeist, Satanic Warmaster.
RATING: 7.5/10
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Wierde – Thiusa hem
Do you like early ’90s Norsk folk black? So do Netherlands duo WIERDE. And I mean… they like it a LOT. Based upon “local history, townfolk and workers as inspiration”, their lyrics might be an interpretation of Old Low Franconian but the compositions are pure Scandinavian heathenism. Whilst some of the “homages” come on a bit strong – second track ‘Thorp onsaro, I’ is so blatantly intended to be ‘Neslepaks’ Part Two they almost owe Fenriz royalties, whilst other moments may as well have been co-written by Valfar or Varg – it manages to mostly escape any “larping” feel and instead is a rather great folk-black album with many flashes of brilliance (if a touch disjointed). Released May 1st, tapes coming soon. FFO: Early Enslaved, Isengard, Windir, Burzum, Vintersorg, Kampfar… you get the idea.
RATING: 8/10
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Pénombre – Lueur Noire
I’ve been a long time appreciator of the many works of prolific Québécois master Comte Bergaby, so a new PÉNOMBRE full length is very, very welcome. Lueur Noire snarls and howls with pure nocturnal might and fury, a relentless blizzard of frozen riffs and cruel, unforgiving black bitterness – by its stark and simplistic nature it begins to wear a little thin here and there, but is still a great listen and always manages to bring you back (the production is on point, too). Old school as fuck, hail the old ways and ancient magics. Released April 22nd. FFO: Darkthrone, Judas Iscariot, Skuggeheim (who just released a discography compilation via Terratur, by the way).
RATING: 6.5/10
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Petrale – Salvation Precipitates
“Not everything that comes from the heavens brings salvation. Especially when the abyss is emtpy.” That above Bandcamp quote more-or-less sums up the relationship I have with Salvation Precipitates, the seventh full length record from Croatian infernalists PETRALE: the “abyssal” or menacing dissoblack elements are fine and meaty enough, if a little standard and not really too demanding of a return trip… but it’s when sole practitioner Petrale (who does an admiral job of reinventing himself with every album) lets his freak flag fly with those wild funk/swing/progressive rock elements raining down from the heavens that the album REALLY comes alive. The last three tracks and album opener are the winners here; with a little more of that, Salvation Precipitates might have been a 10/10 album. As it is, it’s still great. Released May 2nd, tapes available via Necroeucharist Productions. FFO: Fun bass playing in black metal, groovin’.
RATING: 7/10
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In Seance – Deathverse
US/Italian duo IN SEANCE aren’t fucking about on their third full length, Deathverse; this beast comes belting out of the gate and rarely eases up for the duration, unless it’s to sprinkle some atonal leads around or take us on a brief atmospheric trip. They’ve got the right idea and their brutal approach isn’t lacking in enthusiasm, it’s simply the execution that falls a little short; with further refinement and honing of weapons they might become a force to be reckoned with. Released April 7th, chuck it on if you feel like a blast assault on the rawer side. I’ll be watching where they go from here. FFO: Merzuul, Marduk.
RATING: 5/10
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Chemin de Croix – MMXXIII
More raw, old school Québécois goodness in this debut demo from the mysterious CHEMIN DE CROIX, but this time theological themed and following a far more French style of riffing, whilst also taking the production as lo-fi as it can go. The wafer-thin sound is delicious as it creates a dusted, crumbling atmosphere, only let down by the slightly gnarled timbre of the vocals – beautiful yet flawed, or beautifully flawed? That’s up to you, but overall it conjures faded images of faith and despair (much like the cover art), which is a very good thing. Released April 25th. FFO: Sacrilegious Crown, Givre, French riffs.
RATING: 6.5/10
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Devil Dick – Sodomizer of the Goat’s Virgin Cunt
Aaaaaaand in keeping with the age-old Bandcamp Misanthropy tradition of finishing on a fucking weird note, we have DEVIL DICK. If the nonsensical title and ridiculous album art don’t clue you up as to what you’re in for, try reading the track titles – and then listen and be further disappointed, as this is borderline sonic garbage. The humour potential isn’t capitalised on at all, as each track is merely a short, sharp blast of minimum-effort raw industrial black noisegrind that vomit one after another in 20 second convulsions until it all becomes a blur less than two minutes in. There are a couple of passable moments throughout and the final track improves on all the rest due to having an extra two and a half minutes to assault the ears (fans of HNW may appreciate), but overall I’d rather be forced to slob Satan’s 3-foot knob for all eternity than listen to it again. Which is the whole point of it all, really. Released April 30th, grab it if you like one trick ponies and shitposting. FFO: dick jokes.
RATING: 1/10
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