Though the month has long passed, there are some more March releases deserving of mention. After the pitch black first set of releases for March, this selection offers more diversity. Have you listened to any of these albums already? What did you think of them? Let me know in the comments below.
Afterbirth – Four Dimensional Flesh
This was my first encounter with New York-based Afterbirth and it was a thoroughly pleasant surprise. Brutal death metal is the last genre to turn to for originality but Afterbirth present a forward-thinking take on the genre. That being said, brutal death is too small a term to contain the range of sounds on Four Dimensional Flesh. Featuring Will Smith of Artificial Brain on vocals, the meat of the album draws from tech. death and progressive metal. A handful of interludes further enrich the album with ethereal breathing room. At just about 35 minutes, Four Dimensional Flesh is a refreshing, bite-sized serving of surreal death metal.
Old Man Gloom – Seminar IX: Darkness of Being
After the tragic loss of Caleb Scofield in 2018, Old Man Gloom decided to carry on to honor his memory. Two years later, the band is back with new material and once again they were ready to play us all. As with The Ape of God, Old Man Gloom recorded two albums though this time there is no fake promo release. In light of the current situation, however, the band decided to surprise release Seminar IX: Darkness of Being ahead of time. Seminar VIII: Light of Meaning will be out on May 22nd through Profound Lore Records.
Musically, Seminar IX is the band’s most straightforward release, now featuring Stephen Brodsky of Cave In on bass. While previous albums featured extensive ambient and noise segments, Seminar IX cuts them down considerably. What remains is the band’s heavy, riff-driven mix of sludge metal and post-hardcore though this time the sound is more “rehearsal room” than before.
Walk Through Fire – Vår avgrund
Vår avgrund is the fourth album by swedish funeral sludge group Walk Through Fire. This was my first encounter with this band and surely it will be the introduction to them for many. Subtle electronic additions and guest instruments spice up the trudging compositions and flesh out the forlorn atmosphere. Put differently, Walk Through Fire sound more scorched than Neurosis but less blown-out than Primitive Man. Sounds miserable? It fucking is. Vår avgrund is a self-immolation and each of the seven tracks is a burnt-out furnace for your wretched demise.