Making Music: What CD Packaging Is the Best?

When making music, choosing to go ahead and make physical copies of your latest release is always an exciting moment. But, it does come with its own problems, questions, and moments of doubt. It’s especially true if it’s your first time taking the plunge; it can be scary! That’s why I decided to write this article. I will provide facts and opinions about some aspects of CD packaging in the hopes of informing you and helping you make a decision. Each option has its pros and cons, and, depending on what you value most, they will affect your ultimate choice.… Read more

Morrow – Fallow

This British septet just released their sophomore album, Fallow. The band’s raucity is most apparent in their folk-influenced, blackened hardcore sound, which covers most if not all of the playtime of this album. The most entrancing moments of this forty-five-minute album are present in its opening and closing acts; “Auguries of Menace” and “Crown in Red” respectively. Although all the songs played here reek of a sense of doom and impending destruction, the two aforementioned acts push it one step further and develop this feeling over the course of twelve minutes. Morrow‘s use of violin is genially implemented … Read more

Weekly Release Dump #3

    Sunday, 17 December


AußerweltTransitions (post-black metal)


    Monday, 18 December


An Autumn for Crippled ChildrenTrust (blackgaze)
HauntsA Lack of Empathy (post-rock)


    Wednesday, 20 December


Andrew McCommonsPassion; Obsession (instrumental melodic progressive metal)
InduratePanopticonic Phantasm (instrumental progressive metal)
JigglyDemos 2016-2017 (experimental math rock)
Opposite Day & Sam ArnoldSpace Taste Race Part Zero (experimental progressive rock)


    Friday, 22 December


UrBlack Vortex (black metal)
Свентояр (Sventoyar) – Ethnix (Slavic folk progressive metal)
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Haunts – A Lack of Empathy

British post-rock collective Haunts recently released their debut output. A Lack of Empathy, just shy of the thirty minutes mark, is a refreshing take on the genre, thanks to Dalma’s violins expanding into reverberating swells, and Kurt’s minimalistic drumming, using a variety of rim shots and uncommon percussions to fill the available space, and, finally, the omnipresent synths, which fulfill their purpose without being overwhelming. Like clanths in an abandoned shack, Haunts remind us of old, simpler times while, on the other hand, providing us with new ways to confront the future. My favourite effort on this EP is … Read more

Außerwelt – Transitions

Germany’s post-black metal outfit Außerwelt recently released their debut full-length album, Transitions. The album starts without hesitation and into the soaring riffs of “Isolate the Sun”. Their intention is clear: Transitions is about crafting an atmospheric aura not too far from the mellower post-rock scene, but with added tremolo riffs, and other crushing chords and pounding drums. As far as post-black metal goes, this is quite on the soft side, acting as a bridge or gateway from and to post-rock and black metal. This is a really well crafted album, as each song on it thoroughly explores a theme … Read more