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Well, twenty-twenty has been a year. I’m not here to cover what’s happened outside of music so don’t worry, but one thing COVID-19 couldn’t stop is the relentless tides of music. It did, however, slow them down somewhat, but people cope, adapt, create nonetheless, and, in the end, borne art into the world.

I reviewed, or rather recommended, 175 albums released in 2020; all formats included, I’ve tracked 2,853 releases! Compare this to 2019’s 2,589 and you can see how this is one domain almost untouched by the pandemic. Last year, I had the brilliant idea of putting together a Read more

Void, Yaeth, Svirfneblin, and Nautilus

Void – The Hollow Man (Duplicate)

Remember Ashenspire and/or Vulture Industries and/or A Forest of Stars? Well, Void is a new name to add to this rather short list of theatrical progressive metal purveyors. The Hollow Man is the British band’s third full-length album, and it’s based on the poem of the same name from Thomas Stearns Eliot. The entire album comes out on January 29, and it’s a great opportunity for anyone who misses the lyrical character and exuberance of acts like those I mentioned before, to which I’d add later Slice the Cake as well, although the … Read more

Weekly Release Dump


Hover over foreign scripts for pronunciation and romanization.

Friday, 25 December

Chugga Boom! – Christmas Number Ones

56:10
djent
UK
Independent

Ego – Predation

18:58
black metal
Anchorage, Alaska
Lycaean Triune

Foi – Transcendent

52:03
progressive metal
Bengaluru, India
Independent

Lynxx – Rama

experimental electro
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Independent

Mad Essence – Connections

40:53
nu-metalcore
Kiev, Ukraine
Independent

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Monthly Recommendations: December 2020

Cryptodira – The Angel of History (Good Fight)

Chances are it’s not the first time you hear of Cryptodira. Indeed, the band, although relatively young, has garnered quite a lot of attention to itself, thanks in great part to quality songwriting and musicianship, creativity and technicality. The Angel of History is the epitome of the band’s vision, with convoluted songs, tortuous riffs, and a particular attention to lyrics. It might not be the most accurate comparison, but I’ve received big vibes of White Arms of Athena‘s Astrodrama while listening to The Angel of History, which was mostly … Read more

December in 178 Albums


Hover over foreign scripts for pronunciation and romanization.

Tuesday, 1 December

Anders – The World and Elsewhere

46:25
post-hardcore
Topeka, Kansas
Independent

Assiduous Assault & Chadhel – Split

17:00
grindcore
USA / Canada
Independent

Daedalus, Nocturnal Pulse, Hooch Head, and Tanpopo Crisis – Digging a Bird’s Grave

56:37
blackened hardcore
International
Independent

Dalalæða – Dysjar

34:06
dark jazz
Reykjavík, Iceland
Independent

Mortiferum & Hyperdontia – Split

13:09
blackened death metal
København, Denmark
Independent

Read more