Here’s what caught my ear lately.
Yūgen‘s album, Death by Water, is simply a fantastic avant-garde metal album. I won’t go into much details as I believe Dillon will write a review on it, but go and listen to it!

Canadian experimental electronic artist Fucking ???? ?? 2007 released this very good trap-like album. It’s pretty bleak, but it’s really cool. Also, for their next album I had the chance to collaborate some bass guitar for one track! Be sure to check that.

Belarus’s own Eximperituserqethhzebibšiptugakkathšulweliarzaxułum released their new occulthematic atmospheric technical death metal album, Prajecyrujučy Sinhuliarnaje Wypramieńwańnie Daktryny Absaliutnaha J Usiopahłynaĺnaha Zła Skroź Šaścihrannuju Pryzmu Sîn-Ahhī-Erība Na Hipierpawierchniu Zadyjakaĺnaha Kaŭčęha Zasnawaĺnikaŭ Kosmatęchničnaha Ordęna Palieakantakta, Najstaražytnyja Ipastasi Dawosiewych Cywilizacyj Prywodziać U Ruch Ręzanansny Transfarmatar Časowapadobnaj Biaskoncaści Budučyni U Ćwiardyniach Absierwatoryi Nwn-Hu-Kek-Amon, Uwasabliajučy Ŭ Ęfirnuju Matęryju Prach Ałulima Na Zachad Ad Ękzapłaniety PSRB 1620-26b. I did some research and unveiled the deeper meaning behind the album, which you can read here. There’s a second part in the works.

Next up is the mythical band Jute Gyte‘s newest album, Perdurance, which is probably the second in what I assume will be a trilogy that started with Ship of Theseus. It’s their wildest black metal release yet, pushing the complexity of the music to unseen heights. You already know how I feel about the band so… check this out!

Yes! Little Tybee‘s new album, self-titled, is a-ma-zing! It would be farfetched to call this technical indie folk, but the prominence and musicianship of Josh Martin on his 8-string guitar is already known and appreciated by most. Consider it indie folk but much deeper and more interesting than most acts.

Part of the “Métal noir québécois” movement, which is basically French-sung nationalistic black metal from Quebec, Forteresse just released Thèmes pour la rébellion (Themes for Rebellion). As you can hear, it’s a pretty decent if rather common sounding album. I haven’t much more to say about it, it’s pretty good if you’re into the genre!

I’m not known to be a fan of Gojira, and Magma didn’t change my mind. I agree that it’s possibly the darkest material they’ve put out, except perhaps a few tracks on The Way of All Flesh, but I just don’t see the point. It’s hardly progressive, the riffs sound recycled, as well as the more characteristic sounds of Gojira’s guitarists, the drums are incomprehensibly boring, and the song structures are very traditional. Not for me.

Colorado’s Vale of Pnath releases II tomorrow. It’s a sort of melodic death metal with technical elements, but they don’t often take centre stage. The riffs are pretty good but fall a bit flat when compared to more proficient tech-death bands. I like the presence of the bass, though. It’s pretty good, but I don’t see myself going back to it often.