Mabuta, Exlimitir, Bruce Lamont, Terrestre, Antoine Fafard, Æthĕrĭa Conscĭentĭa, Gimnàs Trinku Trinku, Nostril Caverns, and Jean Jean

by Dæv Tremblay

Mabuta – Welcome to This World

This South African quartet… Wait no it says five piece band… But wait, there are six names credited. WHICH IS IT, THEN?

That conundrum aside, Mabuta is a world fusion jazz band from Cape Town, and this is their debut album. It does an excellent job of bringing you some tasty fusion licks along with some traditional African music embedded in it. Welcome to This World is a fantastic debut!

Exlimitir – It Weighed Itself in Silver

This is some top-tier death metal with technical leanings in the vein of Demilich, Diskord, Thoren, and … Read more

Eryn Non Dae. – Abandon of the Self

by Matt Matheson

The Music

The Words

French quintet Eryn Non Dae. are back with a massive slab of math-minded sludge. Abandon of the Self follows a six-year absence after 2012’s Meliora, and finds the band settling into a more reserved, contemplative approach. Whereas previous material spent more time punishing the listener with breakneck tempos and eardrum-battering percussive rhythms, the new album is characterized by expansive introductions, simplified riffs, and moody drumming. There are peaks that almost rival the intensity of their prior catalogue, but they certainly wander through the valleys a lot more along the way.

Opening triad of tracks “Astral”, … Read more

Monthly Recommendations: February 2018

by Dæv Tremblay

Chaos Echœs – Mouvement

One of the most interesting features is how weighty the music is. I didn’t choose the term “heavy”, because it’s not heavy in the traditionally metal meaning of the word. There is next to no blast beat, guitar chugging, or deep growls, but, despite this, the album feels much more tangible and real, hence “weighty”. “Through Kaleidoscopic Haze of Unexpected Extents” is a stellar example of this.

In summary, Mouvement is an atypical black metal album crafted with thought and care, which makes it easily one of the best experiments in the genre.

Read more.

Eave

… Read more

Omar – *3

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

I’ve been anticipating a new release from French avant-garde jazz crew Omar for quite some time, since their previous album, *2 was released in January of 2015, and now, without so much a warning, the tourangeau quartet releases *3. After a quick album cover change – the original featuring another take on the “lobster phone” of their first, self-titled release – and a new bandcamp page – password forgotten, I presume? – Omar the Third is there for the world to see. Now, does it live up to the impossible expectations that countless listens of … Read more

Tele.S.Therion – Luzifers Abschied

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Tele.S.Therion is a self-described acousmatic black metal ensemble based in Italy, with members from various European countries. They have been making music since at least 2009, and Luzifers Abschied is their eighth and latest release, from 2017. So… what is acousmatic black metal about, exactly? Simply put, it’s a “veiled” collective improvisation. The band refers to how Pythagorus would give lessons behind a veil, so his students would better concentrate, but I find the analogy here to be questionable, at best. How Tele.S.Therion operates is that each musician will add their improvised performance to a recording … Read more