Poil Ueda, Lasiodora, Baber & Wileman, and Don Bolo

Poil 上田 – Poil 上田 (Dur et Doux)


Poil is among one of my all-time favourite bands—just check this review or this one if you need convincing. With this new album, which is set for release in March 2023, the French avant-prog trio teams up with Ni’s bassist—they’ve already collaborated on Piniol—and, for the first time, Japanese 薩摩琵琶 (satsuma-biwa) player and singer 上田純子 (Junko Ueda). The result of this collaboration is an incredible, although rather short (32 minutes is really not that bad), blend of French avant-prog and traditional Japanese music, poems, and spectacle. It’s a truly astounding record… Read more

Drumcorps, Charbon, Ahleuchatistas, and Edith Judith

Drumcorps – Creatures


So have you ever tried to blend mathcore and breakcore? I have, but that’s a story for another day, for today I’m talking about Netherlands-based Drumcorps. Their new album, Creature, is indeed a creature of its own. The moment you hit play, you get the dissonant off-putting riffs, you get the glitch effects and synthetic drums, and you get the howling screams. That’s basically all I want from different music genres put into a cereal box. And it’s amazing. Be sure to check it out!

Charbon – Cavalcade


Admit it, you already know what to expect,… Read more

Ken Mode, Dongyang Gozupa, Labyrinth of Stars, and Down I Go

Ken Mode – Null (Art of Fact)


OK, we’ve got to talk about the new Ken Mode. The Canadian sludgecore act if well renowned, and for good reasons. If their sound seemed desperate and dreadful, be ready for these knobs to be cranked to 11 on Null. Distorted, discordant, uneasy, the atmosphere of the album is oppressive and that’s what you love about them. This is a masterful album from Ken Mode, be sure to check it out.

동양고주파 (Dong-yang-gozupa) – 결 (Gyeol / Kyul)


I’ve covered the Korean band Dong-yang-gozupa in the past, so I’ll be brief,… Read more

Imperial Triumphant, The Callous Daoboys, Schleu, and Jakub Tirco

Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy (Century Media)



Alright, we have to talk about the new Imperial Triumphant. That album is truly something else. Not only does it take avant-garde black metal by storm, comparing favourably to the likes of Thantifaxath, but it does so with style and passion, shining the spotlight on many legendary musicians in the process (including Denis Bélanger, singer of Voïvod)! The music is dirty, oppressive, decadent, jumping from one filthy backstreet to another, and occasionally peeping through the window of an ivory tower to hear some fancy jazz being played at a banquet or … Read more

Sweet Heart, Open Ear: May 2022

Deaf Club – Bad Songs Forever


Justin Pearson can do no wrong. I’ve reached a few different conclusions after listening to this four-song EP a few times: There is a cool table, and then there is an even cooler table; the table where those who sit at the cool table wish they sat. This cooler table is where Deaf Club sits. Everything about this release is balanced. Nothing in the mix is louder than it needs to be. It sounds almost understated. I can’t think of another example of carefully understated grindcore off the top of my head. Deaf Club… Read more