Five For Friday: July 17, 2020

Greetings, Decibel readers. If you like breakdowns, cavernous death metal, and black metal songs about castles, you’ve clicked on the right article.

This week’s new releases come stacked with layers of darkness, filth and bruality with the latest from Fanebærer, Kruelty and more!

Entry – Detriment

Fierce, energetic hardcore from Los Angeles. The band’s 80s-inspired-yet-modern hardcore sound recalls peak-era Ceremony and other bands from the late-aughts surge of similar bands.

Stream: Apple Music

Fanebærer – Den første ild

The mighty Korpsånd scene issues its latest statement of raw black metal brilliance. Translating into “the first fire,” the band’s second full-length album showcases an infectious and punky variant of northern darkness. In this way, Fanebærer takes a lo-fi and minimalist sound manages to still make it sound full, muscular and alive.

Kruelty – Immortal Nightmare

God this is just so brutal. Japan’s Kruelty are A+ students of the death riff and the beatdown. And you can tell they have good taste from what they cover, choosing to put their own spin on Grave’s immortal classic, “Into the Grave.”

Mystras – Castles Conquered and Reclaimed

Like what Spectral Lore does but wish Ayloss would put out something a little more straightforward? Well, you just hit the black metal jackpot with Castles Conquered and Reclaimed. This album is nothing short of glorious, soaring and ferocious escapism emblematic of the best of black metal.

Nekus – Death Nova Upon the Barren Harvest

Uuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh! That about sums it up.