Greetings, Decibel readers!
This is one of those weeks that makes me extra glad that we do this column. Prior to gearing up to make my selections, I had only heard of ONE of these bands. And even in that case, the name was a distant memory, buried in the recesses of the end of high school.
As a fan, it’s always good to gather up a crop of new bands to get into. As a writer, it’s good to have the names in my head so I can keep tabs on them for the future. And as part of a publication, it’s great to have a chance to give these bands a boost.
So with that, I hope you like what you hear- enjoy!
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Alda – A Distant Fire
Ah yes, a black metal album with trees and mountains on the cover. You know what you’re in for here, but there’s a few twists involved still. This isn’t another Bergtatt ripoff. The band has clearly done some post-rock and post-hardcore homework as well, which you can tell from a lot of the emotive progressions and effects on display here.
Stream: Apple Music
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The Breathing Process – Labyrinthian
Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time, not since they sounded like this. I remember seeing these guys back in 2005 with The End and Dead to Fall. It was a great show! There was a fight during their set if I remember correctly. Apparently since then they incorporated synths, got into epic black metal and found a way to incorporate that into deathcore. That’s cool! They’re pretty damn good at it!
Stream: Apple Music
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Deadspeak – Dissolve the Dreams
Death metal appeals to the human consciousness on such a deep level that I think the style will always breed devotees of the old-school sound. This band goes as old-school as possible, covering the Mantas-era Death track “Evil Dead.” Otherwise, the influences of Grave, Morbid Angel and Obituary are unmistakable here. A timeless creed has a new set of preachers.
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Putrevore – Miasmal Monstrosity
These guys land a little further down the metal timeline, somewhere closer to the mid-90s and more in the vicinity of Helsinki than Tampa. Putrevore plays a crushing blend of the doomy Incantation sound and the groove-laden stomp of bands like Purtenance and early Amorphis. And the vocals are really deep. Like, towards the mantle deep.
Stream: Apple Music
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Wreche – All My Dreams Came True
At this point, if you’re looking for something “different” but that still totally rips, I, Voidhanger Records should just be your go-to label. In their latest example of confounding yet compelling music, here’s the latest from Oakland, California’s Wreche. The project is a one-man operation created by one John Steven Morgan, a classically training musician and composer. His expertise comes through with the seamless movements between moods that pull you through an entire ocean of emotion, each riff and snare hit washing over you like waves under the moon. More than anything, however, it’s the blend of unhinged vocals and brilliant piano work that really makes this album special. Stand aside, “experimental” pretenders, this guy might just have the future in his hands.
Stream: Apple Music
