Five For Friday: October 28, 2022

Greetings, Decibel readers and happy Halloween weekend!

Hope you’ve got some solid horror flicks lined up for the next few nights, or at least something remotely spooky. I’ve got five new releases for you here that would make excellent intermission music between servings of monsters, occult terrors, and good old-fashioned gore. For my part, the best flick I finally checked out this year was Videodrome (long live the new flesh!), though I also enjoyed finally re-watching the first Hellraiser movie. Friday the 13th: Part II was fun as well, but not nearly as fun as Part IV — not enough Corey Feldman breaking bad. Still have a few more Halloween movie nights to go, however!

Anyway, enjoy!

Darkthrone – Astral Fortress

On the legendary Norwegian band’s latest album, Darkthrone continues the path they’ve been on since Arctic Thunder, blending nostalgia for classic sounds with the spirit of their black metal years. The album is slightly less doomy than Eternal Hails, but still recalls bands like Manilla Road and Trouble, while never straying far from Celtic Frost. The band’s use of the Panzerfaust hoodie on the cover seems intentional, as it’s that album that echoes the most through the pounding beats, grunting vocals, and crunchy riffs.

Stream: Apple Music

Despised Icon – Déterré

I mean, if you’re going to be a completist about any deathcore band, it might as well be for the best one. This is a proper re-release of some of the band’s demo material from the early 2000s, including versions of “Warm Blooded” and “Bulletproof Scales.” Both of these songs would end up on what I consider a God-tier album, 2005’s The Healing Process.

Stream: Apple Music

Forlesen – Black Terrain

Sprawling, atmospheric and introspective metal that combines the moods and movements of bands like Draconian, Wolves in the Throne Room and bands you’d find on Prophecy Records. “Cinematic” is a fitting word for this release.

Stream: Apple Music

Morbific – Squirm Beyond the Mortal Realm

Oh man, do I have to clean up all these guts everywhere? There’s blood everywhere!

Solid Finnish death metal with lots of hooks to keep you listening and re-listening. There’s a song called “Meal From an Open Skull.” lol

Stream: Apple Music

Mulciber – Misery of One

For those of you who like a little more muscle behind your death metal production. Cleveland’s Mulciber brings fists full of brutality to this album in a way very reminiscent of modern Suffocation and Steve Tucker-era Morbid Angel. I love the use of high-pitched screams to mix things up a bit, gives the sound an extra jolt of energy.